THE ROMAN BREVIARY
THE ROMAN BREVIARY
REFORMED BY ORDER OF THE HOLY
(ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF TRENT;
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF POPE ST
PIUS V.; AND REVISED BY CLEMENT
VIII., URBAN VIII., AND LEO XIII.
TOGETHER WITH THE
OFFICES SINCE GRANTED
AND THE MARTYROLOGY
TRANSLATED OUT OF
LATIN INTO ENGLISH BY
JOHN, MARQUESS OF BUTE, K.T.
A NEW EDITION
FOR USE IN ENGLAND
IN FOUR VOLS.
VOL. I.— WINTER
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
MCMVIII
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
["DIFFERENT parts of the Roman Breviary have long been trans-
lated for the use of the faithful in English-speaking countries.
Nearly all the common books of devotion contain the ordinary form of
Vespers and Compline, and there are Vesper books, containing the
whole of that office, for every day in the year. There are also trans-
lations of Prime, Terce, Sext, and None. Of Mattins and Lauds, how-
ever, there have only been published those for a few days, such as
Christmas and the last three days of the Holy Week, and the copious
extracts which are contained in the English version of Gueranger's
LiUirgical Year.
The object of the Translator in the present work has been to supply
this deficiency by laying open to the English reader the whole of the
Prayer of the Church. He thinks that this may be grateful to a con-
siderable number of English-speaking Catholics, who would wish, at
any rate at times, to read the Service of the Church, but are debarred
from doing so by ignorance of the Latin language ; and more especi-
ally so to converts who have been accustomed to the daily office while
Anglicans. Even to some of the clergy, he is not without hope that
this version may be of interest, since he has taken great pains to elucidate
difficult passages, to explain the historical and other allusions, and, above
all, to verify the references to the Holy Scriptures. If the book should
fall into the hands of persons who are not Catholics, he ventures to
hope that it may at any rate be the means of softening some prejudices.
It is now nearly nine years ago since the Translator began his
vi TRANSLATOR'S preface.
work, and he cannot conceal from himself that when he did so, he did
not fully realise either how vast a work it has proved to be, or how
little he was himself fitted to execute it satisfactorily. He has bestowed
a great deal of reading and investigation upon it, and he has enjoyed
the advantage of a learned friend's revision ; but at the moment of
giving it to the public he feels anything but well content with it, and
can only protest that it is his best, and that it is, in his judgment, better
that the work should be done thus imperfectly than not at all.
In considering the work, the reader will please to understand that
the following are the principles which have been followed. The book
is a translation from the Latin, and where the original texts are Hebrew,
Chaldee, or Greek, it is not these texts but the Breviary Latin rendering
of them which is translated into English, the aim of the Translator having
been merely to give a rendering, in as good, plain, manly, and idiomatic
English as he could command, of the Latin Service-book of the Church.
Accordingly, whenever the Latin has a distinct sense of its own — as, for
instance, in Ps. lxxv. 5 — that sense is given simply without any remark,
and the divergence from the original is only pointed out in footnotes
in a few cases where it appeared desirable to know both renderings
in order to understand the context. Moreover, in the Psalter, and in
a few other places, the Rev. James McSwiney, S.J., to whom the Trans-
lator has to acknowledge so many obligations, has been kind enough to
bracket the words which are not, now, to be found in the Hebrew at
all. In the case of a single word in Lam. iv. 7, Dr Gesenius' rendering
of the Hebrew is put in the text, and the literal translation of the
Latin in a footnote.
In cases where the Latin is obscure, either in its rendering of the
Scripture, or elsewhere, the original has been referred to when possible,
in order to find what the Latin is probably intended to mean, and
here the Translator has again to acknowledge his indebtedness to the
learned Jesuit already named, for his assistance in a work for which the
Translator's own knowledge only most imperfectly qualifies him.
It will be gathered from the above that the Translator has not
followed any existing version exactly in the rendering of the Holy
Scripture. The version, or rather series of versions — for there are
translator's preface. vii
many different recensions of the text, — generally called the Doway Bible,
does not much commend itself to the English ear, and is indeed,
especially in the earlier recensions, difficult to understand for any one
who does not know Latin, and indeed other languages also ; and more-
over, none o/ the recensions possess that ecclesiastical authority which is
enjoyed, for instance, in Italy, by the Italian version of Archbishop
Martini. Under these circumstances, it has been the custom for
English - speaking Catholics, in compiling books of devotion, to make
renderings of the Latin at their own convenience, and indeed in the
recently published Hortus Anima, which bears the imprimatur of the
Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, the Psalms in the Little Office of
the Blessed Virgin were translated from the Hebrew without any regard
to the Latin at all. The present Translator has therefore felt himself
abundantly justified in using any good English at his command, while
adhering to the sense of the Latin, of which he trusts that his text
will be found a faithful rendering.
As regards the proper names in the Old Testament, it has seemed
to him most convenient to use the transliteration from the Hebrew
which is most commonly used by the Jews, as well as by the general
world, in this country, instead of reproducing the Vulgate's imperfect
transliteration of the imperfect transliteration of the LXX. from the
Hebrew. But where the names, even of the same persons, occur in
quotations from the New Testament, the transliteration is equally made
from the original, and therefore the Greek form preserved.
In those parts of the office which are not taken from the Scriptures,
such as the readings from the Fathers, the Translator has not been care-
ful to give the same word-for-word rendering as in the passages from
Scripture. The genius of the Latin language, its long and involved sen-
tences, and such forms as the Ablative Absolute, would make a trans-
lation like a school-boy's exercise a piece of very inelegant English com-
position, and almost intolerable as a devotional formula. His aim,
therefore, has been to reflect the ideas of the Latin in the best English
mirror he can command, and he must deprecate criticism upon the
mere ground of freedom of translation. Besides this, he has only to
call attention to the treatment of the quotations from Scripture found
viii translator's preface.
in the extracts from the Fathers and in the biographical notices. Where
(a) the quotations are very fragmentary, he has usually given them in
full, but wherever this has been done to a very considerable extent, as
by the insertion of whole clauses or sentences, it is indicated either by
a footnote or by the inserted words being put in brackets,; and where
(/3) the quotations are from some version of the Scriptures different to
the present Vulgate, such as the so-called Itala, or literally translated
from the LXX., or seem to be inaccurate quotations from memory, or
various readings created by copyists' blunders, he has harmonised them
with the rest of his text, as it seemed to him that to embalm these
eccentricities in an English rendering would be, even were it always
possible, a mere useless piece of Antiquarianism. An exception is made
in the case of a few passages where the sense is clearly and curiously
affected, and these have been invariably pointed out in footnotes.
In the biographical sketches of the lives of the Saints, a few passages
will be found inserted in brackets. These are almost always proper names,
dates, or geographical identifications. They have been inserted with the
idea of making these biographies more interesting and valuable, and are
almost always taken either from Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints, or
from the very valuable French work in seventeen volumes, intituled,
Les Petits Bollandistes. The constant changes in the Translator's place
of abode, and his frequent journeys, rendered it naturally impossible
for him to have always at hand a copy of the Acta Sanctorum them-
selves, even had it been needful for his purpose.
The poetical portions of the Breviary have given the Translator
peculiar trouble. Only a few, and those of the more obscure, of the
Hymns, are presented in his own paraphrase. For the rest, he has
sought to obtain the use of the versions which, as far as he could
judge, combined the largest amount of poetical merit with accuracy
in rendering the sense of the originals, and he has not felt it necessary
to take into consideration the religious opinions of those by whom such
translations have been executed. In all his applications, he has been
met with uniform courtesy and compliance with his wishes, and he here
begs to ask pardon for any breach of copyright which he may have
unknoMRgly committed by reprinting hymns of which he did not know
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. IX
the translator. The source whence each is taken has always been
indicated.
A great number of the hymns are by the late Rev. E. Caswall, of the
Birmingham Oratory, who died during the printing of the work. (R.I. P.)
The Translator expresses his thanks for his constant obliging kindness.
H. E. Cardinal Newman has permitted the Translator the use of all
his published hymns. The hymn for Prime has never been published
before, except in a little book printed by the present Translator a few
years ago, and for which he obtained it from the illustrious writer.
H. E. has also had the goodness to prepare the doxologies, altering with
the Office, belonging to his own hymns.
The Rev. Dr Littledale contributes a considerable number of hymns,
some of which are original, and written expressly for this work.
The elegant hymns for Midsummer Day, one of which is written
expressly for this book, are by a noble friend, who desires to remain
anonymous.
The Translator begs finally to express his sincere thanks to the
Rev. Dr Wallace, the Rev. W. J. Blew, Rev. W. J. Copeland, Mr
J. D. Chambers, the Messrs Novello, and all others to whom he is
indebted for the use of copyright hymns. The Translator tenders to all
his thankful acknowledgment. In regard to the hymns, the alteration
in the last verse, caused by certain Festivals and Seasons, depends in the
original upon the scansion. This distinction, viz., why one hymn should
alter and another not, could not be rationally adopted in the English,
where the metres are not always the same as in the Latin. The Trans-
lator, therefore, has provided for the alteration of all the unchanging
hymns, viz., those of the Small Hours, while the hymns of Mattins,
Lauds, and Vespers, which change with the Office, do not here undergo
the alteration of the last verse.
Besides the hymns proper, there are a good many passages, such
as the Blessings at Mattins, and some of the Antiphons and Responsories,
which are either in actual verse or else written with some peculiar rhyme
or rhythm. There are also a certain number of puns. Great care has
been taken, as far as possible, to reproduce these quaint features. They
will jar upon the ear of the English reader, but he may rest assured
X translator's preface.
that they cannot offend him more than the originals would have offended
a Roman of the classical age, and to suppress them would have been
to give a false idea of the book. They are usually printed as prose,
as they are in the original.
The feature in which this translation is, so far, more convenient than
the original, is the fact that all the references to Holy Scripture, (except
such as are very commonly known, or have been given shortly before,)
are given, either in footnotes, or, where they occur in the text, (not
itself Scripture,) in brackets inserted in it. The mere work with a
Concordance which this has entailed has been very great, but the
Translator ventures to think the object was well worth it.
The other footnotes are exclusively aimed at the elucidation of the
text. The historical ones are chiefly from Alban Butler or Les Petits
Bollandistes. Those on Scripture are mostly from the annotated English
Bible published by the late Dr Kenrick, Archbishop of New York, — a
most valuable work, unhappily but little known in this country. Those
on Isaiah are mainly from Lowth ; those on Daniel from Dr Pusey ;
those from the Targums on the Holy Torah, from Etheridge's trans-
lation ; those from the other Targums, from the Latin version in Walton's
Biblia Polyglotta. The source has always been indicated, except where
one note closely follows another.
Most part of this work has been submitted in MS., the whole of it
in proof, and part even in revise, to the friendly criticism of the Rev.
James McSwiney, S.J., whom the Translator has already mentioned, and
to whom he desires here to express his sincerest thanks for the long
pains and unwearied patience and kindness which year after year he has
expended upon this matter. He begs also to thank the Superiors of the
Society of Jesus for allowing him the assistance of so valuable a member
of their body. It must, however, be distinctly understood that the work
of Father McSwiney has been almost entirely confined to excision and
pointing out blunders, and that he is objectively responsible for nothing
except the bracketing the passages in the Psalter, as before mentioned,
and a very few of the footnotes.
However, notwithstanding the amount of pains and repeated revision,
and the extraordinary excellence with which the printers have done their
TRANSLATORS PREFACE. XI
work, and for which the Translator desires to make to them his sincerely
felt and thankful acknowledgments, it must needs be that so very large
a work, printed for the first time, contains a considerable number of
oversights. Some of these are already visible to the Translator. He
prefers, however, to leave them to the indulgence of the reader, rather
than revise every word again, in order to encumber the book with a
page or pages of errata and corrigenda.
The translator desires in conclusion to protest that if, (which he
hopes and believes is not the case,) either the translation itself, or the
footnotes, should contain anything which a faithful Catholic ought not
to have written, he has written such passage inadvertently.
Richmond, June 27, 1879.
PREFACE TO THE PRESENT EDITION.
TT is now twenty-eight years since the first English Translation of the
Breviary was made, and had the Translator lived to publish this
new edition, it would have appeared a long time ago, for the work
was far advanced, and some portion of it had been printed, before his
death.
This present edition is for use in England ; and it is peculiar in that
it has added to it a translation of the Martyrology, which will be found
in its proper place in the Office.
The Rev. James McSwiney, S.J., and Mr J. H. Stevenson, who
were engaged with the Translator at the time of his death in seeing
the work through the press, were good enough to carry it on until some
three years ago, when the death of the Rev. J. McSwiney occurred.
This misfortune caused delay, but after a time his place was filled by
the Rev. James O'Donohoe, S.J., and once again the work went on.
The undertaking has been found to be very complicated in a way
which was not at first foreseen, and although a very complete manuscript
of the unprinted part of the book was left, except three of the recent
offices, and they were partly written, the difficulties have been great.
There have been constant delays owing to unforeseen circumstances,
and needless to say the absence of the Translator himself has been
keenly felt throughout. Frequently it has occurred that points which he
could have decided with a stroke of the pen have had to be made the
subject of much consideration as well as correspondence, for the anxiety
of those engaged on the work has been to complete it if possible exactly
XIV PREFACE TO THE PRESENT EDITION.
as he would have wished it, and, although the result may fall short,
no pains have been spared to attain this end.
Thanks are offered to all who have given permission to use their
existing translations of hymns, and in one or two cases for new
translations.
That such a work as this should be entirely free from mistakes or
oversights is hardly possible, and more especially considering the cir-
cumstances under which it has been finished; the indulgence therefore
of the reader is craved, owing to the extreme difficulty of the task
which has been undertaken.
G. BUTE.
St John's Lodge, 1908.
CONTENTS,
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE .
PREFACE TO THE PRESENT EDITION
THE PIE
PAGE
V
xiii
xix
THE PSALTER—
MATTINS —
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
LAUDS —
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
PRIME
SUNDAY
WEEK-DAYS
TERCE
I
73
92
I08
123
140
157
22
87
I05
I20
137
153
171
35
45
52
XVI
CONTENTS.
THE PSALTER-
SEXT
NONE
VESPERS —
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
COMPLINE
59
66
176
I85
188
190
193
197
200
205
PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON-
ADVENT
CHRISTMAS
EPIPHANY
SEPTUAGESIMA ....
213
271
331
414
THE COMMON OF SAINTS—
FOR APOSTLES' EVES
FOR APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS
FOR ONE MARTYR .
FOR MANY MARTYRS
FOR ONE BISHOP AND CONFESSOR
FOR A CONFESSOR NOT A BISHOP
FOR DOCTORS ....
FOR THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
FOR VIRGINS ....
FOR HOLY WOMEN .
FOR DEDICATION OF A CHURCH
PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS-
461
462
482
498
515
53i
547
552
567
580
588
FEAST DAYS
IN
NOVEMBER .....
609
11
DECEMBER
. 615
H
JANUARY
676
»
FEBRUARY
733
11
MARCH
■ 785
CONTENTS.
XVll
ADDITIONAL SERVICES-
LITTLE OFFICE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
OFFICE FOR THE DEAD ....
GRADUAL PSALMS
SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS AND LITANY
GRACE BEFORE AND AFTER MEAT
PRAYERS FOR A JOURNEY
PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION
THANKSGIVING AFTER COMMUNION .
DEVOTIONS AFTER COMMUNION
809
820
839
840
844
846
848
854
856
THE VOTIVE OFFICES-
ALL HOLY ANGELS
ALL THE HOLY APOSTLES ....
ST JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR .
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
859
865
867
875
887
896
GENERAL APPENDIX
OFFICES PECULIAR TO IRELAND
905
950
ERRATA.
Page 730, 2nd col., last line, delete — from the Chapter inclusive,
it 772, 1 st col., after line 4, insert martyrology.
vol. 1.
Eije $ie/
'"PHERE is an Office for every day, and this Office is either (i) Double,
(2) Semi-double, or (3) Simple.
«
Chapter I. Of Double Offices.
The Office is Double from Maundy Thursday to Easter Tuesday, both
inclusive, on Low Sunday, on Ascension Day, on Whitsun Day, and the
Monday and Tuesday following, on Trinity Sunday, on Corpus Christi, and
on the Dedication Feast of the Church where the service is held, or to which
the person praying is attached ; on every Feast-day in the Kalendar marked
Double, and on the Octave-day of every Feast which has an Octave ; more-
over, upon the Feast of the Patron or Patrons, or Titular or Titulars, of the
place or Church, and upon the Feast or Feasts of any Saint or Saints which
any particular Church, Order, or Congregation may have been used and have
obtained, or shall obtain, the Sanction of the Apostolic See to observe solemnly,
either with a special Office, or with the Common Office, even although such
Feast be not to be found in the Roman Kalendar. Moreover, the Office for
the Dead is said as a Double upon All Souls' Day, and upon the day of the
death or burial of the Deceased for whom it is said, even as is directed in the
Office itself.
2. A Double Feast is kept or commemorated upon its own day, unless it
should be transferred or entirely omitted according to Chapter X. of this Pie.
3. A Double Feast has the whole of both First and Second Vespers, unless
it clash with another like Office, as treated of in Chapter XL of this Pie,
and the whole Office is then of the Double from the Vespers on the first evening
till Compline on the second, both inclusive — unless something special be ordered
in its own place. The Office of the Dead, however, has only one Vesper Service,
Mattins, and Lauds, as given in its own place.
4. On a Double, the Antiphons at both Vespers, at Mattins, and at Lauds
(but not at Prime, Terce, Sext, None, or Compline,) are doubled, that is to say,
are repeated entire both before and after the Psalm or Canticle to which they
respectively belong.
5. At Mattins on a Double are always said three Nocturns, being nine Psalms
1 I.e., parti-coloured. This quaint name is owing to the General Rubrics being usually
printed in black and red.
XX THE PIE.
and nine Lessons, that is to say, three Psalms and three Lessons in each Nocturn.
The only exceptions are Easter and Pentecost, with the two days succeeding in
each case, when there is only one Nocturn, with three Psalms and three Lessons,
as there given.
6. On a Double, the Prayers called Pieces are omitted at Compline and
Prime, as also the Common Commemorations of the Blessed Virgin, &c, at
Vespers and Lauds.
7. As for anything else, see the Chapters of this Pie treating specially of
each detail.
Chapter II. Of Semi-double Offices.
The Office is Semi-double upon all Sundays (except Low Sunday, which is
Double); upon all days within Octaves; upon all Feasts which are marked
Semi-double in the Kalendar, and also upon any Feasts peculiar to particular places
or Congregations, which, in the said places or Congregations it has been usual to
keep more solemnly than if they were Simples.
2. A Semi-double Feast is either kept or commemorated upon its own day,
or entirely omitted, according to Chapter X. of this Pie.
3. A Semi-double Feast has the whole of the Office, from Vespers on the
first evening till Compline on the second, both inclusive, like a Double ; but the
Antiphons are not doubled — that is to say, before the Psalm or Canticle only the
first few words of the Antiphon are said, namely, those as far as the asterisk (*),
although at the end of the Psalm or Canticle the whole Antiphon is said entire.
4. At Mattins are said three Nocturns, with three Psalms and three Lessons
in each, except within the Octaves of Easter and Pentecost, when there is only
one Nocturn, with three Psalms and three Lessons. Also on Sundays, when the
Office is of the Sunday, there are twelve Psalms in the first Nocturn, instead of
three.
5. As to anything else, see the Chapters of this Pie treating specially of
each detail.
Chapter III. Of Simple Offices.
The Office is Simple on all Week-days when the Service is of such ; upon
all days in the Kalendar which are not marked Double, or Semi-double, or of an
Octave ; and in the Simple Office of the Blessed Virgin on Saturdays, as appointed
in Chapter VIII.
2. The Office of a Simple Feast is said upon its own day, but is liable to
be overborne by any Office having Nine Lessons, or by that of the Blessed Virgin
on Saturday, or by that of a Week-day having the precedence over it according to
Chapter V. and Chapter IX.
3. The Simple Feast has only one Vesper Office, namely, the first, when the
Service is of the Week-day till the Chapter, exclusive, and then of the Feast from
the Chapter, inclusive, till the end, what is of the Feast being as if of a Semi-
double. However, should this evening be occupied by the Vespers of an Office
of Nine Lessons, the Simple is only commemorated, as regulated in Chapter XL
A Simple Office always ends with None, inclusive, and has nothing afterwards,
not even a Commemoration.
4. At Mattins, the Office is of the Feast till the Hymn, inclusive ; after which
THE PIE. xxi
are said the Psalms and Antiphons of the Week-day. Then the Office continues
of the Feast, according to what is said in Chapter XXVI.
5. As to anything else, see the Chapters of this Pie treating specially of
each detail.
Chapter IV. Of Sundays.
The Office of the Sunday is always said on the Sundays in Advent, and on
those from Septuagesima to Low Sunday, both inclusive, any Double or Semi-
double Feast whatsoever being transferred or reduced to a mere Commemoration
or entirely omitted to make room for them, (as prescribed in Chapter X.,) unless
it be a Double Feast of the First Class. Such Feast is then observed, with a
Commemoration of the Sunday, except on the first Sundays of Advent and Lent,
and Passion, Palm, Easter, Low, Pentecost, and Trinity Sundays, which yield to
nothing. See, as to this, Chapter IX. On other Sundays in the year, the Office
is of the Sunday unless the day be occupied by a Double Office, in which case
the Service is of the Double, with a Commemoration of the Sunday at both
Vespers and at Lauds, and for the Ninth Lesson, the seventh of the Sunday,
or the seventh, eighth, and ninth read as one ; as prescribed in Chapter IX.
A Semi-double clashing with a Sunday is commemorated, according to Chapter X.
2. On the Sundays within the Octaves of Christmas, Twelfth-Day, Ascension
Day, and Corpus Christi, the Service is of the Octave with such variations as are
given in their own place, with Commemoration of the Octave and without either
Preces or the Common Commemorations. On Sundays within other Octaves, the
Service is of the Sunday as given in the Psalter and in the Proper Office of the
Season, with Commemoration of the Octave, but without Preces or the Common
Commemorations. If a Sunday and an Octave-day clash, the Office is of the
Octave-day, being Double, with Commemoration and Ninth Lesson of the
Sunday. The only exception is with the Octave-day of Twelfth-Day, when,
the Service of the Sunday having been said on Saturday, no notice of it is
taken on the Octave-day.
3. Offices are given for six Sundays after the Epiphany and for twenty-four
after Pentecost, so that there shall be no blank upon any of the thirty Sundays
which may occur between Twelfth-Day and Septuagesima, and between Pentecost
and Advent, albeit they may perhaps only be commemorated. Those which are
over and not wanted after Twelfth-Day before Septuagesima are inserted and
used up between the 23rd after Pentecost, and the next before Advent, in the
following order —
4. If there are 25 Sundays after Pentecost, the 24th is the 6th after the
Epiphany: if 26 — the 24th, the 5th; and the 25th, the 6th: if 27 — the 24th,
the 4th ; the 25th, the 5th ; and the 26th, the 6th : if 28 — the 24th, the 3rd ;
the 25th, the 4th; the 26th, the 5th; and the 27th, the 6th. It sometimes
happens that there are only 23 Sundays after Pentecost; in which case, that
next before Advent still keeps its place, and the Office of the 23rd Sunday is
said upon the preceding Saturday, if that day be not occupied by an Office of
Nine Lessons, or, if so occupied, upon the nearest day in that week not so
occupied, a Simple Feast being in such case only commemorated. On this
occasion the Office will be of the Week-day, substituting only the three Lessons,
the Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias, and the Prayer of the Sunday for those
of the Week-day (which are omitted.) However, if the whole of that week be
XX11 THE PIE.
occupied by Offices of Nine Lessons, even if transferred thither or belonging to
an Octave, then on the Saturday the Ninth Lesson is the seventh of the Sunday,
or the seventh, eighth, and ninth, read as one, and at Lauds (only) there is made
Commemoration of the Sunday, by its own Antiphon for the Song of Zacharias
and its own Prayer with the Verse and Answer of the Saturday.
5. It will sometimes occur that the 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th Sunday after the
Epiphany is left over and there is no room for it after Pentecost. In that case
it is placed on the Saturday or other day in the week preceding Septuagesima, in
the same manner as described in the foregoing section.
6. What to do when the 2nd Sunday after Twelfth-Day is Septuagesima, is
prescribed in a special Rubric on the subject at p. 359, Note 2.
7. When, in the Breviary, mention is made of the First Sunday of such-
and-such a month, the Sunday meant is that which is on or nearest to the
1st day of such month : thus, if the 1st day of the month be a Monday, Tuesday,
or Wednesday, the first Sunday of that month is the Sunday before, albeit actually
in the preceding month, but if the 1st day of the month be a Thursday, Friday,
or Saturday, the first Sunday of the month is the Sunday after. However, the
first Sunday of Advent is not taken to be the first Sunday of December, but that
which is either on or nearest to the Feast of St Andrew, viz., November 30.
8. The Sunday Office is Semi-double and begins with Vespers on Saturday,
lasting till Compline on Sunday, inclusive. See, however, the case of its clashing
with other Offices, Chapter XI.
9. At Mattins there are Three Nocturns, as in the Psalter, and Nine Lessons,
as in the Office of the Season.
10. As to anything else, see the Chapters of this Pie, treating specially of
such detail.
Chapter V. Of Week-days.
The Week-day Office, that is to say, the Simple Office of the Season, as
contained in the Psalter and the Proper Office of the Season, is always said in
Advent and Lent, and on Ember Days, Eves, and Rogation Monday, except
when there is a Double or Semi-double Office, or that belonging to some Octave,
on which occasions the Week-day is only commemorated, as given in Chapter IX.
If a Simple Feast occur upon one of these Week-days, it is only commemorated.
Moreover, the Office of the Week-day is said upon any day in the Kalendar
to which no Feast is assigned, which is not within any Octave, and which is
not occupied by the Simple Saturday Office of the Blessed Virgin, or by any
Feast peculiar to the Church or place where the Service takes place or to which
the person praying belongs.
2. In Advent and Lent, and on Ember Days, Eves, and Rogation Monday,
the Office of the Week-day begins with Mattins ; on other days in the year it
begins where the Office of the preceding day ends : thus — if the day before
have been Double or Semi-double, it begins with Mattins ; if a Simple, with
Vespers. Moreover, if upon Ember Wednesday and Friday in September, upon
Ash Wednesday, or upon any Eve, there fall a Simple Feast, which is to be
commemorated, this Simple Feast is deprived of its First Vespers, which are
then of the Week-day (unless they be the Second Vespers of some Office of Nine
Lessons) as in the Psalter, without Preces, but with the Prayer of the preceding
THE PIE. xxiii
Sunday, and a Commemoration of the Simple Feast. See Chapter XI. The
Office of the Week-day ends with None, if there follow a Double or Semi-
double, but if there follow a Simple, the Office of which is to be said, then
Vespers are of the Week-day till the Chapter exclusive, and with the Chapter
begins the Office of the said Simple, without any further notice of the Week-day.
3. At Mattins is said one Nocturn, with twelve Psalms and three Lessons, as
in the Psalter, and the Proper Office of the Season.
4. From the above rules are entirely excepted the Offices of Maundy
Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Week, and Whitsun Week,
which are perfectly special, as regulated in their own places.
5. As for anything else, see the Chapters of this Pie treating specially of
each detail.
Chapter VI. Of Eves.
The Office of the Eve is said upon all Eves which are Fasts,1 (and which
are marked in the Kalendar with the word "Eve,") unless there occur on such
a day an Office with Nine Lessons, or the Office of some Octave. In such a
case the Ninth Lesson of the said Office is omitted or read as one with the
Eighth, and for the Ninth Lesson is read the whole or the first part of the
Homily for the Eve ; and the Eve is commemorated at Lauds (only) by the
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias and the Verse and Answer belonging to the
Week-day, with the Prayer of the Eve. However, there are some exceptions,
which here follow.
2. If the Eve should be a Sunday, the Office of the Eve is said on Saturday,
or, if Saturday be occupied as mentioned above, it is commemorated, as there
directed. The two exceptions are the Eves of Christmas and Twelfth-Day, the
Offices of which are said even on Sunday, as is noted in their own place. How-
ever, if on the day of the Eve should be some Feast of great local importance in
a particular place, or one of those generally more important which are enumerated
hereafter in Chapter IX., — as for instance, if Corpus Christi fell upon Midsummer
Eve, — no notice whatever is taken of the Eve in the Office. The solitary
exception is the Eve of Twelfth-Day. Moreover, in Advent, Lent, and on
the days of Quarter-Tense, no notice whatever is taken of an Eve.
3. The Office of the Eve begins with Mattins and ends with None.
4. The Office of an Eve is entirely that of the Week-day, (Responsories
included,) except the Three Lessons2 and the Prayer. Long Preces are said
as in Advent or Lent, and also the Common Commemorations. For anything
else there are special Rubrics hereafter.
5. There are four exceptional cases : a. Whitsun Eve, which is a Semi-
double with Three Nocturns. (3. Christmas Eve, which is a Double, from
Lauds to None, both inclusive, y, 8. The Eves of Twelfth-Day and of the
Ascension. See all these in their own places.
1 There are a good many Eves which are not Fasts, at least in certain countries, but
they appear to have been so formerly, and it is the custom still to recite the Office,
including the Long Preces, as if they had remained so.
2 For the Blessings on them, see the Summary of Blessings and Absolutions hereafter.
XXIV THE PIE.
Chapter VII. Of Octaves.
An Octave is the repetition of an Office, or at the least the Commemoration
of it, if some Sunday or Festival intervene, for eight days, one after the other,
being the Feast itself and seven days following. This honour is paid to the
Passover, when our Lord rose again, to Ascension Day, to Whitsun Day, to
the Feast of Corpus Christi, to the Dedication of the particular Church, to
the Patronal or Titular Feast of the place or Church, and to Feasts of other
Saints which may have been customarily so treated in any particular Church,
Congregation, or Order. No Octaves are kept between Ash Wednesday and
Easter, nor during the Octave of Pentecost, nor between December 1 7 and
Christmas ; and even if one of these days, namely, Ash Wednesday, Whitsun
Day, or December 17, should come in the middle of an Octave which has
already been kept for some days, their arrival breaks it off at once.
2. Also, in the cases of Easter and Pentecost the Office of the Octave is
not said after None on the next Saturday.
3. Any Double or Semi-double Feast which falls on any day l within an
Octave, is observed, and so also is observed any Feast which may be thither
transferred, but there is then made a Commemoration of the Octave, at both
the Vespers and at Lauds, unless the Feast observed be one of those more
important, hereafter enumerated in Chapter IX., and whereon no Octave is
commemorated ; however, an exception is made in favour of the Octaves of
Christmas, Twelfth-Day, and Corpus Christi, which are always at least com-
memorated, whatsoever be the Feast which may occur during their Octaves.
However, within the Octaves of Easter and Pentecost no Feast whatsoever is
kept, even should it be that of the principal Patron or Titular or of the
Dedication of the particular Church. All are transferred out of the Octave,
if this can be done, or are reduced to mere commemorations, as laid down in
Chapter X. Within the Octave of Twelfth-Day (except the Octave-day
itself) may be observed only Double Feasts of the First Class, and that
with Commemoration of the Octave. Within the Octave of Corpus Christi,
only Doubles are observed, and they only those which naturally occur there ;
others are not to be transferred thither, unless they be Feasts of the First or
Second Class; and Commemoration is always made of the Octave. Semi-
doubles occurring within this Octave are reduced to mere Commemorations.
See Chapter X. Simples which occur within any Octave are merely com-
memorated, except upon Easter Monday and Tuesday, and Whitsun Monday
and Tuesday, when all notice of Simples is omitted. See Chapter IX. The
Service upon Sundays within Octaves is as prescribed above, in the Chapter
upon Sundays (IV.) If two Octaves clash (as, for instance, that of Midsummer
Day with that of Corpus Christi, or that of a local Patron or Titular with some
other) when the Office is not of some Festival with Nine Lessons or of the
Sunday, it is of that Octave whose Feast is of the higher rank, with Com-
memoration of the other. As for the case of Feasts falling on the actual
Octave-days, see Chapter X.
4. The Office of a day within an Octave has three Nocturns, that is to
say, at Mattins nine Psalms and nine Lessons. The only exceptions are the
1 Except, of course, the Feast itself, the Octave-day, and the Sunday.
THE PIE. XXV
Octaves of Easter and Pentecost, when there is only one Nocturn. Every-
thing is as on the Festival, except the Lessons. Of these, the first three are
always from Scripture according to the Season, except within the Octave of
the Assumption, when those days on which the Office is of the Octave have
Scripture Lessons of their own, taken from the Song of Songs. The Lessons
of the Second and Third Nocturns are always given in their own places. It
may happen that an Octave is kept somewhere for some local Patron or Titular
Feast, where there are no special authorised Lessons for the Second and Third
Nocturn : x in this case Lessons are to be taken out of the Common Office, if
the subject be some Saint or Saints, or, if otherwise, the Lessons of the Feast-day
repeated.
5. On the days within the Octave the Office is Semi-double, and on the
Octave-day itself Double. The Vespers every day are the same as the Second
Vespers of the Feast, except the First Vespers of the Octave-day, which are the
same as the First Vespers of the Feast, unless some special direction be given to
the contrary.
6. Within Octaves the Common Commemorations of the Saints are not said
at Vespers and Lauds, nor Preces at Prime and Compline, even if the Office
be of a Sunday or Semi-double. For anything else, see the Chapters of this
Pie treating specially of each detail.
Chapter VIII. Of the Office of the Blessed Virgin as a Simple
on Saturday.
On every Saturday in the year, with the exceptions hereafter immediately
noted, the Simple Office of the Blessed Virgin as placed at the end of the
Common Office for her Festivals, is said in preference to the Office of the
Week-day or the Office of any other Simple Festival, such simple Festival, if
it occur, being merely commemorated. The exceptions are the Saturdays in
Advent and Lent, the Ember Saturdays, Eves, Saturdays to which the Sunday
Office may be transferred according to this Pie, IV. 4, 5, Saturdays on which
Nine Lessons may be read, and the Saturdays within the Octaves of Easter and
Whitsun Day.
2. When this Office is not said, neither is it commemorated. On Semi-
doubles the Blessed Virgin (if her Little Office is not going to be said) has
her Common Commemoration at Vespers and Lauds, along with the others, but
that is all.
3. This Office begins with the Chapter at Vespers on Friday, like other
Simple Offices, and similarly, has a Commemoration at the Friday Vespers,
should those belong to some Office of Nine Lessons, unless such Office be of
the Blessed Virgin, when the Commemoration of the Simple Office is omitted.
If such Commemoration be made it consists of the Antiphon at her Song, the
Verse and Answer, and the Prayer of the Little Office Vespers ; and no other
Commemoration of her is made.
4. At Mattins, the Invitatory and Hymn are of her ; then follows the one
Nocturn of the Week-day, with its own Psalms and Antiphons ; Verse and
Answer, Absolution, two Responsories, Blessings, and Third Lesson of the
1 There is, however, an approved Octavarium Romanum, or Offices for Octaves, which will
meet nearly every possible contingency.
VOL. I. b 2
XXvi THE PIE.
Blessed Virgin, with two Lessons from Scripture and the Hymn " We praise
Thee, O God, &c," all as at the end of the Common, as are also Lauds,
Prime, Terce, Sext, and None.
5. Preces are said at Prime and Compline, and the Common Commemora-
tions (except her's) at Lauds. After None, nothing is said of her, unless she
is commemorated, among the other Common Commemorations, in the First
Vespers of Sunday.
Chapter IX. Of Commemorations.
If there come upon the day of a Simple Feast («) an Office of Nine
Lessons, either always, or transferred thither, (b) a Sunday, (c) some day
belonging to an Octave, (d) a Saturday, or (e) the Office of some Sunday
transferred to a Week-day, then there is made a Commemoration of the
Simple Feast, at First Vespers and at Lauds.
2. Week-days in Advent and Lent, Ember Days, Eves, and Rogation
Monday, are commemorated only, if a Feast of Nine Lessons comes upon
them, but their Office takes precedence of a simple Feast, which, in them, is
only commemorated.
3. If a Double Feast fall upon a Sunday between Pentecost and Advent,
between Twelfth-Day and Septuagesima, or between Low Sunday and Pentecost,
the Sunday is commemorated at both Vespers and at Lauds. A Double Feast
falling upon any of the other Sundays is either transferred or reduced to a mere
Commemoration, as laid down in Chapter X., unless it should be the principal
Patron, or Titular, or the Feast of the Dedication of the Church, (and this
applies only to the Church itself, not to every Side-Chapel or Altar,) in which
case such Patronal, Titular, or Dedication Festival is in that particular place
or Church only, kept instead of the Sunday, but with a Commemoration of
the Sunday at both Vespers and at Lauds. However, from this liability are
excepted the first Sundays in Advent and Lent, Passion, Palm, Easter, Low,
Pentecost, and Trinity Sundays, which cannot be displaced, and any such Festival
occurring on them is to be transferred, as likewise any Feast of the First Class
falling on these Sundays.
4. An Octave is always commemorated, if its office be displaced by a Feast
of Nine Lessons or a Sunday, unless 6uch Feast be that of the Patron, the
Titular, or the Dedication of the particular place, which kind of Feasts admit
of no Commemoration at First Vespers or at Lauds, whether of a Simple, or
of an Eve, (unless it be Twelfth-Day Eve,) or of the Second Vespers of another
Festival going before it, unless such Festival be one of those in this chapter here-
after specially enumerated, or of an Octave-day, or of the Second Vespers of a
Sunday, unless that Sunday be one of those of Advent, or one of those between
Septuagesima and Low Sunday, both inclusive, which Sundays, as also the Week-
days of Advent and Lent, the Ember Days and Rogation Monday, are always
commemorated in whatsoever Office it be. If such Festival fall on any Sunday,
or upon the Octave-day of some Feast which has an Octave, the Sunday or
Octave-day is commemorated at both Vespers and at Lauds. As regards,
however, the Second Vespers of such Festival, a Commemoration is made of
the First Vespers of any Double, Semi-double, or Sunday occupying the next
day, but not of anything else.
THE PIE. xxvii
5. The same rule is applied everywhere to certain great Festivals in the year,
viz., Christmas Day, (on which day there is no Commemoration of St Anastasia
in the Office, but only in the Dawn Mass,) Twelfth-Day, Maundy Thursday,
Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Day, Easter Monday, Easter Tuesday,
Ascension Day, Whitsun Day, Whitsun Monday, Whitsun Tuesday, Corpus
Christi, the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, St Joseph, Midsummer Day, the Holy
Apostles Peter and Paul, the Immaculate Conception, Lady Day and the
Assumption of Blessed Mary, All Saints, St Thomas of Canterbury,1 St George,
St Augustine of Canterbury, and the Feast of the Dedication of the particular
Church. The rules as to Commemorations on all these are everywhere the
same as if they were the local Patron.
6. There is a second and lower class of Festivals, viz., New Year's Day,
the Holy Name, Trinity Sunday, Candlemas, the Visitation, the Nativity and
the Solemnity of the Most Holy Rosary of Blessed Mary, the Feasts of the
Eleven Apostles, of the Evangelists, of the Patronage of St Joseph, of the Most
Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Finding of the Holy Cross,
of St Joachim, father of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of St Anne, mother of the
Same, of St Lawrence, of St Gregory the Great, of St Edward, and Michaelmas.
At the First Vespers of these (unless there be a special direction to the contrary)
a Commemoration is made of the Second Vespers of a Double, should there have
been one that day unless the contrary be specially indicated — but not of a Sunday,
of a day within an Octave, nor of a Semi-double, any more than on Festivals of
the highest class. If Simple Festivals or Eves fall on the same days as these
Festivals, they have the Ninth Lesson at Mattins and a Commemoration at Lauds
only. At Second Vespers a Commemoration is made of any Festival whatever —
even a Simple, and of a day within an Octave, if the Office of that is to occupy
the next day. The Octaves of Christmas, Twelfth-Day, and Corpus Christi are
special cases ; they are always commemorated at Vespers and Lauds, whatever be
the Office of the day.
7. If Sundays and Week-days of Advent and Lent are to be commemorated,
it is done at both Vespers and at Lauds ; if Ember Days, Eves, and Rogation
Monday, at Lauds only; if Simple Feasts (unless in the cases mentioned above)
at First Vespers and Lauds ; if other Sundays or Octaves, at both Vespers and at
Lauds. When a Double or Semi-double is reduced to a mere Commemoration,
it is commemorated at both Vespers and at Lauds in the same way as if it were an
Octave-day or a Sunday, unless the superseding Feast be a Double of the First
Class, in which case no notice of a suppressed Double or Semi-double is taken at
all, except that the First Vespers of such suppressed Double or Semi-double are
commemorated in the Second Vespers of a Double of the First Class, occupying
the immediately preceding day.
8. A Commemoration is made thus. After the Prayer of the Office for the
day are recited ( 1 ) the Antiphons for the Song of the Blessed Virgin or of
Zacharias, according as the occasion be Vespers or Lauds, then (2) the Verse
and Answer after the Hymn from the same, and then (3) the Prayer, preceded
1 In England St Thomas is the patron of the secular clergy, and for them therefore the
feast is of the First Class, but among some of the regulars it is only of the Second Class. In
the present translation it is given as of the First Class ; but where it is treated as of the Second
Class, the second half of the Vespers on Innocents' Day is of the Innocents, with a Com-
memoration of him ; and his Commemoration is made after that of the Innocents, while the
Octave of the Innocents lasts.
XXV111 THE PIE.
by " Let us Pray," which would have been used in the superseded Office which
is to be commemorated. It sometimes happens, where both the Office of the day
and the Office of a Simple Feast to be commemorated have their Antiphons and
Verse and Answer from the Common Office for Saints of the class, that the
Antiphon and Verse and Answer in the Commemoration would naturally be the
same as those in the Office for the day, and, to avoid this, those of the Com-
memoration are taken from Lauds at First Vespers, and from First Vespers at
Lauds — unless a special direction be given to the contrary.1 In like manner, if
the Festival of St Angela (or of any other Holy Woman with an Office of Nine
Lessons) fell on a Friday, and the Simple Office of the Blessed Virgin were to
be said on the Saturday, the Verse and Answer in the Commemoration of the
Blessed Virgin at the Second Vespers of St Angela would naturally be " Grace
is poured into thy lips — Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever," but these are
the same Verse and Answer as would already have been said after the Hymn of
St Angela, therefore, in the Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin, the Verse
and Answer are taken from the ensuing Lauds, viz., " Blessed art thou among
women — And blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb." And the same system is
adopted in the case of the Prayer ; if the Office for the day and the Office to be
commemorated have both the same Prayer out of one of the Common Offices,
then for the Commemoration a different Prayer is taken from the same Common
Office. If the Office to be commemorated has been reduced to the form of
a Simple Office, and the Antiphons, &c, are taken from the Common Office of
the Feast of the day, then at First Vespers such Antiphons, &c, must be taken
from the Second Vespers of the Common, and if the Feast has both First and
Second Vespers the Antiphon, &c, at Lauds must be taken from First Vespers,
while at Second Vespers the Antiphon will be taken from Lauds and the Verse
from First Vespers unless a special direction be given to the contrary. An
exception, however, is made when a Commemoration of a Holy Virgin is made
on the Feast of another Holy Virgin ; in this case the Antiphon for the Com-
memoration at First Vespers must be taken from Lauds. When the reduced
Feast is not commemorated at Second Vespers the rules given above for the
Commemoration of Simple Feasts must be followed.
9. Whenever in an Office of Nine Lessons, Commemoration is made of
any Sunday or Week-day which has an Homily of its own, then such Homily
is the Ninth Lesson at Mattins, being either the first part only, or the whole
three used continuously together as one.
10. So too if Commemoration be made of a Simple Feast, in an Office with
Nine Lessons, the Ninth Lesson is of the Simple Feast ; and if the Simple Feast
have two Lessons, then both are read together as one. But this Lesson of the
Feast is omitted, if the Office of the day be that of a Sunday which has a
Ninth Responsory instead of the Hymn, "We praise Thee, O God, &c,"
and also when the Ninth Lesson is occupied by an Homily, as prescribed above ;
neither is it read in any Office in which there are only three Lessons (as, for
instance, within the Octaves of Easter and Pentecost.) Moreover, when Com-
1 A standing instance is the First Vespers of St Angela on May 30, at which there is always
a Commemoration of the First Vespers of St Petronilla. Both the Office and the Commemora-
tion are from the Common Office for a Virgin not a Martyr, but the Antiphon and Verse
and Answer for St Petronilla are taken from Lauds, viz., "The kingdom of heaven, &c,"
and " Grace is poured, &c," because " Come, Bride of Christ, &c," and " In thy comeliness,
&c," have already been used for St Angela. And at Lauds the case is reversed.
THE PIE. XXIX
memoration is made of a day within an Octave, the Ninth Lesson is not of the
Octave albeit it have a proper Gospel and Homily. So also, when a Double or
Semi-double has been reduced to a mere Commemoration, the historical Lessons
of the Second Nocturn of the said suppressed Double or Semi-double are read
together as one Lesson, forming the Ninth Lesson of the superior Office which
has superseded the Double or Semi-double, except if the Office of Corpus Christi
be said on any day within that Octave, in which case any Ninth Lesson of this
sort is omitted.
ii. If several Commemorations are to be made, their order of precedence is
as follows. First, a privileged Sunday ; second, an Octave ; third, a Greater
Double ; fourth, a Double reduced to a Simple Commemoration ; fifth, a Common
Sunday ; sixth, a day within the Octave of Corpus Christi ; seventh, a Semi-
double ; eighth, a day within an Octave when reduced to a Simple Com-
memoration ; ninth, a Week-day in Advent or Lent, an Ember Day, Eve, or
Rogation Day ; tenth, for a Friday evening, the Simple Office of the Blessed
Virgin, if it is to be said next day ; lastly, a Simple Feast ; and not till after a
Simple (if there be one) are made the Common Commemorations of the Blessed
Virgin, St Joseph, &c, or of the Cross only, as the Season may be. The place
of the local Patron in these Common Commemorations is determined according to
his rank.1 As to these Common Commemorations, see Chapter XXXV.
Chapter X. Of Transferences.
If any Double Feast fall upon a Sunday in Advent, or upon any Sunday
between Septuagesima and Low Sunday, both inclusive, upon Christmas Eve
and Christmas Day, upon New Year's Day, from Jan. 6 to 13, both inclusive,
on Ash Wednesday, in Holy Week, or Easter Week, on Ascension Day, or
any day from Whitsun Eve to Trinity Sunday, both inclusive, on Corpus Christi
or its Octave, on the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, on Dec. 8,
on Lady Day, on Aug. 15, on Midsummer Day, on March 19, on June 29,
or on Nov. 1, then such Feast is transferred to the nearest day which is not
occupied by a Double or Semi-double. The only exception is that Midsummer
Day and the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul may be kept upon the Octave of
Corpus Christi or on the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Moreover,
the special Feast of a particular Church or place may, but only in that particular
Church or place, be kept upon the Second, Third, and Fourth Sundays of Lent
and Advent, upon Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima, and upon a
day within the Octave of Twelfth-Day.2 A solemn primary Feast occurring
on the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus will take precedence of the
latter. Candlemas Day possesses this special privilege, viz., that if it fall on a
Sunday of the Second Class, it is transferred only to Monday, however occupied.
Moreover, if Midsummer Day be Corpus Christi, the Feast of St John is trans-
ferred only to the next day, and has Commemoration of the Octave. St John
is only commemorated in the Second Vespers of Corpus Christi, and on the
following days the Office is of the Octave of Corpus Christi, with Commem-
oration of the Octave of St John. In this case July 1 is reckoned to be the
Octave-day of both, and the Service is of the Octave-day of Corpus Christi,
1 I.e., an Angel or St John the Baptist is commemorated before St Joseph.
2 St Joseph, as Patron everywhere, possesses this privilege everywhere.
XXX THE PIE.
with a Commemoration of the Octave-day of St John at both Vespers and at
Lauds.
The above rule is invariable. If a Feast which has an Octave is transferred,
its Octave is not transferred with it ; all is done as if the Feast had occupied
its usual place. And if the Feast be transferred beyond what would ordinarily be
its own Octave-day, it is that year kept without any Octave at all ; unless, indeed,
it be a Feast which has some local privilege to the contrary.
Ordinary or lesser Doubles, with the exception of the Feasts of those Saints
who are styled Doctors of the Church, are not transferred if their observance
is impeded by that of some Sunday or greater Festival or Office, but upon their
own day they have a Commemoration at both Vespers and at Lauds, and the
Ninth Lesson at Mattins, — that is to say, if the rules applicable to the Feasts
superseding them permit of such Commemoration ; if not, such Double Feast is
for that year entirely omitted (see Chapter IX. par. 7-10, and par. 8 of the
present Chapter. ) The same rules apply to any other Double Feasts for which
it may be impossible to find any day within the year to which to transfer them.
When ordinary or lesser Double Feasts, even though they are not of Doctors,
are impeded every year by a higher Office, they are permanently fixed on the
first free day.
2. If a Double of the First or Second Class as enumerated in Chap. IX.
par. 5, 6, fall upon an Octave-day, the Service is of the Festival with Com-
memoration of the Octave, unless the day be New Year's Day or January 13 ;
any Festival falling upon these two days must be transferred ; but if the Festival
falling upon the Octave-day be not of the First or Second Class, it is transferred
if it be a Greater Double, or the Feast of a Doctor of the Church ; if not, it is
reduced to a mere Commemoration at both Vespers and at Lauds with the Ninth
Lesson at Mattins as above.
3. If some Double1 Feast falling within an Octave is superseded by some
higher Feast, it is transferred to the next day not similarly occupied, if it be
of the Second Class, or a Greater Double, or the Feast of a Doctor of the
Church, and is kept with Commemoration of the Octave.2 If it be an ordinary
lesser Double, it is simply reduced to Commemoration at both Vespers and
Lauds, with the Ninth Lesson at Mattins, as above.
4. Sundays within the year other than those above mentioned are superseded
even by an ordinary or lesser Double Feast. The Sunday then has a Com-
memoration at both Vespers and Lauds, and a Ninth Lesson at Mattins. See
Chap. IX.
5. If a Semi-double Feast fall upon any of the days above enumerated, or
within the Octave of Corpus Christi, or upon any Sunday, it either has a
Commemoration at both Vespers and at Lauds, and the historical Lessons of
its Second Nocturn are read as one for the Ninth Lesson at Mattins, or it is
totally omitted as above directed in the case of ordinary or lesser Doubles.
But if a Semi-double Feast is impeded every year by a higher Office, it is
permanently fixed on the first free day, as in the case of ordinary or lesser
Double Feasts.
1 This must be understood of the Feast of a Doctor of the Church, of a Greater Double,
a Double of the Second Class, or of a Double of the First Class as mentioned in the latter part
of IX. 3. The end of this paragraph contains a special direction for the suppression instead of
the transference of the ordinary or lesser Doubles.
2 That is, if it is not transferred beyond it.
THE PIE. xxxi
6. If two or more Feasts of Nine Lessons fall on the same day, the higher
in rank is observed, and the others commemorated as above. If they are all
of the same rank, a Primary Feast will take precedence of a Secondary, and
generally the more worthy or solemn is observed, and the others reduced to a
mere Commemoration or omitted altogether, unless they be Feasts of Doctors
of the Church or higher, when they are transferred.
7. If several are to be transferred, the order of precedence is observed as
above, and, lastly, if none is more worthy or solemn than another, they are
taken by priority of date.
8. A Simple Feast is never transferred. If it comes on a day when it
cannot be kept, it is commemorated, and if it cannot be commemorated, it is
omitted altogether.
9. If a Feast of Nine Lessons which has the Commemoration of a Simple
be transferred, the Commemoration is not transferred with it, but is made, if
it can be made, upon its own day, with the Ninth Lesson, if it have one, and
the Office of the day admits of it. The Feast to which it was originally joined
is utterly divorced from it. And the same rule applies to a Commemoration
made on an Eve, if the Feast to which the Eve belongs fall on Monday, and
so the Eve be kept on Saturday ; the Commemoration of the Simple stands
unchanged for the Sunday.
Chapter XI. Of Concurrence.
By Concurrence (as opposed to Occurrence, which is two Offices falling on
the same day,) is meant the case of the Second Vespers of one Office falling
on the same evening as the First Vespers of another.
2. If they are two Doubles of the same rank, the Vespers are divided ;
the former is observed up to the Chapter, and the latter from the Chapter,
inclusive l — unless there be some special direction to the contrary. If they
are not of the same rank, they are treated according to Chapters IX. and X.
Hence the highest class have the whole of both First and Second Vespers,
with a Commemoration, if proper, of lesser Feasts. But if the Second Vespers
of a Feast of the Second Class fall on the same evening as the First Vespers
of a Feast of the First Class, then the whole is of the Feast of the First
Class, with a Commemoration of the Feast of the Second Class. As regards
precedence, among Feasts of the same Class, the Feasts of our Lord go before
all others, so as to have the whole of both Vespers ; so those of the Blessed
Virgin go before those of other Saints ; so also those of Angels, of St Joseph,
and of the Apostles [and Evangelists] before others ; and those of Saints par-
ticularly venerated in the place before the rest.
3. If the Second Vespers of a Double fall on the same evening with the
First Vespers of a Semi-double, a Sunday, a day within an Octave, a Simple
Feast, or the Simple Office of the Blessed Virgin on Saturday, the Service is
all of the Double, with a Commemoration of the other, unless indeed it be one
of those Doubles which, according to Chapter IX., exclude certain Com-
memorations. When the day after any Office of Nine Lessons is a Week-day
kept as such, no notice of the Week-day so ensuing is taken in the Second
1 The Frontal and Vestments are, from the beginning, of the colour which will be proper at
the Song of the Blessed Virgin.
xxxil THE PIE.
Vespers of the Feast;, but if it be in Advent or Lent, the Week-day is com-
memorated as usual. Also a Commemoration is made of a Simple which is to
be commemorated in the First Vespers of an Office of Nine Lessons occupying
the next day, although this Commemoration cannot be said to proceed from
the Second Vespers of the former Office of Nine Lessons concurring with the
First Vespers of the Simple, seeing that the Simple has no Office, but is because
the Simple occurs on the same day with the latter Office of Nine Lessons.
4. If the Second Vespers of a Semi-double, of a Sunday, or of a day
within an Octave fall on the same evening with the First Vespers of a Double,
the Service is all of the Double, with a Commemoration of the other, unless
the Double be one of those which, according to Chapter IX., exclude such
Commemoration. If the Second Vespers of a Semi -double fall on the same
evening with the First Vespers of another Semi-double or of a Sunday, the
Service is of the former up to the Chapter, and of the latter, from the Chapter,
inclusive. But if the Second Vespers of a Semi-double fall on the same evening
with the First Vespers of a day within an Octave, the Service is all of the former,
with a Commemoration of the latter. But if the Second Vespers of a Semi-
double fall on the same evening with the First Vespers of a Simple, or of
the Simple Office of the Blessed Virgin on Saturday, the Service is all of the
former, with a Commemoration of the latter.
5. If the First Vespers of a Semi-double, a day within an Octave, or a
Simple, fall on Sunday evening, the Service is all of Sunday, with a Com-
memoration of the other.
6. If the Second Vespers of a day within an Octave fall upon the same
evening with the First Vespers of a Sunday, the Service is of the former up
to the Chapter, and of the latter, from the Chapter, inclusive, with a Com-
memoration of the Octave. If the Second Vespers of a day within an Octave
falls upon the same evening with the First Vespers of a Semi -double, the
Service is all of the latter, with a Commemoration of the Octave. Second
Vespers of a day within an Octave can never properly be said to fall on the
same evening with the First Vespers of a Simple, because a Simple in such a
position is always deprived of its Office by that of the next day, but there is
a Commemoration, just as there is at the next Lauds.
7. If the Second Vespers of one Octave-day fall on the same evening with
the First Vespers of another Octave-day, other things being equal, the Service
is of the latter, from the Chapter inclusive, with a Commemoration of the former,
except when the Second Vespers of the Octave of Corpus Christi fall on the
same evening with the First Vespers of the Octave of St John the Baptist,
when the Service is all of Corpus Christi, with a Commemoration of St John,
(which Commemoration is made though the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart
occur), and except also when special directions are given. If the Second Vespers
of an Octave-day fall on the same evening with the First Vespers of a Common
Double, (even one which has got there by transference,) other things being
equal, the Service is of the Octave-day up to the Chapter, and of the ensuing
Double, from the Chapter, inclusive — except the Octave-days of the Primary
Feast of the Blessed Virgin, of the Feasts of the Holy Angels, of St John
the Baptist, of St Joseph, and of Apostles, which Octaves have the whole
Service, the Double being only commemorated. But if the ensuing Feast be
a Greater Double, (even one there by transference,) such Double has the
THE PIE. XXXill
whole Service, with a Commemoration of the Octave — except in the case of
the Octave-days of Twelfth-Day, of Easter Day, of the Ascension, and of
other primary Feasts of our Lord, when the ensuing Feast is only commem-
orated. However, if the ensuing Feast be one of the Doubles enumerated in
Chapter IX., par. 6, it has the whole Service, the Octave being only com-
memorated, [and if one of the highest class, there is no Commemoration.]
If, however, the Feasts of which the Octaves concur are of different rite, or
dignity, the Vespers will be all of the Octave of the Feast which is of higher
rite, or a primary Feast, or of greater dignity, with a Commemoration of the
other, and likewise when an Octave concurs with a Double, exception being
always made of the Octaves of the above-named Feasts of our Lord and the
Blessed Virgin.
8. A Simple never has any Second Vespers ; its Office ends absolutely
with None.
9. A Week-day kept as such cannot be said to have either First or Second
Vespers, the Week-day Office being merely a means of filling up space between
other Offices. The Commemorations made of them in Advent or Lent or at
other times are by occurrence, not concurrence, and to fulfil the rule of the
Church. They cannot extend before midnight ; for instance, if Vespers on
Shrove Tuesday were of the Week-day, the Prayer would be that of Quin-
quagesima Sunday, and the Long Preces would not be said.
10. However, if a Simple Feast fall on a Week-day to be kept as such
(for instance, on Ash Wednesday) it is deprived of its First Vespers, and has
only a Commemoration, whatever be the Office on the preceding evening, or,
if it fall on Maundy Thursday, all observance of it is omitted. This is not
because the Week-day has First Vespers, which is not the case, but because
it would be unseemly for the Simple, which has only a Commemoration at
Lauds, to have First Vespers.
Chapter XII. How to find the Office for the Day.
If any one wishes to find the Office for the ensuing day,1 let him look in
the Kalendar and in the Table of Moveable Feasts,2 and do as he finds there.
2. If the Office be of the Season, that is to say, of some Sunday or Week-
day kept as such, the places to look in are the Psalter and the Proper Office
of the Season ; the former contains the general outline of the Service, with the
Psalms, and some other things, and the latter, the Lessons and Responsories,
with some Antiphons, the Prayers, &c, which are not in the Psalter. The
Invitatories, Hymns, Chapters, Verses and Answers, Short Responsories and
Antiphons, given in the Proper Office of the Season for certain times, are
said instead of those in the Psalter ; when there are no others, those in the
Psalter are used.
3. If the Office be of a Saint, the place to look is the Common Office
1 Which is reckoned to begin with Vespers.
2 But this process is now always superseded by the simple plan of consulting the Ordo
Recitandi Divini Officii, or Ecclesiastical Kalendar, published yearly in all dioceses of the
Latin Church. In this translation of the Breviary the Table of Moveable Feasts is omitted,
as it is entirely useless, owing to the multiplicity of yearly almanacks.
XXXIV THE PIE.
of Saints and the Proper Office of Saints ; what is not in the Proper is taken
from the Common. And the Lessons (not the Responsories) from Scripture
are usually those from the Proper Office of the Season.1
Chapter XIII. Mattins.
Mattins are always said in the following manner according to the Office of the
day, except on certain days, when special directions are given. The " Our
Father," the " Hail Mary," and the " I believe in God " are first said inaudibly.
Then the Officiant makes the sign of the Cross upon his mouth with the thumb of
his right hand, saying aloud at the same time, "O Lord, open Thou my lips."
To which is answered, " And my mouth shall show forth Thy praise." Then
he opens his hand and signs himself again, with the extended fingers, from the
forehead to the breast, and from the left shoulder to the right, saying, " Make
haste, O God, to deliver me." And so on, as is to be found at the beginning of
the Psalter. The same rite is to be observed at the beginning of every Canonical
Hour. Then is said the Invitatory proper to the Office of the day, either of the
Season or of a Feast, with the Psalm, " O come, let us sing unto the Lord," —
all as is to be found at the beginning of the Psalter.2 When the Psalm is done,
and the Invitatory repeated for the last time, the Hymn proper to the Office
of the day is recited.
2. After this, upon all Doubles and Semi-doubles follow nine Psalms, (upon
Sundays there are more, as will be found in the Psalter,) with the Antiphons and
Verses proper to the Office of the day, either of the Season or Feast, together
with nine Lessons, and either eight or nine Responsories, as marked in the proper
place. The whole is divided into Three Nocturns, as follows —
3. In the First Nocturn are said three Psalms with three Antiphons, after
every Psalm an Antiphon : but in the Easter-time, that is, from Low Sunday to
Whitsun Day, (except in the Office of the Ascension,) the three Psalms of each
Nocturn are said with only one Antiphon, which is repeated after the third Psalm.
At the end of the Antiphon after the third Psalm in each Nocturn, is said a Verse
and Response, then the "Our Father," — "And lead us not into temptation," to
which is answered, " But deliver us from evil," then the Absolution, that is, the
Prayer " Graciously hear," then the Blessing is asked and pronounced, " May the
Eternal Father," and the other forms which are marked for the first and every
other Lesson. After this are read three Lessons from Scripture, which are those
proper to the Season, unless special Lessons are assigned. After each Lesson
follows a Responsory taken from the Office of the day, which is always the
case, whatever the Lessons be ; as, for instance, on a Saint's Day when no special
Lessons are assigned and the three Lessons from Scripture are accordingly taken
1 Here follow six more paragraphs, describing the contents of the book, which it appears
unnecessary to translate.
2 These invitatories vary with the Office, but are invariably divided into two portions by an
asterisk (*). The entire invitatory is repeated twice before the Psalm, and once after the
first, third, and fifth of the five sections (each consisting of two verses) into which the Psalm
is divided. After the second and fourth sections, is repeated only that part of the Invitatory
which follows the asterisk, and which usually, though not always, consists of the words, " O
come, let us worship Him." The Psalm finished and the entire Invitatory repeated, the
doxology of two verses is said as another section, and then is repeated first the second portion
of the Invitatory, and then the whole of it once more.
THE PIE. XXXV
from the Proper Office of the Season, the Responsories are nevertheless taken from
the Office of the Saint.
4. In the last Responsory of each Nocturn is said "Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost," (without "As it was in the beginning,
&c") And then part of the Responsory is repeated again, unless a direction be
given to the contrary.
5. In the Second Nocturn are said three more Psalms, with Antiphons, a
Verse and Response, the "Our Father — And lead us not into temptation."
Answer, " But deliver us from evil," the Absolution, " May His grace and
mercy," the Blessings, and the rest, with three more Lessons, taken from some
discourse, or from the Life of the Saint whose Office is being said, if it be a
Saint's Day, and after each Lesson a Responsory.
6. In the Third Nocturn are said three more Psalms, with Antiphons, a
Verse and Response, the " Our Father — And lead us not into temptation,"
Answer, " But deliver us from evil," the Absolution, " May the Almighty,"
the Blessings, and the rest, as before, with three more Lessons taken from
some Commentary on the Gospel for the day or Feast. After the two first
Lessons (that is, the seventh and eighth of the whole) is said a Responsory,
one after each. Sometimes there is also a Responsory said after the third
(ninth) Lesson, which will be found marked in its proper place. In the last
Responsory, whether it be the eighth or ninth, is said the " Glory be to the
Father " as in the third and sixth, unless the contrary is specially directed. If
there is no ninth Responsory, the last lesson is immediately followed by the
Hymn, " We praise Thee, O God."
7. On plain Week-days and Simple Feasts only three Lessons are read.
In that case the Office is the same as above, except that instead of three
Nocturns only one is said. This Nocturn is always that of the Week-day,
whether the Office be said of the Week-day or of a Saint, and consists of
twelve Psalms, and six Antiphons arranged as in the Psalter. In the Easter-
time there is only one Antiphon, that is "Alleluia."
8. After the Psalms and Antiphons follows a Verse and Response. This
is to be found in the Psalter, if the Office be of a Week-day. If the Office is
of a Saint, it is taken from the Common of Saints of that Class, which is to be
found in the same place. Then is said the "Our Father — And lead us not into
temptation," Answer, " But deliver us from evil," an Absolution and Blessing,
&c, as will be laid down more at length in the Chapter on Absolutions and
Blessings. Then are read three Lessons. If the Office is of a Week-day,
these are all from the Scripture, as appointed for the Season. If the Office is
of a Saint, if there is one special Lesson appointed, the two first only are of
Scripture, in which case the third may be read along with the second, as one,
at option ; if two special Lessons be appointed, then only the first Lesson is from
Scripture, in which case the whole three may be read together as one.
9. After each Lesson is said a Responsory ; if the Office be of the Week-
day, they will be found marked after the Lessons ; if the Office be of a Feast
they are taken from the Common of Saints of the Class according to the rule
given in Chapter XXVII., as will be laid down more at length in the chapter
on Verses and Responsories. In the case of a Saint's Day, it will be observed
that only two Responsories are said, the third Lesson being followed by the Hymn
"We praise Thee, O God." The same is the case in Easter-time. In both
XXXVI THE PIE.
these cases therefore • the second Responsory, being the last, is said with the
" Glory be to the Father, &c," and the partial repetition of the Responsory itself.
Chapter XIV. Lauds.
When the Hymn "We praise Thee, O God," or the ninth Responsory, as
the case may be, has been said, the Officiant makes the sign of the Cross, saying,
" Make haste, O God, to deliver me," to which is answered, " Make haste to
help me, O Lord," and so on, as at Mattins. But instead of the Invitatory
there follow at once the Psalms, with the Canticle, (which is on Sundays the
Song of the Three Children in the burning fiery furnace, " O all ye works of
the Lord,") all as contained in the Psalter, with the Antiphons proper to the
Office of the day. The same Psalms and Canticle are said upon every Sunday
in the year, on every day in Easter-time, and upon every Feast whatsoever, even
Simples, except only the Sundays from Septuagesima to Palm Sunday inclusively.
Upon the Sundays from Septuagesima to Palm Sunday inclusively the Office is
said as marked in its proper place. The Office on Week-days not in Easter-
time is said as given in the Psalter.
2. If no proper Antiphons are assigned, if the Office be of the Sunday, those
are said which are given in the Psalter ; if the Office be of a Feast, Double or
Simple, they are taken from the Common of Saints of that Class. After the
Psalms follow the Chapter, the Hymn, the Verse and Response, the Antiphon
for the Canticle " Blessed be the Lord God of Israel," the said Canticle itself,
and the Prayer ; all taken from the Office of the day.
3. When the short Responsory prayers called the " Preces " are to be said,
they are said before the Prayer ; and when the Antiphons, Verses, Responses
and Prayers in memory of the Cross, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of St Joseph,
of the Apostles, of the Patron of the Church, Country, Diocese or Place, and
for Peace are to be said, they are said after the Prayer of the day. If a Prayer
is likewise to be said in memory of some Saint with a Simple Feast, such Prayer
is to be said, with its proper Antiphon, Verse and Response, before the Com-
memoration of the Cross ; for which fuller directions are given in the special
chapter on the subject.
4. Before the Prayer the Officiant always says, "Hear my prayer, O Lord,"
to which is answered, "And let my cry come unto Thee."1 Then he says,
" Let us pray," and proceeds. After the last Prayer is again said, " Hear my
prayer, O Lord," Answer, " And let my cry come unto Thee." l Then, " Bless
we the Lord," Answer, "Thanks be to God." "May the souls of the faithful,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace," Answer, "Amen." If the Office is
not to be at once continued, the " Our Father " is then recited inaudibly ; after
which the Officiant says, "The Lord give us His peace," Answer, "And life
eternal. Amen." After this, one of the Antiphons of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
from the end of Compline, is said, unless Mass, the Office of the Dead, the
Penitential Psalms, or the Litany are to follow at once. If the Office is to
be continued, the Antiphon of the Blessed Virgin is said when it is over.
Respecting the Office of the Dead, the Penitential Psalms and the Litany,
directions are given in their proper place.
1 Instead of this a person in or above Deacon's orders says, " The Lord be with you," and
is answered, "And with thy spirit."
THE PIE. xxxvii
Chapter XV. Prime.
At the beginning of Prime the "Our Father," the " Hail, Mary," and the " I
believe in God " are said inaudibly. Then follows, " Make haste, O God, to
deliver me," and the rest precisely as at Lauds. But after the " Alleluia," or,
"Ceaseless praise, &c," is said the Hymn, "The Star of morn, &c." Then
follow the Psalms, as appointed in the Psalter, according to the day of the
week, except on Feasts and in Easter-time, when the Psalms said are the three
(i) Ps. liii. "Save me, O God, by Thy Name," (2) Ps. cxviii. I- 16,
"Blessed are the undefiled — I will not forget Thy word," and (3) Ps. cxviii.
17-32, "Deal bountifully with Thy servant — Thou hast enlarged my heart."
Only one Antiphon is said after all the Psalms, which Antiphon is the same
as the first Antiphon at Lauds.
Here it is to be observed that only one Antiphon is said at Prime, Terce,
Sext, and None, one to each, which Antiphon on Feasts is the same as the first,
second, third, and fifth at Lauds, respectively ; but this matter is treated of more
fully further on in the chapter on Antiphons.
2. Immediately after the Antiphon on every Sunday in the year, on every day
in Easter-time, and on every Feast whatsoever, even Simples, is read the Chapter
from 1 Tim. i. 17, "Unto the King Eternal." When the Office is said of a
Week-day not in Easter-time, the Chapter is the one from Zacharias viii. 19,
"Love peace." Then follows the short Responsory : "Christ, Thou Son of
the Living God, have mercy on us." After the short Responsory, if the Office
be not of a Double or within an Octave, follow the short Responsory prayers
called the " Preces," which begin, " Lord, have mercy upon us," as given in
the Psalter. When the Officiant says the words, " Our help is in the Name
of the Lorb," he makes the sign of the Cross from his forehead to his breast.
Then follows the " I confess to God Almighty," " Almighty God, have mercy
on us," "May the Almighty and Merciful Lord."1 When the Office is of
a Week-day and Preces have been said at Lauds, other Preces are added, as may
be found in the Psalter in the Office of Prime on Week-days. But if the Office
of the day be Double or within an Octave, the Preces are entirely omitted, with
the Confession, and the Officiant, immediately after the short Responsory, says,
"Hear my prayer, O Lord," Answer, "And let my cry come unto Thee,"
" Let us pray," and he says the Prayer, " O Lord God Almighty."
3. Then, if the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin is said, it is done at
once ; otherwise after the Prayer " O Lord God Almighty," is repeated " Hear
my prayer, O Lord," Answer, "And let my cry come unto Thee," then, " Bless
we the Lord," Answer, "Thanks be to God," and in choir the Martyrology
for the day is read at once. All that follows, beginning with " Precious in the
sight of the Lord," is to be said by all in or out of choir, whether they have
read the Martyrology or not. At the end is read one of the short Lessons,
varying with the Season, which are to be found in the Psalter at the end of
Prime. But on Feasts and some other days, instead of one of these short Lessons
is read the Chapter appointed for None ; which days are marked in their place.
1 Here follow in the original some directions for the saying of the Confession by clergymen,
before others, and alone.
xxxvni TIJE PIE.
Chapter XVI. Terce, Sext, and None.
Terce, Sext, and None are all similar to one another. At the beginning the
" Our Father " and the " Hail, Mary " are said inaudibly. Then follows, " Make
haste, O God, to deliver me," and the rest as at Mattins, Lauds, and Prime.
After the "Alleluia" or "Ceaseless praise, &c," follow the Hymn and the
Psalms, as given in the Psalter. One Antiphon is said at each Hour, taken
on Feasts and some other occasions from Lauds, viz., at Terce the second, at
Sext the third, and at None the fifth, as described above. After the Psalms and
Antiphons are said the Chapter and the short Responsory, according to the Office
of the day ; on Sundays and Week-days they are either specially assigned in the
Proper Office of the Season, or are read as in the Psalter ; on Feasts they are
either special, or taken from the Common of Saints of that Class. After the
short Responsory the Officiant says, " Hear my prayer, O Lord," Answer, " And
let my cry come unto Thee," " Let us pray," and he says the proper Prayer of
the day.
2. After the Prayer is repeated " Hear my prayer, O Lord," Answer, "And
let my cry come unto Thee." Then, "Bless we the Lord," Answer, "Thanks
be to God," " May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in
peace," Answer, "Amen." The "Our Father" is then recited inaudibly; as
will be more fully explained hereafter in the chapter on the Lord's Prayer and
the Angelic Salutation.
Chapter XVII. Vespers.
Vespers begin the same as Terce, Sext, and None ; but immediately after the
" Alleluia " or " Ceaseless praise, &c," there are said five Psalms, with the same
number of Antiphons, taken from the Office of the day ; but it is to be observed
that the Antiphons on Sundays and Week-days observed as such, are almost
invariably those in the Psalter.
2. After the Psalms and Antiphons follow the Chapter, the Hymn, the Verse
and Response, the Antiphon for the Canticle "My soul doth magnify the Lord,"
the said Canticle itself, and the Prayer ; all taken from the Office of the day.
3. When the Preces are to be said, they are said before the Prayer ; and
when the Commemorations of the Cross, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of St
Joseph, the Apostles, and of the Patron of the Church, Country, Diocese, or
Place, and the Prayer for Peace, are to be said, they are said after the Prayer
of the day. Vespers conclude in the same way as Terce, Sext, and None.
Chapter XVIII. Compline.
The Blessing having been asked and pronounced, Compline begins at once with
the short Lesson, as given in the Psalter. Then follow, " Our help is in the
Name of the Lord," Answer, " Who hath made heaven and earth." Then
the "Our Father" inaudibly, the "I confess to God Almighty," "Almighty
God, have mercy on us," " May the Almighty and merciful Lord," then " Turn
us, O God of our salvation," Answer, " And cause Thine anger toward us to
cease," " Make haste, O God, to deliver me," and so on, followed by the
Psalms, (which are always the same) under one Antiphon, the Hymn, the
Chapter, the short Responsory, and the Canticle, " Lord, now lettest Thou Thy
THE PIE. xxxix
servant," with its own Antiphon, all as is to be found at the end of the Psalter.
After the Antiphon " Save us," if the Office is not Double or within an Octave
are said the Preces, which begin " Lord, have mercy upon us ; " but if the
Office be Double or within an Octave, the Officiant says at once, "Hear my
prayer, O Lord," Answer, " And let my cry come unto Thee," " Let us
pray," and he proceeds with the Prayer, "Visit, O Lord, we beseech Thee,"
and the rest, exactly as in the Psalter.
2. After the Verse, " May Almighty God," follows one of the Antiphons
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with its Verse and Response, and Prayer, according
to the Season, as is to be found at the end of the Psalter, after Compline. And
after the Verse, " God's most mighty," the " Our Father," the " Hail, Mary,"
and the " I believe in God," are said inaudibly.
Chapter XIX. The Invitatory.
In every Office an Invitatory is said at Mattins, with the Psalm, " O come,
let us sing unto the Lord," in the manner in which it will be found given for
ordinary Sundays, at the beginning of the Psalter. The Invitatory varies with
the Office, with which it will be found either in the Psalter or the Office proper
to the particular Season, or in the Proper, or Common Office of Saints.
2. The only exception is on Twelfth-Day, and on Maundy Thursday, Good
Friday, and Holy Saturday, when Mattins begin immediately after the " I believe
in God " with the Antiphon for the first Psalm of the Nocturns. Likewise no
Invitatory is said at the beginning of a dirge, except on All Souls' Day, the day
of death or burial, and when the whole three Nocturns of the Dirge are to be said.
Chapter XX. The Hymns.
A Hymn is said at each of the Canonical Hours, except in the Office of the
Dead, and from Maundy Thursday inclusively to the Vespers of Saturday before
Low Sunday exclusively.
2. At Mattins the Hymn is said immediately after the last repetition of the
Invitatory, except on Twelfth-Day, when the Office begins as mentioned in the
last chapter ; at Lauds and Vespers it is said after the Chapter ; at Prime, Terce,
Sext, and None it is said before the Psalms ; and at Compline after the Psalms.
3. The Hymns in the Psalter are said if the Office is of a' Sunday or a
Week-day, when no special Hymns are appointed in the Proper Office of the
Season, that is, from the Octave of Whitsun Day to Advent (excepting only the
Sunday within the Octave of Corpus Christi) and from the Octave of Twelfth-
Day to the first Sunday in Lent, exclusively. If the Office is of a Feast, the
Hymns are either special, or taken from the Office common to all Saints of the
particular Class. When a Feast has three special historic Hymns, and the special
Hymn cannot be said in First Vespers, then this Hymn is said at Mattins,
the Hymn for Mattins at Lauds, and the Hymn for Lauds at Second Vespers;
but if the Second Vespers are not of such Feast, the Hymn for Vespers is
joined to the Hymn for Mattins, with one common concluding Verse.
4. From Christmas to Twelfth-Day, on Corpus Christi and throughout the
Octave, and whenever the Office is said of the Blessed Virgin Mary, even in
Easter-time, and whether with nine or three Lessons, the last verse of the
xl THE PIE.
Hymns [at Prime, Terce, Sext, None, and Compline] is altered in honour
of the Incarnation.1
5. Likewise on Twelfth-Day and throughout the Octave the last verse of
these Hymns is altered in honour of the Revelation of our Lord to the Gentiles.
6. From Low Sunday to Ascension Day, on Whitsun Day and throughout
the Octave, the last verse of these Hymns is altered in honour of the Resurrection
of our Lord from the dead.
7. On Ascension Day and until Whitsun Day the last verse of these Hymns
is altered in honour of the Ascension of our Lord into Heaven.
8. On the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord the last verse of these
Hymns is altered in honour of that Mystery. These are the only changes which
the Hymns ever undergo.
Chapter XXI. The Antiphons.
Throughout the whole of the Divine Office the Psalms are never said without
Antiphons, either for each Psalm or each group of Psalms ; which Antiphons vary
with the Office of the day.
2. Except in Advent and Easter-time, if the Office be of a Sunday or Week-
day, at Mattins, Vespers, and Compline, those Antiphons are said which are to be
found in the Psalter, even when the day is a Simple Feast. In Advent special
Antiphons are given in the Office proper to that Season, and in Easter-time only
one Antiphon is said, that is, "Alleluia." At Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, and
None those Antiphons are said which are appointed in the Proper Office of the
Season, and if none are so appointed, those are said which are given in the Psalter.
3. When the first Sunday of any particular month is mentioned, that Sunday
is meant which is on or nearest to, either before or after, the first day of the
month named. And at Vespers on the Saturday the Antiphon for the Canticle,
" My soul doth magnify the Lord," is to be taken from the Sunday, and will be
found with the Sunday in its proper place. This Saturday Antiphon is always
taken from that book of Scripture which is to be read at Mattins on the Sunday.
4. On all days when nine Lessons are read the Antiphons at Vespers are
the same as those at Lauds, unless special ones are appointed. And likewise at
Prime, Terce, Sext, and None, if special Antiphons are not appointed, when
Lauds has had proper Antiphons, these are taken in turn, one to each Hour,
omitting the fourth ; so that the first Antiphon is said at Prime, the second at
Terce, the third at Sext, and the fifth at None. All which has been explained
before in Chapter XVI.
5. On Week-days in Advent, if there are no proper Antiphons at Lauds,
the Antiphons for the four short Hours are taken from the Lauds of the
Sunday before.
6. In Easter- time, whether the Office for the day has nine Lessons or
three, there is only one Antiphon to each Nocturn, which Antiphon is to be
found in the Psalter, or in its proper place. Likewise in Easter-time the word
" Alleluia " is added to every Antiphon said, if it be not there already. On
the contrary, from Septuagesima to Easter, if the word " Alleluia " occur it is
omitted, and nothing is said in its place.
1 The divergence of this translation from the original in the matter of these alterations
is explained in the Translator's Preface.
THE PIE. xli
7. Upon Double Feasts at Mattins, Lauds, and Vespers (but not at Prime,
Terce, Sext, None, and Compline,) the Antiphons are said from beginning to
end before, as well as after, the Psalms and Canticles. And this is one of
the reasons why these Feasts get the name of Doubles. At the short Hours
on these days and throughout the whole Office on Semi-doubles, Simples, and
Week-days, the first words only of the Antiphon are said before the Psalm,
but it is said entire at the end. Should the Antiphon happen to consist of the
opening words of the Psalm or Canticle to which it belongs, the beginning of
such Psalm or Canticle is not repeated. Such Psalm or Canticle in that case
begins with the next words after those which form the Antiphon. This does
not cause any difference in the rule as to whether the Antiphon is to be said
before the Psalm entire or not. As, for instance, the first Psalm at Vespers
on Sunday is Psalm cix., which begins, "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit
Thou at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool," to which
the Antiphon is, "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand."
As it is a Semi-double, the first words only of the Antiphon are said before
the Psalm, "The Lord said." Then the Psalm begins with the words, "Unto
my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies Thy foot-
stool." But if "Alleluia" occur at the end of the Antiphon or of the portion
said the Psalm begins as usual.
8. Whenever proper Antiphons are given in the Office of the day, these
Antiphons are invariably to be substituted for those in the Psalter, or the Common
Office of each Class of Saints.
9. When a Commemoration is to be made at Lauds or Vespers, it is done
by reciting once the Antiphon which would be said at Lauds at the Canticle
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel," and at Vespers at the Canticle "My
soul doth magnify the Lord," with the Verse and Response which would follow
the Hymn, and the Prayer which would be said, were the Office of that of which
the Commemoration is made.
10. The Antiphons of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with their Verses and
Responses and Prayers, which are to be found after Compline, are said as directed
further on in Chapter XXXVI.
Chapter XXII. The Psalms.
Upon Sundays and Week-days the Psalms are said as they are arranged
in the Psalter, unless some special direction to the contrary is given in the
Office for the Season. On Feasts the Psalms are said as directed in the
Proper Office, or in the Common of the Saints of each Class.
2. The Psalms appointed for Lauds on Sunday, with the Canticle " O all
ye Works of the Lord," are said also on every Feast in the year, and on
every day whatsoever in Easter-time.
3. At Prime the Psalm "O give thanks unto the Lord," and the others
there given are said on every Sunday when the Office is of the Sunday, even
if it be within an Octave, from the third Sunday after Whitsun Day inclusively
till Christmas exclusively, and likewise from the second Sunday after Twelfth-
Day inclusively till Septuagesima exclusively. From Septuagesima till Easter
is said instead Psalm xcii., "The Lord reigneth," because the Psalm "O give
thanks unto the Lord" is at that time said at Lauds after Psalm 1., "Have
Xlii THE PIE.
mercy upon me, O God," as will be found directed in the proper place. Upon
the Sundays from Low Sunday inclusively to Ascension Day exclusively are
said the three Psalms, " Save me, O God, by Thy Name," " Blessed are the
undefiled," and " Deal bountifully with Thy servant," as on Feasts, but with
the addition of the Creed . of St Athanasius. Outside Easter-time when the
Office is of a Week-day, there is substituted for the Psalm " O give thanks
unto the Lord" one of those which are given in the Psalter for that purpose,
under the heading of the Office for Prime on Week-days. But on every day
in Easter-time, upon every Feast-day in the year, and on every Saturday, whether
the Office be of the Blessed Virgin or of the Saturday, even if a Double Feast
is to be kept on the Sunday, the Psalms said are the three, " Save me, O
God, by Thy Name," " Blessed are the undefiled," and " Deal bountifully with
Thy servant."
4. On every Sunday in the year if the Office is of the Sunday, the Creed
of St Athanasius, " Whosoever will be saved," is added to the Psalms at Prime,
as is directed in Chapter XXXIII.
5. At Terce, Sext, None, and Compline the Psalms are the same on every
day in the year.
6. It is to be remarked that the first four Psalms at Vespers on Sundays
are likewise said on nearly every Feast in the year. The fifth changes much
oftener. But these changes, whether of the fifth or of any of the first four,
are all marked in their proper place. If a Feast has an Octave, the same Psalms
are said every day at Vespers during the Octave as have been said at the Second
Vespers of the Feast, except on the evening of the seventh day, being the First
Vespers of the Octave-day, when the Vespers are the same as the First Vespers of
the Feast.
7. At the end of every Psalm is said this Hymn :
" Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
" As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen."
Except at the end of Psalms lxii., " O God, Thou art my God : early will I
seek Thee," and cxlviii., " Praise ye the Lord from the heavens," which are
severally united in groups with others, in which case the " Glory be to the
Father " and the Antiphon are said after the group, as if that were only one
Psalm. Moreover, the " Glory be to the Father " is not said at the end of
the Psalms on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, nor in
the Office for the Dead. In the latter case there is said instead :
'* O Lord, give them eternal rest,
"And let the everlasting light shine upon them."
Which words are said in the plural even though the Office is being recited for
one dead person.
8. For the sake of uniformity an asterisk (*) is put in the middle of every
verse where the pause is to be made in saying or singing.
Chapter XXIII. The Canticles.
Canticles are said every day at Lauds, Vespers, and Compline. When the
Office is of a Sunday or Week-day these are as given in the Psalter.
2. On all Feasts whatsoever, and every day in Easter-time, the first Canticle
THE PIE. xliii
at Lauds is the same as on Sundays, that is, " O all ye Works of the Lord," at
the end of which the " Glory be to the Father " is not said as it is at the end of
the other Canticles, nor is " Amen " answered. The other Canticles which are
appointed in the Psalter for Lauds on Week-days are said only when the Office
is of the Week-day out of Easter-time.
3. The three Canticles, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel," "My soul
doth magnify the Lord," and " Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant," are always
said every day at Lauds, Vespers, and Compline respectively.
Chapter XXIV. The Verses and Responses.
A Verse and Response are always said at Mattins after the last Psalm and
Antiphon of each Nocturn, whether there be one or three. At Lauds and
Vespers they are said immediately after the Hymn. At Prime, Terce, Sext,
None, and Compline they are said together with the short Responsory, at the
end, after the " Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,"
and the repetition.
2. On Easter Sunday and till the Vespers of the Saturday before Low
Sunday, the Verse and Response are said only at Mattins.
3. In Commemorations a Verse and Response are said as prescribed in
Chapter XXI. 9, "On Antiphons."
4. In Easter-time the word "Alleluia" is added to every Verse and every
Response, except those which form part of Preces,' those at Prime, " V. Precious
in the sight of the Lord. R. Is the death of His Saints," and those which form
part of the Responsories at Mattins.
5. In the Office of a Simple Feast, when there is only one Nocturn, the
Verse and Response which follow it are taken from the Office Common to
Saints of that Class. On Mondays and Thursdays they are taken from the
First Nocturn of the Common Office ; on Tuesdays and Fridays from the
Second ; on Wednesdays from the Third.
6. If special Verses and Responses are not assigned for Lauds and Vespers,
those are said which are given in the Psalter.
Chapter XXV. The Absolutions and Blessings before the Lessons.
At Mattins when nine Lessons are read they are preceded by Absolutions and
Blessings as given in the Psalter ; the only exception being the Dirge, and the
Mattins of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, called the
Office of the Darkness, in which cases they are altogether omitted.
2. When only three Lessons are read, if they are all from Scripture, the
Absolution and Blessings will be, on Monday and Thursday, " Graciously
hear," " May the Eternal Father," " May the Son," and " May the grace ; "
on Tuesday and Friday, " May His loving-kindness and mercy," " God the
Father," " May Christ to all His people give," and " May the Spirit's fire ; "
and on Wednesday and Saturday, "May the Almighty and merciful Lord,"
"May the Gospel's," "God's most mighty," and "May He That is the
Angels' King."
3. But if only three Lessons are read, and they are all from a Homily upon
the Gospel for the day, the Absolution is taken as above, according to the day of
xliv THE PIE.
the week, but the Blessings are, " May the Gospel's holy Lection," " God's
most mighty," and "May He That is the Angels' King." If the Office be of
a Saint, the Absolution is likewise taken according to the day of the week, but
the Blessings are " May His blessing," " He whose birth-day we are keeping,"
and " May He That is the Angels' King."
4. When the Office on Saturday is said of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the
Absolution and Blessings are those which belong to her Little Office, which will
be found near the end of the Breviary, namely, " By the Prayers," " Bless us,
Mary," " With the Lord," and " He to Whom."
Chapter XXVI. The Lessons.
Three Lessons are read at the end of each Nocturn of Mattins, after the
Psalms and Antiphons, with a Verse and Response, Absolution, and Blessings,
all as above. On Doubles and Semi-doubles there are three Nocturns, and
consequently nine Lessons ; on Week-days and Simples one Nocturn and three
Lessons.
2. When nine Lessons are read, the first three are always out of Holy
Scripture, and if no special ones are assigned, those are read which are given
for that day in the Proper Office of the Season. If the Office be of a Saint,
the fourth, fifth, and sixth Lesson, viz., those of the Second Nocturn, are either
taken from his Life, or from some appropriate Sermon or Treatise ; if no special
ones are assigned, they are taken from the Office common to all Saints of that
Class. If only one or two special Lessons are given, then the three are made up
out of the Common, in which case it is optional to read the whole, namely, if two
Lessons are to be read from the Common, to read the second and third as one,
or if one, to read all three as one. If the Office be of a Sunday, or of any other
day in the year having nine Lessons, or within an Octave, three proper Lessons
are always assigned from some appropriate Sermon or Treatise. In the Third
Nocturn are always read three Lessons from some Homily in Exposition of the
Gospel for the day, which Lessons are, like the Gospel itself, either special, or, if
the Office be of a Saint, most frequently from the Common of Saints. Before
the first of these is always read the beginning of the Gospel which forms the
subject of the Homily, even within Octaves. The only exceptions to these rules
are the Dirge and the Office of the Darkness on the three nights before Easter.
3. If the Office be one of Nine Lessons, in which the Hymn "We praise
Thee, O God " is to be said instead of a ninth Responsory, and some Saint who
has a proper Lesson is to be commemorated, then the ninth Lesson is the Lesson
of the Saint. If the Saint have two Lessons, they are read together as one in the
ninth place.1 In either case the ninth Lesson belonging to the Office of the day
is either omitted, or read as one Lesson joined on to the eighth. If the day
happen to be a Sunday, or a Week-day which has three Lessons on a special
Gospel, then no Lesson of the Saint is read, but the ninth Lesson will be that of
the Homily ; and it is optional to read the three joined together as one, or the
first only.
4. On a day when there are only three Lessons, if the Office be of the
Week-day, they are all from the Scripture, unless special Lessons are appointed
1 For reduced Feasts see c. ix. n. 10 of this Pie.
THE PIE. xlv
from an Homily on the Gospel, in which case these latter are read, and the
Lessons from Scripture altogether omitted. If, however, the Office be of a Saint,
if he has two proper Lessons they are read in the second and third places, and in
the first is read the first Lesson from Scripture, or the whole three together as
one. If the Saint have only one proper Lesson, that is read in the third place ;
the first Lesson is the first from Scripture, and the second either the second, or the
second and third together. Which rule is likewise to be observed in the Office
of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturdays.
5. Lessons from Scripture are given for nearly every day in the year, and
they are always read in order, whatever the Office is, unless other Lessons be
specially appointed on certain days.
6. The different books of Scripture are nearly always appointed to be begun
on a Sunday. Should it happen that that day is occupied by a Feast with special
Lessons, the book so prevented from being begun must be begun on the next day
which is free. In this case, that the whole book may not get behind-hand, the
Lessons proper to the day to which the commencement of the new book is trans-
ferred are to be read joined to them in the form of three Lessons, or else entirely
omitted. If it possibly happened that even more was to be read, the total number
of Lessons would be simply divided into groups in the above manner.
7. Should it happen in Easter-time that one of the Catholic Epistles, or in
November, one of the Minor Prophets is prevented from being begun upon the
proper day by some Feast occurring with special Lessons, it is to be begun upon
the next free day, in the manner described above. Should however another book
be to be begun upon the next free day, the displaced book may be begun on some
day previous to its normal one. But if this is impossible, it must at any rate be
read, even if another book be begun immediately. It may be remarked that in
either of the latter cases the whole book may be read through at once. If two
books be begun on the same day, the beginning must be the beginning of a Lesson
— as, for instance, if Book A., divided into three Lessons, be transferred to the
day when Book B. is begun, the Lessons will be, First, A. I, Second, A. 2
and 3, Third, B. 1, 2, and 3.
8. Lessons from Scripture are given for as many weeks as there can be under
any circumstances between Twelfth-Day and Septuagesima, and between Whitsun
Day and Advent. If owing to Septuagesima falling earlier there are fewer weeks
between Twelfth-Day and Septuagesima, the Lessons appointed for the super-
fluous weeks are simply never read at all, even though by this arrangement a
certain amount of St Paul's Epistles is not read in that year at all. The same
is to be done with the Lessons from the Books of Kings appointed for weeks
which may not occur between the Octave of Whitsun Day and the first week in
August. If, moreover, the Office for one of the Sundays after Twelfth-Day be
read not on the proper Sunday but by anticipation on some other day, the Lessons
read will be those of the Sunday so anticipated, and those on the following days
be those for the days which follow the anticipated Sunday, the Lessons belonging
to the actual days on which the anticipated Office is read being altogether omitted.
And in the same manner if Lessons are appointed for five weeks in a particular
month and that month happen that year to have only four, the omission must be
made as directed in the special rubrics to be found in the proper place.
9. If a Feast have special Lessons from Scripture, these are always read in
place of the ordinary Lessons for the day, which are not read at all, unless they
xlvi THE PIE.
are the commencement of a new book, when they are transferred, as given in
sections 6 and 7. Likewise if a Feast with Nine Lessons is kept in Lent, on
the Ember Days, on Rogation Monday, or on Ascension Eve, the Lessons from
Scripture, that is, the first, second, and third Lessons, are taken from the Office
common to Saints of the Class, because, although the Feast have not proper
Lessons, there are no Lessons from Scripture belonging to the day. However if
one of these days is an Octave-day, the three first Lessons will be the same as
those read on the Feast of which it is the Octave. If it be a day within an
Octave, the three first Lessons are those in the Common Office. And the same
rule is to be observed regarding the Lessons in the other Nocturns, when they are
specially arranged for the Feast, or when a Feast of Nine Lessons is being kept
which has not got approved proper Lessons.
xo. Unless special directions are given to the contrary, before the Lessons of
the First Nocturn is given out the place from which they are taken ; likewise in
the Second Nocturn if the Lessons are from a Sermon or Treatise, the name of
the author is announced, but not otherwise ; and likewise also before the Lessons
in the Third Nocturn the title of the Homily, naming the author, is given.
11. At the end of every Lesson he who has read it says, "But Thou, O
Lord, have mercy upon us," to which is answered, "Thanks be to God." And
the same is done after the short Lessons at the beginning of Compline, and the end
of Prime (after the Verse " Precious.") The only exceptions are the Dirge, and
the three nights before Easter, where special directions are given.
Chapter XXVII. The Responsories after the Lessons.
At Mattins a Responsory is said after every Lesson.
2. But on every Feast of Nine Lessons, (except that of the Holy Innocents
if it falls on a Week-day,) and on every Sunday from Low Sunday inclusively to
Advent Sunday exclusively, and from the Sunday after Christmas inclusively to
Septuagesima exclusively, only eight regular Responsories are said, and, instead,
after the ninth Lesson is said the Hymn "We praise Thee, O God." At the
end of the third, sixth, and last Responsory, whether it be eighth or ninth, is said
" Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost," (but not
"As it was in the beginning, &c.,") followed by the repetition of part of the
Responsory. The only exceptions are the Dirge, and Passion-tide, which are
given in their place. The words " Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Ghost " will sometimes be found given in the first Responsory also.
3. Nine Responsories are said on the Sundays in Advent, and between
Septuagesima and Palm Sunday inclusively, and likewise on the three nights
before Easter, for then the Hymn "We praise Thee, O God" is not said.
4. When three Lessons only are read, if the Office is of a Feast, and also
every day in Easter-tide, namely, between Low Sunday and Ascension Day,
except Rogation Monday, which has three Responsories, only two Responsories
are said, because after the third Lesson is said the Hymn " We praise Thee, O
God." These Responsories on Feasts are taken from the Common Office of
Saints of the Class, and in Easter-time from the preceding Sunday, thus, unless
proper ones be appointed — On Monday and Thursday the first and second
Responsories of the First Nocturn, on Tuesday and Friday of the Second, and
on Wednesday of the Third.
THE PIE. xlvii
5. On plain Week-days out of Easter-time three Responsories are said,
(because the Hymn "We praise Thee, O God" is not then said,) which are
taken from the Sunday before, on Monday and Thursday from the First Nocturn,
on Tuesday and Friday from the Second, and on Wednesday and Saturday (if the
Office is of the Saturday) from the Third. In the Third Nocturn of the Sundays
between the Third Sunday after Whitsun Day inclusively and Advent Sunday
exclusively, there is only one Responsory, namely, the seventh, which can be said
on a Week-day, because there is no ninth, and the Responsory " One Seraph
cried unto another," which is the eighth, is only said on Sundays. In this case
therefore on Wednesday and Saturday the first Responsory is the seventh of the
Sunday, and the second and third are those which are to be said as the second
and third of the Monday, or if none be assigned, the second and third of the First
Nocturn of the Sunday. From the Octave of Twelfth-Day to Septuagesima,
proper Responsories are given for every day, except the Saturdays, in which are
said the Responsories of the Wednesday preceding.
6. When no special Responsories are given, they are taken from the first
Sunday of the month, or the beginning of the Book of Scripture which is then
being read. When proper Responsories are given for every day in the first week
of the month, they are to be repeated on the same days of each succeeding week
until further notice. Where proper Responsories are not given for the Week-days,
they are taken from the Sunday in the order explained above.
7. If a Double Feast falls on a Sunday, and so prevents the Responsories of
the First Nocturn of the Sunday being said, they are transferred to the first free
day in the week, to the total omission of any proper Responsories which that
Week-day may happen to have. If there is no Week-day free, they are carried
on to the next Sunday, if it has none of its own ; if it has, to a free day in that
week. If there is no free day, they are entirely omitted. If a Week-day have
proper Responsories, and they are not said by reason of a Feast, they are not
carried on at all, but simply omitted.
8. In Easter-time, in the Responsory, the word "Alleluia" is inserted before
the Verse.
Chapter XXVIII. The Short Responsories in the Hours.
A short Responsory is said after the Chapter at Prime, Terce, Sext, None,
and Compline, except from Maundy Thursday till None on Saturday before Low
Sunday inclusively, during which time it is omitted. At Prime and Compline it
is always as given in the Psalter. In the other Hours it varies with the Office,
and is to be found either in the Psalter or the Proper Office of the Season or
Feast, or the Common of Saints.
2. At the end of the short Responsory is said " Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost," (but not " As it was in the beginning, &c.,")
followed by the repetition of part of the Responsory. In Passion-tide this is not
done, but instead the whole Responsory is repeated.
3. In the short Responsory at Prime the following changes are made — Instead
of the words " Thou That sittest at the right hand of the Father," in Advent,
except only the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and its Octave, is said " Thou That art to come into the world," from Christmas
to Twelfth-Day, at Corpus Christi and throughout its Octave, and in all Offices
xlviii THE PIE.
whatsoever of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and within their Octaves, if they have
any, even though the Office be not of the Octave, " Thou That wast born of
the Virgin Mary." On Twelfth-Day and throughout its Octave, and on the
Feast of the Transfiguration, "Thou That art manifested unto us this day."
From Low Sunday inclusively to Ascension Day exclusively, except in Offices
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, " Thou That hast arisen from the dead." From
Ascension Day inclusively to Whitsun Day exclusively, " Thou That art gone
up above the stars." At Whitsun-tide and all the rest of the year, " Thou That
sittest at the right hand of the Father."
4. The short Responsories for the other Hours which are given for Advent
Sunday are used throughout Advent, whenever the Office is of the Season. Like-
wise those given on the first Sunday in Lent are used till Passion Sunday
exclusively. Those given on Passion Sunday are used till Maundy Thursday
exclusively. Those given on Low Sunday are used till Ascension Day exclus-
ively. Those given on any Feast having an Octave are used every day during
the Octave, when the Office is of the Octave. In all Offices whatsoever of
the Blessed Virgin Mary, except only the Assumption, the short Responsories are
taken from the Common Office of Virgins.
5. In Easter-time, from Low Sunday to the Saturday after Whitsun Day
inclusively, whatsoever the Office be, the word " Alleluia " is repeated twice after
the short Responsory, and twice again after the Verse, as the repetition of the
latter part of the Responsory, and once also after the Verse and the Answer.
Thus it is said ten times, twice after the Responsory both times it is said, twice
after the Verse, twice after the Responsory again, once after the Verse, and once
after the Answer. Out of Easter-time, although the word "Alleluia" is some-
times introduced into the short Responsories at Terce, Sext, and None, it does
not thereby affect Prime and Compline.
Chapter XXIX. The Chapters.
A Chapter is always said at Vespers, Lauds, and the other Hours, after the
Psalms and Antiphons, and at Compline after the Hymn, except from Maundy
Thursday to the Saturday before Low Sunday, and in the Office of the Dead.
2. The Chapters at Prime and Compline are always the same, being those
given in the Psalter. The Chapters given in the Psalter for First and Second
Vespers, Lauds, and the Hours on Sundays, are said from the third Sunday after
Whitsun Day till Advent Sunday, and from the second after Twelfth-Day till
Septuagesima. The Chapters for the Week-days are said after the Octave of
Twelfth-Day till the First Sunday in Lent, and after the Octave of Whitsun
Day till Advent Sunday. The Chapters for the other Seasons and for Feasts are
given in the Offices to which they belong.
3. On all the Sundays from Advent till the Octave of Twelfth-Day, and
from Septuagesima till the third Sunday after Whitsun Day, and on every day
in Easter-time, and upon all Feasts, the Chapter given at the First Vespers is
also said at Lauds, at Terce, and at the Second Vespers. There are a few
exceptions, which are marked in their place.
4. On Week-days in Easter-time the Chapter at Prime is that from 1 Tim.
i. 17, "Unto the King eternal," as on Sundays and Feasts. After the Chapter
is always answered, "Thanks be to God."
THE PIE. xlix
Chapter XXX. The Prayer or Collect.
The Prayer is said at Vespers and Lauds immediately after the Antiphon
at the Canticles "My soul doth magnify the Lord" and "Blessed be the Lord
God of Israel " respectively, unless the short Responsory prayers called the
" Preces " are to be said, in which case it is said after the Preces. At Com-
pline the Prayer is said after the Antiphon "O Lord, save us waking," unless
Preces are to be said, when it is said after them.
2. The Prayers for Prime and Compline, given in the Psalter, are said
every day in the year, except the three days before Easter, when the Service is
as it is given in its proper place. The same Prayer which is said at First Vespers
is likewise said at every other Hour, except Prime and Compline. But in Lent,
and on the Ember Days, Eves, and Rogation Monday, the Prayer which has
been said at Lauds is said only at Terce, Sext, and None. In the Vespers, if
they are of the Week-day, the Collect said is either a special one, as in Lent, or
that of the preceding Sunday, as on ordinary Week-days. When the Office is
of a Week-day and no special Prayer is given, that of the preceding Sunday is
used. In the same way in Octaves the Prayer of the Feast is used up to
the Octave-day, inclusively, unless a special one be assigned.
3. Before the Prayer the Officiant always says,1 " Hear my prayer, O Lord,"
to which is answered, "And let my cry come unto Thee ; " then he says, " Let
us pray," and proceeds with the Prayer. After the Prayers is answered "Amen,"
then, if it is the last or only Prayer, the Officiant says again, " Hear my prayer,
O Lord," Answer, "And let my cry come unto Thee." Then "Bless we the
Lord," Answer, "Thanks be to God," "May the souls of the faithful, through
the mercy of God, rest in peace," Answer, "Amen." Then if the Antiphon of
the Blessed Virgin Mary is to be said, there follows the " Our Father " inaudibly,
"The Lord give us His peace," Answer, "And life eternal, Amen," and the
Antiphon. But the Office stops short after " Thanks be to God " before the
"Precious" at Prime, and the Blessing at Compline, or when the Little Office
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the Office of the Dead, or the Penitential
Psalms, or the Litany is immediately to follow. If there are more prayers than
one, they are said after the Prayer for the day, each preceded by its own Antiphon,
Verse and Response, and the words " Let us pray."
4. If the Prayer is addressed to God the Father, it ends "through our Lord
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen." If the Prayer is addressed
to God the Son, it ends, " Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen." If the Prayer
be addressed to God the Father, and God the Son be mentioned in it, it ends
" through the Same our Lord, &c," and if God the Holy Ghost be mentioned,
•instead of "in the unity of the Holy Ghost " there is said "in the unity of the
Same Holy Spirit, &c."
5. If more than one Prayer be said, the ending "through our Lord, &c,"
is only said with the first and last. The others are said without any ending, but
■"Let us pray" is said before each. The only exceptions are the Office of the
Dead, where will be found in its proper place what is to be done, and the Litany,
where the Prayers are all joined on one to the other.
1 Here in the original are directions for clergymen.
VOL. 1. C
THE PIE.
Chapter XXXI. The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O God."
The Hymn "We praise Thee, O God," is said on every Feast whatsoever,
and throughout all Octaves, except only the Feast of the Holy Innocents if it
falls on a Week-day, though it is said on the Octave. It is said likewise on all
Sundays from Easter inclusively to Advent exclusively, and from Christmas
inclusively to Septuagesima exclusively, and every day from Low Sunday to
Ascension Day, except Rogation Monday.
2. It is not said on the Sundays in Advent and from Septuagesima to
Palm Sunday, both inclusively, nor on plain Week-days out of Easter-time.
3. Whenever it is said, the ninth or third Responsory is omitted.
4. Whenever it is not said, there is said a ninth or third Responsory, and
as soon as the Hymn or the Responsory is over, Lauds begin, except on
Christmas night, when particular directions are given.
Chapter XXXII. The Lord's Prayer and the Angelic Salutation.
The Lord's Prayer, which begins " Our Father," and the Angelic Salutation,
which begins " Hail, Mary," are said inaudibly before every Hour, except Com-
pline. At Compline, after the Blessing has been asked and given, comes the
Lesson from 1 Peter v. 8, " Brethren, be sober," then " Our help is in the Name
of the Lord," Answer, "Who hath made heaven and earth," and then the "Our
Father " alone is said inaudibly. Moreover at the very end of Compline the " Our
Father," the " Hail, Mary," and the " I believe in God " are said inaudibly.
At the end of every Hour the "Our Father" is said inaudibly, unless the Little
Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary follow at once, or another of the Canonical
Hours, in which case the " Our Father " is said after that. If Compline
immediately follows Vespers, as soon as "Amen" has been answered to "May
the souls, &c," is said " Command Thy Blessing, O Lord."
2. Whenever the words " And lead us not into temptation " are said aloud
at the end of the Lord's Prayer, the two first words "Our Father" are also
said aloud. In any other case it is all said inaudibly, except when Preces are
said at Lauds and Vespers on Week-days, in which case the Officiant says the
whole of the Lord's Prayer aloud.
3. The Angelic Salutation is said before each of the Hours in the Little
Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, unless they be added on to the Canonical
Office, in which case it is omitted, as having been already said, at the beginning
of the whole.
Chapter XXXIII. The Apostles' Creed and the Creed of
St Athanasius.
The Apostles' Creed is always said before Mattins and Prime, and at the
end of Compline altogether inaudibly. If it is to be said in the Preces at Prime
and Compline the words " I believe in God " are said aloud, and likewise those
at the end, " the Resurrection of the body," to which is answered " and the life
everlasting. Amen."
2. The Creed of St Athanasius is said at Prime, after the Psalm " Deal
bountifully with Thy servant," on all Sundays, when the Office is of the Sunday,
THE PIE. H
except the Sundays after Christmas, Twelfth-Day, Ascension Day, and Corpus
Christi Day, and Easter and Whitsun Day, when only the three usual Psalms
are said, as on Feasts. It is said on the Sundays within other Octaves, and on
Trinity Sunday, but otherwise never. The Hymn " Glory be to the Father,
&c," is added to it, as to the Psalms.
Chapter XXXIV. The Preces.
The Preces are certain Verses and Responses which are sometimes said before
the Prayer. They begin either with " Lord, have mercy upon us " or the Lord's
Prayer.
2. The Preces for Prime and Compline on Sundays, given in the Psalter, are
not said on Doubles, nor within Octaves, nor on the Eve of Twelfth-Day, nor
on the Friday and Saturday after the Octave of the Ascension.
3. The Preces for Lauds and the other Hours on Week-days, given in the
Psalter, are said only on Week-days in Advent, Lent, the Ember Days, and
Eves which are fasts, but not on Christmas Eve, nor the Ember Days at
Whitsuntide. They are said kneeling. In the rest of the year only the
Sunday Preces are said, and that standing.
4. On the Week-days in Advent, and Lent, and the Ember Days, Preces
are said at Vespers, if they are of the day. And at Compline the same as on
Sundays, but kneeling. The Preces are said kneeling till the words " Bless we
the Lord " after the Prayer.
5. On Eves the Week-day Preces are not said at Vespers or Compline, because
the Vespers are part of the Feast. But if the Eve of St Matthias fall on Shrove
Tuesday, the Week-day Preces are said at Vespers, though the Prayer is not that
of the Eve, but of the preceding Sunday. The same is the case when the Week-
day Office is said on Ember Friday or Ember Saturday in September, when no
Feast of Nine Lessons falls on them ; Preces are said on the Friday, although
the Prayer to be said is not that of the Ember Day but of the preceding
Sunday.
6. The Psalm " Have mercy upon me, O God," is said with the Preces at
Vespers only, and "Out of the depths" at Lauds. In the Office of the Dead
those Psalms are said which are there appointed.
Chapter XXXV. The Common Commemorations, or Suffrages
of the Saints.
The Common Commemorations, or Suffrages of the Saints, which are given in
the Psalter, are said at the end of Vespers and Lauds from the Octave of Twelfth-
Day till Passion Sunday exclusively, and from the Octave of Whitsun Day till
Advent exclusively, on Sundays, Week-days, and Feasts, whenever the Office is
not Double nor the day within an Octave. After the Commemoration of the
Apostles is made a Commemoration of St George, Patron of England, except
in the diocese of Hexham, where there is made instead a Commemoration of
St Cuthbert, and before the Commemoration of St George there is made in the
diocese of Northampton a Commemoration of St Thomas of Canterbury, and
in that of Plymouth of St Boniface of Maintz, and after it in the diocese of
lii THE PIE.
Portsmouth a Commemoration of St Edmund of Canterbury.1 The last is
aiways the Suffrage for Peace. On Week-days there is prefixed that Com-
memoration of the Cross which is given in the Psalter after Lauds for Monday.
2. In Easter-time the only Suffrage said is the Commemoration of the Cross
for that Season. It is not said on Doubles, nor within Octaves, nor in the
Votive Offices of the Blessed Sacrament and the Passion.
3. If a Commemoration of a Feast is made, it is always put before the
Suffrages, even that of the Cross.
4. The Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary is omitted if her Little
Office is said, or the Office of the day is of her.
Chapter XXXVI. The Antiphons of the Blessed Virgin Mary
AT THE END OF THE OFFICE.
The Antiphons of the Blessed Virgin Mary which are given in the Psalter
at the end of Compline are said according to the season of the year, as there
prescribed, except on the three days before Easter.
2. They are said only at the end of Compline, and at the end of Lauds, or
that aggregation of Offices into which Lauds enters. (However in Choir they
are said every time the Choir is to be left.) They are said kneeling, except
from Saturday evening to Sunday evening both inclusive, and throughout the
whole of Easter-time. They are not said in the morning if the Office is to
be immediately followed by the Dirge, the Penitential Psalms, or the Litany,
or Mass.
Chapter XXXVII. The Little Office, &c.
There are proper Rubrics at the end of the Breviary with directions about
the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Office of the Dead, the
Penitential Psalms, the Litany, and the Gradual Psalms.
2. In Easter-time if the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary be joined
to the Church Office, the word " Alleluia " is added neither to the Antiphons,
Verses and Answers, nor Responsories.
1 This custom is peculiar to England, and is contrary to the general rule ; the original
rubric reads, "There is added [to the other Common Commemorations] a Commemoration
of the Patron or Titular of the Church [in which the service is read, or to which the person
saying the Office is attached, but only if such Church have been consecrated or solemnly
blessed], which is inserted either before or after the Commemorations of St Joseph and of
the Apostles according to his rank." But there is a privilege in the Province of Westminster
according to which it is permitted : " That in the suffrages of the Saints and in the Prayer
A cunctis, a Commemoration shall be made of St George only, and the Commemoration of
any other Saint shall be omitted, except in the case of the Regular Orders as to the Com-
memoration of their own founders, and any particular cases exempted by grace of the Holy
See." A grace of this sort has been granted, as stated above, with regard to the Dioceses
of Hexham, Northampton, Plymouth, and Portsmouth.
TWO EASY TABLES. Hi]
TWO EASY TABLES,
COMPILED FROM THE PIE.
And in which it can be seen at a glance what is to be done
( I ) When the Second Vespers of one Ojjice fall on the same evening with the First
Vespers of another Office.
(2) When two Offices fall on the same da$.
To use these Tables, find the little square in which lines drawn from the
designations of the two Offices meet at right angles, and then look what direction
is given underneath the Table, with the number inscribed in the square.
For instance, in Table A a Double of the Second Class meets a Semi-double
in a square containing the numeral 4. And 4 gives the Rule " all of the former,
with a Commemoration of the latter," but if the case be reversed they meet in 1,
and the Service is " all of the latter, nothing of the former." And so in Table B,
the case of a Double of the Second Class and a Semi-double falling on the same
day is provided for in 4 and 3, and it is ordered that the Semi-double be com-
memorated and the Double of the Second Class observed, o indicates a case
which either cannot occur, or which is the subject of special directions in its own
place. However, it is first needful to know the rank of the different Offices.
LIST OF FEASTS ACCORDING TO THEIR CLASS.
Doubles of the First Class.
Christmas Day. Dec. 25.
Twelfth-Day. Jan. 6.
Maundy Thursday.
Good Friday.
Holy Saturday.
Easter Day.
Easter Monday.
Easter Tuesday.
Ascension Day.
Whitsun Day.
Whitsun Monday.
Whitsun Tuesday.
Corpus Christi.
The Sacred Heart.
The Immaculate Conception. Dec. 8.
Lady Day. March 25.
liv TWO EASY TABLES.
The Assumption. Aug. i 5.
The Birthday of St John the Baptist. June 24.
St Joseph. March 19.
SS. Peter and Paul. June 29.
All Saints. Nov. 1.
St Thomas of Canterbury.1 Dec. 29.
St George. April 23.
St Augustine of Canterbury. May 26.
The Dedication of the Particular Church.
The Feast of the Patron, or Titular of the Particular Church.
The Feast of the Chief Patron or Patrons of the diocese.
Doubles of the Second Class.
The Circumcision. Jan. 1.
The Holy Name.
The Most Holy Trinity.
The Most Precious Blood.
The Finding of the Cross. May 3.
Candlemas Day. Feb. 2.
The Visitation. July 2.
The Birth of the Blessed Virgin. Sept. 8.
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Rosary.
Michaelmas Day. Sept. 29.
The Patronage of St Joseph.
The Feasts of the Eleven Apostles, and of the Evangelists.
St Stephen. Dec. 26.
The Holy Innocents. Dec. 28.
St Lawrence. Aug. 10.
St Anne. July 26.
St Joachim.
St Gregory the Great. March 12.
St Edward. Oct. 13.
Greater Doubles.
The Commemorations —
Of the Prayer of our Lord,
Of His Sufferings,
Of His Coronation,
Of His Piercing,
Of His Enshroudment,
Of His Five Wounds,
Of His Precious Blood.
The Transfiguration. Aug. 6.
The Most Holy Redeemer. Oct. 23.
The Exaltation of the Cross. Sept. 14.
Dedication of the Church of St Saviour. Nov. 9.
1 Regarding the rank of this Feast, see note under his day.
TWO EASY TABLES. lv
The Expectation of the Blessed Virgin. Dec. 18.
Her Espousal. Jan. 23.
Her Sorrows (the two Feasts.)
The Blessed Virgin styled Help of Christians. May 24.
The Blessed Virgin styled of Mount Carmel. July 1 6.
Dedication of St Mary's of the Snows. Aug. 5.
The Name of Mary.
The Blessed Virgin styled of Ransom. Sept. 24.
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin.
Her Motherhood.
Her Purity.
Her Patronage.
Manifestation of St Michael. May 8.
St Gabriel. March 18.
St Raphael. Oct. 24.
The Guardian Angels. Oct. 2.
The Beheading of the Baptist. Aug. 29.
St Peter's Chair at Rome. Jan. 18.
St Peter's Chair at Antioch. Feb. 22.
St Peter's Chains. Aug. 1.
The Conversion of St Paul. January 25.
Commemoration of St Paul. June 30.
Dedication of the Churches of SS. Peter and Paul. Nov. 18.
St John before the Latin Gate. May 6.
St Barnabas. June 1 1 .
The Blessed John and his companions. May 4.
St Bede the Venerable. May 27.
St Alban. June 22.
Translation of St Thomas of Canterbury. July 7.
The Holy Relics (second Sunday in July).
St Ursula. Oct. 21.
St Edmund the Martyr. Nov. 20.
St Benedict. March 21.
St Dominic. Aug. 4.
St Francis. Oct. 4.
St Patrick. March 17.
St Francis Xavier. Dec. 3.1
Sundays of the First Class.
The First Sunday of Advent.
The First Sunday of Lent.
Passion Sunday.
Palm Sunday.
Easter Sunday.
Low Sunday.
Whitsunday.
Trinity Sunday.
1 The Feast was an Ordinary Double when the Office given in this Breviary was printed.
lvi TWO EASY TABLES.
Sundays of the Second Class.
The Second, Third, and Fourth Sundays in Advent.
Septuagesima Sunday.
Sexagesima Sunday.
Quinquagesima Sunday.
The Second, Third, and Fourth Sundays of Lent.
Greater Week-days.
Those of Advent.
Those of Lent.
The Ember Days.
Rogation Monday.
In the General Appendix will be found the following Greater Doubles.
Translation of the Holy House of Loreto.
The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
The Holy Home.
The Blessed Thomas Plumtree and his Companions.
The Flight of our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, styled of Good Counsel.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, styled the Mother of the Lord our Shepherd.
Lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, styled Mother of Grace.
Translation of St Edmund.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, styled of Perpetual Succour.
The Blessed John Fisher.
The Blessed Thomas More.
Translation of St Cuthbert.
The Blessed Thomas Percy.
LIST OF PRIMARY FEASTS.
I. Doubles of the First Class.
Christmas.
Twelfth Day.
Easter Day.
The Ascension.
Whitsun Day.
Corpus Christi.
The Immaculate Conception.
Lady Day.
The Assumption.
The Birthday of St John the Baptist.
St Joseph.
TWO EASY TABLES. lvii
SS. Peter and Paul.
All Saints.
St Thomas of Canterbury.
St George.
St Augustine of Canterbury.
The Dedication of the Particular Church.
The Patron or Titular.
The principal Patron or Patrons of the district or diocese.
II. Doubles of the Second Class.
The Circumcision.
The Most Holy Trinity.
Candlemas Day.
The Visitation.
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin.
Michaelmas Day.
The Feasts of the Eleven Apostles, and of the Evangelists.
St Stephen. Dec. 26.
The Holy Innocents.
St Lawrence.
St Anne.
St Joachim.
St Gregory the Great.
St Edward.
III. Greater Doubles.
The Transfiguration.
The Dedication of St Saviour's.
Dedication of St Mary's of the Snows.
The Angels Guardian.
The Dedication of the Basilicas of SS. Peter and Paul.
St Barnabas.
St Benedict.
St Dominic.
St Francis.
St Gabriel.
St Raphael.
The Blessed John and his Companions.
St Bede the Venerable.
St Alban.
The Holy Relics.
St Ursula.
St Edmund the Martyr.
St Patrick.
St Francis Xavier.
IV. Doubles.
The Birthday (or day kept as such) of each Saint.
vol. I.
lviii TWO EASY TABLES.
LIST OF SECONDARY FEASTS.
I. Doubles of the First Class.
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
II. Doubles of the Second Class.
The Most Holy Name of Jesus.
The Finding of the Holy Cross.
The Feast of the Most Precious Blood.
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Rosary.
The Patronage of St Joseph.
III. Greater Doubles.
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin (the two Feasts).
The Blessed Virgin styled of Mount Carmel.
Her Holy Name.
The Blessed Virgin styled of Ransom.
Her Presentation.
The Manifestation of St Michael.
The Beheading of St John the Baptist.
St Peter's Chair at Rome.
St Peter's Chair at Antioch.
St Peter's Chains.
The Conversion of St Paul.
The Commemoration of St Paul.
St John before the Latin Gate.
The Commemorations —
Of the Prayer of our Lord,
Of His Sufferings,
Of His Coronation,
Of His Piercing,
Of His Enshroudment,
Of His Five Wounds,
Of His Precious Blood.
Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer.
The Espousal of the Blessed Virgin.
Her Motherhood.
Her Purity.
Her Patronage.
The Expectation of the Blessed Virgin.
The Blessed Virgin styled Help of Christians.
Translation of St Thomas of Canterbury.
All other Feasts of our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Saints not
provided for in these lists.
TWO EASY TABLES.
lix
TABLE A.
If the Second Vespers of
An Higher Sunday (i.e., of the First or
Second Class) .....
4
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
O
An Ordinary Sunday ....
4
3
4
4
3
3
1
I
1
O
A Double of the First Class .
2
4
2
4
4
4
4
6
3
4
6
6
3
4
4
A Double of the Second Class
4
4
4
4
4
A Patron or Titular ....
2
4
2
4
4
4
0
4
6
4
A Greater Double ....
4
4
4
4
4
6
1
3
1
4
A Double
4
5
4
«t
5
3
1
3
1
4
A Semi-double .....
4
3
4
5
3
3
1
1
1
5
An Octave-day .....
4
5
4
4
5
3
1
3
1
4
A Day within an Octave
0
3
4
3
3
3
1
1
1
5
i. All of the latter, nothing of the former.
2. All of the former, nothing of the latter.
3. All of the latter, but with a Com-
memoration of the former.
4. All of the former, but with a Com-
memoration of the latter.
5. All of the former till the Chapter, ex-
clusive ; then of the latter, from the
Chapter, inclusive, but with a Com-
memoration of the former.
6. All of the more important, but with
a Commemoration of the less
important ; if equal, Vespers of the
latter from the Chapter inclusive.
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Note.
At the First Vespers of the Octave-days of the Ascension and of Corpus
Christi and of other Primary Feasts of our Lord, the whole Service is of the
Octave. If a Double Feast have occupied the day, it is only commemorated,
lx TWO EASY TABLES.
unless it be of the First or Second Class, in which case the Service is of it, with
a Commemoration of the First Vespers of the Octave.
If the Second Vespers of the Octave-days of the Feasts of our Lord which
are Primary and more solemn, such as those of Twelfth-Day, Easter, the
Ascension, and the others, clash with the First Vespers of a Double (including
the Octave-day of St John the Baptist), the Double is only commemorated,
unless it be of the First or Second Class, the Patron, Titular, or Dedication
Feast of the particular Church, in which cases the Service is of the Double,
with a Commemoration of the Second Vespers of the Octave.
On the Octave-days of Primary Feasts of the Blessed Virgin, the Angels,
St John the Baptist, St Joseph, and the Holy Apostles, there is only a Com-
memoration made of an Ordinary or Lesser Double that precedes or follows.
If a Double or Semi-double Feast have been reduced to the condition of a
Simple according to the Pie, Chap, x., and a Double of the First Class fall
upon the day before, the reduced Feast is commemorated at the Second Vespers
of the Double of the First Class only if it is to be commemorated at the Lauds
of the succeeding day, that is to say of its own day ; but upon Doubles of the
Second Class such a reduced Feast is commemorated at both Vespers in the
same way as an Octave-day or a Sunday would be ; but a day within an Octave
is not commemorated unless the next day's Office be of the same.
When several Commemorations are to be made, they are arranged in the order
of i, Privileged Sunday; 2, Octave-Day; 3, Greater Double; 4, Reduced
Double ; 5, Ordinary Sunday ; 6, Day within the Octave of Corpus Christi ;
7, Semi-double ; 8, Day within an Octave, reduced to the form of Simple ;
9, Greater Week-day or Eve; 10, Simple.
[Table B.
TWO EASY TABLES.
lxi
TABLE B.
If
A Double of the First Class
6
4
6
6
4
6
6
2 | 2
2
8
4
4
1
A Double of the Second Class .
4
4
4
4
4
6
4
2
2
8
1
4
1
1
A Greater Double
4
4
4
4
1
4
4
2
8
1
1
4
1
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lxii TWO EASY TABLES.
Note.
A Double of any sort, even the Patron, Titular, or Dedication Feast of the
particular Church, if it fall on Dec. 24, Whitsun Eve, Jan. 1 or 13, Ash
Wednesday, Holy, Easter, or Whitsun Weeks, Ascension Day, Corpus Christi
Day, March 25, Aug. 15, Dec. 8, Midsummer Day, March 19, June 29, or
Nov. 1, is transferred, if it can be transferred, but if not, it is simply com-
memorated upon its own day, or totally omitted, as may be directed in the Pie.
Within the Octave of the Epiphany no Feast can be kept except Double
Feasts of the First Class, and that with Commemoration of the Octave. Other
Feasts of Nine Lessons are permanently fixed on the first free day after the
Octave ; Simples are commemorated only. Within the Octave of Corpus Christi,
Semi-doubles are reduced to the rank of Simples and commemorated, neither can
Doubles be transferred thither unless they be of the First or Second Class, and a
Commemoration is always made of the Octave. Within those Octaves, in which
the observance of Feasts is allowed, a Semi-double, if it fall on a Sunday, is
commemorated as prescribed by the Pie.
The Octaves of Christmas, Twelfth -Day, and Corpus Christi, are com-
memorated at every Vespers and Lauds, whatever be the Office.
Other Octaves, which are not in the Kalendar,1 are not observed from Ash
Wednesday to Low Sunday, or Whitsun Eve to Trinity Sunday, both inclusive,
or from Dec. 17 to Jan. 6.
An Octave-day can never be transferred. Therefore, if Corpus Christi fall
on Midsummer Day, and the Feast of St John were consequently kept on June
25, July 1 would be kept as the Octave of Corpus Christi, with a Commemoration
of the Octave of St John at both Vespers and at Lauds.
If some other Saints be mentioned in the Kalendar on the same day with the
Patron or Titular, the Feast of the Patron or Titular alone is observed. If the
other Feast be a Double or Semi-double, it is permanently fixed on the first free
day and kept as a Semi-double. If it is a Double of the First or Second Class,
it is similarly transferred and kept as on its own day.2
The Week-days of Advent and Lent, if not kept as such, are always com-
memorated at both Vespers and Lauds, whatever be the Office ; Ember Days,
Eves, and Rogation Monday, at Lauds only. But if an Eve fall in Advent or
Lent, on an Ember Day, a Double of the First Class, or the Patronal, Titular,
or Dedication Feast of the particular Church, no notice is taken of it, even in
Lauds.
1 But in the diocese of Hexham there is a special privilege permitting the observance of an
Octave in honour of St Cuthbert.
2 I.e., in that particular Church, it has a day fixed other than elsewhere.
KALENDAR. lxiii
KALENDAR.
JANUARY.
1 . Circumcision of our Lord. Double of the Second Class.
2. Octave of St Stephen. Double. Commemoration of the Octaves of St
Thomas of Canterbury, of St John, and of the Holy Innocents.
3. Octave of St John, Apostle and Evangelist. Double. Commemoration of
St Thomas of Canterbury, and of the Octave of the Holy Innocents.
4. Octave of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs. Double. Commemoration of St
Thomas of Canterbury.
5. Octave of St Thomas of Canterbury, Martyr. Double. Commemoration of
the Eve of the Epiphany and of St Telesphorus, Pope of Rome, Martyr.
6. Epiphany of Our Lord. Double of the First Class.
7. Within the Octave of the Epiphany.
8. Within the Octave.
9. Within the Octave.
10. Within the Octave.
1 1 . Within the Octave. Commemoration of St Hyginus, Pope of Rome, and
Martyr.
12. Within the Octave.
* Lord's Day within the Octave of the Epiphany. [The Finding of the Child
JESUS in the Temple. Greater Double. General Appendix.]
13. Octave of the Epiphany. Double.
* Second Lord's Day after the Epiphany. Feast of the Most Holy Name of
JESUS. Double of the Second Class. Commemoration of the Sunday.
14. Hilary, Bishop [of Poitiers,] Confessor, and Doctor of the Church. Double.
Commemoration of St Felix, Priest and Martyr.
15. Paul, the First Hermit. Double. Commemoration of St Maurus, Abbat.
16. Marcellus, Pope and Martyr. Semi-double.
17. Antony, Abbat. Double.
18. The Chair of St Peter at Rome. Greater Double. Commemoration of St
Paul and of St Prisca, Virgin and Martyr.
19. Wolstan, Bishop [of Worcester,] Confessor. Double. Commemoration of
SS. Maris, Audifax, Abachum, and Martha, Martyrs.
* Third Lord's Day after the Epiphany. [The Feast of the Holy Home,
JESUS, Mary, and Joseph. Greater Double. Gen. App.]
20. Fabian and Sebastian, Martyrs. Double.
21. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr. Double.
22. Vincent and Anastasius. Semi-double.
23. Espousal of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St Joseph. Greater Double. Com-
memoration of St Joseph and of Emerentiana, Virgin and Martyr.
24. Timothy, Bishop [of Ephesus,] Martyr. Double.
lxiv KALENDAR.
2 5. Conversion of St Paul. Greater Double. Commemoration of St Peter.
26. Polycarp, Bishop [of Smyrna,] Martyr. Double.
27. John Chrysostom, Patriarch [of Constantinople,] Confessor and Doctor of
the Church. Double.
28. Raymond of Penafuerte, Confessor. Semi-Double.1 Commemoration of St
Agnes for the second time.
29. Francis de Sales, Bishop [of Geneva,] Confessor, and Doctor of the
Church. Double.
30. Martina, Virgin and Martyr. Semi-Double.
\_Double in the Province of Westminster.]
3 1 . Peter Nolasco, Confessor. Double.
* Friday after Septuagesima Sunday, Prayer of our Dora7 in the Garden of
Gethsemane. Greater Double.
* Friday after Sexagesima Sunday, Sufferings of our Lord. Greater Double.
FEBRUARY.
1 . Ignatius, Bishop [of Antioch,] Martyr. Double.
2. Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Double of the Second Class.
3. Laurence, Archbishop of Canterbury, Confessor. Double. Commemoration
of Blase, Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia, Martyr.
4. Andrew Corsini, Bishop [of Fiesole,] Confessor. Double.
5. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr. Double.
6. Titus, Archbishop [of Gortyna in Crete,] Confessor. Double. Commem-
oration of St Dorothy, Virgin and Martyr.
7. Romuald, Abbat. Double.
8. John de la Mata, Confessor. Double.
9. Cyril, Pope of Alexandria, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church. Double.
Commemoration of St Apollonia, Virgin and Martyr.
[The Twenty-six Holy Martyrs who suffered in Japan. Double. Gen.
App.]
10. Scholastica, Virgin. Double.
1 1 . Gilbert [of Sempringham,] Confessor. Semi-double.
12. Benedict Biscop, Abbat, Confessor. Double.
13. The Seven Founders of the Servite Order, Confessors. Double.
[Kentigern, Bishop [of Glasgow,] Confessor. Double. Gen. App.]
14. Valentine, Priest and Martyr.
[Thomas Plumtree and his Companions, Martyrs. Greater Double. Gen.
App.]
1 5. Faustinus and Jovita, Martyrs.
16.
17. [The Flight of our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt. Greater Double. Gen.
. App.] _
1 8. Simeon, Bishop [of Jerusalem,] Martyr.
19.
1 See p. 723.
KALENDAR. lxv
20.
21.
22. The Chair of St Peter at Antioch. Greater Double. Commemoration of St
Paul.
23. Peter Damian, [Cardinal] Bishop [of Ostia,] Confessor, and Doctor of the
Church. Double. Commemoration of the Eve.
24. Matthias, Apostle. Double of the Second Class.
25.
26. Ethelbert, King of Kent, Confessor. Double.
27. [Margaret of Cortona, Penitent. Semi-double. Gen. App. J
28.
In Leap- Year February has 29 days, the additional day is inserted after the
23rd, the 24th is then the Eve of St Matthias, and the following days
are each counted one later, the Feast of St Matthias being the 25th, &c.
* First Friday in Lent, Coronation of our Lord ivith Thorns. Greater
Double.
Second Friday in Lent, Piercing of Our Lord ivith Spear and Nails.
Greater Double.
Third Friday in Lent, Enshroudment of our Lord. Greater Double.
Fourth Friday in Lent, The Five Most Holy Wounds of our Lord.
Greater Double.
MARCH.
1. David, Archbishop [of Caerleon,] Confessor. Double.
2. Chad, Bishop [of Lichfield,]] Confessor. Double.
3. Aelred, Abbat, Confessor. Semi-double.
4. Casimir, Confessor. Semi-double. Commemoration of St Lucius, Pope of
Rome, and Martyr.
5-
6.
7. Thomas of Aquino, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church. Double. Com-
memoration of SS. Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs.
8. Felix, Bishop [of Dunwich,] Confessor. Double.
9. Frances of Rome, Widow. Double.
10. The Forty Martyrs. Semi-double.
11. John of God, Confessor. Double.
12. Gregory \jhe Great, ~\ Pope of Rome, Doctor of the Church, and Apostle of
England. Double of the Second Class.
I3-
'5-
16.
17. Patrick, Archbishop [of Armagh,] Confessor. Greater Double.
18. The Archangel Gabriel. Greater Double.
19. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Double of the First
Class.
lxvi KALENDAR.
20. Cuthbert, Bishop [of Lindisfarne,] Confessor. Double.
[In the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle this Feast has an Octave. See
Gen. App.]
2 1 . Benedict, Abbat and Confessor. Greater Double.
22. Cyril, Bishop [of Jerusalem,] Confessor, and Doctor of the Church. Double.
[Edward, King of England, Martyr. Double. Gen. App.]
23-
24.
25. Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Double of the First Class.
26. [The Penitent Thief. Double. Gen. App.]
27. John of Damascus, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church. Double.
28. John of Capistrano, Confessor. Semi-double.
29.
3°-
* Friday in Passion Week, Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Greater
Double.
APRIL.
1.
2. Francis of Paola, Confessor. Double.
3. Richard, Bishop [of Chichester,] Confessor. Double.
4. Isidore, Archbishop [of Seville,] Confessor, and Doctor of the Church.
Double.
5. Vincent Ferrer, Confessor. Double.
6.
9-
10.
11. Leo the Great, Pope of Rome, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church.
Double.
12.
13. Hermenegild, Martyr. Semi-double.
14. Justin, Martyr. Double. Commemoration of SS. Tiburtius, Valerian, and
Maximus, Martyrs.
'5-
16.
17. Stephen Harding, Abbat, Confessor. Semi-double. Commemoration of St
Anicete, Pope of Rome, and Martyr.
18.
19. ^Elphege, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr. Double.
20.
21. Anselm, Archbishop [of Canterbury,] Confessor, and Doctor of the Church.
Double.
22. Soter and Caius, Popes of Rome, and Martyrs. Semi-double.
KALENDAR. Lxvii
23. George, Martyr, Patron of England. Double of the First Class.
24. Faithful of Sigmaringen, Martyr. Double. Commemoration of the Octave
of St George and of St Mellitus, Archbishop of Canterbury.
25. Mark, Evangelist. Double of the Second Class.
26. Cletus and Marcellinus, Popes of Rome, and Martyrs. Semi-double. Com-
memoration of the Octave of St George.
[The Blessed Virgin Mary, styled of Good Counsel. Greater Double.
Gen. App.]
27. Egbert, Confessor. Semi-double. Commemoration of the Octave of St
George.
28. Paul of the Cross, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of the Octave of
St George and of St Vitalis, Martyr.
29. Peter, Martyr. Double. Commemoration of the Octave of St George.
30. Octave of St George, Martyr. Double.
* Third Lord's Day after Easter, Patronage of St Joseph. Double of the
Second Class. Commemoration of the Sunday.
[In some dioceses this Feast has an Octave. See Gen. App.]
. MAY.
1 . Philip and James, Apostles. Double of the Second Class. Commemoration
of St Asaph, Bishop of St Asaph.
[* First Lord's Day in May, The Blessed Virgin Mary, styled the Mother
of the Lord our Shepherd. Greater Double. Gen. App.]
2. Athanasius, Pope of Alexandria, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church.
Double.
3. Finding of the Holy Cross. Double of the Second Class. Commemoration
of SS. Alexander, Eventius, and Theodulus, Martyrs, and Juvenal, Bishop
of Narni, Confessor.
4. John, Cardinal Bishop of Rochester, Thomas More, and their companions,
Martyrs. Greater Double.
5. Katharine of Sienna, Virgin. Double.
6. John, Apostle and Evangelist, before the Latin Gate. Greater Double.
7. Stanislaw, Bishop [of Crakow,] Martyr. Double.
8. Manifestation of the Archangel St Michael. Greater Double.
9. Gregory of Nazianzus, Patriarch [of Constantinople,] Confessor, and Doctor
of the Church. Double.
10. Antonine, Archbishop [of Florence,] Confessor. Double. Commemoration
of SS. Gordian and Epimachus, Martyrs.
1 1. Pius V., Pope of Rome, Confessor. Double.
[John Rochester and James Walworth and their Companions, Martyrs.
Double. Gen. App.]
12. Nereus, Achilles, the Virgin Domitilla, and Pancras, Martyrs. Semi-double.
[Lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Greater Double. Gen. App.]
13. Walburg, Virgin. Double.
14. Monica, Widow. Double. Commemoration of St Boniface, Martyr.
lxviii KALENDAR.
15. [Jean-Baptiste de la Salle, Confessor. Double. Gen. App.]
[The Blessed Virgin Mary, styled Mother of Grace. Greater Double.
Gen. App.]
16. Simon Stock, Confessor. Double.
17. Paschal Baylon, Confessor. Double.
18. Venantius, Martyr. Double.
19. Dunstan, Archbishop [of Canterbury,] Confessor. Double. Commemora-
tion of St Pudentiana, Virgin.
20. Bernardine of Sienna. Semi-double.
2 1 . Peter Celestine, Pope of Rome, Confessor. Double.
22. Ubald, Bishop [of Gubbio,] Confessor. Semi-double.
23. John Baptist de' Rossi, Confessor. Double.
24. The Blessed Virgin Mary, styled " Help of Christians." Greater Double.
[In the dioceses of Shrewsbury and Westminster, Double of the First Class,
ivith an Octave. Gen. App.]
25. Aldhelm, Bishop [of Sherborne,] Confessor. Double. Commemoration of
St Urban, Pope of Rome, and Martyr.
26. Augustine, Archbishop of Canterbury, Confessor, Apostle of England.
Double of the First Class.
27. Bede the Venerable, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church. Greater Double.
Commemoration of the Octave of St Augustine and of St John I., Pope
of Rome, and Martyr.
28. Gregory VII., Pope of Rome, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of the
Octave of St Augustine.
[The Blessed Margaret Pole, Countess [of Salisbury,] Martyr. Double.
Gen. App.]
29. Eleutherius, Pope of Rome, Martyr. Double. Commemoration of the
Octave of St Augustine.
30. John of Nepomuc, Martyr. Double. Commemoration of the Octave of St
Augustine and of St Felix, Pope of Rome, and Martyr.
31. Angela Merici, Virgin. Double. Commemorations of the Octave of St
Augustine and of St Petronilla, Virgin.
* Third Lord's Day after Pentecost, the Most Sacred Heart of JESUS.
Double of the First Class. Commemoration of the Sunday.
JUNE.
1. Within the Octave of St Augustine of Canterbury.
2. Octave of St Augustine of Canterbury. Double. Commemoration of SS.
Marcellinus, Peter, and Elmo, Martyrs.
3. Mary Magdalen de' Pazzi, Virgin. Double.
4. Francis Caracciolo, Confessor. Double.
5. Boniface, Archbishop [of Maintz,] Martyr. Double.
[In the diocese of Plymouth, a Double of the First Class, ivith an Octave.
Gen. App.]
6. Norbert, Archbishop [of Magdeburg,] Confessor. Double.
7-
KALENDAR. lxix
8. William, Archbishop of York, Confessor. Double.
9. Primus and Felician, Martyrs.
\_Jn the diocese of Portsmouth, Translation of St Edmund, Archbishop of
Canterbury, Confessor. Greater Double. Gen. App.^
10. Margaret, Queen of Scots, Widow. Double.
1 1 . Barnabas, Apostle. Greater Double.
12. John of San Fagondez. Double. Commemoration of SS. Basilides, Cyrinus,
Nabor, and Nazarius, Martyrs.
13. Anthony of Padua, Confessor. Double.
14. Basil the Great, Archbishop [of Csesarea-in-Pontus,] Confessor and Doctor
of the Church. Double.
15. Philip Neri, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of SS. Vitus, Modestus,
and Crescentia, Martyrs.
16.
17. Botolph, Abbat, Confessor. Semi-double.
[Lord's Day before the birth of St John the Baptist, the Blessed Virgin
Mary, styled of Perpetual Succour. Greater Double. Gen. App.]
18. Mark and Marcellian, Martyrs.
19. Juliana de' Falconieri, Virgin. Double. Commemoration of SS. Gervase
and Protase, Martyrs.
20. Silverius, Pope of Rome, and Martyr.
21. Aloysius Gonzaga, Confessor. Double.
22. Alban, Proto-Martyr of Britain. Greater Double. Commemoration of
Paulinus, Bishop of Nola, Confessor.
[First Free Day after June 22, the Blessed John Fisher, Cardinal Bishop of
Rochester, Martyr. Greater Double. Gen. App.^j
23. Etheldreda, Virgin. Double. Commemoration of Midsummer Eve.
24. Birth of St John the Baptist. Double of the First Class.
25. William, Abbat, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of the Octave of St
John.
26. John and Paul, Martyrs. Double. Commemoration of the Octave of St
John.
27. Within the Octave of the Birth of St John.
28. Leo II., Pope of Rome, and Confessor. Semi-double. Commemoration of
the Octave of St John, and of the Eve of the Apostles.
29. Peter and Paul, Apostles. Double of the First Class.
[Commemoration of all the Holy Apostles. Gen. App.]
30. Commemoration of St Paul. Greater Double. Commemoration of St Peter,
and of the Octave of St John.
JULY.
* First Lord's Day in July, the Most Precious Blood of our Lord JESUS
Christ. Double of the Second Class. Commemoration of the Sunday.
Octave of the Birth of St John the Baptist. Double. Commemoration of
the Octave of SS. Peter and Paul.
lxx KALENDAR.
2. Visitation of the -Blessed Virgin Mary. Double of the Second Class. Com-
memoration of SS. Processus and Martinian, Martyrs.
3. Within the Octave of the Apostles.
4. Within the Octave of the Apostles.
5. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of the
Octave of the Apostles.
6. Octave of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Double.
[First Free Day after July 6, the Blessed Thomas More, Martyr. Greater
Double. Gen. App.]
7. Translation of Thomas, Archbishop [of Canterbury], Martyr. Greater Double.
* Second Lord's Day in July, the Holy Relics. Greater Double. Com-
memoration of the Sunday.
8. Isabel, Queen of Portugal, Widow. Semi-double.
9. Willibald, Bishop of Eichstad, Confessor. Double.
10. The Seven Brethren and the Holy Virgins Rufina and Secunda, all Martyrs.
Semi-double.
1 1 . Cyril, Bishop of Moravia, and Methodius, Bishop of KiefF, Confessors.
Double. Commemoration of St Pius I., Pope and Martyr.
T2. John Gualberto, Abbat [of Passignano,] Double. Commemoration of SS.
Nabor and Felix, Martyrs.
13. Anaclete, Pope of Rome, and Martyr. Semi-double.
14. " Buona- ventura," [Cardinal] Bishop [of Albano,] Confessor, and Doctor
of the Church. Double.
1 5. Swithun, Bishop [of Winchester,] Confessor. Double.
[The Division of the Apostles. Double. Gen. App.]
[Third Sunday in July, Commemoration of All the Holy Bishops of Rome.
Double. Gen. App.]
1 6. The Blessed Virgin Mary, styled of Mount Carmel. Greater Double.
[In the diocese of Salford, Double of the First Class. Gen. App.]
17. Osmund, Bishop [of Salisbury,] Confessor. Double.
18. Camillus de' Lelli, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of St Symphorosa
and her Seven Sons, Martyrs.
19. Vincent de Paul, Confessor. Double.
20. Jerome Miani, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of St Margaret, Virgin
and Martyr.
21. Henry II., Emperor of the Romans, Confessor. Semi-double. Commem-
oration of St Praxedes, Virgin.
22. Mary Magdalen. Double.
23. Apollinaris, Bishop [of Ravenna,] Martyr. Double. Commemoration of St
Liborius, Bishop of Mans, Confessor.
24. Alexis, Confessor. Semi-double. Commemoration of the Eve of St James,
and of St Christina, Virgin and Martyr.
25. James, Apostle. Double of the Second Class. Commemoration of St Chris-
topher, Martyr.
26. Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Double of the Second Class.
[/« the diocese of Leeds, Double of the First Class. Gen. App.]
27. Pantaleon, Martyr.
28. Nazarius, Celsus, and Victor, Martyrs, and Innocent, Pope of Rome, and
Confessor. Semi-double.
KALENDAR. Ixxi
29. Martha, Virgin. Semi-double. Commemoration of SS. Felix, Simplicius,
Faustinus, and Beatrix, Martyrs.
30. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of SS.
Abdon and Sennen, Martyrs.
3 1 . Ignatius, Confessor. Double.
' AUGUST.
1. The Chains of St Peter. Greater Double. Commemoration of the Holy
Machabees, Martyrs.
2. Alphonsus Mary de' Liguori, Bishop [of Santa-Agata-de'-Goti,] Confessor,
and Doctor of the Church. Double. Commemoration of St Stephen,
Pope of Rome, and Martyr.
3. Finding of the body of St Stephen, the First Martyr. Semi-double.
4. Dominick, Confessor. Greater Double.
5. Dedication of St Mary's of the Snows. Greater Double.
6. Transfiguration of our Lord. Greater Double. Commemoration of St
Xystus, Pope of Rome, and SS. Felicissimus and Agapitus, Martyrs.
7. Gaetan, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of St Donatus, Bishop of
Arezzo, Martyr.
8. Cyriacus, Largus, and Smaragdus, Martyrs. Semi-double.
9. Oswald, King of the Northumbrians, Martyr. Double. Commemoration of
the Eve of St Lawrence, and of St Romanus, Martyr.
I o. Lawrence, Martyr. Double of the Second Class.
11. Within the Octave of St Lawrence. Commemoration of SS. Tiburtius and
Susanna.
12. Clare, Virgin. Double. Commemoration of the Octave of St Lawrence.
13. Within the Octave of St Lawrence. Commemoration of SS. Hippolytus
and Cassian, Martyrs.
14. Within the Octave of St Lawrence. Commemoration of the Eve of the
Assumption, and of St Eusebius, Confessor.
15. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Double of the First Class.
* The Lord's Day within the Octave of the Assumption, St Joachim, Con-
fessor, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Double of the Second Class.
Commemoration of the Sunday.
1 6. Hyacinth, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of the two Octaves.
17. Octave of St Lawrence. Double. Commemoration of the Octave of the
Assumption.
18. Helen, Empress of the Romans, Widow. Double. Commemoration of the
Octave of the Assumption, and of St Agapitus, Martyr.
19. Within the Octave of the Assumption.
20. Bernard, Abbat [of Clairvaux,] Confessor, and Doctor of the Church.
Double. Commemoration of the Octave of the Assumption.
21. Jeanne Frances Fremiot de Chantal, Widow. Double. Commemoration of
the Octave of the Assumption.
22. Octave of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Double. Com-
memoration of SS. Timothy, Hippolytus, and Symphorian, Martyrs.
lxxii KALENDAR.
* The Lord's Day after the Octave of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. \OJffice of the Most Pure Heart of the Blessed Virgin. Greater
Double. Vol. hi., Gen. App., p. 1028 ; vol. iv., Gen. App., p. 916.]
23. Philip Benizzi, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of the Eve of St
Bartholomew.
24. Bartholomew, Apostle. Double of the Second Class.
25. Louis IX., King of France, Confessor. Semi- double.
26. Zephyrinus, Pope of Rome, and Martyr.
27. Joseph Casalanz, Confessor. Double.
28. Austin, Bishop [of Hippo,]] Confessor, and Doctor of the Church. Double.
Commemoration of St Hermes, Martyr.
29. Beheading of St John the Baptist. Greater Double. Commemoration of St
Sabina, Martyr.
30. Rose of Lima, Virgin. Double. Commemoration of SS. Felix and him
that joined him, Martyrs.
31. Aidan, Bishop [of Lindisfarne,] Confessor. Double.
SEPTEMBER.
1. Raymond the Unborn, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of St Giles,
Abbat, and of the Twelve Holy Brethren, Martyrs.
2. Stephen, King of Hungary, Confessor. Semi-double.
4. [Translation of St Cuthbert, Bishop [of Lindisfarne] and Confessor. Greater
Double in the diocese of Hexham. Gen. App.]]
5. Lawrence de' Giustiniani, Patriarch of Venice, Confessor. Semi-double.
6.
7-
8. Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Double of the Second Class. Commem-
oration of St Adrian, Martyr.
* The Lord's Day within the Octave, The Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. Greater Double. Commemoration of the Sunday.
9. Within the Octave of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin. Commemoration of
St Gorgonius, Martyr.
10. Nicolas of Tolentino. Double. Commemoration of the Octave of the Birth
of the Blessed Virgin.
11. Within the Octave of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin. Commemoration of
SS. Protus and Hyacinth, Martyrs.
12 Within the Octave of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin.
13. Within the Octave of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin.
14. Uplifting of the Holy Cross. Greater Double. Commemoration of the
Octave of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin.
1 5. Octave of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin. Double. Commemoration of St
Nicomede, Martyr.
* Third Lord's Day in this Month, The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. Greater Double. Commemoration of the Sunday.
KALENDAR. lxxiii
1 6. Cornelius, Pope of Rome, and Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, Martyrs.
Semi-double. Commemoration of SS. Euphemia, Lucy, and Geminian,
Martyrs.
17. Marking of the Body of St Francis with the marks of Our Lord. Double.
1 8. Joseph of Cupertino, Confessor. Double.
19. Januarius, Bishop [of Benevento,] and his Companions, Martyrs. Double.
20. Eustace, Agapitus, Theopistus, and Theopista, Martyrs. Double. Com-
memoration of the Eve of St Matthew.
2 1 . Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. Double of the Second Class.
22. Thomas of Villanueva, Archbishop [of Valencia,] Confessor. Double.
Commemoration of St Maurice and his Companions, Martyrs.
23. Linus, Pope of Rome, and Martyr. Semi-double. Commemoration of St
Thecla, Virgin and Martyr.
24. The Blessed Virgin Mary, styled " of Ransom." Greater Double.
25. Ninian, Bishop [of Galloway, ] Confessor. Double.
26. Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury, Confessor. Double. Commemoration
of SS. Cyprian and Justina, Martyrs.
27. Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs. Semi-double.
28. Wenceslaus, Duke [of Bohemia,] Martyr. Semi-double.
29. Dedication of the Church of St Michael, the Archangel. Double of the Second
Class.
[In the dioceses of Menevia and Newport, St Michael and All Angels.
Double of the First Class. Gen. App.]
30. Jerome, Priest, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church. Double. Com-
memoration of St Honorius, Archbishop of Canterbury.
OCTOBER.
* First Lord's Day in the Month, The Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. Double of the Second Class. Commemoration of the Sunday.
J . Remy, Bishop of Rheims, Confessor. Simple or Semi-double at will.
2. The Guardian Angels. Greater Double.
3. Thomas, Bishop of Hereford, Confessor. Double.
4. Francis, Confessor. Greater Double.
5. Placidus and his Companions, Martyrs.
6. Bruno, Confessor. Double.
7. Mark, Pope of Rome, Confessor. Commemoration of SS. Sergius and his
Companions, Martyrs.
* Second Lord's Day in the Month, Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Greater Double. Commemoration of the Sunday.
8. Bridget, Princess of Nericia, Widow. Double.
9. Denys, Bishop of Paris, Rusticus, and Eleutherius, Martyrs. Semi-double.
10. Paulinus, Archbishop of York, Confessor. Double.
11. Francis Borgia, Confessor. Semi-double.
12. Wilfred, Archbishop [of York,] Confessor. Double.
13. Edward, King of England, Confessor. Double of the Second Class.
lxxiv KALENDAR.
14. Kallistus, Pope of Rome, Martyr. Double. Commemoration of the Octave
of St Edward.
* Third Lord's Day in the Month, Purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Greater Double. Commemoration of the Sunday.
1 5. Theresa, Virgin. Double. Commemoration of the Octave of St Edward.
16. Within the Octave of St Edward.
17. Iadwiga, Widow. Semi-double. Commemoration of the Octave of St
Edward.
1 8. Luke, Evangelist. Double of the Second Class.
19. Peter of Alcantara, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of the Octave
of St Edward.
[In the diocese of Shrewsbury, Double of the First Class. Gen. App.]
20. Octave of St Edward. Double.
21. Ursula and her Companions, Virgins and Martyrs. Greater Double. Com-
memoration of St Hilarion, Abbat.
* Fourth Lord's Day in the Month, Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Greater Double. Commemoration of the Sunday.
22. John of Kenty, Confessor. Double.
23. Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer. Greater Double.
24. The Archangel Raphael. Greater Double.
25. John of Beverley, Archbishop [of York,] Confessor. Double. Commem-
oration of SS. Chrysanthus and Daria, Martyrs.
26. Evaristus, Pope of Rome, Martyr.
27. Eve of SS. Simon and Jude.
28. Simon and Jude, apostles. Double of the Second Class.
29.
3°-
3 1 . Eve of All Saints.
NOVEMBER.
1. Feast of All the Saints. Double of the First Class.
2. Within the Octave of All Saints. Commemoration of all the Faithful
Departed.
3. Winefrid, Virgin and Martyr. Double. Commemoration of the Octave of
All Saints.
4. Charles, [Cardinal] Archbishop [of Milan,] Confessor. Double. Com-
memoration of the Octave of All Saints, and of Saints Vitalis and
Agricola, Martyrs.
5. Within the Octave of All Saints.
6. Within the Octave of All Saints.
7. Within the Octave of All Saints.
8. Octave of All Saints. Double. Commemoration of the Four Crowned
Martyrs.
9. Dedication of the Cathedral Church of Our Most Holy Saviour. Greater
Double. Commemoration of St Theodore, Martyr.
KALENDAR. lxxv
10. Andrew Avellino, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of SS. Tryphon,
Respicius, and the Virgin Nympha, Martyrs, and of St Justus, Bishop of
Rochester, Confessor.
1 1 . Martin, Bishop [of Tours,] Confessor. Double. Commemoration of St
Mennas, Martyr.
12. Martin, Pope of Rome, Martyr. Semi-double.
13. Diego, Confessor. Semi-double.
14. Erconwald, Bishop of London, Confessor. Double.
[Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland, Martyr. Greater Double. Gen.
App.]
I 5, Gertrude, Virgin. Double.
1 6. Edmund Rich, Archbishop of Canterbury, Confessor. Double.
[In the diocese of Portsmouth, Edmund of Canterbury. Double of the
First Class. Gen. App.]
17. Hew, Bishop of Lincoln, Confessor. Double.
18. Dedication of the Churches of SS. Peter and Paul. Greater Double.
19. Elizabeth, Widow. Double. Commemoration of St Pontian, Pope of
Rome, and Martyr.
20. Edmund, King of the East Angles, Martyr. Greater Double.
21. Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Greater Double.
22. Cecily, Virgin and Martyr. Double.
23. Clement, Pope of Rome, Martyr. Double. Commemoration of St Felicity,
Martyr.
24. John of the Cross, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of St Chrysogonus,
Martyr.
25. Katharine, Virgin and Martyr. Double.
26. Sylvester, Abbat, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of St Peter, Pope
of Alexandria, Martyr.
27. Gregory, the Wonder-worker, Bishop [of Neo-Caesarea in Pontus,] Con-
fessor. Double.
28. Jehoshaphat, Archbishop of Polotsk, Martyr. Double.
29. Willibrord, Archbishop of Utrecht, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of
the Eve of St Andrew, if out of Advent, and of St Saturninus, Martyr.
[Cuthbert Maine, Martyr. Double. Gen. App.]
30. Andrew, Apostle. Double of the Second Class. •
DECEMBER.
1. Felix de Valois, Confessor. Double.
[Edmund Campion and his Companions, Martyrs. Double. Gen. App.]
2. Bibiana, Virgin and Martyr. Semi-double.
3. Francis Xavier, Confessor. Doubled
4. Peter Chrysologus, Archbishop [of Ravenna,] Confessor, and Doctor of the
Church. Double. Commemoration of St Barbara, Virgin and Martyr.
1 Since raised to the rank of a Greater Double.
lxxvi KALENDAR.
5. Brian, Bishop [of Dorchester,] Confessor. Double. Commemoration of St
Saba, Abbat.
6. Nicolas, Archbishop [of Myra,] Confessor. Double.
[In diocese of Liverpool, Double of the First Class. Gen. App.]
7. Ambrose, Bishop [of Milan,] Confessor, and Doctor of the Church.
Double.
8. Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Double of the
First Class.
9. Within the Octave of the Conception.
10. Within the Octave of the Conception. Commemoration of St Melchiades,
Pope of Rome, Martyr.
[Translation of the Holy House of Loreto. Greater Double. Gen. App.]
11. Damasus, Pope of Rome, Confessor. Semi-double. Commemoration of the
Octave of the Conception.
12. Within the Octave of the Conception.
13. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr. Double. Commemoration of the Octave of the
Conception.
14. Within the Octave of the Conception.
15. Octave of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin. Double.
16. Eusebius, Bishop [of Vercelli,] Martyr. Semi-double.
1 8. The Blessed Virgin Mary looking shortly to be delivered. Greater Double.
19.
20. Eve of St Thomas.
2 1 . Thomas, Apostle. Double of the Second Class.
22.
23-
24. Christmas Eve.
25. Birthday of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Double of the First Class.
26. Stephen, the First Martyr. Double of the Second Class. Commemoration
of the Octave of Christmas.
27. John, Apostle and Evangelist. Double of the Second Class. Commemora-
tion of the Octaves of Christmas and of St Stephen.
28. The Holy Innocents. Double of the Second Class. Commemoration of the
Octaves of Christmas-, of St Stephen, and of St John.
29. Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr. Double of the First
Class.1 Commemoration of the Octaves of Christmas, [of St Stephen,
of St John, and of the Innocents.]
30. Office of the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas, or of the Octave.
Commemorations of the Octaves of [Christmas,] of St Thomas of
Canterbury, of St Stephen, of St John, and of the Innocents.
31. Silvester, Pope of Rome, Confessor. Double. Commemoration of the
Octaves of Christmas, of St Thomas of Canterbury, of St Stephen,
of St John, and of the Innocents.
1 See the note to the Office in the Breviary.
PRAYERS. ABSOLUTIONS AND BLESSINGS. lxxvii
PRAYERS. ABSOLUTIONS AND BLESSINGS.
A Prayer before a Service.
,0 Lord, open Thou my mouth that I may bless Thy Holy Name. Cleanse
my heart from all vain, evil, and wandering thoughts ; enlighten my under-
standing ; kindle my affections, that I may pray to, and praise Thee with
attention and devotion ; and may worthily be heard before the presence of
Thy Divine Majesty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord, in union with that Divine Intention wherewith Thou didst Thyself
praise God, while as Thou wast on earth, I offer these Hours unto Thee.
A Prayer after a Service.
In respect of which Pope Leo X. has granted to all persons ivho after saying
the Divine Office shall devoutly recite it on their knees, condonation of the shortcomings
and faults committed by them from human frailty in saying the Office.
To the Most Holy and undivided Trinity, to the Manhood of our Lord
Jesus Christ Crucified, to the fruitful Virginity of the most blessed and most
glorious Mary, always a Virgin, and to the holiness of all the Saints be ascribed
everlasting praise, honour, and glory, by all creatures, and to us be granted the
forgiveness of all our sins, world without end. Amen.
Verse. Blessed be the womb of the Virgin Mary which bore the Son of
the Eternal Father.
Answer. And blessed be the paps which gave suck to Christ our Lord.
Then are said the Lord's Prayer and the Angelic Salutation.
Summary of the Absolutions and Blessings pronounced at Mattins.
In the First Nocturn, and on Monday and Thursday.
Absolution.
Graciously hear, O Lord Jesus Christ, the prayers of Thy servants, and
have mercy upon us : Who livest and reignest with the Father, and the Holy
Ghost, world without end. Amen.
First Blessing.
May the Eternal Father bless us
With an eternal blessing. Amen.
Second Blessing.
May the Son, the Sole-begotten,
Mercifully bless and keep us. Amen.
lxxviii PRAYERS. ABSOLUTIONS AND BLESSINGS.
Third Blessing.
May the grace of God the Spirit
All our heart and mind enlighten. Amen.
In the Second Nocturn, and on Tuesday and Friday.
Absolution.
May His loving-kindness and mercy help us, Who liveth and reigneth with
the Father, and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Fourth Blessing.
God the Father Omnipotent,
Be to us merciful and clement. Amen.
Fifth Blessing.
May Christ to all His people give,
For ever in His sight to live. Amen.
Sixth Blessing.
May the Spirit's fire Divine
In our hearts enkindled shine. Amen.
In the Third Nocturn, and on Wednesday and Saturday.
Absolution.
May the Almighty and merciful Lord loose us from the bonds of our
sins. Amen.
Seventh Blessing.
May the Gospel's holy lection
Be our safety and protection. Amen.
Eighth Blessing.
God's most mighty strength alway
Be His people's staff and stay. Amen.
For Feasts of Saints.
He (or she or they) whose feast-day we are keeping,
Be our Advocate (or Advocates) with God.
For Feasts of the Blessed Virgin.
She whose feast-day we are keeping —
Mary, blessed Maid of Maidens,
Be our Advocate with God.
PRAYERS. ABSOLUTIONS AND BLESSINGS. lxxix
Ninth Blessing.
May He that is the Angels' King
To that high realm His people bring. Amen.
Or, if another Gospel and Homily are to be begun,
May the Gospel's glorious word
Cleansing to our souls afford.
On days of Three Lessons the Absolution and Blessings are as above, according
to the Week-day, with the following exceptions : First Blessing on Wednesday or
Saturday, (not the Simple Office of the Blessed Virgin, J if the First Lesson be
not Gospel with Homily,
May His blessing be upon us
Who doth live and reign for ever.
Whenever the First Lesson is Gospel with Homily, the Blessings are from the
Third N oct urn.
If the Office be of a Saint or Saints, the Blessings are :
First Blessing.
May His blessing be upon us
Who doth live and reign for ever.
Second Blessing.
He (or she or they) whose feast-day we are keeping,
Be our Advocate (or Advocates) with God.
Third Blessing.
May He that is the Angels' King
To that high realm His people bring. Amen.
The Absolution and Blessings in the Simple Office of the Blessed Virgin for
Saturdays are peculiar to that Office, and are given in their own place.
Cite falter,
OR,
BOOK OF PSALMS,
DIVIDED ACCORDING TO THE DAYS OF THE WEEK, TOGETHER WITH
THE ORDINARY OFFICE FOR THE DIFFERENT SEASONS.
MATTINS,1 OR MORNING PRAYER.
FOR THE LORD'S DAY, SUNDAY.
Before Mattins, and every other
Hour, except Lauds and Compline,
there is said inaudibly?
/^UR Father, Who art in heaven,
^~s Hallowed be 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 them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation ;
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
TUT AIL, Mary, full of grace;
■*■ ■*■ The Lord is with thee :
blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray
for us sinners, now and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
At the beginning of Mattins and
Prime, and at the end of Compline,
is then said inaudibly the Apostles'
Creed.
1 The proper hour for Mattins is midnight, at which time it is said in many Convents.
In others it is said at 2 or 5 a.m. In the Cathedral of Rome (St. John Lateran's) and
other Churches of the same country, the hour is about 7 a.m. It is allowable to say it at
any hour after the sun has begun to decline, and an ordinary practice is to do so late in the
afternoon.
2 The reason why the Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed are recited inaudibly during
the Office seems to be, that in the early Church these formulae were concealed from the
unbaptized until very shortly before their baptism. Now, all were allowed to be present
at the Office, of which these formulae are a part, and therefore they were then so said that
the unbaptized could not hear them. The " Hail, Mary," having been added as a sort of
appendix to the Lord's Prayer, follows the same rule with it. The Lord's Prayer is said
aloud during the Canon of the Mass, because only the faithful were then present.
VOL. I. A
THE PSALTER.
T BELIEVE in' God the Father
-*- Almighty, Maker of heaven
and earth. And in Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord : Who
was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,
dead, and buried : He descended
into hell : the third day He rose
again from the dead : He ascended
into heaven, and sitteth on the right
hand of God the Father Almighty :
from thence He shall come to judge
the quick and the dead. I be-
lieve in the Holy Ghost, the Holy
Catholic Church, the Communion
of Saints, the Forgiveness of sins,
the Resurrection of the body, and
the Life everlasting. Amen.
Then is said aloud :
Verse} ►£< O Lord, open Thou
my lips.
Answer. And my mouth shall
show forth Thy praise.
Verse.2 ^* Make haste, O God,
to deliver me.
Answer. Make haste to help me,
O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
3 As it was in the beginning, is
now, and ever shall be, world with-
out end. Amen, Alleluia.4
From Sepluagesima Sunday to
Maundy Thursday instead of Alleluia
is said:
Ceaseless praise to Thee be given,
O Eternal King of heaven.
T/ien is said Psalm xciv. with the
Invitatory. The hivitatory here given
is said from the Octave of the Epiph-
any to Sepluagesima Sunday, and
from the Octave of Pentecost to Ad-
vent Sunday.
Invitatory. Let us worship the
Lord, for * He is our Maker.
Repetition. Let us worship the
Lord, for * He is our Maker.
Psalm XCIV.5
[Vulgate and LXX., "A song of praise
by David."]
OCOME, let us sing unto the
Lord, let us make a joyful
noise to the God of our Salva-
tion : let us come before His
presence with thanksgiving, and
make a joyful noise unto Him
with psalms.
Let us worship the Lord, for He
is our Maker.
For the Lord is a great God, and
a great King above all gods : for the
Lord will not cast off His people :
for in His hand are all the ends of
the earth ; and the heights of the
hills are His also.
He is our Maker.
For the sea is His, and He made
it : and His hands formed the dry
land : 6 O come, let us worship
and fall down ; let us cry unto the
1 Ps. 1. 17. 2 Ps. lxix. 2.
:i The Greek original of this Doxology does not contain the words, " As it was in the
beginning" (inserted against the Arians), but runs thus : "Glory be to the Father, and to
the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, both now, and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen."
4 Or rather, "Hal'lu-YAH," " Praise-ye-the-Eternal," a Hebrew phrase which occurs
repeatedly in the Bible. The sound of these words causes the Church such joy that she
denies herself their use during her penitential season. But in order not to remit the praise of
God, she substitutes for the Hebrew phrase a short rhyming Latin one, of similar meaning.
5 This Psalm is not given in the original from the Vulgate, but from some other Latin
translation. 6 Here it is usual to kneel till the *.
SUNDAY AT MATTINS.
Lord our Maker. * For He is
the Lord our God ; and we are
His people, and the sheep of His
pasture.
Let us worship the Lord, for He
is our Maker.
To-day if ye will hear His voice,
harden not your heart ; as in " the
Provocation," and as in the day of
" Temptation " in the wilderness :
when your fathers tempted Me,
proved Me, and saw My works.1
He is our Maker.
Forty years long was I grieved
with that generation 2 and said, It is
a people that do alway err in their
heart, and they have not known My
ways : unto whom I sware in My
wrath that they should not enter
into My rest.
Let us worship the Lord, for He
is our Maker.
Glory be to the Father, and to
the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without
end. Amen.
He is our Maker.
Let us worship the Lord, for He
is our Maker.
The following Hymn is then said,
from the Octave of the Epiphany to the
First Sunday in Lent, and from the first
Sunday of October to Advent.
Hymn.3
"p O-DAY the Blessed Three in One
-*- Began the earth and skies ;
To-day a Conqueror, God the Son,
Did from the grave arise ;
We too will wake, and, in despite
Of sloth and languor, all unite,
As Psalmists bid, through the dim night
Waiting with wistful eyes.
So may He hear, and heed each vow,
And prayer to Himaddrest ;
And grant an instant cleansing now,
A future glorious rest.
So may He plentifully shower,
On all who hymn His love and power,
In this most still and sacred hour,
His sweetest gifts and best.
Father of purity and light !
Thy presence if we win,
'Twill shield us from the deeds of night,
The burning darts of sin ;
Lest aught defiled or dissolute
Relax our bodies or imbrute,
And fires eternal be the fruit
Of fire now lit within.
Fix in our hearts, Redeemer dear,
The ever-gushing spring
Of grace to cleanse, of life to cheer
Souls sick and son-owing.
Thee, bounteous Father, we entreat,
And only Son, awful and sweet,
And life-creating Paraclete,
The Everlasting King.
Amen.
Instead of the foregoing the follorv-
ing Hymn is said from the Octave of
Pentecost to the first Sunday of Oc-
tober.
1 The occasion here referred to is that described in Exodus xvii. 1-7. The children of
Israel while travelling through the desert became rebellious from want of water. It was
given them from the smitten rock. Then is added : " And he [Moses] called the name of
the place Temptation" (Hebrew and LXX. add "and Provocation"), "because of the
chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying : Is the Lord
among us, or not ? "
2 Namely, that particular generation which had come out of Egypt. The next clauses
relate to that which is written in Numbers xiv. 22 : " Because all these men which have
seen My glory, and My miracles, which I did in Egypt, and in the wilderness, have tempted
Me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to My voice, surely they shall not see the
land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked Me see it."
And this is confirmed with an oath, in verse 28 : " As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye
have spoken in Mine ears, so will I do to you : your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness."
3 Ascribed to Pope St. Gregory the Great, but altered, one verse omitted, and the last
verse added. Translation by the late Card. Newman.
THE PSALTER.
Hymn.1
LET us arise and watch by night,
And meditate always ;
And chant as in our Maker's sight
United hymns of praise.
So singing with the saints in bliss,
With them we may attain
Life everlasting after this,
And heaven for earthly pain.
Grant this, O Father, Only Son,
And Spirit, God of grace,
To whom all worship shall be done
In every time and place.
Amen.
When the Invitatories, Hymns, Gr>c,
are different from the above they are
given in the Office to which they be-
long.
First Nocturn, or Watch of
the Night.
Antiphon for Advent. Behold,
there cometh the King.
Antiphon for the rest of the year.
Serve the Lord.
Antiphon for Paschal time. Al-
leluia.
Psalm I.
BLESSED is the man that walk-
eth not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of
sinners, * nor sitteth in the seat of
the scoffers :
But his delight is in the Law of
the Lord ; * and in His Law doth
he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water, *
that bringeth forth his fruit in his
season :
His leaf also shall not wither :
* and whatsoever he doeth shall
prosper.
1 Also ascribed to Pope St. Gregory the Great, although somewhat altered,
by the late Card. Newman.
Not so are the ungodly, not so :
* but are like the chaff which the
wind driveth away from the face of
the earth.
Therefore the ungodly shall not
stand in the judgment : * nor sin-
ners in the congregation of the
righteous.
For the Lord knoweth the way
of the righteous : * but the way of
the ungodly shall perish.
Glory be to the Father, and to
the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is
now, and ever shall be, * world
without end. Amen.
This Doxology is said at the end of
every Psalm unless special directions
are given to the contrary.
Psalm II.
[In Acts iv. 25, 26, the authorship of this
Psalm is attrihuted to David.]
T \ TYLY do the heathen rage, *
* * ancj the peoples devise a
vain thing ?
The kings of the earth set them-
selves, and the rulers take counsel
together * against the Lord, and
against His Anointed.
Let us break their bands asun-
der : * and cast away their yoke
from us.
He That sitteth in the heavens
shall laugh them to scorn : * and
the Lord shall have them in de-
rision.
Then shall He speak unto them
in His wrath : * and plague them in
His sore displeasure.
Yet hath He set me for King
upon His holy hill of Zion * to de-
clare His decree.
Translation
SUNDAY AT MATT1NS.
5
The Lord hath said unto me :
* Thou art My Son, this day have
I begotten thee.
Ask of Me, and I shall give
thee the heathen for thine inheri-
tance, * and the uttermost parts
of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt rule them with a rod
of iron, * and shalt dash them in
pieces like a potter's vessel.
Be wise now, therefore, O ye
kings ; * be instructed, ye judges
of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear : * and
rejoice with trembling before Him.
Lay hold of instruction, lest the
Lord be angry, * and ye perish from
the righteous way.
When His wrath is kindled sud-
denly, * blessed are all they that
put their trust in Him.
Psalm III.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David, when he
fled from Absalom his son." See the his-
tory in 2 Kings (Sam.) xv., xvi., xviii.]
ORD, how are they increased
-1— ' that trouble me ? * many are
they that rise up against me.
Many there be that say of my
soul : * There is no help for him
in his God.1
But Thou, O Lord, art a shield
for me, * my glory, and the Lifter
up of mine head.
I cried unto the Lord with my
voice : * and He heard me out of
His holy hill.2
I laid me down and slept ; * I
awaked, for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid of thousands
of people that have set themselves
against me round about : * arise, O
Lord, save me, O my God.
For Thou hast smitten all them
that fought against me without a
cause 3 : * Thou hast broken the
teeth of the ungodly.
Salvation belongeth unto the
Lord : * and Thy blessing is upon
Thy people.2
Psalm VI.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." The
title also contains directions, probably musi-
cal, the meaning of which is now uncertain.]
OLORD, rebuke me not in
Thine anger : * neither
chasten me in Thine hot dis-
pleasure.
Have mercy upon me, O Lord,
for I am weak : * O Lord, heal me,
for my bones are shaken.
My soul also is sore vexed : * but
Thou, O Lord, how long ?
Return, O Lord, deliver my soul :
* O save me for Thy mercy's sake.
For in death there is no one that
remembereth Thee : * and in the
grave who shall give Thee thanks ?
I am weary with my groaning,
every night I wash my bed : * I
water my couch with my tears.
Mine eye is grown dim because
of grief : * I am waxen old because
of all mine enemies.
Depart from me, all ye workers
of iniquity : * for the Lord hath
heard the voice of my weeping.
The Lord hath heard my suppli-
cation : * the Lord hath received
my prayer.
1 Here occur in the Hebrew the letters SLH, or "Selah." The meaning of this is un-
certain. Gesenius thinks "it seems to have been used to mark a short pause in singing
the words of the Psalm, so that the singer would be silent, while the instrumental music
continued. " 2 SLH, again.
3 But the Hebrew reads, not, "without a cause," but, "on the jaw-bone.'
THE PSALTER.
Let all mine enemies be ashamed
and sore vexed : * let them return
and be ashamed suddenly.
Antiphon for Advent. Behold,
there cometh the King, even the
Most High, with great power, to
save the nations. Alleluia.
Antiphon for the rest of the year.
1 Serve the Lord with fear, and re-
joice with trembling before Him.
In Paschal time there is only one
Antiphon to the whole Nocturn.
Second Antiphon for Advent.
Strengthen ye.
Second Antiphon for the rest of the
year. God is a righteous judge.
Psalm VII.
[Intituled "An Hymn of David, which
he sang unto the Lord concerning the words
of Cush the Benjamite." This Cush is sup-
posed to be the same as Shimei, whose curs-
ing of David is narrated in 2 Kings (Sam.)
xvi. 7, 8, or else a nickname for Saul.]
o
LORD my God, in Thee do
I take refuge : * save me
from all them that persecute me,
and deliver me.
Lest he tear my soul like a lion, *
while there is none to deliver, or to
save.
O Lord my God, if I have done
this, * if there be iniquity in mine
hands ;
If I have requited with evil them
that requited me [with good], * may
I then flee empty before mine
enemies.
Let the enemy persecute my soul,
and take it, yea, let him tread down
my life upon the earth, * and lay
mine honour in the dust.2
1 Ps. ii. 11,
Arise, O Lord, in Thine anger :
* and lift up Thyself against the
borders of mine enemies.
And awake for me, O Lord my
God, according to the decree that
Thou hast made : * so shall the
congregation of the people com-
pass Thee about.
For their sakes, therefore, return
Thou on high : * the Lord judgeth
the peoples.
Judge me, O Lord, according to
my righteousness, * and according
to mine integrity that is in me.
0 let the wickedness of the
wicked come to an end, and es-
tablish the just ; * God trieth the
hearts and reins.
Mine help is righteous, coming
from the Lord, * Who saveth the
upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge, strong
and patient : * is He not provoked
every day ?
If ye turn not, He will whet His
sword : * He hath bent His bow and
made it ready.
And hath fitted thereon the in-
struments of death, * He hath
ordained His arrows against the
persecutors.
Behold, he travaileth with iniquity :
* he hath conceived mischief, and
brought forth falsehood.
He made a pit and digged it : *
and is fallen into the ditch which he
made.
His mischief shall return upon
his own head : * and his iniquity
shall come down upon his own
pate.
1 will praise the Lord according
to His righteousness : * and will
sing praise to the name of the
Lord Most High.
2 SLH.
SUNDAY AT MATTINS.
Psalm VIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." It has
also a title which seems to show that it was
a song for the vintage.]
OLORD, our Lord, * how ex-
cellent is Thy Name in all
the earth !
For Thy glory is exalted * above
the heavens.
1 Out of the mouth of babes and
sucklings hast Thou perfected praise
because of Thine enemies, * that
Thou mightest destroy the enemy
and the avenger.
When I consider Thine heavens,
the work of Thy fingers : * the moon
and the stars which Thou hast or-
dained :
What is man, that Thou art mind-
ful of him ? * or the son of man,
that Thou visitest him ?
Thou hast made him a little lower
than the angels, Thou hast crowned
him with glory and honour, * and
madest him to have dominion over
the works of Thine hands.
Thou hast put all things under
his feet, * all sheep and oxen, yea,
and the beasts of the field.
The fowl of the air, and the fish
of the sea, * that pass through the
paths of the sea.
0 Lord, our Lord, * how excel-
lent is Thy Name in all the earth !
Psalm IX.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." It has
also a superscription the meaning of which
is not now certain. The Targum connects
it with the slaying of Goliath.]
WILL praise Thee, O Lord,
-*- with mine whole heart : * I will
show forth all Thy marvellous works.
1 will be glad and rejoice in
Thee : * I will sing praise to Thy
Name, O Thou Most High.
When mine enemies are turned
back, * they shall fall and perish at
Thy presence.
For Thou hast maintained my
right and my cause : * Thou satest
in the throne judging right.
Thou hast rebuked the heathen,
and the wicked are perished : *
Thou hast put out their name for
ever, even for ever and ever.
The swords of the enemy have
failed utterly : * and their cities
Thou hast destroyed.
Their memorial is perished with
a crash : * and the Lord endureth
for ever.
He hath prepared His throne for
judgment : * and He shall judge
the world in righteousness, He shall
minister judgment to the people in
uprightness.
The Lord also is a refuge for the
poor : * a refuge in times of trouble.
And let them that know Thy
name put their trust in Thee : * for
Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them
that seek Thee.
Sing praises to the Lord, Who
dwelleth in Zion : * declare among
the people His doings.
For when He maketh inquisition
for blood He remembereth them : *
He forgetteth not the cry of the
afflicted.
Have mercy upon me, O Lord :
* consider my trouble [which I
suffer] of them that hate me.
Thou That liftest me up from the
gates of death : * that I may show
forth all Thy praises in the gates of
the daughter of Zion !
I will rejoice in Thy salvation : *
1 This verse was quoted by our Lord, concerning those who cried Hosannah on Palm
Sunday, Matthew xxi. 16.
8
THE PSALTER.
the heathen are sunk down in the
pit that they made.
In the net which they hid, * is
their own foot taken.
The Lord is known when He
executeth judgment : * the wicked
is snared in the work of his own
hands.1
The wicked shall be turned into
hell : * all the nations that forget
God.
For the needy shall not alway be
forgotten : * the expectation of the
poor shall not perish for ever.
Arise, O Lord, let not man pre-
vail : * let the heathen be judged in
Thy sight.
Put Thou a master over them, O
Lord : * let the nations know them-
selves to be but men.2
Why standest Thou afar off, O
Lord, * why hidest Thou Thyself
in times of trouble?
The wicked in his pride doth per-
secute the poor : * they are taken
in the devices that they have im-
agined.
For the wicked is praised accord-
ing to his soul's desire : * and the
unrighteous is deemed blessed.
The wicked provoketh the Lord :
* in the greatness of his scornful
indignation he doth not care.
God is not before his eyes : * his
ways are always grievous.
Thy judgments are far out of his
sight : * he hath dominion over his
enemies.
He hath said in his heart : * I
shall not be moved unto generation
and generation, yea, I shall never
be in adversity.
His mouth is full of cursing, and
bitterness, and fraud : * under his
tongue is mischief and sorrow.
He sitteth in the lurking-places
with the rich : in the secret places
* doth he murder the innocent.
His eyes are privily set against
the poor : * he lieth in wait secretly,
as a lion in his den.
He lieth in wait to catch the
poor : * to catch the poor when
he draweth him [after him].
In his snare doth he bring him
down : * yet shall he himself totter
and fall down, when he hath mas-
tered the poor.
He hath said in his heart : God
hath forgotten : * He turneth away
His face so that He shall never see it.
Arise, O Lord, O God, lift up
Thine hand : * forget not the
afflicted.
Wherefore doth the wicked pro-
voke God? * for he hath said in
his heart : He will not require it.
Thou seest it, for Thou beholdest
labour and sorrow : * to deliver
them into Thine own hand.
The poor leaveth himself unto
Thee : * Thou wilt be the helper
of the fatherless.
Break Thou the arm of the
wicked and the evil man : * his
wickedness shall be sought after and
shall not be found.
The Lord shall be King for ever
and ever : * the heathen shall perish
out of His land.
The Lord hath heard the petition
of the poor : * Thine ear hath heard
the desire of his heart.
To judge the fatherless and the
oppressed, * that man may magnify
himself no more upon earth.
1 Here occurs : — "Instrumental music — SLH." This is a strong argument in favour of
Gesenius' opinion, see p. 5, note I.
J SLH. Here, according to the present Hebrew text, ends Ps. i.\.
SUNDAY AT MATTINS.
Psalm X.
[Intituled " Of David." There is also a
superscription perhaps musical, but now of
uncertain meaning.]
IN the Lord put I my trust ;
how say ye to my soul, *
Flee as a bird to the mountain?
For lo, the wicked bend their
bow, they make ready their arrows
in the quiver, * that they may
privily shoot at the upright in
heart.
For they have destroyed that
which Thou hast established : *
and what hath the righteous done ?
The Lord is in His holy temple :
* the Lord's throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold the poor : * His
eyelids try the children of men.
The Lord trieth the righteous
and the wicked : * but he that
loveth iniquity hateth his own soul.
Upon the wicked He shall rain
snares : * fire, and brimstone, and
an horrible tempest, this shall be
the portion of their cup.
For the righteous Lord loveth
righteousness : * His countenance
doth behold uprightness.
Antiphon for Advent. l Strengthen
ye the weak hands : be strong ; say :
Behold, our God will come, and
save us, Alleluia.
Antiphon for the rest of the year.
2 God is a righteous judge, strong,
and patient : is He not provoked
every day?
Third Antiphon for Advent. Re-
joice, all ye.
Third Antiphon for the rest of the
year. Thou shalt keep us.
Psalm XI.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with some
other words, of meaning now uncertain, as
before.]
1 Isa. xxxv. 3, 4.
VOL. I.
HELP, Lord, for the godly
man ceaseth : * for the truth
faileth from among the children of
men.
They speak vanity every one with
his neighbour : * with flattering lips,
with a double heart, do they speak.
The Lord shall cut off all flat-
tering lips, * and the tongue that
speaketh proud things.
Who have said : With our tongue
will we prevail, our lips are our
own : * who is lord over us ?
For the oppression of the poor,
and the sighing of the needy, * now
will I arise, saith the Lord.
I will set him in safety : * I will
deal faithfully with him.
The words of the Lord are pure
words : * silver tried in a furnace,
purged of dross, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep us, O Lord, and
preserve us * from this generation
for ever.
The wicked walk on every side :
* the increase of men is according
to Thy secret counsel.
Psalm XII.
[This Psalm has the same title as the
last.]
HOW long wilt Thou forget
me, O Lord ? for ever ? *
How long hidest Thou Thy face
from me?
How long shall I take counsel
in my soul, * having sorrow in mine
heart daily?
How long shall mine enemy be
exalted over me ? * Consider, and
hear me, O Lord my God.
Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the
sleep of death : * lest mine enemy
say : I have prevailed against him.
2 Ps. vii. 12.
a 2
10
THE PSALTER.
Those that trouble me will re-
joice if I am moved : * but I have
trusted in Thy mercy.
Mine heart shall rejoice in Thy
salvation ; I will sing unto the Lord
because He hath dealt bountifully
with me : * and I will sing praise
to the name of the Lord Most
High.
Psalm XIII.
[Same title as Psalm x. ]
THE fool hath said in his heart :
* There is no God.
They are corrupt, and have be-
come abominable in their works :
* there is none that doeth good,
no, not one.
The Lord looked down from
heaven upon the children of men :
* to see if there were any that did
understand, or seek God.
They are all gone aside, they are
altogether become unprofitable : *
there is none that doeth good, no,
not one.
1 Their throat is an open sepul-
chre : with their tongues they have
used deceit : * the poison of asps is
under their lips.
Their mouth is full of cursing and
bitterness : * their feet are swift to
shed blood.
Destruction and misery are in
their ways, and the way of peace
they have not known : * there is no
fear of God before their eyes.
Have all the workers of iniquity
no knowledge, * who eat up my
people as they would eat bread ?
They call not upon the Lord : *
there were they in great fear, where
no fear was ;
For the Lord is in the generation
of the righteous : ye have shamed
the counsel of the poor : * because
the Lord is his hope.
O that the salvation of Israel were
come out of Zion ! * when the
Lord bringeth back the captivity of
His people, Jacob shall rejoice and
Israel shall be glad.
Psalm XIV.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David."]
LORD, who shall abide in Thy
tabernacle ? * who shall
dwell in Thine holy hill ?
He that walketh uprightly, * and
worketh righteousness.
He that speaketh the truth in his
heart, * he that deceiveth not with
his tongue.
He that hath not done evil to his
neighbour, * nor taken up a reproach
against his neighbour.
In whose eyes a vile person is
despised : * but he honoureth them
that fear the Lord.
He that sweareth to his neighbour,
and deceiveth him not, * he that
putteth not out his money to usury,
nor taketh reward against the in-
nocent.
He that doeth these things, *
shall never be moved.
Antiphon for Advent. 2 Rejoice,
all ye, and be glad : for, behold, the
Lord will come with vengeance, He
will bring a recompense : He will
come and save us.
Antiphon for the rest of the year.
3 Thou shalt keep us, O Lord, and
preserve us.
1 The next three verses are not in the Hebrew, although found in the Vulgate and the
LXX., which are supported by Rom. iii. 13-18.
- Isa. xxxv. 4. 3 Ps. xi. 8.
SUNDAY AT MATTINS.
II
Antiphon for Paschal time. Al-
leluia. x The stone was rolled away,
Alleluia, from the door of the sepul-
chre. Alleluia, alleluia.
The?i is said a Verse and Answer.
In Advent.
Verse. 2 Out of Zion, the Per-
fection of beauty.
Answer. Our God shall come
manifestly.
During the rest of the year.
Verse. 3 1 have remembered Thy
name, O Lord, in the night.
Answer. And have kept Thy
law.
In Lent.
Verse. i He hath delivered me
from the snare of the fowler.
Answer. And from the noisome
pestilence.
In Passion time.
Verse. 5 O God, deliver my soul
from the sword.
Answer. And my darling from
the power of the dog.
In Paschal time.
Verse. The Lord is risen from
the grave, Alleluia.
Answer. Who hung for us upon
the tree, Alleluia.
Then is said the Lords Prayer.
/^\UR Father (inaudidly), Who
^-^ art in heaven, Hallowed be
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 them that
trespass against us. (Aloud.)
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from
evil.
Then this Absolution.
GRACIOUSLY hear, O Lord
Jesus Christ, the prayers of
Thy servants, and have mercy upon
us : Who livest and reignest with
the Father and the Holy Ghost,
world without end.
Answer. Amen.
Then the reader says :
c Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
First Blessing.
May the Eternal Father bless us
With an everlasting blessing.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the First Lesson, and at
the end the reader says :
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Then is said the First Responsory,
after which the reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
Second Blessing.
May the Son the Sole-begotten
In His mercy bless and help us.
Ansiver. Amen.
3 Ps. cxviii. 55.
1 Mark xvi. 3. 2 Ps. xlix. 2.
4 Ps. xc. 3. 5 Ps. xxi. 20.
6 Some persons bound to say the Office, when reciting alone, are accustomed to substi-
tute for this the words, " Command Thy blessing, O Lord ! "
12
THE PSALTER.
Then is read the Second Lesson, and
at the end the reader says :
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Then is said the Second Responsory,
after which the reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
Third Blessing.
May the grace of God the Spirit
All our heart and mind enlighten.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the Third Lesson, and
at the end the reader says :
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Then is said the Third Responsory.
Second Nocturn, or Watch of
the Night.
Antiphon for Advent. Rejoice
greatly.
Antiphon for the rest of the year.
Thou hast no need.
Antiphon for Paschal time. Al-
leluia.
Psalm XV.
[Intituled a work "of David," but the
specifically descriptive word is not now of
certain meaning.]
PRESERVE me, O Lord, for in
Thee do I put my trust : *
I have said unto the Lord : Thou
art my God, for Thou hast no need
of my goods.
To the Saints that are in His
land, * He hath made all my will
admirable.
Their sorrows are multiplied, *
that hasten after [a strange god].
1 Zech. ix. 9.
In their assemblies for blood-
shedding will I have no part : * nor
mention their names with my lips.
The Lord is the portion of mine
inheritance, and of my cup : *
Thou art He That shalt restore
mine inheritance unto me.
The lines are fallen unto me in
pleasant places : * yea, I have a
goodly heritage.
I will bless the Lord, Who hath
given me counsel : * my reins also
instruct me in the night seasons.
I have set the Lord always be-
fore my face : * because He is at
my right hand, I shall never be
moved.
Therefore mine heart is glad, and
my tongue rejoiceth : * my flesh
also shall rest in hope,
For Thou wilt not leave my soul
in hell : * neither wilt Thou suffer
Thine Holy One to see corruption.
Thou hast shown me the path
of life, Thou shalt fill me with joy
in Thy presence : * at Thy right
hand there are pleasures for ever-
more.
Antiphon for Advent. x Rejoice
greatly, O daughter of Jerusalem :
behold, thy King cometh into thee,
O Zion ; fear not, for thy salvation
cometh quickly.
Antiphon for the rest of the year.
2 Thou hast no need of my goods,
in Thee do I put my trust, preserve
me, O Lord.
In Paschal time there is only one
Antiphon to the whole Nocturn.
Second Antiphon for Advent.
Christ our King.
Second Antiphon for the rest of
the year. By the words.
' Ps. XV. 1, 2.
SUNDAY AT MATTINS.
13
Psalm XVI.
[Intituled "A Prayer of David."]
HEAR my right, 0 Lord, *
attend unto my cry.
Give ear unto my prayer, * that
goeth not out of feigned lips.
Let my sentence come forth from
Thy presence : * let Thine eyes be-
hold the. things that are equal.
Thou hast proved mine heart,
and visited it by night : * Thou
hast tried me with fire, and found
no wickedness in me.
That my mouth may not speak
concerning the works of men : * by
the words of Thy lips I have kept
me to strait paths.
Hold up my goings in Thy paths,
* that my footsteps slip not.
I have called upon Thee, for
Thou hast heard me, O God ; * in-
cline Thine ear unto me, and hear
my speech.
Show Thy marvellous loving-
kindness, * O Thou That savest
them which put their trust in Thee !
From those that rise up against
Thy right hand keep me, * as the
apple of the eye.
Hide me under the shadow of
Thy wings, * from the face of the
wicked that oppress me.
Mine enemies compass my soul
round about, they are inclosed in
their own fat : * with their mouth
they speak proudly.
They that drave me out have
now compassed me : * they have
set their eyes bowing down to the
earth.
They have lain in wait for me, as
a lion that is ready for his prey : *
and as it were a young lion lurking
in secret places.
1 John i. 36.
Arise, O Lord, disappoint him,
and cast him down : * deliver my
soul from the wicked, Thy sword
from them that hate Thine hand.
O Lord, part them in their life
from the precious things of the
earth : * their belly is filled with
Thine hidden treasure.
They have children to the full : *
and leave the rest of their substance
to their babes.
As for me, I will behold Thy face
in righteousness : * I shall be satis-
fied when Thy glory shall appear.
Antiphon for Advent. Christ
our King cometh, * Whom John
preached, saying ; Behold the Lamb
That should come !
Antiphon for the rest of the year.
2 By the words of Thy lips I have
kept me to strait paths.
Third Antiphon for Advent. Be-
hold, I come.
Third Antiphon for the rest of the
year. I will love Thee.
When this Antiphon is used the
Psalm begins with the words, " O
Lord, my strength."
Psalm XVII.
[After a superscription, of meaning now
uncertain, the title of this Psalm proceeds,
" Of David, the servant of the Lord, who
spake unto the Lord the words of this song,
in the day that the Lord delivered him
from the hand of all his enemies, and from
the hand of Saul : and he said : — " It is
found also, with a few slight differences, in
2 Kings (Sam.) xxii.]
T WILL love Thee, O Lord,
•* my strength : * the Lord is
my rock, and my fortress, and
my Deliverer.
My God, mine Helper, * in
Whom I trust.
2 Ps. xvi. 4.
14
THE PSALTER.
My buckler, and the horn of my
salvation, * and my refuge.
I called upon the Lord with
praises, * and am saved from mine
enemies.
The sorrows of death compassed
me : * and the floods of wicked-
ness made me afraid.
The sorrows of hell compassed
me about : * the snares of death
came upon me.
In my distress I called upon the
Lord, * and cried unto my God.
And He heard my voice out of
His holy temple : * and my cry
came before Him, even into His
ears.
The earth shook and trembled :
* the foundations of the hills moved
and quaked, because He was wroth.
There went up a smoke in His
wrath, and fire burst forth before
His presence : * coals were kindled
by it.
He bowed the heavens also, and
came down : * and darkness was
under His feet.
And He rode upon the Cherubim I
and did fly : * yea, He did fly upon
the wings of the wind.
And He made darkness His secret
place, His pavilion round about
Him : * dark waters, thick clouds
of the skies.
At the brightness that was be-
fore Him, the thick clouds passed,
* hailstones and coals of fire.
The Lord also thundered in the
heavens, and the Highest uttered
His voice : * hailstones and coals
of fire.
Yea, He sent out His arrows
and scattered them : * He shot
out many lightnings and discomfited
them.
And the fountains of waters were
seen, * and the foundations of the
world were discovered.
At Thy rebuke, O Lord, * at
the blast of the breath of Thy
wrath !
He sent from above, and took
me ; * and drew me out of many
waters.
He delivered me from the strong-
est of mine enemies, and from them
which hated me : * for they were too
strong for me.
They came upon me in the day
of my calamity, * but the Lord was
my stay.
He brought me forth also into a
large place : * He delivered me be-
cause He delighted in me.
And the Lord shall reward me
according to my righteousness, *
and according to the cleanness of
mine hands shall He recompense
me.
For I have kept the ways of the
Lord, * and have not wickedly de-
parted from my God.
For all His judgments were before
me : * and I did not put away His
statutes from me.
I shall also be upright with Him,
* and keep myself from mine in-
iquity.
And the Lord shall reward me
according to my righteousness, *
and according to the cleanness of
mine hands in His eye-sight.
With the holy Thou shalt be holy,
* and with the innocent Thou shalt
be innocent.
And with the pure Thou shalt be
1 Of these creatures, frequently mentioned in connection with the Divine manifestation,
an elaborate account will be found in Ezekiel i. (First Sunday of November), and more
shortly in Apoc. iv. (Tuesday in Third Week after Easter).
SUNDAY AT MATTINS.
15
pure, * and with the contentious
Thou shalt be contentious.
For Thou wilt save the afflicted
people, * and bring down high
looks.
For Thou lightest my lamp, O
Lord : * my God, enlighten my
darkness !
For by Thee shall I be delivered
from temptation, * and by my God
shall I leap over a wall.
As for my God, His way is per-
fect ; the word of the Lord is tried
in the fire : * He is a buckler to all
those that trust in Him.
For who is God save the Lord ?
* or who is God save our God ?
It is God that girdeth me with
strength, * and maketh my way
perfect.
He maketh my feet like hinds'
feet, * and setteth me upon mine
high places.
He teacheth my hands to war, *
and maketh mine arms like a bow
of brass.
Thou hast also given me the
shield of Thy salvation : * and Thy
right hand hath holden me up.
Thy correction also hath made
me great : * and Thy chastening it
is that shall teach me.
Thou hast enlarged my steps
under me, * and my feet have not
slipped.
I will pursue mine enemies and
overtake them : * neither will I turn
again till they be consumed.
I will wound them that they shall
not be able to rise : * they shall fall
under my feet.
Thou hast girded me also with
strength unto the battle, * and hast
subdued under me those that rose
up against me.
1 Apoc.
And hast made mine enemies to
turn their back toward me, * and
hast destroyed them that hate me.
They cried, but there was none
to save them, even unto the Lord,
* but He answered them not.
And I will beat them small, as
the dust before the wind : * I will
cast them out as the dirt in the
streets.
Thou shalt deliver me from the
gainsayings of the people : * Thou
shalt make me the head of the
heathen.
A people whom I knew not have
served me : * as soon as they heard
of me they obeyed me.
The strangers feigned obedience
unto me : * the strangers were
wearied out, and stumbled in their
paths.
The Lord liveth, and blessed be
my God : * and let the God of my
salvation be exalted !
It is Thou, O God, That avengest
me, and subduest the people under
me. * Thou art my deliverer from
my wrathful adversaries.
And Thou shalt lift me up above
those that rise up against me : *
Thou shalt deliver me from the
wicked man.
Therefore will I give thanks unto
Thee, O Lord, among the heathen,
* and sing praises unto Thy name.
Great deliverance giveth He to
His king, and showeth mercy to
His Anointed, to David, * and to
his seed for evermore.
Antiphon for Advent. l Behold,
I come quickly, saith the Lord,
and My reward is with Me, to give
every man according as his work
shall be.
i6
THE PSALTER.
Antiphon for the rest of the year.
1 I will love Thee, O Lord, my
strength.
Antiphon for Paschal time. Al-
leluia. 2 Woman, whom seekest
thou ? Alleluia. The Living among
the dead ? Alleluia. Alleluia.
Then is said a Verse and Answer.
In Advent.
Verse. 3Send forth the Lamb,
O Lord, the ruler of the land.
Answer. From the " Rock " of
the wilderness unto the mount of
the daughter of Zion.
During the rest of the year.
Verse. 4 For Thou lightest my
candle, O Lord.
Anszver. My God, enlighten my
darkness.
In Lent.
Verse. 5 He shall cover thee with
His wings.
Answer. And under His feathers
shalt thou trust.
In Passion time.
Verse. 60 Lord, save me from
the lion's mouth.
Answer. And mine affliction from
the horns of the unicorns.
In Paschal time.
Verse. 7 The Lord is risen indeed,
Alleluia.
Answer. And hath appeared unto
Simon, Alleluia.
Then is said the Lord's Prayer.
OUR Father (inaudibly), Who
art in heaven, Hallowed be
Thy Name. Thy kingdom come.
1 Ps. xvii. 2.
3 Isa. xvi. i. The " Rock " is the town of
* Ps. xvii. 29. s Ps. xc. 3.
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 them that
trespass against us. (Aloud.)
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Anszver. But deliver us from
evil.
Then this Absolution.
1\/TAY His loving-kindness and
■L*-*- His mercy help us, Who
liveth and reigneth with the Father,
and the Holy Ghost, world without
end.
Answer. Amen.
Then the reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
Fourth Blessing.
God the Father the Almighty,
Show on us His grace and mercy.
Anszver. Amen.
Then is read the Fourth Lesson, and
at the end the reader says :
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Then is said the Fourth Responsory,
after which the reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
Fifth Blessing.
May Christ to all His people give,
For ever in His sight to live.
Answer. Amen.
2 John xx. 15.
Petra in the wilderness.
6 Ps. xxi. 22. 7 Luke xxiv. 34.
SUNDAY AT MATTINS.
'7
Then is read the Fifth Lesson, and at
the end the reader says :
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Then is said the Fifth Responsory,
after which the reader says:
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
Sixth Blessing.
May the Spirit's fire Divine
In our inmost being shine.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the Sixth Lesson, and
at the end the reader says :
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
The?i is said the Sixth Responsory.
Third Nocturn, or Watch of
the Night.
Antiphon for Advent. The Angel
Gabriel.
Antiphon for the rest of the year.
There is no speech.
Antiphon for Paschal time. Al-
leluia.
Psalm XVIII.
[Intituled " A Psalm of David," with the
same farther obscure superscription, as in
Pss. xii. and xiii.]
HP HE heavens declare the glory
■*■ of God, * and the firmament
showeth His handy-work.
Day unto day uttereth speech,
* and night unto night showeth
knowledge.
There is no speech nor lan-
guage, * where their voice is not
heard.
Their sound is gone out through
all the earth : * and their words to
the ends of the world.
He hath set His tabernacle in the
sun : x * which is as a bridegroom
coming out of his chamber.
He rejoiceth as a strong man to
run a race : * his going forth is from
the end of the heaven.
And his circuit unto the ends of
it : * and there is nothing hid from
the heat thereof.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul : * the testimony
of the Lord is sure, making wise the
simple.
The statutes of the Lord are
right, rejoicing the heart : * the
commandment of the Lord is clear,
giving light unto the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is holy,
enduring for ever and ever : * the
judgments of the Lord are true,
righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than
gold and store of precious stones,
* sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb.
Verily, Thy servant keepeth them :
1 So the LXX., as well as the Vulgate. Cf. Ps. cii. 19; ciii. 2, 3. The sense seems
to be that the physical source of the light and life of this system is represented as a kind of
celestial counterpart of the tabernacle, which was the centre of the Divine authority as re-
vealed upon earth. The Hebrew, however, which is supported by St. Jerome, reads, "In
them (i.e., the starry heavens) hath He set a tabernacle for the sun," and this leading
seems to commend itself to Archbishop Kenrick, who suggests that the " tabernacle " may
signify the region below the horizon, into which the sun retires nightly, as into a tent, to
sleep, and from which he issues in renewed glory every morning. Targum : — "In them
hath He set splendour as a tabernacle for the sun."
i8
THE PSALTER.
* in keeping of them there is great
reward.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse Thou me from secret faults :
* preserve Thy servant also from
the sins of others.
If they get not dominion over me,
then shall I be undefiled : * and
1 shall be cleansed from the great
transgression.
Let the words of my mouth,
and the meditation of mine heart,
* be acceptable in Thy sight for
ever,
O Lord mine Helper, * and my
Redeemer !
Antiphon for Advent. 1 The An-
gel Gabriel spake unto Mary, saying :
Hail, thou that art full of grace, the
Lord is with thee : blessed art thou
among women.
Antiphon for the rest of the year.
2 There is no speech nor lan-
guage where their voice is not
heard.
In Paschal time only one Antipho7i is
said to the whole Nocturn.
Second Antiphon for Advent.
Mary said.
, Second Antiphon for the rest of the
year. The Lord.
When this Antiphon is used the
Psalm begins with the words " Hear
thee."
Psalm XIX.
[This Psalm has the same title as the
last.]
'"PHE Lord hear thee in the day
-*■ of trouble : * the Name of
the God of Jacob defend thee.
Send thee help from the sanc-
tuary, * and strengthen thee out of
Zion.
Remember all thine offerings, *
and accept thy burnt sacrifice.3
Grant thee according to thine
own heart, * and fulfil all thy
counsel.
We will rejoice in Thy salvation :
* and in the name of our God will
we exult.
The Lord fulfil all thy petitions :
* now know I that the Lord saveth
His Anointed.
He will hear him from His holy
heaven, * strong is the salvation of
His right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some
in horses : * but we will call
upon the name of the Lord our
God.
They are brought down and fal-
len : * but we are risen, and stand
upright.
O Lord, save the king : * and
hear us in the day when we call
upon Thee.
Antiphon for Advent. i Mary
said : What manner of salutation
is this? My soul is troubled.
Shall I bear the King? And will
He not break the seal of my vir-
ginity?
Antiphon for the rest of the year.
5 The Lord hear thee in the day of
trouble.
Third Antiphon for Advent. The
King.
Third Antiphon for the rest of the
year. The king.
When this Antiphon is used the
Psalm begins with the words " Shall
joy."
1 Luke i. 28.
4 Luke i. 29.
Ps.
Ps.
xvni. 4.
xix. 2.
3 SLH.
SUNDAY AT MATTINS.
19
Psalm XX.
[This Psalm also bears the same title as
the xviiith.]
THE king shall joy in Thy
strength, 0 Lord : * and in
Thy salvation how greatly shall he
rejoice !
Thou hast given him his heart's
desire, * and hast not withholden
the request of his lips.1
For Thou hast met him with the
blessings of sweetness : * Thou hast
set a crown of precious stones upon
his head.
He asked life of Thee : * and
Thou gavest him length of days for
ever and ever.
His glory is great in Thy salva-
tion : * honour and great majesty
shalt Thou lay upon him.
For Thou wilt give him to be a
blessing for ever : * Thou shalt
make him exceeding glad with Thy
countenance.
For the king trusteth in the
Lord, * and, through the mercy
of the Most High, he shall not be
moved.
Thine hand shall find out all
thine enemies : * thy right hand
shall find out all those that hate
thee.
Thou shalt make them as a fiery
oven in the time of thine anger : *
the Lord shall cut them off in His
wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
Their fruit shalt thou destroy from
the earth, * and their seed from
among the children of men.
For they intended evil against
thee : * they imagined a device,
which they were not able to perform.
Therefore shalt thou cast them
behind thee : * thou shalt leave
their faces lying in thy track.
Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in
Thine own strength : * we will sing
and praise Thy power.
Antiphon for Advent. The King,
even the Most High, cometh j there-
fore let the hearts of men be purified
to go forth to meet Him, for, behold,
2 He will come and will not tarry.
Antiphon for the rest of the year.
3 The king shall joy in Thy strength,
O Lord.
Antiphon for Paschal time. Alle-
luia, Weep not, Mary, Alleluia : the
Lord is risen, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Then is said a Verse and Answer.
In Advent.
Verse. 4 The Lord cometh out of
His holy place.
Answer. He will come and save
His people.
During the rest of the year.
Verse. 5 Be Thou exalted, O
Lord, in Thine own strength.
Answer. We will sing and praise
Thy power.
In Lent.
Verse. 6 His truth shall be thy
shield.
Answer. Thou shalt not be afraid
for the terror by night.
In Passion time.
Verse. 7 Take not away my soul
with sinners, O God !
Answer. Nor my life with bloody
men.
1 SLH. 2 Heb. x. 37.
4 Isa. xxxv. 4 ; Micah i. 3. 5 Ps. xx. 14.
3 Ps, xx, 2.
6 Ps. xc. 5. 7 Ps. xxv. 9.
20
THE PSALTER.
In Paschal time.
Verse. l The disciples were glad,
Alleluia.
Answer. When they saw the
Lord, Alleluia.
Then is said the Lord's Prayer.
OUR Father (inaudibly), Who
art in heaven, Hallowed be
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 them that
trespass against us. {Aloud.)
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Ansiver. But deliver us from evil.
Then the Absolution.
TV/TAY the Almighty and merci-
-!■*-*• ful Lord loose us from the
bonds of our sins.
Answer. Amen.
Then the reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
Seventh Blessing.
May the Gospel's saving Lord
Bless the reading of His word.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the Seventh Lesson, and
at the end the reader says :
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Then is said the Seventh Responsory,
after -which the reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
Eighth Blessing.
God's most mighty strength al-
way
Be His people's staff and stay.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the Eighth Lesson, and
at the end the reader says :
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Then is said the Eighth Responsory,
after which the reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless
ing.
Ninth Blessing.
May He That is the Angels'
King
To that high realm His people
bring.
Answer. Amen.
Or, if another Gospel and Homily are
to be read:
May the Gospel's glorious word
Cleansing to our souls afford.
Then is read the Ninth Lesson, and
at the end the reader says :
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Then is said a Ninth Responsory,
unless this Hymn, " We praise Thee,
O God," be substituted for it. The
Hymn " We praise Thee, O God," is
said in this place on every Sunday and
Feast-day in the year {except the Feast
of the Holy Innocents if it fall on a
Week - day) from Easter to Advent
and from Christmas to Septuagesima.
In Advent and from Septuagesima to
Easter it is not said on Sunday, but
only on Feast-days. From Easter to
Pentecost it is said on every day what-
soever, except only Rogation Monday.
John xx. 20.
SUNDAY AT MATTINS.
21
*A \ 7"E praise Thee, O God : we
V» acknowledge Thee to be
the Lord.
All the earth doth worship Thee,
the Father everlasting.
To Thee all Angels cry aloud,
the heavens, and all the Powers
therein.
To Thee Cherubim 2 and Sera-
phim 3 continually do cry :
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of
Sabaoth.4
Heaven and earth are full of the
majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious company of the
Apostles praise Thee :
The goodly fellowship of the
Prophets praise Thee :
The white-robed army of Mar-
tyrs praise Thee :
The holy Church throughout all
the world doth acknowledge Thee :
The Father of an infinite Ma-
jesty :
Thine honourable, true and only
Son:
Also the Holy Ghost, the Com-
forter.
Thou art the King of glory, O
Christ !
Thou art the everlasting Son of
the Father.
When Thou tookest upon Thee
to deliver man, Thou didst not
abhor the Virgin's womb :
When Thou hadst overcome the
sharpness of death, Thou didst
open the kingdom of heaven to
all believers :
Thou sittest at the right hand of
God, in the glory of the Father :
We believe that Thou shalt come
to be our Judge :
5 We therefore pray Thee, help
Thy servants, whom Thou hast re-
deemed with Thy precious Blood.
Make them to be numbered with
Thy Saints in glory everlasting.6
7 O Lord, save Thy people, and
bless Thine inheritance.
Govern them, and lift them up
for ever.
Day by day we magnify Thee ;
And we worship Thy name,
ever world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day,
to keep us without sin.
8 Have mercy upon us, O Lord,
have mercy upon us.
9 O Lord, let Thy mercy lighten
upon us, as our trust is in Thee.
10 O Lord, in Thee have I trust-
ed : let me never be confounded.
If Lauds be not immediately to follow,
Mattins end thus :
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
Then the Prayer for the day ; then
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Verse. Bless we the Lord.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Verse. May the souls of the
faithful, through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
Anstver. Amen.
Then the Lord's Prayer.
1 The authorship of this Hymn, which is prescribed in the Rule of St. Benedict (born A.D.
480, died 543), is uncertain. * See Ezek. i. ^ 3 See Isaiah vi. 2.
4 Hebrew feminine Plural, meaning "hosts," "armies."
5 During this verse it is usual to kneel. 6 Here ends the original Hymn.
7 Ps. xxvii. 9. 8 Ps. cxxii. 3. 9 Ps. xxxii. 22. 10 Ps. xxx. 2.
22
LAUDS, OR THE MORNING PRAISES
OF GOD.1
The Lord's Day.
Verse. *%* Make haste, O God, to
deliver me.
Answer. Make haste to help me,
O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to
the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is
now, and ever shall be, world with-
out end. Amen, Alleluia.
From Septuagesiina Sunday to
Maundy Thursday instead of " Alle-
luia," is said:
Ceaseless praise to Thee be given,
O Eternal King of Heaven.
Then follow at once the Psalms and
Antiphons. From the First Sunday in
Advent till the Sunday after the Octave
of the Epiphany and from Septuagesima
Sunday till the Octave of Pentecost
{and also on all Feasts), Five Antiphons
are given, which are then said in the
places here marked. During the rest
of the year only Three Antiphons are
said, which are given here.
Antiphon. Alleluia.
Psalm XCII.
[The Hebrew and the Targum give no
superscription ; but the LXX. and the
Vulgate have "A Song of Praise by David
for the eve of the Sabbath when the earth
was established" — i.e., A Song of Praise
proper for the close of Friday before the
setting - in of the Sabbath ; the time of
which it is said (Gen. i. 31, ii. 1) : "And
God saw every thing that He had made,
and, behold, it was very good. And the
evening and the morning were the sixth
day. Thus the heavens and the earth
were finished, and all the host of them."]
HPHE Lord reigneth, He is
*- clothed with majesty : * the
Lord is clothed with strength, where-
with He hath girded Himself.
He hath established the world
also, * that it cannot be moved.
Thy throne is established of old :
* Thou art from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O
Lord, * the floods have lifted up
their voice —
The floods lift up their waves. *
— But Mightier than the noise of
many waters —
Than the mighty breakers of the
sea — * is the Lord on high !
1 The proper hour for Lauds is the dawn of day. This is reckoned to be about 3 A.M., at
which time this Office is said in many Convents. For this purpose it is, in choirs, invari-
ably (except where it forms part of the same service with the Midnight Mass at Christmas)
said immediately after and as one service with Mattins. Hence it follows 1st, that it is
said late in the afternoon, when Mattins are said at that time, and 2ndly, that the Lord's
Prayer and Angelic Salutation are not said at the beginning. This service is constructed
on the same general principle as Vespers, and answers to that Office as Prime does to
Compline.
SUNDAY AT LAUDS.
23
Thy testimonies are very sure : *
holiness becometh Thine house, O
Lord, for ever !
When there are Five Antiphons the
First is repeated, and the Second begun
or said through the first time here.
Psalm XCIX.
[Intituled in the Vulgate and the LXX.,
"A Psalm of Thanksgiving."]
TV /TAKE a joyful noise unto God,
-!•» J- .all ye lands : * serve the
Lord with gladness.
Come before His presence, * with
singing.
Know ye that the Lord, He is
God : * it is He That hath made
us, and not l we ourselves :
We are His people, and the sheep
of His pasture. * Enter into His gates
with thanksgiving, and into His courts
with praise : give thanks unto Him,
Praise His Name. For the Lord
is good, His mercy is everlasting :
* and His truth endureth to all
generations.
When there are Five Antiphons the
Second is repeated, and the Third begun
or said through the first time here.
Psalm LXII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David, when he
was in the wilderness of Judah." This was
one of the most perilous periods of David's
life, when he was flying from the pursuit of
Saul, and hiding in different forests and
wildernesses in the south of Palestine. He
was betrayed again and again, and had the
most hairbreadth escapes. The history
will be found in 1 Kings (Sam.) xxii. and
xxiii.]
OGOD, Thou art my God, *
early will I seek Thee :
My soul thirsteth for Thee, * my
flesh longeth for Thee,
In a dry and desert land, with-
out water. * So have I appeared
before Thee in the Sanctuary, to see
Thy power and Thy glory.
Because Thy loving-kindness is
better than life, * my lips shall praise
Thee.
Thus will I bless Thee while I
live : * and will lift up mine hands
in Thy name.
My soul shall be satisfied as
with marrow and fatness ; * and
my mouth shall praise Thee with
joyful lips.
When I remember Thee upon my
bed, I meditate upon Thee in the
night watches : * because Thou
hast been mine help :
And in the shadow of Thy wings
will I rejoice. My soul followeth
hard after Thee : * Thy right hand
upholdeth me.
But those that seek my soul to
destroy it, shall go into the lower
parts of the earth : * they shall fall
by the sword, they shall be a portion
for foxes.
But the King shall rejoice in
God : every one that sweareth by
him shall glory : * for the mouth
of them that speak lies shall be
stopped.
Here the Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is not said.
Psalm LXVI.
[Besides a musical superscription, the
Hebrew and the Targum give no title ex-
cept " A Psalm, a Psalm." But the Vulgate
and the LXX. ascribe the authorship to
David.]
r^OD be merciful unto us, and
^~* bless us : * cause His face
1 The Hebrew tradition attributes the negative to an eccentric spelling, and translates
" and His we are."
24
THE PSALTER.
to shine upon us, and be merciful
unto us.1
That Thy way may be known
upon earth : * Thy saving health
among all nations.
Let the people praise Thee, O
God : * let all the people praise
Thee.
O let the nations be glad and
sing for joy : * for Thou judgest
the people righteously, and govern-
est the nations upon earth.2
Let the people praise Thee, O
God, let all the people praise Thee.
* The earth hath yielded her in-
crease ;
Let God, even our own God,
bless us ; let God bless us : * and
let all the ends of the earth fear
Him.
When there are Five Antiphons, the
Third is repeated, and the Fourth begun
or said through the first time here.
Ordinary Antiphon throughout the
year. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Second Ordinary Antiphon. The
king commanded.
Antiphon for Paschal time. Al-
leluia, Alleluia, Alleluia; Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia; Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia.
Second Antiphon for Paschal time.
He That delivered.
The Song of the Three Holy
Children. (Daniel iii. 57.)
[It is well known how the three young
comrades of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah, called by the heathen, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, were thrown into
a furnace for refusing to worship an idol,
and remained unhurt amid the flames. In
this strange position Azariah offered a long
prayer. " And the king's servants, that put
them in, ceased not to make the oven hot
with resin, pitch, tow, and small wood, so
that the flame streamed forth above the
furnace forty and nine cubits. But the
Angel of the Lord came down into the
oven together with Azariah and his fellows,
and smote the flame of the fire out of the
oven, and made the midst of the furnace as
it had been a moist whistling wind, so that
the fire touched them not at all, neither
hurt nor troubled them. Then the three,
as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and
blessed God in the furnace, saying " the
Hymn, of which that in the text is a cento.
The first five verses are omitted.]
f~~\ ALL ye works of the Lord,
^-^ bless ye the Lord : * praise
Him, and exalt Him above all for
ever.
O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye
the Lord : * O ye heavens, bless ye
the Lord.
O all ye waters that be above the
heavens, bless ye the Lord : * O all
ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the
Lord.
O ye Sun and Moon, bless ye the
Lord : * O ye stars of heaven, bless
ye the Lord.
O ye showers and dew, bless ye
the Lord : * O ye winds of God,
bless ye the Lord.
O ye fire and heat, bless ye the
Lord : * O ye winter and summer,
bless ye the Lord.
O ye dews and rime, bless ye the
Lord : * O ye frost and cold, bless
ye the Lord.
O ye ice and snow, bless ye the
Lord : * O ye nights and days, bless
ye the Lord.
O ye light and darkness, bless ye
the Lord : * O ye lightnings and
clouds, bless ye the Lord.
O let the earth bless the Lord :
* let her praise and exalt Him above
all for ever !
1 SLH. The repetition of the words ' ' be merciful unto us " is peculiar to the Latin.
■ SLH. V
SUNDAY AT LAUDS.
25
O ye mountains and hills, bless
ye the Lord : * O all ye green
things upon the earth, bless ye the
Lord.
O ye wells, bless ye the Lord :
* O ye seas and floods, bless ye the
Lord.
O ye whales, and all that move
in the waters, bless ye the Lord :
* O all ye fowls of the air, bless
ye the Lord.
O all ye beasts and cattle, bless
ye the Lord : * O ye children of
men, bless ye the Lord.
. O let Israel bless the Lord : * let
him praise and exalt Him above all
for ever !
O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye
the Lord : * O ye servants of the
Lord, bless ye the Lord.
O ye spirits and souls of the
righteous, bless ye the Lord : * O
ye holy and humble men of heart,
bless ye the Lord.
0 Ananias, Azarias, and Misael,
bless ye the Lord : * praise and
exalt Him above all for ever.
1 Bless we the Father, and the
Son, and the Holy Ghost : * let us
praise and exalt Him above all for
ever.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the
firmament of heaven : * and to be
praised, and glorified, and exalted
above all for ever.
Here the Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is not said, nor "Amen"
answered. But the other Canticles are
treated like ordinary Psalms.
When there are Five A?itiphons, the
Fourth is repeated, and the Fifth begun
or said through the first time here.
Ordinary Antiphon throughout the
year. The king commanded, and
the Three Children were cast into
the furnace, fearing not the flame
of the fire, but saying : Blessed be
God!
Antiphon for Paschal time. He
That delivered the Three Children
from the burning fiery furnace, even
Christ, is risen from the grave.
Alleluia.
Third Antiphon. Alleluia.
Psalm CXLVIII.
[To this Psalm is prefixed "Alleluia."
The LXX. connect it with the Prophets
Haggai and Zechariah. See Thursday and
Friday in the fifth week of November. ]
TDRAISE ye the Lord from the
*- heavens : * praise Him in the
heights.
Praise ye Him, all His Angels : *
praise ye Him, all His hosts.
Praise ye Him, sun and moon :
* praise Him, all ye stars and light.
Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens:
* and all the waters that be above
the heavens. Let them praise the
Name of the Lord !
For He spake, and they were
made 2 : * He commanded, and they
were created.
He hath established them for
ever and ever : * He hath made a
decree which shall not pass.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
* ye dragons, and all deeps : —
Fire, hail, snow, ice, stormy wind,
* fulfilling His word :—
Mountains, and all hills, * fruitful
trees, and all cedars : —
Beasts, and all cattle, * creeping
things, and flying fowl : —
Kings of the earth, and all people ;
1 This verse is, of course, a later addition ; more than two verses are omitted, and the last
given is one of those omitted at the beginning.
2 Taken from Ps. xxxii. 9.
26
THE PSALTER.
* princes, and all judges of the
earth : —
Young men, and maidens, old
men, and children : let them praise
the Name of the Lord — * for His
Name alone is exalted !
His glory is above heaven and
earth. * He also exalteth the horn
of His people,
The praise of all His Saints, *
even of the children of Israel, a
people near unto Him.
[Here "Alleluia"."]
Here the Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is not said.
Psalm CXLIX.
[Here " Alleluia."]
SING unto the Lord a new
song : * His praise in the
congregation of Saints.
Let Israel rejoice in Him That
made him : * and let the children
of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise His Name in
the dance : * let them sing praises
unto Him with the timbrel and
harp.
For the Lord taketh pleasure in
His people : * He also will exalt
the meek unto salvation.
Let the Saints be joyful in glory :
* let them sing aloud upon their
beds :
Let the high praises of God be in
their mouth : * and a two-edged
sword in their hands ;
To execute vengeance upon the
heathen, * and punishments upon
the people ;
To bind their kings with chains,
* and their nobles with fetters of
iron ;
To execute upon them the judg-
ment written : * this honour have
all His Saints.
[Here "Alleluia."]
Here the Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is not said.
Psalm CL.
[Here "Alleluia."]
PRAISE the Lord in His sanc-
tuary ! * praise Him in the
firmament of His power !
Praise Him in His mighty acts !
* praise Him according to His ex-
cellent greatness !
Praise Him with the sound of
the trumpet ! * praise Him with the
psaltery and harp !
Praise Him with the timbrel and
dance ! * praise Him with stringed
instruments and organs !
Praise Him upon the loud cym-
bals, praise Him upon the high-
sounding cymbals ! * Let every-
thing that hath breath praise the
Lord !
[Here "Alleluia."]
Antiphon. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alle-
luia.
{The last of Five Antiphons is, of
course, repeated here.)
Then follows the Chapter. From the
First Sunday in Advent to the Second
Sunday after the Epiphany, and from
Septuagesima Sunday to the Third
Sunday after Pentecost, as also on all
Feasts, a special Chapter is given. On
the remaining Sundays the Chapter is
that given here.
Chapter. (Apoc. vii. 12.)
OLESSING, and glory, and wis-
*-* dom, and thanksgiving, and
honour, and power, and might be
SUNDAY AT LAUDS.
27
unto our God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
This answer is always made after
the Chapter.
Then follows the Hymn. From the
First Sunday in Advent till the Octave
of the Epiphany and from the First
Sunday in Lent till the Octave of Pen-
tecost, as also on all Feasts, a special
Hymn is given. On the remaining
Sundays the Hymn given here is said,
except between the Octave of Pentecost
and the first Sunday of October.
Hymn.1
T7RAMER of the earth and sky,
*■ Ruler of the day and night,
With a glad variety,
Tempering all, and making light ;
Gleams upon our dark path flinging,
Cutting short each night begun,
Hark ! for chanticleer is singing,
Hark ! he chides the lingering sun.
And the morning star replies,
And lets loose the imprison'd day ;
And the godless bandit flies
From his haunt, and from his prey.
Shrill it sounds, the storm relenting
Soothes the weary seamen's ears ;
Once it wrought a great repenting,
In that flood of Peter's tears.
Rouse we ; let the blithesome cry
Of that bird our hearts awaken ;
Chide the slumberers as they lie,
And arrest the sin-o'ertaken.
Hope and health are in his strain,
To the fearful and the ailing ;
Murder sheathes his blade profane,
Faith revives when faith was failing.
Jesu, Master ! when we sin,
Turn on us Thy healing Face ;
It will melt the offence within
Into penitential grace :
Beam on our bewildered mind,
Till its dreamy shadows flee ;
Stones cry out where Thou hast shined,
Jesu ! musical with Thee.
To the Father and the Son,
And the Spirit, Who in heaven
Ever witness, Three and One,
Praise on earth be ever given.
Amen.
The following Hymn is said from the
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost till the
first Sunday of October.
Hymn.2
"DALER have grown the shades of
*■ night,
And nearer draws the day,
Checkering the sky with streaks of
light,
Since we began to pray :
To pray for mercy when we sin,
For cleansing and release,
For ghostly safety, and within
For everlasting peace.
Praise to the Father, as is meet,
Praise to the Only Son,
Praise to the Holy Paraclete,
While endless ages run.
Amen.
Then is said a Verse and Answer.
In Advent and from Septuagesima
Sunday till the end of Paschal time, as
also on all Feasts, a special Verse and
Answer are given.
Verse. 3 The Lord reigneth, He
is clothed with majesty.
Answer. The Lord is clothed
with strength, and hath girded Him-
self with power.
Then is said the following Song from
the Gospel. It has an Anliphon, which
is always special, and which is either
1 By St. Ambrose, or at least of the Ambrosian school, except the last verse. Translation
by the late Card. Newman.
2 By Pope St. Gregory the Great, but a good deal altered. Translation by the late
Card. Newman. 3 Ps. xcii. 1.
28
THE PSALTER.
begun or said through the first time be-
fore it, according as the Office is Double
or not.
The Song of Zacharias.
[On the occasion of the circumcision of
St. John the Baptist.— Luke i. 68-79.]
OLESSED be the Lord God of
*-* Israel, * for He hath visited
and redeemed His people.
And hath raised up an horn of
salvation for us, * in the house of
His servant David :
As He spake by the mouth of
His holy Prophets, * which have
been since the world began :
That we should be saved from
our enemies, * and from the hand of
all that hate us :
To perform the mercy promised
to our fathers, * and to remember
His holy covenant :
The oath which He sware to our
father Abraham, * that He would
grant unto us,
That we, being delivered out of
the hand of our enemies, * might
serve Him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness be-
fore Him * all the days of our life.
And thou, child, shalt be called
the Prophet of the Highest : * for
thou shalt go before the face of the
Lord to prepare His ways :
To give knowledge of salvation
unto His people, * by the remission
of their sins ;
Through the tender mercy of our
God, * whereby the dayspring from
on high hath visited us,
To give light to them that sit
in darkness, and in the shadow of
death, * to guide our feet into the
way of peace.
The Doxology, "Glory be to the
Father, &c," is said, and then the
Aniiphon repeated.
Then is said:
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
Then follows the Prayer for the day
at the end of which is answered:
Answer. Amen.
Afterwards are made any Commem-
orations Jiecessary, by the Antiphon
for the Song of Zacharias, the Verse
and Answer after the Hymn, and the
Prayer (preceded by " Let us pray ")
from the superseded Office which is to
be commemorated. After which the
following Common Commemorations
are made, if required, according to
Chapter xxxv. of the General Rubrics.
When more than two Prayers are to
be said, the last clause of each (begin-
ning " Through our Lord, &c," or
" Who livest, &c.,") is omitted in all
except the first and the last, nor is
"Amen" answered except after these
two.
{Note that if these Commemorations
be said upon a week-day, kept as such,
out of Paschal time, they are preceded
by the Commemoration of the Cross,
given hereafter at the end of the Lauds
of Monday.')
I. Commemoration of the Blessed
Virgin Mary.
(Omitted if the Office of the day is
of the Blessed Virgin, or if her Little
Office is to be said.)
Antiphon. O Holy Mary, be
thou an help to the helpless, a
strength to the fearful, a comfort to
the sorrowful ; pray for the people,
plead for the clergy, make inter-
cession for all women vowed to
God ; may all that keep thine holy
SUNDAY AT LAUDS.
29
remembrance, feel the might of
thine assistance.
Verse. Pray for us, 0 holy
Mother of God.
Answer. That we may be made
worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
/^RANT, we beseech Thee, O
^J Lord God, unto all Thy
servants, that they may continually
enjoy soundness both of mind and
of body, and by the glorious inter-
cession of the Blessed Mary, always
a Virgin, may be delivered from
present sadness, and enter into the
joy of Thine eternal gladness.
From the Octave of the Epiphany to
Candlemas, the Antiphon is the same,
bat the rest is as follows :
Verse. After thy delivery thou
still remainest a Virgin undefiled.
Answer. Mother of God, pray
for us.
Let us pray.
OGOD, Who, by the fruitful
virginity of the Blessed
Mary, hast given unto mankind the
rewards of everlasting life ; grant,
we beseech Thee, that we may con-
tinually feel the might of her inter-
cession, through whom we have
worthily received the Author of our
life, our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son.
II. Commemoration of St. Joseph,
Patron of the Universal Church.
{Omitted in his Votive Office.)
Antiphon. 1 Jesus Himself began
to be about thirty years of age, being
(as was supposed) the son of Joseph.
Verse. 2 The mouth of the right-
eous speaketh wisdom.
Answer. And his tongue talketh
judgment.
Let us pray.
r\ GOD, Who, in Thine un-
^-^ speakable foreknowledge,
didst choose Thy blessed servant
Joseph to be the husband of Thine
Own most holy Mother; mercifully
grant that now that he is in heaven
with Thee, we who on earth do
reverence him for our defender,
may worthily be holpen by the
succour of his prayers to Thee on
our behalf.
III. Commemoration of the Holy
Apostles, Peter and Paul.
{Omitted in the Votive Office of the
Apostles.)
Antiphon. 3 These are glorious
princes over all the earth, they
loved one another in their lives,
and in their death they were not
divided.
Verse. 4 Their sound is gone out
through all the earth.
Answer. And their words to the
ends of the world.
Let us pray.
OGOD, Whose Right Hand
caught the Blessed Peter
when he walked upon the water,
and began to sink,5 and thrice de-
livered his fellow-Apostle Paul from
the deep of the sea, when he suf-
fered shipwreck ; 6 graciously hear
us, and grant, for the sake of them
1 Luke iii. 23.
4 Ps. xviii. 5.
2 Ps. xxx vi. 30.
5 Matth. xiv. 31.
3 2 Kings (Sam.) i. 23.
6 2 Cor. xi. 25.
3<D THE PSALTER.
both, that we also may attain unto For Peace.
everlasting glory. Antiphon. Give peace in our
Mote \ time, 0 Lord, because there is
1 In England in this case, by a special rule, is made
Conwiemoration of St. George, Patron of England.
Antiphon. * The Saints through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises.
Verse, t O Lord, Thou hast compassed him.
Answer. With Thy favour as with a shield.
Let us pray.
OGOD, Who dost gladden us through the worthy deeds and prayers of
Thy blessed Martyr George ; mercifully grant that all they that seek
Thy favour through him, may effectually obtain the gift of Thy grace.
And thus it is said within the Octave.
In the Diocese of Hexham St. George is not commemorated, but instead, the following
commemoration is made of St. Cuthbert :
Antiphon. Holy Cuthbert, our Protector, grace and glory of our father-
land, look down upon us from Heaven, and pray God for us, that He grant
us everlasting joy.
Verse. At the prayers of Blessed Cuthbert and for his sake,
Answer. Be merciful unto Thy people, O Lord.
Let us pray.
OGOD, Who, through the priceless gift of Thy grace, dost make Thine
holy ones glorious, mercifully grant, that the prayers of Thy Blessed
Confessor and Bishop Cuthbert may help us worthily there to attain, where
are the spirits of just men made perfect.
In the Diocese of Northampton the following commemoration of St. Thomas of Canter-
bury is made before that of St. George :
Antiphon. XI am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am
known of Mine, and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Verse. § In your patience
Ans7ver. Possess ye your souls.
Let us pray.
f~\ GOD, in defence of Whose Church the glorious Bishop Thomas fell
^-■S by the swords of wicked men, grant, we beseech Thee, that all that
ask his help may obtain wholesome fruit of their petition.
In the Diocese of Plymouth the following commemoration of St. Boniface of Maintz is
made before that of St. George :
Antiphon. Many nations, many thousands of men, did Blessed Boniface
* Heb. xi. 33. f Ps. v. 13. J John x. 14, 15. § Luke xxi. 19.
SUNDAY AT LAUDS. 3 1
none other that fighteth for us, but our hearts may be set to obey Thy
only Thou, O our God. commandments, and also that by
Verse. l Peace be within thy Thee we being defended from the
walls. fear of our enemies, may pass our
Answer. And prosperity within time in rest and quietness. Through
thy palaces. our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee,
Let us pray. m trie unity of the Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end.
OGOD, from Whom all holy Answer. Amen,
desires, all good counsels,
and all just works do proceed j give J&gg* M/f^ after Low S»»*V.
J , r J°. , till the hve of the Ascension, instead of
unto Thy servants that peace which the preceding Commemorations, is said
the world cannot give, that both the following:
gain for Christ, and forasmuch as he made himself like unto an Apostle, he
hath purchased unto himself a great reward in Heaven along with the
Apostles.
Verse. Be strong in the Lord, be strong.
Answer. That ye may live for ever with God.
Let us pray.
OGOD, Who wast pleased to make the zeal of Thy Blessed Martyr and
Bishop Boniface the mean whereby Thou didst cause many peoples
to know Thy Name, mercifully grant unto us who honour his memory to be
feelingly holpen by the succour of his protection.
{And so it is said within the Octave.)
In the Diocese of Portsmouth the following commemoration of St. Edmund of Can-
terbury is made after that of St. George :
Antiphon. He loved righteousness and hated iniquity, and therefore he
died in exile.
Verse. Cast out upon a world of woes,
In exile here we roam.
Answer. O Blessed Edmund, by thy prayers,
Gain us the love of home.
Let us pray.
OGOD, Who in the abundance of Thy goodness toward Thy Church
hast made her bright by the illustrious life of Thy blessed Confessor
and Bishop Edmund, and gladdened her by his glorious and wondrous
works, mercifully grant unto Thy servants that they may be bettered in
following after his ensample, and shielded by his protection from all things
that may rise up against them.
1 Ps. cxxi. 7.
32
THE PSALTER.
Paschal Commemoration of the
Cross.
{Omitted in the Votive Offices of the
Blessed Sacrament and of the Passion.)
Antiphon. He That was cruci-
fied is risen from the dead, and
hath redeemed us. Alleluia, Al-
leluia.
Verse. l Say among the heathen
— Alleluia.
Answer. That the Lord reign-
eth from the tree — Alleluia.
Let us pray.
OGOD, Who didst send Thy
Son to suffer death for us
upon the Cross, that Thou might-
est deliver us from the power of
the enemy ; grant unto us Thy
servants to be made partakers of
His Resurrection. Through the
Same our Lord Jesus Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Answer. Amen.
After the last Prayer is said:
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Ansiver. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Verse. Bless we the Lord.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
If the Office of the Dead or the Litany
(with or without the Penitential Psalms')
is to follow immediately, it is begun
here. Otherwise
There is said in rather a low voice :
May the souls of the Faithful
through the mercy of God rest in
peace.
Answer. Amen.
If Prime is to follow immediately, it
is begun here, and what follows is not
said till the end of the whole service.
Otherwise the Office ends thus :
The Lord's Prayer is said inaudibly :
OUR Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be 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 them that trespass against
us. And lead us not into temp-
tation ; but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Then aloud :
Verse. The Lord give us His
peace.
Ansiver. And life everlasting.
Amen.
Then follows one of these Four Anti-
phons of the Blessed Virgin Mary, ac-
cording to the season of the year.
I. From the First Sunday in Ad-
vent to Candlemas, both inclusive.
Antiphon. 2 Maiden, Mother of
Him that redeemed us, thou that
abidest
Heaven's open gate, and the Star
of the Sea, come, succour the fallen !
Fallen indeed we are, but fain
would rise by thy succour.
Thou that beyond nature's course,
hast borne in time the Eternal ;
Thou that a Virgin before and
after that childbirth remainest,
1 Ps. xcv. 10. old version.
'-' i.e., it is said for the first time after Vespers, if the Antiphon of the B.V. be to be said.
and in any case after Compline, on the Saturday evening before Advent Sundav, and it is
still similarly said after Vespers on February 2, but not after Compline on that day. It is
ascribed to Hermann the Cripple, a monk of Reichenau, who died A.D. 1052. This trans-
lation is in the same rhymeless measure as the original.
SUNDAY AT LAUDS.
33
From the Archangel's lips the
quickening message receiving,
Mother of Jesus and us, turn
thine eyes of mercy on sinners.
Verse. The Angel of the Lord
announced unto Mary.
Answer. And she conceived by
the Holy Ghost.
Let us pray.
A \ J"E beseech Thee, O Lord,
* ^ pour Thy grace into our
hearts ; that, as we have known
the Incarnation of Thy Son Christ
by the message of an Angel, so by
His Passion and Cross we may be
brought unto the glory of the
Resurrection. Through the same
Christ our Lord.
Answer. Amen.
In and after the First Vespers of
Christmas Day the Verse and Answer
and Prayer are as follows :
Verse. After thy delivery thou
still remainest a Virgin undefiled.
Answer. Mother of God, pray
for us.
Let us pray.
r\ GOD, Who, by the fruitful
^~J virginity of the Blessed Mary,
hast given unto mankind the re-
wards of everlasting life ; grant, we
beseech Thee, that we may con-
tinually feel the might of her inter-
cession, through whom we have
worthily received the Author of
our life, even our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son.
Answer. Amen.
II. From Candlemas to Maundy
Thursday, both exclusive}
Antiphon. Hail, O Mary, Queen
of Heaven,
Queen of Angel worlds on high,
Hail, O Rod to Jesse given,
Blessed Portal of the sky,
Hail, O Lady, bright and glorious,
Clad in beauty pure and true,
Virgin ! o'er sin's stain victorious,
Sinners for thy succour sue.
Verse. Holy Virgin, my praise
by thee accepted be.
Anszver. Give me strength against
thine enemies.
Let us pray.
GRANT, we beseech Thee, O
most merciful God, a succour
unto the frailty of our nature, that
as we keep ever alive the memory
of the holy Mother of God, so by
the help of her intercession we may
be raised up from the bondage of
our sins. Through the same Christ
our Lord.
Answer. Amen.
III. From Faster Sunday* till the
Saturday after Pentecost, both in-
clusive.
Antiphon. Rejoice! rejoice! thou
Queen of Heaven, Alleluia,
For He That thee for Son was
given, Alleluia,
As He promised is arisen. Alle-
luia.
1 i.e., it is said for the first time after Compline on Feb. 2 (even if the Feast of the
Purification be transferred), and for the last time after Compline on Wednesday in Holy
Week. The authorship is unknown ; it seems to date from about the eleventh century.
2 i.e., it is said for the first time after Compline on Easter Eve. The date and author-
ship are unknown ; but a legend has become attached to it to the effect that St. Cregory
the Great heard the three first lines uttered by an angel, and himself added the fourth, on
the same occasion from which was instituted the procession upon St. Mark's Day.
VOL. I. B
34
THE PSALTER.
Mother, pray to Him for us. Alle-
luia.
Verse. Be glad and rejoice, 0
Virgin Mary, Alleluia,
Ansiver. For the Lord is risen
indeed, Alleluia.
Let us pray.
r^\ GOD, Who art pleased to
^-^ gladden the whole world by
the resurrection of Thy Son our
Lord Jesus Christ ; grant, we be-
seech Thee, that by the help of
His Mother the Virgin Mary, we
may finally attain unto the glad-
ness of life everlasting. Through
the same Christ our Lord.
Answer. Amen.
IV. Froni Trinity Sunday x till the
Saturday before Advent Sunday,
both inclusive.
Antiphon. Hail, O Queen, Mother
of mercy ! hail, our life, our sweet-
ness, and our hope ! To thee we
cry, the banished sons of Eve. To-
ward thee we sigh, weeping and
groaning in this vale of tears. Ah,
then, thou our Advocate, turn on us
those merciful eyes of thine ! And,
after this our exile, show to us
Jesus, the blessed Fruit of thy
womb. O merciful, O gracious, O
sweet Virgin Mary !
Verse. Pray for us, O holy Mother
of God,
Answer. That we may be made
worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
r\ ALMIGHTY and everlasting
^-^ God, Who, by the co-opera-
tion of the Holy Ghost, didst make
ready both the body and soul of the
glorious Virgin and Mother Mary
worthily to become a meet dwelling
for Thy Son ; grant that as we re-
joice in her memory, so by her piti-
ful intercession we may be delivered
from the evils that continually hang
over us, and finally from everlasting
death. Through the same Christ
our Lord.
Answer. Amen.
After each of these Antiphons is said
this Blessing :
God's most mighty strength alway
Be His people's staff and stay.
Answer. Amen.
Feasts. The above Office, appointed
for Sunday, is also said on all Feasts
whatsoever, even Simples, and every
day in Paschal time.
1 i.e., it is said for the first time after Vespers, if the Antiphon of the B.V. be to be
said, and in any case after Compline, on the Saturday evening before Trinity Sunday. The
last clause is usually admitted to be an exclamation uttered by St. Bernard of Clairvaux in
the Cathedral of Spires ; but the authorship of the rest is disputed, some ascribing it to
Hermann the Cripple, others to one Peter of Monsoro, Bishop of Compostella, others to
one Adhemar, Bishop of Podium (Puy-en-Velay). It seems to have been well known, at
least in Spain, early in the twelfth century.
35
PRIME, OR THE FIRST HOUR.1
The Lord's Day.
Before Prime is said inaudibly the
Lord's Prayer, the Angelic Salutation,
and the Apostles'1 Creed..
OUR Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be 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 them that trespass against
us. And lead us not into tempta-
tion ; but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
IT AIL, Mary, full of grace ; The
-^ -*- Lord is with thee : blessed
art thou among women, and blessed
is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray
for us sinners, now and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
T BELIEVE in God the Father
-*• Almighty, Maker of heaven and
earth. And in Jesus Christ, His
Only Son, our Lord ; Who was con-
ceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of
the Virgin Mary, suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead,
and buried : He descended into
hell : the third day He rose again
from the dead : He ascended into
heaven, and sitteth on the right
hand of God the Father Almighty :
from thence He shall come to judge
the quick and the dead. I believe
in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic
Church, the Communion of Saints,
the Forgiveness of sins, the Resur-
rection of the body, and the Life
everlasting. Amen.
Then is said aloud :
Verse. *%* Make haste, O God,
to deliver me.
Answer. Make haste to help me,
O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
From Septuagesima Sunday to
Maundy Thursday instead of "Alle-
luia" is said:
Ceaseless praise to Thee be given,
O Eternal King of heaven.
1 Prime is the first service of the Church for the day-time, Mattins and Lauds being for
the middle and close of night. Its proper hour is when the sun has fairly risen, and day
begun, which is reckoned to be about 6 A.M., about which time it is generally ^aid in
choirs. Sometimes Mattins, Lauds, and Prime are said together early in the morning,
forming the complete morning service of the Church. It is from this aggregation that the
•" Morning Prayer" of the Anglican Prayer Book is derived.
36
THE PSALTER.
Then is said the following :
Hymn.1
T'HE star of morn to night succeeds,
-*- We therefore meekly pray,
May God, in all our words and deeds,
Keep us from harm this day.
May He in love restrain us still
From tones of strife and words of ill,
And wrap around and close our eyes
To earth's absorbing vanities.
May wrath and thoughts that gender
shame
Ne'er in our breasts abide,
And painful abstinences tame
Of wanton flesh the pride ;
So when the weary day is o'er,
And night and stillness come once
more,
Blameless and clean from spot of earth
We may repeat with reverent mirth —
To God the Father glory be,
And to His Only Son,
And to the Spirit, One and Three,
While endless ages run.
Amen.
The last verse is sometimes said thus,
altered in honour of the Incarnation :
JESU, the Virgin-born, to Thee
Eternal praise be given,
With Father, Spirit, One and Three,
Here as it is in heaven.
Amen.
In Paschal time it is said thus, altered
in honour of the Resurrection :
To Father, Son, and Paraclete,
The slain and risen Son,
Be praise and glory, as is meet,
While endless ages run.
Amen.
// is also occasionally otherwise al-
tered, which occasions are marked in
their places.
Then follow the Psalms. They are
all said under one Antiphon, and
when Five Antiphons have been said
at Lauds, the First of these Five
is the Antiphon at Prime, otherwise
that given here is used.
Antiphon. Alleluia.
Psalm LI 1 1.
[The superscription of this Psalm, after
some words which are probably a musical
direction, proceeds "[A Psalm] of David,
when the Ziphim came and said to Saul,
Doth not David hide himself with us?"
This was during the same period of his life
in the South in which he composed Ps.
lxii. The Ziphim, or peasantry of the
neighbourhood of Ziph, betrayed him twice
to Saul, and both times, especially the first,
he was in imminent peril. I Kings (Sam.)
xxiii. 19-29, xxvi.]
CAVE me, O God, in Thy Name,
^ * and judge me in Thy
power.
Hear my prayer, O God : * give
ear to the words of my mouth.
For strangers are risen up against
me, and oppressors seek after my
soul : * and have not set God be-
fore them.2
Behold God is mine Helper : *
and the Lord upholdeth my soul.
Reward Thou evil unto mine
enemies : * and cut them off in
Thy truth.
I will freely sacrifice unto Thee :
* and praise Thy Name, O Lord,
for it is good.
For Thou hast delivered me out
of all trouble : * and mine eye
hath seen [my desire] upon mine
enemies.
The fallowing Psalm, " O give thanks
unto the LORD," is said only on Sun-
days, when the Office is of the Sunday,
nor is it said from Easter to Pentecost,
both inclusive. Moreover it is not said
on or after Septuagesima Sunday till
1 Another Ambrosian hymn. Translation by the late Card. Newman.
2SLH.
PRIME, OR THE FIRST HOUR.
37
Easter, but then is substituted for it
Psalm xcii., " The LORD reigneth "
{given at the beginning of Lauds).
Psalm CXVII.
[From some verses it seems as though this
Psalm was written for the Feast of Taber-
nacles, and perhaps as a processional at the
entry of the King (David ?) into . the place
of worship. The Vulgate and the LXX.
prefix the word Alleluia.]
OGIVE thanks unto the Lord,
for He is good : * for His
mercy endureth for ever.
Let Israel now say that He is
good : * for His mercy endureth
for ever.
Let the house of Aaron now say,
* that His mercy endureth for ever.
Let them now that fear the Lord
say, * that His mercy endureth for
ever.
I called upon the Lord in dis-
tress : * and the Lord heard me
[and set me] at large.
The Lord is on my side : * I
will not fear what man can do
unto me.
The Lord is on my side : * and
I shall see [my desire upon] them
that hate me.
It is better to put confidence in
the Lord, * than to put confidence
in man.
It is better to trust in the Lord,
* than to trust in princes.
All nations compassed me about :
* but in the Name of the Lord ! x
I was avenged on them.
They compassed me about, yea,
they compassed me about : * but
in the Name of the Lord ! I was
avenged on them.
They compassed me about like
bees ; they burnt out as the fire
of thorns : * but in the Name
of the Lord ! I was avenged on
them.
They thrust sore at me, that I
might fall : * but the Lord helped
me.
The Lord is my strength and
my song, * and is become my
salvation.
The voice of rejoicing and salva-
tion * is in the tabernacles 2 of the
righteous.
The right hand of the Lord hath
done valiantly. The right hand of
the Lord hath exalted me : * the
right hand of the Lord hath done
valiantly.
I shall not die, but live, * and
declare the works of the Lord.
The Lord hath chastened me
sore : * but He hath not given me
over unto death.
Open to me the gates of right-
eousness ; I will go into them and
praise the Lord. * This is the gate
of the Lord, into which the righteous
shall enter.
I will praise Thee, for Thou hast
heard me, * and art become my
salvation.
3 The stone which the builders
refused * is become the head-stone
of the corner.
This is the Lord's doing : * and
it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day which the Lord
hath made : * let us rejoice and be
glad in it.
Save me now, O Lord ! O Lord,
send Thou prosperity. * Blessed
1 Probably a war-cry.
2 The allusion is to the ceremonial of the Feast of Tabernacles, Lev. xxiii. 42, "Ye shall
dwell in booths seven days."
3 These two verses were quoted by our Lord. Matth. xxi. 42 ; Mark xii. 10.
38
THE PSALTER.
be he that cometh in the Name of
the Lord ! l
We have blessed you out of the
house of the Lord. * God is the
Lord and hath showed us light :
Keep the solemn feast-day with
leafy boughs, * even unto the horns
of the Altar.2
Thou art my God, and I will
praise Thee : * Thou art my God,
and I will exalt Thee.
I will give thanks unto Thee, for
Thou hast heard me, * and art be-
come my salvation.
O give thanks unto the Lord,
for He is good : * for His mercy
endureth for ever.
Psalm CXVIII.8
N
"DLESSED are the undefiled in
-*-^ the way, * who walk in the
law of the Lord.
Blessed are they that keep His
testimonies : * that seek Him with
the whole heart.
For they that work iniquity, *
walk not in His ways.
Thou hast commanded us * to
keep Thy precepts diligently.
O that my ways were directed *
to keep Thy statutes.
Then shall I not be ashamed, *
when I have respect unto all Thy
commandments.
I will praise Thee with upright-
ness of heart, * when I shall have
learned Thy righteous judgments.
I will keep Thy statutes : * O
forsake me not utterly.
Here the Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is not said.
\ ^THEREWITH AL shall a young
* * man keep his way ? * By
taking heed unto Thy word.
With my whole heart have I sought
Thee : * O let me not wander from
Thy commandments !
Thy word have I hid in mine
heart, * that I might not sin against
Thee.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord : * teach
me Thy statutes !
With my lips * have I declared
all the judgments of Thy mouth.
I have rejoiced in the way of Thy
testimonies, * as much as in all
riches.
I will meditate on Thy pre-
cepts, * and have respect unto
Thy ways.
I will delight myself in Thy
statutes : * I will not forget Thy
word.
1 Notice that this is the very verse which was sung during the Palm Sunday procession.
The word Hosanna is a corruption of its third and fourth words — viz., " Ho-shy'ah na."
2 Lev. xxiii. 40. " And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees,
branches of palm-trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook ; and ye
shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days." As to the Feast of Tabernacles,
the Jewish tradition understands by "goodly trees" the citron, and by "thick trees" the
myrtle. Branches of willow were fastened to the corners of the altar.
:t This long poem in praise of the Divine Law, which the Church recites every day and
all day, is A B C Darian. Its 176 verses are divided into twenty-two sections, of eight
verses each, in each of which sections all the verses begin with the same letter of the
Hebrew alphabet. The . first eight, therefore, begin with Aleph, which somewhat cor-
responds to A.
4 Here begins the letter Beth, somewhat represented by B.
PRIME, OR THE FIRST HOUR.
39
Continuation of the same Psalm.
a1
r^EAL bountifully with Thy ser-
*^ vant, quicken me, * and I
will keep Thy word.
Open Thou mine eyes, * that I
may behold wondrous things out of
Thy law.
I am a stranger in the earth : *
hide not Thy commandments from
me.
My soul is an-hungered for the
longing that it hath unto Thy
judgments * at all times.
Thou hast rebuked the proud : *
they are cursed that do err from
Thy commandments.
Remove from me reproach and
contempt : * for I have kept Thy
testimonies.
Princes also did sit and speak
against me : * but Thy servant did
meditate on Thy statutes.
Thy testimonies also are my de-
light, * and Thy precepts my coun-
sellors.
Here the Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is not said.
1\ /FY soul cleaveth unto the
^V** ground : * quicken Thou
me according to Thy word.
I have declared my ways and
Thou heardest me : * teach me Thy
statutes.
Make me to understand the way
of Thy precepts : * so shall I talk
of Thy wondrous works.
My soul sleepeth for heaviness : *
strengthen Thou me according unto
Thy word.
Remove from me the way of lying :
* and grant me Thy law graciously.
I have chosen the way of truth :
* Thy judgments have I not for-
gotten.
I cleave unto Thy testimonies, O
Lord : * put me not to shame !
I have run the way of Thy com-
mandments, * since Thou hast en-
larged mine heart.
The following Creed is only said on
Sundays when the Office is of the Sun-
day, and on Trinity Sunday. The ex-
ceptions are Easter and Pentecost Sun-
days, when it is not said, because they
are treated as Festivals.
The Creed of St Athanasius. 3
WHOSOEVER willeth to be
safe, * before all things it
is necessary that he hold the
Catholic Faith.
Which faith except every one do
keep whole and undefiled, * without
doubt he shall perish eternally.
Now the Catholic Faith is this, *
that we worship One God in Trinity,
and Trinity in Unity.
Neither confounding the Persons,
* nor dividing the Substance.
For there is one Person of the
Father, another of the Son, * and
another of the Holy Ghost.
But the Godhead of the Father,
1 Here begins the letter Ghimel, answering partly to our G.
2 Here begins the letter Daleth, answering partly to our D.
3 The translation largely follows that in the Rev. A. E. Burn's ' Introduction to the
Creeds.' The origin and date of this hymn have been the subject of much discussion.
" It is agreed that it was not written by St Athanasius, and that it was written in Latin."
In the opinion of Mr Burn the indications point to the South of Gaul as its place of origin,
and to the decade A.D. 420-430 as the period of its composition.
40
THE PSALTER.
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost
is One, * the Glory Equal, the
Majesty Co-Eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the
Son, * and such is the Holy Ghost.
The Father Uncreated, the Son
Uncreated, * and the Holy Ghost
Uncreated.
The Father Infinite, the Son In-
finite, * and the Holy Ghost In-
finite.
The Father Eternal, the Son Eter-
nal, * and the Holy Ghost Eternal.
And yet They are not Three
Eternals, * but One Eternal.
As also They are not Three Un-
created, nor Three Infinites, * but
One Uncreated, and One Infinite.
So likewise the Father is Almighty,
the Son Almighty, * and the Holy
Ghost Almighty.
And yet They are not Three Al-
mighties, * but One Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son
God, * and the Holy Ghost God.
And yet They are not Three Gods,
* but One God.
So the Father is Lord, the Son
Lord, * and the Holy Ghost Lord.
And yet They are not Three
Lords, * but One Lord.
For, like as we are compelled by
Christian truth to acknowledge every
Person by Himself to be God and
Lord, * so are we forbidden by the
Catholic Religion to say, there be
Three Gods or Three Lords.
The Father is made of none, *
neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone :
* not made, nor created, but Be-
gotten.
The Holy Ghost is of the Father,
and the Son : * not made, nor
created, nor begotten, but Pro-
ceeding.
So there is One Father, not Three
Fathers ; One Son, not Three Sons ;
* One Holy Ghost, not Three Holy
Ghosts.
And in this Trinity is nothing
afore or after, nothing is greater or
less ; * but the whole Three Per-
sons are Co -Eternal together, and
Co-Equal.
So that in all things, as is afore-
said, * the Unity in Trinity, and
the Trinity in Unity is to be wor-
shipped.
He therefore that willeth to be
safe, * let him thus think of the
Trinity.
But it is necessary to eternal
salvation, * that he also believe
faithfully the Incarnation of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
The right Faith therefore is, that
we believe and confess, * that our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
is God and Man.
God, of the Substance of the
Father, Begotten before the worlds :
* and Man, of the substance of His
mother, born in the world.
Perfect God, Perfect Man, * of
a reasoning Soul and human Flesh
subsisting.
Equal to the Father as touching
His Godhead, * inferior to the
Father as touching His Manhood.
Who, although He be God and
Man, * yet He is not Two, but One
Christ.
One, however, not by conversion
of the Godhead into Flesh, * but by
taking of the Manhood into God.
One altogether, not by confusion
of Substance, * but by Unity of
Person.
For as the reasoning soul and
flesh is one man, * so God and
Man is One Christ.
PRIME, OR THE FIRST HOUR.
41
Who suffered for our salvation,
descended into hell, * rose again
the third day from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, He sit-
teth on the right hand of the Father,
God Almighty, * from whence He
shall come to judge the quick and
the dead.
At Whose coming all men shall
rise again with their bodies, * and
shall give account for their own
works.
And they that have done good
shall go into life eternal, * but
they that have done evil into
eternal fire.
This is the Catholic Faith, * which
except a man believe faithfully and
firmly, he cannot be safe.
Here is said the Doxology, " Glory
be to the Father, &c."
Antiphon. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alle-
luia.
In Paschal time is said a fourth
time, Alleluia.
Then is said the Chapter.
Chapter, (i Tim. i. 17.)
T TNTO the King Eternal, Im-
^ mortal and Invisible, the
only God, be honour and glory for
ever and ever. Amen.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Then follows the Short Responsory.
Christ, Thou Son of the Living
God, have mercy on us.
Answer. Christ, Thou Son of the
Living God, have mercy on us.
Verse. Thou That sittest at the
right hand of the Father.
Answer. Have mercy on us.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Anszver. Christ, Thou Son of the
Living God, have mercy on us.
Verse. 1 Arise, O Christ, and help
us.
Answer. And deliver us for Thy
Name's sake.
This Responsory is occasionally al-
tered, which alterations are given in
their proper places. From Low Sun-
day inclusive till Ascension Day ex-
clusive it is said thus :
Christ, Thou Son of the Living
God, have mercy on us. Alleluia,
Alleluia.
Answer. Christ, Thou Son of the
Living God, have mercy on us. Alle-
luia, Alleluia.
Verse. Thou That art arisen
from the dead.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Christ, Thou Son of the
Living God, have mercy on us. Alle-
luia, Alleluia.
Verse. Arise, O Christ, and help
us. Alleluia.
Anszver. And deliver us for Thy
Name's sake. Alleluia.
From Ascension Day inclusive till
Pentecost exclusive it is the same, ex-
cept that instead of "Thou That art
arisen from the dead" is said:
Verse. Thou That art gone up
above the stars.
During the Octave of Pentecost it is
still the same except that this Verse is
said thus :
Verse. Thou That sittest at the
right hand of the Father.
1 Ps. xliii. 26.
VOL. I.
B 2
42
THE PSALTER.
After the Short Responsory follow
these prayers called the Preces, except
on Doubles and within Octaves, when
they are omitted down to the mark *
1 Kyrie eleison.
Answer. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
OUR Father {inaudibly), Who art
in heaven, Hallowed be 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 tres-
passes, as we forgive them that tres-
pass against us. {Aloud})
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from
evil.
I BELIEVE {inaudibly) in God
the Father Almighty, Maker of
heaven and earth. And in Jesus
Christ, His only Son, our Lord :
Who was conceived by the Holy
Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, dead, and buried : He de-
scended into hell : the third day He
rose again from the dead : He as-
cended into heaven, and sitteth on
the right hand of God the Father
Almighty : from thence He shall
come to judge the quick and the
dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the Holy Catholic Church, the Com-
munion of Saints, the Forgiveness
of sins. {Aloud)
Verse. The Resurrection of the
body.
Ansiver. And the Life everlast-
ing. Amen.
Verse. 2 And unto Thee have I
cried, O Lord.
Answer. And in the morning
shall my prayer come betimes be-
fore Thee.
Verse. 3 Let my mouth be filled
with Thy praise.
Ansiver. That I may sing of Thy
glory, all the day long of Thy great-
ness.
Verse. 4 O Lord, hide Thy face
from my sins.
Answer. And blot out all mine
iniquities.
Verse. Create in me a clean heart,
O God.
Ansiver. And renew a right spirit
within me.
Verse. Cast me not away from
Thy presence.
Answer. And take not Thine
holy Spirit from me.
Verse. Restore unto me the joy
of Thy salvation.
Ansiver. And uphold me with
Thy free spirit.
Verse. 5 *%* Our help is in the
name of the Lord.
Answer. Who made heaven and
earth.
The General Confession.
T CONFESS to God Almighty,
*■ to the Blessed Mary, always
a Virgin, to the Blessed Michael
the Archangel, to the Blessed John
the Baptist, to the Holy Apostles
Peter and Paul, and to all the
Saints, that I have sinned exceed-
ingly in thought, word, and deed,
by my fault, by my fault, by my
most grievous fault. Therefore I
beseech the Blessed Mary, always
1 Greek Litany, signifying " Lord, have mercy — Christ, have mercy — Lord, have mercy. !
2 Ps. lxxxvii. 14. 3 Ps. lxx. 8. * Ps. 1. II-14. 5 Ps. cxxiii. 8.
PRIME, OR THE FIRST HOUR.
43
a Virgin, the Blessed Michael the
Archangel, the Blessed John the
Baptist, the Holy Apostles Peter
and Paul, and all the Saints, to
pray to the Lord our God for me.
The Absolution.
ALMIGHTY God have mercy
on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to life everlasting.
Answer. Amen.
►J*l\ /[AY the Almighty and mer-
*y*- ciful Lord grant us pardon,
absolution, and remission of all our
sins.
Answer. Amen.
Then the Office continues as follows :
Verse. Vouchsafe, O Lord, this
day.
Answer. To keep us without
sin.
Verse. Have mercy upon us, O
Lord.
Answer. Have mercy upon us.
Verse. O Lord, let Thy mercy
lighten upon us.
Answer. As our trust is in Thee.
Here the Office is resumed when the
Preces have been omitted.
* Verse. Hear my prayer, O
Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
OLORD God Almighty, Who
hast safely brought us to the
beginning of this day, defend us
in the same with Thy mighty power :
and grant that this day we fall into
no sin, but that all our thoughts,
1 Whether the Martyrology has been read
out of Choir.
words, and works may be ordered
by Thy governance to do always
that is righteous in Thy sight.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth
with Thee, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Answer. Amen.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Verse. Bless we the Lord.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
If the Prime of the Little Office of the
Blessed Virgin Mary is to be said, it is
said now. Then is read the Martyr-
ology of the morrow, if it be to be read,
the reader concluding with the words :
And in other places many other
holy Martyrs and Confessors and
holy Virgins.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
After which the Office proceeds thus : *
Verse. 2 Precious in the sight of
the Lord.
Answer. Is the death of His
Saints.
IV/TAY Holy Mary and all the
*■**• Saints plead for us with the
Lord, that we may worthily be
holpen and delivered by Him- Who
liveth and reigneth for ever and
ever.
Answer. Amen.
Verse. Make haste, O God, to
deliver me.
Answer. Make haste to help me,
O Lord.
Verse. Make haste, O God, to
deliver me.
Answer. Make haste to help me,
O Lord.
or not. The Martyrology is never binding
2 Ps. cxv. 6.
44
THE PSALTER.
Verse. Make haste, O God, to
deliver me.
Answer. Make haste to help me,
0 Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to
the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is
now, and ever shall be, world with-
out end. Amen.
OUR Father (inaudibly), Who
art in heaven, Hallowed be
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 them that
trespass against us. {Aloud.)
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from
evil.
Verse. x Look upon Thy ser-
vants, O Lord, and upon the works
of Thine hands, and order the go-
ings of their children.
Answer. And let the beauty of
the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish Thou the work of
our hands upon us, yea, the work
of our hands, establish Thou it.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. As it was in the be-
ginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Let us pray.
OLORD God, King of heaven
and earth, may it please Thee
this day to order and to hallow, to
rule and to govern our hearts and
our bodies, our thoughts, our words,
and our works, according to Thy
law and in the doing of Thy com-
mandments, that we, being holpen
of Thee, may here, and for ever
and ever, worthily be saved and de-
livered by Thee, O Saviour of the
world, Who livest and reignest for
ever and ever.
Anszver. Amen.
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
The Blessing.
The Lord Almighty order our
days and deeds in His peace.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the Short Lesson. On all
Feasts, even Simples, and some other
days, this is the same as the Chapter
which is to be read at None, which will
be found in its proper place. On other
days one of the following is read, ac-
cording to the Season of the year.
I. From the Octave of the Epiphany
till the First Sunday in Lent, and
from the Octave of Pentecost till
Advent Sunday, all exclusive.
2 Thess. iii. 5.
And the Lord direct your hearts
into the love of God, and into the
patience of Christ.
2. From Advent Sunday inclusive till
Christmas Eve exclusive.
Isa. xxxiii. 2.
O Lord, be gracious unto us :
for we have waited for Thee : be
Thou our arm every morning, our
salvation also in the time of
trouble.
1 Ps. lxxxix. 16, 17.
PRIME, OR THE FIRST HOUR.
45
3. From the First Sunday in Lent in-
clusive till Passion Sunday exclusive.
Isa. lv. 6.
Seek ye the Lord, while He may
be found : call ye upon Him while
He is near.
4. From Passion Sunday inclusive till
Maundy Thursday exclusive.
Isa. 1. 6.
I hid not my face from shame
and spitting. The Lord God 1
will help me, therefore also shall
I not be confounded.
5. From Easter Sunday inchtsive till
Ascension Day exclusive.
Col. iii. I.
If ye be risen with Christ, seek
those things which are above, where
Christ sitteth at the right hand of
God : set your affections on things
above, not on things on the earth.
When the Reader has finished the
Short Lesson, he says:
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Verse. Our help is in the name
of the Lord.
Answer. Who made heaven and
earth.
Verse. Bless ye.
Answer. May God [bless us].
The Blessing.
*%* The Lord bless us, and keep
us from all evil, and bring us to life
everlasting ; and may the souls of
the Faithful, through the mercy of
God, rest in peace.
Answer. Amen.
Lastly, unless some other Hour is to
follow immediately, the Lord's Prayer
is said inaudibly.
OUR Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be 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 them that trespass against
us. And lead us not into tempta-
tion ; but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Note. When Office is said in Choir
the Service is ended with the Antiphon
of the Blessed Virgin Mary every time
the Choir is left. Otherwise it is only
said as given in this book, at the end of
Lauds {or the aggregation of which
Lauds forms a part) and Compline.
Feasts. The above Office appointed
for Sundays is also said on all Feasts
whatsoever, even Simples, and every
day in Paschal time.
PRIME ON WEEK-DAYS.
All the same as on Sunday, except as
otherwise given here.
Ordinary Antiphon during the
year. Blessed are they that walk.
Ln Advent the Antiphon is the First
Antiphon which has been said at Lauds
on Sunday, unless the day have a set of
its own.
Antiphon in Lent. As I live.
Antiphon for Passiontide. De-
liver me, O Lord.
Psalm cxvii., " O give thanks unto
the LORD," is not said. On Saturday
it is simply omitted, and only the three
Feast-Day Psalms {viz. liii. and the two
first sections 0/cxviii.) are said, but on
the other days of the week one of the
Psalms following is put in its place.
1 The Divine Name.
46
THE PSALTER.
fHontJajL
Psalm XXIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." The
Vulgate and the LXX. add "for the first
day of the week."]
THE earth is the Lord's and
the fulness thereof; * the
world, and they that dwell there-
in.
For He hath founded it upon the
seas, * and established it upon the
floods.
Who shall ascend into the moun-
tain of the Lord? * or who shall
stand in His holy place?
He that hath clean hands and
a pure heart, * who hath not
lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor
sworn deceitfully unto his neigh-
bour.
He shall receive a blessing from
the Lord, * and mercy from the
God of his salvation.
This is the generation of them
that seek Him, * that seek the
face of the God of Jacob.1
Lift up your gates, O ye princes,
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
doors ! * and the King of glory
shall come in.
Who is this King of glory ? *
The Lord strong and mighty, the
Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your gates, O ye princes,
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
doors ! * and the King of glory
shall come in.
Who is this King of glory ? *
The Lord of hosts, He is the
King of glory.1
Euostia$L
Psalm XXIV.
[Intituled "Of David." This Psalm is
ABC Darian.]
UNTO Thee, O Lord, do I lift
up my soul : * O my God,
I trust in Thee, let me not be
ashamed.
Neither let mine enemies triumph
over me : * for none that wait on
Thee shall be ashamed :
Let them be ashamed that
transgress * without cause.
Show me Thy ways, O Lord, *
and teach me Thy paths.
Lead me in Thy truth and teach
me ; * for Thou art the God of
my salvation : and on Thee do I
wait all the day.
Remember, O Lord, Thy tender
mercies, * and Thy loving-kind-
nesses, which have been ever of
old.
Remember not the sins of my
youth, * nor my transgressions :
According to Thy mercy remem-
ber Thou me, * for Thy goodness'
sake, O Lord.
Good and upright is the Lord ;
* therefore will He teach sinners
in the way.
The meek will He guide in judg-
ment : * the meek will He teach
His way.
All the paths of the Lord are
mercy and truth, * unto such as
keep His covenant and His testi-
monies.
For Thy Name's sake, O Lord,
pardon mine iniquity ; * for it is
great.
SLH.
PRIME, OR THE FIRST HOUR.
47
What man is he that feareth the
Lord ? * him shall He teach in the
way that He shall choose.
His soul shall dwell at ease : *
and his seed shall inherit the earth.
The Lord is a strong rock unto
them that fear Him ; * and His
covenant shall be made known to
them.
Mine eyes are ever toward the
Lord : * for He shall pluck my feet
out of the net.
Turn Thee unto me, and have
mercy upon me, * for I am desolate
and afflicted.
The troubles of mine heart are
enlarged : * O bring me out of my
distresses.
Look upon mine affliction and my
pain : * and forgive all my sins.
Consider mine enemies, for they
are many : * and they hate me with
cruel hatred.
O keep my soul, and deliver me :
* let me not be ashamed, for I put
my trust in Thee.
The undefiled and the upright
cleave to me : * for I wait on Thee.
Redeem Israel, O God, * out of
all his troubles !
Psalm XXV.
[Intituled "Of David.*']
JUDGE me, O Lord, for I have
walked in mine innocence : * I
have trusted also in the Lord ; I
shall not slide.
Examine me, O Lord, and prove
me : * try as by fire my reins and
mine heart.
For Thy loving-kindness is before
mine eyes : * and I have walked in
Thy truth.
I have not sat with vain persons,
* neither will I go in with wrong-
doers.
I hate the congregation of evil
doers : * and will not sit with the
wicked.
I will wash mine hands in inno-
cency, * and I will compass Thine
Altar, O Lord.
That I may hear the voice of
thanksgiving, * and tell of all Thy
wondrous works.
Lord, I have loved the beauty of
Thine house, * and the place where
Thy glory dwelleth.
Make not my soul to perish with
sinners, O God, * nor my life with
bloody men :
In whose hands is mischief, * and
their right hand is full of bribes.
But as for me, I will walk in
mine innocence : * redeem me, and
be merciful unto me.
My foot standeth in uprightness :
* in the congregations will I bless
Thee, O Lord.
Psalm XXII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David."]
THE Lord is my Shepherd, I
shall not want. * He maketh
me to lie down in green pastures :
He leadeth me beside the still
waters. * He restoreth my soul :
He leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness, * for His Name's
sake.
Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil : * for Thou art with
me :
Thy rod and Thy staff * they
comfort me.
48
THE PSALTER.
M
Thou preparest a table before me,
* in the presence of mine enemies :
Thou anointest mine head with
oil : * and mine overflowing cup, O
how goodly is it !
Surely Thy mercy shall follow me
* all the days of my life :
And I will dwell in the house of
the Lord * for ever.
jftrttiarL
Psalm XXI.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." It has
a musical (?) superscription, from part of
which it appears that it was written for a
tune called "The hind of the morning."]
Y God, my God, look upon
me x : why hast Thou for-
saken me ? * the voice of mine of-
fences keepeth Thy deliverance far
from me.
O my God, I cry in the day-time,
and Thou hearest not : * and in the
night season — and still it is not fool-
ishness in me.
But Thou dwellest in holiness, *
O Thou Praise of Israel !
Our fathers trusted in Thee : *
they trusted, and Thou didst deliver
them.
They cried unto Thee, and were
delivered : * they trusted in Thee,
and were not confounded.
But I am a worm and no man : *
a reproach of men, and despised of
the people.
2 All they that see me laugh me to
scorn : * they shoot out the lip, and
shake their head :
He trusted in the Lord, let Him
rescue him : * let Him deliver him,
seeing He delighteth in him.
But Thou art He That took me
out of the womb : * Thou art mine
hope from my mother's breasts. I
was cast upon Thee from the womb :
Thou art my God from my
mother's belly. * Be not far from
me :
For trouble is near : * for there is
none to help.
Many bulls have compassed me :
* strong bulls have beset me round.
They gaped upon me with their
mouths, * as a ravening and a roar-
ing lion.
I am poured out like water, * and
all my bones are out of joint ;
Mine heart is like melting wax *
in the midst of my bowels.
My strength is dried up like a
potsherd, and my tongue cleaveth to
my jaws : * and Thou hast brought
me into the dust of death.
For many dogs have compassed
me : * the assembly of the wicked
have inclosed me.
They pierced mine hands and my
feet : * they have told all my bones :
They look and stare upon me. *
They part my garments among them,
and upon my vesture do they cast
lots.
But let not Thine help be far from
me ; O Lord, * haste Thee to save
me.
0 God, deliver my soul from the
sword : * my darling from the power
of the dog !
Save me from the lion's mouth ; *
and mine affliction from the horns of
the unicorns.
1 will declare Thy name unto my
brethren : * in the midst of the
congregation will I praise Thee.
1 The words "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" were quoted by our
Lord upon the Cross (Matth. xxvii. 46 ; Mark xv. 34).
2 Read Matth. xxvii. 39-44.
PRIME, OR THE FIRST HOUR.
49
Ye
Him:
Him ;
Let
Him.
that fear the Lord, praise
* all ye seed of Jacob, glorify
all the seed of Israel fear
* For He hath not despised
nor abhorred the prayer of the
poor;
Neither hath He hid His face
from me : * but when I cried unto
Him, He heard me.
My praise shall be of Thee in the
great congregation : * I will pay my
vows before them that fear Him.
The poor shall eat and be satis-
fied, and they shall praise the Lord
that seek Him : * their heart shall
live for ever.
All the ends of the earth * shall
remember and turn unto the Lord.
And all the kindreds of the na-
tions * shall worship before Him.
For the kingdom is the Lord's :
* and He hath dominion among the
nations.
All they that be fat upon earth
shall eat and worship : * all they
that go down to the dust shall fall
down before Him :
My soul also shall live unto Him ;
* and my seed shall serve Him :
The generation to come shall tell
it unto the Lord : * and the heavens
shall declare His righteousness unto
a people that shall be born, whom
the Lord hath made.
&aturtia|L
Psalm cxvii. is simply omitted and
no other is substituted for it.
In Advent the Antiphon is the First
Antiphon which has been said at Lauds
on Sunday, unless the day have a set of
its own.
Antiphon in Lent. JAs I live,
saith the Lord, I have no pleasure
in the death of the wicked, but
rather that he turn from his way and
live.
Antiphoti for Passiontide. 2 De-
liver me, O Lord, and set me be-
side Thee : and any man's hand
may fight against me.
L
Chapter. (Zech. viii. 19.)
OVE peace and truth, saith the
Lord Almighty.
If the Preces have not been said at
Lauds, then the Preces are now said,
as on Sunday; but if the Lauds Preces
have been said, the following longer
form is used, all kneeling :
Kyrie eleison.
Answer. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
OUR Father {inaudibly), Who
art in heaven, Hallowed be
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 them that
trespass against us. {Aloud.)
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Ansiver. But deliver us from
evil.
Ordinary Antiphon during the T BELIEVE {inaudibly) in God
year. Blessed are they that walk * the Father Almighty, Maker of
in Thy law, O Lord. heaven and earth. And in Jesus
1 Ezek. xxxiii. II.
2 Job xvii. 3.
50
THE PSALTER.
Christ, His only Son, our Lord :
Who was conceived by the Holy
Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, dead, and buried : He
descended into hell : the third day
He rose again from the dead : He
ascended into heaven, and sitteth
on the right hand of God the
Father Almighty : from thence He
shall come to judge the quick and
the dead. I believe in the Holy
Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church,
the Communion of Saints, the For-
giveness of sins. {Aloud.)
Verse. The Resurrection of the
body.
Answer. And the Life everlast-
ing. Amen.
Verse. And unto Thee have I
cried, O Lord.
Answer. And in the morning
shall my prayer come betimes before
Thee.
Verse. Let my mouth be filled
with Thy praise.
Anszuer. That I may sing of
Thy glory, all the day long of Thy
greatness.
Verse. O Lord, hide Thy face
from my sins.
Answer. And blot out all mine
iniquities.
Verse. Create in me a clean
heart, O God.
Answer. And renew a right spirit
within me.
Verse. Cast me not away from
Thy presence.
Answer. And take not Thine
Holy Spirit from me.
Verse. Restore unto me the joy
of Thy salvation.
Answer. And uphold me with
Thy free spirit.
Verse. 1 Deliver me, O Lord,
from the evil man.
Answer. And preserve me from
the wicked man.
Verse. 2 Deliver me from mine
enemies, O my God.
Answer. And defend me from
them that rise up against me.
Verse. Deliver me from the
workers of iniquity.
Answer. And save me from
bloody men.
Verse. 3 So will I sing unto Thy
Name for ever.
Answer. That I may daily per-
form my vows.
Verse. 4 Answer us, O God of
our salvation.
Answer. Who art the confidence
of all the ends of the earth, and of
them that are afar off upon the sea.
Verse. Make haste, O God, to
deliver me.
Answer. Make haste to help me,
O Lord.
Verse. 5 Holy God, Holy Mighty,
Holy Immortal.
Answer. Have mercy on us.
Verse. 6 Bless the Lord, O my
soul.
Answer. And all that is within
me, bless His holy Name.
Verse. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Answer. And forget not all his
benefits.
Verse. Who forgiveth all thine
iniquities.
1 Ps. cxxxix. 2. 2 Ps. lviii. 2, 3. 3 Ps. lx. 9. 4 Ps. lxiv. 6.
5 Called the " Trisagion " in the Eastern Church. Its legendary origin is that it was
learnt from angels by a boy who was carried up into the air during a tempest at Con-
stantinople in the time of St Proclus (a.D. 434). It is probably much older than his
time. Photius thought it was adapted from Ps. xli. 2. 6 Ps. cii. 1-5.
PRIME, OR THE FIRST HOUR.
51
Anstver, Who healeth all thy
diseases.
Verse. Who redeemeth thy life
from destruction.
Answer. Who crowneth thee
with loving - kindness and tender
mercies.
Verse. Who satisfieth thy desire
with good things.
Answer. Thy youth is renewed
like the eagle's.
Verse. *%* Our help is in the
name of the Lord.
Answer. Who made heaven and
earth.
Then is made the General Confession,
and all proceeds as on Sunday.
52
TERCE, OR THE THIRD HOUR.1
©ffitce for efaerg oag in tjje
At the beginning of Terce the Lord's
Prayer and the Angelic Salutation are
said inaudibly.
OUR Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be 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 for-
give them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation ;
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
XT AIL, Mary, full of grace; The
* -*- Lord is with thee : blessed
art thou among women, and blessed
is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray
for us sinners, now, and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
Then is said aloud :
Verse. *%* Make haste, O God,
to deliver me.
Answer. Make haste to help me,
O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
From Septuagesima Sunday to
Maundy Thursday instead of "Alle-
luia" is said:
Ceaseless praise to Thee be given,
O Eternal King of heaven.
Then is said the following :
Hymn.2
PO ME, Holy Ghost, Who ever One,
^ Reignest with Father and with
Son,
3 It is the hour, our souls possess
With Thy full flood of holiness.
Let flesh, and heart, and lips, and mind,
Sound forth our witness to mankind ;
And love light up our mortal frame
Till others catch the living flame.
Now to the Father, to the Son,
And to the Spirit, Three in One,
Be praise, and thanks, and glory given,
By men on earth, by Saints in heaven.
Amen.
The last verse is sometimes said thus,
altered in honour of the Incarnation :
Jesu, the Virgin-born, to Thee,
To Father, Spirit, One and Three,
Be praise, and thanks, and glory given,
By men on earth, by Saints in heaven.
Amen.
1 The proper hour of Terce is 9 a.m., about which time it is generally said in
communities before the Community Mass.
2 Another hymn of the Ambrosian school. Translation by the late Card. Newman.
3 It was at this the third hour that the Holy Ghost descended on the day of Pente-
cost.— Acts ii. 15.
TERCE, OR THE THIRD HOUR.
53
In Paschal time it is said thus, al-
tered in honour of the Resurrection :
JESU, our Risen Lord, to Thee,
To Father, Spirit, One and Three,
Be praise, and thanks, and glory given,
By men on earth, by Saints in heaven.
Amen.
// is also occasionally otherivise al-
tered, which occasions are marked in
their places.
Then follow six sections of Psalm
CX VIII. They are all said under one
Antiphon, and when Five Antiphons
have been said at Lauds, the Second of
these Five is the Antiphon at Terce.
Otherwise those given here are used.
Ordinary Antiphon for Sundays ;
and for every day in Paschal time.
Alleluia.
Ordinary Antiphon for Week-days.
Lead me.
In Advent the Antiphon is the Second
Antiphon which has been said at Lauds
on Sunday, unless the day have a set of
its own.
Antiphon in Lent. Behold now
is the day.
Antiphon in Passiontide. O Lord,
Thou hast judged.
Continuation of Psalm C XVII I.
n1
HTEACH me, O Lord, the way of
■■■ Thy statutes : * and I shall
keep it unto the end.
Give me understanding, and I
shall keep Thy law : * yea, I shall
observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path of Thy
commandments : * for therein do I
delight.
Incline mine heart unto Thy testi-
monies, * and not to covetousness.
Turn away mine eyes from be-
holding vanity : * quicken Thou me
in Thy way.
Stablish Thy word unto Thy ser-
vant, * that he may fear Thee.
Turn away my reproach, which I
dread : * for Thy judgments are
good.
Behold, I have longed after
Thy precepts : * quicken me in
Thy righteousness.
Here the Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is not said.
LET Thy mercy come also unto
me, O Lord : * even Thy sal-
vation, according to Thy word.
So shall I have wherewith to
answer him that reproacheth me :
* for I trust in Thy word.
And take not the word of truth
utterly out of my mouth : * for I
have hoped in Thy judgments.
So shall I keep Thy law contin-
ually, * for ever and ever.
And I will walk at liberty : * for
I seek Thy precepts.
I will speak of Thy testimonies
also before kings : * and will not be
ashamed.
And I will delight myself in Thy
commandments, * which I have loved.
Mine hands also will I lift up
unto Thy commandments, which I
have loved : * and I will meditate
in Thy statutes.
1 Here begins the letter He, an aspirate, nearly represented by our H.
2 Here begins the letter Vau, variously attempted to be represented by V, W, U,
O, Oo.
54
THE PSALTER.
Continuation of the same Psalm.
Y
TD EMEMBER Thy word unto
-1^ Thy servant, * upon which
Thou hast caused me to hope.
This is my comfort in mine afflic-
tion, * that Thy word hath quickened
me.
The proud have behaved them-
selves very wickedly : * yet have I
not turned aside from Thy law.
I remembered Thy judgments of
old, O Lord : * and have comforted
myself.
Horror hath taken hold upon me,
* because of the wicked that forsake
Thy law.
Thy statutes have been my songs
* in the house of my pilgrimage.
I have remembered Thy Name, O
Lord, in the night, * and have kept
Thy law.
This I had, * because I kept Thy
precepts.
Here the Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is ?iot said.
'T^HOU art my portion, O Lord,
*■ * I have said that I would
keep Thy law.
I entreated Thy favour with my
whole heart : * be merciful unto me
according to Thy word.
I thought on my ways, * and
turned my feet unto Thy testi-
monies.
I made haste, and delayed not
* to keep Thy commandments.
The bands of the wicked have
compassed me about : * yet have
I not forgotten Thy law.
At midnight I will rise to give
thanks unto Thee, * because of
Thy righteous judgments.
I am the companion of all them
that fear Thee, * and of them that
keep Thy precepts.
The earth, O Lord, is full of
Thy mercy : * teach me Thy
statutes.
Continuation of the same Psalm.
a3
^PHOU hast dealt well with Thy
■*■ servant, O Lord, * according
to Thy word.
Teach me goodness, and judg-
ment, and knowledge : * for I have
believed Thy commandments.
Before I was afflicted, I went
astray : * therefore now I have
kept Thy word.
Thou art good, * and in Thy
goodness teach me Thy statutes.
The proud have dealt very
wickedly with me : * but I will
keep Thy precepts with my whole
heart.
Their heart is curdled as milk : 4
* but I delight in Thy law.
It is good for me that Thou hast
afflicted me : * that I might learn
Thy statutes.
The law of Thy mouth is better
unto me, * than thousands of gold
and silver.
Here the Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is not said.
1 Here begins the letter Zain, answering to Z.
2 Here begins the letter Kheth, a strong guttural, variously represented by Kh and Hh.
3 Here begins the letter Teth, represented by T.
4 " Gross as fat is their heart" (Leeser). The idea conveyed is that of stupidity.
TERCE, OR THE THIRD HOUR.
55
THINE hands have made me and
fashioned me : * give me
understanding, that I may learn
Thy commandments.
They that fear Thee will be glad
when they see me : * because I have
hoped in Thy word.
I know, O Lord, that Thy judg-
ments are right, * and that Thou
in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Let Thy merciful kindness be for
my comfort, * according to Thy
word unto Thy servant.
Let Thy tender mercies come unto
me, that I may live : * for Thy law
is my delight.
Let the proud be ashamed, for
they dealt wrongfully with me with-
out a cause : * but I will meditate
in Thy precepts.
Let those that fear Thee turn
unto me, * and those that know
Thy testimonies.
Let mine heart be undefiled in
Thy statutes, * that I be not
ashamed.
Ordinary Antiphon for Sundays.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Antiphon for every day in Paschal
ti?ne. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia.
Ordinary Antiphon for Week-
days. 2 Lead me in the path of
Thy commandments, O Lord.
In Advent the Antipho?i is the Second
Antiphon which has been said at Lauds
on Sunday, unless the day have a set of
its own.
Antiphon in Lent. Behold now
is the day of repentance, to redeem
sin, and save the soul.
Antiphon in Passiontide. 3 O
Lord, Thou hast judged the cause
of my soul. Thou hast redeemed
my life, O Lord my God.
Then follows the Chapter and the
Short Responsory. When they are not
given specially, one of the following is
used. After the Chapter is always an-
swered, " Thanks be to God."
On Sundays, from the Third Sun-
day after the Epiphany inclusive until
Septuagesima Sunday exclusive, and
from the Third Sunday after Pentecost
inclusive until Advent Sunday exclusive
are said the following, and the Respon-
sory is used moreover till the First
Sunday in Lent exclusive.
Chapter, (i John iv. 16.)
GOD is love : and he that dwell-
eth in love dwelleth in God,
and God in him.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
4 Incline mine heart unto Thy
testimonies, O God.
Ansiver. Incline mine heart unto
Thy testimonies, O God.
Verse. Turn away mine eyes from
beholding vanity : quicken Thou me
in Thy way.
Answer. Unto Thy testimonies,
O God.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Ansiver. Incline mine heart unto
Thy testimonies, O God.
Verse. 5 I said, Lord, be merci-
ful unto me.
Answer. Heal my soul, for I
have sinned against Thee.
1 Here begins the letter Jod, variously represented by J, Y, I, Ee.
2 Ps. cxviii. 35. 3 Lam. iii. 58. * Ps. cxviii. 36, 37.
5 Ps. xl. 5.
56
THE PSALTER.
On ordinary Week-days throughout
the year are said the following :
Chapter. (Jer. xvii. 14.)
HEAL me, O Lord, and I shall
be healed : save me, and I
shall be saved : for Thou art my
praise.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
Heal my soul, for I have sinned
against Thee.
Answer. Heal my soul, for I
have sinned against Thee.
Verse. I said, Lord, be merciful
unto me.
Answer. For I have sinned against
Thee.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Heal my soul, for I
have sinned against Thee.
Verse. l. Be Thou mine Helper,
neither leave me,
Answer. Nor forsake me, O God
of my salvation.
In Advent are said the following {but
the Chapter on Week-days only) :
Chapter. (Jer. xxiii. 5.)
BEHOLD, the days come, saith
the Lord, that I will raise
unto David a righteous branch : and
a King shall reign in wisdom, and
shall execute judgment and justice
in the earth.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
Come and save us, O Lord God
of hosts.
Answer. Come and save us, O
Lord God of hosts.
Verse. 2 Cause Thy face to shine,
and we shall be saved.
Ans7ver. O Lord God of hosts.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Come and save us, O
Lord God of hosts.
Verse. 3 The heathen shall fear
Thy Name, O Lord.
Ansiver. And all the kings of
the earth Thy glory.
In Lent are said the following {but the
Chapter on Week-days only) :
Chapter. (Joel ii. 12, 13.)
TURN ye to Me with all your
heart, with fasting, and with
weeping, and with mourning. And
rend your heart and not your gar-
ments, saith the Lord Almighty.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
4 He hath delivered me from the
snare of the fowler.
Answer. He hath delivered me
from the snare of the fowler.
Verse. And from the noisome
pestilence.
Answer. From the snare of the
fowler.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Anstver. He hath delivered me
from the snare of the fowler.
Verse. He shall cover thee with
His wings.
Ansiver. And under His feathers
shalt thou trust.
1 Ps. xxvi. 9.
2 Ps. Ixxix. 4.
:i Ps. ci. 16.
4 Ps. xc. 3.
TERCE, OR THE THIRD HOUR.
57
In Passiontide are said the following
{but the Chapter on Week-days only) :
Chapter. (Jer. xvii. 13.)
OLORD, all that forsake Thee
shall be ashamed : they that
depart from Thee shall be written
in the earth : because they have
forsaken the Lord, the fountain of
living waters.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
1 O God, deliver my soul from
the sword.
Answer. O God, deliver my soul
from the sword.
Verse. And my darling from
the power of the dog.
Answer. My soul from the sword.
O God, deliver my soul from the
sword.
Verse. O Lord, save me from
the lion's mouth.
Answer. And mine affliction
from the horns of the unicorns.
In Paschal time are said the following
{but the Chapter on Week-days only) :
Chapter. (Rom. vi. 9.)
/^HRIST, being raised from the
^-^ dead, dieth no more, death
hath no more dominion over Him.
For in that He died, He died unto
sin once ; but in that He liveth, He
liveth unto God.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
The Lord is risen from the grave,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Answer. The Lord is risen from
the grave, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Who hung for us upon
the tree.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The Lord is risen from
the grave, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. > 2 The Lord is risen in-
deed, Alleluia.
Answer. And hath appeared to
Simon, Alleluia.
After the Short Responsory, if the
Preces have been said at Lauds, all kneel
down and the following are said; but
if the Preces have been 07nittedat Lauds,
then these are also omitted down to the
tnark *.
Kyrie eleison.
Answer. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
/^UR Father {inaudibly), Who
^-^ art in heaven, Hallowed be
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 them that
trespass against us. {Aloud.)
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from evil.
Verse. 3 Turn us again, O Lord
God of hosts.
Answer. And cause Thy face to
shine, and we shall be saved.
Verse. Arise, O Christ, and help
us.
Answer. And deliver us for Thy
Name's sake.
Here the Office is continued when the
above has been omitted.
1 Ps. xxi. 21.
2 Luke xxiv. 34.
3 Ps. lxxix. 8.
5>
THE PSALTER.
* Verse. Hear my prayer, O
Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
Here is said the Prayer for the day,
after which :
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Verse. Bless we the Lord.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
If the Little Office of the Blessed
Virgin Mary is to follow immediately,
it is begun here, and what follows is not
said. Otherwise the Office ends thus :
Verse {said in a somewhat lower
voice). May the souls of the Faith-
ful, through the mercy of God, rest
in peace.
Answer. Amen.
Lastly, unless Sext follow, the Lord's
Prayer is said inaudibly.
/^\UR Father, Who art in heaven,
^^ Hallowed be 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 for-
give them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation ;
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Note. When Office is said in Choir
the Service is ended with the Antiphon
of the Blessed Virgin Mary every time
the Choir is left. Otherwise it is only
said as given in this book, at the end
of Lauds (or the aggregation of which
Lauds forms a part) and Compline.
Feasts. The above Office, appointed
for all Sundays and Week-days through-
out the year, is likewise said on all
Feasts.
59
SEXT, OR THE SIXTH HOUR.1
©flftce for eberg trap, in tjje
At the beginning of Se.rt, the Lord's
Prayer and the Angelic Salutation are
said inaudibly.
/^UR Father, Who art in heaven,
^-^ Hallowed be 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 for-
give them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation ;
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
TTAIL, Mary, full of grace; The
-*• -*- Lord is with thee : blessed
art thou among women, and blessed
is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray
for us sinners, now, and at the hour
of our death. . Amen.
Then is said aloud :
Verse. *%* Make haste, O God, to
deliver me.
Answer. Make haste to help me,
O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to
the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is
1 The proper hour for Sext is 12 noon
munity Mass.
2 Another hymn of the Ambrosian school
late Card. Newman.
now, and ever shall be, world with-
out end. Amen. Alleluia.
From Septuagesima Sunday to
Maundy Thursday, instead of " Alle-
luia" is said :
Ceaseless praise to Thee be given,
O Eternal King of Heaven.
Then is said the following :
Hymn.2
OGOD, Who canst not change nor
fail,
Guiding the hours, as they roll by,
Brightening with beams the morning
pale,
And burning in the mid-day sky ;
Quench Thou the fires of hate and
strife,
The wasting fever of the heart ;
From perils guard our feeble life,
And to our souls Thy peace impart.
Grant this, O Father, Only Son,
And Holy Spirit, God of grace,
To Whom all glory, Three in One,
Be given in every time and place.
Amen.
The last verse is sometimes said thus,
altered in honour of the Incarnation :
Hear, Jestj, Virgin-born, our cry,
With Father and with Holy Ghost,
To Whom be praise, here as on high,
On earth as 'mid the Angelic Host.
Amen.
In Choirs it is generally said after the Com-
, with one word altered. Translation by the
6o
THE PSALTER.
In Paschal time it is said thus, altered
in honour of the Resurrection :
To Thee, our Risen Lord, we cry,
With Father and with Holy Ghost,
To Whom be praise, here as on high,
On earth as 'mid the Angelic Host.
Amen.
// is also occasionally otherwise al-
tered, which occasions are marked in
their places.
Then follow six sections of Psalm
CX VIII. They are all said under one
Antiphon, and when Five Antiphons
have been said at Lauds the third of
these Five is the Antiphon at Sext.
Otherwise those given here are used.
Ordinary Antiphon for Sundays
and for every day i?i Paschal time.
Alleluia.
Ordinary Antiphon for Week-days.
Hold Thou me up.
In Advent the Antiphon is the Third
Antiphon which has been said at Lauds
on Sunday, unless the day have a set of
its own.
Antiphon in Lent. Let us ap-
prove ourselves.
Antiphon in Passiontide. O My
people.
Continuation of Psalm CXVIII.
MY soul fainteth for Thy salva-
tion : * but I hope in Thy
word.
Mine eyes fail for Thy word, *
saying : When wilt Thou comfort
me?
For I am become like a wine-
skin in time of frost : * yet do I
not forget Thy statutes.
How many are the days of Thy
servant? * when wilt Thou execute
judgment on them that persecute
me?
The wicked have spoken lies
unto me, * which are not after Thy
law.
All Thy commandments are faith-
ful : * they persecute me wrongfully,
help Thou me.
They had almost consumed me
upon earth : * but I forsook not
Thy precepts.
Quicken me after Thy loving-
kindness : * so shall I keep the
testimony of Thy mouth.
Here the Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is not said.
T7OR ever, O Lord, * Thy word
-*- is settled in heaven.
Thy faithfulness is unto all genera-
tions : * Thou hast established the
earth, and it abideth.
The day continueth by Thine
ordinance : * for all things serve
Thee.
Unless Thy law had been my
delight, * then perchance I should
have perished in mine affliction.
I will never forget Thy precepts :
* for with them Thou hast quick-
ened me.
I am Thine, save me : * for I
have sought Thy precepts.
The wicked have waited for me,
to destroy me : * but I considered
Thy testimonies.
I have seen an end of all perfec-
tion : * but Thy commandment is
exceeding broad.
1 Here begins the letter Caph, a guttural variously represented by C, Q, Ch, &c.
2 Here begins the letter Lamed, answering to L.
SEXT, OR THE SIXTH HOUR.
61
Continuation of the same Psalm.
ft1
OHOW I love Thy law, O Lord !
* it is my meditation all the
day.
Thou, through Thy command-
ments, hast made me wiser than
mine enemies : * for they are ever
with me.
I have more understanding than
all my teachers : * for Thy testi-
monies are my meditation.
I understand more than the an-
cients, * because I keep Thy pre-
cepts.
I have refrained my feet from
every evil way ; * that I might keep
Thy word.
I have not departed from Thy
judgments : * for Thou hast taught
me.
How sweet are Thy words unto
my taste ! * yea, sweeter than honey
to my mouth.
Through Thy precepts I get un-
derstanding : * therefore I hate every
false way.
Here the Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is not said.
THY word is a lamp unto my feet,
* and a light unto my path.
I have sworn, and am stedfastly
purposed, * to keep Thy righteous
judgments.
I am afflicted very much, O
quicken me according to
Lord : *
Thy word.
Accept,
will offerings of my mouth, O Lord :
* and teach me Thy judgments.
My soul is continually in mine
hand : * yet do I not forget Thy law.
The wicked have laid a snare for
me : * yet I erred not from Thy
precepts.
Thy testimonies have I taken as
an heritage for ever : * for they are
the rejoicing of mine heart.
I have inclined mine heart to
perform Thy statutes always, * be-
cause of the reward.
Continuation of the same Psalm.
D3
* but
I
I beseech Thee, the free-
HATE the unrighteous :
Thy law do I love.
Thou art mine Helper and my
Protector : * and in Thy word do
I hope.
Depart from me, ye evil-doers :
* for I will keep the commandments
of my God.
Uphold me according to Thy
word, and I shall live : * and let me
not be ashamed of mine hope.
Hold Thou me up and I shall be
safe : * and I will have respect unto
Thy statutes continually.
Thou hast trodden down all them
that err from Thy statutes : * for
their thought is falsehood.
I hold all the wicked of the earth
as liars : * therefore I love Thy
testimonies.
Make Thou my flesh to tremble
for fear of Thee : * for I am afraid
of Thy judgments.
Here the Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is not said.
1 Here begins the letter Mem, answering to M.
2 Here begins the letter Nun, answering to N.
3 Here begins the letter Samech, somewhat represented by S.
62
THE PSALTER.
r
I" HAVE done judgment and jus-
*- tice : * leave me not to mine
oppressors.
Be surety for Thy servant for
good : * let not the proud oppress
me.
Mine eyes fail for Thy salva-
tion, * and for the word of Thy
righteousness.
Deal with Thy servant according
unto Thy mercy : * and teach me
Thy statutes.
I am Thy servant : * give me un-
derstanding, that I may know Thy
testimonies.
It is time for Thee, Lord, to work :
* they have made void Thy law.
Therefore I love Thy command-
ments * above gold and the topaz
stone.
Therefore did I turn to all Thy
commandments : * I hate every
false way.
Ordinary Antiphon for Sunday.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Antiphon for every day in Paschal
time. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia.
Ordinary Antiphon for Week-days.
2 Hold Thou me up, O Lord, and I
shall be safe.
In Advent the Antiphon is the Third
Antiphon which has been said at Lauds
on Sunday, unless the day have a set of
its own.
Antiphon in Lent. Let us ap-
prove ourselves in much patience, in
much fasting, by the armour of
righteousness.
Antiphon in Passiontide. 3 O My
people, what have I done unto thee,
and wherein have I wearied thee?
Testify against Me.
Theft follows the Chapter and the
Short Responsory. When they are not
given specially, one of the following is
used. After the Chapter is always an-
swered, " Thanks be to God."
On Sundays, from the Third Sunday
after the Epiphany inclusive until Sep-
tuagesima Sunday exclusive, and from
the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost in*
clusive until Advent Sunday exclusive,
are said the following, and the Re-
sponsory is used moreover until the
First Sunday in Lent, exclusive.
Chapter. (Gal. vi. 2.)
DEAR ye one another's burdens,
*-* and so shall ye fulfil the law
of Christ.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
4 For ever, O Lord, Thy word is
settled [in heaven].
Answer. For ever, O Lord, Thy
word is settled [in heaven].
Verse. Thy faithfulness is unto
all generations.
Answer. Thy word is settled [in
heaven].
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. For ever, O Lord, Thy
word is settled [in heaven].
Verse. 6The Lord is my Shep-
herd, I shall not want.
Answer. He maketh me to lie
down in green pastures.
1 Here begins the letter Ayin, or Ghain, as to the sound of which the learned are not
agreed.
2 Ps. cxviii. 117. 3 Micah vi. 3. 4 Ps. cxviii. 89. 5 Ps. xxii. 1, 2.
SEXT, OR THE SIXTH HOUR.
63
On ordinary Week-days throughout
the year are said the following :
Chapter. (Gal. vi. 2.)
BEAR ye one another's burdens,
and so shall ye fulfil the law
of Christ.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
1 1 will bless the Lord at all
times.
Answer. I will bless the Lord
at all times.
Verse. His praise shall continu-
ally be in my mouth.
Answer. At all times.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. I will bless the Lord
at all times.
Verse. The Lord 4s my Shep-
herd, I shall not want.
Answer. He maketh me to lie
down in green pastures.
In Advent are said the following {put
the Chapter on Week-days only) :
Chapter. (Jerem. xxxiii. 16.)
T N those days shall Judah be
-*- saved, and Israel shall dwell
safely : and this is the name where-
by she shall be called, The Lord
our Righteousness.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
2 Show us Thy mercy, O Lord.
Answer. Show us Thy mercy, O
Lord.
Verse. And grant us Thy sal-
vation.
Answer. Thy mercy, O Lord.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Show us Thy mercy, O
Lord.
Verse. 3 Remember us, O Lord,
with the favour that Thou bearest
unto Thy people.
Answer. O visit us with Thy
salvation.
In Lent are said the following {but
the Chapter on Week-days only) :
Chapter. (Isa. lv. 7.)
ET the wicked forsake his way,
■*— * and the unrighteous man his
thoughts, and let him return unto
the Lord, and He will have mercy
upon him ; and to our God, for He
will abundantly pardon.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
4 He shall cover thee with His
wings.
Answer. He shall cover thee
with His wings.
Verse. And under His feathers
shalt thou trust.
Answer. With His wings.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. He shall cover thee
with His wings.
Verse. His truth shall be thy
shield.
Answer. Thou shalt not be
afraid for the terror by night.
In Passiontide are said the following
{but the Chapter on Week-days only) :
Chapter. (Jerem. xvii. 18.)
ET them be confounded that per-
■*~^ secute me, but let not me be
confounded ; let them be dismayed,
1 Ps. xxxiii. 2.
9 Ps. lxxxiv. 8.
Ps. cv. 4.
4 Ps. xc. 4.
64
THE PSALTER.
but let not me be dismayed ; bring
upon them the day of evil, and de-
stroy them with double destruction,
O Lord our God.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
1 O Lord, save me from the lion's
mouth.
Answer. O Lord, save me from
the lion's mouth.
Verse. And mine affliction from
the horns of the unicorns.
Answer. From the lion's mouth,
O Lord, save me from the lion's
mouth.
Verse. 2 Make not my soul to
perish with sinners, O God.
Answer. Nor my life with bloody
men.
In Paschal time are said the follow-
ing {but the Chapter on Week-days
only) :
Chapter, (i Cor. xv. 20.)
"\J OW is Christ risen from the
■*• ^ dead, the first-fruits of them
that sleep ; for since by man came
death, by man came also the res-
urrection of the dead. For as in
Adam all die, even so in Christ
shall all be made alive.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia,
Alleluia.
Answer. The Lord is risen in-
deed, Alleluia.
Verse. And hath appeared to
Simon.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The Lord is risen in-
deed, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. 3 The disciples were glad,
Alleluia.
Answer. When they saw the
Lord, Alleluia.
After the Short Responsory, if the
Preces have been said at Lauds all kneel
down and the following are said, but if
the Preces have been omitted at Lauds
then these are also o?nitted, down to the
mark *.
Kyrie eleison.
Answer. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
/^UR Father (inaudibly), Who art
^S in heaven, Hallowed be 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 tres-
passes, as we forgive them that tres-
pass against us. (Aloud.)
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from
evil.
Verse. Turn us again, O Lord
God of hosts !
Answer. And cause Thy face to
shine, and we shall be saved.
Verse. Arise, O Christ, and help
us.
Answer. And deliver us for Thy
Name's sake.
Here the Office is continued when the
above has been omitted.
* Verse. Hear my prayer, O
Lord.
Ps. xxi. 22.
2 Ps. xxv. 9.
John xx. 20.
SEXT, OR THE SIXTH HOUR.
65
Answer.
unto Thee.
And let my cry come
Let us pray.
Here is said the Prayer^for the day,
after which :
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Verse. Bless we the Lord.
Anszver. Thanks be to God.
If the Little Office of the Blessed Vir-
gin Mary is to follow immediately^ it
is begun here, and what follows is not
said. Otherwise the Office ends thus :
Verse {said in a somewhat lower
tone). May the souls of the Faithful,
through the mercy of God, rest in
peace.
Answer. Amen.
Lastly, unless None follow, the Lord's
Prayer is said inaudibly.
/^UR Father, Who art in heaven,
^-^ Hallowed be 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 them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation ;
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Note. When Office is said in Choir
the Service is ended with the Antiphon
of the Blessed Virgin Mary every time
the Choir is left. Otherwise it is only
said as given in this book, at the end of
Lauds (or the aggregation of which
Lauds forms a part) and Compline.
Feasts. The above Office, appointed
for all Sundays and Week-days through-
out the year, is likewise said on all
Feasts.
vol. 1.
66
NONE, OR THE NINTH HOUR.1
©fKce for eberg &ay_ in tjje
Wink.
At the beginning of None the Lord's
Prayer and the Angelic Salutation are
said inaudibly.
OUR Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be 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 them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation ;
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
From Septuagesima Sunday to
Maundy Thursday instead of " Alle-
luia" is said:
Ceaseless praise to Thee be given,
O Eternal King of heaven.
Hymn.2
OGOD, Unchangeable and True,
Of all the Light and Power,
Dispensing light in silence through
Every successive hour ;
IT AIL, Mary, full of grace ; The
*■ ■*■ Lord is with thee : blessed
art thou among women, and blessed
is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray
for us sinners, now, and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
Then is said aloud :
Verse. >J* Make haste, O God,
to deliver me.
Answer. Make haste to help me,
O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Lord, brighten our declining day,
That it may never wane,
Till death, when all things round decay,
Brings back the morn again.
This grace on Thy redeemed confer,
Father, Co-equal Son,
And Holy Ghost, the Comforter,
Eternal Three in One.
Amen.
The last verse is sometimes said thus,
altered in honour of the Incarnation :
Jestj, the Virgin-born, to Thee,
Eternal praise be given,
With Father, Spirit, One and Three,
Here as it is in heaven.
Amen.
1 The proper hour for None is 3 P.M., but in Choirs it varies.
- Another hymn of the Ambrosian school, with one word altered,
late Card. Newman.
Translation by the
NONE, OR THE NINTH HOUR.
67
In Paschal time it is said thus, al-
tered in honour of the Resurrection :
To Father, Son, and Paraclete,
The slain and risen Son,
Be praise and glory, as is meet,
While endless ages run.
Amen.
It is also occasionally otherwise al-
tered, which occasions are marked in
their places.
Then follow six sections of Psalm
C XVIII. They are all said under one
Antiphon, and when Five A?itiphons
have been said at Lauds, the Fifth of
these Five is the Antiphon at None.
Otherwise those given here are used.
Ordinary Antiphon for Sundays
and for every day in Paschal time.
Alleluia.
Ordinary Antiphon for Week-days.
Look Thou upon me.
In Advent the Antiphon is the Fifth
Antiphon which has been said at Lauds
on Sunday, unless the day have a set of
its own.
Antiphon for Week-days in Lent.
Let us approve ourselves.
Antiphon for Week-days in Pas-
siontide. Did not they reward me
evil for good?
Continuation of Psalm C XVIII.
a1
" I "HY testimonies are wonderful :
*■ * therefore doth my soul keep
them.
The unfolding of Thy words
giveth light : * yea, it giveth under-
standing unto the simple.
I opened my mouth and panted :
* for I longed for Thy command-
ments.
Look Thou upon me, and be
merciful unto me, * as Thou usest
to do unto those that love Thy
Name.
Order my steps in Thy word : *
and let not any iniquity have do-
minion over me.
Deliver me from the oppression
of man : * and I will keep Thy
precepts.
Make Thy face to shine upon
Thy servant : * and teach me Thy
statutes.
Rivers of water run down mine
eyes : * because they keep not Thy
law.
The Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is not said.
13 IGHTEOUS art Thou, O
-*-^- Lord : * and upright are
Thy judgments.
Thy testimonies that Thou hast
commanded are righteous, * and
very faithful.
My zeal hath consumed me, *
because mine enemies have for-
gotten Thy words.
Thy word is tried to the utter-
most : * and Thy servant loveth it.
I am small and despised : * yet
do I not forget Thy precepts.
Thy righteousness is an ever-
lasting righteousness : * and Thy
law is the truth.
Trouble and anguish have taken
hold upon me : * Thy command-
ments are my delight.
The righteousness of Thy testi-
monies is everlasting : * give me
understanding, and I shall live.
Here begins the letter Pe, represented by P, Ph. F.
Here begins the letter Tzade, represented by Tz or Ts.
68
THE PSALTER.
Continuation of the same Psalm.
P'
CRIED with my whole heart,
*■ hear me, O Lord: * I will
keep Thy statutes.
I cried unto Thee, save me : *
and I will keep Thy command-
ments.
Before the dawning of the morn-
ing, I cried : * for I hoped in Thy
word.
Mine eyes look up to Thee
early : * that I may meditate in
Thy word.
Hear my voice according unto
Thy loving-kindness, O Lord : *
and quicken me according to Thy
judgment.
They that persecute me draw nigh
to sin : * but are far from Thy
law.
Thou art near, O Lord : * and
all Thy ways are truth.
Concerning Thy testimonies I
have known of old : * that Thou
hast founded them for ever.
The Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is not said.
CONSIDER mine affliction, and
deliver me : * for I do not
forget Thy law.
Give judgment concerning me,
and deliver me : * quicken me for
the sake of Thy word.
Salvation is far from the wicked :
* for they seek not Thy statutes.
Great are Thy tender mercies, O
Lord : * quicken me according to
Thy judgments.
Many are my persecutors, and
mine enemies : * yet do I not turn
aside from Thy testimonies.
I beheld the transgressors, and
was grieved : * because they kept
not Thy word.
Consider how I love Thy pre-
cepts, O Lord : * quicken me
according to Thy loving-kindness.
Thy word is true from the be-
ginning : * and every one of Thy
righteous judgments endureth for
ever.
Continuation of the same Psalm.
"DRINCES have persecuted me
-*- without a cause: * but mine
heart standeth in awe of Thy word.
I will rejoice at Thy word, * as
one that findeth great spoil.
I hate and abhor wickedness : *
but Thy law do I love.
Seven times a day do I praise
Thee, * because of Thy righteous
judgments.
Great peace have they that love
Thy law : * and for them there are
no stumbling-blocks.
Lord, I hope for Thy salvation :
* and I love Thy commandments.
My soul hath kept Thy testimonies,
* and loved them exceedingly.
I have kept Thy precepts and
Thy testimonies ; * for all my ways
are before Thee.
The Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is not said.
1 Here begins the letter Koph, generally represented by Ch or Q.
2 Here begins the letter Resh, analogous to R, but concerning the precise sound of
which the learned are not agreed.
8 Here begins the letter Shin, somewhat represented by S and Sh.
NONE, OR THE NINTH HOUR.
69
IV
LET my cry come near before
Thee, O Lord: * give me
understanding according to Thy
word.
Let my supplication come before
Thee: * deliver me according to
Thy word.
My lips shall utter praise, *
when Thou hast taught me Thy
statutes.
My tongue shall speak of Thy
word : * for all Thy commandments
are righteousness.
Let Thine hand help me : * for I
have chosen Thy precepts.
I have longed for Thy salvation,
0 Lord : * and Thy law is my de-
light.
My soul shall live, and it shall
praise Thee : * and Thy judgments
shall help me.
I have gone astray like a lost
sheep : * seek Thy servant : for
1 do not forget Thy command-
ments.
Ordinary Antiphon for Sundays.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Antiphon for every day in Paschal
time. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Al-
leluia.
Ordinary Antiphon for Week-days.
2 Look Thou upon me, O Lord, and
be merciful unto me.
In Advent the Antiphon is the Fifth
Antiphon which has been said at Lauds
on Sunday, unless the day have a set of
its own.
Antiphon for Week-days in Lent.
3 Let us approve ourselves in much
patience, by the armour of righteous-
ness, by the power of God.
Antiphon for Week-days in Pas-
siontide. 4 Did not they reward me
evil for good ? for they digged a pit
for my soul.
Then follows the Chapter and the
Short Responsory. Whe?i they are not
given specially, one of the following is
used. After the Chapter is always an-
swered: " Thanks be to God."
On Sundays, from the Third Sunday
after the Epiphany inclusive until Sep-
tuagesima Sunday exclusive, and from
the Third Sunday after Pentecost in-
clusive till Advent Sunday exclusive,
are said the following, and the Respon-
sory is used moreover till the First
Sunday in Lent exclusive.
Chapter, (i Cor. vi. 20.)
F^OR ye are bought with a great
price. Glorify God, and bear
Him in your body.
Ansiver. Thanks be to God.
Short Resp07isory.
5 1 cried with my whole heart,
hear me, O Lord.
Answer. I cried with my whole
heart, hear me, O Lord.
Verse. I will keep Thy statutes.
Answer. Hear me, O Lord.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. I cried with my whole
heart, hear me, O Lord.
Verse. 6 Cleanse Thou me from
secret faults, O Lord.
Answer. Preserve Thy servant
also from the sins of others.
1 Here begins the letter Tau, corresponding somewhat to T or Th.
2 Ps. cxviii. 132. 3 2 Cor. vi. 4, 7.
5 Ps. cxviii. 145. 6 Ps. xviii. 13, 14.
Jer. xviii. 20.
70
THE PSALTER.
On ordinary Week-days throughout
the year are said the following :
Chapter, (i Cor. vi. 20.)
T^OR ye are bought with a great
-*■ price. Glorify God, and bear
Him in your body.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
1 Redeem me, O Lord, and be
merciful unto me.
Answer. Redeem me, 0 Lord,
and be merciful unto me.
Verse. For my foot standeth in
uprightness.
Ansiver. And be merciful unto
me.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Redeem me, 0 Lord,
and be merciful unto me.
Verse. Cleanse Thou me from
secret faults, O Lord.
Ansiver. Preserve Thy servant
also from the sins of others.
In Advent are said the following {but
the Chapter on Week-days only) :
Chapter. (Isa. xiv. 1.)
HER time is near to come, and
her days shall not be pro-
longed. For the Lord will have
mercy on Jacob, and Israel shall be
saved.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
2 The Lord shall arise upon thee,
O Jerusalem.
Answer. The Lord shall arise
upon thee, O Jerusalem.
Verse. And His glory shall be
seen upon thee.
Answer. Upon thee, O Jerusalem.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The Lord shall arise
upon thee, O Jerusalem.
Verse. Come, O Lord, and make
no tarrying.
Answer. Pardon the sins of Thy
people.
In Lent are said the following {but
the Chapter on Week-days only) :
Chapter. (Isa. lviii. 7.)
DEAL thy bread to the hungry,
and bring the poor that are
cast out to thine house : when thou
seest the naked, cover him, and
hide not thyself from thine own
flesh.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
His truth shall be thy shield.
Answer. His truth shall be thy
shield.
Verse. Thou shalt not be afraid
for the terror by night.
Ansiver. Thy shield.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. His truth shall be thy
shield.
Verse. 3 God hath given His
angels charge over thee.
Answer. To keep thee in all thy
ways.
1 Ps. XXV. 11, 12.
2 Isa. lx. 2.
3 Ps. xc. II.
NONE, OR THE NINTH HOUR.
71
In Passiontide are said the following
{but the Chapter on Week-days only) :
Chapter. (Jer. xviii. 20.)
REMEMBER that I stood before
Thee, to speak good for them,
and to turn away Thy wrath from
them.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
1 Make not my soul to perish with
sinners, O God.
Answer. Make not my soul to
perish with sinners, O God.
Verse. Nor my life with bloody
men.
Answer. With sinners, O God.
Make not my soul to perish with
sinners, O God.
Verse. 2 Deliver me, O Lord,
from the evil man.
Answer. Preserve me from the
wicked man.
In Paschal time are said the follow-
ing {but the Chapter on Week-days only):
Chapter, (i Pet. iii. 18.)
CHRIST hath once suffered for
our sins, the Just for the un-
just, that He might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the Spirit.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Short Responsory.
3 The disciples were glad. Al-
leluia, Alleluia.
Answer. The disciples were glad.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. When they saw the Lord.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The disciples were glad.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. 4 Abide with us, Lord.
Alleluia.
Answer. For it is toward even-
ing. Alleluia.
After the Short Responsory, if the
Preces have been said at Lauds, all
kneel down, and the following are said.
But if the Preces have been omitted at
Lauds, then these are also omitted down
to the mark *.
Kyrie eleison.
Answer. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
OUR Father (inaudibly), Who art
in heaven, Hallowed be 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 tres-
passes, as we forgive them that tres-
pass against us. {Aloud.)
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from evil.
Verse. Turn us again, O Lord
God of hosts.
Answer. And cause Thy face to
shine, and we shall be saved.
Verse. Arise, O Christ, and help
us.
Answer. And deliver us for Thy
Name's sake.
Here the Office is continued when the
above has been omitted.
* Verse. Hear my prayer, O
Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
1 Ps. xxv. 9.
* Ps. cxxxix. 2.
John xv. 20.
4 Luke xxiv. 29.
72
THE PSALTER.
Let us pray.
Here is said the Prayer for the day,
after which :
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Verse. Bless we the Lord.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
If the Little Office of the Blessed Vir-
gin Mary is to follow immediately, it
is begun here, and what follows is not
said. Otherwise the Office ends thus :
Verse {said in a somewhat lower
voice). May the souls of the Faithful,
through the mercy of God, rest in
peace.
Answer. Amen.
Lastly, unless Vespers follow, the
Lord's Prayer is said inaudibly.
OUR Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be 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 them that trespass against
us. And lead us not into temp-
tation ; but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Note. Whe?i Office is said in Choir,
the service is ended with the Antiphon
of the Blessed Virgin Mary every time
the Choir is left. Otherwise it is only
said as given in this book, after Lauds
{or the aggregation of which Lauds
forms a part) and Compline.
Feasts. The above Office, appointed
for all Sundays and Week-days through-
out the year, is likewise said on all
Feasts.
73
JtUnbaj) at Jtlatthts.
THE SECOND DAY OF THE WEEK.
All as on Sundays, except as other-
wise given here.
Invitatory. O come, * let us sing
unto the Lord.
When this Invitatory is used the
Psalm begins with the words, " Let us
make a joyful noise."
Invitatory in Paschal time. Al-
leluia, Alleluia, * Alleluia.
On Simple Feasts the Invitatory is
special.
On Simple Feasts the Hymn is special,
but 07t Week-days kept as such the fol-
lowing is said from the Octave of the
Epiphany till the first Monday in Lent,
and from the Octave of Pentecost to Ad-
vent. The Hymns for the other seasons
are given in the proper office of the
Seasons.
Hymn.1
CLEEP has refreshed our limbs, we
*-* spring
From off our bed, and rise ;
Lord, on Thy suppliants while they
sing,
Look with a Father's eyes.
Be Thou the first on every tongue,
The first in every heart ;
That all our doings all day long,
Holiest ! from Thee may start.
Cleanse Thou the gloom, and bid the
light
Its healing beams renew ;
The sins, which have crept in with
night,
With night shall vanish too.
Our bosoms, Lord, unburthen Thou,
Let nothing there offend ;
That those who hymn Thy praises now
May hymn them to the end.
Grant this, O Father, Only Son,
And Spirit, God of grace,
To whom all worship shall be done
In every time and place.
Amen.
Only one Nocturn is said.
Antiphon. The Lord is the de-
fence.
In Paschal time there is only one
Antiphon to the whole Nocturn, Al-
leluia.
Psalm XXVI.
[Intituled "Of David." The Vulgate and
the LXX. add "before his anointing." See
2 Kings (Sam.) ii. 4. Monday, fifth week
after Pentecost.]
HP HE Lord is my light and my
*• salvation ; * whom shall I
fear?
The Lord is the defence of my
life : * of whom shall I be afraid ?
1 Another hymn of the Ambrosian school, with two words altered. Translation by the
late Card. Newman.
VOL. L
C 2
74
THE PSALTER.
When the evil-doers come upon
me, * to eat up my flesh,
Mine enemies that trouble me, *
they stumble and fall.
Though an host should encamp
against me, * mine heart shall not
fear.
Though war should rise against
me, * in this will I be confident.
One thing have I desired of the
Lord, that will I seek after, * that
I may dwell in the house of the
Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the
Lord, * and to visit His temple.
For He hath hidden me in His
pavilion : * in the secret of His
tabernacle hath He hidden me in
the day of trouble.
He hath set me up upon a rock :
* and now hath He lifted up mine
head above mine enemies.
I will offer in His tabernacle
the sacrifice of joy : * I will sing,
yea, I will sing praises unto the
Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry with
my voice : * have mercy on me and
answer me.
My heart said unto Thee, My
face hath sought Thee : * Thy face,
Lord, will I seek.
Hide not Thy face far from
me : * turn not away in anger from
Thy servant.
Be Thou mine Helper, * neither
leave me, nor forsake me, O God of
my salvation.
When my father and my mother
forsake me, * then the Lord taketh
me up.
Teach me Thy way, O Lord : *
and lead me in a plain path, because
of mine enemies.
Deliver me not over unto the will
of mine enemies : * for false wit-
nesses are risen up against me, and
iniquity hath belied itself.
I believe that I shall yet see the
goodness of the Lord * in the land
of the living.
Wait on the Lord, be of good
courage : * and thine heart shall be
strengthened, wait, I say, on the
Lord.
Psalm XXVII.
[Also intituled " Of David."]
T JNTO Thee will I cry, O Lord;
^ my God, be not silent to me :
* lest, if Thou be silent to me, I be-
come like them that go down into
the pit.
Hear the voice of my supplica-
tion, O Lord, when I cry unto Thee,
* when I lift up mine hands toward
Thine holy temple.
Draw me not away with the wick-
ed : * and destroy me not with the
workers of iniquity.
Who speak peace with their
neighbour : * but mischief is in
their hearts.
Give them according to their
deeds, * and according to the wick-
edness of their inventions.
Give them after the works of their
hands : * render to them their desert.
Because they regard not the works
of the Lord, or the operation of His
hands, * Thou shalt destroy them,
and not build them up.
Blessed be the Lord : * because
He hath heard the voice of my
supplication.
The Lord is my strength and my
shield : * mine heart trusted in Him
and I am holpen.
And my flesh greatly rejoiceth : *
and with my whole heart I will
praise Him.
MONDAY AT MATTINS.
75
The Lord is the strength of His
people : * and He is the saving
strength of His Anointed.
O Lord, save Thy people, and
bless Thine inheritance : * and gov-
ern them, and lift them up for ever.
Antiphon. x The Lord is the de-
fence of my life.
Second Antiphon. Worship.
Psalm XXVIII.
[Intituled " A Psalm of David. " The
Vulgate and the LXX. add " for the going
forth from the tabernacle, or ending of the
tabernacle," apparently meaning the con-
clusion of the Feast of Tabernacles.]
GIVE unto the Lord, O ye sons
of God : * give unto the
Lord young rams.
Give unto the Lord glory and
honour, give unto the Lord the
glory due unto His Name : * wor-
ship the Lord in His holy courts.
The voice of the Lord is upon
the waters, the God of glory thun-
dereth : * the Lord is upon many
waters.
The voice of the Lord is power-
ful : * the voice of the Lord is full
of majesty.
The voice of the Lord breaketh
the cedars : * yea, the Lord break-
eth the cedars of Lebanon.
He smiteth them down as though
it were a calf in Lebanon, * and the
beloved [forest is felled] like a young
wild bull.2
The voice of the Lord forketh
the flames of fire : * the voice of
the Lord shaketh the wilderness,
yea, the Lord also shaketh the
3 wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord maketh
the hinds to calve, and discovereth
the thickets : * and in His temple,
every one uttereth His glory.
The Lord fixeth the flood : * yea,
the Lord sitteth King for ever.
The Lord will give strength unto
His people : * the Lord will bless
His people with peace.
Psalm XXIX.
[Intituled "A song of rejoicing at the
opening of the house of David." The pal-
ace, for the inauguration of which this song
was written, is thus mentioned in 2 Kings
(Sam.) v. 9-1 1. "So David dwelt in the
fort" (on Sion) "and called it the city of
David. And David built round about from
Millo and inward. And David went on,
and grew great ; and the Lord God of
Hosts was with him. And Hiram, King of
Tyre, sent messengers to David, and cedar-
trees, and carpenters, and masons ; and they
built David an house."]
I" WILL extol Thee, O Lord, for
■*■ Thou hast lifted me up, * and
hast not made my foes to rejoice
over me.
O Lord my God, I cried unto
Thee, * and Thou hast healed me.
O Lord, Thou hast brought up
my soul from the grave : * Thou
hast saved me from being one of
them that go down into the pit.
Sing unto the Lord, O ye Saints
of His ! * and give thanks to the
memorial of His holiness.
For there is terror in His anger :
* and in His favour is life.
Weeping may endure for a night :
* but joy cometh in the morning.
1 Ps. xxvi. 1.
2 The Hebrew is, "He also maketh them to skip like a calf, Lebanon and Shiryon"
(oftener called Hermon) "like young wild cattle."
3 That is, the deserts to the south of Palestine, amid which is found the town of
Kadesh-Barnea.
76
THE PSALTER.
And I, in my prosperity I said :
I shall never be moved.
Lord, in Thy favour, * Thou hast
made my glory to stand so fast.
Thou didst hide Thy face from
me, * and I was troubled.
I cried unto Thee, O Lord : *
and unto my God I made supplica-
tion :
What profit is there in my blood,
* when I go down to corruption ?
Shall the dust praise Thee, * or
shall it declare Thy truth?
The Lord heard me, and had
mercy upon me : * the Lord be-
came mine Helper.
Thou hast turned for me my
mourning into rejoicing : * Thou
hast put off my sackcloth, and
girded me with gladness.
To the end that my glory may
sing praise unto Thee, and may not
be silent : * O Lord my God, I will
give thanks unto Thee for ever.
Antiphon. l Worship the Lord
in His holy courts.
Third Antiphon. Deliver me.
Psalm XXX.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David" with the
same farther superscription as Pss. xii. xiii.
The Vulgate and the LXX. add " of haste "
or " distraction," meaning apparently that
David wrote it, on recovering from the
mental condition in which he had exclaimed
(v. 23), " I am cut off from before Thine
eyes."]
TN Thee, O Lord, do I put my
*■ trust, let me never be ashamed :
* deliver me in Thy righteousness.
Bow down Thine ear unto me : *
deliver me speedily.
Be Thou to me a God, a Pre-
server, and an house of defence, *
to save me.
For Thou art my strength and
my refuge : * and for Thy Name's
sake Thou wilt lead me and nourish
me.
Thou wilt pull me out of the net,
that they have laid privily for me : *
for Thou art my Preserver.
2 Into Thine hands I commend my
spirit : * Thou hast redeemed me,
0 Lord God of truth !
I have hated them that regard *
lying vanities.
But I trust in the Lord : * I will
be glad and rejoice in Thy mercy.
For Thou hast considered my
trouble : * Thou hast saved my soul
in adversity ;
And hast not shut me up into the
hand of the enemy : * Thou hast
set my feet in a wide place.
Have mercy upon me, O Lord,
for I am in trouble : * mine eye is
consumed with grief, my soul, and
my belly.
For my life is spent with grief, *
and my years with sighing.
My strength faileth because of
mine affliction, * and my bones are
consumed.
I was a reproach among all mine
enemies, and among my neighbours
specially, * and a fear to mine ac-
quaintance.
They that did see me without fled
from me : * I am forgotten as a
dead man out of mind.
I am like a broken vessel : * for
1 have heard the slander of many
on every side :
When they took counsel together
against me, * they devised to take
away my life.
1 Ps. xxviii. 2.
3 This verse was quoted by our Lord on the Cross, Luke xxiii. 46.
MONDAY AT MATTINS.
77
But I trusted in Thee, O Lord :
* I said : Thou art my God, my
lot is in Thine hand.
Deliver me from the hand of
mine enemies, * and from them that
persecute me.
Make Thy face to shine upon Thy
servant, save me in Thy mercy : *
let me not be ashamed, O Lord, for
I have called upon Thee.
Let the wicked be ashamed and
let them go down into the grave : *
let the lying lips be put to silence ;
Which speak grievous things
proudly and contemptuously *
against the righteous.
O how great is Thy goodness,
0 Lord, * which Thou hast laid up
for them that fear Thee !
Which Thou hast wrought for
them that trust in Thee, * before
the sons of men !
Thou shalt hide them in the
covert of Thy presence * from the
troubling of men.
Thou shalt keep them secretly in
Thy pavilion * from the strife of
tongues.
Blessed be the Lord : * for He
hath showed me His marvellous
kindness in a strong city.
For I said in mine haste : * I
am cut off from before Thine
eyes.
Nevertheless Thou heardest the
voice of my supplication, * when
1 cried unto Thee.
O love the Lord, all ye His
Saints : * for the Lord loveth truth-
fulness, and will plentifully reward
the proud doers.
Be of good courage and let your
heart be strengthened, * all ye that
hope in the Lord.
Psalm XXXI.
[Intituled "A didactic (?) poem of David."]
BLESSED are they whose trans-
gressions are forgiven, * and
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man unto whom
the Lord imputeth not iniquity, *
and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Because I kept silence, my bones
waxed old, * while I groaned all the
day long.
For day and night Thine hand was
heavy upon me : * I turned in mine
anguish while the thorn was fastened
in me.1
I acknowledged my sin unto
Thee : * and mine iniquity I hid
not.
I said : I will confess against
myself my transgression, unto the
Lord : * and Thou forgavest the
iniquity of my sin.1
For this shall every one that is
godly pray unto Thee, * in a season-
able time.
Surely in the floods of great
waters, * they shall not come nigh
unto him.
Thou art mine hiding-place from
the trouble that compasseth me : *
O Thou That art my joy ! deliver
me from them that compass me
round about.1
I will give thee understanding,
and teach thee in the way which
thou shalt go : * I will keep Mine
eyes upon thee.
Be ye not as the horse and as
the mule, * which have no under-
standing.
Whose mouths thou holdest fast
with bit and bridle, * else they will
not come unto thee.
1 SLH.
78
THE PSALTER.
Many sorrows shall be to the
wicked : * but he that trusteth in
the Lord, mercy shall compass him
about.
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
ye righteous, * and shout for joy,
all ye that are upright in heart.
Antiphon. x Deliver me in Thy
righteousness.
Fourth Antiphon. Praise is comely.
Psalm XXXII.
[The Vulgate and the LXX. ascribe this
psalm "to David."]
73 EJOICE in the Lord, O ye
^^- righteous : * praise is comely
for the upright.
Praise the Lord with harp : *
sing unto Him with the psaltery
of ten strings.
Sing unto Him a new song : *
play skilfully unto Him with a loud
noise.
For the word of the Lord is
right : * and all His works are done
in truth.
He loveth mercy and judgment : *
the earth is full of the goodness of
the Lord.
By the word of the Lord were
the heavens made, * and all the
host of them by the breath of His
mouth.
He gathereth the waters of the
sea together as an heap : * He lay-
eth up the depths in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord :
* let all the inhabitants of the world
stand in awe of Him.
For He spake, and it was done :
* He commanded, and it was made.
The Lord bringeth the counsel
of the heathen to nought : * He
maketh the devices of the people of
none effect, and setteth aside the
counsel of princes.
But the counsel of the Lord
standeth for ever, * the thoughts of
His heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God
is the Lord, * the people He hath
chosen for His own inheritance.
The Lord looketh from heaven :
* He beholdeth all the sons of men.
From the set place of His habi-
tation * He looketh upon all the
inhabitants of the earth.
He fashioneth the heart of every
one of them : * He considereth all
their works.
There is no king saved by the mul-
titude of an host: * a mighty man is
not delivered by much strength.
An horse is a vain thing for safety :
* by his great strength he shall not
escape.
Behold, the eyes of the Lord are
upon them that fear Him, * and
upon them that hope in His mercy.
To deliver their soul from death,
* and to feed them in time of famine.
Our soul waiteth for the Lord : *
for He is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in Him :
* because we have trusted in His
holy Name.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon
us, * according as we hope in Thee.
Psalm XXXIII.
[Intituled "Of David, when he changed
his behaviour before Abimelech, who drove
him away and he departed." This incident
is thus described in I Kings (Sam.) xxi. 10.
" And David arose and fled that day for fear
of Saul, and went to Achish" (otherwise
called Abimelech) "the King of Gath. And
1 Ps. xxx. 2.
MONDAY AT MATTINS.
79
the servants of Achish said unto him : Is
not this David the King of the land ? Did
they not sing one to another of him in
dances saying, ' Saul hath slain his thou-
sands, and David his ten thousands ' ? And
David laid up these words in his heart, and
was sore afraid of Achish the King of Gath.
And he changed his behaviour before them,
and feigned himself mad in their hands,
and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and
let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
Then said Achish to his servants : Lo, ye
see the man is mad ; wherefore have you
brought him to me ? Have I need of mad-
men, that ye have brought this fellow to
play the madman in my presence? Shall
this fellow come into mine house ? xxii.
David therefore departed thence, and es-
caped to the cave of Adullam." This Psalm
isABC Darian.]
I WILL bless the Lord at all
times : * His praise shall con-
tinually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in
the Lord : * the humble shall hear
thereof, and be glad.
0 magnify the Lord with me : *
and let us exalt His Name together.
1 sought the Lord, and He heard
me, * and delivered me from all my
distress.
Draw near unto Him, and be light-
ened, * and your faces shall not be
ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the
Lord heard him, * and saved him
out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encampeth
round about them that fear Him, *
and delivereth them.
O taste and see that the Lord is
good : * blessed is the man that
trusteth in Him.
O fear the Lord, all ye His Saints :
* for there is no want to them that
fear Him.
The mighty lack and suffer hunger :
* but they that seek the Lord shall
not want any good thing.
Come, ye children, hearken unto
me : * I will teach you the fear of
the Lord.
What man is he that desireth life,
* that loveth to see good days ?
Keep thy tongue from evil, * and
thy lips from speaking guile.
Depart from evil and do good : *
seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are upon
the righteous : * and His ears are
open unto their cry.
But the face of the Lord is against
them that do evil, * to cut off the
remembrance of them from the earth.
The righteous cry and the Lord
heareth, * and delivereth them out
of all their troubles.
The Lord is nigh unto them that
are of a broken heart, * and saveth
such as be of a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the
righteous : * but the Lord will de-
liver them out of all.
The Lord keepeth all their bones :
* not one of them shall be broken.
The death of sinners is grievous :
* and they that hate the righteous
shall be guilty.
The Lord redeemeth the souls of
His servants : * and none of them
that trust in Him shall be guilty.
Antiphon. l Praise is comely for
the upright.
Fifth Antiphon. Fight against
them.
Psalm XXXIV.
[Intituled " Of David."]
DO me right, O Lord, against
them that strive with me : *
fight against them that fight against
me.
1 Ps. xxxii. i.
8o
THE PSALTER.
Take hold of arms and buckler : *
and stand up for mine help.
Draw out also the spear, and stop
the way against them that persecute
me : * say unto my soul : I am thy
salvation.
Let them be confounded and put
to shame, * that seek after my soul.
Let them be turned backward and
brought to confusion, * that devise
mine hurt.
Let them be as dust before the
wind : * and let the Angel of the
Lord drive them.
Let their way be dark and slip-
pery : * and let the Angel of the
Lord chase them.
For without cause have they hid-
den for me the deadly trap of their
net : * without cause have they
digged a pit for my soul.
Let the snare come upon him at
unawares, and let his net, that he
hath hid, catch himself: * and into
that very snare let him fall.
And my soul shall be joyful in
the Lord : * it shall rejoice in His
salvation.
All my bones shall say : * Lord,
who is like unto Thee ?
Who deliverest the poor from
them that are too strong for him, *
the poor and the needy from them
that spoil him ?
False witnesses did rise up, * they
laid to my charge things that I knew
not.
They rewarded me evil for good,
* to put all men far off from me.
But as for me, when they were
sick, * my clothing was sackcloth.
I humbled my soul with fasting :
* and my prayer shall return into
mine own bosom.
I behaved mvself as though he
1 (Literally,) "
had been my friend or brother : * I
bowed down as one that mourneth
and is heavy.
But against me they rejoiced and
gathered themselves together : *
slanders were collected against me,
and I knew it not.
They disappeared, yet they ceased
not ; they assailed me, they laughed
me bitterly to scorn : * they gnashed
upon me with their teeth.
Lord, how long wilt Thou look
on ? * Rescue my soul from their
destruction, my darling1 from the
lions.
I will give Thee thanks in the
great congregation : * I will praise
Thee among much people.
Let not them that are mine ene-
mies wrongfully rejoice over me, *
they that hate me without a cause
and wink with the eye.
For they spoke to me peaceably :
* but by their leasing they stirred
up the land to anger against me, yea,
they plotted against me.
Yea, they opened their mouth
wide against me : * they said, Aha,
Aha, our eyes have seen it.
This Thou hast seen, O Lord,
keep not silence : * O Lord, be not
far from me.
Stir up Thyself, and awake to my
judgment, * unto my cause, my God
and my Lord.
Judge me, O Lord my God,
according to Thy righteousness, *
and let them not rejoice over me.
Let them not say in their hearts :
Aha, Aha, so would we have it ; *
neither let them say : We have
swallowed him up.
Let them be ashamed and brought
to confusion together, * that rejoice
at mine hurt,
mine only one."
MONDAY AT MATTINS.
81
Let them be clothed with shame
and dishonour, * that magnify them-
selves against me.
Let them shout for joy and be
glad, that favour my righteous cause :
* and let them that have pleasure
in the prosperity of His servant
say continually, Let the Lord be
magnified.
And my tongue shall speak of
Thy righteousness ; * of Thy praise,
all the day long.
Psalm XXXV.
[Intituled " Of David, the servant of the
Lord," — and a farther superscription not
now understood.]
r I "HE wicked saith plainly in his
*- own heart, that he will go on
still in sin : * there is no fear of
God before his eyes.
For he flattereth himself in his
own eyes, * until his iniquity be
found hateful.
The words of his mouth are ini-
quity and deceit : * he willeth not
to understand, that he may do
good.
He deviseth mischief upon his
bed : * he setteth himself in every
way that is not good, but he ab-
horreth not evil.
Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the
heavens : * and Thy faithfulness
reacheth unto the clouds.
Thy righteousness is like the
mountains of God : * Thy judg-
ments are a great deep.
O Lord, Thou preservest man
and beast : * How excellent is Thy
loving-kindness, O God !
And the children of men * shall
put their trust under the shadow of
Thy wings.
They shall be abundantly satisfied
with the fatness of Thine house, * and
Thou shalt make them drink of the
river of Thy pleasures.
For with Thee is the fountain of
life : * and in Thy light shall we see
light.
O continue Thy loving-kindness
unto them that know Thee, * and
Thy righteousness to the upright in
heart.
Let not the foot of pride come
against me : * and let not the hand
of the wicked remove me.
There are the workers of iniquity
fallen : * they are cast out, neither
are they able to stand.
Antiphon. 1 Fight against them
that fight against me.
Sixth Antiphon. Show.
Psalm XXXVI.
[Intituled "Of David." It is A B C
Darian ; the first, third, and fifth verses, and
so on, begin with the corresponding letters
of the alphabet.]
FRET not thyself because of the
evil-doers : * neither be thou
envious against the workers of
iniquity.
For they shall soon dry up like
the grass, * and wither quickly as
the green herb.
Trust in the Lord, and do good :
* and dwell in the land, and thou
shalt be fed with the riches thereof.
Delight thyself in the Lord : *
and He shall give thee the desires
of thine heart.
Show thy way unto the Lord,
trust also in Him : * and He shall
bring it to pass.
And He shall bring forth thy
1 Ps. xxxiv. I.
82
THE PSALTER.
righteousness as the light, and thy
judgment as the noon-day : * rest in
the Lord, and make thy prayer unto
Him.
Fret not thyself because of him
that prospereth in his way, * be-
cause of the man that bringeth
wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger and forsake
wrath : * fret not thyself to do evil.
For evil-doers shall be cut off: *
but those that wait upon the Lord,
they shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while, and the
wicked shall not be : * yea, thou
shalt search for his place, and thou
shalt not find it.
1 But the meek shall inherit the
earth : * and shall delight themselves
in the abundance of peace.
The wicked plotteth against the
just, * and gnasheth upon him with
his teeth.
But the Lord shall laugh at him :
* for He seeth that his day is
coming.
The wicked have drawn out the
sword, * they have bent their bow,
To cast down the poor and the
needy, * to slay such as be upright
of heart.
Their sword shall enter into their
own hearts : * and their bow shall be
broken.
A little that a righteous man hath
* is better than great riches of the
wicked.
For the arms of the wicked shall
be broken ; * but the Lord up-
holdeth the righteous.
The Lord knoweth the days of
the undefiled : * and their inheri-
tance shall be for ever.
They shall not be ashamed in the
evil time, and in the days of famine
1 Matth. v. 4 seems
they shall be satisfied : * for the
wicked shall perish.
Yea, the enemies of the Lord,
no sooner than they be honourable
and exalted, * shall pass away, yea,
pass away like smoke.
The wicked borroweth and pay-
eth not again : * but the righteous
showeth mercy and giveth.
For such as bless him shall in-
herit the earth : * but they that
curse him shall be cut off.
The steps of a [good] man are
ordered by the Lord : * and He de-
lighteth in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be
utterly cast down : * for the Lord
upholdeth him with His hand.
I have been young, and now am
old : * yet have I not seen the
righteous forsaken, nor his seed
begging bread.
He is ever merciful and lendeth :
* and his seed shall be blessed.
Depart from evil and do good : *
and dwell for evermore.
For the Lord loveth judgment,
and forsaketh not His saints : * they
shall be preserved for ever.
The unrighteous shall be pun-
ished : * and the seed of the wicked
shall be cut off.
But the righteous shall inherit the
land : * and dwell therein for ever.
The mouth of the righteous speak-
eth wisdom, * and his tongue talketh
judgment.
The law of his God is in his
heart, * none of his steps shall
slide.
The wicked watcheth the right-
eous, * and seeketh to slay him.
But the Lord will not leave him
in his hands, * nor condemn him
when he is judged.
to be quoted from this.
MONDAY AT MATTINS.
83
Wait on the Lord and keep His
way, and He shall exalt thee, to in-
herit the land : * when the wicked
are cut off thou shalt see it.
I have seen the wicked in great
power, * and exalted like a cedar in
Lebanon.
And I passed by, and, lo, he was
not : * and I sought him, and his
place was not found.
Keep innocency, and look to the
thing that is right : * for the peace-
maker shall have a reward here-
after.
But the transgressors shall be cut
off together : * the end of the wicked
is destruction.
But the salvation of the righteous
is of the Lord : * and He is their
strength in the time of trouble.
And the Lord shall help them,
and deliver them : * He shall de-
liver them from the wicked, and
save them, because they trust in
Him.
Psalm XXXVII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." It has
a further superscription of (now) unknown
meaning. The Vulgate and the LXX. con-
nect it with the Sabbath.]
f~\ LORD, rebuke me not in Thy
^-^ wrath, * neither chasten me
in Thine hot displeasure.
For Thine arrows stick fast in
me : * and Thou hast laid Thine
hand heavily upon me.
There is no soundness in my
flesh, because of Thine anger : *
neither is there any rest in my bones
because of my sins.
For mine iniquities are gone over
mine head : * and as an heavy bur-
then they are too heavy for me.
My wounds stink and are cor-
rupt, * because of my foolishness.
I am troubled and bowed down
exceedingly : * I go mourning all
the day long.
For my loins are filled with a
loathsome disease : * and there is
no soundness in my flesh.
I am feeble and sore broken : *
I groan aloud by reason of the dis-
quietness of mine heart.
Lord, all my desire is before
Thee : * and my groaning is not hid
from Thee.
Mine heart panteth, my strength
faileth me : * as for the light of
mine eyes, it also is gone from
me.
My friends and my neighbours *
draw near, and stand over against
me.
And they that are nearest to me
stand afar off : * they also that
sought after my life have used
violence against me.
And they that seek mine hurt have
spoken mischievous things, * and
imagined falsehoods all the day
long.
But I, as a deaf man, hear not, *
and as a dumb man that openeth
not his mouth.
Thus I was as a man that heareth
not, * and in whose mouth are no
reproofs.
For in Thee, O Lord, do I
hope : * Thou wilt hear me, O Lord
my God !
For I said : Let not mine ene-
mies rejoice over me : * when my
feet slip they magnify themselves
against me.
For I am ready for the scourges :
* and my sorrow is continually be-
fore me.
For I will declare mine iniquity,
* and think upon my sin.
But mine enemies are lively, and
84
THE PSALTER.
they are strengthened against me : *
and they that hate me wrongfully
are many.
They that render evil for good
speak against me, * because I have
followed goodness.
Forsake me not, O Lord my
God : * be not far from me.
Make haste to help me, * O
Lord God of my salvation !
Antiphon. 1 Show thy way unto
the Lord.
Antiphon for Paschal time. Al-
leluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
TJien is said a Verse and Answer.
In Advent.
Verse. 2 Out of Zion, the Perfec-
tion of beauty,
Answer. Our God shall come
manifestly.
During the rest of the year.
Verse. 3Thy mercy, O Lord, is
in the heavens.
Anstver. And thy faithfulness
reacheth unto the clouds.
In Lent.
Verse. 4 He hath delivered me
from the snare of the fowler.
Answer. And from the noisome
pestilence.
In Passion time.
Verse. 5 O God, deliver my soul
from the sword.
Ansiver. And my darling from
the power of the dog.
In Paschal time.
Verse. The Lord is risen from
the grave, Alleluia.
Answer. Who hung for us upon
the tree, Alleluia.
The rest is the same as the First Noc-
turn of the preceding Sunday, only the
Lessons and sometimes the Respofisories
are those of the day.
Simple Feasts. It is to be remem-
bered that when a Simple Feast is kept
on Monday, the Invitatory and Hymn
are of the Feast, being taken from the
Common of Saints of the class, unless
specially given. Then the Psalms and
Antiphons of the week-day, as given
above. Then is said a Verse and
Answer as follow :
In the Simple Office for one or many
Martyrs in Paschal time.
Verse. O ye saints and right-
eous, rejoice in the Lord, Alleluia.
Answer. 6 God hath chosen you
for His own inheritance. Alleluia.
In the Simple Office for one Martyr
{out of Paschal time).
Verse. 7Thou hast crowned him
with glory and honour, O Lord.
Answer. And madest him to
have dominion over the works of
Thine hands.
In the Simple Office for many Martyrs
{put of Paschal time).
Verse. 8 Be glad in the Lord,
and rejoice, ye righteous.
Ansiver. And shout for joy, all
ye that are upright in heart.
In the Simple Office for Confessors
{whether Bishops or not).
Verse. 9 The Lord loved him and
beautified him.
[/;/ Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
1 Ps. xxxvi. 5.
4 Ps. xc. 3.
7 I's. viii. 6, 7.
2 Ps. xlix.
5 Ps. xxi.
8 Ps. xxxi,
2, 3-
21.
II.
3 Ps. xxxv. 6.
6 Ps. xxxii. 12.
9 Ecclus. xlv. 9.
MONDAY AT MATTINS.
85
Answer. And clothed him with
a robe of glory.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
In the Simple Office for one Holy
Woman, of any class.
Verse. 1 In thy comeliness and
thy beauty.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
Answer. Go forward, fare pros-
perously and reign.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
The others, as well as what follows,
to the end of the service, are taken from
the First Nocturn of the Office Common
to Saints of the class, unless something
special be appointed. The Lessons are
at ranged according to the rules in
Chapter xxvi. 4, of the general Rubrics.
The Hymn, " We praise Thee, O God,"
is said at the end, instead of a third
Responsory. The Responsories are
arranged according to the rules in
Chapter xxvii. 4, of the general Rubrics.
Thus : —
The Lord's Prayer is said:
OUR Father {inaudibly), Who art
in heaven, Hallowed be 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 tres-
passes, as we forgive them that tres-
pass against us. {Aloud.)
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from
evil.
Then this Absolution :
/GRACIOUSLY hear, O Lord
^--3r Jesus Christ, the prayers of
Thy servants, and have mercy
upon us : Who livest and reignest
with the Father, and the Holy
Ghost, world without end.
Answer. Amen.
Then the Reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
First Blessing, if the Lesson be from
Scripture.
May the Eternal Father bless us
With an everlasting blessing.
Answer. Amen.
First Blessing, if the Lesson be of an
Homily.
May the Gospel's saving Lord
Bless the reading of His Word.
Answer. Amen.
First Blessing on a Simple Feast.
May His blessing be upon us
Who doth live and reign for ever.
Anstver. Amen.
Then is read the First Lesson from
Scripture or from the Homily, or oti a
Simple Feast either the First from
Scripture, or, if the Saint or Saints
have two Lessons, the whole three from
Scripture read together as one.
Then the First Responsory, unless
otherwise directed. On a week-day kept
as such, this is the First Responsory of
the preceding Sunday. On a Simple
Feast, the first Responsory in the Com-
mon Office for the class to which the
Saint belongs.
Then the Reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
Second Blessing, if the Lesson be of
Scripture.
May the Son the Sole-begotten
In His mercy bless and help us.
Answer. Amen.
1 Ps. xliv. 5.
86
THE PSALTER.
Second Blessing, if the Lesson be from
an Homily.
God's most mighty strength alway
Be His people's staff and stay.
Answer. Amen.
Second Blessing; for a Simple Feast.
He {or she or they) whose feast-day
we are keeping
Plead for us before the Lord.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the Second Lesson, either
from Scripture or from an Homily, or
on a Simple Feast either the Second
and Third Lessons from Scripture
read together as one, or if the Saint
or Saints have two Lessons, the first
of these.
Then the Seco?id Responsory, unless
otherwise directed. On a week-day kept
as such, this is the Second Responsory
of the preceding Sunday, but in Paschal
time there is added to it :
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
And the Answer of the Responsory is
repeated again.
On a Simple Feast the Second Res-
ponsory in the Common Office for the
class to which the Saint belongs, with
the addition of " Glory be to the
Father," dr^c, and the repetition of
the Answer.
Then the Reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
Third Blessing, if the Lesson be of
Scripture.
May the grace of God the Spirit
All our heart and mind enlighten.
Answer. Amen.
Third Blessing, for a Simple Feast, or
if the Lesson be from an Homily.
May He That is the Angels' King
To that high realm His people bring.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the Third Lesson either
from Scripture, or of the Homily, or on
Simple Feasts the Second or only Lesson
of the Saint.
Then, on Simple Feasts and on any
day in Paschal time is said the Hymn,
"We praise Thee, O God." But on
week-days kept as such out of Paschal
time the Third Responsory of the pre-
ceding Sunday.
87
THE SECOND DAY OF THE WEEK.
All as on Sunday, except as other-
wise given here.
The Psalms are as follows :
Antiphon. Have mercy.
If this Antiphon be used, the Psalm
begins with the words, " Upon me, O
God."
Psalm L.
[This Psalm has a musical (?) superscrip-
tion, and the title then proceeds, "A Psalm
of David, when Nathan the Prophet came
unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-
sheba." The whole history is in 2 Kings
(Sam.) xi. xii. (Saturday, 5th week after
Pentecost, and 6th Sunday.)]
HAVE mercy upon me, O God,
* after Thy great mercy :
And according to the multitude
of Thy tender mercies * blot out my
transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine
iniquity : * and cleanse me from my
sin.
For I acknowledge my trans-
gression : * and my sin is ever
before me.
Against Thee, Thee only, have I
sinned, and done evil in Thy sight :
* that Thou mightest be justified
when Thou speakest, and be clear
when Thou art judged.
For behold, I was shapen in in-
iquity : * and in sin did my mother
conceive me.
For behold Thou desirest truth :
* the hidden secrets of Thy wisdom
Thou hast made manifest unto me.
Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I
shall be clean : * wash me, and I
shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and glad-
ness : * that the bones which Thou
hast broken may rejoice.
Hide Thy face from my sins : *
and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O
God : * and renew a right spirit
within me.
Cast me not away from Thy
presence : * and take not Thine
holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy
salvation : * and uphold me with
Thy free Spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors
Thy ways : * and sinners shall be
converted unto Thee.
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness,
O God, Thou God of my salvation :
* and my tongue shall sing aloud l
of Thy righteousness.
O Lord, open Thou my lips, *
1 So the Hebrew, the LXX. , and all the versions, including Doway, but the Latin
text has the curious mistake of exultabit for exaltabit.
88
THE PSALTER.
and my mouth shall show forth Thy
praise.
For Thou desirest not sacrifice,
else would I give it : * Thou de-
lightest not in burnt-offering.
The sacrifice of God is a broken
spirit : * a broken and a contrite
heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
Do good in Thy good pleasure
unto Zion : * to build the walls of
Jerusalem.
Then shalt Thou be pleased with
the sacrifices of righteousness, with
burnt-offering and whole burnt-offer-
ing : * then shall they offer bullocks
upon Thine altar.
Antiphon. Have mercy upon me,
O God.
Second Antiphon. Consider.
Psalm V.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with a
musical (?) superscription.]
GIVE ear unto my words, O
Lord, * consider my suppli-
cation.
Hearken unto the voice of my cry,
* my King and my God !
For unto Thee will I pray. * O
Lord, in the morning Thou shalt
hear my voice :
In the morning will I stand before
Thee and look up. * For Thou art
not a God that hath pleasure in
wickedness :
Neither shall the evil dwell with
Thee, * nor the unrighteous stand
in Thy sight :
Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
* Thou shalt destroy all them that
speak leasing :
The Lord abhorreth the bloody
and deceitful man. * But as for me,
in the multitude of Thy mercy
I will come into Thine house : *
I will worship toward Thine holy
temple in Thy fear.
Lead me, O Lord, in Thy
righteousness;, * because of mine
enemies ; make my way straight
before Thy face.
For there is no faithfulness in
their mouth : * their inward part
is very wickedness.
Their throat is an open sepulchre;
they flatter with their tongue. *
Judge Thou them, O God !
Let them fall by their own coun-
sels ; cast them out in the multi-
tude of their transgressions, * for
they have rebelled against Thee, O
Lord!
And let all those that put their
trust in Thee, rejoice : * let them
ever shout for joy, because Thou
dwellest in them :
Let them also that love Thy Name
be joyful in Thee. * For Thou wilt
bless the righteous.
O Lord, Thou hast compassed
us * with Thy favour as with a
shield.
Antiphon. Consider my suppli-
cation, O Lord.
Third Antiphon. O God, Thou
art my God.
If this Antiphon is used, the Psalm
begins with the words, " Early will I
seek Thee."
Psalms LXII., LXVI.
O God, Thou art my God, &c.
(A 23)-
Antiphon. O God, Thou art my
God, early will I seek Thee.
Fourth Antiphon. Thine anger
is turned away.
MONDAY AT LAUDS.
89
From Advent Sunday till the Octave
of the Epiphany and front the First
Sunday in Lent till the Octave of Pente-
cost special Chapters are given. At
other times the followitig is said on all
week-days observed as such.
Chapter. (Rom. xiii. 12.)
THE night is far spent, the day
is at hand : let us therefore
cast off the works of darkness, and
let us put on the armour of light :
let us walk honestly as in the day.
Hymn.1
OF the Father Effluence bright,
Out of Light evolving light,
Light from Light, unfailing Ray,
Day creative of the day.
Truest Sun, upon us stream
With Thy calm perpetual beam,
In the Spirit's still sunshine
Making sense and thought divine.
Seek we too the Father's face,
Father of almighty grace,
And of majesty excelling,
Who can purge our tainted dwelling ;
Who can aid us, who can break
Teeth of envious foes, and make
Hours of loss and pain succeed,
Guiding safe each duteous deed.
And, infusing self-control,
Fragrant chastity of soul,
Faith's keen flame to soar on high,
Incorrupt simplicity.
Christ Himself for food be given,
Faith become the cup of heaven,
Out of which the joy is quaff'd
Of the Spirit's sobering draught.
With that joy replenished
Morn shall glow with modest red,
Noon with beaming face be bright,
Eve be soft without twilight.
It has dawned :— upon our way,
Father, in Thy Word, this day,
In Thy Father, Word Divine,
From Thy cloudy pillar shine.
1 Another hymn of the Ambrosian school, slightly altered. Translation by the late
Card. Newman.
The Song of Isaiah the Prophet.
[Isa. xii. 1. The description of the res-
toration of Israel in Isa. xi. (Second Sun-
day in Advent) is continued to the end
of that Chapter, and this Song is then
introduced by the words, "And in that
day thou shalt say : — "]
f~\ LORD, I will praise Thee,
^S though Thou wast angry with
me, * Thine anger is turned away,
and Thou comfortest me.
Behold, God is my salvation : *
I will trust and not be afraid :
For the Lord is my strength
and my song : * He also is become
my salvation.
Therefore with joy shall ye draw
water out of the wells of the Saviour:
* and in that day shall ye say :
Praise the Lord and call upon His
Name !
Declare His doings among the
people, * tell them that His Name
is exalted.
Sing unto the Lord, for He hath
done glorious things : * make ye
this known in all the earth.
Cry aloud and shout, thou inhabi-
tant of Zion : * for great is the
Holy One of Israel in the midst of
thee!
Antiphon. Thine anger is turned
away, and Thou comfortest me.
Fifth Antiphon. Praise ye.
If this Antiphon be used, the Psalm
begins with the words "the Lord
from the heavens."
Psalms CXLVIII., CXLIX., CL.
Praise ye the Lord from the
heavens, &c. {pp. 25, 26).
Antiphon. Praise ye the Lord
from the heavens.
90
THE PSALTER.
To the Father and the Son,
And the Spirit, Three and One,
As of old, and as in heaven,
Now and here be glory given.
Amen.
Verse. 1 Thou hast satisfied us
early with Thy mercy.
Answer. We rejoice and are
glad.
Antiphonfor the Song of Zacharias.
Blessed * be the Lord God of Israel.
After the repetition of the Antiphon
after the Song of Zacharias, on the
week-days of Advent and Lent, the
Ember Days, and all Vigils which are
fasts except Christmas Eve and the
Eve and Ember Days of Pentecost, all
kneel down, and the Jollowing prayers
called the Preces are said:
Kyrie eleison.
Answer. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Then the Lords Prayer is said aloud.
OUR Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be 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 for-
give them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation ;
Answer. But deliver us from evil.
Verse. 2 I said : Lord, be mer-
ciful unto me.
Answer. Heal my soul, for I
have sinned against Thee.
Verse. 3 Return, O Lord, how
long?
Answer. And let it repent Thee
concerning Thy servants.
Verse. 4 Let Thy mercy, O Lord,
be upon us.
Ansiver. According as we hope
in Thee.
Verse. 5 Let Thy priests be
clothed with righteousness.
Answer. And let Thy saints
shout for joy.
Verse. 6 O Lord, save the King.
Answer. And hear us in the day
when we call upon Thee.
Verse. 7 O Lord, save Thy peo-
ple, and bless Thine inheritance.
Answer. And govern them, and
lift them up for ever.
Verse. 8 Remember Thy congre-
gation.
Answer. Which Thou hast pur-
chased of old.
Verse. 9 Peace be within thy
walls.
Ansiver. And prosperity within
thy palaces.
Verse. Let us pray for the faith-
ful departed.
Answer. O Lord, grant them
eternal rest, and let the everlasting
light shine upon them !
Verse. May they rest in peace.
Ansiver. Amen.
Verse. Let us pray for our ab-
sent brethren.
Ansiver. 10 O Thou my God,
save Thy servants that trust in
Thee.
Verse. Let us pray for the sor-
rowful and the captives.
Answer. n Redeem them, O God
of Israel, out of all their troubles.
Verse. 12 O Lord, send them help
from the sanctuary.
1 Ps. lxxxix. 14. 2 Ps. xl. 5. 3 Ps. lxxxix. 1 3.
4 Ps. xxxii. 22. 5 Ps. cxxxi. 9.
6 Ps. xix. 10. This verse never varies, whatever the form of government.
7 Ps. xxvii. 9. 8 Ps. lxxiii. 2. 9 Ps. cxxi. 7.
10 Ps. lxxxv. 2. n Ps. xxiv. 22. la Ps. xix. 3.
MONDAY AT LAUDS.
91
Ansiver. And strengthen them
out of Zion.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Psalm CXXIX.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees." The
meaning of this title is not certain. The
Psalms so called may perhaps, like the
" Graduals " of the Roman Liturgy, be
"step-songs," intended to be sung during
processions, Liturgical or of pilgrims.]
OUT of the depths have I cried
unto Thee, O Lord ! * Lord,
hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive * to
the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark
iniquities, * O Lord, who shall
stand ?
But there is forgiveness with
Thee : * because of Thy law, I wait
for Thee, O Lord !
My soul waiteth on His word : *
my soul hopeth in the Lord.
From the morning watch even
until night * let Israel hope in the
Lord :
For with the Lord there is mercy,
* and with Him is plenteous re-
demption.
And He shall redeem Israel, *
from all his iniquities.
Glory be to the Father, and to
the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is
now, and ever shall be, world with-
out end. Amen.
Verse. 1 Turn us again, O Lord
God of hosts !
Answer. And cause Thy face to
shine, and we shall be saved.
Verse. 2 Arise, O Christ, and
help us.
Answer. And deliver us for Thy
Name's sake.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
Then follows the Prayer of the Day.
All proceeds to the end of the service
as on Sunday, except that when Suf-
frages are said, the following is said
before the Commetnoration of the Blessed
Virgin Mary.
Commemoration of the Cross.
Antiphon. Through Thy Cross's
holy sign, Jesus, guard this soul of
mine, from my ghostly enemy.
Verse. 3 Let all the earth worship
Thee, and sing unto Thee.
Answer. Let them sing praises
unto Thy Name, O Lord !
Let us pray.
OLORD, we beseech Thee, keep
us in continual peace, whom
it hath pleased Thee to redeem by
the tree of the Holy Cross.
1 Ps. Ixxix. 20.
2 Ps. xliii. 26.
3 Ps. lxv. 4.
92
^tusbag at JBaitin*.
THE THIRD DAY OF THE WEEK.
All as on Sunday, except as other-
wise given here.
Invitatory. Let us make a joyful
noise to * the God of our salvation.
Invitatory in Paschal ti?ne.
luia, Alleluia, * Alleluia.
Alle-
On Simple Feasts the Invitatory is
special.
On Simple Feasts the Hymn is
special, but on Week-days kept as such
the following is said from the Octave
of the Epiphany till the first Tuesday
in Lent, and from the Octave of Pente-
cost till Advent. The Hymns for the
other Seasons are given in the proper
Office of the Seasons.
Hymn.1
OGOD from God, and Light from
Light,
Who art Thyself the Day,
Our chants shall break the clouds of
night ;
Be with us while we pray.
Chase Thou the gloom that haunts the
mind,
The thronging shades of hell,
The sloth and drowsiness that bind
The senses with a spell.
Lord, to their sins indulgent be,
Who, in this hour forlorn,
By faith in what they do not see,
With songs prevent the morn.
Grant this, O Father, Only Son,
And Spirit, God of grace,
To Whom all worship shall be done
In every time and place.
Amen.
Only otie Nocturn is said.
Antiphon. That I sin not.
In Paschal time there is only one An-
tiphon to the whole Nocturn, Alleluia.
Psalm XXXVIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with a
farther notice of meaning now uncertain.
It is addressed to Jeduthun, concerning
whom it is said, in I Par. (Chron.) xvi. 42,
that David appointed, along with the Priests
who officiated before the Ark, " Heman
and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen,
who are expressed by name, to give thanks
to the Lord, because His mercy endureth
for ever. And with them Heman and
Jeduthun, with trumpets and cymbals, for
those that should make a sound, and with
musical instruments of God. " The Targum
says that it was to be used by Jeduthun for
his watch in the Sanctuary.]
will take heed unto
* that I sin not with
T SAID: I
-*- my ways,
my tongue.
I kept a watch upon my mouth, *
while the wicked stood up against
me.
I was dumb, and humbled myself,
I held my peace even from good :
1 Another hymn of the Ambrosian school. Translation by the late Card. Newman.
TUESDAY AT MATTINS.
93
* and my sorrow was stirred up
afresh.
Mine heart was hot within me :
* and while I was musing the fire
kindled.
I spake with my tongue : * Lord,
make me to know mine end ;
And the measure of my days
what it is ; * that I may know how
frail I am.
Behold, Thou hast made my days
as a span : * and mine age is as
nothing before Thee.
Verily every man living * is
altogether vanity.1
Surely every man flitteth by like
a shade : * he is disquieted also in
vain.
He heapeth up riches, * and
knoweth not who shall gather them.
And now for what wait I ? Is it
not for the Lord ? * and mine hope
is with Thee.
Deliver me from all my transgres-
sions : * Thou hast given me for a
reproach unto the foolish.
I was dumb and opened not my
mouth, because Thou didst it : *
remove Thy strokes away from me.
I am consumed by the blow of
Thine hand : * Thou, with rebukes
dost correct man for iniquity.
And Thou makest his beauty to
consume away like a spider's web :
* surely every man is disquieted in
vain.1
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my
cry : * give ear unto my tears.
Hold not Thy peace : for I am a
stranger with Thee, and a sojourner,
* as all my fathers were.
O spare me, that I may recover
strength, before I go hence, * and
be no more.
Psalm XXXIX.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David " and with
the same (now) uncertain superscription as
Ps. xii.]
T WAITED patiently for the
* Lord, * and He inclined unto
me,
And heard my cry : * He brought
me up also out of an horrible pit,
and out of the miry clay.
And set my feet upon a rock ; *
and ordered my goings.
And He hath put a new song in
my mouth, * even praise unto our
God.
Many shall see it, and fear, * and
shall trust in the Lord.
Blessed is that man whose trust
is the Name of the Lord : * and
who respecteth not pride and lying
vanities.
Many, O Lord my God, are Thy
wonderful works which Thou hast
done : * and in Thy thoughts there
is none like unto Thee.
If I would declare and speak of
them, * they are more than can be
numbered.
Sacrifice and offering Thou hast
not desired ; * but mine ears hast
Thou opened.
Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast
Thou not required : * then said I :
Lo, I come.
In the beginning of the book it is
written of me that I should fulfil
Thy will: * O my God, I delight
to do it, yea, Thy law is within mine
heart.
I have preached Thy righteous-
ness in the great congregation : * lo,
I have not refrained my lips : O
Lord, Thou knowest.
SLH
94
THE PSALTER.
I have not hidden Thy righteous-
ness within mine heart : * I have
declared Thy faithfulness and Thy
salvation.
I have not concealed Thy loving-
kindness, and Thy truth * from the
great congregation.
Withhold not Thou Thy tender
mercies from me, O Lord : * let
Thy loving-kindness and Thy truth
continually preserve me.
For countless evils have com-
passed me about : * mine iniquities
have taken hold upon me, and I am
not able to look up.
They are more in number than
the hairs of mine head : * and mine
heart faileth me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver
me : * O Lord, look upon me to
help me.
Let them be ashamed and con-
founded together that seek after my
soul, * to destroy it.
Let them be driven backward,
and put to shame, * that wish me
evil.
Let them quickly bear their
shame, * that say unto me : Aha,
Aha.
Let all those that seek Thee re-
joice and be glad in Thee : * and
let such as love Thy salvation say
continually : The Lord be mag-
nified.
But I am poor and needy : * the
Lord thinketh upon me.
Thou art mine Helper and my
Deliverer : * make no tarrying, O
God.
Antiphon. 1 That I sin not with
my tongue.
Second Antiphon. Heal.
Psalm XL.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with
some other words, of meaning now un-
certain, as in some other Psalms.]
"DLESSED is he that considereth
*-* the poor and needy : * the
Lord will deliver him in time of
trouble.
The Lord preserve him, and
quicken him, and make him to be
blessed upon the earth : * and de-
liver him not unto the will of his
enemies !
The Lord strengthen him upon
his bed of suffering ! * Thou hast
made all his bed in his sickness.
As for me, I said : Lord, be
merciful unto me : * heal my soul,
for I have sinned against Thee.
Mine enemies speak evil of me :
* When shall he die, and his name
perish ?
If he came to see me he spake
vanity : * his heart gathereth iniquity
to itself.
He went out, * and told it.
All they that hate me whispered
together against me : * against me
did they devise mine hurt.
They plotted together to do me
evil : * Now that he lieth, surely he
shall rise up no more.
Yea, mine own familiar friend in
whom I trusted, * who did eat of
my bread, hath lifted up his heel
against me.2
But Thou, O Lord, be merciful
unto me, and raise me up : * and I
will requite them.
By this I know that Thou de-
lightest in me : * because mine
enemy cannot triumph over me.
But as for me, Thou upholdest
1 Ps. xxxviii. 2.
9 Quoted by our Lord. John xiii. 18.
TUESDAY AT MATTINS.
95
me, because of mine innocence : *
and settest me before Thy face for
ever.
Blessed be the Lord God of
Israel from everlasting, and to
everlasting. * Amen, Amen.1
Psalm XLI.
[This Psalm has a superscription, the
meaning of which is not now certain, but
which seems in part to imply that it was a
didactic poem written to be sung by the
choir of the Korahites, a family of Levites
and singers in the time of David.]
AS the hart panteth after the
water -brooks : * so panteth
my soul after Thee, O God !
My soul is athirst for God, for
the mighty God, for the living God :
* when shall I come and appear
before God? *
My tears have been my meat day
and night, * while they daily say
unto me : Where is thy God ?
When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul in me : * for
I will go unto the place of the
wondrous Tabernacle, even unto
the house of God.
With the voice of joy and praise,
* the noise of a multitude that keep
holiday.
Why art thou cast down, O my
soul, * and why art thou disquieted
in me?
Hope thou in God, for I shall yet
praise Him, * the Health of my
countenance and my God.
My soul is cast down within me :
* therefore will I remember Thee
from the land of Jordan, and from
the mountains of Hermon,2 from the
Little Hill.3
Deep calleth unto deep, * at the
noise of Thy waterspouts.
All Thy waves and Thy billows *
are gone over me.
The Lord hath commanded [the
praise of] His loving- kindness in
the day-time, * and in the night
His song.
Mine shall it be to pray unto the
God of my life. * I will say unto
God : Thou art my refuge.
Why hast Thou forgotten me ? *
and why go I mourning, while the
enemy oppresseth me ?
While my bones are broken, *
they that trouble me, even mine
enemies, reproach me ;
While they say daily unto me :
Where is thy God ? * Why art thou
cast down, O my soul, and why art
thou disquieted within me ?
Hope thou in God, for I shall yet
praise Him : * the Health of my
countenance and my God.
Antiphon. i Heal my soul, O
Lord, for I have sinned against Thee.
Third Antiphon. Mine heart.
Psalm XLI 1 1.
[This Psalm has the same uncertain
[? musical] superscription as some others,
and the Targum farther ascribes its author-
ship to David.]
A \ 7"E have heard with our ears,
* * O God : * our fathers have
told us,
What work Thou didst in their
days, * and in the times of old.
1 With this Psalm ends the first of the five books into which the Psalter is divided.
2 A chain of mountains in the north-east of Palestine, stretching down on the eastern
side of Jordan.
3 Or rather, the hill Mizar (viz. the Little), proper name of a mountain on the eastern
ridge of Lebanon. May it not be that the Korahites were among the Levitical families
which had cities in the north and north-east districts ? 4 Ps. xl. 5.
96
THE PSALTER.
Thine hand scattered the heathen,
and planted them : * Thou didst
afflict the people and cast them out.
For they got not the land in pos-
session by their own sword : * neither
did their own arm save them.
But Thy right hand, and Thine
arm, and the light of Thy counten-
ance : * because Thou hadst a favour
unto them.
Thou art my King and my God :
* Who commandest victories for
Jacob !
Through Thee shall our horn toss
our enemies : * through Thy Name
will we tread them under that rise
up against us.
For I will not trust in my bow : *
neither shall my sword save me.
For Thou hast saved us from them
that afflicted us, * and hast put to
shame them that hated us.
In God will we glory all the day
long, * and will praise Thy Name
for ever.1
But now Thou hast cast off and
put us to shame : * and Thou, O
God, wilt not go forth with our
armies.
Thou hast turned us back behind
our enemies : * and they that hate
us take spoil for themselves.
Thou hast given us like sheep ap-
pointed for meat, * and hast scat-
tered us among the heathen.
Thou hast sold Thy people for
nought, * and hast not increased
Thy wealth by their price.
Thou makest us a reproach to our
neighbours, * a scorn and a derision
to them that are round about us.
Thou makest us a by-word among
the heathen, * a shaking of the head
among the peoples.
My confusion is all day long be-
fore me, * and the shame of my face
hath covered me,
For the voice of him that reproach-
eth and blasphemeth, * by reason of
the enemy and avenger.
All this is come upon us, yet have
we not forgotten Thee : * neither
have we dealt falsely in Thy covenant.
Our heart also is not turned back :
* neither have our steps strayed
from Thy way ;
Though Thou hast sore broken us
in the place of affliction, * and the
shadow of death hath covered us.
If we have forgotten the Name of
our God, * or stretched out our
hands to a strange god ;
Shall not God search this out ? *
for He knoweth the secrets of the
heart.
Yea, for Thy sake are we killed all
the day long : * we are counted as
sheep for the slaughter.
Awake, why sleepest Thou, O
Lord? * arise, and cast us not off
for ever.
Wherefore hidest Thou Thy face,
* and forgettest our affliction and
our oppression ?
For our soul is bowed down to
the dust : * our belly cleaveth unto
the earth.
Arise, O Lord, help us : * and
redeem us for Thy Name's sake.
Psalm XL IV.
[This Psalm has a long superscription, the
exact meaning of which is not now certain.
It seems to have been a marriage-song writ-
ten to be sung by the Korahites. The Tar-
gum ascribes it to the time of Moses, but it
seems rather to belong to that of the Jewish
Monarchy. ]
]\ /TINE heart is overflowing with
■*• * -*■ a good matter : * I speak of
my works unto the king.
1 SLII.
TUESDAY AT MATTINS.
97
My tongue is the pen * of a ready
writer.
Thou art fairer than the children
of men, grace is poured into thy lips :
* therefore God hath blessed thee
for ever.
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, *
O most mighty !
In thy comeliness, and thy beauty,
* go forward, fare prosperously, and
reign,
Because of truth, and meekness,
and righteousness : * and thy right
hand shall lead thee wonderfully.
Thine arrows are sharp — (the
people shall fall under thee) — * into
the heart of the King's enemies.
1 Thy throne, O God, is for ever
and ever : * the sceptre of Thy
kingdom is a right sceptre.
Thou hast loved righteousness,
and hated iniquity : * therefore,
God, thy God, hath anointed thee
with the oil of gladness above thy
fellows.
Thy garments smell of myrrh, and
aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory
palaces, * whereby kings' daughters
among thine honourable women have
made thee glad.
Upon thy right hand did stand
the queen in a vesture of gold, *
bedecked with divers colours.
Hearken, O daughter, and con-
sider, and incline thine ear : * for-
get also thine own people, and thy
father's house :
And the King shall greatly de-
sire thy beauty : * for He is the
Lord thy God,2 and Him shall they
worship.
And the daughters of Tyre shall
entreat thy favour * with gifts, even
all the rich among the people.
The King's daughter is all glo-
rious within, * in a vesture of gold,
clad in divers colours.
After her shall virgins be brought
unto the king : * her fellows shall
be brought unto thee.
With gladness and rejoicing shall
they be brought : * they shall enter
into the King's palace.
Instead of thy fathers shall be
thy children : * thou shalt make
them princes over all the earth.
They shall be mindful of thy
name, * unto all generations.
Therefore shall the people praise
thee for ever, * yea, for ever and
ever.
Antiphon. 3Mine heart is over-
flowing with a good matter.
Fourth Antiphon. Our help.
Psalm XLV.
[This Psalm has a superscription of un-
certain meaning, but of which part seems
to imply that it was to be sung by treble
voices, from the choir of the Korahite
family. And the Targum ascribes it, but
apparently by a mere guess, to the time when
Korah and his fellow-rebels were destroyed
by an earthquake in the wilderness, but
"the children of Korah died not" (Num.
xxvi. 10, n).]
f~^ OD is our refuge and strength,
^-* * our help in trouble, which
is come upon us exceedingly.
Therefore will we not fear, though
the earth be removed, * and though
the mountains be carried into the
midst of the sea ;
Though the waters thereof roar
1 So are these words translated in Heb. i. 8, Q.
2 The word "God" is not in the Hebrew, and the original meaning, addressed to the
bride, is, "He is thy lord, and bow thou to him." So also St Jerome.
3 Ps. xliv. 2.
VOL. I.
D
98
THE PSALTER.
and be troubled ; * though the
mountains shake with the swelling
thereof.1
[There is] a river, the streams
whereof make glad the city of God :
* the Most High hath hallowed His
Tabernacle.
God is in the midst of her, she
shall not be moved : * God shall
help her right early.
The heathen raged, and the king-
doms were moved : * He uttered
His voice, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us : *
the God of Jacob is our refuge.1
Come and behold the works of
the Lord, what wonders He hath
wrought in the earth ; * He maketh
wars to cease unto the end of the
earth.
He breaketh the bow and cut-
teth the weapons in sunder : * and
burneth the shields in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am
God : * I will be exalted among
the heathen, and I will be exalted
in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us : *
the God of Jacob is our refuge.1
Psalm XLVI.
[Intituled " A Psalm of the sons of
Korah," with another (now uncertain) direc-
tion.]
OCLAP your hands, all ye
people : * shout unto God
with the voice of triumph.
For the Lord Most High is ter-
rible : * He is a great King over all
the earth.
He hath subdued the people
under us, * and the nations under
cur feet.
He hath chosen His own inheri-
1 SLH.
tance for us, * the excellency of
Jacob, whom He loved.1
God is gone up with a shout, *
and the Lord with the sound of a
trumpet.
Sing praises to our God, sing
praises :
sing praises unto our
King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the
earth : * sing ye praises with under-
standing.
God reigneth over the heathen :
* God sitteth upon the throne of
His holiness.
The princes of the people are
gathered together with the God of
Abraham : * for the mighty ones
of the earth are greatly exalted.
Antiphon. 2 Our help in trouble.
Fifth Antiphon. Great is the
Lord.
If this Antiphon be used the Psalm
begins with the words, " And greatly to
be praised."
Psalm XLVI I.
[Intituled "A Song. A Psalm of the
sons of Korah." The Vulgate and the
LXX. assign it to the second day of the
week.]
f~~* REAT is the Lord, and greatly
^-* to be praised * in the city of
our God, in the mountain of His
holiness.
Beautiful for situation, the joy of
the whole earth, is mount Zion, *
on the sides of the north, the city
of the great King.
God is known in her palaces *
for a refuge.
For, lo, the kings were assembled :
* they passed by together.
They saw, and so they marvelled;
2 Ps. xlv. 2.
TUESDAY AT MATTINS.
99
they were troubled, they hasted
away : * fear took hold upon them
There, pain, as of a woman in
travail. * Thou shalt break the
ships of Tarshish1 with a mighty
wind.
As we have heard, so have we
seen in the city of the Lord of
hosts, in the city of our God : *
God hath established her for ever.2
We have received Thy loving-
kindness, O God, * in the midst
of Thy temple.
According to Thy Name, O God,
so is Thy praise unto the ends of
the earth : * Thy right hand is full
of righteousness.
Let mount Zion rejoice, and let
the daughters of Judah be glad, *
because of Thy judgments, O Lord.
Walk about Zion, and go round
about her : * tell the towers thereof.
Mark ye well her bulwarks : *
and consider her palaces ; that
ye may tell it to the generation
following.
For this God is our God for ever
and ever : * He shall be our guide
for ever.
PsalmXLVIII.
[This Psalm has the same title as Ps.
xlvi.]
TTEAR this, all ye people: *
-*■ •*- give ear, all ye inhabitants
of the world ;
Both low and high : * rich and
poor together.
My mouth shall speak of wisdom :
* and the meditation of my heart
'shall be of understanding.
I will incline mine ear to a par-
able : * I will open my saying
upon the harp.
1 A very flourishing colony and emporium
Wherefore should I fear in the
day of evil ? * The iniquity of them
that dog mine heels shall compass
me about, —
They that trust in their own
strength, * and boast themselves
in the multitude of their riches.
Can a man redeem, redeem his
brother ? * He cannot give to God
a ransom for himself —
Nor yet a redemption for his own
soul, * if he should work for ever,
and live even unto the end.
Nay, though he should not see
destruction, when he beholdeth
wise men die — * likewise the
fool and the brutish person perish,
And leave their wealth to others :
* and their grave shall be their
house for ever —
Even their dwelling-place to all
generations : * they called their
lands after their own names.
For man, having been created
in honour, hath had no understand-
ing : * he hath made himself like
unto the beasts that understand
not, and is become like unto
them.
This their way is a stumbling-
block for themselves : * yet their
posterity will approve their sayings.2
Like sheep they are laid in the
grave : * death will pasture them.
And the upright shall have do-
minion over them in the morning :
* and the beauty of their strength
shall waste away in the grave.
But God will redeem my soul
from the power of the grave, *
when He shall receive me.2
Be not thou afraid when one is
made rich, * and when the glory
of his house is increased.
For when he dieth he shall carry
of the Phoenicians in Spain. 2 SLH.
IOO
THE PSALTER.
nothing away, * his glory shall not
descend with him.
Though while he lived he blessed
his soul ; * and praised thee when
thou didst well to him.
He shall go to the generation of
his fathers : * and shall never see
light.
Man, having been created in
honour, hath had no understand-
ing : * he hath made himself like
unto the beasts that understand
not, and is become like unto them.
Antiphon. x Great is the Lord,
and greatly to be praised.
Sixth Antiphon. The God of
gods.
If this Antiphon be used, the Psalm
begins with the words, " Even the
Lord."
Psalm XLIX.
[Intituled "A Psalm of Asaph." This
Asaph was a Levite, chief of the singers
appointed by David. I Par. (Chron.) xvi.
4. " And he (David) appointed certain of
the Levites to minister before the Ark of
the Lord, and to record, and to thank
and praise the Lord God of Israel. Asaph
the chief, and next to him Zachariah, Jeiel,
Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah,
and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom ;
and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps ;
but Asaph made a sound with cymbals."]
XHE God of gods, even the
** Lord, hath spoken, * and
called the earth,
From the rising of the sun unto
the going down thereof. * Out of
Zion, the Perfection of beauty,
God shall come manifestly, *
even our God, and shall not keep
silence.
A fire shall devour before Him :
* and it shall be very tempestuous
round about Him.
1 Ps. xlvii. 2.
He shall call to the heavens from
above, * and to the earth, that
He may judge His people.
Gather His saints together unto
Him, * those that have made a
covenant with Him by sacrifice.
And the heavens shall declare
His righteousness : * for God is
Judge Himself.2
Hear, O My people, and I will
speak ; O Israel, and I will testify
against thee ; * I am God, even
thy God.
I will not reprove thee for thy
sacrifices : * for thy burnt -offerings
are continually before Me.
I will take no bullock out of thine
house, * nor he -goats out of thy
folds.
For every beast of the forest is
Mine, * the cattle and the bulls
upon the mountains.
I know all the birds of the sky :
* and the beauty of the field is
Mine.
If I were hungry, I would not
tell thee : * for the earth is Mine,
and the fulness thereof.
Will I eat the flesh of bulls, *
or drink the blood of goats ?
Offer unto God the sacrifice of
praise : * and pay thy vows unto the
Most High :
And call upon Me in the day of
trouble : * I will deliver thee, and
thou shalt glorify Me.
But unto the wicked, God saith :
* What hast thou to do to declare
My statutes, that thou shouldest take
My covenant in thy mouth ?
Seeing thou hatest instruction, *
and castest My words behind thee ?
When thou sawest a thief then
thou tookest pleasure in him : * and
hast been partaker with adulterers.
2 SLH.
TUESDAY AT MATTINS.
101
Thy mouth aboundeth with evil :
* and thy tongue frameth deceit.
Thou satest and spakest against
thy brother, and slanderedst thine
own mother's son : * these things
hast thou done, and I kept silence.
Thou thoughtest wickedly that I
was such an one as thyself: * I will
reprove thee, and set them in order
before thine eyes.
Consider ye this, ye that forget
God : * lest He tear you in pieces,
and there be none to deliver.
The sacrifice of praise shall honour
Me : * and there is the path where-
in I will show unto him the salvation
of God.
Psalm LI.
[After another uncertain superscription,
the title of this Psalm proceeds: — "[A
Psalm] of David, when Doeg the Edomite
came and told Saul, and said unto him :
David is come to the house of Ahimelech."
The circumstances may be read in I Kings
(Sam.) xxii. (Saturday, fourth week after
Pentecost). After Doeg told Saul, the
latter sent for Ahimelech and the other
Priests, and ordered them to execution.
" But the servants of the king would not
put forth their hand to fall upon the Priests
of the Lord. And the king said to Doeg :
Turn thou, and fall upon the Priests. And
Doeg the Edomite turned and fell upon the
Priests, and slew on that day four-score and
five persons that did wear a linen ephod. "
The inhabitants of the Priestly city of Nob
were also brutally massacred. One of the
sons of Ahimelech escaped and told David.]
WHY boastest thou thyself in
mischief, * O thou that art
mighty in iniquity ?
Thy tongue deviseth unrighteous-
ness all the day long : * like a sharp
razor hast thou wrought treachery.
Thou lovest evil more than good ;
* iniquity rather than to speak of
uprightness.1
SLH.
Thou lovest all deadly words, *
O thou deceitful tongue !
Therefore God shall destroy thee
for ever : * He shall take thee away,
and pluck thee out of thy dwelling-
place, and root thee out of the land
of the living.1
The righteous shall see it, and
fear, and shall laugh at him, and
say : * Lo, this is the man that
made not God his strength ;
But trusted in the abundance of
his riches : * and hardened himself
in his wickedness.
But I am like a fruitful olive-
tree in the house of God, * I trust
in the mercy of God for ever and
ever.
I will praise Thee for ever, be-
cause Thou hast done it : * and I
will wait on Thy name, for it is
good before Thy saints.
Antiphon. 2The God of gods,
even the Lord, hath spoken.
Antiphon for Paschal time. Al-
leluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Then is said a Verse and Answer.
In Advent.
Verse. Send forth the Lamb, O
Lord, the ruler of the land.
Atiswer. From the "Rock" of
the wilderness unto the mount of
the daughter of Zion.
During the rest of the year.
Verse. 3 Offer unto God the sac-
rifice of praise.
Answer. And pay thy vows un-
to the Most High.
In Lent.
Verse. He shall cover thee with
His wings.
2 Ps. xlix. i. 3 Ps. xlix. 14.
102
THE PSALTER.
Answer. And under His feath-
ers shalt thou trust.
In Passion time.
Verse. 0 Lord, save me from
the lion's mouth.
Answer. And mine affliction
from the horns of the unicorns.
In Paschal time.
Verse. The Lord is risen in-
deed, Alleluia.
Ansiver. And hath appeared un-
to Simon, Alleluia.
The rest is the same as the Second
Nocturn on the preceding Sunday, only
the Lessons, and sometimes the Respon-
sories, are those of the day.
Simple Feasts. It is to be remembered
that when a Simple Feast is kept on
Tuesday, the Invitatory and Hymn are
of the Feast, being taken from the Com-
mon of Saints of the class, unless speci-
ally given.
Then the Psalms and Antiphons of
the Week-day, as given above. Then is
said a Verse and Answer as follows :
In the Simple Office for one or many
Martyrs in Paschal time.
Verse. The everlasting light
shall shine upon Thy Saints, O
Lord. Alleluia.
Answer. Even unto everlasting.
Alleluia.
/;/ the Simple Office for one Martyr
{out of Paschal time).
Verse. xThou hast set a crown,
O Lord, of precious stones.
Answer. Upon his head.
In the Simple Office for many Martyrs
(out of Paschal time).
Verse. 2 Let the righteous re-
joice before God.
Answer. Yea, let them exceed-
ingly rejoice.
In the Simple Office for a Bishop and
Confessor.
Verse. 3The Lord chose him for
a priest unto Himself.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
Answer. To offer up unto Him
the sacrifice of praise.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
In the Simple Office for a Confessor
not a Bishop.
Verse. 4 The mouth of the right-
eous shall speak wisdom.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
Answer. And his tongue talk of
judgment.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
For one Holy Woman, of whatever kind.
Verse. 5God shall give her the
help of His countenance.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
Ansiver. God is in the midst of
her, she shall not be moved.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
77*i? others, as well as what follows,
to the end of the Service, are taken from
the Second Nocturn of the Office common
to Saints of the class, unless something
special be appointed. The Lessons are
arranged according to the rules in Chap-
ter xxvi. 4 of the general Rubrics.
The hymn, " We praise Thee, O God,"
is said at the end, instead of a Third
Responsory. The Responsories are ar-
ranged according to the rules in Chapter
xxvii. 4 of the general Rubrics. Thus: —
The Lords Prayer is said :
OUR Father (inaudibly), Who art
in heaven, Hallowed be Thy
Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy
1 Ps. xx. 4. ■ Ps. lxvii. 4. 3 Cf. Ecclus. xlv. 16, 27.
4 Ps. xxxvi. 30. 5 Ps. xlv. 6 (Alexandrian version).
TUESDAY AT MATTINS.
103
will be done on earth, as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread. And forgive us our tres-
passes, as we forgive them that tres-
pass against us. {Aloud.)
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from
evil.
Then this Absolution :
\J\ AY His loving kindness and
■'■-*- mercy help us, Who liveth
and reigneth with the Father, and
the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Answer. Amen.
Then the Reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
First Blessing, if the Lesson be from
Scripture.
God the Father the Almighty
Show on us His grace and mercy.
Answer. Amen.
First Blessing, if the Lesson be of an
Homily.
May the Gospel's saving Lord
Bless the reading of His Word.
Answer. Amen.
First Blessing on a Simple Feast.
May His blessing be upon us,
Who doth live and reign for ever.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the First Lesson from
Scripture or from the Homily, or, on a
Simple Feast, either the First from
Scripture, or, if the Saint or Saints
have two Lessons, the whole three Scrip-
ture Lessons read together as one.
Then the First Responsory, unless
otherwise directed. On a week-day kept
as such, this is the First Responsory of
the Second Nocturn of the preceding
Sunday. On a Simple Feast, it is the
first Responsory in the Common Office
for the class to which the Saint belongs.
Then the Reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
Second Blessing, if the Lesson be of
Scripture.
May Christ to all His people give
For ever in His sight to live.
Answer. Amen.
Second Blessing, if the Lesson be from
an Homily.
God's most mighty strength alway
Be His people's staff and stay.
Answer. Amen.
Second Blessing, for a Simple Feast.
He (or She or They) whose feast-day
we are keeping
Plead for us before the Lord.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the Second Lesson, either
from the Scripture or from an Homily,
or, on a Simple Feast, either the Second
and Third Lessons from Scripture read
together as one, or, if the Saint or Saints
have two Lessons, the first of these.
Then the Second Responsory, unless
otherwise directed. On a week-day kept
as such, this is the Second Responsory
of the preceding Sunday, but in Paschal
time there is added to it :
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
And the Answer of the Responsory is
repeated again.
On a Simple Feast the Second Re-
sponsory in the Common Office for the
class to which the Saint belongs, with the
addition of " Glory be to the Father,"
Qr'c, and the repetition of the Answer.
104
THE PSALTER.
Then the Reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
Third Blessing, if the Lesson be of
Scripture.
May the Spirit's fire divine
In our inmost being shine.
Answer. Amen.
Third Blessing, for a Simple Feast, or
if the Lesson be from an Homily.
May He that is the Angels' King
To that high realm His people bring.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the Third Lesson either
from Scripture, or of the Homily, or,
on Simple Feasts, the Second or only
Lesson of the Saint.
Then, on Simple Feasts and on any
day in Paschal time save Rogation
Monday is said the Hymn, "We praise
Thee, O God." But on week-days kept
as such out of Paschal time the Third
Responsory of the preceding Sunday.
105
THE THIRD DAY OF THE WEEK.
All as on Sunday, except as otherwise
given here.
The Psalms are as follows :
Antiphon. O Lord.
Psalm L.
Have mercy upon me, &c. (/.
87).
Antiphon. O Lord, blot out my
transgressions.
Second Antiphon. The health.
Psalm XL1I.
[The Vulgate and the LXX. ascribe this
Psalm "to David."]
JUDGE me, O God, and plead
my cause against an ungodly
nation : * O deliver me from the
unjust and deceitful man.
For Thou, O God, art my strength :
* why dost Thou cast me off? and
why go I mourning, because of the
oppression of the enemy ?
O send out Thy light and Thy
truth : * let them lead me and bring
me unto Thine holy hill, and unto
Thy tabernacles !
Then will I go unto the Altar
of God, * unto God, the Gladdener
of my youth !
vol. 1.
Upon the harp will I praise
Thee, O God, my God ! * why art
thou cast down, O my soul? and
why dost thou disquiet me ?
Hope thou in God : for I will still
praise Him, * Who is the health of
my countenance, and my God.
Antiphon. The health of my
countenance, and my God.
Third Antiphon. Early.
Psalms LXII., LXVI.
O God, Thou art my God, &c.
(A 23)-
Antiphon. Early will I seek Thee,
O God.
Fourth Antiphon. Save us.
The Song of Hezekiah, King of
JUDAH. (Isa. xxxviii. 10.)
[Intituled "The writing of Hezekiah,
King of Judah, when he had been sick, and
was recovered of his sickness." The his-
tory will be found in 4 (2) Kings xx. (nth
Sunday after Pentecost).]
I SAID, In the midst of my days,
* I shall go to the gates of the
grave :
I looked for the rest of my
years. * I said, I shall not see the
d 2
io6
THE PSALTER.
Lord my God ! in the land of the
living :
I shall behold man no more, *
with the dwellers in the land of
rest.
Mine age is departed, and is
rolled up from me, * as a shepherd's
tent :
My life is cut off as by a weaver :
my web was scarce begun when He
cut me off: * from day even to
night wilt Thou make an end of
me.
I thought I might live till morn-
ing : * as a lion, so doth He break
all my bones :
From day even to night wilt Thou
make an end of me. * Like a
swallow's fledgling so did I twitter,
I did coo as a dove :
Mine eyes fail, * with looking
upward.
0 Lord, I am seized, undertake
for me. * What shall I say, or what
will He answer me, seeing that He
Himself hath done it ?
1 will call to remembrance before
Thee all my years * in the bitter-
ness of my soul.
O Lord, if by these things men
live, and in such things is the life
of my spirit, so mayest Thou chasten
me, and make me to live. * Be-
hold, mine anguish is [turned] into
peace :
But Thou hast delivered my soul
from destruction : * Thou hast cast
all my sins behind Thy back.
For the grave cannot praise Thee,
death cannot celebrate Thee : * they
that go down into the pit cannot
hope for Thy truth.
The living, the living, he shall
praise Thee, as I do this day : *
the father to the children shall make
known Thy truth.
O Lord, save me : * and we will
sing our songs all the days of our
life in the house of the Lord.
Antiphon. Save us all the days of
our life, O Lord.
Fifth Antiphon. Praise ye the
Lord.
Psalms CXLVIII., CXLIX., CL.
Praise ye the Lord from the
heavens, &c. {pp. 25, 26).
Antiphon. Praise ye the Lord
from the heavens, all His Angels.
Chapter. (Rom. xiii. 12.)
The night is far spent, &c. (as on
Monday, p. 89).
* Hymn.2
DAY'S herald bird
At length is heard,
Telling its morning torch is lit,
And small and still
Christ's accents thrill
Within the heart, rekindling it.
Away, He cries,
With languid eyes,
And sickly slumbers profitless !
I am at hand,
As watchers stand,
In awe, and truth, and holiness.
He will appear,
The hearts to cheer
Of suppliants pale and abstinent ;
Who cannot sleep
Because they weep
With holy grief and violent.
1 " My God " is not in the Hebrew, but the Divine Name is repeated.
2 Author of original, Aurelius Prudentius Clemens: b. 348 a.d., d. after 405 A.n.
Translation by the late Card. Newman.
TUESDAY AT LAUDS.
107
Keep us awake,
The fetters break,
Jesu ! which night has forged for us ;
Yea, melt the night
To sinless light,
Till all is bright and glorious.
To Father, Son,
And Spirit, one,
To the Most Holy Trinity,
All praise be given
In earth and heaven,
Now, as of old, and endlessly. Amen.
Verse. x Thou hast satisfied us
early with Thy mercy.
Answer. We rejoice and are glad.
Antiphonfor the Song of Zacharias.
The Lord hath raised up * an horn
of salvation for us, in the house of
His servant David.
Commemoration of the Cross before
the other general Commemorations, and
Long Preces in Advent and Lent, and
o?t Fast-days, as on Monday.
1 Ps. Ixxxix. 14.
ioS
ebiusfoag at JfUtiin*.
THE FOURTH DAY OF THE WEEK.
All as on Sunday except as otherwise
given here.
Invitatory. In Thy hand, O
Lord, * are the inmost depths of
the earth.
Hymn.1
WHO madest all and dost control,
Lord, with Thy touch divine,
Cast out the slumbers of the soul,
The rest that is not Thine.
Look down, Eternal Holiness,
And wash the sins away
Of those, who, rising to confess,
Outstrip the lingering day.
Our hearts and hands by night, O Lord,
We lift them in our need ;
As holy Psalmists give the word,
And holy Paul the deed.
Each sin to Thee of years gone by,
Each hidden stain lies bare ;
We shrink not from Thine awful eye,
But pray that Thou wouldst spare.
Grant this, O Father, Only Son,
And Spirit, God of grace,
To Whom all worship shall be done
In every time and place. Amen.
Only one Nocturti is said.
Antiphon. God bringeth back.
In Paschal time only one Antiphon
is said to the whole Nocturn. Alleluia.
Psalm LI I.
[Intituled "of David," with a further
superscription, perhaps musical, but of a
(now) uncertain meaning. The Targum
gives it the additional superscription, "to
render praise, for the reward of the impious
who blasphemed the Name of the Lord."
It is a repetition of Ps. xiii.]
*T^HE fool hath said in his heart :
*■ * There is no God.
Corrupt are they and have done
abominable iniquity : * there is
none that doeth good.
God looketh down from heaven
upon the children of men, * to see
if there be any that will understand,
or that will seek God.
Every one of them is gone back,
they are altogether become unprofit-
able : * there is none that doeth
good, no, not one.
Have the workers of iniquity no
knowledge, * who eat up my people
as they eat bread ?
They have not called upon God :
* there were they in great fear,
where no fear was.
For God hath scattered the bones
of them that work that which is
pleasing in the sight of men : *
they are put to shame, because God
hath despised them.
O that the salvation of Israel
1 Another hymn of the Ambrosian school. Translation by the late Card. Newman.
WEDNESDAY AT MATTINS.
109
were come out of Zion ! * when
God bringeth back the captivity of
His people, Jacob shall rejoice, and
Israel shall be glad.
Psalm LIV.
[This Psalm has a superscription of which
nothing can now be certainly interpreted,
except the ascription of authorship "To
David."]
GIVE ear to my prayer, O God,
and despise not my suppli-
cation : * attend unto me and hear
me.
I mourn in my exercise ; * and
am troubled, because of the voice
of the enemy, and because of the
oppression of the wicked.
For they cast iniquity upon me :
* and in wrath they hate me.
My heart is sore pained within
me : * and the terrors of death are
fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and trembling are
come upon me : * and darkness
hath overwhelmed me.
And I said : O that I had wings
like a dove, * for then would I fly
away and be at rest !
Lo, then would I wander far off,
* and remain in the wilderness.1
I waited for Him Who hath de-
livered me * from distress of spirit
and from tempest.
Destroy, O Lord ! divide their
tongues : * for I have seen iniquity
and strife in the city.
Day and night iniquity goeth
round about upon her walls : *
trouble also and unrighteousness are
in the midst of her.
Usury and guile * depart not
from her streets.
For if mine enemy had reproached
me, * then I could have borne it.
If he also that hated me had
magnified himself against me, *
then haply I would have hidden
myself from him.
But it was thou, a man like-
minded, * my guide and mine ac-
quaintance :
We took pleasant meats together :
* we walked unto the house of God
in company.
Let death come upon them : *
and let them go down quick into
hell;
For wickedness is in their dwell-
ings, * among them.
But as for me I have called upon
God : * and the Lord shall save
me.
Evening, and morning, and at
noon will I complain and cry aloud,
* and He shall hear my voice.
He shall deliver my soul in
peace from them that draw nigh
against me : * for there were many
against me.
God shall hear and afflict them,
* even He That abideth of old.1
Because they have no changes,
therefore they fear not God. * He
hath stretched forth His hand to
requite them.
They have broken His covenant :
the anger of His countenance hath
put them to flight, * and His wrath
pursueth them.
His words were softer than oil,
* yet were they drawn swords.
Cast thy burden upon the Lord,
and He shall sustain thee : * He
shall never suffer the righteous to
be moved.
But Thou, O God, shalt bring
them down * into the pit of destruc-
tion.
Bloody and deceitful men shall
1 SLH.
no
THE PSALTER.
not live out half their days : * but
I will trust in Thee, O Lord.
Antiphon. 1 God bringeth back
the captivity of His people.
Second Antiphon. For my soul.
Psalm LV.
[This Psalm has a long and very obscure
superscription. From part of this it seems
that it was written to be sung to a tune
called " The dumb dove among foreigners."
The authorship is ascribed " To David,
when the Philistines took him in Gath."
This may either be the occasion described
in the note on Ps. xxxiii. (p. 78), or that
narrated thus in 1 Kings (Sam.) xxvii.
"And David said in his heart : I shall now
perish one day by the hand of Saul ; there
is nothing better for me than that I should
speedily escape into the land of the Philis-
tines ; and Saul shall despair of me, to
seek me any more in any coast of Israel ;
so shall I escape out of his hand. And
David arose, and he passed over, with the
six hundred men that were with him, unto
Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
. . . And it was told Saul that David was
fled to Gath, and he sought no more again
for him."]
DE merciful unto me, O God, for
*-* man treadeth me down : * he
fighteth all the day long, and op-
presseth me.
Mine enemies tread me down all
the day long : * for they be many
that fight against me.
The height of the morning makes
me afraid, * but I will trust in
Thee.
In God I will praise His word,
in God I have put my trust : * I
will not fear what flesh can do unto
me.
All the day long- they wrest my
words : * all their thoughts are
against me for evil.
They gather themselves together
and hide themselves : * they mark
my steps.
When they wait for my soul,
for nothing shalt Thou deliver
them : * in Thine anger Thou
shalt cast down the people.
0 God, I have declared my life
unto Thee, * Thou hast put my
tears in Thy sight,
Even as Thou hast promised. *
Then shall mine enemies turn back,
In whatsoever day I cry unto
Thee : * behold, I know that Thou
art my God.
In God will I praise His word,
in the Lord will I praise His
word : * in God have I put my
trust, I will not be afraid what
man can do unto me.
Thy vows are upon me, O God,
* I will pay them, even praises
unto Thee.
For Thou hast delivered my
soul from death, and my feet from
falling ; * that I may walk before
God in the light of the living.
Psalm LVI.
[Another long title of uncertain meaning.
The Psalm seems to have been written for
a tune called "Destroy not," "by David,
when he fled from Saul in the cave" — 1
Kings (Sam.) xxii. 1 — "David therefore
departed thence" (viz. from Gath) "and
escaped to the cave Adullam." See the
note on Ps. xxxiii., p. 78.]
DE merciful unto me, O God,
*-* be merciful unto me : * for
my soul trusteth in Thee.
Yea, in the shadow of Thy wings
will I make my refuge, * until this
iniquity be overpast.
1 will cry unto God Most High :
* unto God, That performeth all
things for me.
Ps. lii. 7.
WEDNESDAY AT MATTINS.
Ill
He hath sent from heaven, and
saved me : * He hath given for a
reproach them that trod me down.1
God hath sent forth His mercy
and His truth ; * and delivered my
soul from among the lions' whelps ;
I was troubled in my sleep.
As for the sons of men, their
teeth are spears and arrows, * and
their tongue a sharp sword.
Be Thou exalted, O God, above
the heavens : * and let Thy glory
be over all the earth.
They prepared a net for my
steps ; * and bowed down my soul.
They digged a pit before me : *
into the midst whereof they are
fallen themselves.1
Mine heart is ready, O God,
mine heart is ready : * I will sing,
and give praise.
Awake up, my glory ; awake,
psaltery and harp : * I will awake
early.
I will praise Thee, O Lord, among
the people \ * and sing unto Thee
among the nations.
For Thy mercy is great unto the
heavens, * and Thy truth unto the
clouds.
Be Thou exalted, O God, above
the heavens : * and let Thy glory
be above all the earth.
Antiphon. *2 For my soul trusteth
in Thee.
Third Antiphon. Judge uprightly.
Psalm LVII.
[This Psalm has the same title as the last,
except the historical reference.]
TF ye indeed speak righteousness,
-*- * judge uprightly, O ye sons of
men.
1 SLH.
Yea, in heart ye work wickedness :
* your hands weigh out violence in
the earth.
The wicked are estranged from
the womb, they go astray from the
belly, * speaking lies.
Their poison is like the poison of
a serpent : * they are like the deaf
adder, that stoppeth her ears ;
That will not hearken to the
voice of charmers, * nor of the
sorcerer charming never so wisely.
God shall break their teeth in
their mouth : * the Lord shall
break off the great teeth of the
lions.
They shall melt away as waters
which run down : * He bendeth
His bow until they be shattered.
They shall melt away like melting
wax : * fire taketh hold upon them
and they see not the sun.
As thorns that are plucked up
before ever they be grown into a
bush : * so even in their greenness,
shall He root them up in His
anger.
The righteous shall rejoice when
he seeth the vengeance : * he shall
wash his hands in the blood of the
wicked.
And man shall say : Verily, there
is a reward for the righteous, *
verily there is a God That judgeth
the earth.
Psalm LVII I.
[This Psalm has the same title as the two
last, with the addition : — " when Saul sent,
and they watched the house, to kill him."
The occasion is thus described in I Kings
(Sam.) xix. n. " Saul also sent messengers
unto David's house, to watch him, to slay
him in the morning ; and Michal, David's
wife, told him, saying : If thou save not thy
2 Ps. lvi. 2.
112
THE PSALTER.
life to-night, to-morrow thou shalt be slain.
So Michal let David down through a
window, and he went, and fled, and
escaped."]
DELIVER me from mine ene-
mies, O my God : * and
defend me from them that rise up
against me.
Deliver me from the workers of
iniquity : * and save me from bloody
men.
For, lo, they lie in wait for my
life : * the mighty have fallen upon
me.
Not for my transgression, not for
my sin, O Lord ; * I ran and
ordered myself without fault.
Awake to meet me, and behold :
* O Thou, the Lord God of hosts,
the God of Israel !
Awake to visit all the heathen :
* be not merciful to any wicked
transgressors.1
They come at evening and hunger
like dogs ; * and go round about
the city.
Behold, they yelp with their
mouth, and a sword is in their lips :
* for who, say they, doth hear ?
But Thou, O Lord, shalt laugh
at them : * Thou shalt bring all
the heathen to nought.
O my strength, I will wait upon
Thee, for Thou, O God, art my
defence : * the mercy of my God
shall receive me.
God shall let me see all my
desire upon mine enemies : slay
them not; * lest my people forget.
Scatter them by Thy power : *
and bring them down, O Lord our
shield !
For the sin of their mouth, and
the words of their lips : * let them
even be taken in their pride ;
1 SLH.
And at the end they shall be
spoken of for cursing and lying :
* and in the wrath at the end they
shall perish.
And they shall know that God
ruleth in Jacob, * and unto the
ends of the earth.1
They shall return at evening,
and hunger like dogs : * and go
round about the city.
They shall wander up and down
for meat ; * and grudge if they be
not satisfied.
But I will sing of Thy power :
* yea, I will sing aloud of Thy
mercy in the morning.
For Thou hast been my defence,
* and refuge in the day of my
trouble.
Unto Thee, O my strength, will
I sing, for God is my defence, *
the God of my mercy.
Antiphon. 2Judge uprightly, O
ye sons of men.
Fourth Antiphon. Give us.
Psalm LIX.
[This Psalm has a superscription, prob-
ably musical, but the meaning of which is
now uncertain. It then proceeds: — "Of
David, when he strove with Mesopotamia,
and with Western Syria, when joab re-
turned and smote of Edom in the valley
of Salt " (viz. the Jordan valley near the
Dead Sea) "twelve thousand." The oc-
casion was some very successful wars which
David carried on against several neighbour-
ing kings, and which are described in 2
Kings (Sam.) viii. and I Par. (Chron.)
xviii. The Psalm seems to have been
written under some temporary reverses
during the campaign.]
OGOD, Thou hast cast us off,
and scattered us : * Thou
hast been displeased, and hast had
mercy upon us.
" Ps. lvii. 2.
WEDNESDAY AT MATTINS.
113
Thou hast made the earth to
tremble, and hast broken it : *
heal the breaches thereof, for it
shaketh.
Thou hast showed Thy people
hard things : * Thou hast made
us to drink the wine of astonish-
ment.
Thou hast given a warning to
them that fear Thee, * that they
may fly from before the bow.1
That Thy beloved may be deliv-
ered : * save with Thy right hand,
and hear me.
God hath spoken in His holi-
ness : * I will rejoice and divide
Shechem, and mete out the valley
of booths.2
Gilead is mine, and Manasseh
is mine : * Ephraim also is the
strength of mine head.3
Judah is my King : * Moab is
the vessel [of the triumph] of mine
hope.4
Over Edom will I cast out my
shoe : * over the " Strangers " 5
have I triumphed.
Who will bring me into the
strong city ? * who will lead me
into Edom?
Wilt not Thou, O God, Who
hast cast us off? * and wilt not
Thou go out with our armies, O
God?
Give us help from trouble : *
for vain is the help of man.
Through God we shall do vali-
antly : * for He it is That shall
tread down our enemies.
Psalm LX.
[Intituled "of David." It has also a
musical (?) superscription now of uncertain
meaning.]
IT EAR my cry, O God : *" attend
* *■ unto my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I
cried unto Thee : * when mine
heart was overwhelmed, Thou didst
lift me up upon a rock.
Thou didst lead me, for Thou
hast been a shelter for me, * a
strong tower from the enemy.
I will abide in Thy tabernacle
for ever : * I will make my
refuge in the covert of Thy
wings.1
For Thou, O God, hast heard
my vows : * Thou hast given the
heritage to those that fear Thy
name.
Thou wilt prolong the King's
life : * and his years to many
generations.
He shall abide before God for
ever : * who will seek for His
mercy and truth ?
So will I sing praise unto Thy
name for ever : * that I may daily
perform my vows.
Antiphon. 6 Give us help from
trouble, O Lord.
Fifth Antiphon. Doth not my
soul.
If this Antiphon be used the Psalm
commences with the words " Wait upon
God."
1 SLH.
2 Shechem, now Nabliis, in the valley between Mounts Ebal and Gerizim, called the
" valley of booths " from those which Jacob erected there for his cattle. Gen. xxxiii. 17.
3 These three form the central district of the Land of Promise.
4 The Hebrew is — " Moab is my wash-pot," that is, a receptacle for off-scourings. The
comparison is with the Divinely appointed sovereignty of Judah, respecting whom see
Gen. xlix. 10.
5 That is, the Philistines. 6 Ps. lix. 13.
U4
THE PSALTER.
Psalm LXI.
[This Psalm has exactly the same super-
scription as Ps. xxxviii.]
r^VOTH not my soul wait upon
*S God ? * for from Him com-
eth my salvation.
He only is my God and my
salvation : * He is my defence, I
shall not be greatly moved.
How long will ye run together
against a man ? * Do ye slay, all
of you [one that is] as a bowing
wall and as a tottering fence?
Truly they imagined to cast me
down from mine honour, when I
ran in my thirst : * they blessed
with their mouth and cursed in
their heart.1
But wait thou on God, O my
soul : * for mine expectation is
from Him.
For He only is my God and my
salvation : * He is mine helper, I
shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my
glory : * He is the God of my
strength, and my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him, ye congregation
of the people, pour out your heart
before him : * God is our help for
ever.1
Surely the sons of men are vanity,
the sons of men are a lie in the
balance : * they are a deceit, alto-
gether lighter than vanity.
Trust not in iniquity, and desire
not robbery : * if riches increase,
set not your heart upon them.
God hath spoken once, these two
things have I heard ; that power be-
longed! unto God : also unto Thee, O
Lord, belongeth mercy : * for Thou
shalt render to every man according
to his works.
Psalm LXI 1 1.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David "with a
farther superscription of meaning now
uncertain.]
IT EAR my voice, O God, in my
-*- -*- prayer : * preserve my life
from fear of the enemy.
Thou hast hidden me from the
secret counsel of the wicked, * from
the insurrection of the workers of
iniquity.
For they whet their tongue like
a sword : * they bend their
bow, even bitter words, that they
may shoot in secret at the per-
fect.
Suddenly do they shoot at him
and fear not : * they encourage
themselves in evil purpose.
They commune of laying snares
privily : * they say : Who shall see
them ?
They search out iniquities : *
they accomplish a diligent search.
Man shall attain to thoughts that
are very deep : * but God shall
[still] be exalted.
The arrows of babes have pierced
them : * and their tongues are
weakened against them.
All that saw them were moved :
* and all men feared,
And declared the work of
God, * and understood His
doings.
The righteous shall be glad in
the Lord, and shall trust in Him :
* and all the upright in heart shall
glory.
Antiphon. - Doth not my soul
wait upon God ?
Sixth Antiphon. O bless our
God.
1 SLH.
2 Ps. lxi. 2.
WEDNESDAY AT MATTINS.
115
Psalm LXV.
[Except the words " Psalm or Song " the
title of this Psalm is not now certainly
understood. The Vulgate and the LXX.
add "for the uprising."]
TV /T AKE a joyful noise unto God,
*■**■ all ye lands, sing forth the
honour of His name : * make His
praise glorious.
Say unto God : How terrible art
Thou in Thy works, O Lord! *
through the greatness of Thy power
shall Thine enemies feign to submit
themselves unto Thee.
Let all the earth worship Thee,
and sing unto Thee : * let them
sing praises to Thy Name.1
Come and see the works of God ;
* He is terrible in His counsels
toward the children of men.
He turned the sea into dry land,
they went through the flood on foot :
* there did we rejoice in Him.
He ruleth by His power for ever,
His eyes behold the nations : * let
not the rebellious exalt themselves.1
0 bless our God, ye people : *
and make the voice of His praise to
be heard.
Who holdeth my soul in life :
* and suffereth not my feet to be
moved.
For Thou, O God, hast proved
us : * Thou hast tried us with fire,
as silver is tried.
Thou broughtest us into the net,
Thou laidst affliction upon our
back : * Thou hast caused men to
ride over our heads.
We went through fire and through
water : * and Thou broughtest us
out into a place of refreshment.
1 will go into Thine house with
burnt-offerings : * I will pay Thee
my vows, which my lips have uttered,
And my mouth hath spoken, *
when I was in trouble.
I will offer unto Thee burnt-
sacrifices of fatlings, with the in-
cense of rams : * I will offer unto
Thee bullocks with goats.1
Come, hear, all ye that fear God,
and I will declare * what He hath
done for my soul.
I cried unto Him with my mouth,
* and extolled Him with my tongue.
If I regard iniquity in mine heart,
* the Lord will not hear me.
Therefore God hath heard me,
* and attended to the voice of my
prayer.
Blessed be God, * Who hath not
turned away my prayer, nor His
mercy from me.
Psalm LXVII.
[The meaning of the title of this Psalm,
except the ascription of authorship " To
David," is now uncertain.]
LET God arise, and let His
enemies be scattered : * let
them also that hate Him flee before
Him.
As smoke is driven away, so let
them be driven away : * as wax
melteth before the fire, so let the
wicked perish at the presence of
God.
But let the righteous be glad, and
rejoice before God : * yea, let them
exceedingly rejoice.
Sing unto God, sing praises to
His name : * spread a path before
Him That rideth upon the heavens :
The Lord - is His name.
1 SLH.
2 "The Lord" is here, as elsewhere, substituted out of profound reverence for the real
name of God, the Unspeakable Word, called the " Tetragrammaton," from its four letters.
n6
THE PSALTER.
Rejoice before Him : * fear shall
go before the face of Him That is
the Father of the fatherless, and the
Juojge of the widows :
Even God in His holy habitation :
* God, That maketh men to be of
one mind in an house.
He bringeth out those which are
bound with chains, * but they that
provoke Him dwell among the
graves.
O God, when Thou wentest
forth before Thy people, * when
Thou didst march through the
wilderness — l
The earth shook ; the heavens
also dropped at the presence of the
God of Sinai, * at the presence of
the God of Israel.
Thou, O God, didst send a plen-
tiful rain 2 upon Thine inheritance :
* Thou didst refresh Thine inheri-
tance when it was weary.
Thy flock dwelt therein : * Thou,
O God, didst provide in Thy good-
ness for the poor.
The Lord gave the word * to
the great company that published
it.
3 The king of the hosts is [fallen
into the hands] of the Well-beloved :
* and the fair ones that tarried at
home have divided the spoils.
Though ye have lien among the
sheep-folds,4 yet shall ye be as the
wings of a dove, covered with silver,
* and her tail-feathers with yellow
gold.
When the [God] of heaven had
scattered kings in it, then white as
with snow was Salmon,5 * that hill
of God, that fruitful hill.
An hill of many peaks, a fruitful
hill : * why look ye enviously upon
the high hills ?
This6 is the hill which God de-
sireth to dwell in : * yea, the Lord
will dwell in it unto the end.
The chariots of God are many
times ten thousand, even thousands
of the blessed : * the Lord is among
them ; [as] in Sinai, [so] in the
Holy place.
Thou hast ascended on high,
Thou hast led captivity captive : *
Thou hast received gifts among
men,
Even them that believe not *
that the Lord God dwelleth among
them.
Blessed be the Lord daily : * the
God of our salvation maketh our
way prosperous.7
He That is our God is the God
of salvation : * and unto the Lord,
even the Lord, belong the issues
from death.
But God shall wound the head
of His enemies : * the hairy scalp
of such an one as goeth on still
in his trespasses.
The Lord said: I will bring
1 SLII. " Perhaps the manna is meant.
3 It need not be remarked that the sense of this verse is very obscure. In the view of
the Greek translators there seems to be a play upon the name of David, which signifies
" Beloved." * Perhaps an allusion to an army camping out in the fields.
5 A mountain in Samaria, near Shechem, where David won great victories over some
neighbouring kings. See Ps. lix., p. 63. Gesenius thinks that "white as with snow " is
to be understood "white with the bleached bones of the slain." But a modern writer,
describing a battle in the Soudan, and the defeat and flight of the Dervishes, says, " they
broke, and fled, leaving the field white with jibbah-clad corpses, like a meadow dotted
with snowdrifts."
6 Namely, perhaps, the group of hills on which Jerusalem stands, as opposed to the
higher and more picturesque mountains at Shechem. 7 SLH.
WEDNESDAY AT MATTINS.
117
them again from Bashan x : * I will
bring them back from the depths
of the sea.
That thy foot may be dipped in
the blood of thine enemies, * the
tongue of thy dogs in the same.
They have seen Thy goings, O
God, * even the goings of my God,
my King, Which dwelleth in the
sanctuary.
The singers went before, the
players on instruments followed
after, * among the damsels playing
with timbrels.
Bless ye God in the congrega-
tions, even the Lord, * ye that are
of the fountains of Israel !
There is little Benjamin, * in the
joy of his heart,
The princes of Judah, their
leaders, * the princes of Zabulon,
the princes of Nephthali.
Command it, O God, in Thy
strength : * strengthen, O God, that
which Thou hast wrought for us.
Because of thy temple at Jeru-
salem, * shall kings bring presents
unto Thee.
Rebuke the beasts of the reeds,2
the multitude of the bulls with the
cows of the people, * [who watch]
that they may cut off them that are
tried like silver.3
Scatter Thou the people that de-
light in war : ambassadors shall come
out of Egypt : * Ethiopia shall soon
stretch out her hands unto God.
Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of
the earth : * O sing praises unto
the Lord.4
O sing praises unto God, even
unto Him that rideth upon the
heaven of heavens * from the day-
spring.
Lo, He shall send out His voice,
and that a mighty voice. Ascribe
ye strength unto God ; * over Israel
is His excellency, and His strength
is in the clouds.
God is wonderful in His holy
places : the God of Israel is He
That shall give strength and power
unto his people : * blessed be God.
Antiphon.5 O bless our God, ye
people.
Antiphon for Paschal time. Al-
leluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Then is said a Verse and Answer.
In Advent.
Verse. The Lord cometh out of
His holy place.
Answer. He will come and save
His people.
During the rest of the year.
Verse. 60 God, I have declared
my life unto Thee.
Answer. Thou hast put my tears
in Thy sight.
In Le?it.
Verse. His truth shall be thy
shield.
Answer. Thou shalt not be
afraid for the terror by night.
In Passion time.
Verse. Take not away my soul
with sinners, O God.
1 The campaign of David related in 2 Kings (Sam.) viii. and I Par. (Chron.) xviii.
extended to this neighbourhood.
2 Perhaps meaning wild buffaloes. As to the comparison of the enemy to wild cattle,
compare Ps. xxi. 13, " Many bulls have compassed me, strong bulls have beset me round."
3 If the words are to be taken thus, the reference is perhaps to David's veterans, but the
meaning seems more likely to be " those that submissively offer in tribute pieces of silver."
4 SLH. 5 Ps. lxv. 8. 6 Ps. lv. 9.
u8
THE PSALTER.
Anstver. Nor my life with bloody
men.
In Paschal time.
Verse. The disciples were glad,
Alleluia.
Answer. When they saw the Lord,
Alleluia.
The rest is the same as the Third
Noctarn of the preceding Sunday, ex-
cept necessary differences. The Lessons
are those of the day. The Responsories
are arranged according to the rules in
Chapter xxvii. 4, 5, of the General
Rubrics.
Simple Feasts. It is to be remem-
bered that when a Simple Feast is kept
on Wednesday, the Invitatory and Hymn
are of the Feast, being taken from the
Common of Saints of the class, unless
specially given. Then the Psalms and
Antiphons of the week-day, as given
above. Then is said a Verse and An-
swer as follows ;
For one or many Martyrs in Paschal
time.
Verse. : Everlasting joy upon
their heads, Alleluia.
Anstver. They shall obtain joy
and gladness, Alleluia.
For one Martyr, {out of Paschal time.)
Verse. 2 His glory is great in
Thy salvation.
Answer. Honour and great ma-
jesty shalt Thou lay upon him.
For many Martyrs, {out of Paschal
time.)
Verse. 3 The righteous shall live
for evermore.
Answer. Their reward also is
with the Lord.
For a Bishop and Confessor.
Verse. 4Thou art a Priest for
ever.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
1 Isa. xxxv. 10. * Ps. xx. 6. 3 Wisd.
Answer. After the order of Mel-
chisedeck.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
For a Confessor not a Bishop.
Verse. 5The law of his God is
in his heart.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
Answer. And his steps shall not
slide.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
For one Holy Woman of any kind.
Verse. God hath chosen her, and
fore-chosen her.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
Answer. He hath made her to
dwell in His tabernacle.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
The others, as well as what follows,
to the end of the Service, are taken from
the Third Nocturn of the Office Common
to Saints of the class, unless something
special be appointed, except necessary
differences. The Lessons are arranged
according to the rules in Chapter xxvi.
4, of the general Rubrics. The Hymn
"We praise Thee, O God," is said at
the end, instead of a Third Responsory.
The Responsories are arranged accord-
ing to the Rules in Chapter xxvii. 4, 5, of
the General Rubrics. Thus : —
The Lord's Prayer is said :
OUR Father (inaudibly), Who art
in heaven, Hallowed be 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 tres-
passes, as we forgive them that tres-
pass against us. {Aloud.)
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from
evil.
v. 16. 4 Ps. cix. 4. e Ps. xxxvi. 31.
WEDNESDAY AT MATTINS.
119
Then this Absolution :
MAY the Almighty and merciful
Lord loose us from the bonds
of our sins.
Answer. Amen.
Then the Reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
First Blessing, if the Lesson be from
Scripture.
May His blessing be upon us,
Who doth live and reign for ever.
Answer. Amen.
First Blessing, if the Lesson be of an
Homily.
May the Gospel's saving Lord
Bless the reading of His Word.
Answer. Amen.
First Blessing on a Simple Feast.
May His blessing be upon us
Who doth live and reign for ever.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the First Lesson from
Scripture or from the Homily, or on a
Simple Feast either the First from
Scripture, or, if the Saint or Saints
have two Lessons, the whole three from
Scripture read together as one.
Then the First Responsory, unless
otherwise directed. On a week-day kept
as such, this is the First Responsory of
the preceding Sunday. On a Simple
Feast, the First Responsory in the Com-
mon Office for the class to which the
Saint belongs.
Then the Reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
Second Blessing, if the Lesson be of
Scripture or from an Homily.
God's most mighty strength alway
Be His people's staff and stay.
Answer. Amen.
Second Blessing, for a Simple Feast.
He (or She or They) whose feast-day
we are keeping
Plead for us before the Lord.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the Second Lesson, either
from Scripture or from an Homily, or
on a Simple Feast either the Second
and Third Lessons from Scripture
read together as one, or if the Saint
or Saints have two Lessons, the first
of these.
Then the Second Responsory, unless
otherwise directed. On a week-day kept
as such, this is the Second Responsory
of the preceding Sunday, but in Paschal
time there is added to it :
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
And the Answer of the Responsory is
repeated again.
On a Simple Feast the Second Re-
sponsory in the Common Office for the
class to which the Saint belongs, with
the addition of "Glory be to the
Father," <S-V., and the repetition of
the Answer.
Then the Reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
Third Blessing.
May He That is the Angels' King
To that high realm His people bring.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the Third Lesson either
from Scripture, or of the Homily, or on
Simple Feasts the Second or only Lesson
of the Saint.
Then, on Simple Feasts and on any
day in Paschal time is said the Hymn,
"We praise Thee, O God." But on
week-days kept as such out of Paschal
time the Third Responsory of the pre-
ceding Sunday.
120
^nesbag at Jtabs.
THE FOURTH DAY OF THE WEEK.
All as on Sundays, except as other-
wise given here.
The Psalms are as follows :
»
Antiphon. Wash me.
Psalm L.
Have mercy upon me, &c., (/.
87).
Antiphon. Wash me throughly
from mine iniquity, O Lord.
Second Antiphon. Praise be-
cometh Thee.
If this Antiphon be used the Psalm
begins with the words, " O God, in
Zion."
Psalm LXIV.
[Intituled "A Psalm. A Song of
David," with a musical (?) superscription.
The Vulgate adds that its use was pre-
scribed by Jeremiah and Ezekiel to the
exiles when they began to return from
the Captivity.]
pRAISE becometh Thee, O God,
-*- in Zion : * and unto Thee
shall the vow be performed in Jeru-
salem.
Hear my prayer: * unto Thee
shall all flesh come.
Iniquities prevail against us : *
but as for our transgressions, Thou
shalt purge them away.
Blessed is the man whom Thou
choosest, and causest to come near
unto Thee : * he shall dwell in
Thy courts :
We shall be satisfied with the
goodness of Thine house : * Thy
temple is holy, terrible in right-
eousness.
Answer us, O God of our salva-
tion : * Thou that art the confidence
of all the ends of the earth, and
of the uttermost parts of the sea !
Thou that by Thy strength settest
fast the mountains, being girded
with power : * Thou that stirrest
up the depth of the sea, and the
noise of his waves !
The heathen shall be troubled.
They that dwell in the uttermost
parts shall be afraid at Thy tokens :
* Thou makest the outgoings of the
morning and evening to rejoice.
Thou visitest the earth and water-
est it : * Thou greatly enrichest it :
The river of God is full of water :
Thou makest ready their corn, * for
Thou hast so prepared it.
Drench her furrows, increase the
fruits thereof : * the springing there-
of shall rejoice at her showers.
Thou crownest the year with Thy
goodness : * and Thy fields teem
with fruitfulness.
The green places of the wilder-
WEDNESDAY AT LAUDS.
121
ness wax fruitful : * and the little
hills are girded with joy.
The pastures are clothed with
flocks ; the valleys also overflow
with corn : * they shout for joy,
yea, they sing.
Antiphon. Praise becometh Thee,
O God, in Zion.
Third Antiphon. O my God.
Psalms LXIL, LXVI.
O God, Thou art my God, &c,
(A 23)-
Antiphon. O my God, my lips
shall praise Thee while I live.
Fourth Antiphon. The Lord
shall judge.
The Song of Hannah, (i Kings
(Sam.) ii.)
[Composed by her when she brought her
son Samuel and presented him to the Lord.
See I Kings (Sam.) i. ii., (Monday and
Tuesday after Trinity Sunday.)]
TV /T INE heart rejoiceth in the
*■**- Lord, * and mine horn is
exalted in my God : *
My mouth is enlarged over mine
enemies : * because I rejoice in Thy
salvation.
There is none holy as the Lord ;
for there is none beside Thee : *
neither is there any mighty like our
God.
Talk no more * so exceeding
proudly.
Let your old arrogancy depart out
of your mouth : for the Lord is a
God of knowledge, * and by Him
thoughts are judged.
The bows of the mighty men are
broken, * and they that stumbled
are girded with strength.
They that were full have hired
out themselves for bread : * and
they that were hungry are filled.
So that the barren hath borne
fruitfully : * and she that had many
children is waxed feeble.
The Lord killeth, and maketh
alive : * He bringeth down to the
grave, and bringeth up.
The Lord maketh poor, and
maketh rich : * He bringeth low,
and lifteth up.
He raiseth up the poor out of the
dust, * and lifteth up the beggar
from the dunghill,
To set them among princes, * and
to make them inherit the throne of
glory :
For the pillars of the earth are
the Lord's, * and He hath set the
world upon them.
He will keep the feet of His
saints, and the wicked shall be silent
in darkness : * for by his strength
shall no man prevail.
The adversaries of the Lord shall
be made to fear Him : * out of
heaven also shall He thunder upon
them.
The Lord shall judge the ends
of the earth : and He shall give
strength unto His King, * and exalt
the horn of His Anointed.
Antiphon. The Lord shall judge
the ends of the earth.
Fifth Antiphon. Praise God.
Psalms CXLVIII., CXLIX., CL.
Praise ye the Lord from the
heavens, &c, {pp. 25, 26).
Antiphon. Praise God, ye heavens
of heavens.
1 The Divine Name.
122
THE PSALTER.
Chapter. (Rom. xiii. 12.)
The night is far spent, &c, (as on
Monday, p. 89).
Hymn.1
ITAUNTING gloom and flitting
*■ ■*■ shades,
Ghastly shapes, away !
Christ is rising, and pervades
Highest Heaven with day.
He with His bright spear the night
Dazzles and pursues ;
Earth wakes up, and glows with light
Of a thousand hues.
Thee, O Christ, and Thee alone,
With a single mind,
We with chant and plaint would own ;
To thy flock be kind.
Much it needs Thy light divine,
Spot and stain to clean ;
Light of Angels, on us shine
With Thy face serene.
To the Father, and the Son,
And the Holy Ghost,
Here be glory, as is done
By the angelic host. Amen.
Verse. Thou hast satisfied us
early with Thy mercy.
Answer. We rejoice and are glad.
Antiphon for the Song of Zacharias.
O Lord, save us * from the hand of
all that hate us.
Commemoration of the Cross before the
other Commemoratio/is, and Long Preces
in Advent and Lent, on the Ember
Wednesdays {except that of Pentecost)
and on Fast-days, as on Monday.
1 Hymn founded on hymn in the Cathemerinon of Prudentius ; translation by the late
Card. Newman.
123
^hm'simp at JHattins.
THE FIFTH DAY OF THE WEEK.
All as on Sunday, except as other-
wise given here.
Invitatory. It is the Lord That
hath made us : * O come, let us
worship Him.
Hymn.1
A LL tender lights, all hues divine,
■**- The night has swept away ;
Shine on us, Lord, and we shall shine
Bright in an inward day.
The spots of guilt, sin's wages base,
Searcher of hearts, we own ;
Wash us and robe us in Thy grace,
Who didst for sins atone.
The sluggard soul, that bears their
mark,
Shrinks in its silent lair,
Or gropes amid its chambers dark
For Thee, Who art not there.
Redeemer ! send Thy piercing rays,
That we may bear to be
Set in the light of Thy pure gaze,
And yet rejoice in Thee.
Grant this, O Father, Only Son,
And Spirit, God of grace,
To whom all worship shall be done
In every time and place.
Amen.
Only o?te Nocturn is said.
Antiphon. Make haste.
In Paschal time only one Antiphon
is said to the whole Nocturn. Alleluia.
Psalm LXVIII.
[Intituled "Of David," with a (now un-
certain) musical (?) direction.]
SAVE me, O God; * for the
waters are come in unto my
soul.
I sink in deep mire, * where
there is no standing.
I am come into the depth of the
sea, * and the flood overfloweth me.
I am weary of my crying, my
throat is dried : * mine eyes fail,
while I wait for my God.
They that hate me without a
cause, * are more than the hairs of
mine head.
They that would destroy me,
being mine enemies wrongfully, are
mighty : * then I restored that
which I took not away.
O God, Thou knowest my fool-
ishness : * and my faults are not
hid from Thee.
Let not them that wait on Thee,
O Lord, be ashamed for my sake, *
Thou Lord of hosts.
Let not those that seek Thee *
be confounded for my sake, O God
of Israel.
Because for Thy sake I have
borne reproach : * shame hath
covered my face.
1 Ambrosian hymn ; translation by the late Card. Newman.
124
THE PSALTER.
I am become a stranger unto my
brethren, * and an alien unto my
mother's children.
For the zeal of Thine house hath
eaten me up : * and the reproaches
of them that reproached Thee are
fallen upon me.
And I chastened my soul with
fasting : * and that was to my re-
proach.
I made sackcloth also my gar-
ment, * and I became a proverb to
them.
They that sat in the gate spake
against me, * and I was the song of
the drunkards.
But as for me, my prayer is unto
Thee, O Lord : * in an acceptable
time, O God !
In the multitude of Thy mercy
hear me, * in the truth of Thy
salvation !
Deliver me out of the mire, that
I sink not : * deliver me from them
that hate me, and out of the deep
waters.
Let not the waterflood overflow
me, neither let the deep swallow me
up, * and let not the pit shut her
mouth upon me.
Hear me, O Lord, for Thy
loving - kindness is good : * turn
unto me according to the multitude
of Thy tender mercies.
And hide not Thy face from Thy
servant, * for I am in trouble ; hear
me speedily.
Draw nigh unto my soul, and re-
deem it : * ^deliver me because of
mine enemies.
Thou knowest my reproach, and
my shame, * and my dishonour.
Mine adversaries are all before
Thee : * mine heart hath looked for
reproach and bitterness.
And I looked for some to take
pity on me, and there was none : *
and for comforters, and I found
none.
They gave me also gall for meat :
* and in my thirst they gave me
vinegar to drink.
Let their table be made a snare
before them, * and a recompense,
and a stumbling-block.
Let their eyes be darkened, that
they see not : * and ever bow Thou
down their back.
Pour out Thine indignation upon
them, * and let Thy wrathful anger
take hold of them.
Let their habitation be desolate :
* and let none dwell in their tents.
For they persecute him whom
Thou hast smitten : * and they
embitter the pain of my wounds.
Add iniquity unto their iniquity :
* and let them not come into Thy
righteousness.
Let them be blotted out of the
book of the living : * and not be
written with the righteous.
But I am poor and sorrowful : *
Thy salvation, O God, hath set me
up on high.
I will praise the name of God
with a psalm, * and will magnify
Him with thanksgiving.
And it shall please God better
than a young bullock, * that hath
horns and hoofs.
Let the humble see this and be
glad, * seek God, and your soul
shall live.
For the Lord heareth the poor :
* and despiseth not His prisoners.
Let the heaven and earth praise
Him, * the sea, and everything
that moveth therein.
For God will save Zion, * and
the cities of Judah shall be built
up.
THURSDAY AT MATTINS.
125
And they shall dwell there, *
and have it in possession.
The seed also of His servants
shall inherit it, * and they that
love His name shall dwell therein.
Psalm LXIX.
[Intituled "Of David, to bring to re-
membrance" with another (now uncertain)
musical (?) superscription. The Vulgate
and the LXX. add to remembrance "how
the Lord had saved him " ; the Targum
associates the Psalm with the offering of
the incense. This Psalm is a repetition
of the last four verses of Ps. xxxix.]
MAKE haste, O God, to de-
liver me : * make haste to
help me, O Lord.
Let them be ashamed and con-
founded, * that seek after my
soul.
Let them be turned backward
and put to confusion, * that de-
sire mine hurt.
Let them be turned back with
shame, * that say unto me, Aha,
Aha.
Let all those that seek Thee be
joyful and glad in Thee, * and let
such as love Thy salvation say con-
tinually : Let the Lord be magnified.
But I am poor and needy : *
help me, O God.
Thou art mine help and my
deliverer : * O Lord, make no
tarrying.
Atitiphon. x Make haste, O Lord
God, to deliver me.
Second Antiphon. Be Thou my
God.
Psalm LXX.
[The Vulgate and the LXX. give the
heading, "A Psalm of David ; of the Sons
of Jonadab, and the first Captives." The
sons of Jonadab are the descendants of
Jonadab, the son of Rechab, of whose
faithfulness to observe a nomadic life,
and to abstain from wine, it is written
in Jer. xxxv. 19: "Therefore thus saith
the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel :
Jonadab, the son of Rechab, shall not
want a man to stand before me for
ever." They had taken refuge at Jeru-
salem to escape the incursions of Nebu-
chadnezzar, and the meaning seems to
be that when they and others were carried
away as captives, they made special use
of this Psalm.]
IN Thee, O Lord, have I put
my trust, let me never be put
to confusion : * deliver me in Thy
righteousness, and cause me to es-
cape.
Incline Thine ear unto me, *
and save me.
Be Thou my God, my Pro-
tector, and my strong habitation,
* to save me.
For Thou art my rock, * and
my fortress.
Deliver me, O my God, out of
the hand of the wicked, * and out
of the hand of the unrighteous and
cruel man.
For Thou art mine hope, O Lord :
* O Lord, Thou art my trust from
my youth.
By Thee have I been holden up
from the womb : * Thou art my
defence from my mother's bowels.
My praise shall be continually
of Thee : * I am a wonder unto
many : but Thou art my strong
refuge.
Let my mouth be filled with
Thy praise, that I may sing of
Thy glory, * all the day long of
Thy greatness.
Cast me not off in the time of
old age : * forsake me not when
my strength faileth.
1 Ps. lxix. 1.
126
THE PSALTER.
For mine enemies speak against
me, * and they that lay wait for
my soul take counsel together,
Saying : God hath forsaken him :
persecute and take him, * for there
is none to deliver him.
O God, be not far from me : *
O my God, make haste for mine
help.
Let them be confounded and
consumed that are adversaries to
my soul : * let them be covered
with reproach and dishonour, that
seek mine hurt.
But I will hope continually, *
and will yet praise Thee more and
more.
My mouth shall show forth Thy
righteousness, * Thy salvation all
the day.
And because I know not the tale
thereof, I will go in the strength of
the Lord : * O Lord, I will make
mention of Thy righteousness, even
of Thine only.
0 God, Thou hast taught me
from my youth : * and hitherto
have I declared Thy wondrous
works.
Now also when I am old and
grey-headed, * O God, forsake me
not,
Until I have showed Thy strength
* unto all generations, that are to
come.
Thy power and Thy righteous-
ness, O God, are in the highest,
Who hast done great things : * O
God, who is like unto Thee?
Thou Who hast showed me great
and sore troubles, shalt quicken me
again : * and bring me up again
from the depths of the earth.
Thou hast increased Thy great-
ness : * and again comforted me.
1 will also praise Thee on . the
psaltery, even Thy truth : * O
God, unto Thee will I sing with
the harp, O Thou Holy One of
Israel !
My lips shall be fain when I sing
unto Thee, * and my soul which
Thou hast redeemed.
My tongue also shall talk of Thy
righteousness all the day long : * for
they are confounded and brought
unto shame that seek mine hurt.
PSALM LXXI.
[Intituled " Of Solomon," that is, written
concerning him.]
/~^ IVE the king Thy judgment, O
^-^ God, * and Thy righteousness
unto the king's son.
To judge Thy people with right-
eousness, * and Thy poor with
judgment.
The mountains shall receive peace
with the people, * and the little hills
righteousness.
He shall judge the poor of the
people, and save the children of the
needy, * and shall break in pieces
the false accuser.
And he shall endure with the sun,
and before the moon, * throughout
all generations.
He shall come down like rain
upon a fleece, * and as showers that
water the earth.
In his days shall righteousness
flourish, and abundance of peace,
* so long as the moon endureth.
He shall have dominion also from
sea to sea : * and from the river
unto the ends of the earth.
The Ethiopians shall fall before
him : * and his enemies shall lick
the dust.
The kings of Tarshish, and of the
.isles shall bring presents : * the
THURSDAY AT MATTINS.
127
kings of Arabia and Saba x shall
offer gifts.
Yea, all the kings of the earth
shall fall down before him : all
nations shall serve him.
For he shall deliver the needy
from the strong, * the poor also that
hath no helper.
He shall spare the poor and
needy, * and shall save the souls of
the needy.
He shall redeem their soul from
fraud and violence : * and precious
shall their name be in his sight.
And he shall live, and to him
shall be given of the gold of Arabia ;
prayer also shall be made for him
continually ; * all the day long shall
he be blessed.
And there shall be a staff of
bread in the land, upon the top of
the mountains ; the fruit thereof
shall be higher than Lebanon : *
and they of the city shall flourish
like grass of the earth.
Blessed be his name for ever : *
his name endureth as long as the sun.
And in him shall all the kindreds
of the earth be blessed : * all nations
shall call him blessed.
Blessed be the Lord God of Is-
rael, * Who only doth wondrous
things.
And blessed be His glorious
Name for ever : * and let the whole
earth be filled with his glory : Amen,
Amen.2
Antiphon. 3 Be Thou my God,
my protector.
Third Antiphon. Thou hast re-
deemed the rod.
Psalm LXXII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of Asaph."]
"T^RULY God is good to Israel, *
■^ to such as are upright in
heart.
But as for me, my feet were al-
most gone : * my steps had well
nigh slipped.
For I was envious at the un-
righteous, * when I saw the pros-
perity of the wicked.
For they have no thought of
death : * and they are uncon-
cerned in trial.
They are not in trouble as other
men, * neither are they plagued like
other men.
Therefore pride compasseth them
about, * violence and ungodliness
cover them as a garment.
Their iniquity ariseth as it were
from fatness : * they have more
than heart could wish.
They think and speak wickedness :
* they speak loftily concerning op-
pression.
They set their mouth against the
heavens, * and their tongue walketh
through the earth.
Therefore my people turn aside
after them : * and the men of their
day run after them.
And they say : How doth God
know, * and is there knowledge in
the Most High ?
Behold, these are the ungodly,
who prosper in the world, * they
increase in riches.
And I said : Then I have cleansed
mine heart in vain, * and washed
mine hands in innocency.
1 This seems to be Meroe, a province of Ethiopia.
2 After this, there is the following notification, "The prayers of David, the son of
Jesse, are ended," and this is the end of the second of the five books into which the
Psalter is divided. 3 Ps. lxx. 3.
128
THE PSALTER.
For all the day long have I been
plagued, * and chastened every
morning.
If I say : I will speak thus : *
behold, I should disown the gener-
ation of Thy children.
And I thought to know this, *
it was too hard for me ;
Until I went into the Sanctuary
of God, * and understood their
hereafter.
Surely Thou dost set them in
slippery places : * Thou castest
them down even in their pros-
perity.
How are they brought into deso-
lation ? In a moment are they
perished, * they are utterly con-
sumed because of their wickedness.
As a dream when one awaketh,
0 Lord, * Thou shalt bring their
image to nought in Thy city.
For mine heart was on fire, and
1 was pricked in my reins ; * and I
was brought to nothing and knew
not :
I became as a beast before Thee :
* nevertheless I am continually with
Thee :
Thou hast holden me by my
right hand, and guided me accord-
ing to Thy will, * and received me
to glory.
For what have I in heaven, * and
what is there upon earth that I
desire beside Thee ?
My flesh and mine heart faileth :
* Thou art the God of mine heart,
and God is my portion for ever.
For, lo, they that go far from
Thee shall perish : * Thou hast
destroyed all them that go a whor-
ing from Thee.
But it is good for me to draw
near to God : * to put my trust in
the Lord God,
That I may declare all Thy
praises,
in the gates of the
daughter of Zion.
Psalm LXXIII.
[Intituled "A didactic (?) Psalm of
Asaph."]
OGOD, why hast Thou cast us
off for ever : * why doth
Thine anger smoke against the
sheep of Thy pasture?
Remember Thy congregation, *
which Thou hast purchased of
old.
Thou hast redeemed the rod of
Thine inheritance : * Mount Zion
wherein Thou hast dwelt.
Lift up Thine hands against their
perpetual pride : * even all that
the enemy hath done wickedly in
the sanctuary !
They also that hate Thee roar, *
in the midst of Thy solemn con-
gregation.
They set up their ensigns for
trophies * on the pinnacles [of Thy
temple] as though it had been the
gate [of their own city] ; and con-
sidered not !
As the fellers in a wood of thick
trees, so did they hew down the
gates thereof: * they have broken
it down with axes and hammers.
They have set on fire Thy Sanc-
tuary : * they have defiled the
dwelling-place of Thy name by
casting it down to the ground.
The sort of them said in their
hearts with one consent : * Let us
put away the feast-days of God out
of the land.
We see not our signs, there is no
more any prophet : * and none
knoweth us any more.
O God, how long shall the ad-
THURSDAY AT MATTINS.
129
versary reproach ? * Shall the enemy
blaspheme Thy name for ever ?
Why withdrawest Thou Thine
hand, even Thy right hand, * from
Thy bosom for ever ?
But God is our King of old, *
working salvation in the midst of
the earth.
Thou by Thy strength didst
make the sea to stand on an heap :
* Thou brakest the heads of the
dragons in the waters.
Thou brakest the heads of le-
viathan in pieces : * Thou gavest
him to be meat to the people l of
Ethiopia.
Thou didst cleave the fountains
and the floods : * Thou driedst up
the rivers of Ethan.2
The day is Thine, the night also
is Thine : * Thou hast created the
light and the sun.
Thou hast set all the borders of
the earth : * Thou hast made
summer and spring.
Remember this, that the enemy
hath reproached the Lord : * and
that a foolish people have blas-
phemed Thy name.
O deliver not unto beasts the
souls of them that praise Thee : *
and forget not the souls of Thy poor
for ever.
Have respect unto Thy cove-
nant : * for the dark places of the
earth are full of the habitations of
cruelty.
O let not the oppressed return
ashamed : * let the poor and needy
praise Thy name.
Arise, O God, judge Thine own
cause : * remember how the foolish
man reproacheth Thee daily.
Forget not the voice of Thine
enemies : * the pride of them that
hate Thee ascendeth continually.
Antiphon. 3 Thou hast redeemed
the rod of Thine inheritance.
Fourth Antiphon. And we will
call.
Psalm LXXIV.
[Intituled " A Psalm — A Song of Asaph,"
with a superscription of meaning now un-
certain, but, in part, indicating the tune
" Destroy not." The Targum says that it
was composed as a thanksgiving at the time
when David said " Destroy not thy people,"
and the occasion meant is probably that of
the plague provoked by David's number-
ing of the people, as related in the last
chapter of 2 Kings (Sam.)]
UNTO Thee, O God, will we
give thanks : * we will give
thanks and call upon Thy name.
We will declare Thy wondrous
works : * when I shall take a set
time, I will judge uprightly.
The earth and all the inhabitants
thereof are dissolved : * I bear up
the pillars of it.4
I said unto the wicked : Deal
not wickedly : * and to the evil-
doers : Lift not up your horn on
high.
Lift not up your horn on high :
* speak not wickedness against
God.
For neither from the east, nor
from the west, nor from the desert
mountains : * for God is the judge :
He putteth down one, and setteth
up another : * for in the hand of the
1 People — probably referring to the wild beasts, (as in Proverbs xxx. 25, 26, "The ants
are a people not strong — the conies are but a feeble folk ") who ate the dead bodies of the
Egyptians (whose power seems meant by the leviathan) washed upon the shores of the
Red Sea.
2 Ethan = continuity — "The continuously flowing streams."
s Ps. lxxiii. 2. * SLH.
VOL. I. E
130
THE PSALTER.
Lord there is a cup of strong wine
full of mixture.1
And he turneth it this way and
that : surely the dregs thereof are
not wrung out : * all the wicked of
the earth shall drink them.
But I will declare for ever : * I
will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
All the horns of the wicked also
will I break : * and the horns of the
righteous shall be exalted.
Psalm LXXV.
[Intituled "A Psalm — A Song of Asaph,"
with a farther superscription similar to the
preceding. The Vulgate and the LXX. add
"against the Assyrians " ; the meaning pro-
bably is that it was found appropriate as a
Psalm of thanksgiving after the destruction
of the Assyrians (3 (2) Kings xix. 35).]
T N Judah is God known : * His
*~ name is great in Israel.
And His tabernacle is in "Peace,"2
* and His dwelling-place in Zion.
There brake He the arrows of the
bow, * the shield, the sword, and
the battle.3
When Thou didst make Thy light
to shine forth right wondrously from
the everlasting hills : * all they that
were foolish of heart were troubled :
They have slept their sleep : *
and all the men of riches have found
nothing in their hands.
At Thy rebuke, O God of Jacob,
* they that rode upon horses are
cast into a dead sleep.
Thou art to be feared ; and who
shall withstand Thee, * when once
Thou art angry ?
Thou didst cause judgment to
be heard from heaven : * the earth
trembled and was still,
When God arose to judgment, *
to save all the meek of the earth.3
For the thoughts of man shall
praise Thee : * the remainder of
his thoughts shall keep holy his days
before Thee.
Vow, and pay unto the Lord
your God : * all ye that are round
about Him bring presents,
Even unto Him That ought to be
feared, and that cutteth off the spirit
of princes, * to Him That is terrible
among the kings of the earth.
Antiphon. 4And we will call
upon Thy name, O Lord.
Fifth Antiphon. Thou art the
God.
Psalm LXXVI.
[Intituled "A Psalm of Asaph," with a
musical (?) direction, addressed to Jeduthun.]
f" CRIED unto the Lord with my
-*- voice ; * even unto God with
my voice, and He gave ear unto
me.
In the day of my trouble I
sought the Lord ; in the night with
my hands I sought Him * and failed
not.
My soul refused to be comforted :
* I remembered God, and rejoiced,
and pondered, and my spirit was
overwhelmed.3
Mine eyes anticipated the night
watches : * I was troubled, and
spake not.
I have considered the days of old,
* and had in mind the everlasting
years.
In the night also I commune with
mine own heart : * and I mused,
and searched out mine own spirit.
1 Aromatic herbs, Sec, were mixed with wine to make it more intoxicating. See
Smith's Diet, of the Bible,— Wine.
8 Peace— a translation of "Salem." » SLH. 4 Ps. lxxiv. 2.
THURSDAY AT MATTINS.
131
Will God cast off for ever? * or
will He be favourable no more ?
Or will He put away His mercy
for ever, * to generation and genera-
tion?
Or hath God forgotten to be
gracious ? * or will He in His anger
shut up His tender mercies ? *
And I said : Now have I begun :
* the change cometh of the right
hand of the Most High.
I remembered the works of the
Lord : * surely I will remember
Thy wonders of old.
I will meditate also of all Thy
work : * and talk of Thy doings.
Thy way, O God, is in the sanc-
tuary. Who is so great a God as our
God? * Thou art the God That
doest wonders.
Thou hast declared Thy strength
among the people : * Thou hast with
Thine arm redeemed Thy people,
the sons of Jacob and Joseph.1
The waters saw Thee, O God,
the waters saw Thee : * and they
were afraid, the depths also were
troubled.
There was a noise as of many
-waters, * the clouds sent out a
sound.
Thine arrows also went abroad :
* the voice of Thy thunder rolled.
Thy lightnings lightened the
world : * the earth trembled and
:shook.
Thy way is in the sea, and Thy
paths in the great waters : * and
Thy footsteps are not known.
Thou leddest Thy people like a
ilock, * by the hand of Moses and
Aaron.
1 SLH.
2 The next few verses perhaps relate to the refusal of the children of Israel to in-
vade the Land of Promise when they first reached it, owing to fear of the inhabitants.
INumb. xiv.
Psalm LXXVII.
[Intituled " A didactic (?) poem of
Asaph."]
GIVE ear, O my people, to my
law : * incline your ears to
the words of my mouth.
1 will open my mouth in para-
bles : * I will utter dark sayings
of old.
Which we have heard and known,
* and our fathers have told us.
They are not hidden from their
children, * in the generation to
come :
Showing the praises of the Lord,
and His mighty acts, * and His
wonderful works that He hath done.
He established also a testimony
in Jacob, * and appointed a law
in Israel.
Which He commanded our fathers
that they should make known to
their children : * that the generation
to come may know them,
Even the children which shall be
born and arise, * and declare them
to their children ;
That they may set their hope in
God, and not forget the works of
God, * but keep His command-
ments.
And may not be as their fathers,
* a stubborn and rebellious gen-
eration,
A generation that set not their
heart aright, * and whose spirit
was not steadfast with God.
2 The children of Ephraim bend-
ing and shooting with bows, * turned
back in the day of battle.
They kept not the covenant of
132
THE PSALTER.
God, * and refused to walk in
His law.
And forgot His works, * and
His wonders that He had showed
them.
Marvellous things did He in the
sight of their fathers, in the land of
Egypt, * in the plain of Tanis.1
He divided the sea, and caused
them to pass through, * and He
made the waters to stand as an
heap.
In the day - time also He led
them with a cloud, * and all the
night with a light of fire.
He clave the rock in the wil-
derness, * and gave them drink
as out of the great depth.
He brought water also out of
the rock, * and caused waters to
run down like rivers.
And they sinned yet more against
Him, * and provoked the Most
High in the wilderness.
And they tempted God in their
hearts, * to ask meat for their
lust.
Yea, they spake against God : *
they said : Can God furnish a table
in the wilderness ?
Behold, He smote the rock, and
the waters gushed out, * and the
streams overflowed.
Can He give bread also, * or
furnish a table for His people?
Therefore the Lord heard this,
and was wroth : * so a fire was
kindled against Jacob, and anger
came up against Israel.
Because they believed not in
God, * and trusted not in His
salvation.
And He commanded the clouds
from above, * and opened the
doors of heaven.
And rained down manna upon
them to eat, * and gave them of
the bread of heaven.
Man did eat Angels' bread : *
He sent them meat to the full.
He caused an east wind to
blow in the heaven : * and by His
power He brought in the south
wind.
He rained flesh also upon them
as dust, * and feathered fowls like
as the sand of the sea.
And it fell in the midst of their
camp, * round about their habita-
tions.
So they did eat, and were well
filled, and He gave them their own
desire : * they were not disap-
pointed of their lust.
But while their meat was yet in
their mouths : * the wrath of God
came upon them,
And slew the fattest of them, *
and smote down the chosen men
of Israel.
For all this they sinned still, *
and believed not in His wondrous
works.
Therefore their days were con-
sumed in vanity, * and their years
in trouble.
When He slew them, they sought
Him : * and they returned, and
enquired early after God.
And they remembered that God
was their strength, * and the High
God their redeemer.
Yet they flattered Him with their
mouth, * and lied unto Him with
their tongue.
For their heart was not right
1 An ancient city (mentioned here and subsequently) in Lower Egypt, called both by
a Shemitic name, Zoan, as well as by its Egyptian name, surrounded by plains, and close to
the natural and constant border of Palestine.
THURSDAY AT MATTINS.
133
with Him, * neither were they
steadfast in His covenant.
But He being full of compassion,
forgave their iniquity, * and de-
stroyed them not.
Yea, many a time did He turn
His anger away, * and did not stir
up all His wrath.
He remembered also that they
were but flesh ; * a wind that
passeth away and cometh not
again.
How often did they provoke
Him in the wilderness ? * grieve
Him to anger in the desert?
Yea, they turned again, and
tempted God, * and provoked the
Holy One of Israel.
They remembered not His hand,
* in the day when He delivered
them from the hand of the op-
pressor.
How He set His signs in Egypt,
* and His wonders in the plain of
Tanis.
And turned their rivers into
blood : * and their floods, that
they could not drink.
He sent divers sorts of flies
among them, which devoured them :
* and frogs, which destroyed them.
He gave also their increase unto
the caterpillar, * and their labour
unto the locust.
And He destroyed their vines
with hail, * and their sycamore
trees with frost.
He gave up their cattle also to
the hail, * and their flocks to hot
thunderbolts.
He cast upon them the fierceness
of His anger, * indignation, and
wrath, and trouble, by sending evil
Angels among them.
He made a way to His anger;
He spared not their soul from
death, * and cut off their cattle in
death with them.
He smote also every first-born in
the land of Egypt : * the first-fruits
of all their labour in the tabernacles
of Ham.
And made His own people to go
forth like sheep : * and guided them
in the wilderness like a flock.
And He led them on in hope,
and they feared not : * and He
overwhelmed their enemies in the
sea.
And He brought them to the
mountain of His Sanctuary, * even
the mountain, which His right hand
hath purchased.
He cast out the heathen also
before them, * and allotted the land
among them by line,
And made the tribes of Israel to
dwell * in their tents.
Yet they tempted and provoked
the Most High God, * and kept not
His testimonies.
And turned back, and observed
not His covenant, * like their
fathers ; they were turned aside like
a deceitful bow.
They provoked Him to anger
with their high places, * and moved
Him to jealousy with their graven
images.
God heard it and cast them out :
* and brought Israel utterly to
nought.
He forsook also the tabernacle of
Shiloh, * even His tabernacle, where
He dwelt among men.
And He delivered their strength
into captivity, * and their beauty
into the enemy's hand.
He gave His people over also
unto the sword : * and cast off His
inheritance.
The fire consumed their young
134
THE PSALTER.
men : * and their maidens made no
funeral song.
Their priests fell by the sword :
* and their widows made no lamen-
tation.
Then the Lord awaked as one
out of sleep, * like a mighty man
heated with wine.
And He smote His enemies in
the hinder part : * He put them to
a perpetual shame.
Moreover, He refused the taber-
nacle of Joseph, * and chose not the
tribe of Ephraim.
But chose the tribe of Judah, *
Mount Zion, which he loved.
And He built His sanctuary like
the horn of an unicorn upon the
earth, * which He hath established
for ever.
He chose David also His servant,
and took him from the sheepfolds :
* from following the ewes great with
young He brought him,
To feed Jacob His servant, * and
Israel His inheritance.
So he fed them according to the
integrity of his heart : * and guided
them by the skilfulness of his hands.
Antiphon. 1 Thou art the God
That doest wonders.
Sixth Antiphon. Be merciful.
Psalm LXXVIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of Asaph."]
f~\ GOD, the heathen are come
^-^ into Thine inheritance, Thine
holy temple have they denied : *
they have made Jerusalem like an
heap of stones in an orchard.
The dead bodies of Thy servants
have they given to be meat unto
the fowls of the heaven, * the flesh
of Thy saints unto the beasts of the
earth.
Their blood have they shed like
water round about Jerusalem : * and
there was none to bury them.
We are become a reproach to our
neighbours, * a scorn and derision
to them that are round about us.
How long, Lord? wilt Thou be
angry for ever ? * shall Thy jealousy
burn like fire ?
Pour out Thy wrath upon the
heathen, that have not known Thee,
* and upon the kingdoms that have
not called upon Thy name !
For they have devoured Jacob,
* and laid waste His dwelling-place.
O remember not against us our
former iniquities, let Thy tender
mercies speedily overtake us : * for
we are brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation,
and for the glory of Thy name de-
liver us, O Lord : * and forgive our
sins, for Thy name's sake.
Lest haply they should say among
the heathen : Where is their God ?
* And make known among the
nations in our sight
The vengeance of the blood of
Thy servants, which is shed : * let
the sighing of the prisoners come
before Thee.
According to the greatness of
Thine arm, * preserve Thou the
children of the slain.
And render unto our neighbours
sevenfold into their bosom : * their
reproach wherewith they have re-
proached Thee, O Lord !
But we Thy people, and sheep
of Thy pasture, * will give Thee
thanks for ever :
We will show forth Thy praise *
to all generations.
Ps. Ixxvi. 15.
THURSDAY AT MATTINS.
135
Psalm LXXIX.
[Intituled "A Psalm of Asaph," with a
direction, perhaps musical, the meaning
of which is not now certain. The LXX.
adds "concerning the Assyrian," probably
meaning that it was used as a prayer
after the destruction of Jerusalem by
Nebuchadnezzar. ]
GIVE ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
* Thou That leadest Joseph
like a flock.
Thou That sittest upon the Cheru-
bim, * shine forth before Ephraim,
Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Stir up Thy strength, and come
* and save us.
Turn us again, O God, * and
cause Thy face to shine, and we
shall be saved.
O Lord God of hosts, * how
long wilt Thou be angry against the
prayer of Thy servant ?
Wilt Thou feed us with the bread
of tears, * and give us tears to drink
in great measure ?
Thou makest us a strife unto our
neighbours : * and our enemies jest
upon us.
Turn us again, O God of hosts :
* and cause Thy face to shine, and
we shall be saved.
Thou hast brought a vine out of
Egypt : * Thou hast cast out the
heathen and planted it.
Thou preparedst room before it :
* Thou didst cause it to take deep
root, and it filled the land.
The hills were covered with the
shadow of it, * and the cedars of
God with the boughs thereof.
She sent out her boughs unto the
sea, * and her branches unto the
river.1
Why hast Thou broken down her
hedge ? * so that all they which
pass by the way do pluck her?
The boar out of the wood doth
root it up, * and the wild beast of
the field doth devour it.
Return, O God of hosts : * look
down from heaven, and behold, and
visit this vine ;
And protect that Thy right hand
hath planted, * and the son of man
whom Thou madest strong for Thy-
self.
It is burnt with fire, and cut
down : * they shall perish at the
rebuke of Thy countenance.
Let Thine hand be upon the man
of Thy right hand, * and upon the
son of man whom Thou madest
strong for Thyself.
So will we not go back from
Thee ; * quicken us, and we will
call upon Thy name.
Turn us again, O Lord God of
hosts : * and cause Thy face to
shine, and we shall be saved.
Antiphon. 2 Be merciful unto our
sins, O Lord.
Antiphon in Paschal time. Al-
leluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Then is said a Verse and Answer.
In Advent.
Verse. Out of Zion, the Per-
fection of beauty,
Answer. Our God shall come
manifestly.
During the rest of the year.
Verse. 3 My lips shall be fain
when I sing unto Thee.
Answer. And my soul, which
Thou hast redeemed.
1 That is, the dominion of the Israelites stretched from the Mediterranean to the
Euphrates. 2 Ps. lxxviii. 9. 3 Ps. lxx. 23.
136
THE PSALTER.
In Lent.
Verse. He hath delivered me
from the snare of the fowler.
Answer. And from the noisome
pestilence.
In Passion time.
Verse. O God, deliver my soul
from the sword.
Answer. And my darling from
the power of the dog.
In Paschal time.
Verse. The Lord is risen from
the grave, Alleluia.
Answer. Who hung for us upon
the tree, Alleluia.
The rest is the same as the First
Nocturn on the preceding Sunday, only
the Lessons, and so?netimes the Respon-
sories, are those of the day.
m
^huvsliap at Jaxtbs.
THE FIFTH DAY OF THE WEEK.
All as on Sunday, except as otherwise
given here.
The Psalms are as follows :
Antiphon. Against Thee, Thee
only.
Psalm L.
Have mercy upon me, &c., {p.
87).
Antiphon. Against Thee, Thee
only, have I sinqed, have mercy
upon me, O Lord !
Second Antiphon. Lord.
If this Antiphon be used, the Psalm
begins with the words, " Thou hast
been."
Psalm LXXXIX.
[Intituled "A Prayer of Moses the man
of God."]
ORD, Thou hast been our re-
Jr-' fuge * in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought
forth, or ever the earth and the
world were formed, * even from
everlasting to everlasting, Thou art
God.
Turn not man to destruction ; *
for Thou sayest, Return, ye children
of men.
For a thousand years in Thy sight
* are but as yesterday when it is past,
And their years shall be reckoned
vol. 1.
as nothing, * even as a watch in
the night.
In the morning they are like
grass which soon fadeth away : in
the morning it flourisheth, and
then it fadeth away: * in the,
evening it is cut down, drieth up,
and withereth.
For we are consumed by Thine
anger : * and by Thy wrath are
we troubled.
Thou hast set our iniquities be-
fore Thee, * our life in the light
of Thy countenance.
For all our days are passed away,.
* and we are consumed by Thine.-
anger.
The works whereon we toil all
our years are but frail structures
like a spider's web : * the days of
our years are threescore years and
ten :
And if by reason of strength they
be fourscore years, * yet is their
increase but labour and sorrow :
For weakness cometh, * and we
are cut off.
Who knoweth the power of Thine
anger, * or can measure Thy wrath,
that he may fear Thee as Thou
oughtest to be feared?
Show Thou the might of Thy
right hand ; * and apply our hearts
to wisdom.
138
THE PSALTER.
Return, O Lord, how long? *
and let it intreat Thee concerning
Thy servants.
Thou hast satisfied us early with
Thy mercy, * and we rejoice and
are glad all our days.
We are gladdened for the days
wherein Thou hast afflicted us ; *
for the years wherein we have seen
evil.
Look upon Thy servants, and
upon Thy works, * and establish
their children.
And let the beauty of the Lord
our God be upon us ; and establish
Thou the work of our hands upon
us : * yea, the work of our hands
establish Thou it.
Antiphon. Lord, Thou hast
been our refuge.
Third Antiphon, I meditate.
Psalms LXIL, LXVI.
O God, Thou art my God, &c,
(A ?3>
Antiphon. I meditate upon Thee
in the night watches.
Fourth Antiphon. Let us sing.
If this Antiphon be used the Canticle
begins with the words, " Unto the
Lord."
The Song of Moses (Exod. xv.)
[On the occasion of the successful escape
of the Israelites through the Red Sea.]
ET us sing unto the Lord, for
*-* He hath triumphed gloriously :
* the horse and his rider hath He
thrown into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and
my song, * and He is become
my salvation :
1 But in the present Hebrew text,
He is my God, and I will glorify
Him : * my father's God, and I
will exalt Him.
The Lord is like a man of war :
"The Almighty"1 is His name.
* Pharaoh's chariots and his host
hath He cast into the sea.
His chosen captains are drowned
in the Red Sea. * The depths have
covered them : they sank into the
bottom as a stone.
Thy right hand, O Lord, is be-
come glorious in power : Thy right
hand, O Lord, hath shattered the
enemy. * And in the greatness
of Thy majesty Thou hast over-
thrown them that rose up against
Thee.
Thou sentest forth Thy wrath,
which consumed them as stubble.
* And with the blast of Thy fury
the waters were gathered together,
The floods stood upright, * and
the depths were congealed in the
heart of the sea.
The enemy said : I will pursue
and overtake, * I will divide the
spoil ; my soul shall be sated upon
them :
I will draw my sword, * mine
hand shall destroy them.
Thy wind blew, and the sea
covered them ; * they sank as lead
in the mighty waters.
Who is like unto Thee, O Lord,
among the mighty? * who is like
unto Thee, glorious in holiness,
terrible, and worthy to be praised,
doing wonders?
Thou stretchedst out Thy right
hand, and the earth swallowed them.
* Thou in Thy mercy hast led
forth the people which Thou hast
redeemed :
And hast borne them in Thy
here stands again the Divine name.
THURSDAY AT LAUDS.
139
strength, * unto Thine holy habi-
tation.
The people came up and were
angry : * sorrow took hold on the
inhabitants of Philistia.
Then the princes of Edom were
amazed, the mighty men of Moab,
trembling took hold upon them : *
all the inhabitants of Chanaan
melted away.
Let fear and dread fall upon
them, * by the greatness of Thine
arm :
Let them be as still as a stone :
till Thy people pass over, O Lord,
* till Thy people pass over, which
Thou hast purchased.
Thou shalt bring them in and
plant them in the mountain of
Thine inheritance, * in Thy most
sure dwelling, which Thou hast
made, O Lord :
In the Sanctuary, O Lord, which
Thine hands have established.
* The Lord shall reign for ever
and ever.
For the horse of Pharaoh went
in with his chariots and with his
horsemen into the sea, * and the
Lord brought again the waters of
the sea upon them :
But the children of Israel went on
dry land * in the midst of the sea.
Antiphon. Let us sing gloriously
unto the Lord.
Fifth Antiphon. Praise God.
Psalms CXLVIII., CXLIX., CL.
Praise ye the Lord, &c, (pp. 25,
26).
Antiphon.
Sanctuary.
Praise God in His
Chapter. (Rom. xiii. 12.)
The night is far spent, &c, (as
on Monday, p. 89).
Hymn.1
CEE, the golden dawn is glowing,
**J While the paly shades are going,
Which have led us far and long,
In a labyrinth of wrong.
May it bring us peace serene ;
May it cleanse, as it is clean ;
Plain and clear our words be spoke,
And our thoughts without a cloak ;
So the day's account shall stand,
Guileless tongue and holy hand,
Steadfast eyes and unbeguiled,
" Flesh as of a little child."
There is One Who from above
Watches how the still hours move
Of our day of service done,
From the dawn to setting sun.
To the Father, and the Son,
And the Spirit, Three and One,
As of old, and as in Heaven,
Now and here be glory given.
Amen.
Verse. Thou hast satisfied us
early with Thy mercy.
Answer. We rejoice and are
glad.
Antiphon for the Song of Zacharias.
Let us serve the Lord * in holiness,
and He will deliver us from our
enemies.
Commemoration of the Cross before
the other Commemorations, and Long
Preces in Advent and Lent, and on
Fast-days, as on Monday.
1 Extracted from hymn by Prudentius ; translation by the late Card. Newman.
140
Jfriiag at Jttattins.
THE SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.
All as on Sunday, except as otherwise
given here.
Invitatory. Let us worship the
Lord, for * He is our Maker.
Hymn.1
TV/TAY the dread Three in One, Who
■*■*■*• sways
All with His sovereign might,
Accept from us this hymn of praise,
His watchers in the night.
For in the night, when all is still,
We spurn our bed and rise,
To find the balm for ghostly ill,
His bounteous hand supplies.
If e'er by night our envious foe
With guilt our souls would stain,
May the deep streams of mercy flow,
And make us white again ;
That so with bodies braced and bright,
And hearts awake within,
All fresh and keen may burn our light,
Undimmed, unsoiled by sin.
Shine on Thine own, Redeemer sweet !
Thy radiance increate
Through the long day shall keep our
feet,
In their pure morning state.
Grant this, O Father, Only Son,
And Spirit, God of grace,
To whom all worship shall be done
In every time and place.
Amen.
Only one Nocturn is said.
Antiphon. Sing aloud.
If this Antiphon be used the Psalm
begins with the words, " Unto God our
strength."
In Paschal time only one Antiphon is
said for the whole Nocturn. Alleluia.
Psalm LXXX.
[Intituled "Of Asaph." It has a super-
scription of meaning now uncertain, but
part of which perhaps means that it was
a Hymn for the vintage.]
SING aloud unto God our strength i
* make a joyful noise unto the
God of Jacob.
Take a psalm, and bring hither
the timbrel: * the pleasant harp
with the psaltery.
Blow the trumpet in the new
moon,2 * in the time appointed,
on our solemn feast-day.
1 From a hymn of the Ambrosian school, very slightly altered ; translation by the late
Card. Newman.
- The ordinance referred to in this and the next verses is found in Numb. x. "And the
Lord spake unto Moses, saying : Make thee two trumpets of silver, of a whole piece shalt
thou make them. . . . And in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and
in the heginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt-offerings,
and over the sacrifices of your peace-offerings ; that they may be to you for a memorial
before God. I am the Lord your God."
FRIDAY AT MATTINS.
141
For this is a statute for Israel :
* and a law of the God of Jacob.
This He ordained in Joseph for
a testimony, when he went out of
the land of Egypt : * he heard a
language that he understood not.
He removed his shoulder from
the burden, * his hands were done
with slaving over the baskets.
Thou calledst upon Me in trouble,
and I delivered thee : * I answered
thee in the secret place of thunder : I
proved thee at the waters of strife.1
Hear, O My people, and I will
testify unto thee : * O Israel, if
thou wilt hearken unto Me, there
shall no strange god be in thee,
neither shalt thou worship any
strange god.
For I am the Lord thy God,
Who brought thee out of the land
of Egypt : * open thy mouth wide
and I will fill it.
But My people would not hearken
unto My voice : * and Israel would
not obey Me :
So I gave them up unto their
own hearts' lust : * they walked
in their own counsels.
0 that My people had heark-
ened unto Me, * that Israel had
walked in My ways!
1 should quickly have brought
their enemies under them, * and
turned Mine hand against their
adversaries.
The haters of the Lord would
have feigned submission unto Him :
* but their time should have en-
dured for ever.
He would have fed them also
with the finest of the wheat : *
and with honey out of the rock
would He have satisfied them.
1 SLH. For "the waters of Meribah " or
3 SLH. 3 This verse was quoted by
Psalm LXXXI.
[Intituled "A Psalm of Asaph."]
/^*OD standeth in the congrega-
^-J tion of the mighty : * He
judgeth among the judges.
How long do ye judge unjustly,
* and accept the person of the
wicked ? 2
Defend the poor and fatherless :
* do justice to the afflicted and
needy.
Deliver the poor, * and rid the
needy out of the hand of the wicked.
They know not, neither do they
understand, they walk on in dark-
ness : * all the foundations of the
earth are out of course.
3 1 have said : Ye are gods, *
and all of you are children of the
Most High;
But ye shall die like men : *
and fall like one of the princes.
Arise, O God, judge the earth :
* for Thou shalt inherit all na-
tions.
Antiphon. 4 Sing aloud unto
God our strength.
Second Antiphon. Thou alone.
Psalm LXXXI I.
[Intituled "A Song. A Psalm of
Asaph."]
OGOD, who shall be likened
unto Thee? * hold not Thy
peace, and be not still, O God.
For, lo, Thine enemies make a
tumult : * and they that hate Thee
have lifted up the head.
They have taken crafty counsel
against Thy people, * and con-
sulted against Thine holy ones.
"strife," see note on Ps. xciv., p. 2.
our Lord. John x. 34. 4 Ps. Ixxx. 2.
142
THE PSALTER.
They have said : Come and let
us cut them off from being a na-
tion : * that the name of Israel
may be no more in remembrance.
For they have consulted together
with one consent : * they are con-
federate against Thee : the taberna-
cles of Edom,1 and the Ishmaelites.
Of Moab, and the Hagarenes ;
Gebal, and Ammon, Amalek, * the
"Strangers" with the inhabitants
of Tyre.
Assur also is joined with them :
* they have holpen the children
of Lot.2
Do unto them as unto Midian,3
and Sisera : * as unto Jabin, at
the brook of Kishon.
They perished at Endor : * they
became as dung for the earth.
Make their nobles like Oreb
and like Zeeb ; * as Zebah and
Zalmunna,
All their princes : * who said :
Let us take to ourselves the Sanc-
tuary of God in possession.
O my God, make them like a
wheel [of whirling dust] ; * and as
the stubble before the wind !
As the fire that burneth a wood,
* and as the flame that setteth the
mountains on fire.
So pursue them with Thy tem-
pest, * and trouble them in Thine
anger.
Fill their faces with shame : * and
they will seek Thy Name, O Lord !
Let them be confounded and
troubled for ever : * yea, let them
be put to shame and perish.
And let men know that Thy
name is the Lord : * Thou alone
art the Most High over all the
earth.
PsalmLXXXIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of the sons of
Korah. " It has the same superscription as
Ps. lxx., referring possibly to the vintage.
It reads as if it were a pilgrim-song refer-
ring to the going up of all the males of
Israel to Jerusalem to observe the Feast of
Tabernacles, when harvest and vintage were
over.]
TTOW lovely are Thy taberna-
-*■ *■ cles, O Lord of hosts ! *
my soul longeth and fainteth for
the courts of the Lord j
Mine heart and my flesh * rejoice
for the living God.
Yea, the sparrow hath found an
house, * and the dove a nest for
herself, where she may lay her
young,
Even Thine altars, O Lord of
hosts, * my King and my God !
Blessed are they that dwell in
Thine house, O Lord ; * they will
be ever praising Thee.2
Blessed is the man whose strength
is from Thee ; * who hath settled in
his heart to go up [to thy Sanctu-
ary,] through the vale of tears,4 to
the place which he hath appointed.
He That hath given the Law will
1 Of the list of tribes in the next few verses, the Ishmaelites are the inhabitants of Edom;
Moab, and the Hagarenes, Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, tribes to the south and south-east of
Canaan ; the "Strangers" are the Philistines; Assur is Assyria; the children of Lot are
the Moabites and Ammonites. 2 SLH.
3 The Midianites invaded Israel during the Judgeship of Gideon, who defeated them.
Barak had previously, by a great victory between the Kishon and Endor, delivered his
people from the tyranny of Jabin king of the Canaanites, whose general, Sisera, lost his life
on the occasion. Oreb and Zeeb were two princes, and Zebah and Zalmunna two kings of
the Midianites, whom the Israelites took prisoners and put to death on the second occasion.
See Judges iv.-viii.
4 Hebrew, "of Baca," probably the proper name of a place, but, literally, "weeping."
FRIDAY AT MATTINS.
H3
give His blessing ; they shall go
from strength to strength : * they
appear before the God of gods in
Zion.
0 Lord God of hosts, hear my
prayer : * give ear, O God of Ja-
cob ! x
Behold, O God, our shield : *
and look upon the face of Thine
Anointed.
For a day in Thy courts is better
* than a thousand.
1 had rather be a menial in the
house of my God, * than to dwell
in the tents of wickedness.
For God loveth mercy and truth :
* the Lord will give grace and
glory.
No good thing will He withhold
from them that walk uprightly. *
O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man
that trusteth in Thee !
Antiphon. 2Thou alone art the
Most High over all the earth.
Third Antiphon. Lord.
If this Antiphon be used the Psalm
begins with the words " Thou hast been
favourable."
Psalm LXXXIV.
[Intituled "A Psalm of the sons of
Korah," with the usual (now uncertain)
superscription.]
ORD, Thou hast been favour-
-*— ' able unto Thy land : * Thou
hast brought back the captivity of
Jacob.
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of
Thy people : * Thou hast covered
all their sins.1
Thou hast taken away all Thy
wrath : * Thou hast turned Thyself
from the fierceness of Thine anger.
Turn us, O God of our salvation,
* and cause Thine anger towards us
to cease.
Wilt Thou be angry with us for
ever? * wilt Thou draw out Thine
anger to all generations ?
0 God, Thou shalt again quicken
us : * and Thy people shall rejoice
in Thee.
Show us Thy mercy, O Lord ! *
and grant us Thy salvation.
1 will hear what the Lord God
will speak in me : * for He will
speak peace unto His people,
And to His saints, * and unto
them that are changed in heart,
Surely His salvation is nigh them
that fear Him, * that glory may
dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth have met to-
gether : * righteousness and peace
have kissed each other.
Truth hath sprung out of the
earth : * and righteousness hath
looked down from heaven.
Yea, the Lord shall give that
which is good : * and our land shall
yield her increase.
Righteousness shall go before
Him : * and shall set His footsteps
in the way.
Psalm LXXXV.
[Intituled "A Prayer of David."]
"DOW down Thine ear, O Lord,
*~-* and hear me : * for I am poor
and needy.
Preserve my soul, for I am holy :
* O Thou my God, save Thy servant
that trusteth in Thee.
Be merciful unto me, O Lord, for
I cry unto Thee all the day long : *
rejoice the soul of Thy servant, for
1 SLH.
2 Ps. lxxxii. 19.
;i44
THE PSALTER.
upon me : * give Thy strength unto
Thy servant, and save the son of
Thine handmaid !
Show me a token for good, that
they which hate me may see it and be
ashamed : * because Thou, O Lord,
hast holpen me, and comforted me.
Antiphon. 1 Lord, Thou hast
been favourable unto Thy land.
Fourth Antiphon. Her foundation.
If this Antiphon be used the Psalm
begins with the words, "Is in the holy
mountains."
Psalm LXXXVI.
[Intituled " A Psalm. A Song of the
sons of Korah." The Targum adds that it
was based upon words of the ancients,
perhaps meaning that the two first verses
before the SLH were an ancient saying to
which the rest was a later addition. ]
TIER foundation is in the holy
unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my
soul.
For Thou, Lord, art good and
ready to forgive, * and plenteous
in mercy to all them that call upon
Thee.
Give ear, O Lord, unto my
prayer : * and attend to the voice
of my supplication.
In the day of my trouble I called
upon Thee, * for Thou hast heard
me.
Among the gods there is none like
unto Thee, O Lord : * neither are
there any works like unto Thy works.
All nations whom Thou hast
made shall come and worship be-
fore Thee, O Lord : * and shall
glorify Thy name.
For Thou art great and doest won-
drous things : * Thou art God alone.
Teach me Thy way, O Lord,
and I will walk in Thy truth : *
let mine heart be glad, that it may
fear Thy name.
I will praise Thee, O Lord my
God, with all mine heart, * and I
will glorify Thy name for evermore.
For great is Thy mercy toward
me : * and Thou hast delivered my
soul from the lowest hell.
O God, the wicked are risen
against me, and the assemblies of
violent men have sought after my
soul, * and have not set Thee before
them.
But Thou, O Lord, art a God full
of compassion and gracious, * long-
suffering, and plenteous in mercy
and truth.
O look upon me, and have mercy
1 Vs. lxxxiv. 2.
3 That is "the Insolent One," namely, Egypt. 4 I.e., the Philistines.
5 Is the meaning that Jerusalem shall be illustrious as the birth-place of all kinds of
distinguished persons? The Targum, curiously enough, says that the persons meant are
David and Solomon, whereas David is a native of Bethlehem.
8 Displaced from the beginning of the next verse.
mountains : * the Lord lov-
eth the gates of Zion more than all
the dwellings of Jacob !
Glorious things are spoken of
thee, * O city of God ! 2
I will make mention of Rahab8
and Babylon * that know me.
Behold the "Strangers,"4 and
Tyre, and the people of Ethiopia, *
these were there —
And of Zion shall it not be said :
This and that man was born in her,
* and the Highest Himself hath
established her ? 5
The Lord shall make count,
when He writeth up the people [and
the princes,] 6 * of all that are in her.2
All they that dwell in thee * are
in gladness.
SLH.
FRIDAY AT MATTINS.
H5
Psalm LXXXVII.
[This Psalm has a long superscription, in
which its authorship is attributed to Heman
the Ezrahite, one of five brothers, descen-
dants of Zarah, the son of Judah. Four of
them were celebrated for wisdom. 3 (1)
Kings iv. 31. This Psalm was written for
the sons of Korah, and intended to be sung
with an accompaniment of pipes and flutes.]
OLORD God of my salvation, *
I have cried day and night
before Thee.
Let my prayer come before Thee ;
* incline Thine ear unto my cry.
For my soul is full of troubles : *
and my life draweth nigh unto the
grave.
I am counted with them that go
down into the pit : * I am as a
man that hath no strength, lying
nerveless among the dead,
Like the pierced that lie in the
grave, whom Thou rememberest no
more : * and they are cast off from
Thine hand.
They have laid me in the lowest
pit, * in darkness and in the shadow
of death.
Thy wrath lieth hard upon me,
* and Thou hast afflicted me with
all Thy waves.1
Thou hast put away mine ac-
quaintance far from me : * they
have made me an abomination unto
them.
I am shut up, and cannot come
forth : * mine eyes fail by reason
of affliction.
Lord, I have called daily upon
Thee : * I have stretched out my
hands unto Thee !
Wilt Thou show wonders to the
dead ? * or can physicians quicken
them, so that they may praise
Thee ? x
Shall Thy loving - kindness be
1 SLH.
declared in the grave, * and Thy
faithfulness in destruction ?
Shall Thy wonders be known in
the dark, * and Thy righteousness
in the land of forgetfulness ?
But unto Thee have I cried, O
Lord : * and in the morning shall
my prayer come before Thee.
Lord, why castest Thou off my
prayer, * why hidest Thou Thy face
from me ?
I am afflicted, and in toil from
my youth up : * and when I was
lifted up, then was I brought down
and troubled :
Thy fierce wrath goeth over me,
* and Thy terrors have troubled me.
They came round about me all
the day like a flood : * they com-
passed me about together.
Friend and neighbour hast Thou
put far from me, * mine acquaint-
ance also, because of my misery.
Antiphon. 2 Her foundation is
in the holy mountains.
Fifth Antiphon. Blessed.
Psalm LXXXVIII.
[Intituled " A didactic (?) Poem of Ethan
the Ezrahite." This Ethan was a brother
of the author of the last Psalm. ]
I WILL sing of the mercies * of
the Lord for ever.
With my mouth will I make
known Thy faithfulness * to all
generations.
For Thou hast said : Mercy shall
be built up for ever in the heavens :
* Thy faithfulness shall be estab-
lished in them.
I have made a covenant with My
chosen, I have sworn unto David
My servant : * thy seed will I
establish for ever.
2 Ps. lxxxvi. I.
146
THE PSALTER.
And build up thy throne * to
all generations.1
And the heavens shall praise Thy
wonders, O Lord ; * Thy faithful-
ness also in the congregation of the
Saints —
For who in heaven can be com-
pared unto the Lord ? * Who
among the sons of God can be
likened unto God ?
God, Which is glorious in the
assembly of the saints, * great
and terrible to all them that are
about Him.
O Lord God of hosts, who is
like unto Thee ? * Thou art strong,
O Lord, and Thy faithfulness is
round about Thee !
Thou rulest the raging of the
sea : * when the waves thereof
arise Thou stillest them.
Thou hast broken the " Inso-
lent " one,2 as one that is slain :,
* Thou hast scattered Thine ene-
mies with Thy strong arm.
The heavens are Thine, the
earth also is Thine, as for the
world and the fulness thereof
Thou hast founded them : * the
North and the South Thou hast
created them :
3 Tabor and Hermon shall re-
joice in Thy name. * Thou hast
a mighty arm.
Strong is Thine hand, and high
Thy right hand : * justice and
judgment are the foundations of
Thy throne.
Mercy and truth shall go before
Thy face. * Blessed is the people
that know the joyful sound !
They shall walk, O Lord, in
the light of Thy countenance, and
in Thy name shall they rejoice all
the day : * in Thy righteousness
also shall they be exalted.
For thou art the glory of their
strength : * and in Thy favour
our horn shall be exalted.
For of the Lord is our de-
fence, * and of the Holy One of
Israel is our King.
Then Thou spakest in vision to
Thine holy ones, and saidst : * I
have laid help upon one that is
mighty, and have exalted one
chosen out of My people.
I have found David My ser-
vant : * with Mine holy oil have I
anointed him.
For Mine hand shall help him :
* Mine arm also shall strengthen
him.
The enemy shall prevail nothing
against him : * nor the son of
wickedness afflict him.
And I will beat down his foes
before his face, * and put them
that hate him to flight.
And My truth and My mercy
shall be with him : * and in My
Name shall his horn be exalted.
I will set his hand also in the
sea, * and his right hand in the
rivers.4
He shall cry unto me : Thou
art my Father, * my God, and
the rock of my salvation.
5 Also I will make him My first-
born, * higher than the kings of
the earth.
My mercy will I keep for him
1 SLH. 2 Rahab -*".*., Egypt.
3 Two prominent mountains in the North of Syria.
4 That is ; — " I will make his power to be bounded on the West by the Mediterranean,
and on the East by the Tigris and Euphrates."
6 The next verses are a sort of quotation of the Divine message given by Nathan to
David. 2 Kings (Sam.) vii. 14-16.
FRIDAY AT MATTINS.
H7
for evermore, * and My covenant
shall stand fast with him.
His seed also will I make to
endure for ever, * and his throne
as the days of heaven.
But if his children forsake My
law, * and walk not in My judg-
ments,—
If they break My statutes, * and
keep not My commandments,
Then I will visit their trans-
gressions with the rod, * and
their iniquity with stripes.
Nevertheless My loving-kindness
will I not utterly take from him,
* nor fail in My truth.
My covenant also will I not break,
* nor make void the thing that is
gone out of My lips.
Once have I sworn by Mine
holiness, that I will not lie unto
David : * his seed shall endure for
ever,
And his throne, as the sun before
Me : * and as the full moon for
ever, and as the faithful witness in
heaven.1
But Thou hast cast off and de-
spised, * Thou hast put away Thine
Anointed.
Thou hast made void the cove-
nant of Thy servant : * Thou hast
profaned his crown [by casting] it
to the ground.
Thou hast broken down all his
hedges : * Thou hast brought his
strongholds to ruin.
All that pass by the way spoil
him : * he is a reproach to his
neighbours.
Thou hast set up the right hand
of his adversaries : * Thou hast
made all his enemies to rejoice.
Thou hast turned the edge of his
sword, * and hast not upholden him
in battle.
Thou hast made his brightness to-
cease, * and cast his throne down
to the ground.
The days of his youth hast Thou
shortened : * Thou hast covered
him with shame.2
How long, Lord, wilt Thou hide
Thyself, for ever? * Shall Thy
wrath burn like fire?
Remember how short my time is t
* wherefore hast Thou made all the
sons of men in vain ?
What man is he that liveth, and
shall not see death ? * Shall he
deliver his soul from the hand of
the grave ? 2
Lord, where are Thy former lov-
ing-kindnesses, * which Thou swarest
unto David in Thy truth ?
Remember, Lord, the reproach of
Thy servants, * (that I bear in my
bosom) even the reproach of many
people —
Wherewith Thine enemies have
reproached, O Lord — * wherewith
they have reproached the woes of
Thine Anointed.
Blessed be the Lord for ever-
more ! * Amen, Amen.3
Psalm XC 1 1 1.
[The Vulgate and the LXX. ascribe this
Psalm to David, and assign it to the fourth
day of the week. ]
XHE Lord God to Whom ven-
*~ geance belongeth, * the God
to Whom vengeance belongeth hath
shown Himself.
Lift up Thyself, Thou judge of
1 SLH. Is the "faithful witness" the rainbow? See Gen. ix. (Thursday after Sexa-
gesima Sunday. ) 2 SLH.
3 Here ends the third of the five books into which the Psalter is divided.
148
THE PSALTER.
the earth : * render a reward to the
proud.
Lord, how long shall the wicked,
* how long shall the wicked
triumph ?
How long shall they utter and
speak iniquity ? * all the workers of
wickedness boast themselves ?
They crush Thy people, O Lord !
* and afflict Thine heritage.
They slay the widow and the
stranger, * and murder the father-
less.
Yet they say : The Lord shall
not see, * neither shall the God of
Jacob understand.
Understand, ye brutish among the
people ! * and ye fools, some time
be wise !
He That planted the ear, shall He
not hear ? * or He That formed the
eye, can He not see ?
He That chastiseth the heathen,
shall not He correct? * He That
teacheth man knowledge?
The Lord knoweth the thoughts
of men, * that they are vanity.
Blessed is the man whom Thou
chastenest, O Lord, * and teachest
out of Thy law.
That Thou mayest give him rest
from the days of adversity, * until
the pit be digged for the wicked.
For the Lord will not cast off
His people, * neither will He for-
sake His inheritance.
Until righteousness return unto
judgment, * and all the upright in
heart follow it.
Who will rise up for me against
the evil-doers ? * or who will stand
up with me against the workers of
iniquity ?
Unless the Lord had been mine
help, * my soul had almost dwelt
in the grave.
When I said : My foot slippeth
— * Thy mercy, O Lord, held me
up.
In the multitude of the sorrows
within mine heart, * Thy comforts
delight my soul.
1 Hath the throne of iniquity
fellowship with Thee? — * which
frameth mischief by a law?
They that gather themselves
together against the soul of the
righteous, * and condemn the in-
nocent blood — ?
But the Lord is my refuge, *
and my God is the stay of my
trust.
And He shall bring upon them
their own iniquity, and shall cut
them off in their own wickedness :
* the Lord our God shall cut
them off.
Antiphon. 2 Blessed be the Lord
for evermore.
Sixth Antiphon. Sing.
Psalm XCV.
[In I Par. (Chron. ) xvi. it is stated that
David gave this Psalm to Asaph and his
brethren upon the day that the avk was
brought to Jerusalem. The text is there
given somewhat differently, and the whole
forms the second part of one Psalm, of
which the first part consists of the first
fifteen verses of Ps. civ. The Vulgate and
the LXX. note that it was sung at the
rebuilding of the Temple after the Cap-
tivity.]
(~\ SING unto the Lord a new
^-^ song : * sing unto the Lord,
all the earth.
Sing unto the Lord, and bless
1 This verse is translated according to the sense of the Hebrew, the LXX., Aquila,
Symmachus, Theodotion, and St Jerome, but the Latin has the second, instead of the
third, person singular in the last clause. 2 Ps. lxxxviii. 53.
FRIDAY AT MATTINS.
149
His Name : * show forth His sal-
vation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the
heathen, * His wonders among all
people.
For the Lord is great, and greatly
to be praised : * He is to be feared
above all gods.
For all the gods of the heathen
are devils : * but the Lord made
the heavens.
Praise and beauty are before
Him : * holiness and majesty are
in His sanctuary.
Give unto the Lord, O ye kin-
dreds of the people, give unto the
Lord glory and honour : * give
unto the Lord the glory due unto
His name.
Bring sacrifices, and come into
His courts : * O worship the Lord
in His holy temple !
Let all the earth fear before
Him. * Say among the heathen,
The Lord reigneth !
He hath established the world
also, that it shall not be moved :
* He shall judge the people right-
eously.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let
the earth be glad, let the sea roar,
and the fulness thereof: * let the
fields be joyful and all that is
therein.
Then shall all the trees of the
wood rejoice before the Lord, for
He cometh, * for He cometh to
judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with
righteousness : * and the people
with His truth.1
Psalm XCVI.
[The Vulgate and the LXX. have the
superscription "[A Psalm] of David when
his country was re - established " — per-
haps meaning after the usurpation of Ab-
solom.]
'THE Lord reigneth ; let the
* earth rejoice : * let the mul-
titude of isles be glad thereof.
Clouds and darkness are round
about Him : * righteousness and
judgment are the foundation of
His throne.
A fire shall go before Him, * and
burn up His enemies round about.
His lightnings enlightened the
world : * the earth saw and trem-
bled.
The hills melted like wax at
the presence of the Lord, * at
the presence of the Lord of the
whole earth.
The heavens declared His right-
eousness, * and all the people
saw His glory.
Confounded be all they that
worship graven images, * and that
boast themselves of idols.
Worship Him, all ye His An-
gels ! * Zion heard, and was glad.
And the daughters of Judah
rejoiced, * because of Thy judg-
ments, O Lord !
For thou, Lord, art high above
all the earth : * Thou art exalted
far above all gods.
Ye that love the Lord, hate evil :
* the Lord preserveth the souls of
His saints ; He delivereth them out
of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sprung up for the
1 In 1 Par. (Chron.) xvi. the Psalm continues: — "O give thanks unto the Lord, for
He is good : for His mercy endureth for ever. And say ye : Save us, O God of our
salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give
thanks to Thy holy Name, and glory in Thy praise. Blessed be the Lord God of
Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said : 'Amen' and praised the Lord"
— possibly in Ps. cxxxv.
*5o
THE PSALTER.
righteous, * and gladness for the
upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, ye right-
eous, * and give thanks to the
memorial of His holiness !
Antiphon. 1 Sing unto the Lord,
and bless His name.
Antiphon for Paschal time. Al-
leluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Then is said a Verse and Answer,
hi Advent.
Verse. Send forth the Lamb, O
Lord, the ruler of the land.
Answer. From the " Rock " of
the wilderness unto the mount of
the daughter of Zion.
During the rest of the year.
Verse. 2 Let my prayer come
before Thee, O Lord.
Answer. Incline Thine ear unto
my cry.
In Lent.
Verse. He shall cover thee with
His wings.
Answer. And under His feath-
ers shalt thou trust.
In Passion time.
Verse. O Lord, save me from
the lion's mouth.
Answer. And mine affliction
from the horns of the unicorns.
In Paschal time.
Verse. The Lord is risen in-
deed, Alleluia.
Answer. And hath appeared un-
to Simon, Alleluia.
The rest is the same as the Second
Nocturn on the preceding Sunday, only
the Lessons, and sometimes the Respon-
sories, are those of the day.
1 Ps. xcv. 2.
* Ps. lxvii. 3.
Simple Feasts. It is to be remembered
that when a Simple Feast is kept on
Friday, the Invitatory and Hymn are
of the Feast, being taken from the Com-
mon of Saints of the class, unless speci-
ally given.
Then the Psalms and Antiphons of
the Week-day, as given above. Then is
said a Verse and Answer as follows :
In the Simple Office for one or many
Martyrs in Paschal time.
Verse. The everlasting light
shall shine upon Thy Saints, O
Lord. Alleluia.
Answer. Even unto everlasting.
Alleluia.
In the Simple Office for one Martyr,
{out of Paschal time).
Verse. 3 Thou hast set a crown,
O Lord, of precious stones.
Answer. Upon his head.
In the Simple Office for many Martyrs,
{out of Paschal time).
Verse. 4 Let the righteous re-
joice before God.
Answer. Yea, let them exceed-
ingly rejoice.
In the Simple Office for a Bishop and
Confessor.
Verse. 5 The Lord chose him for
a priest unto Himself.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
Answer. To offer up unto Him
the sacrifice of praise.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
In the Simple Office for a Confessor
not a Bishop.
Verse. 6 The mouth of the right-
eous shall speak wisdom.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
Answer. And his tongue talk of
judgment.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
Ps. lxxxvii. 3. s ps. xx. 3.
Ecclus. xlv. 16. 6 Ps. xxx vi. 30.
FRIDAY AT MATTINS.
151
For one Holy Woman, of whatever
kind.
Verse. l God shall give her the
help of His countenance.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
Answer. God is in the midst of
her, she shall not be moved.
[In Paschal time, add Alleluia.]
The others, as well as what follows,
to the end of the Service, are taken frofn
the Second Nocturn of the Office common
to Saints of the class, unless something
special be appointed. The Lessons are
arranged according to the rules in Chap-
ter xxvi. 4 of the general Rubrics.
The Hymn, " We praise Thee, O God,"
is said at the end, instead of a Third
Responsory. The Responsories are ar-
ranged according to the rules in Chapter
xxvii. 4 of the General Rubrics. Thus: —
The Lord's Prayer is said:
OUR Father {inaudibly), Who art
in heaven, Hallowed be 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 tres-
passes, as we forgive them that tres-
pass against us. {Aloud.)
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Answer.
evil.
Then this Absolution .
1\/TAY His loving kindness and
-L'-l- mercy help us, Who liveth
and reigneth with the Father, and
the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Answer. Amen.
Then the Reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
First Blessing, if the Lesson be from
Scripture.
God the Father, the Almighty,
Show on us His grace and mercy.
Answer. Amen.
First Blessing, if the Lesson be of an
Homily.
May the Gospel's saving Lord
Bless the reading of His Word.
Answer. Amen.
First Blessing on a Simple Feast.
May His blessing be upon us,
Who doth live and reign for ever.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the First Lesson from
Scripture or from the Homily, or, on a
Simple Feast, either the First from
Scripture, or, if the Saint or Saints
have two Lessons, the whole three Scrip-
ture Lessons read together as one.
Then the First Responsory, unless
otherwise directed. On a week-day kept
as such, this is the First Responsory of
the preceding Sunday. On a Simple
Feast, it is the First Responsory in the
Common Office for the class to which
the Saint belongs.
Then the Reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
But deliver us from ing-
Second Blessing, if the Lesson be of
Scripture.
May Christ to all His people give
For ever in His sight to live.
Answer. Amen.
Second Blessing, if the Lesson be from
an Homily.
God's most mighty strength alway
Be His people's staff and stay.
Answer. Amen.
1 Ps. xlv. 5, (Alexandrian version).
152
THE PSALTER.
Second Blessing, for a Simple Feast.
He (or She or They) whose feast-
day we are keeping
Plead for us before the Lord.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the Second Lesson, either
from the Scripture or from an Homily,
or, on a Simple Feast, either the Second
and Third Lessons from Scripture read
together as one, or, if the Saint or Saints
have two Lessons, the first of these.
Then the Second Responsory, unless
otherwise directed. On a week-day kept
as such, this is the Second Responsory
of the preceding Sunday, but in Paschal
time there is added to it :
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
And the Answer of the Responsory is
repeated again.
On a Simple Feast the Second Re-
sponsory in the Common Office for the
class to which the Saint belongs, with the
addition of " Glory be to the Father,"
&>c, and the repetition of the Answer.
Then the Reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
Third Blessing, if the Lesson be of
Scripture.
May the Spirit's fire divine
In our inmost being shine.
Answer. Amen.
Third Blessing, for a Simple Feast, or
if the Lesson be from an Homily.
May He that is the Angels' King
To that high realm His people bring.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read the Third Lesson either
from Scripture, or of the Homily, or,
on Simple Feasts, the Second or only
Lesson of the Saint.
Then, on Simple Feasts and on any
day in Paschal time is said the Hymn,
" We praise Thee, O God." But on
week-days kept as such out of Paschal
time the Third Responsory of the pre-
ceding Sunday.
153
Jfrxjtag at 5^ui)s.
THE SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.
All as on Sunday, except as other-
wise given here.
The Psalms are as follows :
Antiphon. Uphold mine heart.
Psalm L.
Have mercy upon me, &c, (/.
87).
Antiphon. Uphold mine heart
with Thy free spirit, O God.
Second Antiphon. In Thy faith-
fulness.
Psalm CXLII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," and
the Vulgate and the LXX. add, " when
he was being persecuted by Absolom his
son."]
EAR my prayer, O Lord,
give ear to my supplication
in Thy faithfulness : * answer me,
in Thy righteousness.
And enter not into judgment
with Thy servant : * for in Thy
sight shall no man living be jus-
tified.
For the enemy hath persecuted
my soul : * he hath smitten my
life down to the ground :
He hath made me to dwell in
darkness, as those that have been
H
long dead. * Therefore is my
spirit overwhelmed within me : mine
heart within me is troubled.
I remember the days of old :
I meditate on all thy works : *
I muse on the works of Thine
hands.
I stretch forth mine hands unto
Thee : * my soul [thirsteth] after
Thee, as a thirsty land.1
Hear me speedily, O Lord : *
my spirit faileth :
Hide not Thy face from me, *
lest I be like unto them that go
down into the pit.
Cause me to hear Thy loving-'
kindness in the morning : * for
in Thee do I trust :
Cause me to know the way
wherein I should walk : * for I
lift up my soul unto Thee.
Deliver me, O Lord, from
mine enemies : I flee unto Thee
to hide me. * Teach me to do
Thy will : for Thou art my God.
Let Thy good Spirit lead me
into the land of uprightness. *
For Thy name's sake, O Lord,
Thou shalt quicken me in Thy
righteousness.
Thou shalt bring my soul out
of trouble : * and of Thy mercy
cut off mine enemies,.
SLH.
154
THE PSALTER.
And destroy all them that af-
flict my soul : * for I am Thy
servant.
Antiphon. In Thy faithfulness,
answer me, 0 Lord.
Third Antiphon. 0 Lord.
Psalms LXII., LXVI.
O God, Thou art my God, &c.,
(A 23)-
Antiphon. O Lord, cause Thy
face to shine upon us.
Fourth Antiphon. O Lord, I
have heard.
If this Antiphon be used the Can-
ticle begins with the words, " Thy
speech."
The Song of Habakkuk the
Prophet. (Hab. iii.)
[Intituled "A prayer of Habakkuk the
Prophet " with a direction, perhaps musi-
cal.]
OLORD, I have heard tell of
Thee : * and was afraid :
O Lord, revive Thy work * in
the midst of the years ;
In the midst of the years shalt
Thou make it known : * in wrath,
Thou wilt remember mercy.
God shall come from " the
South," * and the Holy One
from Mount Paran.1
His glory covered the heavens,
* and the earth was full of His
praise.
His brightness was as the light :
* He had horns 2 coming out of
His hand :
There was the hiding of His
power. * Before Him went death.
And the destroyer went forth
at His feet. * He stood and mea-
sured the earth :
He beheld, and drove asunder
the nations : * and the everlast-
ing mountains were crushed :
The everlasting hills did bow : *
because the Eternal passed by.3
I saw the tents of Ethiopia in
affliction : * the curtains of the
land of Midian did tremble.4
Wast Thou displeased against
the rivers, O Lord ? * was Thine
anger against the rivers? Thy
wrath against the sea ?
That Thou didst ride upon
Thine horses, * and Thy chariots
were salvation ?
Thou didst seize and draw Thy
bow, * according to the oaths that
Thou utteredst unto the tribes.5
Thou didst cleave the rivers of
the earth : the mountains saw Thee
and they trembled : * the overflow-
ing of the water passed by :
The deep uttered his voice : *
he lifted up his hands on high.
The sun and moon stood still
1 SLH. "The South" is, in the original, "Teman," the name of a country and nation
eastward of Idumea, but used for the south generally. Paran, or Pharan, is an uncultured
and mountainous region, lying between Arabia Petnea, Palestine, and Idumea. The pas-
sage is an imitation of the words of Moses when blessing the tribes. Deut. xxxiii. 2. "The
Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them ; He stirred forth from Mount
Paran, and He came with ten thousands of Saints : from His right hand went a fiery law
for them."
2 Gesenius says " ' Horns ' is here used of flashes of lightning, just as the Arabian poets
compare the first beams of the rising sun to horns, and call the sun itself a gazelle."
3 The present Hebrew simply is "T/ie ways are everlasting to Him."
4 Proper name of an Arabian nation whose territory lay from the eastern shore of the
^Elanitic Gulf as far as the land of Moab. * SLH.
FRIDAY AT LAUDS.
155
in their habitation : * at the light
of Thine arrows they went forth, at
the shining of Thy glittering spear.
Thou didst tread down the
land in indignation : * Thou didst
thresh the heathen in anger.
Thou wentest forth for the sal-
vation of Thy people, * even for
salvation with Thine Anointed.1
Thou didst smite the head of
the house of the wicked : 2 * Thou
didst lay bare the foundation unto
the neck.3
Thou didst curse his sceptre,
even the head of his fighting men,
* when they came out as a whirl-
wind to scatter me :
Their rejoicing was as the re-
joicing of him * that devoureth
the poor secretly.
Thou didst make a way in the
sea for Thine horses, * through
the mire of great waters.
I heard, and my belly trembled :
* my lips quivered at the voice :
Let rottenness enter into my
bones, * and corruption swarm
under me :
That I may rest in the day of
trouble : * that I may go up unto
our people that are girded.4
Although the fig-tree shall not
blossom, * neither shall fruit be
in the vines :
The labour of the olive shall
fail, * and the fields shall yield
no meat :
The flock shall be cut off from
the fold, * and there shall be no
herd in the stalls :
Yet will I rejoice in the Lord :
* I will joy in the God of my
salvation.5
The Lord God is my strength :
* and He will make my feet like
hinds' feet :
And He will lead me forth, to
make me to walk upon mine high
places, * as a conqueror, to sing
praises unto Him.6
Antiphon. O Lord, I have heard
Thy speech, and was afraid.
Fifth Antiphon. Praise God.
Psalms CXLVIIL, CXLIX., CL.
Praise ye the Lord, from the
heavens, &c, (pp. 25, 26).
Antiphon. Praise God with the
timbrel and dance.
Chapter. (Rom. xiii. 12.)
The night is far spent, &c, (as on
Monday, p. 89).
Hymn.7
GLORY of the eternal Heaven,
Blessed Hope to mortals given,
Of the Almighty Only Son,
And the Virgin's Holy One ;
Raise us, Lord, and we shall rise
In a sober mood,
And a zeal which glorifies
Thee from gratitude.
Now the day-star keenly glancing,
Tells us of the sun's advancing ;
While the unhealthy shades decline,
Rise within us, Light Divine !
1 Moses ? - Pharaoh ?
3 SLH. Some critics read " of the rock " instead of " unto the neck."
4 Accinctum. The Latin translator probably meant "girt," as the dead were girt, cf.
John xi. 44. 5 Jesu Meo. So the Hebrew.
6 This last clause seems to be only a musical direction, which has got confounded with
the text. Some translate it : " Given to the leader of the string band."
7 Hymn of the Ambrosian school, slightly altered ; translation by the late Card. Newman.
156
THE PSALTER.
Rise, and, risen, go not hence,
Stay and make us bright,
Streaming through each cleansed
sense,
On the outward night.
Then the root of faith shall spread
In the heart new fashioned ;
Gladsome hope shall spring above,
And shall bear the fruit of love.
To the Father, and the Son,
And the Holy Ghost,
Here be glory, as is done,
By the Angelic host.
Amen.
Verse. Thou hast satisfied us
early with Thy mercy.
Answer. We rejoice and are
glad.
Antiphon for the Song of Zach-
arias. Through the tender mercy
of our God * the day-spring from on
high hath visited us.
Commemoration of the Cross before
the other Commemorations, and Long
Preces in Advent and Lent, and on
Fast-days, as on Monday.
157
iaturbaD at JRattins.
-i
THE SABBATH.
All as on Sunday, except as other-
wise given here.
Invitatory. O come, let us wor-
ship * the Lord our God.
Hymn.1
"LEATHER of mercies infinite,
-*- Ruling all things that be,
Who, shrouded in the depth and height,
Art One, and yet art Three ;
Accept our chants, accept our tears,
A mingled stream we pour ;
Such stream the laden bosom cheers,
To taste Thy sweetness more.
Purge Thou with fire the o'ercharged
mind,
Its sores and wounds profound;
And with the watcher's girdle bind
The limbs which sloth has bound.
That they who with their chants by
night
Before Thy presence come,
All may be fill'd with strength and light
From their eternal home.
Grant this, O Father, Only Son,
And Spirit, God of grace,
To whom all worship shall be done
In every time and place.
Amen.
Only one Nocturn is said.
Antiphon. For the Lord.
In Paschal time only one Antiphon is
said for the whole Nocturn. Alleluia.
1 Another hymn of the Ambrosian school, considerably altered ; translation by the late
Card. Newman.
Psalm XCVII.
[Intituled " A Psalm." The Vulgate and
the LXX. ascribe it to David.]
f~\ SING unto the Lord a new
^-J song : * for He hath done
marvellous things.
His right hand, and His holy arm,
* have gotten Him the victory.
The Lord hath made known His
salvation : * His righteousness hath
He openly showed in the sight of
the heathen.
He hath remembered His mercy,
* and His truth towards the house
of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have
seen * the salvation of our God.
Make a joyful noise unto the
Lord, all the earth, * make a
loud noise and rejoice, and sing
praise.
Sing unto the Lord with the
harp, with the harp and the voice
of a psalm. * With trumpets and
sound of cornet,
Make a joyful noise before the
Lord, the King. * Let the sea
roar, and the fulness thereof, the
world and they that dwell therein.
Let the floods clap their hands,
let the hills be joyful together be-
i58
THE PSALTER.
fore the Lord. * For He cometh
to judge the earth :
With righteousness shall He judge
the world, * and the people with
equity.
Psalm XCVIII.
[The Vulgate and the LXX. ascribe this
Psalm to David.]
THE Lord reigneth, be the
people never so impatient : *
He sitteth upon the Cherubim, be
the earth never so unquiet.
The Lord is great in Zion : *
and He is high above all people.
Let them praise Thy great and
terrible Name, for it is holy : *
and the King's majesty loveth judg-
ment.
Thou dost establish equity : *
Thou executest judgment and right-
eousness in Jacob.
Exalt ye the Lord our God, and
worship at His footstool : * for it
is holy.
Moses and Aaron among His
priests, * and Samuel among them
that call upon His name.
They called upon the Lord, and
He answered them. * He spake
unto them in the cloudy pillar :
They kept His testimonies, *
and the ordinance that He gave
them.
Thou answeredst them, O Lord
our God ! * O God, Thou forgav-
est them, though Thou tookest
vengeance of their inventions.
Exalt the Lord our God and
worship at His holy hill : * for the
Lord our God is Holy.
Antiphon. 1For the Lord hath
done marvellous things.
1 Ps. :
When the following Psalm, "Make
a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands,"
is to be said at Lauds (as would be the
case, for instance, if Christinas Eve fell
on a Saturday) it is not said here, nor
its A ntiphon. But instead is said Ps< ihn
xci., " It is a good thing to give thanks
unto the Lord," from the Saturday
Lauds which are to be displaced, with
the Antiphon, " It is a good thing * to
give thanks unto the Lord," in which
case the Psalm begins with the words
" To give thanks unto the Lord."
Second Antiphon. Make a joyful
noise.
If this Antiphon be used, the Psalm
begins with the words, " Unto GOD, all
ye lands."
Psalm XCIX.
[Intituled "A Psalm of thanksgiving,"
The Tavgum has " A Psalm for the Sacrifice
of thanksgiving."]
A /T AKE a joyful noise unto God,
^ * *■ all ye lands : * serve the
Lord with gladness.
Come before His presence, * with
singing.
Know ye that the Lord, He is
God: * it is He That hath made
us, and not we ourselves :
We are His people, and the
sheep of his pasture. * Enter into
His gates with thanksgiving, and
into His courts with praise : give
thanks unto Him,
Praise His Name. For the Lord
is good, His mercy is everlasting : *
and His truth endureth to all gen-
erations.
Psalm C.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David."]
T WILL sing of mercy and judg-
-*■ ment, * unto Thee, O Lord !
I will sing and behave myself
SATURDAY AT MATTINS.
159
wisely in a perfect way. * O when
wilt Thou come unto me ?
I walked within mine house, * in
the innocence of mine heart.
I set no wicked thing before mine
eyes : * I hate the work of them
that turn aside.
A froward heart cleaveth not
unto me : * the wicked person that
turned aside from me, I would not
know.
Whoso privily slandered his neigh-
bour, * him did I expose.
Him that had an high look and
a proud heart : * with him I will
not eat.
Mine eyes are upon the faithful
of the land, that they may dwell
with me : * he that walked in a
perfect way, he ministered unto
me.
He that doeth proud things shall
not dwell within mine house : * he
that speaketh wickedness was not
upright in my sight.
I will early destroy all the wicked
of the land : * that I may cut off
all wicked doers from the city of the
Lord.
Antiphon. l Make a joyful noise
unto God, all ye lands.
Third Antiphon. O God.
Psalm CI.
[Intituled "A Prayer of the afflicted,
when he is overwhelmed, and poureth
out his complaint before the Lord."]
TJEAR my prayer, O Lord, *
^ ■*- and let my cry come unto
Thee.
Hide not Thy face from me : *
in the day when I am in trouble
incline Thine ear unto me.
In the day when I call upon
Thee, * answer me speedily.
For my days are wasted away like
smoke : * and my bones are con-
sumed as a firebrand.
I am smitten like grass, and mine
heart is withered : * for I have
forgotten to eat my bread.
By reason of the voice of my
groaning * my bones cleave to my
flesh.
I am like a pelican of the wil-
derness : * I am like an owl in his
hole.
I watch, * and am as a sparrow
alone upon the house-top.
Mine enemies reproached me
all the day : * and they that
praised me are sworn together
against me.
For I have eaten ashes like bread,
* and mingled my drink with weep-
ing :
Because of thine indignation and
wrath : * for Thou hast lifted me up
and cast me down.
My days are like a shadow that
declineth : * and I am withered like
grass.
But Thou, O Lord, endurest for
ever, * and Thy remembrance unto
all generations.
Thou shalt arise and have mercy
upon Zion : * for the time to
favour her, yea, the set time, is
come.
For Thy servants take pleasure
in her stones : * and have pity on
her dust.
So the heathen shall fear Thy
name, O Lord, * and all the kings
of the earth Thy glory.
When the Lord shall build up
Zion, * He shall appear in His
glory.
Ps. xcix, 1,
i6o
THE PSALTER.
He hath had regard unto the
prayer of the destitute, * and hath
not despised their supplication.
Let this be written for the gen-
eration to come : * and the people
which shall be created shall praise
the Lord.
For He hath looked down from
the height of His sanctuary : *
from heaven did the Lord behold
the earth :
the groaning of the
to loose the children
To
hear
*
prisoners,
of the slain.
To declare the name of the
Lord in Zion, * and His praise in
Jerusalem.
When the people are gathered
together, * and the kings, to serve
the Lord.
1 He answered him in the way
of his strength : * Show me the
shortness of my days.
Call me not away in the midst of
my days : * Thy years are unto all
generations.
Thou, Lord, in the beginning,
hast laid the foundation of the
earth : * and the heavens are the
works of Thine hands.
They shall perish, but Thou re-
mainest : * and they all shall wax
old as doth a garment :
And as a vesture shalt Thou
change them, and they shall be
changed : * but Thou art the
Same, and Thy years shall not
fail.
The children of Thy servants shall
continue : * and their seed shall be
established for ever.
Psalm CI I.
[Intituled "of David."]
"DLESS the Lord, O my soul: *
*~* and all that is within me, bless
His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, * and
forget not all His benefits.
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities :
* Who healeth all thy diseases.
Who redeemeth thy life from
destruction : * Who crowneth thee
with loving - kindness and tender
mercies.
Who satisfieth thy desire with
good things : * thy youth is re-
newed like the eagle's.
The Lord executeth mercy, * and
judgment for all that are oppressed.
He made known His ways unto
Moses, * His will unto the chil-
dren of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gra-
cious : * slow to anger, and plen-
teous in mercy.
He will not always chide : *
neither will He keep His anger for
ever.
He hath not dealt with us after
our sins : * nor rewarded us accord-
ing to our iniquities.
For as the heaven is high above
the earth, * so great is His mercy
toward them that fear Him.
As far as the east is from the
west, * so far hath He removed our
transgressions from us.
Like as a father pitieth his chil-
dren, so the Lord pitieth them that
fear Him. * For He knoweth our
frame ;
1 "He" may be taken for the "afflicted man" who has just given utterance to his
hopes of a brighter future. The Hebrew, (as now pointed,) reads : " He afflicted in the
way his (my) strength, he cut short my days." The Alexandrian translators, using an
unpointed text, took the opening word of the clause to mean " he answered " instead
of "he afflicted" as they might easily do, the letters being the same for either word.
The Hebrew text itself is not quite settled.
SATURDAY AT MATTINS.
161
He remembereth that we are
dust : * as for man, his days are as
grass, as a flower of the field so
shall he flourish.
For the wind passeth over it, and
it is gone, * and the place thereof
shall know it no more.
But the mercy of the Lord is
from everlasting * to everlasting
upon them that fear Him,
And His righteousness unto chil-
dren's children ; * to such as keep
His covenant,
And to those that remember His
commandments, * to do them.
The Lord hath prepared His
throne in heaven, * and His king-
dom shall rule over all.
Bless the Lord, all ye His
Angels, * that excel in strength,
that do His commandments, to
hearken unto the voice of His
word.
Bless ye the Lord, all ye His
hosts : * ye ministers of His that
do His pleasure.
Bless the Lord, all His works :
* in all places of His dominion ;
bless the Lord, O my soul !
Antiphon. x O God, let my cry
come unto Thee.
Fourth Antiphon. Bless the
Lord.
If this Antiphon be used the Psalm
begins with the words, " O my soul."
Psalm CIII.
[The Vulgate and the LXX. ascribe this
Tsalm to David.]
OLESS the Lord, O my soul : *
*~* O Lord my God, Thou art
very great !
Thou art clothed with honour and
1 Ps. ci. i. 2 So
VOL. I.
majesty, * covering Thyself with
light as with a garment !
Who stretchest out the heavens
like a curtain, * Who coverest their
upper chambers with the waters !
Who makest the clouds Thy
chariot, * Who walkest upon the
wings of the wind !
Who makest Thine Angels spi-
rits : * and Thy ministers a flame
of fire ! 2
Who layest the foundations of the
earth ; * it shall not be removed for
ever !
Thou coveredst it with the deep
as with a garment, * the waters
stood above the mountains.
At Thy rebuke they fled : * at
the voice of Thy thunder they hasted
fearfully away.
The mountains go up, and the
valleys go down, * into the place
which Thou hast founded for them.
Thou hast set a bound, that
they may not pass over : * that
they turn not again to cover the
earth.
Who sendeth springs into the
valleys : * the waters run among
the hills.
All the beasts of the field drink
thereof: * the wild asses seek them
in their thirst.
By them build the fowls of the
heaven their habitation ; * they sing
among the rocks.
He watereth the hills from His
upper chambers : * the earth is
satisfied with the fruit of Thy
works.
He causeth the grass to grow for
the cattle, * and herb for the service
of men :
That Thou mayest bring forth
food out of the earth, * and wine
is this passage translated, Heb. i. 7.
F
1 62
THE PSALTER.
that maketh glad the heart of
man;
Oil to make his face to shine, *
and bread to strengthen man's
heart.
The trees of the field are filled
[with sap], the cedars of Lebanon
also, which He hath planted : *
there the birds make their nests.
The stork's nest is the highest
among them : * the high hills are a
refuge for the wild goats, and the
rocks for the conies.
He hath appointed the moon for
seasons : * the sun knoweth his
going down.
Thou makest darkness, and it is
night : * wherein all the beasts of
the forest do come forth.
The young lions roar after their
prey, * and seek their meat from
God.
The sun ariseth, and they gather
themselves together : * and lay
them down in their dens.
Man goeth forth unto his work,
* and to his labour, until the even-
ing.
O Lord, how manifold are Thy
works ! * in wisdom hast Thou
made them all : the earth is full of
Thy riches.
So is this great and wide sea :
* wherein are things creeping in-
numerable.
Both small and great beasts : *
there go the ships ;
There is that Leviathan whom
Thou hast made to play with him :
* these all wait upon Thee, that
Thou mayest give them their meat
in due season.
That thou givest them, they
gather : * when Thou openest Thine
hand, they are all filled with good.
Thou hidest Thy face, they are
troubled : * Thou takest away their
breath, they die, and return to their
dust.
Thou sendest forth Thy spirit,
and they are created : * and Thou
renewest the face of the earth.
Let the glory of the Lord endure
for ever ! * the Lord shall rejoice in
His works.
He looketh on the earth and
maketh it to tremble : * He touch-
eth the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing unto the Lord as long
as I live : * I will sing praise to my
God while I have my being.
My meditation of Him shall be
sweet : * I will be glad in the
Lord.
Let the sinners be consumed out
of the earth, and let the wicked be
no more : * bless thou the Lord, O
my soul ! 1
Psalm CIV.
[The first fifteen verses of this Psalm
are found in a slightly different edition in
I Par. (Chron.) xvi. as the first part of a
Psalm given by David to Asaph and his
brethren, on the day that the ark was
brought to Jerusalem. The rest is our
present Psalm xcv., which see with the
notes, p. 148. The Vulgate and the LXX.
prefix "Alleluia."]
OGIVE thanks unto the Lord,
and call upon His name : *
make known His deeds among the
heathen.
Sing unto Him, and sing psalms
unto Him : * talk ye of all His
wondrous works.
Glory ye in His holy name : *
let the heart of them rejoice that
seek the Lord.
Seek the Lord, and be strong ;
* seek His face evermore.
: Alleluia " is here appended in the Hebrew.
SATURDAY AT MATTINS.
163
Remember His marvellous works
that He hath done: * His won-
ders and the judgments of his
mouth.
O ye seed of Abraham, His ser-
vant, * ye children of Jacob His
chosen !
He is the Lord our God : * His
judgments are in all the earth.
He hath remembered His cove-
nant for ever, * the word which
He commanded to a thousand gen-
erations—
[The covenant] that He made
with Abraham : * and His oath
unto Isaac.
And He confirmed the same
unto Jacob for a law, * and to
Israel for an everlasting covenant.
Saying : Unto thee will I give
the land of Canaan, * the lot of
your inheritance.
When they were but a few men
in number, * very few, and strangers
in it.
And they went from one nation
to another, * and from one king-
dom to another people.
He suffered no man to do them
wrong : * yea, He reproved kings
for their sakes.
Touch not Mine anointed, * and
do My prophets no harm.1
Moreover He called for a famine
upon the land : * and brake the
whole staff of bread.
He sent a man before them : *
Joseph was sold for a servant :
Whose feet they hurt with fetters,
the iron entered into his soul. *
Until his word came,
The word of the Lord tried
him : * the king sent and loosed
him ; even the ruler of the people,
and let him go free.
He made him lord of his house,
* and ruler of all his substance.
To instruct his princes at his
pleasure, * and teach his elders
wisdom.
Israel also came into Egypt, *
and Jacob sojourned in the land
of Ham.
And He increased His people
greatly : * and made them stronger
than their enemies.
He turned their heart to hate
His people, * and to deal subtilly
with his servants.
He sent Moses His servant, *
and Aaron whom He had chosen.
He showed signs among them,
* and wonders in the land of
Ham.
He sent darkness and made it
dark : * He made not His words
of none effect.
He turned their waters into
blood, * and slew their fish.
Their land brought forth frogs, *
in the chambers of their kings.
He spake, and there came divers
sorts of flies, * and lice in all their
coasts.
He gave them hail for rain, *
flaming fire in their land.
He smote their vines also and
their fig-trees, * and brake the trees
of their coasts.
He spake, and the locust came,
and the caterpillar, * without
number,
And ate up all the herb in their
land, * and devoured all the fruit
of their ground.
He smote also all the first-born
in their land, * the chief of all
their travail.
He brought them forth also with
silver and gold : * and there was
1 Here ends the portion found in I Par. (Chron.) xvi. 22.
164
THE PSALTER.
not one feeble person among their
tribes.
Egypt was glad when they de-
parted : * for the fear of them fell
upon them.
He spread a cloud for a cover-
ing, * and fire to give light in the
night.
They asked, and the quail came,
* and He satisfied them with the
bread of heaven.
He opened the rock and the
waters gushed out, * the rivers
ran through the dry places.
For He remembered His holy
promise, * that He made unto
Abraham His servant.
And He brought forth His people
with joy, * and His chosen with
gladness.
And gave them the lands of the
heathen, * and they inherited the
labour of the peoples.
That they might observe His
statutes, * and keep His laws.
[Here the Hebrew adds "Alleluia."]
Antiphon. 1 Bless the Lord, O
my soul !
Fifth Antiphon. Visit us.
Psalm CV.
[Superscribed "Alleluia."]
f~~\ GIVE thanks unto the Lord,
^~s for He is good : * for His
mercy endureth for ever.
Who can utter the mighty acts
of the Lord? * who can show
forth all His praise?
Blessed are they that keep judg-
ment, * and they that do righteous-
ness at all times.
Remember us, O Lord, with
1 Ps.
the favour that Thou showest unto
Thy people : * O visit us with
Thy salvation :
That I may see the good of Thy
chosen, that I may rejoice in the
gladness of Thy people, * that
Thou mayest be praised in Thine
inheritance.
We have sinned with our fathers :
* we have done wickedly, we have
committed iniquity.
Our fathers considered not Thy
wonders in Egypt : * they remem-
bered not the multitude of Thy
mercies,
But provoked Him when they
went up unto the sea, * even the
Red Sea.
Nevertheless He saved them for
His name's sake, * that He might
make His mighty power to be
known.
He rebuked the Red Sea also,
and it was dried up : * and He
led them through the depths as
through the wilderness.
And He saved them from the
hand of them that hated them, *
and redeemed them from the hand
of the enemy.
And the waters covered their
enemies : * there was not one of
them left.
And they believed His words :
* and sang His praise.
They soon forgot His works : *
and waited not for His counsel.
And lusted exceedingly in the
wilderness : * and tempted God
in the desert.
And He gave them their request,
* and sent fulness into their soul.
They provoked Moses also in the
camp, * and Aaron, the saint of the
Lord.
SATURDAY AT MATTINS.
165
The earth opened and swallowed
up Dathan, * and covered the com-
pany of Abiram.1
And a fire was kindled in their
assembly, * the flame burned up
the wicked.
2 They made a calf also in
Horeb, * and worshipped the
graven image.
Thus they changed their Glory *
into the similitude of a calf that
eateth grass.
They forgat God their Saviour,
* Who had done great things in
Egypt, wondrous works in the land
of Ham, terrible things by the Red
Sea.
Therefore He said that He would
cut them off, * had not Moses His
chosen stood before Him in the
breach,
To turn away His wrath, lest
He should destroy them : * yea,
they despised the pleasant land ;
They believed not His words :
but murmured in their tents : *
they hearkened not unto the voice
of the Lord.
He also lifted up His hand
against them, * to overthrow them
in the wilderness.
To overthrow their seed also
among the nations, * and to scat-
ter them in the lands.
They joined themselves also unto
Baal-peor,3 * and ate the sacrifices
of the dead.
And they provoked Him to
anger with their inventions : * and
the carcasses lay thick among
them.
Then stood up Phinehas and
made a propitiation : * and the
plague was stayed.
And that was counted unto him
for righteousness, * unto all genera-
tions for evermore.
They angered Him also at the
waters of " Provocation," 4 * so
that it went ill with Moses for
their sakes; because they provoked
his spirit ;
So that he spake unadvisedly with
his lips.5 * They did not destroy
the nations concerning whom the
Lord commanded them : 6
And they were mingled among
the heathen, and learned their
works, and served their idols : *
and it became a snare to them.
Yea, they sacrificed their sons
* and their daughters unto devils.
1 Numbers xvi. They tried to stir up a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, upon
levelling principles, "and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up," while
some of their partizans were consumed by a fire which issued from the sanctuary.
2 For the well-known history of the golden calf, see Exod. xxxii.
3 I.e., " the Lord of Mount Feor," an idol of the Moabites. The whole history of this
lapse of the Israelites, and how Phinehas stopped the plague by killing one pair of
the transgressors, is in Numbers xxv. "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying:
Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the Priest, hath turned My wrath
away from the children of Israel. . . . Behold, I give unto him My covenant of
peace ; and he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting
Priesthood. "
4 Meribah. See note on Ps. xciv., p. 3.
5 Numbers xx. 10. "And Moses . . . said unto them: Hear now, ye rebels, must
we fetch you water out of this rock?" v. 12. "And the Lord spake unto Moses
and Aaron : Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children
of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have
given them."
6 In Judges i. 21 to the end, is a long list of the districts of idolaters whom they left in
Canaan and among whom they lived.
1 66
THE PSALTER.
And shed innocent blood, * even
the blood of their sons and of their
daughters, whom they sacrificed unto
the idols of Chanaan :
And the land was polluted with
blood. They were defiled also
with their own works, * and went
a whoring with their own inven-
tions.
Therefore was the wrath of the
Lord kindled against His people,
* and He abhorred His own in-
heritance.
And He gave them into the hand
of the heathen : * and they that
hated them ruled over them.
Their enemies also oppressed
them, and they were brought into
subjection under their hand. *
Many times did He deliver them,
But they provoked Him with
their counsel, * and they were
brought low for their iniquity.
But He regarded their affliction,
* and heard their cry.
And He remembered His cove-
nant, * and repented according to
the multitude of His mercies.
He made them also to be pitied
* of all those that carried them
captives.
Save us, O Lord our God, *
and gather us from among the
nations !
To give thanks unto Thy holy
Name, * and to triumph in Thy
praise.
Blessed be the Lord God of
Israel from everlasting to everlast-
ing : * and let all the people say :
Amen, Amen.
[The Hebrew adds "Alleluia," which
the Vulgate and the LXX. prefix to
the next Psalm. Here ends the fourth
of the five books into which the Psalter
is divided.]
Psalm CVI.
OGIVE thanks unto the Lord,
for He is good : * for His
mercy endureth for ever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord
say so, whom He hath redeemed
from the hand of the enemy : *
and gathered them out of the
lands,
From the rising of the sun and
from the setting thereof, * from
the north and from the south.
They wandered in the wilderness
in a dry land : * they found no
pathway to a city to dwell in :
Hungry and thirsty, * their soul
fainted in them.
Then they cried unto the Lord
in their trouble ; * and He de-
livered them out of their distresses.
And He led them forth by the
right way, * that they might go
to a city to dwell in.
O that men would praise the
Lord for His goodness : * and for
His wonderful works to the children
of men !
For He satisfieth the longing
soul : * and filleth the hungry soul
with goodness.
Such as sit in darkness and in
the shadow of death, * being bound
in affliction and iron.
Because they rebelled against the
words of God, * and contemned the
counsel of the Most High.
Therefore their heart was brought
down with labour : * they fell down,
and there was none to help.
Then they cried unto the Lord
in their trouble : * and He de-
livered them out of their distresses.
And He brought them out of
darkness and the shadow of death :
* and brake their bands in sunder.
SATURDAY AT MATTINS.
167
O that men would praise the
Lord for His goodness : * and
for His wonderful works to the
children of men !
For He hath broken the gates
of brass, * and cut the bars of iron
in sunder.
He saved them from the way
of their transgression : * for they
were afflicted because of their in-
iquities.
Their soul abhorred all manner
of meat : * and they drew near even
unto the gates of death.
Then they cried unto the Lord
in their trouble : * and He de-
livered them out of their dis-
tresses.
He sent His word and healed
them, * and delivered them from
their straits.
O that men would praise the
Lord for His goodness : * and for
His wonderful works to the children
of men !
Yea, let them sacrifice the sacri-
fice of thanksgiving, * and declare
His works with rejoicing.
They that go down to the sea
in ships, * and do business in great
waters ;
These see the works of the Lord,
* and His wonders in the deep.
He commandeth, and the stormy
wind riseth, * and the waves thereof
are lifted up.
They mount up to the heaven,
and go down again to the depths :
* their soul is melted because of
trouble.
They reel to and fro, and stagger
like a drunken man, * and are at
their wits' end.
Then they cry unto the Lord
in their trouble, * and He delivereth
them out of their distresses.
And He maketh the storm a
calm, * and the waves thereof are
still.
And they are glad because [the
breakers] be quiet : * so He
bringeth them unto their desired
haven.
O that men would praise the
Lord for His goodness : * and for
His wonderful works to the children
of men !
Let them exalt Him also in the
congregation of the people, * and
praise Him in the assembly of the
elders.
He turneth the rivers into a
wilderness, * and the water-springs
into dry ground ;
A fruitful land into a salt desert,
* for the wickedness of them that
dwell therein.
He turneth the wilderness into a
standing-water, * and dry ground
into water-springs.
And there He maketh the hungry
to abide, * and they prepare a city
to dwell in :
And sow the fields, and plant
vineyards, * and bring forth fruits
of increase.
He blesseth them also, and they
are multiplied greatly : * and He
suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
Again they are minished, * and
brought low, through oppression,
affliction, and sorrow.
He poureth contempt upon prin-
ces, * and He causeth them to
wander in the wilderness, and in
the land where there is no way.
Yet helpeth He the poor from
affliction, * and maketh him fami-
lies like a flock.
The righteous shall see it and
rejoice : * and all iniquity shall stop
her mouth.
i68
THE PSALTER.
Who is wise, and will observe
these things? * even he shall un-
derstand the loving-kindness of the
Lord.
Antiphon. 1 Visit us with Thy
salvation, O Lord.
Sixth Antiphon. I will greatly
praise.
Psalm CVI1.
[Intituled "A Song. A Psalm of David."
It is a compilation of Ps. Ivi. 8-12, and
Ps. lix. 6-14.]
TV/TINE heart is ready, O God,
*■**■ mine heart is ready : * I
will sing and give praise, even with
my glory.
Awake up, my glory, awake,
psaltery and harp ! * I will awake
right early.
I will praise Thee, O Lord,
among the people : * and sing unto
Thee among the nations.
For Thy mercy is great above the
heavens : * and Thy truth unto the
clouds.
Be Thou exalted, O God,
above the heavens, and let Thy
glory be above all the earth : *
2 that Thy beloved may be de-
livered :
Save with Thy right hand and
hear me. * God hath spoken in
His holiness :
I will rejoice, and divide She-
chem, * and mete out the valley of
booths.
Gilead is mine ; and Manasseh
is mine : * Ephraim also is the
strength of mine head :
Judah is my King : * Moab is
the vessel [of the triumph] of mine
hope.
1 Ps. cv. 4.
2 Here begins the extract from Ps. lix.
Over Edom will I cast out my
shoe : * over the " Strangers " have
I triumphed.
Who will bring me into the strong
city? * who will lead me into
Edom?
Wilt not Thou, O God, Who
hast cast us off? * and wilt not
Thou go forth with our armies,
O God?
Give us help from trouble : * for
vain is the help of man.
Through God we shall do val-
iantly : * and He it is That shall
tread down our enemies.
Psalm CVIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with a
superscription, probably musical, but now
uncertain.]
HOLD not Thy peace, O God
of my praise : * for the
mouth of the wicked, and the
mouth of the deceitful are opened
against me :
They have spoken against me
with a lying tongue : they com-
passed me about also with words of
hatred : * and fought against me
without a cause.
In return for my love they were
mine adversaries : * but I gave
myself unto prayer.
And they have rewarded me evil
for good, * and hatred for my love.
Set Thou a wicked man over
him : * and let the devil stand at
his right hand.
When he is judged, let him go
forth condemned : * and let his
prayer become sin.
Let his days be few ; * and let
another take his office.
See that Psalm and notes on it, p. 112.
SATURDAY AT MATTINS.
169
Let his children be fatherless, *
and his wife a widow.
Let his children be continually
vagabonds, and beg : * and let
them be driven out of their dwell-
ings.
Let the extortioner catch all that
he hath : * and let the stranger spoil
his labour.
Let there be none to extend
mercy unto him : * and let there
be none to have pity on his little
ones.
Let his posterity be cut off: * in
one generation let their name be
blotted out.
Let the iniquity of his fathers be
remembered before the Lord : *
and let not the sin of his mother be
blotted out.
Let them be before the Lord
continually, and let their memory
be cut off from the earth. * Be-
cause that he remembered not to
show mercy,
But persecuted the poor and
needy man, * and the broken in
heart, that he might slay him.
As he loved cursing, so let it
come unto him : * as he delighted
not in blessing, so let it be far
from him:
As he clothed himself with curs-
ing, like as with a garment, * so
let it come into his bowels like
water, and like oil into his bones.
Let it be unto him as the gar-
ment which covereth him, * and
for a girdle wherewith he may be
girded continually.
Let this be the reward of mine
adversaries from the Lord : * and
of them that speak evil against my
soul.
And do Thou for me, O Lord,
1 Ps,
vol. 1.
for Thy name's sake, O Lord, *
because Thy mercy is good.
Deliver Thou me, for I am
poor and needy : * and mine heart
is wounded within me.
I am gone like the shadow when
it declineth : * and tossed up and
down as the locust.
My knees are weak through
fasting : * and my flesh faileth
of fatness.
I became also a reproach unto
them : * they looked upon me,
and shaked their heads.
Help me, O Lord my God ! *
O save me according to Thy
mercy.
That they also may know that
this is Thine hand : * and Thou,
Lord, hast done it !
Let them curse, but bless Thou :
* when they arise against me let
them be ashamed : but let Thy
servant rejoice.
Let mine adversaries be clothed
with shame : * and let them be
covered with their own confusion
as with a mantle.
I will greatly praise the Lord
with my mouth : * yea, I will
praise Him among the multitude.
For He standeth at the right
hand of the poor, * to save my
soul from them that persecute me.
Antiphon. 1I will greatly praise
the Lord with my mouth.
Antiphon in Paschal time. Al-
leluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Then is said a Verse and Answer.
In Advent.
Verse. The Lord cometh out of
His holy place.
cvm. 30.
F 2
170
THE PSALTER.
Answer. He will come and save
His people.
During the rest of the year.
Verse. l Hear my prayer, O
Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
In Lent.
Verse. His truth shall be thy
shield.
Answer. Thou shalt not be
afraid for the terror by night.
In Passion time.
Verse. Take not away my soul
with sinners, O God.
Ansiver. Nor my life with bloody
men.
In Paschal time.
Verse. The disciples were glad,
Alleluia.
Ansiver. When they saw the Lord,
Alleluia.
The rest is the same as the Third
Nocturn of the preceding Sunday, ex-
cept necessary differences. The Lessons
are those of the day. The Responsories
are arranged according to the rules in
Chapter xxvii. 4, 5, of the General
Rubrics.
No Festal Office can occur, except
that of the Immaculate Conception of
the Blessed Virgin Mary.
1 Ps. ci. 2.
i7i
iatttrbag at 5aub0.
THE SABBATH.
All as on Sunday, except as otherwise
given here.
The Psaltns are as follows :
Antiphon. Do good.
Psalm L.
Have mercy upon me, &c., {p.
87).
Antiphon. Do good, O Lord, in
Thy good pleasure.
Second Antiphon. It is a good
thing.
If this Antiphon be used the Psalm
begins with the words, " To give
thanks."
Psalm XCI.
[Intituled "A Psalm. A Song for the
Sabbath Day."]
TT is a good thing to give thanks
*~ unto the Lord, * and to sing
praises unto Thy name, O Most
High!
To show forth Thy loving-kind-
ness in the morning, * and Thy
faithfulness in the night ;
Upon an instrument of ten
strings : * upon the harp with a
solemn sound.
For Thou, Lord, hast made me
glad through Thy work : * and I
will triumph in the works of Thine
hands.
O Lord, how great are Thy
works ! * Thy thoughts are very
deep.
A brutish man knoweth not : *
neither doth a fool understand this.
When the wicked spring up like
grass : * and when all the workers
of iniquity are seen,
It is that they may be destroyed
for ever : * but Thou, Lord, art
Most High for evermore.
For, lo, Thine enemies, O Lord,
for, lo, Thine enemies shall perish :
* and all the workers of iniquity
shall be scattered.
But mine horn shall be exalted
like the horn of an unicorn : * and
mine old age shall be crowned with
Thy mercy.1
Mine eye also shall look upon
mine enemies : * and mine ear shall
hear of the wicked that rise up
against me.
The righteous shall flourish like
the palm tree : * he shall grow like
a cedar in Lebanon.
Those that are planted in the
house of the Lord, * in the courts
of the house of our God shall
flourish.
1 Hebrew : "lam anointed with fresh oil."
172
THE PSALTER.
They shall still bring forth fruit
in old age : * they shall flourish,
to declare : —
That the Lord our God is up-
right : * and that there is no un-
righteousness in Him.
Antiphon. It is a good thing to
give thanks unto the Lord.
Third Antiphon. Let all the
ends.
Psalms LXIL, LXVI.
O God, Thou art my God, &c,
(/• 23)-
Antiphon. Let all the ends of
the earth fear the Lord.
Fourth Antiphon. Ascribe ye
greatness.
The Song of Moses. (Deut. xxxii.)
[Deut. xxxi. 28: "Gather unto me,"
(said Moses) "all the elders of your tribes,
and your officers, that I may speak these
words in their ears, and call heaven and
earth to record against them. For I know
that after my death ye will utterly corrupt
yourselves and turn aside from the way
which I have commanded you ; and evil
will befall you in the latter days ; because
ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to
provoke Him to anger through the work of
your hands. And Moses spake in the ears
of all the congregation of Israel the words
of this song, until they were ended : — "]
f~^ IVE ear, O ye heavens, and I
^-* will speak ; * and hear, O
earth, the words of my mouth.
My teaching shall drop as the
rain, * my speech shall distil as the
dew;
As the small rain upon the
tender herb, and as the showers
upon the grass : * because I will
proclaim the name of the Lord.
Ascribe ye greatness unto our
God. * The works of God are
perfect : and all His ways are judg-
ment :
A God of truth, and without
iniquity, just and right is He. *
They have sinned against Him,
and by their defilement they are
not His children :
They are a perverse and crooked
generation. * Do ye thus requite
the Lord, O foolish people and
unwise ?
Is not He thy Father? * That
hath bought thee, and made thee,
and created thee ?
Remember the days of old, *
consider generation after genera-
tion : ,
Ask thy father, and he will show
thee — * thine elders, and they will
tell thee.
When the Most High divided
the nations, * when He separated
the sons of Adam,
He set the bounds of the people
* according to the number of the
children of Israel.
For the Lord's portion is His
people : * Jacob is the lot of his
inheritance.
He found him in a desert land,
* in the waste and howling wilder-
ness :
He led him about and instructed
him, * and kept him as the apple
of His eye.
As the eagle that stirreth up her
young to fly, * and fluttereth over
them,
So spread He abroad His wings,
and took him, * and bore him on
His pinions ;
The Lord alone did lead him,
* and there was no strange god
with him.
He made him ride upon the
high places of the earth, * that
SATURDAY AT LAUDS.
173
he might eat the increase of the
fields :
And He made him to suck
honey out of the rock, * and oil
out of the flinty rock :
Butter of kine, and milk of
sheep, * with fat of lambs and
rams of the breed of Bashan :
And goats, with the fat of wheat,
* and to drink the pure blood of
the grape.
The " Beloved " l waxed fat, and
kicked : * he was waxen fat, he
was grown plump, he was covered
with fatness :
He forsook God That made him,
* and departed from the God of
his salvation.
They provoked Him to jealousy
with strange gods, * and with
abominations provoked they Him
to anger.
They sacrificed unto devils, and
to things that were no gods, * to
gods whom they knew not,
New gods that came newly up,
i* whom their fathers feared not.
The God That begat thee hast
thou forsaken, * and hast forgotten
God That formed thee.
When the Lord saw it, He was
roused to anger, * because of the
provoking of His sons and of His
daughters.
And He said : I will hide My
face from them, * and see what
their end shall be :
For they are a very froward
generation, * children in whom is
no faith.
They have moved Me to jealousy
with that which is not God, * and
provoked Me to anger with their
vanities :
And I will move them to jealousy
with those who are not a people,
* and provoke them to anger with
a foolish nation.
A fire is kindled in Mine anger,
* and shall burn unto the lowest
hell,
And shall consume the earth with
her increase, * and set on fire the
foundations of the mountains.
I will heap mischiefs upon them,
* and will spend Mine arrows upon
them.
They shall be wasted with hun-
ger, * and the birds of the air
shall prey on them with a very
grievous devouring :
I will send the teeth of beasts
upon them, * with the poison of
serpents creeping in the dust.
The sword without and terror
within shall destroy * both the
young man and the virgin, the
suckling with the man of grey
hairs.
I said : Where are they ? * I
will make the remembrance of
them to cease among men :
But I forbore because of the
wrath of the enemy, * lest their
adversaries should triumph,
And lest they should say : Our
high hand, and not the Lord, *
hath done all this.
They are a nation void of coun-
sel, neither is there any under-
standing in them. * O that they
were wise, and that they understood
this, and would consider their latter
end !
How should one chase a thou-
sand, * and two put ten thousand
to flight !
Except their God had sold them,
1 Jeshurun — but that this pet-name of the Israelite people means "Beloved" is not
now reckoned certain.
»74
THE PSALTER.
* and the Lord had delivered them
up !
For their
*
gods
are not as our
God, * even our enemies them-
selves being judges.
Their vine is of the vine of
Sodom, * and of the fields of Go-
morrah :
Their grapes are grapes of gall,
* and their clusters are bitter :
Their wine is the poison of
dragons, * and the cruel venom of
asps.
Is not this laid up in store with
Me, * and sealed up among My
treasures ?
To Me belongeth vengeance,
and I will repay in due time, * to
make their foot to slide.
The day of their calamity is at
hand, * and the things that shall
come upon them make haste.
The Lord shall judge His people,
* and take pity on His servants,
When He seeth that their hand
is weakened, * and there is none
shut up and left, and that they
that remained are consumed.
And He shall say : Where are
their gods, * in whom they trusted ?
Of whose sacrifices they did eat
the fat, * and drank the wine of
their drink-offerings?
Let them rise up, and help you,
* and be your protection in the
time of need.
See now that I, even I, am
He, * and there is no god with
Me:
I kill, and I make alive : I wound
and I heal : * neither is there any
that can deliver out of Mine hand.
I will lift up Mine hand to
heaven, and say : * I live for ever.
My glittering sword,
hand take hold on
to
requite
Mine
them
If I whet
* and Mine
judgment ;
I will render vengeance
enemies, * and will
that hate Me.
I will make Mine arrows drunk
with blood, * and My sword shall
devour flesh;
With the blood of the slain * and
of the captives, and of the despoiled
chief of the enemy.
Rejoice with His people, ye
nations : * for He will avenge the
blood of His servants,
And will render vengeance to
their adversaries, * and will be
merciful unto the land of His
people.
Antiphon. Ascribe ye greatness
unto our God.
Fifth Antiphon. Praise God.
Psalms CXLVIII., CXLIX., CL.
Praise ye the Lord from the
2 5,
heavens, &c.
Antiphon.
loud cymbals.
(//. 25, 26).
Praise God upon the
Chapter.
The night is
on Monday, p.
(Rom. xiii.
far spent,
89).
12.)
&c.
(as
Hymn.1
HP HE dawn is sprinkled o'er the sky,
J- The day steals softly on ;
Its darts are scattered far and nigh,
And all that fraudful is, shall fly
Before the brightening sun ;
Spectres of ill, that stalk at will,
And forms of guilt that fright,
And hideous sin, that ventures in
Under the cloak of night.
1 Hymn of the Ambrosian school, considerably altered ; translation by the late Card.
Newman.
SATURDAY AT LAUDS.
175
And of our crimes the tale complete,
Which bows us in Thy sight,
Up to the latest, they shall fleet,
Out-told by our full numbers sweet,
And melted by the light.
To Father, Son, and Spirit, One,
Whom we adore and love,
Be given all praise, now and always,
Here as in Heaven above.
Amen.
Verse. Thou hast satisfied us
early with Thy mercy.
Answer. We rejoice and are glad.
Antiphon for the Song of Zacha-
rias. Give light, O Lord, * unto
them that sit in darkness, and guide
our feet into the way of peace, O
Thou God of Israel !
Commemoration of the Cross before
the others, and Long Preces in Ad-
vent and Lent, and on Fast-days,
except the Eves of Christmas and
Pentecost.
176
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG.1
SttntraiL
The Lord's Day.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
From Septuagesima Sunday to
Maundy Thursday instead of "Alle-
luia" is said:
Ceaseless praise to Thee be given,
O Eternal King of heaven.
Then follow the Psalms. They are
said under Five Antiphons, except in
Paschal time when there is only one,
and when these are not specially given,
those given here are used.
Antiphon. The Lord said.
If this Antiphon be used the Psalm
begins with the words " Unto my
Lord."
At the beginning of Vespers the
Lord's Prayer and the Angelic Salu-
tation are said inaudibly.
/^VUR Father, Who art in heaven,
^-^ Hallowed be 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 them that trespass against
us. And lead us not into tempta-
tion ; but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
IT AIL, Mary, full of grace; The
-*■ -*• Lord is with thee : blessed
art thou among women, and blessed
is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray
for us sinners, now, and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
Then is said aloud:
Verse. ►J* Make haste, O God,
to deliver me.
Answer. Make haste to help
me, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to
the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. mies.
1 The proper hour for Vespers is sunset, reckoned to be about 6 P.M. In private
recitation, they ought not usually to be begun before noon.
Atitiphon for Paschal time.
leluia.
Psalm CIX.
Al-
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." The
first verse was quoted by our Lord. — Matth.
xxii. 44 ; Mark xii. 36 ; Luke xx. 42.]
*""PHE Lord said unto my Lord:
A * Sit Thou at My right hand,
Until I make Thine enemies *
Thy footstool.
The Lord shall send the rod of
Thy strength out of Zion : * rule
Thou in the midst of Thine ene-
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG.
177
Thine shall be the dominion in
the day of Thy power, amid the
brightness of the saints : * from the
womb, before the day-star have I
begotten Thee.
The Lord hath sworn, and will
not repent : * Thou art a Priest for
ever after the order of Melchisedek.
The Lord at Thy right hand *
shall strike through kings in the
day of His wrath.
He shall judge among the hea-
then, He shall fill the places with
dead bodies : * He shall wound the
heads over many countries.
He shall drink of the brook in
the way : * therefore shall he lift
up his head.
Antiphon. The Lord said unto
my Lord : * Sit Thou at My right
hand.
Second Antiphon. All His com-
mandments.
covenant. * He will show His
people the power of His works,
That He may give them the
heritage of the heathen. * The
works of His hands are verity and
judgment :
All His commandments are sure ;
they stand fast for ever and ever, *
being done in truth and uprightness.
He sent redemption unto His
people : He hath commanded His
covenant for ever :
Holy and terrible is His Name.
* The fear of the Lord is the be-
ginning of wisdom :
A good understanding have all
they that do His commandments :
* His praise endureth for ever.
Antiphon. 1A11 His command-
ments are sure ; they stand fast for
ever and ever.
Third Antiphon. In His com-
mandments.
Psalm CX.
[The Hebrew prefixes "Alleluia," and
begins, " I will praise the Lord." The
Psalm is A B C Darian.]
WILL praise Thee, O Lord,
J- with my whole heart : * in the
assembly of the upright, and in the
congregation.
The works of the Lord are great,
* meet to serve for the doing of
His will.
His work is honourable and glo-
rious, * and His righteousness en-
dureth for ever.
He hath made a memorial of
His wonderful works : the Lord
is gracious and full of compassion.
* He hath given meat unto them
that fear Him :
He will ever be mindful of His
Psalm CXI.
[The Hebrew prefixes "Alleluia." The
Vulgate adds to the superscription "on the
return of Haggai and Zechariah [from the
Captivity]." See Thursday, fifth week in
November. The Psalm is A B C Darian.]
OLESSED is the man that fear-
*** eth the Lord : * that de-
lighteth greatly in His command-
ments.
His seed shall be mighty upon
earth ; * the generation of the up-
right shall be blessed.
Glory and riches shall be in his
house : * and his righteousness en-
dureth for ever.
Unto the upright there ariseth
light in the darkness : * he is
gracious, and full of compassion,
and righteous.
1 Ps. ex. 8.
178
THE PSALTER.
Happy is the man that showeth
favour and lendeth ; he will guide
his words with discretion : * surely
he shall not be moved for ever :
The righteous shall be in ever-
lasting remembrance. * He shall
not be afraid of evil tidings :
His heart is ready, trusting in the
Lord. His heart is established, *
he shall not be afraid until he see
his desire upon his enemies.
He hath dispersed, he hath given
to the poor : his righteousness en-
dureth for ever : * his horn shall
be exalted with honour.
The wicked shall see it, and be
grieved ; he shall gnash his teeth,
and melt away : * the desire of
the wicked shall perish.
A?itiphon. In His command-
ments he delighteth greatly.
Fourth Antiphon. Blessed be the
Name.
Psalm CXI I.
[The Hebrew prefixes "Alleluia."]
ORAISE the Lord, O ye His
-■- servants, * praise the Name
of the Lord.
Blessed be the Name of the
Lord, * from this time forth, and
for evermore !
From the rising of the sun unto
the going down of the same, * the
Lord's Name is to be praised.
The Lord is high above all
nations, * and His glory above the
heavens.
Who is like unto the Lord our
God, Who dwelleth on high, *
and beholdeth what is lowly in
heaven, and in the earth ?
He raiseth up the poor out of
the dust, * and lifteth the needy
out of the dung-hill ;
That He may set him with
princes, * even with the princes
of His people.
He maketh the barren woman
to keep house, * and to be a joy-
ful mother of children.
[The Hebrew adds " Alleluia," which
the Vulgate and the LXX. prefix to the
next Psalm.]
Antiphon. Blessed be the Name
of the Lord for evermore.
Fifth Antiphon. We that live.
Psalm CXI II.
A \ 7" HEN Israel went out of Egypt,
* * * the house of Jacob from
a people of strange language,
Judah was His sanctuary, * and
Israel His dominion.
The sea saw it and fled : * Jor-
dan was driven back.
The mountains skipped like rams,
* and the little hills like lambs.
What ailed thee, O thou sea,
that thou fleddest? * and thou
Jordan, that thou wast driven back ?
Ye mountains, that ye skipped
like rams? * and ye little hills,
like lambs?
The earth trembled at the pres-
ence of the Lord, * at the presence
of the God of Jacob :
Who turned the rock into a
standing water, * and the flint into
a fountain of waters.1
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us :
* but unto Thy Name give glory,
For Thy mercy, and for Thy
truth's sake. * Wherefore should
the heathen say : Where is now
their God?
1 In the Hebrew here ends Ps. cxiv. and the next words begin cxv.
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG.
179
The dead shall not praise Thee,
O Lord, * neither all they that go
down into the grave.
But we that live bless the Lord,
* from this time forth for evermore.
[The Hebrew adds "Alleluia."]
Antiphon. We that live bless the
Lord.
Antiphon for Paschal time. Alle-
luia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Here follows the Chapter. When a
special one is not given, the following is
used:
Chapter. (2 Cor. i. 3.)
BLESSED be God, even the
Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of mercies, and
the God of all comfort, Who com-
forteth us in all our tribulation.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
This Answer is always made after
the Chapter.
Then follows the Hymn. When a
special one is not given, the following
is used:
Hymn.1
T^ATHER of Lights, by Whom each
■*■ day
Is kindled out of night,
Who, when the heavens were made,
didst lay
Their rudiments in light ;
Thou, Who didst bind and blend in one
The glistening morn and evening pale,
Hear Thou our plaint, when light is
gone,
And lawlessness and strife prevail.
Hear, lest the whelming weight of crime
Wreck us with life in view ;
Lest thoughts and schemes of sense
and time
Earn us a sinner's due.
1 Hymn of the Ambrosian school, very slightly altered ; translation by the late Card.
Newman.
But our God is in the heavens :
* He hath done whatsoever He
hath pleased.
The idols of the heathen are
silver and gold, * the work of
men's hands.
They have mouths, but they
speak not : * eyes have they, but
they see not.
They have ears, but they hear
not : * noses have they, but they
smell not :
They have hands, but they handle
not : feet have they, but they walk
not : * neither speak they through
their throat.
May they that make them be
like unto them : * even every one
that trusteth in them.
The house of Israel trusteth
in the Lord : * He is their help
and their shield.
The house of Aaron trusteth in
the Lord : * He is their help and
their shield.
They that fear the Lord trust
in the Lord : * He is their help
and their shield.
The Lord hath been mindful of
us, * and blessed us :
He hath blessed the house of Is-
rael : * He hath blessed the house
of Aaron.
He hath blessed them that fear
the Lord, * both small and
great.
The Lord increase you more
and more, * you and your chil-
dren.
Ye are blessed of the Lord, *
Who made heaven and earth.
The heaven of heavens is the
Lord's : * but the earth hath He
given to the children of men.
i8o
THE PSALTER.
So may we knock at Heaven's door,
And strive the immortal prize to win,
Continually and evermore
Guarded without and pure within.
Grant this, O Father, Only Son,
And Spirit, God of grace,
To Whom all worship shall be done
In every time and place.
Amen.
Then is said a Verse and Answer.
If a special one is not given, the follow-
ing is used :
Verse. l Let my prayer, O Lord,
be set forth.
Answer. As incense before
Thee.
Then is said the following Canticle
frotn the Gospel. It has an Antiphon
which is always special, and which is
either begun or said through the first
time before it, according as the Office is
Double or not.
The Song of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. (Luke i. 46.)
MY soul * doth magnify the .
Lord:
And my spirit hath rejoiced * in
God my Saviour.
For He hath regarded the low-
liness of His handmaiden : * for, be-
hold, from henceforth all generations
shall call me blessed.
For He That is Mighty hath done
to me great things : * and holy is His
name.
And His mercy is on them that
fear Him, * from generation to gen-
eration.
He hath showed strength with
His arm : * He hath scattered the
proud in the imagination of their
heart.
He hath put down the mighty
from their seat, * and exalted them
of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with
good things, * and the rich He hath
sent empty away.
He hath holpen His servant Is-
rael, * in remembrance of His
mercy :
As He spake to our fathers, *
to Abraham, and to his seed for
ever.
The Hymn, " Glory be to the Father,
&c," is said, and then the Antiphon re-
peated.
Then is said:
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
Then follows the Prayer for the day,
at the end of which is answered:
Answer. Amen.
Afterwards are made any Commemo-
rations necessary, by the Antiphon for
the Song of the Blessed Virgin, the Verse
and Answer after the Hymn, and the
Prayer, (preceded by " Let us pray,")
from the superseded Office which is to
be commemorated. After which the fol-
lowing Common Commemorations are
made, if required, according to Chapter
xxxv. of the General Rubrics.
When more than two Prayers are to
be said, the last clause of each (beginning
" Through our Lord, &c," or " Who
livest, &c") is omitted in all except the
first and the last, nor is " Amen " an-
swered except after these two.
(Note that if these Commemorations,
with the exception of those of St Joseph,
and SS. Peter and Paul, be said upon
a week-day, kept as such, out of Paschal
time, they are preceded by the Common-
oration of the Cross, given hereafter at
the end of the Lauds of Monday.)
1 Ps. cxl. 2.
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG.
ISI
I. Commemoration of the Blessed
Virgin Mary.
{This Commemoration is omitted if
the Office of the day be of the Blessed
Virgin, or if her Little Office is to be
said.)
Antiphon. O Holy Mary, be thou
an help to the helpless, a strength to
the fearful, a comfort to the sorrow-
ful ; pray for the people, plead for
the clergy, make intercession for all
women vowed to God ; may all that
keep thine holy remembrance, feel
the might of thine assistance.
Verse. Pray for us, O holy Mother
of God.
Answer. That we may be made
worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
GRANT, we beseech Thee, O
Lord God, unto all Thy ser-
vants, that they may continually
enjoy soundness both of mind and
body, and by the glorious inter-
cession of the Blessed Mary, always
a Virgin, may be delivered from
present sadness, and enter into the
joy of Thine eternal gladness.
From the Octave of the Epiphany to
Candlemas, the Antiphon is the same,
but the rest is as follows ;
Verse. After thy delivery thou
still remainest a Virgin undefiled.
Answer. Mother of God, pray
for us.
Let us pray.
r\ GOD, Who, by the fruitful vir-
^-J ginity of the Blessed Mary,
hast given unto mankind the rewards
of everlasting life ; grant, we beseech
Thee, that we may continually feel
the might of her intercession, through
whom we have worthily received the
Author of our life, our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son.
II. Commemoration of St Joseph,
Patron of the Universal Church.
{Omitted in the Votive Office of St
Joseph.)
Antiphon. l Behold a faithful and
wise servant whom his Lord hath
made ruler over His household.
Verse. 2 Glory and riches shall
be in his house.
Answer. And his righteousness
endureth for ever.
Let us pray.
t~\ GOD, Who, in Thine unspeak-
^-^ able foreknowledge, didst
choose Thy blessed servant Joseph
to be the husband of Thine Own
most holy Mother ; mercifully
grant that now that he is in heaven
with Thee, we who on earth do
reverence him for our defender,
may worthily be holpen by the
succour of his prayers to Thee
on our behalf.
III. Commemoration of the Holy
Apostles, Peter and Paul.
{Omitted in the Votive Office of the
Apostles.)
Antiphon. Peter the Apostle,
and Paul the Teacher of the Gen-
tiles, have taught us Thy law, O
Lord.
Verse. 3Thou shalt make them
princes over all the earth.
Answer. They shall be mindful
of Thy Name, O Lord.
1 Matth. xxiv. 45.
2 Ps. cxi. 3.
8 Ps. xliv. 17, 18.
l82 THE PSALTER.
Let us pray. the deep of the sea, when he suf-
OGOD, Whose Right Hand fered shipwreck; graciously hear
caught the Blessed Peter us> and Srant' for the sake of them
when he walked upon the water, both> that we also may attain unt0
and began to sink, and thrice de- everlasting glory,
livered his fellow- Apostle Paul from Note 1.
1 In England, by a special rule in this case, is made
Commemoration of St George, Patron of England.
Antiphon. The Saints through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises.
Verse. O Lord, Thou hast compassed him.
Answer. With Thy favour as with a shield.
Let us pray.
OGOD, Who dost gladden us through the worthy deeds and prayers
of Thy blessed Martyr George ; mercifully grant that all they
which seek Thy favour through him, may effectually obtain the gift of
Thy grace.
{And thus it is said within the Octave.)
In the Diocese of Hexham St George is not commemorated, but instead the following
commemoration is made of St Cuthbert :
Antiphon. Holy Cuthbert, our Protector, grace and glory of our father-
land, look down upon us from Heaven, and pray God for us, that He grant
us everlasting joy.
Verse. At the prayers of Blessed Cuthbert and for his sake,
Answer. Be merciful unto Thy people, O Lord.
Let us pray.
f~\ GOD, Who, through the priceless gift of Thy grace, dost make
^-^ Thine holy ones glorious, mercifully grant, that the prayers of Thy
Blessed Confessor and Bishop Cuthbert may help us worthily there to
attain, where are the spirits of just men made perfect.
In the Diocese of Northampton the following commemoration of St Thomas of
Canterbury is made before that of St George :
Antiphon. 1 am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am
known of Mine, and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Verse. In your patience
Anstver. Possess ye your souls.
Let us pray.
f~\ GOD, in defence of Whose Church the glorious Bishop Thomas
^S fell by the swords of wicked men, grant, we beseech Thee, that all
that ask his help may obtain wholesome fruit of their petition.
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG. 1 83
For Peace. Let us pray.
Antiphon. Give peace in our f~\ GOD, from Whom all holy
time, O Lord, because there is ^-^ desires, all good counsels,
none other that fighteth for us, and all just works do proceed ;
but only Thou, O our God. give unto Thy servants that peace
Verse. Peace be within thy which the world cannot give, that
walls. both our hearts may be set to
Answer. And prosperity within obey Thy commandments, and also
thy palaces. that by Thee we being defended
In the Diocese of Plymouth the following commemoration of St Boniface of Maintz is
made before that of St George :
Antiphon. Many nations, many thousands of men, did Blessed Boniface
gain for Christ, and forasmuch as he made himself like unto an Apostle
he hath purchased unto himself a great reward in Heaven along with
the Apostles.
Verse. Be strong in the Lord, be strong.
Answer. That ye may live for ever with God.
Let us pray.
/~^\ GOD, Who wast pleased to make the zeal of Thy Blessed Martyr
^^ and Bishop Boniface the mean whereby Thou didst cause many
peoples to know Thy Name, mercifully grant unto us who honour his
memory to be feelingly holpen by the succour of his protection.
{And so it is said within the Octave.)
In the Diocese of Portsmouth the following commemoration of St Edmund of Canter-
bury is made after that of St George :
Antiphon. He loved righteousness and hated iniquity, and therefore
he died in exile.
Verse. Cast out upon a world of woes,
In exile here we roam.
Answer. O Blessed Edmund, by thy prayers,
Gain us the love of home.
Let us pray.
f~\ GOD, Who in the abundance of Thy goodness toward Thy Church
^-^ hast made her bright by the illustrious life of Thy blessed Confessor
and Bishop Edmund, and gladdened her by his glorious and wondrous
works, mercifully grant unto Thy servants that they may be bettered in
following after his ensample, and shielded by his protection from all
things that may rise up against them.
1 84
THE PSALTER.
from the fear of our enemies, may
pass our time in rest and quiet-
ness. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end.
Answer. Amen.
Frotn the Monday after Low Sunday
till Rogation Tuesday, instead of the
preceding Commemorations, is said the
following :
Paschal Commemoration of the
Cross.
{Omitted in the Votive Offices of
the Blessed Sacrament, and of the
Passion.)
Antiphon. Jesus, our trium-
phant Head,
On the Cross's transom dread
The Hands of power and mercy
spread
That brake the prison of the
dead. Alleluia.
Verse. Say among the heathen
— Alleluia.
Answer. That the Lord reign-
eth from the tree,1 Alleluia.
Let us pray.
OGOD, Who didst send Thy
Son to suffer death for us
upon the Cross, that Thou might-
est deliver us from the power of
the enemy ; grant unto us Thy
servants to be made partakers of
His Resurrection. Through ' the
Same our Lord Jesus Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Answer. Amen.
After the last Prayer is said:
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Verse. Bless we the Lord.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Then is said in rather a low voice:
May the souls of the Faithful,
through the mercy of God, rest in
peace.
Answer. Amen.
Then, unless Compline follow, the
Lords Prayer inaudibly :
/^\UR Father, Who art in heaven,
^-^ Hallowed be 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 them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation ;
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Note. When Office is said in Choiry
the service is ended with the Antiphon
of the Blessed Virgin Mary ex>ery ti»ie
the Choir is left. Otherwise it is only
said as given in this book, after Lauds,
{or the aggregation of which Lauds
forms a part) and Cottipline. When-
ever it is said, except after Compline, it
is preceded by:
Verse. >%* The Lord give us His
peace.
Answer. And life everlasting.
Amen.
Ij the Office of the Dead follow im-
mediately, the above prayer for the
Faithful departed, and the " Our Fa-
ther, are omitted.
Feasts. The above Office, appoititcd
for Sunday, is also, speaking in a gen-
eral sense, used on all Feasts above the
rank of Simples.
1 Ps. xcv. 10, old version.
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG.
185
JHontiasL
The Second Day of the Week.
All as on Sunday, except as otherwise
given here.
The Psalms are as follows ;
Antiphon. The Lord hath in-
clined.
In Paschal tune only one Antiphon
is said, Alleluia.
Psalm CXIV.
[The Vulgate and the LXX. prefix "Al-
leluia."]
T AM well pleased, because the
*~ Lord hath heard * the voice
of my supplication :
Because He hath inclined His ear
unto me, * therefore will I call upon
Him all my days.
The sorrows of death compassed
me : * and the straits of hell found
•me :
Sorrow and trouble did I find.
* Then called I upon the name of
the Lord :
0 Lord, deliver my soul. * Gra-
cious is the Lord, and righteous :
yea, our God is merciful.
The Lord preserveth the simple :
* I was brought low and He helped
me.
Return unto thy rest, O my soul :
* for the Lord hath dealt bountifully
with thee.
For He hath delivered my soul
from death, * mine eyes from tears,
and my feet from falling.
1 will walk before the Lord * in
the land of the living.
Antiphon. l The Lord hath in-
clined His ear unto me.
Second Antiphon. I believed.
If this Antiphon be used the Psalm
begins with the words, " Therefore have
I spoken."
Psalm CXV.
[In the Hebrew this Psalm is a continua-
tion of the last. The Vulgate and the LXX.
prefix "Alleluia."]
T BELIEVED, therefore have I
■^ spoken : * but I was greatly
afflicted.
I said in my haste : * All men
are liars.
What shall I render unto the
Lord * for all His benefits toward
me?
I will take the cup of salvation,
* and call upon the name of the
Lord.
I will pay my vows unto the Lord
in the presence of all His people.
* Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of His Saints.
0 Lord, truly I am Thy servant :
* I am Thy servant, and the son of
Thine handmaid :
Thou hast loosed my bonds. * I
will offer to Thee the sacrifice of
thanksgiving, and will call upon the
name of the Lord.
1 will pay my vows unto the Lord,
in the presence of all His people : *
in the courts of the Lord's house, in
the midst of thee, O Jerusalem !
[Here the Hebrew appends "Alle-
luia," which the Vulgate and the LXX.
prefix to the next Psalm.]
Antiphon. I believed, therefore
have I spoken.
Third Antiphon. O praise.
If this Antiphon be used the Psalm
begins with the words, " The Lord."
1 Ps. cxiv. 2.
1 86
THE PSALTER.
Psalm CXVI.
O PRAISE the Lord, all ye
nations : * praise Him, all
ye people.
For His merciful kindness is great
toward us : * and the truth of the
Lord endureth for ever.
[Here the Hebrew appends " Alle-
luia," which the Vulgate and the LXX.
prefix to the next Psalm.]
Antiphon. O praise the Lord,
all ye nations.
Fourth Antiphon. I cried.
Psalm CXIX.
[This is the first of the "Songs of De-
grees," or "Gradual Psalms." See note
to Ps. cxxix., p. 91.]
TN my distress I cried unto the
■^ Lord, * and He heard me.
Deliver my soul, O Lord, from
lying lips, * and from a deceitful
tongue.
What shall be given unto thee, or
what shall be done unto thee, * thou
false tongue ?
Sharp arrows of the mighty, * with
hot burning coals.
Woe is me ! that my sojourn is
long : I dwell with the dwellers of
Kedar.1 * My soul hath long dwelt
as an exile
With them that hate peace. I
was peaceable : * when I spoke
unto them, they fought against me
without a cause.
Antiphon. 2 1 cried, and He heard
me.
Fifth Antiphon. From whence
cometh.
1 Properly " Black-skin."
tribe sprung from him.
Psalm CXX.
[Also a Song of Degrees.]
[ WILL lift up mine eyes unto the
*■ hills, * from whence cometh
mine help.
Mine help cometh from the Lord,
* Who made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy feet to be
moved : * He That keepeth thee
will not slumber.
Behold, He That keepeth Israel
shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper : the
Lord is thy shade * upon thy right
hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by
day, * nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall keep thee from
all evil : * the Lord shall keep thy
soul.
The Lord shall keep thy coming
in and thy going out, * from this
time forth and for evermore.
Antiphon. 3 From whence cometh
mine help.
Antiphon in Paschal time. Alle-
luia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Hymn.4
LORD of unbounded space,
Who, lest the sky and main
Should mix, and heaven should lose its
place,
Didst the rude waters chain ;
Parting the moist and rare,
That rills on earth might flow
To soothe the angry flame, whene'er
It ravens from below ;
Pour on us of Thy grace
The everlasting spring,
Lest our frail steps renew the trace
Of the ancient wandering.
This was the name of a son of Ishmael, and of an Arabian
2 Ps.
s Ps. CXX. I.
4 Hymn of the Ambrosian school, almost unchanged ; translation by the late Card.
Newman.
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG.
187
May faith in lustre grow,
And rear her star in heaven,
Paling all sparks of earth below
Unquenched by damps of even.
Grant it, O Father, Son,
And Holy Spirit of grace,
To Whom be glory, Three in One,
In every time and place.
Amen.
Antiphonfor the Song of the Blessed-
Virgin. My soul doth magnify the
Lord, * for God hath regarded my
lowliness.
After the repetition op the Antiphon
after the Song of the Blessed Virgin, on
the Week-days of Advent and Lent, the
Ember Days, and all Vigils which are
Fasts, except Christmas Eve and the
Eve and Ember Days of Pentecost, all
kneel dow?t, and the following prayers,
called the Preces, are said:
Kyrie eleison.
Answer. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Then the Lord's Prayer is said aloud.
OUR Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be 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 them that trespass against
us. And lead us not into tempta-
tion.
Answer. But deliver us from
evil.
Verse. I said : Lord, be merci-
ful unto me.
Answer. Heal my soul, for I
have sinned against Thee.
Verse. Return, O Lord, how
long?
Answer. And let it repent Thee
concerning Thy servants.
Verse. Let Thy mercy, O Lord,
be upon us.
Answer. According as we hope
in Thee.
Verse. Let. Thy priests be clothed
with righteousness.
Answer. And let Thy Saints
shout for joy.
Verse. O Lord, save the King.
Answer. And hear us in the day
when we call upon Thee.
Verse. O Lord, save Thy people,
and bless Thine inheritance.
Answer. And govern them, and
lift them up for ever.
Verse. Remember Thy congre-
gation.
Answer. Which Thou hast pur-
chased of old.
Verse. Peace be within thy
walls.
Answer. And prosperity within
thy palaces.
Verse. Let us pray for the Faith-
ful departed.
Answer. O Lord, grant them
eternal rest, and let the everlasting
light shine upon them.
Verse. May they rest in peace.
Answer. Amen.
Verse. Let us pray for our absent
brethren.
Answer. O Thou, my God, save
Thy servants that trust in Thee.
Verse. Let us pray for the sorrow-
ful and the captive.
Answer. Redeem them, O God
of Israel, out of all their troubles.
Verse. O Lord, send them help
from the sanctuary.
Answer. And strengthen them
out of Zion.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O
Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
THE PSALTER.
Psalm L.
Have mercy upon me, O God,
&c., (p. 87).
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Verse. Turn us again, O Lord
God of Hosts.
Answer. And cause Thy face to
shine, and we shall be saved.
Verse. Arise, O Christ, and help
us.
Answer. And deliver us for Thy
Name's sake.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
Here follows the Prayer of the Day.
All proceeds to the end of the service as
on Sunday, except that when Suffrages
are said, the following is said before the
Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin
Mary.
Commemoration of the Cross.
{Omitted in the Offices of the Blessed
Sacrament, and of the Passion.)
Antiphon. Through Thy Cross's
holy sign, Jesus, guard this soul of
mine, from my ghostly enemy.
Verse. Let all the earth worship
Thee, and sing unto Thee.
Answer. Let them sing praises to
Thy name, O Lord.
Let us pray.
r~\ LORD, we beseech Thee, keep
^-^ us in continual peace, whom
Thou hast vouchsafed to redeem by
the tree of the Holy Cross.
Simple Feasts. If the Vespers of a
Simple Feast be kept on a Monday, the
Office is of the Feast, from the Chapter
inclusive.
EuestoajL
The Third Day of the Week.
All as on Sunday, except as otherwise
given here.
The Psalms are as follows :
Antiphon. Let us go.
In Paschal time only one Antiphon is
said, Alleluia.
Psalm CXXI.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees, of David."]
I" WAS glad when they said unto
■■■ me : * Let us go into the house
of the Lord.
Our feet have been wont to stand
* within thy gates, O Jerusalem !
Jerusalem is builded as a city *
that is compact together :
Whither the tribes go up, the
tribes of the Lord, * the testimony
of Israel, to give thanks unto the
name of the Lord.
For there are set thrones for judg-
ment, * the thrones for the house of
David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem :
* they shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls, * and
prosperity within thy palaces.
For my brethren and companions'
sakes, * I will now say — Peace be
within thee !
Because of the house of the Lord
our God, * I will seek thy good.
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG.
189
Antiphon. Let us go with glad-
ness into the house of the Lord.
Second Antiphon. O Thou That
dwellest.
Psalm CXXII.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees."]
UNTO Thee lift I up mine eyes,
* O Thou That dwellest in
the heavens !
Behold, as the eyes of servants *
look unto the hand of their masters,
As the eyes of a maiden unto
the hand of her mistress : * so
our eyes look unto the Lord our
God, until that He have mercy
on us.
Have mercy upon us, O Lord,
have mercy upon us : * for we are
exceedingly filled with contempt.
Our soul is exceedingly filled
* with the scorning of those that
are at ease, and with the con-
tempt of the proud.
Antiphon. O Thou That dwell-
est in the heavens, have mercy
upon us.
Third Antiphon. Our help.
Psalm CXXIII.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees," to which
the Hebrew and the Targum add "of
David," but this ascription of authorship
does not occur in the Vulgate or the LXX.]
TF it had not been the Lord
*- Who was on our side — now
may Israel say — * if it had not
been the Lord Who was on our
side,
When men rose up against us :
* then they had swallowed us up
quick,
When their wrath was kindled
1 Ps. cxxiii. 8.
against us : * then the waters had
overwhelmed us,
The stream had gone over our
soul : * then the overwhelming
waters had gone over our soul.
Blessed be the Lord, * Who hath
not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Our soul is escaped as a bird *
out of the snare of the fowlers :
The snare is broken, * and we
are escaped.
Our help is in the name of the
Lord, * Who made heaven and
earth.
Antiphon. x Our help is in the
name of the Lord.
Fourth Antiphon. Do good, O
Lord.
Psalm CXXIV.
[Intituled " A Song of Degrees."]
^PHEY that trust in the Lord
*■ shall be as Mount Zion : *
he that dwelleth in Jerusalem
shall never be moved.
The mountains are round about
Jerusalem : * and the Lord is
round about His people, from
henceforth, and for ever.
For the Lord will not suffer
the rod of the wicked to rest upon
the lot of the righteous : * lest
the righteous put forth their hands
unto iniquity.
Do good, O Lord, to the good,
* and to them that are upright in
their hearts.
As for such as turn aside unto
their crooked ways, the Lord
shall lead them forth with the
workers of iniquity : * peace be
upon Israel !
Antiphon. Do good, O Lord,
190
THE PSALTER.
to the good, and to them that are
upright in their hearts.
Fifth Antiphon. We were like.
Psalm CXXV.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees."]
T \ fHEN the Lord turned again
* * the captivity of Zion, * we
were like them that come again
from sickness.
Then was our mouth filled with
laughter, * and our tongue with
singing.
Then said they among the hea-
then : * The Lord hath done great
things for them.
The Lord hath done great things
for us : * whereof we are glad.
Turn again our captivity, O
Lord, * as the streams in the
south.
They that sow in tears * shall
reap in joy.
They go forth weeping, * sow-
ing their seed ;
They shall doubtless come again
with rejoicing, * bringing their
sheaves with them.
Antiphon. We were like them
that come again from sickness.
Antiphon in Paschal time. Al-
leluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Hymn.1
A LL-BOUNTIFUL Creator, Who,
J-"*- When Thou didst mould the
world, didst drain
The waters from the mass, that so
Earth might immovable remain ;
That its dull clods it might transmute
To golden flowers in vale or wood,
To juice of thirst-allaying fruit,
And grateful herbage spread for food ;
Wash Thou our smarting wounds and
hot,
In the cool freshness of Thy grace ;
Till tears start forth the past to blot,
And cleanse and calm Thy holy place,
Till we obey Thy full behest,
Shun the world's tainted touch and
breath,
Joy in what highest is and best,
And gain a spell to baffle death.
Grant it, O Father, Only Son,
And Holy Spirit, God of grace,
To Whom all glory, Three in One,
Be given in every time and place.
Amen.
Antiphon for the Song of the
Blessed Virgin. Let my spirit re-
joice * in God my Saviour.
Commemoration of the Cross before
the other general Commemorations, and
Long Preces at certain times as on
Monday.
Simple Feasts. If the Vespers of a
Simple Feast be kept on a Tuesday, the
Office is of the Feast from the Chapter
inclusive.
SEetmestia^
The Fourth Day of the Week.
All as on Sunday, except as otherwise
given here.
The Psalms are as follows :
Antiphon. He shall not be
ashamed.
In Paschal time only one Antiphon
is said, Alleluia.
Psalm CXXVI.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees, of Solo-
mon." The LXX. omits the ascription to
Solomon.]
EXCEPT the Lord build the
-■— ■ ' house, * they labour in vain
that build it :
1 Hymn of the Ambrosian school, hardly altered ; translation by the late Card. Newman.
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG.
191
is vain
*
rise
ye that
for you to
up when
eat the
rise up
ye are
bread of
Except the Lord keep the city,
* the watchman waketh but in
vain.
It
early,
rested,
sorrow :
For He giveth His beloved sleep.
Lo, children are an heritage of the
Lord, * the fruit of the womb is His
reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a
mighty man, * so are the children
of the out-cast.
Happy is the man that hath his
desire satisfied with them : * he shall
not be ashamed when he speaketh
with his enemies in the gate.
Antiphon. He shall not be a-
shamed when he speaketh with his
enemies in the gate.
Second Antiphon. Blessed.
If this Antiphon be used the Psalm
commences with the words, " Is every
one."
Psalm CXXVII.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees."]
OLESSED is every one that feareth
*~* the Lord, * that walketh in
His ways.
For thou shalt eat the labour of
thine hands : * happy shalt thou be
and it shall be well with thee.
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine
* on the sides of thine house :
Thy children like olive plants *
round about thy table.
Behold, that thus shall the man
be blessed * that feareth the
Lord.
The Lord bless thee out of
Zion : * and mayest thou see the
good of Jerusalem all the days of
thy life.
Yea, mayest thou see thy chil-
dren's children, * and peace upon
Israel.
Antiphon. Blessed is every one
that feareth the Lord.
Third Antiphon. Many a time.
If this Antiphon be used, the Psalm
begins with the words, " Have they
afflicted me."
Psalm CXXVII I.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees."]
1\ /f ANY a time have they warred
*•* *- against me from my ■""'♦*»
-* may Israel now say : —
Many a time have they
youth
warred
* yet
against
against me from my youth
they have not prevailed
me.
1 The ploughers ploughed upon
my back : * they made long their
furrows.
The Lord is righteous, He hath
broken the necks of the wicked. *
Let them all be confounded and
turned back that hate Zion.
Let them be as the grass upon
the house-tops, * which withereth
before it is plucked up :
Wherewith the mower filleth not
his hand, * nor he that bindeth
sheaves his bosom.
Neither do they that go by say :
The blessing of the Lord be upon
you ! * we bless you in the name of
the Lord !
Antiphon. Many a time have they
afflicted me from my youth up.
1 I.e., "They furrowed my back with stripes as the ground is furrowed with the
plough. " — Gesenius.
192
THE PSALTER.
Fourth Antiphon.
depths.
Out of the
If this Antiphon be used, the Psalm
begins with the words, " Have I cried
unto Thee."
If I have not thought lowly of
myself — * (but lifted up my soul) —
Even as a child that is weaned
from his mother : * so be my soul
rewarded.
Let Israel hope in the Lord, *
from henceforth and for ever.'
Psalm CXXIX.
/^UT of the depths have I cried
^S unto Thee, O Lord ! * Lord,
hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive * to
the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark
iniquities, * O Lord, who shall
stand ?
But there is forgiveness with Thee :
* because of Thy law, I wait for
Thee, O Lord !
My soul doth wait on His word :
* my soul hopeth in the Lord.
From the morning watch even
until night * let Israel hope in the
Lord :
For with the Lord there is mercy,
* and with Him is plenteous redemp-
tion.
And He shall redeem Israel, *
from all his iniquities.
Antiphon. Out of the depths have
I cried unto Thee, O Lord.
Fifth Antiphon. Let Israel hope.
Psalm CXXX.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees," to which
the Hebrew and the Vulgate, but not the
Targum or the LXX., add "of David."]
T ORU, mine heart is not haughty,
■*— ' * nor mine eyes lofty :
Neither do I exercise myself in
great matters, * or in wonderful
things that are above me.
1 Hymn of the Ambrosian school, somewhat nltered ; translation by the late Card.
Newman.
Antiphon. Let Israel hope in the
Lord.
Antiphon in Paschal time. Alle-
luia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Hymn.1
OLORD, Who throned in the holy
height,
Through plains of ether didst diffuse
The dazzling beams of light,
In soft transparent hues ;
Who didst, on the fourth day, in
heaven,
Light the fierce cresset of the sun,
And the meek moon at even,
And stars that wildly run ;
That they might mark and arbitrate
'Twixt alternating night and day,
And tend the train sedate
Of months upon their way ;
Clear, Lord, the brooding night within,
And clean these hearts for Thy abode,
Unlock the spell of sin,
Crumble its giant load.
Grant it, O Father, Only Son,
And Holy Spirit, God of grace,
To Whom all praise be done
In every time and place.
Amen.
Antiphon at the Song of the
Blessed Virgin. The Lord hath
regarded * my lowliness, and He
That is mighty hath done in me
great things.
Commemoration of the Cross before
the other general Commemorations, and
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG.
193
Long Preces in Advent and Lent, and
on Fast-days, as on Monday.
Simple Feasts. If the Vespers of a
Simple Feast be kept on a Wednesday,
the Office is of the Feast from the Chap-
ter inclusive.
The Fifth Day of the Week.
All as on Sunday, except as otherwise
given here.
The Psalms are as follows :
Antiphon. And all.
In Paschal time only one Antiphon
is said, Alleluia.
Psalm CXXXI.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees." It
reads like a Processional for some transla-
tion of the Sacred Ark, perhaps that de-
scribed in 3 (1) Kings vii. ( Saturday before
8th Sunday after Pentecost.)]
LORD, remember David, * and
all his meekness :
How he sware unto the Lord : *
he vowed a vow unto the God of
Jacob ; —
Surely I will not come into the
tabernacle of mine house, * nor go
up into my bed ;
I will not give sleep to mine eyes,
* or slumber to mine eyelids ;
I will not give the temples of
mine head any rest, until I find out
a place for the Lord, * an habita-
tion for the God of Jacob.
1 Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah :
* we found it in the fields of " the
Wood."
We will go into His tabernacle :
* we will worship in His footprints.
Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest,
* Thou and the ark of Thine
holiness.
Let Thy priests be clothed with
righteousness, * and let Thy Saints
shout for joy.
For Thy servant David's sake,
* turn not away the face of Thine
Anointed.
The Lord hath sworn in truth
unto David, and He will not turn
from it : * Of the fruit of thy body
will I set upon thy throne.
If thy children will keep My
covenant, * and My testimony
that I shall teach them,
Then their children for ever *
shall sit upon thy throne.
For the Lord hath chosen Zion :
* He hath chosen it for His habita-
tion.
This is My rest for ever : * here
will I dwell, for I have chosen it.
I will abundantly bless her
widows : * I will satisfy her poor
with bread.
I will clothe her Priests with
salvation : * and her Saints shall
shout aloud for joy.
There will I make the horn of
David to bud : * I have ordained
a lamp for Mine Anointed.
His enemies will I clothe with
shame : * but upon him shall My
sanctification flourish.
Antiphon. And all his meekness.
Second Antiphon. Behold.
If this Antiphon be used, the Psalm
begins with the words, " How good and
how pleasant."
1 This verse relates to the fetching of the ark from Kirjath-jearim, (literally "The
town-of-the-woods,") which stood at the borders of the territory of Ephraim, here called
Ephratah. See 2 Kings (Sam.) vi. (Thursday, 5th week after Pentecost.)
VOL. I. G
194
THE PSALTER.
Psalm CXXXII.
[Intituled " A Song of Degrees," to which
the Hebrew and the Vulgate, but not the
Targum or the LXX., add "of David."]
BEHOLD, how good and how
pleasant it is * for brethren
to dwell together in unity.
1 It is like the precious oint-
ment upon the head, ° that ran
Whatsoever the Lord pleased,
that did He in heaven and in
earth, * in the seas, and all deep
places :
Causing the vapours to ascend
from the ends of the earth : *
He maketh lightnings for the rain ;
He bringeth the wind out of
His treasures. * He smote the
down upon the beard, even Aaron's first-born of Egypt, from man even
unto beast.
He sent tokens and wonders
into the midst of thee, O Egypt,
* upon Pharaoh and upon all his
servants.
He smote great nations, * and
slew mighty kings.
3Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and Og, king of Bashan, * and
all the kingdoms of Canaan.
And gave their land for an
heritage, * an heritage unto Israel
His people.
Thy Name, O Lord, endureth for
Thy memorial, O Lord,
beard,
That went down to the skirts
of his garments. * As the dew of
Hermon, that descendeth upon
the mountains of Zion ; 2
For there the Lord commanded
the blessing, * even life for evermore.
Antiphon. Behold, how good
and how pleasant it is for brethren
to dwell together in unity.
Third Antipho?i. Whatsoever.
Psalm CXXXIV.
[To this Psalm is prefixed "Alleluia."]
ORAISE ye the Name of the
-*- Lord, * praise Him, O ye
servants of the Lord !
Ye that stand in the house of
the Lord, * in the courts of the
house of our God :
Praise the Lord, for the Lord
is good : * sing praises unto His
Name, for it is pleasant.
For the Lord hath chosen Jacob
unto Himself, * and Israel for
His peculiar treasure.
For I know that the Lord is
great, * and that our Lord is above
all gods.
1 The reference is to the unction of Aaron with holy chrism at his consecration,
described in Lev. viii. 12.
2 Probably not the mountain at Jerusalem, but one of the chain of Hermon, which is
once mentioned elsewhere. Deut. iv. 48.
3 Sihon, a king of the Amorites, reigning in Heshbon ; Og, a giant, king of Bashan.
They were both defeated and slain by the Israelites. Num. xxi.
ever !
throughout all generations !
For the Lord will judge His
people, * and will repent Himself
concerning His servants.
The idols of the heathen are
silver and gold, * the work of
men's hands.
A mouth have they, but they
speak not : * eyes have they, but
they see not.
Ears have they, but they hear
not : * neither is there any breath
in their mouths.
Let them that make them be
made like unto them, * and every
one that trusteth in them.
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG.
195
Bless the Lord, O house of
Israel ! * bless the Lord, O house
of Aaron !
Bless the Lord, O house of
Levi ! * ye that fear the Lord,
bless the Lord !
Blessed be the Lord out of
Zion, * Which dwelleth at Jeru-
salem !
[The Hebrew adds "Alleluia," which
the Vulgate places at the beginning of
the next Psalm.]
A?itiphon. Whatsoever the Lord
pleased, that did He.
Fourth Antiphon. For His
mercy.
Psalm CXXXV.
[It is not improbable that this Psalm was
sung at the Dedication of the Temple, for,
in 2 Par. (Chron. ) vii. 3, it is said that when
the congregation on that occasion saw the
fire miraculously descending upon the sac-
rifice, " they bowed themselves with their
faces to the ground upon the pavement, and
worshipped, and praised ' the Lord, for He
is good, for His mercy endureth for ever.' "
It looks very like a continuation of the song
given by David to certain singers, I Par.
(Chron.) xvi. 7, especially as it is afterwards
said that some of them were chosen " to give
thanks to the Lord, because His mercy
endureth for ever." Some consider that
the latter verses refer to the return from the
captivity, but these may be an addition.]
f~\ GIVE thanks unto the Lord,
^-^ for He is good ! * for His
mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of
gods ! * for His mercy endureth
for ever.
O give thanks to the Lord of
lords ! * for His mercy endureth
for ever.
To Him Who Alone doeth great
wonders — * for His mercy endureth
for ever.
To Him That by wisdom made the
vol. 1.
heavens — * for His mercy endureth
for ever.
To Him That spread out the
earth above the waters — * for His
mercy endureth for ever.
To Him That made great lights
— * for His mercy endureth for
ever.
The sun to rule by day — * for
His mercy endureth for ever.
The moon and stars to rule by
night — * for His mercy endureth for
ever.
To Him That smote Egypt in their
first-born — * for His mercy endureth
for ever.
To Him That brought out Israel
from among them — * for His mercy
endureth for ever.
With a strong hand and with a
stretched out arm — * for His mercy
endureth for ever.
To Him That divided the Red
Sea into parts — * for His mercy
endureth for ever.
And made Israel to pass through
the midst of it — * for His mercy
endureth for ever.
But overthrew Pharaoh and his
host in the Red Sea — * for His
mercy endureth for ever.
To Him That led His people
through the wilderness — * for His
mercy endureth for ever.
To Him That smote great kings
— * for His mercy endureth for
ever.
And slew mighty kings — * for His
mercy endureth for ever.
Sihon, king of the Amorites
— * for His mercy endureth for
ever. ,
And Og, the king of Bashan
— * for His mercy endureth for
ever.
And gave their land for an heri-
g 2
196
THE PSALTER.
tage — * for His mercy endureth for
ever.
Even an heritage unto Israel His
servant — * for His mercy endureth
for ever.
Who remembered us in our low
estate — * for His mercy endureth
for ever.
And hath redeemed us from our
enemies — * for His mercy endureth
for ever.
Who giveth food to all flesh —
* for His mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of
heaven ! * for His mercy endureth
for ever.
O give thanks unto the Lord of
lords ! * for His mercy endureth for
ever.
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, * let
my right hand forget her cunning —
Let my tongue cleave to the roof
of my mouth, * if I do not remember
thee, —
If I prefer not Jerusalem * above
my chief joy.
Remember, O Lord, the chil-
dren of Edom, * in the day of
Jerusalem :
Who said : Rase it, rase it * even
to the foundation thereof.
O daughter of Babylon, doomed
to destruction, * happy shall he be
that rewardeth thee, as thou hast
served us !
Happy shall he be that taketh, *
and dasheth thy little ones against
the rock.
Antiphon. For
dureth for ever.
Fifth Antiphon.
the songs.
His mercy en- Antiphon. Sing us one of the
songs of Zion.
Sing us one of Antiphon in Paschal time. Alle-
luia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Psalm CXXXVI.
[The Vulgate and the LXX. connect this
Psalm with the name of Jeremiah. They
also style it a Psalm of David, the apparent
meaning of which would seem to be that it
was composed in imitation of his poems.]
T) Y the rivers of Babylon, there we
*~* sat down, yea, we wept, * when
we remembered Zion.
We hung our harps upon the
willows * in the midst thereof.
For there they that carried us
away captive required of us * a
song;
And they that had taken us
said : * Sing us one of the songs
of Zion.
How shall we sing the Lord's
song * in a strange land ?
Hymn.1
OGOD, Who hast given
The sea and the sky,
To fish and to bird
For a dwelling to keep,
Both sons of the waters
One low and one high,
Ambitious of heaven,
Or sunk in the deep ;
Save, Lord, Thy servants,
Whom Thou hast new made
In a laver of blood
Lest they trespass and die ;
Lest pride should elate,
Or sin should degrade,
And they stumble on earth
Or be dizzied on high.
To the Father, and Son,
And the Spirit be done,
Now and always,
Glorv and Praise. Amen.
1 Hymn of the Ambrosian school, slightly altered ; translation by the late Card.
Newman.
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG.
197
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. O God, * show strength with
Thine arm : put down the mighty,
and exalt them of low degree.
Commemoration of the Cross before
the other general Commemorations and
Long Preces in Advent and Lent, and
on Fast- days, as on Monday.
JFrttrarj,
The Sixth Day of the Week.
All as on Sunday, except as otherwise
given here.
The Psalms are as follows:
Antiphon. Behold the Angels.
In Paschal time only one Antiphon is
said, Alleluia.
Psalm CXXXVII.
[Intituled "Of David," to which the
LXX. adds "of Haggai and Zechariah,"
the meaning apparently being that it was
his composition, but that they made some
special regulation as to its use.]
[ WILL praise Thee, O Lord, with
^ my whole heart : * because
Thou hast heard the words of my
mouth.
Before the Angels will I sing
praise unto Thee. * I will worship
toward Thine holy temple, and
praise Thy Name.
For Thy loving-kindness, and for
Thy truth : * for Thou hast mag-
nified Thine holy Name above
every name.
In whatsoever day I call upon
Thee, answer me : * Thou wilt
strengthen my soul exceedingly.
Let all the kings of the earth
praise Thee, O Lord, * for they
have heard all the words of Thy
mouth.
Yea, let them sing of the ways of
the Lord : * that great is the glory
of the Lord.
For the Lord is high, yet hath
He respect unto the lowly : * but
the proud He knoweth from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of
trouble Thou wilt revive me : *
Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand
against the wrath of mine enemies,
and Thy right hand shall save me.
The Lord will give recompense
on my behalf: * Thy mercy, O
Lord, endureth for ever : forsake
not the works of Thine own hands.
Antiphon. Before the Angels
will I sing praise unto Thee, O
my God.
Second Antiphon. O Lord.
If this Antiphon be used the Psalm
commences with the words, " Thou hast
searched me."
Psalm CXXXVIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with a
musical (?) direction, the meaning of which
is not now certain.]
f~\ LORD, Thou hast searched
^-^ me, and known me : * Thou
knowest my down-sitting and mine
up-rising :
Thou understandest my thoughts
afar off. * Thou searchest my path,
and my line,
And art acquainted with all my
ways : * before there is a word on
my tongue.
Lo, O Lord, Thou knowest all
things both new and old : * Thou
hast made me, and laid Thine hand
upon me.
198
THE PSALTER.
Such knowledge is too wonderful
for me : * it is high, and I cannot
attain unto it.
Whither shall I go from Thy
Spirit? * or whither shall I flee
from Thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, Thou
are there : * if I go down into hell,
Thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morn-
ing, * and dwell in the uttermost
parts of the sea; —
Even there shall Thine hand lead
me, * and Thy right hand shall hold
me.
If I say : Surely the darkness
shall cover me : * even the night
shall be light about me in my
pleasures.
For the darkness is not darkness
to Thee : and the night shineth as
the day : * the darkness and the
light to Thee are both alike.
For Thou didst form my reins :
* Thou hast upholden me from
my mother's womb.
I will praise Thee, for Thy great-
ness is terrible : * marvellous are
Thy works : and that my soul
knoweth right well.
My bones were not hid from
Thee, when Thou madest me in
secret : * nor my substance in the
lower parts of the earth.
Thine eyes beheld my substance
yet being imperfect : and in Thy
book all were written : * day by day
were they to be fashioned, when as
yet there was none of them.
But to me, O God, Thy friends
are exceeding honourable : * their
power is waxen right strong.
If I should count them, they are
more in number than the sand : * I
arose, and am still with Thee.
Surely Thou wilt slay the wicked,
O God : * depart from me, ye bloody
men.
For ye say in thought : * In
vain shall Thy people take Thy
cities.
Do not I hate them, O Lord,
that hate Thee? * and am not I
grieved at those that rise up against
Thee ?
I hate them with perfect hatred :
* they are to me as enemies.
Search me, O God, and know
mine heart : * try me and know my
thoughts.
And see if there be any wicked
way in me : * and lead me in the
way everlasting.
Antiphon. O Lord, Thou hast
searched me and known me.
Third Antiphon. Preserve me.
Psalm CXXXIX.
[Intituled " A Psalm of David," with the
same musical (?) direction as before.]
DELIVER me, O Lord, from
the evil man : * preserve me
from the wicked man :
Which imagine mischiefs in their
heart : * continually are they gath-
ered together for war.
They have sharpened their tongues
like a serpent : * adders' poison is
under their lips.1
Keep me, O Lord, from the hands
of the wicked : * and preserve me
from the evil man :
Who purpose to overthrow my
goings. * The proud have hid a
snare for me :
And spread a net with cords : *
by the way-side have they set a trap
for me.1
1 SLH.
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG.
199
I said unto the Lord : Thou art
my God : * hear the voice of my
supplication, O Lord !
0 Lord, my Lord, Thou Strength
of my salvation, * Thou hast covered
mine head in the day of battle !
Give me not up, O Lord, to the
desires of the wicked : * they take
counsel together against me : forsake
me not, lest they exalt themselves.1
As for the head of those that
compass me about, * let the mis-
chief of their own lips cover them.
Let burning coals fall upon them ;
let them be cast into the fire : * when
they are in trouble they will not be
able to stand.
An evil-speaker shall not prosper
in the earth : * evil shall hunt the
wicked man, to overthrow him.
1 know that the Lord will main-
tain the cause of the afflicted, * and
will revenge the poor.
Surely the righteous shall give
thanks unto Thy Name ; * and the
upright shall dwell in Thy presence.
Afitiphon. Preserve me, O Lord,
from the wicked man.
Fourth Antiphon. Lord.
If this Antiphon be used, the Psalm
begins with the words, " 1 cry unto
Thee."
Psalm CXL.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David."] *
LORD, I cry unto Thee : hear
me ! * give ear unto my voice
when I cry unto Thee.
1 SLH.
Let my prayer be set forth as in-
cense before Thee : * the lifting-up
of mine hands as the evening sacri-
fice.
Set a watch, O Lord, before my
mouth : * keep the door of my lips.
Incline not mine heart to any evil
word, * to excuse myself in my sins,
With men that work wickedness;
* and let me not eat of their dainties.
Let the righteous smite me in
kindness : and let him reprove me :
* but the oil of the wicked shall not
anoint mine head :
For yet my prayer shall be against
their lusts. * 2 Their judges shall
be left [to their fate beside] in the
hands of the rock :
[And] they [that have wreaked
their vengeance on them] shall hear
my words, that they are mighty. *
Like clods of earth broken by the
ploughman,
So are our bones scattered at the
grave's mouth. * But mine eyes are
unto Thee, O Lord, my Lord : in
Thee is my trust, leave not my life
to destruction.
Keep me from the snare which
they have laid for me, * and the gins
of the workers of iniquity.
The wicked shall fall into their
own net ; * as for me, I dwell alone,
until I depart hence.
Antiphon
hear me.
Fifth Antiphon
portion.
Lord, I cry unto Thee,
O Lord, let my
2 The Targum is, "They are torn away from the house of instruction by the strong
.nds of their judges." The Syriac, " And their judges are crushed by the strong hand."
hands
Messrs Jennings and Lowe render, "When their judges have been thrown down the sides
of the rock, then they shall hear my words as welcome;" and continue, "When the
usurping rulers have been deposed, and the disappointed rabble has executed its ven-
geance on them, it shall bethink it again of David's divinely constituted authority, and
gladly recall him to the throne. This is the only rational interpretation of the verse.
For the mode of punishment mentioned, cf. 2 Chron. xxv. 12, Luke iv. 29."
200
THE PSALTER.
I
Psalm CXLI.
[Intituled " A didactic (?) Psalm of David.
A Prayer when he was in the cave," namely,
on the same occasion as that on which he
wrote Psalm lvi. See note on that Psalm,
p. no.]
CRIED unto the Lord with my
voice : * with my voice unto
the Lord did I make supplication.
I pour out my complaint before
Him : * before Him also I show my
trouble.
When my spirit faileth from me,
* then Thou knewest my path.
In the way wherein I walked *
have they privily laid a snare for me.
I looked on the right hand, and
beheld : * but there was no man
that would know me :
Refuge failed me : * and no man
cared for my soul.
I cried unto Thee, O Lord ! * I
said : Thou art my refuge, and my
portion in the land of the living.
Attend unto my cry, * for I am
brought very low :
Deliver me from my persecutors :
* for they are stronger than I.
Bring my soul out of prison, that
I may praise Thy Name : * the
righteous wait for me, till Thou deal
bountifully with me.
Antiphon. O Lord, let my por-
tion be in the land of the living.
Antiphon in Paschal time. Alle-
luia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Hymn.1
\X7"HOM all obey, — _^// ^ on Sunday, except as otherwise
* v Maker of man ! Who from Thy given here.
height
Badest the dull earth bring to light The Psalms are as follows:
All creeping things, and the fierce might
Of beasts of prey ; — Antiphon. Blessed.
1 Hymn of the Ambrosian school, considerably altered ; translation by the late Card.
Newman.
And the huge make
Of wild or gentler animal,
Springing from nothing at Thy call,
To serve in their due time, and all
For sinners' sake ;
Shield us from ill !
Come it by passion's sudden stress,
Lurk in our mind's habitual dress,
Or through our actions seek to press
Upon our will.
Vouchsafe the prize
Of sacred joy's perpetual mood,
And service-seeking gratitude,
And love to quell each strife or feud,
If it arise.
Grant it, O Lord !
To Whom, the Father, Only Son,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One,
In heaven and earth all praise be done
With one accord.
Amen.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. He hath put down the
mighty, * that persecute His Saints :
and hath exalted them of low degree,
that confess His Christ.
Commemoration of the Cross before
the other general Commemorations, and
Long Preces in Advent and Lent, and
on Fast-days, as on Monday.
Simple Feasts. Lf the Vespers of a
Simple Feast be kept on a Friday, the
service is of the Feast from the Chapter
inclusive.
^aturfcag.
The Sabbath.
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG.
201
If this Antiphon be used, the Psalm
begins with the words, " Be the Lord
my God."
In Paschal time only one Antiphon is
said, Alleluia.
Psalm CXLIII.
[Intituled " Of David. " The Vulgate and
the LXX. add "against Goliath."]
DLESSED be the Lord my God,
*~* Which teacheth mine hands
to war, * and my fingers to fight.
My goodness, and my fortress : *
my strength, and my Deliverer :
My shield, and He in Whom I
trust : * Who subdueth my people
under me.
Lord, what is man, that Thou
takest knowledge of him ? * or the
son of man, that Thou makest ac-
count of him ?
Man is like to vanity : * his days
are as a shadow that passeth away.
Bow Thy heavens, O Lord, and
come down : * touch the mountains,
and they shall smoke.
Cast forth the bright lightning,
and scatter them : * send out
Thine arrows, and make them to
quake.
Send Thine hand from above :
rid me, and deliver me out of great
waters, * from the hand of strange
children :
Whose mouth speaketh vanity : *
and their right hand is a right hand
of falsehood.
I will sing a new song unto Thee,
O God ; * upon a psaltery of ten
strings will I sing praises unto
Thee :
Who hast given salvation unto
kings : * Who deliveredst David
Thy servant from the hurtful sword.
Rid me,
And deliver me from the hand
of strange children, whose mouth
speaketh vanity : * and their right
hand is a right hand of falsehood :
Whose sons may be as saplings
grown up * in their youth ;
Their daughters decked out, *
adorned after the similitude of the
temple :
Their garners full, * affording
stores upon store :
Their sheep fruitful in young,
countless in their pastures : * their
oxen fat :
There is no breach in their walls,
nor inroad : * nor wailing in their
streets.
Happy is that people, that is in
such a case : * happy is that people
whose God is the Lord.
Antiphon. Blessed be the Lord
my God.
Second Antiphon. Every day.
Psalm CXLIV.
[Intituled " David's song of praise." It is
ABC Darian.]
T WILL extol Thee, my God, O
*■ King ! * and I will bless Thy
name for ever and ever.
Every day will I bless Thee ; *
and I will praise Thy name for ever
and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to
be praised : * and His greatness is
unsearchable.
One generation shall praise Thy
works to another, * and shall declare
Thy mighty acts.
They shall speak of the glorious
honour of Thy Majesty, * and tell of
Thy wondrous works.
And men shall speak of the might
of Thy terrible acts, * and declare
Thy greatness.
202
THE PSALTER.
They shall abundantly utter the
record of Thy great goodness, *
and shall sing of Thy righteous-
ness.
The Lord is gracious and full of
compassion : * slow to anger and of
great mercy.
The Lord is good to all, * and
His tender mercies are over all His
works.
May all Thy works praise Thee,
O Lord ! * and let Thy saints bless
Thee!
They shall speak of the glory of
Thy kingdom, * and talk of Thy
power ;
To make known to the sons of
men Thy mighty acts, * and the
glorious majesty of Thy king-
dom.
Thy kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, * and Thy dominion
endureth throughout all genera-
tions !
The Lord is faithful in all His
words, * and holy in all His
works.
The Lord upholdeth all that fall,
* and raiseth up all those that be
bowed down.
The eyes of all wait upon Thee,
O Lord ! * and Thou givest them
their meat in due season.
Thou openest Thine hand, * and
fillest all things living with plenteous-
ness.
The Lord is righteous in all
His ways, * and holy in all His
works.
The Lord is nigh unto all them
that call upon Him, * to all that call
upon Him in truth.
He will fulfil the desire of them
that fear Him : * He also will hear
their cry and will save them.
The Lord preserveth all them
that love Him, * but all the wicked
will He destroy.
My mouth shall speak the praise
of the Lord ; * and let all flesh
bless His holy Name for ever and
Antiphon. Every day will I bless
Thee, O Lord.
Third Antiphon. While I live.
Psalm CXLV.
[To this Psalm is prefixed "Alleluia."
The Vulgate and the LXX. connect it with
the names of Haggai and Zechariah.]
PRAISE the Lord, O my soul ;
J- while I live will I praise the
Lord : * I will sing praises unto my
God while I have being.
Put not your trust in princes, *
in the son of man, in whom is no
help.
His breath goeth forth, and he
returneth to his earth : * in that
very day their thoughts perish.
Happy is he that hath the God
of Jacob for his help, his hope is
in the Lord his God : * Who made
heaven and earth, the sea, and all
that therein is :
Who keepeth truth for ever.
Who executeth judgment for the
oppressed : * Who giveth food to
the hungry.
The Lord looseth the prisoners :
* the Lord openeth the eyes of the
blind :
The Lord raiseth them that are
bowed down : * the Lord loveth
the righteous :
The Lord preserveth the stran-
gers ; He defendeth the fatherless
and widow : * but the way of the
wicked He will turn aside.
The Lord shall reign for ever !
VESPERS, OR EVENSONG.
203
even thy God, O Zion, * unto all
generations !
[The Hebrew adds " Alleluia," which
the Vulgate and the LXX. prefix to the
next Psalm.]
Antiphon. While I live will I
praise the Lord.
Fourth Antiphon. Let the praise
of our God.
Psalm CXLVI.
[The Vulgate and the LXX., as stated,
prefix "Alleluia," and the LXX. adds "of
Haggai and Zechariah."]
TDRAISE ye the Lord, for it is
* good to sing praises : * the
praise of our God is pleasant and
comely.
The Lord doth build up Jeru-
salem : * He gathereth together
the outcasts of Israel.
He healeth the broken in heart, *
and bindeth up their wounds.
He telleth the number of the
stars; * and calleth them all by
their names.
Great is our Lord, and of great
power : * and His understanding is
infinite.
The Lord lifteth up the meek ; *
but He casteth the wicked down to
the ground.
Sing unto the Lord with thanks-
giving : * sing praise upon the harp
unto our God.
Who covereth the heaven with
clouds : * and prepareth rain for the
earth,
Who maketh grass to grow upon
the mountains, * and herbs for the
service of men :
He giveth to the beast his food,
* and to the young ravens which cry
unto Him.
He delighteth not in the strength
of an horse j * neither taketh He
pleasure in the legs of a man.
The Lord taketh pleasure in them
that fear Him, * and in those that
hope in His mercy.
Antiphon. Let the praise of our
God be pleasant.
Fifth Antiphon. Praise the Lord.
If this Antiphon be used the Psalm
begins with the words, " O Jerusalem."
Psalm CXLVI I.
[In the Hebrew this is the continuation
of the preceding Psalm. The Vulgate and
the LXX. prefix "Alleluia," and the LXX.
adds "of Haggai and Zechariah."]
ORAISE the Lord, O Jerusalem !
* * praise thy God, O Zion !
For He hath strengthened the
bars of thy gates : * He hath blessed
thy children within thee :
He maketh peace in thy borders :
* and filleth thee with the finest of
the wheat.
He sendeth forth His command-
ment upon earth : * His word run-
neth very swiftly.
He giveth snow like wool : * He
scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
He casteth forth His ice like
morsels : * who can stand before
His cold?
He sendeth out His word, and
melteth them : * He causeth His
wind to blow, and the waters flow.
He declareth His word unto
Jacob, * His statutes and His
judgments unto Israel.
He hath not dealt so with any
nation : * neither hath He made
known to them His judgments.
[The Hebrew adds " Alleluia," which
the Vulgate and the LXX. prefix to the
next Psalm.]
204
THE PSALTER.
Antiphon. Praise the Lord, O
Jerusalem.
Antiphon in Paschal time. Alle-
luia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Erom Advent Sunday till the Octave
oj the Epiphany , and from Septuagesima
Sunday till the Octave of Pentecost spe-
cial Chapters are given.
At other times the following is said:
Chapter. (Rom. xi. 33.)
C~\ THE depth of the riches and
^-^ wisdom and knowledge of
God : how unsearchable are His
judgments and His ways past find-
ing out !
The following Hymn and Verse and
Answer is used during the same seasons
as the above Chapter, and likewise from
Septuagesima to Lent.
Hymn.1
'THE red sun is gone,
-*■ Thou Light of the heart,
Blessed Three, Holy One,
To Thy servants a sun
Everlasting impart.
There were Lauds in the morn,
Here are Vespers at even :
Oh, may we adorn
Thy temple new born
With our voices in Heaven.
To the Father be praise,
And praise to the Son,
And the Spirit always,
While the infinite days
Of eternity run.
Amen.
Verse. Let the evening prayer
ascend unto Thee, O Lord.
Answer. And let there descend
upon us Thy mercy.
The following Antiphon is said only
from the Octave of the Epiphany till
Septuagesima.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. God hath holpen His ser-
vant Israel : * as He spake to
Abraham and to his seed, to exalt
them of low degree for ever and
ever.
Prayer of the succeeding Sunday.
1 Hymn of the Ambrosian school, altered almost beyond recognition ; translation by
the late Card. Newman.
205
COMPLINE.1
©fe for tberp_ trap m tlje
WLtzk.
At the beginning of Compline the
Reader says :
Sir, be pleased to give the bless-
ing.
The Blessing.
May the Almighty Lord grant us
a quiet night and a perfect end.
Answer. Amen.
Then is read this Short Lesson.
Short Lesson, (i Pet. v. 8.)
"DRETHREN, be sober, be vigil-
*-* ant : because your adversary
the devil as a roaring lion walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour:
whom resist ye, stedfast in the faith.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Verse. ^ 2 Our help is in the
Name of the Lord.
Answer. Who made heaven and
earth.
Then the Lord's Prayer is said in-
audibly.
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 for-
give them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation ;
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
After this is said the General Confes-
sion and Absolution.
T CONFESS to God Almighty, to
*- the Blessed Mary, always a
Virgin, to the Blessed Michael the
Archangel, to the Blessed John the
Baptist, to the Holy Apostles Peter
and Paul, and to all the Saints, that
I have sinned exceedingly in thought,
word, and deed, by my fault, by my
fault, by my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech the Blessed
Mary, always a Virgin, the Blessed
Michael the Archangel, the Blessed
John the Baptist, the Holy Apostles
Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to
pray to the Lord our God for me.
The Absolution.
A LMIGHTY God have mercy
■**• on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to life everlasting.
Answer. Amen.
1 Compline (Completorium) is the last office of the Church, and is proper to the end of
the evening before going to bed, reckoned to be about 9 p.m., but it may be said any time
before midnight. It is very frequently recited along with Vespers, thus forming the com-
plete Evening Service of the Church, and it is from this aggregation that the "Evening
Prayer " of the Anglican Prayer Book is derived. 2 Ps. cxxiii. 8.
o
UR Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy
206
THE PSALTER.
*i* 1\ /T AY the Almighty and mer-
■^ » A ciful Lord grant us pardon,
absolution, and remission of all our
sins.
Answer. Amen.
Verse. * Turn us, O God of our
salvation.
Ansiver. And cause Thine anger
toward us to cease.
Verse. »%* Make haste, O God, to
deliver me.
Answer. Make haste to help me,
0 Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
From the Saturday before Septua-
gesima Sunday to Maundy Thursday
instead of " Alleluia" is said:
Ceaseless praise to Thee be given,
O Eternal King of heaven.
Then follow the Psalms. They are
all said under one Antiphon.
Antiphon. Have mercy.
Antiphon in Paschal time. Alle-
luia.
Psalm IV.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with a
musical (?) direction of (now) uncertain
meaning.]
Vy'HEN I called, the God of my
* * righteousness heard me : *
Thou hast enlarged me when I was
in distress :
Have mercy upon me, * and hear
my prayer.
O ye sons of men, how long
will ye be dull of heart? * Why
will ye love vanity, and seek after
leasing?2
1 Ps. lxxxiv. 5.
But know that the Lord hath set
apart for Himself him that is holy :
* the Lord will hear me when I
call unto Him.
Be ye angry and sin not : * what
ye speak in your heart, repent upon
your bed.2
Offer the sacrifices of righteous-
ness, and put your trust in the Lord.
* There be many that say : Who will
show us any good ?
Lord, Thou hast set upon us the
light of Thy countenance. * Thou
hast put gladness in my heart,
More than in the time that
their corn, and wine, and oil *
increased.
I will both lay me down in peace,
* and sleep,
For Thou, Lord, only * makest
me to dwell in safety.
Psalm XXX.
[The first eight verses of Psalm xxx., p.
76.]
TN Thee, O Lord, do I put my
-*■ trust, let me never be asham-
ed j * deliver me in Thy righteous-
ness.
Bow down Thine ear to me, *
deliver me speedily.
Be Thou to me a God, a Pre-
server, and an house of defence, *
to save me.
For Thou art my strength and
my refuge, * and for Thy Name's
sake Thou wilt lead me and nourish
me.
Thou wilt pull me out of the net,
that they have laid privily for me,
* for Thou art my Preserver.
Into Thine hands I commend my
spirit : * Thou hast redeemed me,
O Lord God of truth !
2 SLH.
COMPLINE.
207
Psalm XC.
[The Vulgate and the LXX. give the
heading, "A Psalm of praise of David."]
HE that dwelleth in the help of
the Most High, * shall abide
under the shadow of the God of
heaven.
He will say to the Lord : Thou
art my refuge, and my fortress, *
my God, in Him will I trust.
For He shall deliver me from the
snare of the fowler, * and from the
noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with His
wings, * and under His feathers
shalt thou trust :
His truth shall be thy shield. *
Thou shalt not be afraid for the
terror by night ;
For the arrow that flieth by day,
for the pestilence that walketh in
darkness, * for the evil spirit that
wasteth at noon-day.
A thousand shall fall at thy side,
and ten thousand at thy right
hand : * but it shall not come
•nigh thee.
Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou
behold : * and see the reward of
the wicked.
Because Thou, O Lord, art my
trust : * thou hast made the Most
High thy refuge.
There shall no evil befall thee, *
neither shall any plague come nigh
thy dwelling.
For He hath given His Angels
charge over thee, * to keep thee in
all thy ways :
They shall bear thee up in their
hands, * lest haply thou dash thy
foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the adder
and the cockatrice : * the lion also
and the dragon shalt thou trample
under feet.
Because he hath set his trust
upon Me, therefore will I deliver
him : * I will defend him because
he hath known My Name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will
answer him : * I am with him in
trouble : I will deliver him and
glorify him.
With long life will I satisfy him :
* and show him My salvation.
Psalm CXXXIII.
[Intituled " A Song of Degrees."]
"DEHOLD now, bless ye the
*-* Lord, * all ye servants of the
Lord.
Which stand in the house of the
Lord, * even in the courts of the
house of our God,
By night. Lift up your hands
toward the sanctuary, * and bless
the Lord.
The Lord That made heaven
and earth, * bless thee out of
Zion !
Antiphon. 1 Have mercy upon
me, O Lord, and hear my prayer.
Antiphon in Paschal time. Al-
leluia, Alleluia, Alleluia*.
Then is said the following :
Hymn.2
"M" OW that the day-light dies away,
-L^ By all Thy grace and love,
Thee, Maker of the world, we pray
To watch our bed above.
1 Ps. iv. 2.
2 Hymn of the Ambrosian school, very slightly altered ; translation by the late Card.
Newman.
208
THE PSALTER.
Let dreams depart and phantoms fly,
The offspring of the night,
Keep us, like shrines, beneath Thine
eye,
Pure in our foes' despite.
This grace on Thy redeemed confer,
Father, Co-equal Son,
And Holy Ghost, the Comforter,
Eternal Three in One.
Amen.
The last verse is sometimes said thus,
altered in honour of the Incarnation :
Jesu, the Virgin-born, to Thee
Eternal praise be given,
With Father, Spirit, One and Three,
Here as it is in heaven.
Amen.
In Paschal time it is said thus, al-
tered in honour of the Resurrection :
To Father, Son, and Paraclete,
The slain and risen Son,
Be praise and glory, as is meet,
While endless ages run.
Amen.
It is also occasionally otherwise al-
tered, which occasions are marked in
their places.
Then follows the
Chapter. (Jer. xiv. 9.) !
YET Thou, O Lord, art in the
midst of us, and Thine holy
Name is called upon us : x leave us
not, O LorcJ our God.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Then the Short Responsory.
2 Into Thine hands, O Lord, I
commend my spirit.
Answer. Into Thine hands, O
Lord, I commend my spirit.
Verse. Thou hast redeemed us,
O Lord God of truth.
Ansiver. I commend my spirit.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Into Thine hands, O
Lord, I commend my spirit.
Verse. 3 Keep us, O Lord, as
the apple of the eye.
Answer. Hide us under the
shadow of Thy wings.
From the Saturday after Easter in-
clusive to the Saturday after Pentecost
exclusive, the above is said thus :
Into Thine hands, O Lord, I com-
mend my spirit. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Answer. Into Thine hands, O
Lord, I commend my spirit. Al-
leluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Thou hast redeemed us,
O Lord God of truth.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Into Thine hands, O
Lord, I commend my spirit. Alle-
luia, Alleluia.
Verse. Keep us, O Lord, as the
apple of the eye. Alleluia.
Ansiver. Hide us under the
shadow of Thy wings. Alleluia.
Then is said the following Canticle
from the Gospel, with its Antiphon.
Antiphon. O Lord, keep us.
1 The allusion seems to be to the invocation of the Name upon Israel by the Priests,
Numb. vi. 22. "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying : Speak unto Aaron, and unto
his sons, saying, On this wise shall ye bless the children of Israel, saying unto them — The
Lord bless thee and keep thee ; the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious
unto thee ; the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace — and they
shall put My Name upon the children of Israel ; and I will bless them. "
2 Ps. xxx. 6. 3 Ps. xvi. 8.
COMPLINE.
209
The Song of Simeon. (Luke ii. 29.)
[Uttered by Simeon at the presentation
of our Lord in the Temple. "Then took
he Him up in his arms, and blessed God,
and said : — "]
LORD, now lettest Thou Thy
servant depart in peace, *
according to Thy word :
For mine eyes have seen * Thy
Salvation,
Which Thou hast prepared *
before the face of all people ;
A Light to lighten the Gentiles,
* and the glory of Thy people
Israel.
The Doxology, " Glory be to the
Father, &c," is said.
Antiphon. O Lord, keep us
waking, guard us sleeping : that
we may wake with Christ and rest
in peace.
In Paschal time, "Alleluia."
Then follow these short prayers, called
the Preces. Th ey are omitted on Doubles
and within Octaves. In Advent, Lent,
and the Ember Days they are said
kneeling.
Kyrie eleison.
Answer. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
OUR Father, (tnaudibly,) Who
art in heaven, Hallowed be
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 them that
trespass against us. (Aloud.)
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from
evil.
1 Dan. iii
T BELIEVE (inaudibly) in God
A the Father Almighty, Maker of
heaven and earth. And in Jesus
Christ, His only Son, our Lord ;
Who was conceived by the Holy
Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, dead, and buried : He
descended into hell : the third day
He rose again from the dead : He
ascended into heaven, and sitteth
on the right hand of God the
Father Almighty. From thence He
shall come to judge the quick and
the dead. I believe in the Holy
Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church,
the Communion of Saints, the For-
giveness of sins, {aloud)
Verse. The Resurrection of the
body.
Answer. And the Life ever-
lasting. Amen.
Verse. x Blessed art Thou, O
Lord God of our fathers,
Answer. And to be praised and
glorified above all for ever.
Verse. Bless we the Father, and
the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Answer* Let us praise and exalt
Him above all for ever.
Verse. x Blessed art Thou, O
Lord, in the firmament of heaven,
Answer. And to be praised, and
glorified, and exalted above all for
ever.
Verse. May the Lord, the Al-
mighty and merciful, bless and
keep us.
Answer. Amen.
Verse. Vouchsafe, O Lord, this
night,
Anszver. To keep us without sin.
Verse. Have mercy upon us, O
Lord.
Answer. Have mercy upon us.
52, 56.
2IO
THE PSALTER.
Verse. O Lord, let Thy mercy
lighten upon us.
Answer. As our trust is in Thee.
Here the service is resumed, when
the above has been omitted.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
VISIT, we beseech Thee, O
Lord, this habitation,1 and
drive far from it all snares of the
enemy : let Thine holy Angels dwell
herein, to keep us in peace, and
may Thy blessing be always upon
us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth
with Thee, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Answer. Amen.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Atiswer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Verse. Bless we the Lord.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
The Blessing.
May the Almighty and Merciful
Lord, *%* the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Ghost, bless and keep us.
Answer. Amen.
Then follows immediately one of
these Four Antiphons of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, according to the season
of the year.
I. From the Vespers of the Saturday
before Advent Sunday till those of
Candlemas, both inclusive.
Antiphon. Maiden ! Mother of
Him Who redeemed us, thou that
abidest
1 This Office was originally the last Prayer
Order of St Benedict.
Heaven's open gate, and the Star
of the Sea, come, succour the fallen !
Fallen indeed we are, but fain
would rise by thy succour.
Thou that beyond nature's course
hast borne in time the Eternal ;
Thou that a Virgin before, and
after that childbirth remainest,
From the Archangel's lips the
quickening message receiving,
Mother of Jesus and us, turn
thine eyes of mercy on sinners.
Verse. The Angel of the Lord
announced unto Mary,
Answer. And she conceived of
the Holy Ghost.
Let us pray.
A \ J"E beseech Thee, O Lord, pour
* * Thy grace into our hearts ;
that, as we have known the Incar-
nation of Thy Son Jesus Christ by
the message of an Angel, so by His
Passion and Cross we may be
brought unto the glory of His
Resurrection. Through the same
Christ our Lord.
Answer. Amen.
From the First Vespers of Christmas
inclusive, the Verse and Answer and
Prayer are as follows :
Verse. After thy delivery thou
still remainest a Virgin undefiled.
Answer. Mother of God, pray
for us.
Let us pray.
r\ GOD, Who, by the fruitful
^-^ virginity of the Blessed Mary,
hast given unto mankind the re-
wards of everlasting life; grant, we
beseech Thee, that we may con-
tinually feel the might of her in-
before going to rest for the monks of the
COMPLINE.
21 I
tercession ; through whom we have
worthily received the Author of
our life, our Lord Jesus Christ
Thy Son.
Answer. Amen.
II. From the Compline of the 2nd
day of February inclusive to
Maundy Thursday exclusive.
Antiphon. Hail, O Mary, Queen
of heaven,
Queen of Angel worlds on high,
Hail, O Rod to Jesse given,
Blessed Portal of the sky,
Hail, O Lady, bright and glorious,
Clad in beauty, pure and true,
Virgin ! o'er sin's stain victorious,
Sinners for thy succour sue.
Verse. Holy Virgin, my praise
by thee accepted be.
Answer. Give me strength against
thine enemies.
Let us pray.
1\ /T OST merciful God, grant, we
-!■*-*- beseech Thee, a succour
unto the frailty of our nature, that
as we keep ever alive the memory
of the holy Mother of God, so by
the help of her intercession we may
be raised up from the bondage of
our sins. Through the same Christ
our Lord.
Ansiver. Amen.
III. From the First Compline of
Easter inclusive till the First
Vespers of Trinity Sunday ex-
clusive.
Antiphon. Rejoice! rejoice! thou
Queen of Heaven, Alleluia,
For He That thee for Son was
given, Alleluia,
As He promised is arisen. Alle-
luia.
Mother, pray to Him for us,
Alleluia.
Verse. Be glad and rejoice, O
Virgin Mary, Alleluia,
Answer. For the Lord is risen
indeed. Alleluia.
Let us pray.
r~\ GOD, Who dost vouchsafe to
**--* gladden the whole world by
the resurrection of Thy Son our
Lord Jesus Christ ; grant, we be-
seech Thee, that by the help of
His Mother the Virgin Mary, we
may finally attain unto the glad-
ness of life everlasting. Through
the same Christ our Lord.
Answer. Amen.
IV. From the First Vespers of
Trinity Sunday inclusive till the
Vespers of Saturday before Ad-
vent Sunday exclusive.
Antiphon. Hail, O Queen, Mo-
ther of mercy ! hail, our life, our
sweetness, and our hope. To thee
we cry, the banished sons of Eve.
Toward thee we sigh, weeping and
groaning in this vale of tears. Ah,
then, thou our Advocate, turn on us
those merciful eyes of thine ! And,
after this our exile, show to us Jesus,
the blessed Fruit of thy womb. O
most merciful, O most gracious, O
most sweet Virgin Mary ! l
Verse. Pray for us, holy Mo-
ther of God.
Answer. That we may be made
worthy of the promises of Christ.
1 Of these four Antiphons, "Maiden Mother" is ascribed to Hermann the Cripple, a
monk of Reichenau, who died A.D. 1052. The authorship of the second is unknown : it
212
THE PSALTER.
Let us pray.
O ALMIGHTY and everlasting
God, Who, by the co-opera-
tion of the Holy Ghost, didst make
ready both the body and soul of
the glorious Virgin and Mother
Mary worthily to become a meet
dwelling for Thy Son ; grant that
as we rejoice in her memory, so
by her pitiful intercession we may
be delivered from the evils that
continually hang over us, and finally
from everlasting death. Through
the same Christ our Lord.
Answer. Amen.
After each of these Antiphons is said
this Blessing:
God's most mighty strength alway
Be His people's staff and stay.
Answer. Amen.
Lastly, whether Mattins be to follow
immediately, or not, the Lord's Prayer,
the Angelic Salutation, and the Apos-
tles' Creed are said inaudibly.
OUR Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be 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 them that
trespass against us. And lead us
not into temptation ; but deliver
us from evil. Amen.
TTAIL, Mary, full of grace; the
-*- *■ Lord is with thee : blessed
art thou among women, and blessed
is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray
for us sinners, now, and at the
hour of our death. Amen.
T BELIEVE in God, the Father
** Almighty, Maker of heaven
and earth. And in Jesus Christ,
His Only Son, our Lord, Who
was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,
dead, and buried : He descended
into hell : the third day He rose
again from the dead : He ascended
into heaven, and sitteth at the right
hand of God the Father Almighty :
from thence He shall come to
judge both the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost, the
Holy Catholic Church, the Com-
munion of Saints, the Forgiveness
of sins, the Resurrection of the
body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Thus ends the Office of Compline
throughout the year, in which Office
the words, " May the souls, &c," are
o?iiitted, and the Verse and Answer,
" The Lord give us, &c," are not said
before the Antiphon of the Blessed
Virgin.
seems to date from about the eleventh century. The date and authorship of the third are
likewise unknown ; but a legend has become attached to it, to the effect that St Gregory
the Great heard the three first lines uttered by an angel, and himself added the fourth, on
the same occasion on which was instituted the procession upon St Mark's Day. The
authorship of " Hail, O Queen" is disputed. The last clause is usually admitted to be an
exclamation uttered by St Bernard of Clairvaux in the cathedral of Spires. But the
authorship of the rest is disputed, some ascribing it to Hermann the Cripple, others to
one Peter of Monsoro, bishop of Compostella, others to one Adhemar, bishop of Podium
(Puy-en-Velay). It seems to have been well known, at least in Spain, early in the
twelfth century.
Cije proper iDfltce of tije Reason-
^trbtttt, or <&ommg=€ttm*
In Advent the Common Commemora-
tions are never said at Lauds and Ves-
pers. During Advent Simple Feasts
are not observed, but merely com-
memorated. If a Feast of a higher
rank falls after Advent Sunday it is
cotmnemorated ; or transferred to the
next day not so impeded, except a Feast
of the First Class, of which the Im-
maculate Conception is one.
^afuroag Before Jfovtnt ^>unoaj.
VESPERS.
All of the Saturday except the
following.
The Chapter is taken from Lauds.
Hymn.1
CREATOR of the starry pole,
Saviour of all who live,
And light of every faithful soul,
Jesu, these prayers receive.
Who sooner than our foe malign
Should triumph, from above
Didst come, to be the medicine
Of a sick world, in love ;
And the deep wounds to cleanse and cure
Of a whole race, didst go,
Pure Victim, from a Virgin pure,
The bitter Cross unto.
Who hast a Name, and hast a Power,
The height and depth to sway,
And Angels bow, and devils cower,
In transport or dismay ;
Thou too shalt be our Judge at length ;
Lord, in Thy grace bestow
Thy weapons of celestial strength,
And snatch us from the foe.
Honour and glory, power and praise,
To Father, and to Son,
And Holy Ghost, be paid always,
The Eternal Three in One. Amen.
Verse. 2 Drop down, ye heavens,
from above, and let the skies pour
down the Righteous One.
Answer. Let the earth open, and
let her bring forth the Saviour.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 3 Behold, the name of the
Lord * cometh from far, and the
whole earth is full of His glory.
Prayer from Lauds.
&tibent Simtfag,
The First Lord's Day in Coming- Tune.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. The Lord, He is our
King that is to come. * O come, let
us worship Him.
1 Another hymn of the Ambrosian school, altered almost beyond recognition ; one verse
omitted ; translation by the late Card. Newman.
2 Isa. xlv. 8. 3 Isa. xxx. 27.
VOL. I. H
214
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Jfymn.1
SUPERNAL Word, proceeding from
The Eternal Father's breast ;
And in the end of ages come,
To aid a world distrest ;
Enlighten, Lord, and set on fire,
Our spirits with Thy love,
That, dead to earth, they may aspire
And live to joys above.
That, when the judgment-seat on high
Shall fix the sinner's doom,
And to the just a glad voice cry,
Come to your destined home ;
Safe from the black and yawning lake
Of restless, endless pain,
We may the face of God partake,
The bliss of heaven attain.
To God the Father, God the Son,
And Holy Ghost, to Thee,
As heretofore, when time is done,
Unending glory be. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson. (Isa. i. i.)
T'HE vision of Isaiah, the son of
Amoz, which he saw concerning
Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of
2 Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah,
kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and
give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath
spoken : I have nourished and brought
up children : and they have rebelled
against Me. The ox knoweth his
owner, and the ass his master's crib :
but Israel doth not know Me, and My
people doth not consider.
First Responsory.
I look from afar, and, behold, I see
the Power of God coming, 3 and a
cloud covering all the land. 4 Go ye
out to meet Him, and say : 5Tell us if
Thou art He, 6That shalt reign over
God's people Israel.
Verse. 7 Both low and high, rich
and poor together.
Answer. Go ye out to meet Him,
and say.
Verse. 8 Give ear, O Shepherd of
Israel^ Thou That leadest Joseph like
a flock.
Answer. Tell us if Thou art He.
Verse. 9 Lift up your gates, O ye
princes ; and be ye lift up, ye everlast-
ing doors, and the King of glory shall
come in.
Answer. That shalt reign over
God's people Israel.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. I look from afar, and,
behold, I see the Power of God coming,
and a cloud covering all the land. Go
ye out to meet Him, and say : Tell us
if Thou art He, That shalt reign over
God's people Israel.
Second Lesson.
"\^7"OE to the sinful nation, a people
laden with iniquity, a seed of
evil-doers, children that are corrupters :
they have forsaken the LORD, they
have provoked the Holy One of Israel
unto anger : they are gone away back-
ward. Upon what part shall I smite
you any more, ye that revolt more and
more ? The whole head is sick, and
the whole heart faint : from the sole
of the foot even unto the head there is
no soundness in it, but wounds and
bruises and putrifying sores : they have
not been closed, neither bound up,
neither mollified with ointment.
1 Hymn of the Ambrosian school, very much altered ; translation by the late Card. Newman.
2 Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz were the great-grandfather, grandfather, and father of their
successor on the throne of Judah, Hezekiah, concerning whom see the eleventh week after
Pentecost. According to the common tradition, Isaiah survived Hezekiah and was martyred
under his son Manasseh. Lowth thinks that the prophecy which forms the first chapter was
uttered towards the end of the reign of Jotham when " the Lord began to send, against Judah,
Rezin, the king of Syria, and Pekah, the son of Remaliah," king of Israel. 4 (2) Kings xv. 37.
s Ezek. xxxviii. 9. * Matth. xxv. 6. 6 Matth. xi. 3 ; Luke vii. 19.
8 i Kings (Sam.) ix. 17. 7 Ps. xlviii. 3. 8 Ps. lxxix. 2. 9 Ps. xxiii. 7.
FIRST WEEK IN ADVENT.
215
Second Responsory.
1 I saw in the night visions, and,
behold, the Son of man came with the
clouds of heaven, and there was given
Him a Kingdom, and glory : and all
people, nations, and languages shall
serve Him.
Verse. His dominion is an ever-
lasting dominion which shall not pass
away, and His Kingdom that which
shall not be destroyed.
Answer. And all people, nations,
and languages shall serve Him.
Third Lesson.
~\7 OUR country is desolate, your
cities are burned with fire ; your
land, strangers devour it in your pres-
ence, and it is desolate, as overthrown
by strangers. And the daughter of
Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard,
and as a lodge in a garden of cucum-
bers, and as a besieged city. Except
the Lord of hosts had left unto us a
seed, we should have been as Sodom,
and we should have been like unto
Gomorrah.
Third Responsory.
2 The Angel Gabriel was sent to
Mary, a Virgin espoused to Joseph,
to bring unto her the word of the
Lord : and 3 when the Virgin saw the
light she was afraid. Fear not, Mary,
for thou hast found grace from the
Lord. Behold, thou shalt conceive
and bring forth a son, and He shall
be called the Son of the Highest.
Verse. The Lord God shall give
unto Him the throne of His father
David, and He shall reign over the
house of Jacob for ever.
Answer. Behold, thou shalt con-
ceive, and bring forth a son, and He
shall be called the Son of the Highest.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Behold, thou shalt con-
ceive and bring forth a son, and He
shall be called the Son of the Highest.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of 4 Pope St Leo [the Great,] (8th
on the December Fast, and alms-
giving.)
P)UR Saviour Himselt instructed
^^^ His disciples concerning the
times and seasons of the coming of
the Kingdom of God and the end of
the world, and He hath given the
same teaching to the Church by the
mouth of His Apostles. In connec-
tion with this subject then, Our Lord
biddeth us beware lest we let our
hearts grow heavy through excess of
meat and drink, and worldly thoughts.
Dearly beloved brethren, we know
how that this warning applieth par-
ticularly to us. We know that that
day is coming, and though for a
season we know not the very hour>
yet this we know, that it is near.
Fourth Responsory.
5 Hail, Mary, full of grace ; the
Lord is with thee : the Holy Ghost
shall come upon thee, and the power
of the Highest shall overshadow thee :
therefore also that Holy Thing Which
shall be born of thee shall be called
the Son of God.
Verse. How shall this be, seeing I
know not a man ? And the Angel
answered and said unto her, —
Answer. The Holy Ghost shall
come upon thee, and the power of the
Highest shall overshadow thee ; there-
1 Dan. vii. 13, 14. 2 Luke i. 26, 30-33.
3 Compare the Apocryphal " Gospel of the Nativity of Mary," ch. ix.
4 April 11. « Luke i. 28, 34, 35.
2l6
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
fore also that Holy Thing Which shall
be born of thee shall be called the Son
of God.
Fifth Lesson.
ET every man then make himself
ready against the coming of the
Lord, so that He may not find him
making his belly his god, or the
world his chief care. Dearly beloved
brethren, it is a matter of every day
experience that fulness of drink dulleth
the keenness of the mind, and that
excess of eating unnerveth the strength
of the will. The very stomach pro-
testeth that gluttony doth harm to the
bodily health, unless temperance get
the better of desire, and the thought
of the indigestion afterward check the
indulgence of the moment.
Fifth Responsory.
1 We look for the Saviour, the Lord
Jesus Christ ; Who shall change our
vile body, that it may be fashioned
like unto His glorious Body.
Verse. 2We should live soberly,
and righteously, and godly in this
present world, looking for that blessed
hope, and the glorious appearing of
the great God.
Answer. Who shall change our
vile body, that it may be fashioned
like unto His glorious Body.
Sixth Lesson.
r~T'HE body without the soul hath no
desires ; its sensibility cometh
from the same source as its move-
ments. And it is the duty of a man
with a reasonable soul to deny some-
thing to his lower nature and to keep
back the outer man from things un-
seemly. Then will his soul, free from
fleshly cravings, sit often at leisure in
the palace of the mind, dwelling on
the wisdom of God. There, when the
roar and rattle of earthly cares are
stilled, will she feed on holy thoughts
and entertain herself with the expecta-
tion of the everlasting joy.
Sixth Responsory.
3 O my Lord, send I pray Thee,
Him Whom Thou wilt send ; see the
affliction of Thy people. As Thou
hast promised, come and deliver us.
Verse. 4 Give ear, O Shepherd of
Israel, Thou That leadest Joseph like
a flock, Thou That sittest upon the
Cherubim !
Answer. As Thou hast promised,
come.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And deliver us.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (xxi. 25.)
A T that time : Jesus said unto His
"^^ disciples ; There shall be signs
in the sun, and in the moon, and in
the stars, and upon the earth distress
of nations. And so on.
Homily by 5 Pope St Gregory [the
Great,] (1st on the Gospels.)
Our Lord and Saviour wisheth to
find us ready at His second coming.
Therefore He telleth us what will be
the evils of the world as it groweth
old, that He may wean our hearts
from worldly affections. Here we read
what great convulsions will go before
the end, that, if we will not fear God
in our prosperity, we may at least be
scourged into fearing His judgment
when it is at hand.
1 Phil. iii. 20.
* Ps. lxxix.
2 Tit. ii. 12.
3 Exod. iv. 13.
5 March 12.
FIRST WEEK IN ADVENT.
217
Seventh Responsory.
1 Behold, the Virgin shall conceive,
and bear a son, saith the Lord, 2 and
His name shall be called Wonderful,
the Mighty God.
Verse. He shall sit upon the throne
of David, and upon his kingdom for
ever.
Answer. And His name shall be
called Wonderful, the Mighty God.
Eighth Lesson.
T MMEDIATELY before the passage
A which hath just been read from
the Gospel, are found the following
words of our Lord, — " Nation shall
rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom, and great earth-
quakes shall be in divers places, and
pestilences and famines." Then, after
a few more verses, cometh to-day's
Gospel. "There shall be signs in
the sun, and in the moon, and in the
stars ; and upon the earth distress of
nations with perplexity, the sea and
the waves roaring." Now some of
these things are come to pass already,
and we fear the others are not far off.
Eighth Responsory.
3 Hear the word of the Lord, O ye
nations, and declare it in the ends of
the earth, and in the isles afar off, and
say : Our Saviour shall come.
Verse. Declare it and make it
known, lift up your voice and cry
aloud.
Answer. And in the isles afar off,
and say : Our Saviour shall come.
Ninth Lesson.
T N these our days we see nation rise
against nation, and their distress
over all the earth, more than we read
in books hath ever come to pass of
old time. Ye know also how often
we hear of earthquakes overwhelming
countless cities in other parts of the
world. As for pestilences, we suffer
from them ourselves, with hardly any
intermission. As yet we do not see
signs in the sun, and in the moon,
and in the stars ; but the changes of
seasons and climates warn us that we
may look for these also before long.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God," is not said in the Office of the
Season till Christmas. A Ninth Re-
sponsory is said instead.
Ninth Responsory.
4 Behold, the days come, saith the
Lord, that I will raise unto David a
righteous Branch ; and a King shall
reign in wisdom and shall execute
judgment and justice in the earth :
and this is His name whereby He
shall be called ; The Lord our Right-
eous one.
Verse. In His days Judah shall be
saved, and Israel shall dwell safely.
Answer. And this is His name
whereby He shall be called.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The Lord our Righteous
one.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. 5 In that day *
the mountains shall drop down sweet
wine, and the hills shall flow with
milk and honey. Alleluia.
Second Antiphon. 6 Sing, O daugh-
ter of Zion, * and rejoice with all the
heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. Alle-
luia.
Third Antiphon. 7 Behold, the
Lord shall come, * and all His
saints with Him ; and it shall come
3 Isa. vii. 14.
5 Joel iii.
Isa. ix. 6, 7. 3 Jer. xxxi. 10.
6 Zeph. (Soph.) iii. 14.
4 Jer. xxiii. 5 ; 1 Cor. i. 30.
7 Zech. xiv. 5, 6.
218
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
to pass in that day that the light
shall be great. Alleluia.
Fourth Antiphon. 1 Ho, every one
that thirsteth * come ye to the waters :
seek ye the Lord while He may be
found. Alleluia.
Fifth Antiphon. Behold, a great
Prophet * shall arise, and He shall
build up a new Jerusalem. Alleluia.
Chapter. (Rom. xiii. II.)
1\/T Y brethren, it is now high time to
awake out of sleep. For now
is our salvation nearer than when we
believed.
Hymn.2
HARK, a joyful voice is thrilling,
And each dim and winding way
Of the Ancient Temple filling ;
Dreams, depart ! for it is day.
Christ is coming ! from thy bed,
Earth-bound soul, awake and spring, —
With the sun new-risen to shed
Health on human suffering.
Lo ! to grant a pardon free,
Comes a willing Lamb from Heaven ;
Sad and tearful, hasten we,
One and all, to be forgiven.
Once again He comes in light,
Girding earth with fear and woe ;
Lord, be Thou our loving might,
From our guilt and ghostly foe.
To the Father and the Son,
And the Spirit, Who in heaven
Ever witness, Three and One,
Praise on earth be ever given. Amen.
Verse. 3 The voice of one crying in
the wilderness : Prepare ye the way of
the Lord.
Answer. Make His paths straight.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
4 The Holy Ghost shall come upon
thee, * O Mary ; fear not, thou shalt
bear in thy womb the Son of God.
Alleluia.
Prayer.
5 CTIR up, O Lord, we pray Thee,
^ Thy strength, and come among
us, that whereas through our sins and
wickedness we do justly apprehend
Thy wrathful judgments hanging over
us, Thy bountiful grace and mercy
may speedily help and deliver us ;
Who livest and reignest with God
the Father, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
A men.
The same Prayer is used throughout
the day and week, except at Prime and
Compline.
PRIME.
Antiphon. In that day, &c, {First
Antiphon at Lauds.)
In the short Responsory instead of
the Verse " Thou That sittest," &c, is
said :
Verse. Thou That art to come into
the world.
And the change is made every day in
Advent till Christmas, except on the
Feast and within the Octave of the
Immaculate Conception.
TERCE.
Antiphon. Sing, O daughter of
Zion, &c, {Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
SEXT.
Antiphon. Behold the Lord, &c,
( Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Rom. xiii. 12.)
THE night is far spent, the day is
•*- at hand : let us therefore cast
off the works of darkness, and let
us put on the armour of light.
1 Isa. lv. 1, 6. Possibly in allusion to the baptisms at the Epiphany.
2 Hymn of the Ambrosian school, freely altered ; translation by the late Card. Newman.
3 Matth. iii. 3 ; (Isa. xl. 3.) * Luke i. 35. s Ps. lxxix. 3.
FIRST WEEK IN ADVENT.
219
NONE.
Antiphon. Behold, a great Pro-
phet, &c, {Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Rom. xiii. 13.)
T ET us walk honestly as in the day,
not in rioting and drunkenness,
not in chambering and wantonness,
not in strife and envying, but put
ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.
VESPERS.
Aniiphons, Chapter and Prayer as at
Lauds.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
Saturday Evening.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 1 Fear not, Mary, * for thou
hast found grace with the Lord ; be-
hold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb,
and bring forth a son. Alleluia.
After " Bless we the Lord," are said
the Vespers of the Dead.
QUonfcap.
Second Day.
MATTINS.
Invitatory and Hymn as on the last
Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (i. 16.)
2 \17"ASH you, make you clean, put
away the evil of your imag-
inations from before Mine eyes ; cease
to do evil, learn to do well : seek judg-
ment, relieve the oppressed, judge the
fatherless, plead for the widow. Come
now, and let us reason together, saith
the Lord. Though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow ;
and though they be red like crimson,
they shall be as wool.
First Responsory.
Receive, O Virgin Mary, receive the
word of the Lord, which is sent thee
by His Angel : thou shalt conceive,
and shalt bring forth God and Man
together. And thou shalt be called
blessed among all women.
Verse. Thou shalt bring forth a
son, and remain a maiden undefiled :
thou shalt conceive and be a Mother,
still Virgin unspotted.
Answer. And thou shalt be called
blessed among all women.
Second Lesson.
T F ye be willing and obedient, ye
shall eat the good of the land.
But if ye refuse and provoke Me to
anger, ye shall be devoured with the
sword, for the mouth of the LORD hath
spoken it. How is the faithful city
become an harlot ! It was full of
judgment ; righteousness lodged in it ;
but now murderers. Thy silver is
become dross ; thy wine mixed with
water. Thy princes are rebellious
and companions of thieves ; every
one loveth gifts and followeth after
rewards. They judge not the father-
less, neither doth the cause of the
widow come unto them.
Second Responsory.
3 Sing, O heavens ; and be joyful, O
earth ; and break forth into singing, O
mountains, for our Lord will come, and
will have mercy on His afflicted.
Verse. 4 In His days shall right-
eousness flourish and abundance of
peace.
1 Luke i. 31.
8 This refers to the words immediately preceding : — " Your hands are full of blood."
3 Isa. xlix. 13. 4 ps> ixxj_ 7-
220
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Answer. And will have mercy
upon His afflicted.
Third Lesson.
HTHEREFORE saith the Lord God
of hosts, the Mighty One of
Israel : Ah ! I will ease Me of Mine
adversaries, and avenge Me of Mine
enemies. And I will turn My hand
upon thee, and purely purge away thy
dross, and take away all thy tin ; and
I will restore thy judges as at the first,
and thy counsellors as at the begin-
ning : afterward thou shalt be called,
The City of righteousness, The faith-
ful City. Zion shall be redeemed with
judgment, and they shall restore her
with righteousness : and the destruc-
tion of the transgressors and of the
sinners shall be together ; and they
that forsake the Lord shall be con-
sumed.
Third Responsory.
1 There shall no strangers pass
through Jerusalem any more, for in
that day the mountains shall drop
down sweet wine, and the hills shall
flow with milk and honey, saith the
Lord.
Verse. 2 God shall come from
Lebanon, and the Holy One from the
thick and shady mountain.
Answer. For in that day the
mountains shall drop down sweet
wine, and the hills shall flow with
milk and honey, saith the Lord.
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
POME ye, and let us go up to the
mountain of the LORD, and to
the house of the God of Jacob : and
He will teach us of His ways, and
we will walk in His paths, for out
of Zion shall go forth the law, and
the word of the Lord from Jeru-
salem.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as at
Vespers on Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
The angel of the Lord * announced
unto Mary, and she conceived of the
Holy Ghost. Alleluia.
Prayer as on Sunday.
Note. This rule is invariable that
when a special Prayer is not assigned
and the Office is of the Season, the
Prayer of the preceding Sunday is
used.
After " Bless we the Lord " is said
the Dirge.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Responsory at
Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
'X'HE sceptre shall not depart from
Judah, nor the law-giver from
his loins, until he that shall be sent
cometh ; and unto him shall the desire
of the Gentiles be.
This Chapter is to be said every
week-day evening till Christmas Eve
exclusive.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Lift up thine eyes, * O
Jerusalem, and see that thy King is
mighty : behold, thy Saviour shall
come and loose thee from thy chain.
1 Joel iii. 17, 18.
2 Hab. iii. 3, substituting Lebanon for Teman, and translating Paran.
FIRST WEEK IN ADVENT.
221
Third Day.
MATTINS.
swords into ploughshares, and their
spears into pruning - hooks : nation
shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us
walk in the light of the LORD. For
Thou hast forsaken Thy people, the
house of Jacob ; because they be
replenished as aforetime, and have
soothsayers like the Philistines, and
cleave unto the children of strangers.
Second Responsory.
Let the mountains break forth into
singing, and the hills bring forth right-
eousness : for the Lord, the Light of
the world, cometh with power.
Verse. 4 Out of Zion shall go forth
the law, and the word of the Lord
from Jerusalem.
Answer. For the Lord, the Light
of the world, cometh with power.
Third Lesson.
'"THEIR land is full of silver and
gold, neither is there any end
of their treasures : their land also is
full of horses, neither is there any
end of their chariots. Their land
also is full of idols : they worship
the work of their own hands, that
which their own fingers have made.
And the mean man boweth down,
and the great man humbleth him-
self; therefore forgive them not.
Third Responsory.
Behold, I, the Lord your God,
come from the South, to visit you
in peace.
Verse. I will look again upon you
and make you to increase : ye shall be
multiplied, and I will establish My
covenant with you.
Answer. To visit you in peace.
1 Here begins the second prophecy, comprising chapters ii., iii., and iv., and "probably
delivered in the time of Jotham, or perhaps in that of Uzziah."
2 Ezek. xxxvi. 8. 3 Joel ii. i. 4 Isa. ii. 3.
VOL. I. H 2
Invitatory and Hymn as on Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (ii. 1.)
1 HP HE word that Isaiah, the son of
Amoz, saw concerning Judah
and Jerusalem. And it shall come
to pass in the last days that the
mountain of the Lord's house shall
be established in the top of the
mountains and shall be exalted above
the hills : and all nations shall flow
unto it. And many people shall go
and say : Come ye, and let us go
up to the mountain of the LORD,
and to the house of the God of
Jacob ; and He will teach us of His
ways, and we will walk in His paths,
for out of Zion shall go forth the
law, and the word of the LORD
from Jerusalem.
First Responsory.
2 O ye mountains of Israel, shoot
forth your branches and blossom and
bring forth fruit. 3 The day of the
Lord is at hand to come.
Verse. Drop down, ye heavens,
from above, and let the skies pour
down the Righteous One : let the
earth open, and let her bring forth
the Saviour.
Answer. The day of the Lord
is at hand to come.
Second Lesson.
AND He shall judge among the
nations, and shall rebuke many
people : and they shall beat their
222
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. To visit you in peace.
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, {as yesterday.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as at
Lauds on Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
1 Before they came together, * Mary
was found with child of the Holy
Ghost. Alleluia.
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Respon-
sory at Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, {as yesterday.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 2 Seek ye the Lord * while
He may be found ; call ye upon Him
while He is near. Alleluia.
Fourth Day.
MATTINS.
Invitatory and Hymn as on Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (iii. 1.)
T7OR behold, the Lord, the Lord
of Hosts, doth take away from
Jerusalem and from Judah the strength
1 Matth. i. 18.
4 John i. 29.
2 Isa.
5 Isa.
and the might, the whole stay of bread
and the whole stay of water : the
mighty man and the man of war :
the judge, and the Prophet, and the
soothsayer, and the ancient : the cap-
tain of fifty, and the honourable man,
and the counsellor, and the cunning
artificer, and the eloquent orator.
And I will give children to be their
princes ; and 3 boys shall rule over
them.
First Responsory.
Christ our King cometh. 4 And
John hath testified of Him, that He
is the Lamb that should come !
Verse. 5 The kings shall shut their
mouths at Him, all nations shall serve
Him.
Answer. And John hath testified
of Him, that He is the Lamb that
should come !
Second Lesson.
AND the people shall oppress every
one another, and every one his
neighbour : the child shall behave
himself proudly against the ancient,
and the base against the honourable.
For a man shall take hold of his
brother of the house of his father,
saying : Thou hast clothing, be thou
our ruler : and let this ruin be under
thy hand. And in that day shall he
swear, saying : I am not an healer,
and in my house is neither bread,
nor clothing : make me not a ruler
of the people.
Second Responsory.
Of a long time said Ezekiel the Pro-
phet : 6 I saw the gate shut : behold,
God went forth from it before the ages
for the salvation of the world. And it
was shut again, for it is a figure of the
Virgin, in that after child-birth she re-
mained a Virgin still.
lv. 6. 3 Effeminati.
Hi. 15. 6 Ezek. xliv. 2.
FIRST WEEK IN ADVENT,
223
Verse. The Lord alone shall enter
by the gate that thou savvest.
Answer. And it was shut again,
for it is a figure of the Virgin, in that
after child-birth she remained a Virgin
still.
Third Lesson.
T7OR Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah
is fallen : because their tongue
and their imaginations are against the
Lord, to provoke the eyes of His
glory. The show of their countenance
doth witness against them ; and they
declare their sin as Sodom, they hide
it not. Woe unto their soul, for their
evil is repaid unto them. Say unto
the righteous that it shall be well with
him, for he shall eat the fruit of his
doings. Woe unto the wicked, it
shall be ill with him ; for the reward
of his hands shall be given him.
Third Responsory.
Behold the days come, &c, {Ninth
Responsory on Sunday.)
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, (as on Monday.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Out of Zion * shall go forth the law,
and the word of the LORD from
Jerusalem.
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, (as on Monday.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. l There cometh One mightier
* than I after me, the latchet of Whose
shoes I am not worthy to unloose.
MATTINS.
Invitatory and Hymn as on Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (iv. 1.)
2 A ND in that day seven women
shall take hold of one man,
saying : We will eat our own bread
and wear our own apparel ; only let
us be called by thy name ; take thou
away our reproach. In that day shall
the Branch of the Lord be beautiful
and glorious, and the fruit of the earth
shall be excellent, and a rejoicing for
them that are escaped of Israel. And
it shall come to pass that he that is
left in Zion and he that remaineth in
Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even
every one that is written among the
living in Jerusalem.
First Responsory.
Receive, O Virgin Mary, &c, (First
Responsory on Monday.)
Second Lesson.
(v. 1.)
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the WILL sing to my well-beloved a
same alteration in the Short Respon- song of my beloved touching his
sory 'at Prime. vineyard. My well - beloved • hath a
1 Mark i. 7.
2 This follows the last verses of the third chapter, wherein it is said that the number of men
killed in battle will make them so scarce that (iv.) seven women, &c.
3 "This chapter stands single and alone, unconnected with the preceding or following."
224
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
vineyard in a very fruitful hill. And
he fenced it, and gathered out the
stones thereof, and planted it with the
choicest vine, and built a tower in the
midst of it, and also made a wine-press
therein : and he looked that it should
bring forth grapes, and it brought
forth wild grapes. And now, O in-
habitants of Jerusalem, and men of
Judah, judge betwixt me and my vine-
yard. What could have been done
more to my vineyard, that I have
not done in it ? wherefore, when I
looked that it should bring forth
grapes, brought it forth wild grapes ?
Second Responsory.
I saw in the night visions, &c,
{Second Responsory on Sunday.)
Third Lesson.
A ND now I will tell you what I will
"^^ do to my vineyard : I will take
away the hedge thereof, and it shall be
eaten up : I will break down the wall
thereof, and it shall be trodden down.
And I will lay it waste ; it shall not be
pruned nor digged : and there shall
come up briars and thorns : I will also
command the clouds that they rain no
rain upon it. For the vineyard of the
Lord of hosts is the house of Israel ;
and the men of Judah His pleasant
plant : and I looked for judgment, but
behold, oppression ; for righteousness,
but, behold, a cry.
Third Responsory.
The angel Gabriel, &c, {Third Re-
sponsory on Sunday.)
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, {as on Monday.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Blessed art thou * among women, and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphon as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Respon-
sory at Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, {as on Monday.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. I will wait * upon the Lord
my Saviour, and come before Him
when He is near.
Sixth Day.
MATTINS.
Invitatory and Hy7nn as on Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (vi. 1.)
T N the year that King Uzziah died,
I saw the Lord sitting upon a
throne, high and lifted up, and His
train filled the temple. Above it stood
the 1 Seraphim ; each one had six
wings ; with twain he covered his face,
and with twain he covered his feet,
and with twain he did fly. And one
cried unto another, and said : Holy,
Holy, Holy, is the Lord God of
hosts ; the whole earth is full of His
glory.
1 Or, "burning-ones."
FIRST WEEK IN ADVENT.
225
First Responsory.
Hail, Mary, &c, (Fourth Responsory
on Sunday.)
Second Lesson.
AND the posts of thWloor moved at
the voice of him that cried, and
the house was filled with smoke.
Then said I : Woe is me, for I am
silent, because I am a man of unclean
lips, and I dwell in the midst of a
people of unclean lips, and mine eyes
have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Then flew one of the Seraphim unto
me, having a live coal in his hand,
which he had taken with the tongs
from off the altar. And he laid it
upon my mouth and said : Lo, this
hath touched thy lips, and thine in-
iquity is taken away, and thy sin
purged.
Second Responsory.
We look for the Saviour, &c,
{Fifth Responsory on Sunday.)
Third Lesson.
A LSO I heard the voice of the Lord
saying : Whom shall I send ?
and who will go for us ? Then said
I : Here am I ; send me. And He
said : Go, and tell this people : Hear
ye indeed, but understand not ; and
see ye indeed, but perceive not.
Make the heart of this people dull,
and make their ears heavy, and shut
their eyes ; lest haply they see with
their eyes, and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart, and
be converted, and I should heal them.
Third Responsory.
(Sixth Responsory
O my Lord, &c.
on Sunday.)
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, (as on Monday.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
He that is both God and man * shall
come of the house of David and sit in
David's seat. Alleluia.
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Respon-
sory at Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, (as on Monday.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 1 Out of Egypt * have I
called My Son : He shall come to
save His people.
The Sabbath.
MATTINS.
Lnvitatory and Hymn as on Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (vii. 1.)
AND it came to pass in the days
of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the
son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that
Rezin, the king of Syria, and Pekah,
1 Matth. ii. 15. (Hos. xi. 1.)
226
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
the son of Remaliah, king of Israel,
went up toward Jerusalem, to war
against it : but could not prevail
against it. And it was told the
house of David, saying : Syria is
confederate with Ephraim. And his
heart was moved, and the heart of
his people, as the trees of the wood
are moved with the wind. Then said
the LORD unto Isaiah : Go forth to
meet Ahaz, thou, and he that is left,
even Jashub thy son, at the end of the
conduit of the upper pool, in the high-
way of the fuller's field.
First Responsory.
Behold, the Virgin, &c, (Seventh
Responsory on Sunday.)
Second Lesson.
AND say unto him : Take heed
"^^ and be quiet : fear not ; neither
be faint-hearted for the two tails of
these smoking firebrands, for the
fierce anger of Rezin, king of Syria,
and of the son of Remaliah ; be-
cause Syria, Ephraim, and the son
of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel
against thee, saying : Let us go up
against Judah, and vex it, and take
it for ourselves, and set a king in
the midst of it, even the son of
Tabeal.
Second Responsory.
Hear the word of the Lord, &c,
(Eighth Responsory on Sunday.)
Third Lesson. (10.)
IVTOREOVER the Lord spake
again unto Ahaz, saying : Ask
thee a sign of the Lord thy God
either in the depth beneath or in
the height above. But Ahaz said :
I will not ask, neither will I tempt
the Lord. And he said : Hear ye
now, ye house of David : Is it a
small thing for you to weary men,
but will ye weary my God also ?
Therefore the LORD Himself shall
give you a sign. Behold the Virgin
shall conceive, and bear a son, and
shall call his flame Emmanuel. But-
ter and honey shall he eat, until he
may know to refuse the evil, and
choose the good.
Third Responsory.
Behold, the days come, &c, (Ninth
Responsory on Sunday.)
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, as on Monday.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Fear not * Zion, behold, thy God
cometh, Alleluia.
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Respon-
sory at Prime.
VESPERS.
The Chapter is taken from the
Lauds of the succeeding Sunday.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
last Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Come, O Lord, * visit us in
peace, that we may rejoice before Thee
with all our heart.
The Prayer is taken from the Lauds
of the succeeding Sunday.
SECOND WEEK IN ADVENT.
227
$econ& Sttntiag tit ^tobent.
The Second Lord's Day in Coming-
Ti?ne.
MATTINS.
Invitatory and Hymn as on the last
Sunday.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (xi. 1.)
1 AND there shall come forth a
rod out of the stem of Jesse,
and a flower shall grow out of his
roots. Anjl the Spirit of the LORD
shall rest upon him ; the Spirit of
wisdom, and understanding, the Spirit
of counsel and might, the Spirit of
knowledge and of godliness : and
he shall be filled with the Spirit of
the fear of the Lord. He shall not
judge after the sight of his eyes,
neither reprove after the hearing of
his ears ; but with righteousness shall
he judge the poor, and reprove with
equity for the meek of the earth.
Second Lesson.
A ND he shall smite the earth with
the rod of his mouth, and with
the breath of his lips shall he slay
the wicked. And righteousness shall
be the girdle of his loins, and faith-
fulness the girdle of his reins. The
wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and
the leopard shall lie down with the
kid ; the calf and the young lion
and the fatling together, and a little
child shall lead them. The heifer
and the she - bear shall feed : their
young ones shall lie down together,
and the lion shall eat straw like the
ox.
Second Responsory.
4 Behold, the Lord shall come, and
all His saints with Him, and it shall
come to pass in that day that the light
shall be great ; and they shall go out
from Jerusalem like clean water ; and
the Lord shall be King for ever, over
all the earth.
Verse. Behold, the Lord cometh
with an host, and in His hand are
the kingdom, and power, and do-
minion.
Answer. Over all the earth.
First Responsory.
2 Thy salvation cometh quickly, O
Jerusalem ; why art thou wasted with
sorrow ? Is there no counsellor in
thee, that pangs have taken thee ?
Fear not, for I will save thee and
deliver thee.
Verse. 3 For I am the Lord, thy
God, the Holy One of Israel, thy
Saviour.
Answer. Fear not, for I will save
thee, and deliver thee.
1 Ch. viii. commences with the birth of Maher-shalal-hash-baz the son of Isaiah and ' ' the
Prophetess," giving occasion to a prophecy stretching to the end of ch. xii., foretelling the
deliverance of Israel not only from Rezin and Pekah, but from her other enemies, and an
ultimate time of blessedness and prosperity. The passage in the text is to be understood of
the Messiah. (Rom. xv. 12.)
2 A paraphrase of Micah iv. 8-10. 3 Isa. xliii. 3. 4 Zech. xiv. 5-9.
Third Lesson.
AND the sucking child shall play
on the hole of the asp ; and
the weaned child shall put his hand
on the cockatrice' den. They shall
not hurt, nor destroy in all My holy
mountain, for the earth shall be full
of the knowledge of the Lord, as
the waters cover the sea. In that
day there shall be a root of Jesse,
which shall stand as an ensign of
the people, to it shall the Gentiles
228
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
seek ; and the place of his rest shall
be glorious.
Third Responsory.
O, thou city of Jerusalem, weep not,
for the Lord hath repented Him con-
cerning thee. And He will take away
from thee all distress.
Verse. l Behold, the Lord shall
come with might, and His arm shall
rule.
Answer. And He will take away
from thee all distress.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And He will take away
from thee all distress.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Com-
mentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah
made by 2 St Jerome, Priest [at
Bethlehem,] {Book iv. c. xi.)
"AND there shall come forth a
"^^ rod out of the stem of Jesse."
From the beginning of the Book of
this Prophet till the xiiith chapter,
where commenceth the vision, or bur-
den of Babylon, the whole of the vision
of Isaiah, the son of Amoz, is one con-
tinual prophecy of Christ. We must
explain it part by part, for if we were
to take it all at once, the memory of
the reader would be confused. Ac-
cording to the Jewish commentators,
the rod and the flower would both re-
late to the Lord Himself. They take
the rod to mean the sceptre of His
Royal dominion, and the flower the
loveliness of His beauty.
Fourth Responsory.
Behold, there cometh the Lord,
our defender, the Holy One of Israel,
1 Isa. xl. 10. 2 Sept. 30. 3 Zech. ix. 10
wearing a royal crown upon His
head.
Verse. sAnd His dominion shall
be from sea even to sea, and from the
river even to the ends of the earth.
Answer. Wearing a royal crown
upon His head.
Fifth Lesson.
A1TE, however, understand that the
rod out of the root of Jesse
signifieth the holy Virgin Mary. She
was a clean stem that had as yet put
forth no shoot ; as we have read above :
" Behold, the Virgin shall conceive and
bear a son." (Isa. vii. 14.) And the
flower we believe to mean the Lord
our Redeemer, Who hath elsewhere
compared Himself to a flower ; "I am
a flower of the plain, and a lily of the
valleys." (Cant. ii. 1.)
Fifth Responsory.
4 As a mother comforteth her chil-
dren, so will I comfort you, saith the
Lord ; My help also cometh unto you
out of Jerusalem, the city which I have
chosen. And when ye see this, your
heart shall rejoice.
Verse. 5 1 will place salvation in
Zion and in Jerusalem My glory.
Answer. And when ye shall see
this, your heart shall rejoice.
Sixth Lesson.
'"THE Spirit of the Lord then shall
rest upon this flower ; this flower
which shall come forth from the stem
and roots of Jesse by means of the
Virgin Mary. And truly the Spirit of
the Lord did rest upon our Redeemer.
It is written that " In Him dwelleth
all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
(Col. ii. 9.) The Spirit was not shed
on Him by measure, as it is upon the
4 Isa. Ixvi. 13, 14. 5 Isa. xlvi. 13.
SECOND WEEK IN ADVENT.
229
Saints. To Him we may apply the
words of the Hebrew Gospel used by
the Nazarenes ; " The whole fountain
of the Holy Ghost shall be poured
forth upon Him : " " The Lord is a
spirit, and where the Spirit of the
Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Cor.
iii. 17.)
Sixth Responsory.
1 Thou shalt yet plant vines upon
thy mountains, O Jerusalem : thou
shalt sing for joy, for the day of the
Lord cometh ; arise, O Zion, and turn
unto the Lord thy God ; rejoice and
be glad, O Jacob. For thy Saviour
cometh from the midst of the nations.
Verse. Sing aloud for joy, O daugh-
ter of Zion ; shout with gladness, O
daughter of Jerusalem.
Answer. For thy Saviour cometh
from the midst of the nations.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. For thy Saviour cometh
from the midst of the nations.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (xi.
2.)
A T that time: When John had heard
in the prison the works of Christ,
he sent two of his disciples, and said
unto Him : Art Thou He That should
come, or do we look for another ?
And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great,] (\oth Homily o?i the Gospels.)
The sight of so many signs and so
many mighty works should have been
a source of wonder, and not a stum-
bling-block. And yet the unfaithful
*Jer. xxxi. 5.
found these very works a rock of
offence, when they afterwards saw Him
Who had worked so many miracles
dying on the Cross. Hence Paul
saith : " We preach Christ crucified,
unto the Jews a stumbling-block and
unto the Gentiles foolishness." (1 Cor.
i. 23.) It is indeed folly in the eyes
of men to say that the Author of life
died for men : and thus men put as
a stumbling-block to hinder them from
coming to JESUS, the very thing that
doth oblige them the most unto Him.
For the more humbling God hath under-
gone for man's sake, the more worthy
is He that man should worship Him.
Seventh Responsory.
The Lord shall go forth out of
Samaria unto the gate that looketh
toward the East ; and He shall come
into Bethlehem, walking upon the
waters of the redemption of Judah.
Then shall every one be saved : for,
behold, He cometh.
Verse. 2And in mercy shall His
throne be established, and He shall
sit upon it in truth.
Answer. Then shall every one be
saved : for, behold, He cometh.
Eighth Lesson.
"AND blessed is he, whosoever shall
^"^ not be offended in Me." Now
what is this, but a plain mention of
that time, when He afterwards hum-
bled Himself, becoming obedient unto
death, even the death of the Cross ?
It is as if He said : " I indeed do
wonderful works, but the day will
come when I shall not refuse to suffer
shame and evil treatment. Take heed
then, ye who now worship Me for the
works' sake, that when I come to die
ye despise Me not for My death's
sake."
2 Isa. xvi. 5.
230
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Eighth Responsory.
Make haste, O Lord, make no
tarrying. And deliver Thy people.
Verse. O Lord, come and make
no tarrying : loose the bonds of Thy
people.
Answer. And deliver Thy people.
Ninth Lesson.
A ND, as the disciples of John de-
parted, what did JESUS say unto
the multitudes concerning this same
John? Let us hear. "What went
ye out into the wilderness to see ? A
reed shaken with the wind ? " Here
our Lord teacheth not by assertion,
but by negation. Now a reed is a
thing so made that as soon as the
wind bloweth upon it, it bendeth it
over toward the opposite quarter. And
the fleshly-minded man is like a human
reed. As he is praised or blamed so
he bendeth himself in the one direction
or the other.
Ninth Responsory.
Behold, the Lord cometh down with
glory, and His host is with Him. To
visit His people in peace, and to estab-
lish them in life everlasting.
Verse. Behold, our Lord cometh
with an host.
Answer. To visit His people in
peace, and to establish them in life
everlasting.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. To visit His people in
peace, and to establish them in life
everlasting.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. Behold, the Lord
* cometh in the clouds of heaven with
great power. Alleluia.
Second Antiphon. l Our Zion is a
strong city, * the Saviour will God ap-
point in her for walls and bulwarks ;
open ye the gates, for God is with us.
Alleluia.
Third Antiphon. 2 Behold, the
Lord * shall appear and not lie :
though He tarry, wait for Him, be-
cause He will come and will not tarry.
Alleluia.
Fourth Antiphon. 3 The mountains
and the hills * shall break forth before
God into singing, and all the trees of
the wood shall clap their hands : for
the Lord the Ruler cometh, and He
shall reign for ever and ever. Alleluia,
Alleluia.
Fifth Antiphon. Behold, our Lord
* cometh with power, and He shall
lighten the eyes of His servants.
Alleluia.
Chapter. (Rom. xv. 4.)
"DRETHREN, whatsoever things
were written were written for our
learning, that we through patience and
comfort of the Scriptures might have
hope.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Now when John * had heard in the
prison the works of Christ, he sent
two of his disciples and said unto
Him : Art Thou He That should come,
or do we look for another ?
Prayer.
CTIR up our hearts, O Lord, to
make ready the ways of Thine
Only-begotten Son, that by His com-
ing our minds being purified, we may
the more worthily give up ourselves to
Thy service : through the same Our
Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
1 Isa. xxvi. 1.
2 Cf. Hab. ii. 3.
3 Isa. lv. 12.
SECOND WEEK IN ADVENT.
231
unity of the Holy Ghost, One God,
world without end. Amen.
PRIME.
An tip/ton at the Song of the Blessed
Xin. Art Thou He * That should
come, or do we look for another ?
Tell John what things ye have seen :
The blind receive their sight, the dead
are raised up, the poor have the
Gospel preached to them. Alleluia.
After " Bless we the Lord " are said
the Vespers of the Dead.
Atitiphon. Behold, the Lord, *
&c, {First Antiphon at Lauds.)
In the Short Reponsory the same
alteration as last week.
TERCE.
Antiphon. Our Zion is a strong
city, * &c, {Second Antiphon at
Lauds. )
The Chapter is taken from Lauds.
SEXT.
Antiphon. Behold, the Lord, *
&c, {Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Rom. xv. 5.)
"VT OW the God of patience and con-
solation grant you to be like-
minded one toward another, according
to Christ JESUS : that ye may with one
mind and one mouth glorify God, even
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
NONE.
Antiphon. Behold, our Lord, *
&c, {Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Rom. xv. 13.)
"VT OW the God of hope fill you with
all joy and peace in believing ;
that ye may abound in hope, and in
the power of the Holy Ghost.
VESPERS.
Antiphons and Chapter as at Lauds.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the first evening.
1 Chap. xiii. 1 to xiv. 27 "contain one entire prophecy, foretelling the destruction of
Babylon by the Medes and Persians; delivered probably in the reign of Ahaz."
(Wonfcap.
Second Day.
MATTINS.
Invitatory and Hymn as on the
First Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book or
the Prophet Isaiah (xiii. 1.)
1 'THE burden of Babylon, which
Isaiah, the son of Amoz, did
see. Lift ye up a banner upon the
cloudy mountain, exalt the voice,
beckon with the hand, and let the
nobles enter in at the gates. I have
commanded My sanctified ones, I
have also called My mighty ones for
Mine anger, even them that rejoice in
My highness. The noise of a multitude
in the mountains, like as of a great
people : a tumultuous noise of kings ;
even of nations gathered together.
First Responsory.
Receive, O Virgin Mary, &c, {First
Responsory on the Monday in the First
Week.)
Second Lesson.
XHE Lord of hosts mustereth the
host of the battle, they come
from a far country, from the end of
232
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
heaven ; even the LORD and the
weapons of His indignation, to destroy
the whole land. Howl ye, for the
day of the LORD is at hand ; it shall
come as a destruction from the x Lord.
Therefore shall all hands be faint, and
every man's heart shall melt, and they
shall be afraid. Pangs and sorrows
shall take hold of them, they shall be
in pain as a woman that travaileth ;
they shall be amazed one at another,
their faces shall be as scorched faces.
Second Responsory.
Sing, O heavens, &c, {Second Re-
sponsory on Monday in the First
Week.)
Third Lesson.
T3EH0LD, the day of the Lord
cometh, cruel, and full of wrath
and fierce anger, to lay the land
desolate, and He shall destroy the
sinners thereof out of it. For the
stars of heaven, and the constellations
thereof, shall not give their light : the
sun shall be darkened in his going
forth, and the moon shall not cause
her light to shine. And I will punish
the world for their evil, and the wicked
for their iniquity ; and I will cause the
arrogancy of the unfaithful to cease,
and will lay low the haughtiness of the
terrible.
Third Responsory.
There shall no strangers pass, &c,
{Third Responsory on Monday in the
First Week.)
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, {as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
The Lord the Ruler * cometh from
heaven, and in His hand are honour
and dominion.
Prayer as on Sunday.
After " Bless we the Lord " is said
the Dirge.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Responsory
at Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, {as on Monday i?i
the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Behold, the Lord cometh *
the King of all the earth, to take off
from us the yoke of our captivity.
Third Day.
MATTINS.
Invitatory and Hymn as on the
First Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (xiv. 1.)
2 j_T ER time is near to come, and
her days shall not be pro-
longed. For the Lord will have
mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose
Israel, and set them in their own
land ; the strangers shall be joined
with them, and they shall .cleave to
the house of Jacob. And the people
1 Hebrew, " the Almighty."
2 I.e., Babylon's. The hour of her destruction is no longer to be postponed.
SECOND WEEK IN ADVENT.
233
shall take them and bring them to
their place ; and the house of Israel
shall possess them in the land of
the Lord, for servants and hand-
maids ; and they shall take them
captive whose captives they were,
and they shall rule over their op-
pressors.
First Responsory.
O ye mountains, &c, {First Respon-
sory on Tuesday in the First Week.)
Second Lesson.
A ND it shall come to pass in the
"^^ day that the Lord shall give
thee rest from thy sorrow, and from
thy fear, and from the hard bondage,
wherein thou wast made to serve :
that thou shalt take up this pro-
verb against the King of Babylon,
and say : How hath the oppressor
ceased, the exaction ceased ? The
Lord hath broken the staff of the
wicked, the sceptre of the rulers, the
staff of him who smote the people
in wrath, with a continual stroke, of
him that ruled the nations in anger,
of the cruel persecutor.
Second Responsory.
Let the mountains, &c, {Second
Responsory on Tuesday in the First
Week.)
Third Lesson. (12.) l
IT OW art thou fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morn-
ing ? How art thou cut down to
the ground, which didst weaken the
nations ? For thou hast said in
thine heart : I will ascend into
heaven, I will exalt my throne above
the stars of God, I will sit upon the
mount of the covenant, in the sides
of the north ; I will ascend above
the heights of the clouds, I will be
like the Most High. Yet thou shalt
be brought down to hell, to the depth
of the pit.
Third Responsory.
Behold I, &c, (Third Responsory on
Tuesday in the First Week.)
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, {as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
2 The Lord shall arise * upon thee,
O Jerusalem, and His glory shall be
seen upon thee.
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Respon-
sory at Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, (as on Monday
in the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The voice * of one crying
in the wilderness : Prepare ye the
way of the Lord, make His paths
straight.
1 In the intervening verses the ghost of the king of Babylon is described entering the nether-
world, and greeted with vindictive joy by the ghosts of his wronged victims, who find him at
last reduced to their own level. They address him as Lucifer, i.e., the morning-star, now
dropped out of that (political) firmament of which he had used to be the brightest luminary.
2 Isa. lx. 2.
234
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Fourth Day.
MATTINS.
hivitatory and Hynin as on the
First Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (xvi. i.)1
2 CEND forth the Lamb, O Lord,
the Ruler of the land, from
the rock in the wilderness unto the
mount of the daughter of Zion. For
it shall be, that as a wandering
bird, and as fledglings that fly from
the nest, so the daughters of Moab
shall be at the fords of Arnon. Take
counsel, call together a council ; make
thy shadow as the night, in the midst
of the noon-day : hide the outcasts,
and bewray not him that wandereth.
3 Mine outcasts shall dwell with thee :
Moab, be thou a cover to them from
the face of the spoiler.
First Responsory.
Christ our King, &c, {First Respon-
sory on Wednesday in the First Week. )
Second Lesson.
4 For the grinding down is at an
end, the beggar ceaseth, they that
trod down the land are consumed.
And in mercy shall the throne be
established, and He shall sit upon
it in truth in the tabernacle of David,
judging and seeking judgment, and
executing justice speedily. We have
heard of the pride of Moab, he is
very proud : his haughtiness, and his
pride, and his wrath are greater than
his strength.
Second Responsory.
Of a long time, &c, (Second Respon-
sory on Wednesday in the First Week. )
Third Lesson.
THEREFORE shall Moab howl un-
to Moab, every one shall howl :
tell her strokes, ye that rejoice in
the "Walls -of- brick."5 For the
fields of Heshbon languish, the lords
of the nations have broken down the
vine of Sibmah : their scourge is
come even unto Jazer, they wandered
through the wilderness, her branches
are left desolate, they are gone over
the sea.
Third Responsory.
Behold, the Lord, &c, (Second Re-
sponsory on Sunday,) with this ad-
dition,
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Over all the earth.
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, (as on Monday in
the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
1 This is an extract from the prophecy against Moab, comprised in chaps, xv. and xvi.
2 The opening words are of extreme difficulty, and translators are much divided. Lowth, on
divers grounds, renders it, "I (God) will send forth the son of the ruler of the land from Selah
^Petra) in the desert unto the Mount of the daughter of Zion " — i.e., in the misfortunes of Moab,
the son of their king will escape from the country and seek an asylum at Jerusalem.
3 According to Lowth: — " Let the outcasts of Moab sojourn with thee" — (viz. with Judah) —
" be thou a cover to them," &c.
4 Lowth suggests that the reference is to the misfortunes inflicted upon Judah by Israel in the
time of Ahaz, the cessation of which left them at liberty to show hospitality.
s Kir-hareseth — a fortified city on the borders of Moab.
SECOND WEEK IN ADVENT.
235
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
1 Behold I send My angel * which
shall prepare My way before Thy
face.
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Respon-
sory at Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, (as on Monday in
the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Thou shalt yet be built
anew, * O Zion, and thou shalt
see thy Righteous One, Who shall
come in thee.
Fifth Day.
MATTINS.
Invitatory and Hymn as on the
First Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
of the Prophet Isaiah (xix. 1.)
THE burden of Egypt. Behold the
Lord shall ride upon a swift
cloud, and shall come into Egypt ; and
the idols of Egypt shall be moved at
His presence, and the heart of Egypt
shall melt in the midst of it. And I
will set the Egyptians against the
Egyptians : and they shall fight, every
1 Mark i. 2.
one against his brother, and every one
against his neighbour, city against city,
and kingdom against kingdom.
First Responsory.
Thy salvation, &c, (First Responsory
on Sunday.)
Second Lesson.
AND the spirit of Egypt shall fail in
the midst thereof, and I will
destroy the counsel thereof: and they
shall seek to their idols, and to their
charmers, and to them that have
familiar spirits, and to the wizards.
And the Egyptians will I give over
into the hand of cruel lords ; and a
fierce king shall rule over them, saith
the Lord 2 God of hosts. And the
waters shall fail from the sea : and the
river shall be wasted, and dried up,
and the brook shall fail and the
streams in the furrows shall be emptied
and dried up.
Second Responsory.
Behold, the Lord, &c, (Second Re-
sponsory on Sunday.)
Third Lesson, (v. 11.)
'T'HE princes of Tanis are fools, the
wise counsellors of Pharaoh have
given brutish counsel : how say ye
unto Pharaoh : I am the son of the
wise, the son of ancient kings ? Where
are now thy wise men ? Let them
tell thee, and show thee what the Lord
of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.
The princes of Tanis are become fools,
the princes of Memphis are deceived ;
they have seduced Egypt, even they
that are the corner-stone of the tribes
thereof.
2 The Divine Name.
236
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Third Responsory.
O thou city of Jerusalem,
( Third Responsory on Sunday. )
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, (as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
O Lord, Thou art He That should
come, * for Whom we look, that Thou
shouldest save Thy people.
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Responsory
at Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, (as on Monday in
the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Afttiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. l He it is * Who, coming
after me, is preferred before me,
Whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy
to unloose.
Sixth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
&c., The Lesson taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (xxiv. 1.)
2 DEHOLD, the Lord shall make
the earth empty, and make it
waste, and afflict the surface thereof;
and scatter abroad the inhabitants
thereof. And it shall be, as with
the people, so with the priest ; as
with the servant, so with his master ;
as with the maid, so with her mis-
tress ; as with the buyer, so with
the seller ; as with the lender, so
with the borrower ; as with the
creditor, so with the debtor. The
land shall be utterly emptied, and
utterly spoiled. For the LORD hath
spoken this word.
First Responsory.
Behold, there cometh, &c, (Fourth
Responsory on Sunday.)
Second Lesson.
'THE earth mourneth and fadeth
away, and languisheth ; the
world fadeth away, the haughty people
of the earth do languish. The earth
also is defiled under the inhabitants
thereof; because they have trans-
gressed the laws, changed the ordi-
nance, broken the everlasting cove-
nant. Therefore shall the curse
devour the earth, and they that dwell
therein are guilty, therefore they that
till it shall become mad, and few
men shall be left.
Invitatory and Hym?i
First Sunday.
Second Responsory.
the As a mother, &c, (Fifth Responsory
on Sunday.)
1 John i. 27.
2 Delivered probably in the beginning of Hezekiah's reign ; but concerning the particular
subject of the chapter, interpreters are not at all agreed.
SECOND WEEK IN ADVENT.
237
Third Lesson.
HP HE new wine mourneth, the vine
languisheth, all the merry-hearted
do sigh. The mirth of tabrets ceaseth,
the noise of them that rejoice endeth,
the joy of the harp ceaseth. They
shall not drink wine with a song ;
strong drink shall be bitter to them
that drink it. The city of confusion
is broken down, every house is shut up
that no man may come in. There is
a cry for wine in the streets ; all joy
is darkened, the mirth of the land is
gone. In the city is left desolation,
and the gate is smitten with de-
struction. For thus it shall be in the
midst of the land, among the people ;
as a few olives that remain after the
olive-tree is shaken, and as the glean-
ing grapes when the vintage is done.
Those shall lift up their voice and sing
praises ; when the LORD is magnified
they shall cry aloud from the sea.
Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in your
teaching, even the name of the LORD
God of Israel in the isles of the sea.
From the uttermost part of the earth
have we heard the voice of praise, even
glory to the Righteous One.
Third Responsory.
Thou shalt yet plant vines, &c,
{Sixth Responsory on Sunday.)
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, (as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song oj Zacharias.
1 Say : * Ye that are of a fearful heart,
be strong ; behold, the Lord our God
will come.
Prayer as on Sunday.
1 Isa. xxxv. 4.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Re-
sponsory at Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, (as on Monday in
the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 2 Sing unto the LORD * a
new song : from the end of the earth
let the voice of praise be heard.
The Sabbath.
MATTINS.
Invitatory and Hymn as on the
First Sunday. «
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Isaiah (xxv. 1.)
r\ LORD, Thou art my God, I will
^-^ exalt Thee, I will also praise
Thy name ; for Thou hast done
wonderful things, Thy counsels of old
are faithful. Amen. For Thou hast
made of a city an heap, of a defenced
city a ruin, a house of strangers, so
that it is no more a city, neither shall
it ever be built any more. Therefore
shall the strong people glorify Thee,
the city of the terrible nations shall
fear Thee. For Thou hast been a
strength to the needy in his distress ;
a refuge from the storm, a shadow
from the heat.
2 Isa. xlii. 10.
238
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
First Responsory.
The Lord shall go forth, &c,
(Seventh Responsory on Sunday.)
Second Lesson.
T^OR the blast of the terrible ones
is as a storm against the wall.
Thou shalt bring down the noise of
strangers, as the heat in a dry place ;
and Thou shalt bring low the blast
of the terrible ones even as the heat
with the shadow of a cloud. And
in this mountain shall the Lord of
hosts make unto all people a feast
of fat things, a feast of wines on
the lees, of fat things full of marrow,
of wines on the lees well refined.
And He will destroy in this moun-
tain the face of the band tied upon
all people, and the veil that is spread
over all nations.
Second Responsory.
Make haste, &c, (Eighth Responsory
on Sunday.)
Third Lesson.
IT E will utterly destroy death for
ever ; and the Lord 1 God will
wipe away tears from all faces, and
the rebuke of His people shall He
take away from off all the earth ;
for the Lord hath spoken it. And
it shall be said in that day : Lo,
this is our God, we have waited for
Him, and He will save us ; this is
the Lord, we have waited for Him,
we will be glad and rejoice in His
salvation. For on this mountain shall
the hand of the Lord rest ; and Moab
shall be trodden down under Him,
even as straw is trodden down on
the threshing-floor. And He shall
spread forth His hands in the midst
of them, as he that swimmeth spread-
1 The Name. 2 Isa. xi. 12
eth forth his hands to swim ; and
He shall bring down their pride to-
gether with the spoils of their hands.
And the bulwark of thine high walls
shall He bring down, lay low, and
bring to the ground, even to the
dust.
Third Responsory.
Behold, the Lord, &c, (Ninth Re-
sponsory on Sunday.)
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, (as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
2 The Lord shall lift up a standard *
unto the nations, and shall gather to-
gether the outcasts of Israel.
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Respon-
sory at Prime.
VESPERS.
The Chapter is taken from the Lauds
of the succeeding Sunday.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 3 Before Me * there was no
god formed, neither shall there be
after Me : for unto Me every knee
shall bow, and every tongue shall
swear.
The Prayer is taken from the Lauds
of the succeeding Sunday.
3 Isa. xliii. 10 ; xlv. 24.
THIRD WEEK IN ADVENT.
239
1 i&ose Suntias in Unbent.
The Third Lord's Day in Coming-
Time.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. 2 The Lord is now at
hand : * O come, let us worship
Him.
This Invitatory is said every day
till Christmas Eve exclusive.
Hymn as on First Sunday.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (xxvi. 1.)
T N that day shall this song be sung
in the land of Judah. 3 Zion is
our strong city, the Saviour will God
appoint in her for walls and bulwarks.
Open ye the gates, that the righteous
nation which keepeth the truth may
enter in. The former wandering is
past : Thou shalt keep lasting peace,
because our trust is stayed on Thee.
Ye trust in the Lord for ever, in
the Lord God mighty for ever.
For He bringeth down them that
dwell on high, the lofty city, He
shall lay it low, He shall lay it low,
even to the ground, He shall bring
it even to the dust. The foot shall
tread it down, even the feet of the
poor, and the steps of the needy.
First Responsory.
4 Behold, the Lord shall appear
upon a white cloud, and ten thou-
sand of His saints with Him ; and
He shall have on His vesture, and
on His thigh a name written : King
of kings, and Lord of lords.
Verse. He shall appear and not
lie ; though He tarry, wait for Him,
because He will surely come.
Answer. And ten thousand of His
saints with Him ; and He shall have
on His vesture, and on His thigh a
name written : King of kings, and
Lord of lords.
Second Lesson.
'THE way of the just is upright,
the path wherein the just walk-
eth is upright. Yea, in the way of
Thy judgments, O LORD, have we
waited for Thee ; the desire of our
soul is to Thy name, and to the re-
membrance of Thee. With my soul
have I desired Thee in the night ;
yea, with mine inmost spirit will I
seek Thee early. When Thy judg-
ments are in the earth, the inhabitants
of the world will learn righteousness.
Though mercy be shown to the wicked,
yet will he not learn righteousness ; in
the land of uprightness will he deal
unjustly, and will not behold the ma-
jesty of the Lord.
Second Responsory.
5 Thou, Bethlehem, art the city of
the Most High God, out of thee shall
He come forth That is to be Ruler
in Israel ; Whose goings forth have
been from of old, from everlasting,
and now shall He be great unto the
ends of the earth. And this Man
shall be the peace in our land, when
He shall come.
Verse. He shall speak peace unto
the Gentiles, and shall have dominion
from sea to sea.
1 The penitential character of the season is relaxed as on the Fourth Sunday in Lent, — Rose-
coloured (*.*., reddish brown) vestments may be worn instead of purple, and it is allowed to put
flowers on the altar and to play the organ. 2 Phil. iv. 5.
3 Zion not in the Hebrew. 4 Jude 14 ; Apoc. xix. 16. 5 Micah v. 2, 4, 5.
240
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Answer. And this Man shall be
the peace in our land, when He shall
come.
Third Lesson.
f ORD, 1 let Thy hand be lifted up,
and let them not see ; let them
see and be ashamed for their envy at
the people ; yea, let the fire devour
Thine enemies. LORD, Thou wilt
ordain peace for us, for Thou hast
also wrought all our works for us.
O Lord, our God, other lords be-
side Thee have had dominion over
us ; but by Thee only will we make
mention of Thy name. They are
dead, they shall not live, the giants
shall not rise. Therefore hast Thou
visited and destroyed them, and made
all their memory to perish.
. Third Responsory.
2 He That shall come, will come,
and will not tarry ; and there shall
no more be fear in our borders.
For He is our Saviour.
Verse. 3 He shall tread down all
our iniquities, and cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea.
Answer. For He is our Saviour.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. For He is our Saviour.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of Pope St Leo [the Great,] {Second
on the December Fast, and Alms-
giving.)
T\ EARLY beloved brethren, with
the care which becometh us as
the shepherd of your souls, we urge
1 Lowth — "Thy hand is lifted up, yet will
Thy zeal," &c.
2 Heb. x. 37. 3 Micah vii.
upon you the rigid observance of this
December Fast. The month of De-
cember hath come round again, and
with it this devout custom of the
Church. The fruits of the year, which
is drawing to a close, are now all
gathered in, and we most meetly offer
our abstinence to God as a sacrifice
of thanksgiving. And what can be
more useful than fasting, that exercise
by which we draw nigh to God, make
a stand against the devil, and over-
come the softer enticements of sin ?
Fourth Responsory.
Weep not, O Egypt, for the Ruler
cometh unto thee, and the depths shall
be moved at His presence. To de-
liver His people out of the hand of
the mighty.
Verse. Behold, the Lord of hosts,
thy God, cometh with great power.
Answer. To deliver His people out
of the hand of the mighty.
Fifth Lesson.
TOASTING hath ever been the bread
of strength. From abstinence
proceed pure thoughts, reasonable
desires, and healthy counsels. By
voluntary mortifications the flesh dieth
to lust, and the soul is renewed in
might. But since fasting is not the
only mean whereby we get health for
our souls, let us add to our fasting
works of mercy. Let us spend in
good deeds what we take from in-
dulgence. Let our fast become the
banquet of the poor.
Fifth Responsory.
4 Her time is near to come, and her
days shall not be prolonged. For the
they not see : but they shall see, with confusion,
19. 4 Isa. xiv. i.
THIRD WEEK IN ADVENT.
24I
Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and
Israel shall be saved.
Verse. 1 Turn again, O Virgin of
Israel, turn again to thy cities.
Answer. For the Lord shall have
mercy on Judah, and Israel shall be
saved.
Sixth Lesson.
ET us defend the widow and serve
the orphan ; let us comfort the
afflicted and reconcile the estranged ;
let us take in the wanderer and suc-
cour the oppressed ; let us clothe the
naked and cherish the sick. And may
every one of us that shall offer to the
God of all goodness this Advent sacri-
fice of fasting and alms be by Him
fitted to receive an eternal reward in
His heavenly kingdom ! We fast on
Wednesday and Friday ; and there is
likewise a Vigil on Saturday at the
Church of St Peter, that by his good
prayers we may the more effectually
obtain what we ask for, through our
Lord Jesus Christ, Who with the
Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth
and reigneth, one God, world without
end. Amen.
Sixth Responsory.
2 The Lord shall come down like
rain upon a fleece. In His days shall
righteousness flourish, and abundance
of peace.
Verse. All the kings of the earth
shall fall down before Him, all nations
shall serve Him.
Answer. In His days shall right-
eousness flourish, and abundance of
peace.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. In His days shall right-
eousness flourish, and abundance of
peace.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (i. 19.)
A T that time : The Jews sent Priests
and Levites from Jerusalem to
John to ask him : Who art thou ?
And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great,] {jth on the Gospels.)
Dearly beloved brethren, the first
thing which striketh us in to - day's
Gospel is the lowly - mindedness of
John. He was so great that it was
thought he might be the Christ ; yet
he soberly chose rather to seem only
what he really was, than to let the
belief of men invest him with a dignity
which did not belong to him ; for " he
confessed, and denied not, but con-
fessed, I am not the Christ," at the
same time he would not deny what
he was in reality ; and thus his very
truth - speaking made him a member
of Him Whose title he would not by
falsehood take. In that he arrogated
not to himself the name of Christ, he
became a member of Christ. While
he humbly strove to confess his own
weakness, he earned by his simplicity
a part in the grandeur of his Master.
Seventh Responsory.
O Lord, come and make no tarry-
ing ; loosen the bonds of Thy
people. And gather again into their
own land them that are scattered
abroad.
Verse. 3 O Lord, stir up Thy
strength, and come and save us.
Answer. And gather again into
their own land them that are scat-
tered abroad.
1 Jer. xxxi. 21.
2 Ps. lxxi. 6, 7, 11.
3 Ps. lxxix. 3.
242
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Eighth Lesson.
T N considering this subject we find
an apparent contradiction between
one of John's statements, and the
saying of our Redeemer recorded in
another part of the Gospel. (Matth.
xvii. 10-12.) When His disciples
asked our Lord regarding the coming
of Elias, He answered : " Elias is
come already, and they knew him
not, but have done unto him whatso-
ever they listed." "And if ye will
receive it, this " (that is, John) " is
Elias." (Matth. xi. 14.) But when
John was asked if he was Elias, he
answered, " I am not." How comes
it then, dearly beloved brethren, that
we find the Truth Itself asserting what
the prophet of the Truth denied ? It
must evidently be that our Lord meant
one thing and John another, when the
Lord said, " This is," and John, " I am
not." For how can he be the prophet
of truth, if he speak not according to
the word of Him Who is the Eternal
Truth ?
Eighth Responsory.
1 Behold, there shall be a root of
Jesse, which shall come for salva-
tion unto the people, to it shall the
Gentiles seek, and His name shall be
glorious.
Verse. 2The Lord God shall give
unto Him the throne of His father
David, and He shall reign over the
house of Jacob for ever.
Answer. And His name shall be
glorious.
Ninth Lesson.
[" ET us then more minutely examine
these words, and we shall find
that there is no real contradiction.
When the Angel announced to Zacha-
rias the coming birth of John he said :
" He shall go before Him in the spirit
and power of Elias," (Luke i. 17.)
As the old Elias will come again be-
fore the Second Advent of the Lord,
so did John, as the new Elias, go be-
fore the First Advent, in the spirit
and power of Elias. As the old Elias
will be the Fore-runner of the Judge,
so the new Elias was the Fore-runner
of the Saviour. John then was Elias
in spirit, but not in person ; and our
Lord asserteth of the spirit what John
denieth of the person.
Ninth Responsory.
3 The Lord will teach us of His
ways, and we will walk in His paths.
For out of Zion shall go forth the
law, and the word of the LORD from
Jerusalem.
Verse. Come ye, and let us go up
to the mountain of the Lord, and to
the house of the God of Jacob.
Answer. For out of Zion shall go
forth the law, and the word of the
Lord from Jerusalem.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. For out of Zion shall go
forth the law, and the word of the
Lord from Jerusalem.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. 4The Lord will
come, * and will not tarry ; He both
will bring to light the hidden things
of darkness, and will make Himself
manifest to all people. Alleluia.
Second Antiphon. Rejoice greatly,
O Jerusalem, * for thy Saviour cometh
unto thee. Alleluia.
Third Antiphon. 5 I will place sal-
vation in Zion, * and My glory in
Jerusalem. Alleluia.
Fourth Antiphon. 6 Every moun-
tain and hill * shall be made low, and
1 Isa. xi. 10.
4 1 Cor. iv. 5.
2 Luke i. 32.
' Isa. xlvi. 13.
3 Isa. ii. 3.
B Isa. xl. 4.
THIRD WEEK IN ADVENT.
243
the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough places plain : O Lord,
come and make no tarrying. Alleluia.
Fifth Antiphon. * We should live
* righteously and godly, looking for
that blessed hope and the coming of
the Lord.
Chapter. (Phil. iv. 4.)
"DRETHREN, Rejoice in the Lord
alway : again I say, rejoice. Let
your moderation be known unto all
men : for the Lord is at hand.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
He shall sit * upon the throne of
David, and upon his kingdom for ever.
Alleluia.
Prayer.
f~\ LORD, we beseech Thee, merci-
fully incline Thine ears unto our
prayers, and lighten the darkness of
our minds by the grace of Thy heavenly
visitation ; Who livest and reignest
with God the Father, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. The Lord will come, *
&c, (First Antiphon at Lauds.}
In the Short Responsory the same
alteration as before.
TERCE.
Antiphon. Rejoice greatly, &c,
(Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
The Chapter is taken from Lauds.
Chapter. (Phil. iv. 6.)
DE anxious for nothing, but in every
thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving, let your requests be
made known unto God.
NONE.
Antiphon. We should live, * &c,
(Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Phil. iv. 7.)
AND the peace of God which pass-
eth all understanding, keep your
hearts and minds, through Christ
Jesus our Lord.
VESPERS.
Antiphons and Chapter as at Lauds.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin (utile ss supplanted by the great
Antiphon, O Wisdom.) 2 Blessed art
thou, * O Mary, that hast believed the
Lord : for there shall be a performance
of those things which were told thee
from the Lord. Alleluia.
After " Bless we the Lord " are said
the Vespers of the Dead.
The Seven Days preceding Christ-
mas Eve are marked by the Church
with two observances; 1st, The series
of Antiphons called the Great O's, and
2nd, by a special series of Antiphons
at Lauds. The rules which apply to
them are different.
SEXT.
Antiphon. I will place salvation,
&c, (Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
1 Tit. ii.
1$
1. The Great O's.
The Great O's are a series of Anti-
phons at the Song of the Blessed Virgin,
2 Luke
45-
244
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
one for every evening from Dec. 1 7 to
2 3 inclusive. They supplant any other
Antiphon of the Office of the Season,
(as, for instance, if the 17th Dec.
should be the Third Sunday of Advent,
the Antiphon, " Blessed art thou " is
displaced for " O Wisdom.") The
Great O's however can be suprplanted
by Feasts, (as, for instance, " O Wis-
dom " and " O Adonai " by the Feast of
the Expectation, and " O Day-Spring,"
by the Feast of St Thomas, ) and then
they are treated as the Antiphon for
the Week-day, forming part of the
Commemoration. They are always
said entire both before and after the
Canticle, like the Antiphon on Double
Feasts.
Dec. 17.
1 r~\ WISDOM, That comest out of
^ the mouth of the Most High,
2 That reachest from one end to another,
and dost mightily and sweetly order
all things : come, to teach us the way
of prudence !
Dec. 18.
r\ s ADONAI, and Ruler of the
^^^ house of Israel, Who didst ap-
pear unto Moses in the burning bush,
and gavest him the law in Sinai : come,
to redeem us with an outstretched
arm !
Dec. 19.
4 r\ ROOT of Jesse, Which standest
^-^ for an ensign of the people,
5 at Whom the kings shall shut their
mouths, 4 unto Whom the Gentiles
■shall seek : come, to deliver us, make
no tarrying !
Dec. 20.
«/"\ KEY of David, and Sceptre of
^^^ the house of Israel ; That open-
est, and no man shutteth ; and shuttest
1 Ecclus. xxiv. 5. 2 Wisd. viii. 1.
3 I.e., Lord. This is the Hebrew word which the Jews substitute for any endeavour to
pronounce the Name. 4 Isa. xi. 10. s Isa. Hi. 15.
8 Apoc. iii. 7. 7 Isa. xlii. 7. 8 Luke i. 78, 79. 9 Wisd. vii. 26.
10 Mai. iv. 2. u Hag. ii. 8. 12 Eph. ii. 14, 20. 13 Gen. xlix. 10.
and no man openeth : come, 7 to bring
out the prisoners from the prison, and
them that sit in darkness, and in the
shadow of death !
Dec. 2 1 .
8Q DAY-SPRING, brightness of
^^ the everlasting Light, 10 Sun of
Righteousness, come, 8 to give light to
them that sit in darkness, and in the
shadow of death !
Dec. 22.
f~\ KING of the Gentiles, yea, and
^^^ n Desire thereof, 12 O Corner-
stone that makest of twain one : come,
to save man, whom Thou hast made
of the dust of the earth !
Dec. 23.
(~\ EMMANUEL, our King and our
Law - giver, 18 Longing of the
Gentiles, yea, and Salvation thereof:
come to save us, O Lord our God !
2. Special series of Antiphons at
Lauds.
The following series of Antiphons
are used on Week-days at Lauds, and,
consequently, the First, Second, Third,
and Fifth at Prime, Terce, Sext, and
None, on the seven days preceding
Christmas Eve, beginning like the
Great O's on the 17th Dec. They
differ from the Great O's in that they
can be wholly supplanted. This is
always the case on two days, which
are necessarily, one a Sunday, and the
other the Feast of St Thomas. There-
fore five sets only are given. If the
17 th be the Sunday, the series is begun
on Monday.
The set which fall upon the day
THIRD WEEK IN ADVENT.
245
when the Feast of St Thomas occurs
are transferred to the next Saturday,
and said then, except the Fourth, which
is 07tiitted, and the Antiphon, "My
teaching shall drop, &c." said in its
place. If however, the Sunday to
follow be Christmas Eve, then on
Saturday are said the Antiphons of
the Lauds of the Fourth Sunday in
Advent, except the Fourth, which is
omitted, and the Antiphon " My teach-
ing shall drop, &c." said in its place.
The Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias
and the Prayer will then be those pro-
per to the Day, as Ember Saturday.
In this case the set of Antiphons
which fell upon the day occupied by
the Feast of St Thomas will be alto-
gether omitted; and the Antiphon "My
teaching shall drop, &c." will likewise
be altogether omitted should the Feast
of St Thomas come on the Saturday.
Here follow the five sets of Antiphons.
First set.
First Antiphon. Behold, the Lord
cometh, * 1 the Prince of the Kings
of the earth : blessed are they that are
ready to go forth to meet Him.
Second Antiphon. 2 When the Son
of man cometh, * shall He find faith
on the earth ?
Third Antiphon. 3 Behold, the ful-
ness * of the time is come, when God
sent forth His Son into the world.
Fourth Antiphon. 4 With joy *
shall ye draw water out of the wells
of the Saviour.
Fifth Antiphon. The Lord goeth
forth * from His holy place ; He com-
eth to save His people.
Second set.
First Antiphon. 5 Drop down, ye
heavens, from above, * and let the
skies pour down the Righteous One :
let the earth open and let her bring
forth the Saviour.
Second Antiphon. 6 Send forth the
Lamb, O Lord, * the Ruler of the land,
from the rock of the wilderness unto
the mount of the daughter of Zion.
Third Antiphon. 7 That Thy way,
O Lord, * may be known upon earth,
Thy saving health among all nations.
Fourth Antiphon. 8 O Lord, *
reward them that wait for Thee, and
let Thy Prophets be found faithful.
Fifth Antiphon. 9 The law was
given by Moses, * but grace and truth
came by Jesus Christ.
Third set.
First Antiphon. The Prophets
foretold * that the Saviour should be
born of the Virgin Mary.
Second Antiphon. 10 The Spirit of
the Lord * is upon Me, because He
hath anointed Me to preach the
Gospel to the poor.
Third Antiphon. n For Zion's sake
* will I not hold my peace, until her
Righteous One go forth as brightness.
Fourth Antiphon. Behold, the Lord5
cometh, * 12 to sit among princes, and
to inherit the throne of glory.
Fifth Antiphon. Tell it out among
the people, * and say : Behold, God,
our Saviour cometh.
Fourth set.
First Antiphon. The Lord, the
Almighty, * cometh out of Zion, to
save His people.
Second Antiphon. Turn Thee, O
Lord, * at the last, and tarry not to
come unto Thy servants.
Third Antiphon. The Lord That
shall rule * shall come forth from Zion,
Emmanuel is His name, and His name
is great.
1 Apoc. i. 5.
5 Isa. xlv. 8.
9 John i. 17.
VOL. I.
2 Luke xviii.
6 Isa. xvi. i.
10 Luke iv. if
3 Gal. iv. 4.
7 Ps. lxvi. 3.
11 Isa. lxii. 1.
4 Isa. xii. 3.
8 Ecclus. xxxvi. 18.
12 1 Kings (Sam.) ii. 8.
246
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Fourth Antiphon. 1 Behold, He is
my God, * and I will glorify Him ; my
father's God, and I will exalt Him.
Fifth Antiphon. The Lord our
Law-giver, * the Lord our King, cometh
to save us.
Fifth set.
First Antiphon. 2 Stand still * and
see the salvation of the Lord.
Second Antiphon. 3 Unto Thee, O
LORD, * lift I up my soul : come and
deliver me, O Lord, in Thee do I put
my trust.
Third Antiphon. Come, O Lord, *
and make no tarrying : loosen the
bonds of Thy people Israel.
Fourth A?itiphon. 4 God shall
come from Lebanon, * and His bright-
ness shall be as the light.
Fifth Antiphon. 5 Therefore I will
look unto the LORD, * I will wait for
the God of my salvation.
this last Antiphon is said at the Song
of Zacharias on the Fourth Sunday of
Advent, instead of the Antiphon,
"Hail, Mary, &c."
23rd Dec.
On this day the Antiphon at the
Song of Zacharias is :
Behold, all things are fulfilled, *
which were spoken by the angel con-
cerning the Virgin Mary.
QHonfcap.
Second Day.
MATTINS.
Invitatory as on Sunday.
Hymn as on the First Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (xxviii. 1.)
A \ TOE to the 7 crown of pride, to the
drunkards of Ephraim, to the
fading flower of their glorious beauty ;
which are upon the head of the fat
valley, overcome with wine. Behold
the Lord is mighty and strong, as a
tempest of hail, and as a destroying
storm, as a flood of mighty waters
overflowing, sent forth over the breadth
of the land. The crown of pride, the
drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden
under foot.
First Responsory.
Behold, the Lord shall appear, &c,
{First Responsory on Sunday.)
1 Exod. xv. 2. 2 Exod. xiv. 13. s Ps. xxiv. 1.
* Hab. iii. 3, 4. 5 Micah vii. 7. 6 Deut. xxxii. 2.
7 I.e.. the city of Samaria, the capital of the apostate kingdom of Israel. "The city," says
Lowth, " beautifully situated upon the top of a round hill, and surrounded immediately with
a rich valley, and a circle of other hills beyond it, suggested the idea of a chaplet, or wreath of
flowers, worn upon their heads on occasions of festivity." And he cites Wisd. ii. 7, 8.
The Saturday.
If the Saturday be not Christmas
Eve, the Antiphons will be one of the
above sets, as directed by the Rubric
above, with the exception of the Fourth
(i.e., that for the Song of Moses), which
will be as follows :
Fourth Antiphon. 6 My teaching
shall drop * as the rain, and our God
shall come down upon us as the dew.
On the Feast of St Thomas, at the
Commemoration of the Week-day at
Lauds, the Antiphon is as follows :
Antiphon. Fear not : * yet five
days and the Lord shall come unto
you.
If the Feast of St Thomas should
happen to be transferred to the Monday,
THIRD WEEK IN ADVENT.
247
Second Lesson.
AND the fading flower of their
x glorious beauty, which is upon
the head of the fat valley, shall be as
the hasty fruit before the ripening of
Autumn ; which when he that looketh
upon it seeth, while it is yet in his
hand, he eateth it up. In that day
shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown
of glory, and for a diadem of beauty
unto the residue of His people ; and
for a spirit of judgment to him that
sitteth in judgment, and for strength to
them that turn from the battle to the
gate. But they also have erred
through wine, and through strong
drink are out of the way : the priest
and the prophet have erred through
strong drink, they are swallowed up of
wine.
Second Responsory.
Thou, Bethlehem, &c, {Second Re-
sponsory on Sunday.)
Third Lesson. (16.)
HTHEREFORE thus saith the Lord
1 GOD : Behold I lay in Zion for
a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a
precious corner-stone, a sure found-
ation. Let not him that believeth
make haste. Justice also will I lay to
the plummet and righteousness to the
line : and the hail shall sweep away
the refuge of lies, and the waters shall
overflow the hiding-place. 2 And your
covenant with death shall be disan-
nulled, and your agreement with hell
shall not stand.
Third Responsory.
&c, {Third
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, {as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
There shall come forth a rod * out of
the stem of Jesse, and the whole earth
shall be filled with the glory of the
Lord, and all flesh shall see the salva-
tion of God.
Prayer as on Sunday.
After " Bless we the Lord " is said
the Dirge.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Responsory
at Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, {as on Monday in
the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 3 All generations shall call
me blessed, * for God hath regarded
the lowliness of His hand-maiden.
£ueefcap.
Third Day.
MATTINS.
Invitatory as on Sunday.
Hymn as on the First Sunday.
He That shall come,
Responsory on Sunday.)
1 The Name.
2 The allusion is to v. 15, where the inhabitants of Jerusalem are represented as saying,
" 'We have entered into a covenant with death' — a kind of proverbial expression to denote
perfect security from evil." 3 Luke i. 48.
248
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (xxx. 1 8.)
'"FHE Lord waiteth that He may be
gracious unto you ; and there-
fore will He be exalted, that He may
have mercy upon you, for the LORD
is a God of judgment ; blessed are all
they that wait for Him. For the
people of Zion shall dwell in Jeru-
salem, thou shalt weep no more,
He will be very gracious unto thee ;
at the voice of thy cry when He
shall hear it, He will answer thee.
Though the LORD give you bread in
scarcity and water in short measure :
yet will He not make thy teacher to
fly from thee any more ; and thine
eyes shall see thy teacher.
First Responsory.
Weep not, O Egypt, &c, {Fourth
Responsory on Sunday.)
Second Lesson, (v. 22.)
'"T'HOU shalt say unto it, : Get thee
hence, and the rain shall fall
upon thy seed, that thou shalt sow
the ground withal ; and the bread of
the increase of the earth shall be fat
and plenteous. In that day shall
thy lambs feed in large pastures ;
thine oxen likewise, and the young
asses that till the ground shall eat
mixed provender, as that which hath
been winnowed on the threshing-floor.
And there shall be upon every high
mountain, and upon every high hill
rivers of running waters, in the day
of the great slaughter, when the
2 towers fall.
Second Responsory.
Her time is near to come, &c,
(Fifth Responsory on Sunday.)
1 The allusion is to the ornament
2 I.e., the mighty men.
Third Lesson.
IV/TOREOVER, the light of the
moon shall be as the light
of the sun, and the light of the sun
shall be sevenfold, as the light of
seven days, in the day that the
Lord bindeth up the breach of His
people, and healeth the stroke of
their wound. Behold, the name of
the LORD cometh from far, burning
with His anger, and the burden
thereof is heavy : His lips are full
of indignation, and Hie tongue as
a devouring fire. His breath, as an
overflowing stream, shall reach to
the midst of the neck, to destroy
the nations to the uttermost, and
as a bridle causing them to en-
shall it be in the jaws of the
peoples.
Third Responsory.
The Lord shall come down, &c,
(Sixth Responsory on Sunday.)
LAUDS.
Chapter (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, (as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hy?nn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
3 Thou, Bethlehem, * in the land of
Judah, shalt not be the least [among
the princes of Judah] : for out of thee
shall come a Ruler, That shall rule my
people Israel.
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Respon-
sory at Prime.
of a molten image.
3 Matth. ii. 6 ; Micah v. 2.
THIRD WEEK IN ADVENT.
249
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, (as on Monday in
the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. l Awake, awake, * arise, O
Jerusalem : loose thyself from the
bands of thy neck, O captive daugh-
ter of Zion.
The Fourth Day in Quarter-Week.
MATTINS.
Invitatory as on Sunday.
Hymn as on the First Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (i. 26.)
A T that time : The Angel Gabriel
■^^ was sent from God, unto a city
of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a vir-
gin espoused to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David :
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And so on.
Homily by 2 St Ambrose, Bishop [of
Milan,] (Bk. ii. on Luke.)
The mysteries of God are unsearch-
able, and it is especially declared by
a Prophet, that a man can hardly know
His counsels. (Wisd. ix. 13.) Never-
theless, some things have been revealed
to us, and we may gather from some
of the words and works of the Lord
our Saviour, that there was a special
purpose of God, in the fact that she
who was chosen to be the mother of
the Lord was espoused to a man.
Why did not the power of the High-
est overshadow her before she was
so espoused ? Perhaps it was lest
any might blasphemously say that
she had conceived in adultery the
Holy One.
First Responsory.
3 O thou that bringest good tidings
of peace to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice
with strength ! Say unto the cities of
Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jeru-
salem : Behold, our God will come, for
Whom we waited.
Verse. O thou that tellest good
tidings to Zion : get thee up into
the high mountain, lift up thy voice
with strength.
Answer. Say unto the cities of
Judah, and to the inhabitants of
Jerusalem : Behold, our God will
come, for Whom we waited.
Second Lesson.
" AND the Angel came in unto
r^ her." Let us learn from this
Virgin how to bear ourselves, let us
learn her modesty, let us learn by
her devout utterance, above all let
us learn by the holy mystery en-
acted. It is the part of a maiden
to be' timid, to avoid the advances
of men, and to shrink from men's
addresses. Would that our women
would learn from the example of
modesty here set before us. She
upon whom the stare of men had
never been fixed was alone in her
chamber, and she found herself alone
with Angels. There was neither
companion nor witness there, that
what passed might not be debased
in gossip : and the Angel saluted
her.
1 Isa. lii. 1, 2.
2 Dec. 7.
3 Isa. xl. 9, 10.
250
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Second Responsory,
1 There shall come a Star out of
Jacob, and a Man shall rise out of
Israel, and shall smite through all
the princes of the aliens. And all
the earth shall be His possession.
Verse. 2 All kings shall fall down
before Him, all nations shall serve
Him.
Answer. And all the earth shall
be His possession.
Third Lesson.
'T'HE message of God to the Virgin
was a mystery, which it was not
lawful for the mouth of men, but only
of Angels, to utter. For the first time
on earth the words are spoken : " The
Holy Ghost shall come upon thee."
The holy maiden heareth, and be-
lieveth. At length she said : " Be-
hold the handmaid of the Lord : be
it unto me according to thy word."
Here is an example of lowliness,
here is a pattern of true devotion.
At the very moment that she is
told she is chosen to be the mother
of the Lord she at once declareth
herself His handmaid. The know-
ledge that she was mother of God
caused in the heart of Mary only
an act of humility.
Third Responsory.
The Lord, the Ruler, cometh quickly.
3 And His name shall be called Em-
manuel.
Verse. 4 In His days shall right-
eousness flourish, and abundance of
peace.
Answer. And His name shall be
called Emmanuel.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And His name shall be
called Emmanuel.
1 Numb. xxiv. 17.
2 Ps. lxxi. 11.
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, {as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
The angel Gabriel * was sent to Mary,
a virgin espoused to Joseph.
Prayer.
QRANT, we beseech Thee, Almighty
God, that the solemn Feast of our
redemption, which is now at hand, may
both help us in the life which now is,
and further us toward the attaining of
Thine eternal joy in that which is
to come. Through our Lord JESUS
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reign-
eth with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, One God world without
end. Amen.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Responsory
at Prime.
Prayer as at Lauds.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, (as on Monday in
the First Week. )
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Behold the handmaid * of
the Lord ; be it unto me according to
thy word.
Prayer as on Sunday.
Matth. i. 23 ; Isa. vii. 14. * Ps. lxxi. 7.
THIRD WEEK IN ADVENT.
251
Fifth Day.
MATTINS.
Invitatory as on Sunday.
Hymn as on the First Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (xxxiii. 1.)
1"\l/rOE to thee that spoilest, shall
not thou also be spoiled ? and
dealest scornfully, shall not they also
deal scornfully with thee? When thou
shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be
spoiled ; when thou shalt be weary
and make an end to deal scornfully,
they shall deal scornfully with thee.
2 O Lord, be gracious unto us ; for
we have waited for Thee : be Thou
our arm every morning, our salvation
also in the time of trouble.
First Responsory.
3 The Lord shall go forth and fight
against the nations. And His feet
shall stand upon the mount of Olives
on the east.
Verse. 4And it shall be exalted
above the hills, and all nations shall
flow unto it.
Answer. And His feet shall stand
upon the mount of Olives on the east.
Second Lesson.
5 AT the voice of thy messenger the
people fled, and at the lifting
up of thyself the nations were scattered.
And your spoil shall be gathered like
the gathering of the locust, when the
trenches are filled therewith. 6 The
Lord is exalted, for He dwelleth on
high : He hath filled Zion with judg-
ment and righteousness : and 7 thy
times shall be faithful ; wisdom and
knowledge shall be the riches of thy
salvation ; the fear of the Lord is
his treasure.
Second Responsory.
8 The Fore-runner is for us entered,
even the Lamb without spot : made an
High Priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedek.
Verse. This is that King of Right-
eousness without descent, nor end of
life.
Answer. Made an High Priest for
ever after the order of Melchisedek.
Third Lesson. (14.)
9 'THE sinners in Zion are afraid,
fearfulness hath surprised the
hypocrites. Who among you can
dwell with the devouring fire ? who
among you shall dwell with everlasting
burnings ? He that walketh right-
eously, and speaketh uprightly, he
that refuseth the gain of leasing, and
shaketh his hands from holding of
bribes, that stoppeth his ears from
hearing of blood, and shutteth his
eyes from seeing evil. He shall dwell
on high, his place of defence shall be
the munitions of rocks : bread shall be
given him, his waters shall be sure.
His eyes shall see the King in his
beauty : they shall behold the land
that is very far off.
1 "The prophet addresses himself to Sennacherib, king of the Assyrians, who was threaten-
ing the destruction of the Jewish kingdom."
a "The Jews are here introduced imploring the protection of God."
3 Zech. xiv. 3, 4. 4 Isa. ii. 2.
5 "The Prophet, in the name of God, or, rather, God Himself, is introduced, addressing
Himself to Sennacherib."
6 " A chorus of Jews is introduced acknowledging the mercy and power of God."
7 Viz., those of Hezekiah. 8 Heb. vi. 20; vii. 2, 3.
9 The Prophet is speaking in the name of God.
252
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Third Responsory.
1 The Gentiles shall see thy Right-
eous One, and all kings thy Glorious
one. And thou shalt be called by a
new name, which the mouth of the
Lord hath named.
Verse. Thou shalt also be a crown
of glory in the hand of the Lord, and
a royal diadem in the hand of thy
God.
Answer. And thou shalt be called
by a new name, which the mouth of
the Lord hath named.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And thou shalt be called
by a new name, which the mouth of
the Lord hath named.
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, {as on the First
Monday. )
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Let your soul watch, * the Lord our
God is nigh at hand. (See the Rubric
on the Feast 0/ St Thomas, 6. 244.)
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Respon-
sory at Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, (as on Monday in
the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
1 Isa. lxii. 2, 3.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 2 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem,
* and be glad with her, all ye that
love her for ever.
The Sixth Day in Quarter-Week.
MATTINS.
Invitatory as on Si:nday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (i. 39.)
A T that time : Mary arose, and went
into the hill country with haste,
into a city of Judah, and entered into
the house of Zacharias, and saluted
Elizabeth. And so on.
Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop [of
Milan,] (Comtnentary on Luke, Bk. ii.
c.\.)
When any one asketh another for
credence, he is bound to give some
reasonable ground. And- so the Angel,
when he announced to Mary the coun-
sel of God, gave, as a proof, the con-
ception of Elizabeth, then aged and
barren, that Mary might perceive, by
this example, that with God nothing
is impossible. When the holy Virgin
had heard it, she arose and went to
visit her cousin. She did not go to
see if what she had heard was true,
because she did not believe God, or
because she knew not who the mes-
senger had been, or yet because she
doubted the fact adduced in proof.
She went joyfully as one who hath
received a mercy in answer to his vow
goeth to pay the same. She went
with devotion, as a godly person goeth
to execute a religious duty. She went
2 Isa. lxvi. 10.
THIRD WEEK IN ADVENT.
253
into the hill country in joyful haste.
And is it not something that she
went up into the hills ? God was
already in her womb, and her feeling
bore her continually upward. The
grace of the Holy Spirit knoweth
no slow working.
First Responsory.
Send forth the Lamb, O Lord, the
Ruler of the land ; from the rock in
the wilderness unto the mount of the
daughter of Zion.
Verse. Show us Thy mercy, O
LORD, and grant us Thy salvation.
Answer. From the rock in the
wilderness unto the mount of the
daughter of Zion.
Second Lesson.
/^ODLY women will learn from the
^ example of the Mother of God to
take a tender care of their kinswomen
who are with child. In pursuance of
this charity, Mary, who had hitherto
remained alone at home, was not de-
terred by her maidenly shyness from
entering on a public journey ; she faced
for this end the hardships of mountain
travelling ; and encountered with a
sense of duty the weary length of the
way. The Virgin left her home, and
went into the hill country with haste,
unmindful of the trouble, and remem-
bering only the office to which her
cousinly love prompted her, in spite
of the delicacy of her sex. Maidens
will learn from her not to idle about
from house to house, to loiter in the
streets, nor to take part in conver-
sations in public. Mary, as she was
hasteful to pass through the public
roads, so was she slow again to enter
on them : she abode with her cousin
about three months.
Second Responsory.
Drop down, ye heavens, from
above, and let the skies pour down
the Righteous One. Let the earth
open, and let her bring forth the
Saviour.
Verse. Send forth the Lamb, O
Lord, the Ruler of the land, from the
rock in the wilderness unto the mount
of the daughter of Zion.
Answer. Let the earth open, and
let her bring forth the Saviour.
Third Lesson.
A S the modesty of Mary is a pattern
7*" for the imitation of all maidens,
so also is her humility. She went to
see Elizabeth, like one cousin going to
visit another, and as the younger to the
elder. Not only did she first go, but
she first saluted Elizabeth. Now, the
purer a virgin is, the humbler ought
she to be. She will know how to
submit herself to her elders. She that
professeth chastity ought to be a very
mistress of humility. Lowly-minded-
ness is at once the very ground in
which devotion groweth, and the first
and principal rule of its teaching. In
this act of the Virgin then we see the
greater going to visit and to succour
the lesser — Mary to Elizabeth, Christ
to John.
Third Responsory.
The waste places have brought
forth sweet-smelling buds for Israel ;
for, behold, our God will come with
power. And His brightness is with
Him.
Verse. l Out of Zion the perfection
of beauty, our God shall come mani-
festly.
Answer. And His brightness is
with Him.
1 Ps. xlix. 2.
VOL. 1.
I 2
254
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Ansrver. And His brightness is
with Him.
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, (as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
1 As soon as the voice of thy salutation
* sounded in mine ears, the babe
leaped in my womb for joy. Alleluia.
Prayer.
OTIR up, O Lord, we pray Thee,
Thy might, and come among us ;
that we, trusting only in Thy mercy,
may by Thee be speedily delivered
from all adversity : Who livest and
reignest with God the Father, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Respon-
sory at Prime.
Prayer as at Lauds.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, (as on Monday in
the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 2John bare witness of Him,
1 Luke i. 44.
* saying : He That cometh after me is
preferred before me.
Prayer as on Sunday.
6m6er |>>afur&aj>.
The Sabbath in Quarter- Week.
(May be displaced by the Office of the
Fourth Sunday.)
MATTINS.
Invitatory as on Sunday.
Hymn as on the First Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (iii. I.)
T N the fifteenth year of the reign of
Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate
being governor of Judaea. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great,] (10th on the Gospels.)
The date, at which the Fore-runner
of our Redeemer entered on his public
office of preaching, is indicated to us
by the name of the ruler of the Roman
Commonwealth, and by those of the
princes of Palestine. The time of his
preaching is indicated by these names,
because he came as the Fore-runner of
Him Who was to be the Redeemer of
some Jews and many Gentiles. More-
over in the enumeration of these
worldly monarchs there is a fore-
shadowing of the fact, that the Gen-
tiles were about to be gathered into
one, and the Jews to be scattered
abroad in punishment of their unbelief;
in the whole heathen Commonwealth
we find the title of one Emperor, but
in the small kingdom of Judaea arc-
mentioned four masters.
2 John i. 15.
THIRD WEEK IN ADVENT.
255
• First Responsory.
There shall come forth a rod out of
the stem of Jesse, and a flower shall
grow out of his roots. And righteous-
ness shall be the girdle of his loins,
and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Verse. And the Spirit of the LORD
shall rest upon him : the spirit of
wisdom and understanding : the spirit
of counsel and might.
Answer. And righteousness shall
be the girdle of his loins, and faithful-
ness the girdle of his reins.
Second Lesson.
/"PHE blessed voice of the Saviour
itself hath said, " Every kingdom
divided against itself is brought to
desolation" (Luke xi. 17.) And we
may well look for the ruin of the
Jewish state when we see it divided
among so many rulers. We observe
likewise that the names of the reigning
priests as well as kings are given.
The Evangelist Luke hath left on
record the chiefs both of the mon-
archy and of the priesthood who held
office when John the Baptist began
to preach, because John preached
Him Who is at once our Priest
and our King.
Second Responsory.
1 Behold, the root of Jesse that
shall arise to bring forth judgment to
the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles
trust. And his name shall be blessed
for ever.
Verse. 2 The Kings shall shut their
mouths at him, to him shall the Gen-
tiles seek.
Answer. And his name shall be
blessed for ever.
Third Lesson.
" A ND he came into all the country
about Jordan, preaching the
baptism of repentance 3 for the remis-
sion of sins." It is evident from these
words that John the Baptist not only
preached, but also administered the
baptism of repentance, and yet that
baptism of repentance which he gave,
was not really a baptism for the re-
mission of sins. For there is only one
baptism for the remission of sins, and
that is our Christian baptism. It is
worthy of note here that the words
used are, " preaching the baptism of
repentance for the remission of sins,"
for he himself owned that his baptism
was not the true baptism that washes
away sin. Even as the Eternal Word
of God made Flesh was greater than
the preacher that went before Him, so
was His holy baptism, by which our
sins are washed away, far greater than
that baptism of repentance which the
Fore-runner preached, and which could
never wash away sin.
Third Responsory.
O Lord, come, and make no tarry-
ing : loosen the bonds of Thy people.
And gather together into their own
land them that are scattered abroad.
Verse. Stir up, O Lord, Thy
power, and come among us, to save
us.
Answer. And gather together in-
to their own land them that are
scattered abroad.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And gather together into
their own land them that are scattered
abroad.
1 Isa. xi. 10; xlii. 1. 2 isa_ uj. x,
3 The translator holds himself justified in adopting this rendering of "metanoia," (lit.
"change of mind,") by the authority of Archbishop Kenrick in his version of. the New
Testament. (Matth. iii. 2.)
2.56
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, {as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
O thou Angel of God, * how shall this
be, seeing I know not a man ? Hear,
O Virgin Mary ! — the Holy Ghost
shall come upon thee, and the power
of the Highest shall overshadow
thee!
See, however, the Rubrics concern-
ing Dec. 21 and 23, {p. 244,) both
as to this and the following days.
Prayer.
(~\ GOD, Who seest that by reason
^-"^ of our sins we are sorely
afflicted, mercifully grant unto us by
Thy visitation effectually to be com-
forted : Who livest and reignest with
God the Father, in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, one God, world without
end. Amen.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Respon-
sory at Prime.
Prayer as at Lauds.
JFourti) Stinting in gfobent
The Fourth Lord's Day in Coming-
Time.
MATTINS.
Invitatory as on the Third Sunday.
Hymn as on the First Sunday.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (xxxv. 1.)
'"PHE wilderness and the solitary
place shall be glad, and the
desert shall rejoice and blossom as
the lily. It shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice, even with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon is given unto
it, the excellency of Carmel and
Sharon ; they shall see the glory of
the Lord and the excellency of our
God. Strengthen ye the weak hands
and confirm the feeble knees. Say
to them that are of a fearful heart :
Be strong, and fear not, behold, your
God will come with recompense of
vengeance ; God Himself will come
and save you. Then the eyes of
the blind shall be opened, and the
ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then shall the lame man leap as an
hart, and the tongue of the dumb
shall sing : for in the wilderness are
waters broken out, and streams in
the desert. And the parched ground
shall become a pool, and the thirsty
land springs of water.
VESPERS.
Chapter and Prayer from next morn-
ing's Lauds.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
First Resionsory.
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, call
together the nations, tell it out among
the people, and say : Behold, God our
Saviour cometh.
FOURTH WEEK IN ADVENT.
257
Verse. Tell it out and make it to
be heard ; speak aloud and cry —
Answer. Behold, God our Saviour
cometh.
Second Lesson.
T N the habitations where dragons lay
shall rise the green freshness of
the reed and the bulrush. And an
highway shall be there and a way,
and it shall be called, The way of
holiness : the unclean shall not pass
over it, and it shall be unto you a
straight way, that fools shall not err
therein. No lion shall be there, nor
any ravenous beast shall go up there-
on, it shall not be found there : but
the redeemed shall walk there, and
the ransomed of the Lord shall re-
turn and come to Zion with songs ;
and everlasting joy upon their heads,
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee
away.
Second Responsory.
The sceptre shall not depart from
Judah, nor the law-giver from his loins,
until he that shall be sent cometh.
And unto him shall the longing of
the Gentiles be.
Verse. J His eyes shall be bright
with wine, and his teeth white with
milk.
Answer. And unto him shall the
desire of the Gentiles be.
Third Lesson (xli. 1.)
2 T/" EEP silence before Me, O is-
lands, and let the peoples re-
new their strength ; let them come
near and then let them speak ; let
us come near together to judgment.
Who raised up the 3 righteous man
from the East, and called him to
follow Him ? Who gave the nations
before him, and made him to rule
over kings ? Who gave them as
the dust to his sword, as driven
stubble to his bow ? He pursueth
them, he passeth safely, his feet see
not the way ! Who hath wrought
and done it, calling the generations
from the beginning ? I, the LORD,
the First and the Last, I am He.
•
Third Responsory.
4 I must decrease, but He must
increase : He it is Who, coming
after me is preferred before me :
Whose shoe's latchet I am not
worthy to unloose.
Verse. 5 I baptize you with water ;
but He shall baptize you with the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Whose shoe's latchet I
am not worthy to unloose.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Whose shoe's latchet I
am not worthy to unloose.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of Pope St Leo [the Great,] (1st on
the December Fast, and almsgiving. )
T\ EARLY beloved brethren, if we
study attentively the history of
the creation of our race, we shall
find that man was made in the
image of God, that his ways also
might be an imitation of the ways
of his Maker. This is the natural,
real, and highest dignity to which
we are capable of attaining, that the
goodness of the Divine nature should
1 Gen. xlix. 12.
i From a prophecy of Isaiah distinct from any of the foregoing, and beginning with ch. xli.
3 "The righteous man" is perhaps Abraham, but most commentators are of opinion that
Cyrus is meant. 4 John iii. 30; i. 27. s Matth. iii, 11.
258
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
have a reflection in us, as in a glass.
As a mean of reaching this dignity,
we are daily offered the grace of our
Saviour, for as in the first Adam all
men are fallen, so in the Second
Adam can all men be raised up again
(i Cor. xv. 22).
Fourth Responsory.
1 Unto us shall a Child be born, and
His name shall be called the Mighty
God. He shall sit upon the throne of
His father David, and shall reign, and
the government shall be upon His
shoulder.
Verse. 2 In Him shall all the kin-
dreds of the earth be blessed ; all
nations shall serve Him.
Answer. He shall sit upon the
throne of His father David, and shall
reign, and the government shall be
upon His shoulder.
Fifth Lesson.
/^~\UR restoration from the conse-
^^ quences of Adam's fall is sheer
mercy of God, and nothing else ; we
should not have loved Him unless He
had first loved us, (1 John iv. 19,) and
scattered the darkness of our ignorance
by the light of His truth. This the
Lord promised by the mouth of Isaiah,
where He saith, (Isa. xlii. 16,) "I will
bring the blind by a way that they
knew not, and I will lead them in
paths that they have not known : I
will make darkness light before them,
and crooked things straight. These
things will I do unto them and not
forsake them." And again, (Isa. lxv.
1, 2 ; Rom. x. 20,) "I was found of
them that sought Me not ; I was
made manifest unto them that asked
not after Me."
Fifth Responsory.
3 Behold, the fulness of the time is
come, wherein God hath sent forth
His Son into the world, born of a
Virgin, made under the law : to re-
deem them that were under the law.
Verse. 4 God, for His great love
wherewith He loved us, hath 5 sent
His own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh.
Answer. To redeem them that were
under the law.
Sixth Lesson.
AND we know from the Apostle
Jr^ John how God fulfilled His
promise, (1 John v. 20.) "We know
that the Son of God is come, and
hath given us an understanding, that
we may know Him That is True, and
be in Him That is True, even in His
Son." And again, (iv. 19,) "Let us
therefore love God, because He first
loved us." For His great love then
wherewith he hath loved us, (Eph. ii.
4,) God reneweth Hjs likeness in us.
And, moreover, in order that He may
find in us the reflection of His good-
ness, He giveth us that whereby to
work along with Himself, (Who work-
eth all in all,) lighting, as it were,
candles in our dark minds, and kind-
ling in us the fire of His love, to make
us love not Himself only, but likewise,
in Him, whatsoever He loveth.
Sixth Responsory.
cO virgin of Israel, turn again to
thy cities. How long wilt thou go
about sorrowing ? Thou shalt bring
forth the Lord thy Saviour, a new
offering in the earth ; men shall walk
in paths of salvation.
Verse. I have loved thee with an
1 Isa. ix. 6.
4 Eph. ii. 4.
2 Ps. lxxi. 17, 11.
5 Rom. viii. 3.
3 Gal. iv. 4, 5.
6 Jer. xxxj. 21,
FOURTH WEEK IN ADVENT.
259
everlasting love : therefore with loving-
kindness have I drawn thee.
Answer. How long wilt thou go
about sorrowing ? Thou shalt bring
forth the Lord thy Saviour, a new
offering in the earth.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Men shall walk in paths
of salvation.
THIRD NOCTTJRN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (iii. 1.)
T N the fifteenth year of the reign of
Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate
being governor of Judaea. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great,] {20th on the Gospels.)
"John said unto the multitude, that
came forth to be baptised of him : O
generation of vipers, who hath warned
you to flee from the wrath to come ? "
"The wrath to come" in one sense
signifieth the great vengeance of the
Latter Day : the sinner that repenteth
not of his sin now, will have no mean
whereby to flee from punishment then.
Let us remark that addressing evil
children copying the example of evil
parents, the Baptist calleth them a
generation of vipers : in that they were
envious at the righteous, and perse-
cuted them ; that they repaid evil for
evil ; that they hunted out ways of
harming their neighbours, — in all these
things following the pattern of carnal
parents, the prophet likeneth them to
a venomous brood hatched from a
venomous stock.
Seventh Responsory.
1 I have sworn, saith the Lord, that
I will not be wroth any more with the
1 Isa. liv. 9. 2 Isa. lvi. 1.
earth ; for the mountains and the hills
shall receive My righteousness. And
the covenant of My peace shall be in
Jerusalem.
Verse. 2 My salvation is near to
come, and My righteousness to be re-
vealed.
Answer. And the covenant of My
peace shall be in Jerusalem.
Eighth Lesson.
\ \ J"E also have sinned, we have fallen
into wicked habits. What must
we do, if we would flee from the wrath
to come ? Let us hear John. "Bring
forth fruits worthy of repentance." In
which words let us remark that the
Friend of the Bridegroom demandeth
not only fruits of repentance, but fruits
worthy of repentance. The former are
one thing, and the latter another. In
considering then what are fruits worthy
of repentance, we may remark that if
we had done nothing unlawful we
might have had free use of things
which are lawful, and been able to
sanctify ourselves without abstaining
from indulgence in the things of the
world.
Eighth Responsory.
3 We will not go back from Thee.
Thou, O Lord, shalt quicken us, and
we will call upon Thy name. Cause
Thy face to shine upon us, and we
shall be saved.
Verse. i Remember us, O Lord,
with the favour that Thou showest
unto Thy people ; O visit us with Thy
salvation.
Answer. Cause Thy face to shine
upon us, and we shall be saved.
Ninth Lesson.
DUT if any one, for example, hath
fallen into fornication, or per-
haps, into what is much worse, adul-
3 Ps. Ixxix. 19. 4 Ps. cv. 4.
26o
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
tery, he ought to make up for his
lawless pleasure by abstaining in some
degree from lawful enjoyments. He
that hath sinned less is not bound to
mortify himself as much as he that
hath sinned more, nor he that is in-
nocent like him that is guilty. Let
every one hearing these words "bring
forth fruits worthy of repentance," pro-
ceed to judge himself by his own
conscience, and the more he perceiveth
that he hath sinned, the greater pen-
ance let him do.
Ninth Rcsponsory.
1 Consider how great this man is,
who is entered in for the salvation of
the nations ; he is King of Righteous-
ness ; without descent, nor end of
life.
Verse. The Fore-runner is for us
entered, made an High Priest for ever
after the order of Melchisedek.
Answer. Without descent, nor end
of life.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Without descent, nor end
of life.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. 2 Blow ye the
trumpet * in Zion, for the day of
the Lord is nigh at hand: behold,
He cometh to save us ! Alleluia,
Alleluia.
Second Antiphon. 3 Behold, the de-
sire * of all nations shall come ; and
the house of the Lord shall be filled
with glory. Alleluia.
Third Antiphon. 4 The crooked *
shall be made straight, and the rough
places plain ; O Lord, come, and make
no tarrying. Alleluia.
Fourth Antiphon. The Lord com-
eth ! * Go ye out to meet Him, and
say : How. great is His dominion,
and of His kingdom there shall be
no end ! He is the mighty God,
the Ruler, the Prince of Peace '
Alleluia, Alleluia*
Fifth Antiphon. 5 Thine Almighty
Word, * O Lord, shall leap down out
of Thy royal throne. Alleluia.
Chapter. ( i Cor. iv. i . )
DRETHREN, let a man so account
of us as of the ministers of Christ,
and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Moreover it is required in stewards
that a man be found faithful.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias,
6 Hail, Mary, full of grace, * the Lord
is with thee : blessed art thou among
women. Alleluia.
See however the Rubrics concerning
Dec. 21 and 23, {p. 244.)
Prayer.
CTIR up, O Lord, we pray Thee,
Thy power, and come among us,
and with great might succour us, that
whereas through our sins and wicked-
ness we are sore let and hindered,
Thy bountiful grace and mercy may
speedily help and deliver us ; Who
livest and reignest with God the
Father, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. Blow ye the trumpet, *
&c, (First Antiphon at Lauds.)
hi the Short Responsory the same
alteration as before.
1 Heb. vi. 20; vii. 2-4.
4 Isa. xl. 4.
2 Joel ii. 1.
3 Wisd. xviii. 15.
3 Hag. ii. 8.
6 Luke i. 28.
FOURTH WEEK IN ADVENT.
26l
TERCE.
Antiphon. Behold, the desire, *
&c, (Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
The Chapter is taken from Lauds.
SEXT.
Antiphon. The crooked, * &c,
(Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (1 Cor. iv. 3.)
DUT with me it is a very small thing
that I should be judged of you,
or of any man's judgment ; yea, I
judge not mine own self.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (xli. 8.)
AND thou, Israel My servant, Jacob,
"^^ whom I have chosen, the seed of
Abraham My friend : in whom I have
taken thee from the ends of the earth,
and called thee from the uttermost
parts thereof, and said unto thee :
Thou art My servant, I have chosen
thee, and not cast thee away. Fear
thou not, for I am with thee ; be not
dismayed, for I am thy God ; I have
strengthened thee, yea, I have up-
holden thee, and the right hand of My
Righteous One comforteth thee.
NONE.
Antiphon. Thine Almighty Word,
* &c, (Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
First Responsory.
Blow ye the trumpet, &c, (First
Responsory on Sunday.)
Chapter. (1 Cor. iv. 5.)
'"THEREFORE judge nothing before
the time, until the Lord come,
Who both will bring to light the
hidden things of darkness, and will
make manifest the counsels of the
hearts : and then shall every man have
praise of God.
VESPERS.
Antiphons and Chapter from Lauds.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
After " Bless we the Lord," are said
the Vespers of the Dead.
Second Day.
MATTINS.
Invitatory as on the Third Sunday.
Hymn as on the First Sunday.
Second Lesson.
DEHOLD, all they that fight against
" thee shall be ashamed and con-
founded : they shall be as nothing, and
the men that strive with thee shall
perish. Thou shalt seek them and
shalt not find them, even them that
contended with thee ; they that war
against thee shall be as nothing and
as a thing of nought. For I the
LORD thy God will hold thy right
hand, saying unto thee : Fear not, I
have holpen thee.
Second Responsory.
The sceptre shall not depart, &c,
(Second Responsory on Sunday.)
Third Lesson.
T7 EAR not, thou worm Jacob, ye
■ dead ones in Israel ; I have
holpen thee, saith the LORD, and thy
Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
262
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Behold, I have made thee a new sharp
threshing wain, having teeth ; thou
shalt thresh the mountains, and beat
them small, and shalt make the hills
as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, and
the wind shall carry them away ; and
the whirlwind shall scatter them ; and
thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, thou
shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Third Responsory.
I must decrease, &c, {Third Re-
sponsory on Sunday.)
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, (as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Thus saith the Lord, * 1 Repent ye,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Alleluia.
Prayer as on Sunday.
After " Bless we the Lord," is said
the Dirge.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Responsory
at Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, (as on Monday in
the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Third Day.
MATTINS.
Invitatory as on the Third Sunday.
Hymn as on the First Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (xlii. 1.)
DEHOLD My servant whom I will
uphold, Mine elect in whom My
soul delighteth : I have put My spirit
upon him, he shall bring forth judg-
ment to the Gentiles. He shall not
cry, nor have respect of persons,
neither shall he cause his voice to be
heard in the street. A bruised reed
shall he not break, and the smoking
flax shall he not quench ; he shall
bring forth judgment unto truth. He
shall not fail nor be discouraged till he
have set judgment in the earth ; and
the isles shall wait for his law.
First Responsory.
Unto us shall a Child, &c, (Fourth
Responsory on Sunday.)
Second Lesson.
THUS saith God the Lord, He
That created the heavens and
stretched them out, He That estab-
lished the earth and that which cometh
out of it ; He That giveth breath unto
the people upon it, and spirit to them
that walk therein. I the LORD have
called thee in righteousness, and held
thine hand and kept thee, and given
thee for a covenant of the people, for a
light of the Gentiles ; to open the blind
eyes, to bring out the prisoners from
the prison, and them that sit in dark-
ness out of the prison-house.
1 Matth. Hi. 2.
FOURTH WEEK IN ADVENT.
263
Second Responsory.
Behold, the fulness of the time, &c,
{Fifth Responsory on Sunday.)
Third Lesson. (10.)
OING unto the Lord a new song,
His praise from the end of the
earth, ye that go down to the sea, and
all that is therein, the isles and the
inhabitants thereof. Let the wilder-
ness and the cities thereof lift up their
voice, they that dwell in the tents
of Kedar.1 Sing, O ye inhabitants
of Petra,2 shout from the top of the
mountains. Let them give glory unto
the LORD, and declare His praise in
the islands. The Lord shall go forth
as a mighty man, He shall stir up
jealousy like a man of war ; He shall
cry, yea, roar ; He shall prevail against
His enemies.
Third Responsory.
O virgin of Israel, &c, (Sixth Re-
sponsory on Sunday.)
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, (as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
3 Awake, awake, * put on strength, O
arm of the Lord !
See however the Rubrics on Dec. 2 1
and 23, (p. 244.)
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Responsory
at Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, (as on Monday in
the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Fourth Day.
MATTINS.
Invitatory as on the Third Sunday.
Hymn as on the First Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (li. 1.)
TTEARKEN to me, ye that follow
after righteousness and seek the
Lord ! Look unto the rock whence ye
are hewn, and to the hole of the pit
whence ye are dug. Look unto Abra-
ham your father, and unto Sarah that
bare you ; for I called him when he
was alone, and blessed him, and in-
creased him. Therefore the Lord
shall comfort Zion ; He also will com-
fort all her waste places : and He
will make her wilderness a place of
delights, and her desert like the
garden of the LORD. Joy and glad-
ness shall be found therein, thanks-
giving, and the voice of praise.
First Responsory.
I have sworn, &c, (Seventh Respon-
sory on Sunday.)
Second Lesson.
1 The name of a son of Ishmael.
TTEARKEN unto Me, My people,
and give ear unto Me, O My
nation : for a law shall proceed from
2 A large city in Northern Arabia. 3 lsa. li. 9.
264
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Me, and I will make My judgment
to rest for a light of the people.
My Righteous One is near, My
Saviour is gone forth, and Mine
arms shall judge the people : the
isles shall wait upon Me, and on
Mine arm shall they trust. Lift up
your eyes to the heavens, and look
upon the earth beneath ; for the
heavens shall vanish away like smoke,
and the earth shall wax old like a
garment, and they that dwell therein
shall perish in like manner : but My
salvation shall be for ever, and My
righteousness shall not pass away.
Second Responsory.
We will not go back, &c, {Eighth
Responsory on Sunday.)
Third Lesson.
T_J EARKEN unto me, ye that know
righteousness, My people in
whose heart is My law : fear ye not
the reproach of men, neither be ye
afraid of their revilings. For the
worm shall eat them up like a gar-
ment, and the moth shall eat them
like wool : but My salvation shall
be for ever, and My righteousness
from generation to generation.
Third Responsory.
Consider how great, &c, (Ninth
Responsory on Sunday.)
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, (as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
1 I will place salvation * in Zion,
and My glory in Jerusalem. Alle-
luia.
See however the Rubrics on Dec. 2 1 ,
and 23, (p. 244.)
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Respon-
sory at Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, (as on Monday in
the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Fifth Day.
MATTINS.
Invitatory as on the Third Sunday.
Hymn as on the First Sunday.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (lxiv. 1.)
C\ THAT Thou wouldest rend the
^^ heavens, that Thou wouldest
come down ! that the mountains
might flow down at Thy presence !
They would pass away like a fire
that is burnt out, the fires would
cause the waters to boil, to make
Thy name known to Thine adver-
saries, that the nations may tremble
at Thy presence ! When Thou doest
terrible things we shall not abide it :
1 Isa. xlvi. 13.
FOURTH WEEK IN ADVENT.
265
Thou earnest down, the mountains
flowed down at Thy presence. From
the beginning of the world men have
not heard, nor perceived by the ear ;
the eye hath not seen, O God, be-
side Thee, what Thou hast prepared
for them that wait for Thee !
First Responsory.
Blow ye the trumpet, &c, {First
Responsory on Sunday.)
Second Lesson.
'THOU meetest him that rejoiceth,
and worketh righteousness ; they
will remember Thee in Thy ways :
behold, Thou art wroth, for we have
sinned : in those was continuance and
we shall be saved. But we are all
as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags : l
and we all do fade as a leaf, and
our iniquities, like the wind, have
taken us away. There is none that
calleth upon Thy name, that stirreth
up himself to take hold of Thee :
Thou hast hid Thy face from us,
and hast consumed us by the hand
of our iniquities.
Our holy and our beautiful house,
where our fathers praised Thee, is
burned up with fire, and all our
pleasant things are laid waste.
Third Responsory.
I must decrease, &c, {Third Re-
sponsory on Sunday.)
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, (as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
2 Comfort ye, comfort ye, * My people,
saith the Lord your God.
See however the Rubric on Dec. 23,
(p. 244.)
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Respon-
sory at Prime.
Second Responsory.
The sceptre shall not depart, &c,
(Second Responsory on Sunday.)
Third Lesson.
AND now, O LORD, Thou art our
"^^ Father ; we are clay, and Thou
our Potter, and we all are the work
of Thine hand. Be not wroth very
sore, O LORD, neither remember our
iniquity for ever : behold, see, we are
all Thy people. The city of Thy
sanctuary is a wilderness, Zion is a
wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
1 Pannus menstruatae.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, (as on Monday in
the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
Sixth Day.
MATTINS.
Invitatory as on the Third Sunday.
Hymn as on the First Sunday.
2 Isa. xl. 1.
266
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (lxvi. 5.)
TTEAR the word of the LORD, ye
that tremble at His word ; your
brethren that hated you, and cast you
out for My name's sake, said : Let the
Lord be glorified, and we shall see it
in your joy — but they shall be ashamed.
A voice of people from the city, a voice
from the temple, a voice of the Lord
that rendereth recompense to His ene-
mies. Before she travailed, she brought
forth : before her pain came she was de-
livered of a man child. Who hath heard
such a thing ? or who hath seen such
things ? Shall the earth bring forth in
one day ? or shall a nation be born at
once ? for as soon as Zion travailed she
brought forth her children.
First Responsory.
Unto us shall a Child, &c, {Fourth
Responsory on Sunday.)
Second Lesson.
CHALL not I Myself bring forth,
^ saith the LORD, That make
others to bring forth ? Shall I Myself
be barren, That cause others to beget
children ? saith the Lord thy God.
Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad
with her, all ye that love her : rejoice
for joy with her, all ye that mourn for
her, that ye may suck, and be satisfied
with the breasts of her consolations :
that ye may milk out, and be delighted
with the abundance of her glory. For
thus saith the LORD : Behold, I will
extend the glory of the Gentiles to her
like a flowing stream, whereof ye shall
suck ; ye shall be borne upon her
breasts, and be dandled upon her
knees.
Second Responsory.
Behold, the fulness of the time, &c,
{Fifth Responsory on Sunday.)
Third Lesson
A S one whom his mother comfort-
eth, so will I comfort you, and
ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
When ye see this, your heart shall
rejoice, and your bones shall flourish
like an herb : and the hand of the
Lord shall be known towards His
servants, and His indignation towards
His enemies. For, behold, the Lord
will come with fire ; and His chariots
like a whirlwind, to render His anger
with fury, and His rebuke with flames
of fire : for by fire and by His sword
will the Lord plead with all flesh, and
the slain of the LORD shall be many.
Third Responsory.
O virgin of Israel, &c, {Sixth Re-
sponsory on Sunday.)
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Isa. ii. 3.)
Come ye, &c, (as on Monday in the
First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Behold, all things are fulfilled * which
were spoken by the Angel concerning
the Virgin Mary.
Prayer as on Sunday.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
Antiphons as on Sunday, and the
same alteration in the Short Respon-
sory at Prime.
VESPERS.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
The sceptre, &c, {as on Monday in
the First Week.)
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the First Saturday.
CHRISTMAS EVE.
267
Christmas; Wat,
The Eve of the Lord's Birth.
If Christmas Eve does not fall on a
Sunday, the Office is of the Eve. If it
fall on a Sunday, the Office is of the
Sunday, save that the Invitatory is of
the Eve j all is then of the Sunday till
the Verse and Answer of the Third
Nocturn : the Verse and Answer, Gos-
pel and Homily, are then of the Eve j
what follows is of the Eve, and at
Lauds there is a Commemoration of
the Sunday.
MATTINS.
Of the week-day, except the following.
Invitatory. This day ye shall know
that the Lord cometh : * 1 and in the
morning, then ye shall see His glory.
Hymn as on the First Sunday.
Verse. This day ye shall know that
the Lord cometh.
Answer. And in the morning, then
ye shall see His glory.
First [or Seventh] Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (i.
18.)
V\/'HEN as Mary, the Mother of
Jesus, was espoused to Joseph,
before they came together, she was
found with child of the Holy Ghost.
And so on.
Homily by St Jerome, Priest [at
Bethlehem,] (is/ Bk. of Commentaries,
on Matth. i.)
Why was the Lord conceived of an
espoused virgin rather than of a free ?
First, for the sake of the genealogy of
Mary, which we have obtained by that
1 Exod. xvi. 6, 7. 2 Exod. xix. 10.
of Joseph. Secondly, because she was
thus saved from being stoned by the
Jews as an adulteress. Thirdly, that
Himself and His mother might have
a guardian on their journey into Egypt.
To these, Ignatius, the martyr of
Antioch, has added a fourth reason :
namely, that the birth might take
place unknown to the devil, who
would naturally suppose that Mary
had conceived by Joseph.
First [or Seventh] Responsory.
2 Sanctify yourselves to-day, and be
ready : for on the morrow ye shall see
the majesty of God upon you.
Verse. This day ye shall know that
the Lord cometh, and in the morning,
then ye shall see —
Answer. The majesty of God upon
you.
Second [or Eighth] Lesson.
" "DEFORE they came together, she
was found with child of the
Holy Ghost." She was found, that is,
by Joseph, but by no one else. He
had already almost an husband's privi-
lege to know all that concerned her.
" Before they came together." This
doth not imply that they ever did come
together : the Scripture merely show-
eth the absolute fact that up to this
time they had not done so.
Second [or Eighth] Responsory.
3 Stand still, and ye shall see the
help of the Lord with you : O Judah
and Jerusalem, fear not. To-morrow
ye shall go out, and the Lord will be
with you.
Verse. Sanctify yourselves, O ye
children of Israel, and be ready.
Answer. To-morrow ye shall go
out, and the Lord will be with you.
3 Exod. xiv. 13 ; 2 Par. (Chron.) xx. 17.
268
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Third [or Ninth] Lesson.
" 'THEN Joseph her husband, being
a just man, and not willing to
make her a public example, was
minded to put her away privily." If
any man be joined to a fornicatress
they become one body ; and according
to the law they that are privy to a
crime are thereby guilty. How then
can it be that Joseph is described as
a just man, at the very time he was
compounding the criminality of his
espoused ? It must have been that
•he knew her to be pure, and yet
understood not the mystery of her
pregnancy, but, while he wondered at
that which had happened, was willing
to hold his peace.
Third [or Ninth] Responsory.
Sanctify yourselves, O ye children
of Israel, saith the Lord : for on the
morrow the LORD will come down.
And will take away from you all
sickness.1
Verse. On the morrow the sins of
the earth shall be washed away, and
the Saviour of the world will be our
King.
Answer. And will take away from
you all sickness.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And will take away from
you all sickness.
The rest of the day is observed as a
Double Feast.
Second Antiphon. 3 This day ye
shall know * that the Lord cometh :
and in the morning, then ye shall see
His glory.
Third Antiphon. On the morrow *
the sins of the earth shall be washed
away, and the Saviour of the world
will be our King.
Fourth Antiphon. The Lord com-
eth ! * — Go ye out to meet Him,
and say : How great is His dominion,
and of His kingdom there shall be
no end : He is the Mighty God, the
Ruler, the Prince of Peace, Alleluia !
Fifth Antiphon. On the morrow *
ye shall be saved, saith the Lord God
of hosts.
Chapter. (Rom. i. I.)
TDAUL, a servant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an Apostle, separated
unto the gospel of God, which He
had promised afore by His Prophets,
in the holy Scriptures, concerning His
Son, Which was made of the seed of
David according to the flesh.
Hymn as on the First Sunday.
Verse. On the morrow the sins of
the earth shall be washed away.
Answer. And the Saviour of the
world will be our King.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
The Saviour of the world shall rise
like the sun, and come down into the
womb of the Virgin as the showers
upon the grass. Alleluia.
LAUDS.
Psalms of the Sunday.
First Antiphon. 2 O Judah and
Jerusalem, * fear not: to-morrow ye
shall go out, and the Lord will be
with you.
Prayer.
f~\ GOD, Whose mercy doth year by
year cause us to rejoice, looking
forward to our deliverance, grant that
as we now make ready with gladness
to receive Thine Only-begotten Son as
our Saviour, so we may see Him with?
1 Deut. vii. 15.
2 2 Par. (Chron.)xx. 17.
3 Exod. xvi. 6, 7.
CHRISTMAS EVE.
269
out dread at His second and terrible
coming as our Judge, even our Lord
JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, one God, world without
end. Amen.
PRIME.
As on Doubles.
Antiphon. O Judah and Jerusalem,
* &c, {First Antiphon at Lauds.)
The same alteration as before in the
Short Responsory.
MARTYROLOGY {all standing).
Upon the 25th day of December ;
In the year 5199 from the creation
of the world, when in the beginning
' God created the heavens and the
earth ;
In the year 2959 from the flood ;
In the year 2015 from the birth of
Abraham ;
In the year 1 5 1 o from the going forth
of the people of Israel out of Egypt
under Moses ;
In the year 1032 from the anoint-
ing of David as King ;
In the 65th week according to the
prophecy of Daniel ;
In the 194 Olympiad ;
In the 752 from the foundation of
the city of Rome ;
In the 42nd year of the reign of the
Emperor Octavian Augustus ;
In the 6th age of the world, while
the whole earth was at peace, Jesus
Christ, Himself Eternal God and Son
of the Eternal Father, being pleased to
hallow the world by His most gracious
coming, having been conceived of the
Holy Ghost, and when nine months
were passed after His conception,
{all kneel down)
was born of the Virgin Mary at Beth-
lehem of Juda made Man, our Lord
Jesus Christ was born according to
the flesh.
{All rise and sit.)
Upon the same 25 th day of Decem-
ber, were born into the better life —
At Rome, in the Apronian cemetery,
the holy virgin Eugenia, who in the
time of the Emperor Gallienus, after
many works of power, and after enlist-
ing bands of sacred virgins for Christ,
suffered long under Nicetius, Prefect of
the city, and at length was slain with
the sword [about 258].
At Nicomedia, many thousand holy
martyrs. Upon the feast of Christ's
birth they had come together unto the
Lord's house, and the Emperor Diocle-
tian ordered the doors of the church
to be shut, and all things made ready
for fire round about it ; then he set a
tripod and incense in front of the door,
and sent an herald to proclaim in a
loud voice that whosoever would escape
burning should come forth arid offer
incense unto Jupiter. Whereunto they
all replied with one voice, that they
would far rather die for Christ's sake,
whereupon he kindled the fire and they
were consumed, and were born in
heaven upon that same day where-
upon it had pleased Christ to be born
into this world to save it.
At Barcelona, in Spain [in the year
1 2 56], the holy confessor Peter Nolasco,
founder of the Order of the Blessed
Virgin Mary of Ransom for the re-
demption of captives. He was famous
for his graces and miracles, and
Alexander VIII. commanded his
feast to be kept upon the last day
of January.
Chapter at the end. (Rom. i. 5.)
"DY Whom we have received grace
and Apostleship, for obedience
to the faith among all nations, by His
name, among whom are ye also the
called of our Lord Jesus Christ.
270
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
TERCE.
Antiphon. This day ye shall know,
* &c, {Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
This day ye shall know that the
Lord cometh.
Answer. This day ye shall know
that the Lord cometh.
Verse. And in the morning, then
ye shall see His glory.
Answer. That the Lord cometh.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. This day ye shall know
that the Lord cometh.
Verse. Stand ye still.
Answer. And ye shall see the
salvation of the LORD with you.
Prayer as at Lauds.
SEXT.
Antiphon. On the morrow, * &c,
( Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Rom. i. 4.)
V\/"HO is declared to be the Son of
God with power, according to
the spirit of holiness, by the resur-
rection of our Lord JESUS Christ from
the dead.
Short Responsory.
On the morrow the sins of the earth
shall be washed away.
Answer. On the morrow the sins
of the earth shall be washed away.
Verse. And the Saviour of the
world will be our King.
Answer. The sins of the earth
shall be washed away.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. On the morrow the sins
of the earth shall be washed away.
Verse. On the morrow ye shall be
saved.
Answer. Saith the Lord God of
hosts.
Prayer as at Lauds.
NONE.
Antiphon. On the morrow, * &c,
{Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory. •
On the morrow ye shall be saved.
Answer. On the morrow ye shall
be saved.
Verse. Saith the Lord God of
hosts.
Answer. Ye shall be saved.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. On the morrow ye shall
be saved.
Verse. On the morrow the sins of
the earth shall be washed away.
Answer. And the Saviour of the
world will be our King.
Prayer as at Lauds.
The Feast begins at sunset.
From henceforth until the Epiphany,
the last verse of all the hymns at
Prime, Terce, Sext, None, and Com-
pline, is altered in honour of the
Incarnation.
271
Pule or Christmas ISag,
£fte Btrt^Hag 1 of the Eorb.
Double of the First Class, with an Octave.
Everything as on Sundays except
what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
First Antiphon. King Peaceful ex-
ceeded all the kings of the earth, and
all the earth sought to Peaceful.2
Second Antiphon. King Peaceful
exceeded all the kings of the whole
earth.
Third Antiphon. 3 The days of
Mary were accomplished that she
should bring forth her first-born Son.
Fourth Antiphon. 4 Know ye that
the kingdom of God is at hand : Amen
I say unto you, it will not tarry.
Fifth Antiphon. 5 Lift up your
heads : behold, your redemption
draweth nigh.
Psalm CXVI.
O praise the Lord, &c, {p. 186.)
Chapter. (Tit. iii. 4.)
'T'HE kindness and love of God our
Saviour appeared, not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but
Hymn.6
JESUS, the Ransomer of man,
Who, ere created light began,
Didst from the Sovereign Father spring,
His power and glory equalling.
Thou brightness of Thy Father's rays,
Thou hope and end of all our ways :
With gracious ears the prayers attend,
Which round the world to Thee ascend.
Remember, Lord, that heretofore,
When Thee Thy Virgin Mother bore,
Thou from her womb didst breathe our air,
And human nature for us bear.
To Thee, this present solemn day,
We yearly adorations pay ;
The world's Redeemer Thee we own,
Descending from Thy Father's throne.
The joyful heavens, earth and main,
With whatsoever they contain,
In new, harmonious accents sing
New life restored by the new-born King.
We, ransomed by that bloody tide,
That issued from Thy sacred side,
With double hymns of heart and voice,
For this Thy natal day rejoice.
To Jesus, from a Virgin sprung,
Be glory given, and praises sung :
The like to God the Father be,
And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.
Verse. On the morrow the sins of
according to His mercy He saved us. the earth shall be washed away.
1 Nativitas.
2 This passage is in 3 (1) Kings x. 23, 24, and relates to Solomon, but by translating his
name, which, in the Hebrew, means " Peaceful," it is made to apply to Christ the true " Prince
of Peace." 3 Luke ii. 6, 7. 4 Luke xxi. 31. 5 Luke xxi. 28.
6 This hymn, except the last verse, is of the Ambrosian school, though altered almost beyond
recognition : the translation is extracted from the " Hortus Animse."
272
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Answer. And the Saviour of the
world will be our King.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. x Or ever the sun be risen,
ye shall see the King of kings coming
forth from the Father, as a bridegroom
out of his chamber.
Prayer as at the following Lands.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. 2 Unto us a Christ is
born : * O come, let us worship Him.
Hymn as at Vespers.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. The Lord hath
said unto Me : * Thou art My Son,
this day have I begotten Thee.
Psalm II.
Why do the heathen rage ? &c,
(A 4-)
Second Antiphon. The Lord is as
a bridegroom * coming out of his
chamber.
Psalm XVIII.
The heavens declare, &c. {p. 17.)
Third Antiphon. Grace is poured
into Thy lips : * therefore God hath
blessed Thee for ever.
Psalm XLIV.
Mine heart is overflowing, &c, {p.
96.)
Verse. The Lord is as a bride-
groom.
Answer. Coming out of his cham-
ber.
First Lesson. 3 (Isa. ix. 1.)
A T the first He lightly afflicted the
land of Zabulon and the land
of Naphtali : and afterward did more
grievously afflict the way of the sea,
beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gen-
tiles. The people that walked in
darkness have seen a great light :
they that dwell in the land of the
shadow of death, upon them hath
the light shined. Thou hast multi-
plied the nation and 4 not increased
the joy. They shall joy before Thee
according to the joy in harvest, as
men rejoice when they divide the
spoil. For Thou hast broken the
yoke of his burden, and the staff
of his shoulder, and the rod of his
oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
For every battle of the warrior is
with confused noise, and garments
rolled in blood, and it shall be with
burning and fuel of fire. For unto
us a Child is born, and unto us a
Son is given : and the government
is upon His shoulder, and His name
shall be called Wonderful, Counsel-
lor, The Mighty God, The Ever-
lasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
First Responsory.
This is the day whereon the King of
heaven was pleased to be born of a
Virgin, that He might bring back to
heaven man who was lost. There is
joy among the hosts of Angels, be-
cause eternal salvation hath appeared
unto men.
Verse. 5 Glory to God in the high-
est, and on earth peace, to men of
goodwill.6
Answer. There is joy among the
1 Cf. Ps. xviii. s Cf. Isa. ix. 6.
3 But the title is not given out. Lowth translates the first words : " In the former time He
debased the land of Zabulon, &c," (referring to the invasion under Tiglath Pileser,) "but in
the latter time He hath made it glorious, even the way of the sea, &c."
4 The Hebrew tradition, accepted by Lowth, attributes the negative to an eccentric spelling,
and translates : " and increased their joy."
5 Luke ii. 14. 6 [x> the objects of God's good-will.
YULE OR CHRISTMAS DAY.
273
hosts of Angels, because eternal sal-
vation hath appeared unto men.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. This is the day whereon
the King of heaven was pleased to
be born of a Virgin, that He might
bring back to heaven man who was
lost. There is joy among the hosts
of Angels, because eternal salvation
hath appeared unto men.
Second Lesson. l (Isa. xl. 1.)
/^OMFORT ye, comfort ye, My
people, saith your God. Speak
ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry
unto her that her warfare is accom-
plished, that her iniquity is pardoned ;
for she hath received of the Lord's
hand double for all her sins. The
voice of him that crieth in the wilder-
ness : Prepare ye the way of the
Lord, make straight in the desert
an highway for our God. Every
valley shall be exalted, and every
mountain and hill shall be made
low : and the crooked shall be made
straight, and the rough places plain.
And the glory of the Lord shall
be revealed, and all flesh shall see
it together ; for the mouth of the
Lord hath spoken it. The voice
said, Cry. And I said : What shall
I cry ? All flesh is grass, and all
the goodliness thereof is as the flower
of the field. The grass withereth and
the flower fadeth, because the spirit
of the LORD bloweth upon it : surely
the people is grass. The grass with-
ereth and the flower fadeth : but the
word of our 2 Lord endureth for ever.
Second Responsory.
This day is the true peace come
down unto us from heaven. This
day throughout the whole world the
skies drop down sweetness.
Verse. This day is the daybreak
of our new redemption, of the re-
storing of the old, of everlasting
joy.
Answer. This day throughout the
whole world the skies drop down
sweetness.
Third Lesson. x (Isa. Hi. 1.)
A WAKE, awake, put on thy strength,
O Zion : put on thy beautiful gar-
ments, O Jerusalem, thou city of the
Holy One ! for henceforth there shall
no more come into thee the uncircum-
cised and the unclean. Shake thyself
from the dust, arise, sit down, O Jeru-
salem : loose thyself from the bands of
thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion !
For thus saith the Lord : Ye have
sold yourselves for nought, and ye
shall be redeemed without money.
For thus saith the Lord 3 God : My
people went down aforetime into
Egypt? to sojourn there : and the
Assyrian oppressed them without
cause. Now, therefore, what have
I here, saith the LORD, that My
people is taken away for nought ?
They that rule over them do evil,
saith the LORD, and My name con-
tinually every day is blasphemed.
Therefore My people shall know My
Name in that day : they shall know
that I am He That spake, behold,
it is I.
Third Responsory.
O ye shepherds, speak, and tell us
what ye have seen ; who is appeared
in the earth ? We saw the new-born
Child, and Angels singing praise to
the Lord.
Verse. Speak ; what have ye seen ?
And tell us of the Birth of Christ.
Answer. We saw the new-born
1 Not given out.
2 Hebrew, "our God."
3 The Divine Name.
274
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Child, and Angels singing praise to
the Lord.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. We saw the new-born
Child, and Angels singing praise to
the Lord.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. We have drunk
in Thy loving-kindness, * O God,
in the midst of Thy temple.
Psalm XLVII.
Great is the Lord, &c, (p. 98.)
Second Antiphon. In the Lord's
days * shall abundance of peace arise
and flourish.
Psalm LXXI.
Give the king Thy judgment, &c,
(p. 126.)
Third Antiphon. Truth is sprung
out of the earth, * and righteousness
hath looked down from heaven.
Psalm LXXXIV.
Lord, Thou hast been favourable,
&c, {p. 1 43-)
Verse. x Thou art fairer than the
children of men.
Answer. Grace is poured into thy
lips.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of Pope St Leo [the Great,] (1st for
Christmas. )
T^\EARLY beloved brethren, " Unto
us is born this day a Saviour,"
(Luke ii. 11.) Let us rejoice. It
would be unlawful to be sad to-day,
for to - day is Life's Birthday : the
Birthday of that Life, Which, for
us dying creatures, taketh away the
sting of death, and bringeth the
bright promise of the eternal glad-
ness hereafter. It would be unlaw-
ful for any man to refuse to partake
in our rejoicing. All men have an
equal share in the great cause of
our joy, for, since our Lord, Who
is the destroyer of sin and of death,
findeth that all are bound under the
condemnation, He is come to make
all free. Rejoice, O thou that art
holy, thou drawest nearer to thy
crown ! Rejoice, O thou that art
sinful, thy Saviour offereth thee par-
don ! Rejoice also, O thou Gentile,
God calleth thee to life ! For the
Son of God, when the fulness of the
time was come, which had been fixed
by the unsearchable counsel of God,
took upon Him the nature of man,
that He might reconcile that nature
to Him Who made it, and so the
devil, the inventor of death, is met
and beaten in that very flesh which
hath been the field of his victory.
Fourth Responsory.
How great is this mystery, how
wonderful is the teaching of the faith !
The beasts saw the new-born Lord
lying in a manger. Blessed is that
Virgin whose womb was made meet
to bear our Lord Christ.
Verse. Hail, Mary, full of grace :
the Lord is with thee.
Answer. Blessed is that Virgin
whose womb was made meet to bear
our Lord Christ.
Fifth Lesson.
\ \T HEN our Lord entered the field
of battle against the devil, He
did so with a great and wonderful
1 Ps. xliv. 3.
YULE OR CHRISTMAS DAY.
275
fairness. Being Himself the Almighty,
He laid aside His uncreated Majesty
to fight with our cruel enemy in our
weak flesh. He brought against him
the very shape, the very nature of our
mortality, "yet without sin." (Heb.
iv. 15.) His birth however was not
a birth like other births — for no other
is born pure, nay, not the little child
whose life endureth but a day on the
earth.1 To His birth alone the throes
of human passion had not contributed,
in His alone no consequence of sin
had had -part. For His Mother was
chosen a Virgin of the kingly lineage
of David, and when she was to grow
heavy with the sacred Child, her soul
had already conceived Him before her
body. She knew the counsel of God
announced to her by the Angel, lest
the unwonted events should alarm
her. The future Mother of God knew
what was to be wrought in her by the
Holy Ghost, and that her modesty was
absolutely safe.
Fifth Responsory.
Blessed "is God's holy Mother,
Mary, maiden undefiled. This day
hath she brought forth the Saviour
of the world.
Verse. 2 Blessed is she that be-
lieved ; for there is a performance of
all those things which were told her
from the Lord.
Answer. This day hath she
brought forth the Saviour of the
world.
Sixth Lesson.
THEREFORE, dearly beloved bre-
thren, let us give thanks to
God the Father, through His Son, in
the Holy Ghost: Who, "for His great
love wherewith He loved us," hath
had mercy on us : and, " even when
we were dead in sins, hath quickened
us together with Christ," (Eph. ii. 4,
5,) that in Him we might be a new
creature, and a new workmanship.
Let us then put off the old man with
his deeds (Col. iii. 9) ; and, having
obtained a share in the Sonship of
Christ, let us renounce the deeds of
the flesh. Learn, O Christian, how
great thou art, who hast been made
partaker of the Divine nature, (2 Pet.
i. 4,) and fall not again by corrupt
conversation into the beggarly ele-
ments above which thou art lifted.
Remember Whose Body it is Whereof
thou art made a member, and Who
is its Head, (1 Cor. vi. 15.) Re-
member that it is He That hath
delivered thee from the power of
darkness aijd hath translated thee
into God's light, and God's king-
dom, (Col. i. 13.)
Sixth Responsory.
O Mary, how holy and how spotless
is thy virginity — I am too dull to
praise thee ! For thou hast borne in
thy breast Him Whom the heavens
cannot contain.3
Verse. Blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the fruit of
thy womb.
Answer. For thou hast borne in
thy breast Him Whom the heavens
cannot contain.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. For thou hast borne in
thy breast Him Whom the heavens
cannot contain.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. He shall cry unto
Me, (Alleluia) * Thou art My Father,
(Alleluia.)
1 Job xiv. 4. (LXX.)
2 Luke i. 45.
3 3 (1) Kings viii. 27.
276
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Psalm LXXXVIII.
I will sing of the mercies, &c, (fi.
I45-)
Second Antiphon. Let the heavens
rejoice, * and let the earth be glad
before the Lord, for He cometh.
Psalm XCV.
O sing unto the Lord, &c, (p. 148.)
Third Antiphon. The Lord hath
made known, (Alleluia,) * His salva-
tion, (Alleluia.)
Psalm XCV//.
O sing unto the Lord, &c.,(p. 157.)
Verse. He shall cry unto Me,
(Alleluia.)
Answer. Thou art My Father,
(Alleluia.)
Seventh Blessing.
May the Gospel's saving Lord
Bless the reading of His Word.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (ii. 1.)
A T that time : There went out a
■^"^ decree from Caesar Augustus
that all the world should be enrolled.
And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great,] (8th on the Gospels.)
By God's mercy we are to say three
Masses to-day, so that there is not
much time left for preaching ; but at
the same time the occasion of the
Lord's Birth-day itself obliges me to
speak a few words. I will first ask
why, when the Lord was to be born,
the world was enrolled ? Was it not
to herald the appearing of Him by
Whom the elect are enrolled in the
book of life ? Whereas the Prophet
saith of the reprobate : " Let them
be blotted out of the book of the
living, and not be written with the
righteous." (Ps. lxviii. 29.) Then,
the Lord is born in Bethlehem. Now
the name Bethlehem signifieth " the
House of Bread," and thus it is the
birth-place of Him Who hath said,
" I am the Living Bread, Which came
down from heaven." (John vi. 51.)
We see then that this name of Bethle-
hem was prophetically given to the
place where Christ was born, .because
it was there that He was to appear
in the flesh by Whom the souls of
the faithful are fed unto life eternal.
He was born, not in His Mother's
house, but away from home. And
this is a mystery, showing that this
our mortality into which He was born
was not the home of Him Who is
begotten of the Father before the
worlds.
Seventh Responsory.
Blessed be the womb of the Virgin
Mary, which bore the Son of the
Eternal Father, and blessed be the
paps which give suck to Christ our
Lord. This day hath He been pleased
for the salvation of the world to be
born of a Virgin.
Verse. This day which is breaking
is holy : O come, ye Gentiles, and
worship the Lord.
Answer. This day hath He been
pleased for the salvation of the world
to be born of a Virgin.
Eighth Blessing.
May the Gospel's glorious word,
Cleansing to our souls afford.
YULE OR CHRISTMAS DAY.
277
Eighth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (ii. 1 5.)
A T that time : The shepherds said
-**" one to another : Let us now go
even unto Bethlehem, and see this
thing which is come to pass, which
the Lord hath made known unto us.
And so on.
Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop [of
Milan,] {Book ii. on Luke ii.)
Behold the beginning of the Church.
Christ is born, and the shepherds
watch ; shepherds, to gather together
the scattered sheep of the Gentiles,
and to lead them into the fold of
Christ, that they might no longer be
a prey to the ravages of spiritual wolves
in the night of this world's darkness.
And that shepherd is wide awake,
whom the Good Shepherd stirreth up.
The flock then is the people, the night
is the world, and the shepherds are
the Priests. And perhaps he is a
shepherd to whom it is said, " Be
watchful and strengthen," (Apoc. iii.
2,) l for God hath ordained as the
shepherds of His flock not Bishops
only, but also Angels.
Eighth Responsory.
2 The Word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us. And we beheld
His glory, the glory as of the Only-
begotten of the Father, full of grace
and truth.
Verse. All things were made by
Him, and without Him was not any-
thing made.
Answer. And we beheld His
glory, the glory as of the Only -be-
gotten of the Father, full of grace
and truth.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And we beheld His
glory, the glory as of the Only -be-
gotten of the Father, full of grace
and truth.
Ninth Blessing.
Christ That sent the Gospel preacher,
In his meaning be our Teacher.
Ninth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (i. 1.)
T N the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. And so on.
Homily by St Austin, Bishop [of
Hippo,] (1st Tract on John.)
Lest thou shouldest think all things
mean, as thou art accustomed to think
of things human, hear and digest this
— "The Word was God." Now per-
haps there will come forward some
Arian unbeliever, and say that the
Word of God was a creature. How
can the Word of God be a creature,
when it was by the Word that all
creatures were made ? If He be a
creature, then there must have been
some other Word, not a creature, by
which He was made. And what
Word is that ? If thou sayest that it
was by the word of the Word Himself
that He was made, I tell thee that
God had no other, but One Only-
begotten Son. But if thou say not
that it was by the word of the Word
Himself that He was made, thou art
forced to confess that. He by Whom
all things were made was not Himself
made at all. Believe the Gospel.
The Hymn, "We praise thee, O
God, &c." is said.
1 Addressed to the Angel of the Church of Sardis.
VOL. I.
John i. 14, 3.
K
278
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
After this the Service proceeds as
follows : *
Verse. Hear my prayer, O LORD.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
Here follows the Prayer from Lauds,
at the end of which is answered :
Answer. Amen.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O LORD.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Verse. Bless we the Lord.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
In communities the Midnight Mass
is now celebrated, and immediately
afterwards Lauds are begun.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. O ye shepherds,
speak, * and tell us what ye have
seen ; who is appeared in the earth ?
We saw the new - born Child, and
angels singing praise to the Lord.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Second Antiphon. 2 The Mother
brought forth the King, * Whose name
is called The Eternal ; the joy of a
Mother was hers, remaining a Virgin
unsullied ; neither before nor hence-
forth hath there been or shall be such
another. Alleluia.
Third Antiphon. 3 The Angel said
unto the shepherds : * I bring you
good tidings of great joy ; for unto you
is born this day a Saviour of the
world. Alleluia.
Fourth Antiphon. 3 There was with
the Angel a multitude of the heavenly
host, * praising God, and saying :
Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, to men of good will.
Alleluia.
Fifth Antiphon. Unto us this day
a little Child is born, * and His name
shall be called the Mighty God. Alle-
luia, Alleluia.
Chapter. (Heb. i. i.)
/^OD, Who by divers portions and
in divers manners spake in time
past unto the fathers by the Prophets :
hath in these last days spoken unto us
by His Son, Whom He hath appointed
heir of all things, by Whom also He
made the worlds.
Hymn.*
pROM where the sunrise had its birth,
■*• Unto the farthest bounds of earth,
The Virgin Mary's Child we sing,
With notes of gladness, Christ the King.
Blest Maker of the world, He came
And clad Him in a servant's frame,
Our flesh with His own Flesh to aid,
Lest those should perish whom He made.
His Mother pure becomes the place
Wherein abides celestial grace,
She bears within her maiden breast
A secret by herself unguessed.
Soon rises in that modest shrine
The Temple of the Lord Divine :
The stainless and unwedded one
Within her womb conceived the Son.
Him in that wondrous birth she bore
Whom Gabriel announced before ;
Whom John while yet unborn perceived,
And, leaping in the womb, believed.
On hay reclined, the Lord Most High,
Within a manger deigned to lie :
And He who feeds the birds of air
Vouchsafed a little milk to share.
The Heavenly choirs now rejoice,
The Angels lift to God their voice,
The Shepherd Who the world hath made
Before the shepherds lies displayed.
1 But if there is to be no Mass, Lauds are begun at once.
2 This Antiphon has a sort of rhythm like Hexameters, which has been preserved in the
translation. 3 Luke ii. io, 13, 14.
4 Hymn attributed to Ccelius Sedulius, a poet of the fifth century. It is slightly altered.
The translation is by the Rev. Dr Littledale. In the original, and in the Breviary, the verses
begin with A, B, C, D, E, F, G, respectively.
YULE OR CHRISTMAS DAY.
279
O Lord, from spotless Virgin sprung,
All glory unto Thee be sung,
To Father, and to Spirit be
Like honour paid eternally. Amen.
Verse. The Lord hath made known.
— Alleluia.
Answer. His salvation. Alleluia.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Glory to God in the highest, * and on
earth peace, to men of good-will. Al-
leluia, Alleluia.
Prayer throughout the Office.
/^RANT, we beseech Thee, Almighty
^^ God, that we who groan under
the burthen of our sins, may, by the
new Birth of Thine Only-begotten Son
in the flesh, mercifully be freed and
delivered. Through the Same our
Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
PRIME.
Prime is said at dawn.
Antiphon. O ye shepherds, &c,
{First Antiphon at Lauds.)
In the short Responsory instead of
the Verse " Thou That sittest at the
right hand of the Father," is said:
Verse. Thou That wast born of the
Virgin Mary.
And the same alteration is made
every day till Twelfth Day.
Martyrology.
On the 26th day of December, was
born into the higher life —
At Jerusalem, holy Stephen, the
first Martyr. He was stoned by the
Jews not long after the Ascension of
the Lord.
At Rome, holy Marinus, of the
Senatorial order. He was arrested
under the Emperor Numerian and the
Praefect Marcian, on the charge of
being a Christian. He was tortured
as they used to do to slaves, on the
rack and with iron claws. They threw
him into a furnace, but the fire was
turned into dew, and he was delivered.
He was thrown to wild beasts, but
they left him unharmed. He was
led again to the altar, and, when he
prayed, the idols fell down. Then
they smote him with the sword, and
he became more than conqueror
through up-lifting of his testimony.
Likewise, at Rome, on this day was
laid to sleep [in the year 269] beside
the Appian Road the holy Pope Denys,
who worked hard for the Church, and
is a bright ensample of faith.
At the same place [in the year
417], the holy Pope and confessor
Zosimus.
In Mesopotamia, the holy Bishop
Archelaus, well known for his teaching
and holiness.
At Verona [in the year 380], holy
Bishop Zeno.
At Rome, holy Theodore, the cham-
berlain of St Peter's church, of whom
mention is made by blessed Pope
Gregory.
And in divers places an exceeding
great multitude of holy Martyrs and
Confessors and holy Virgins.
Chapter at the end. (Heb. i. 11.)
'"THEY shall perish, but Thou re-
mainest, and they all shall wax
old as doth a garment, and as a
vesture shalt Thou change them, and
they shall be changed : but Thou art
the Same, and Thy years shall not
fail.
In Co7)imunities the Dawn Mass is
now celebrated.
28o
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
TERCE.
Antiphon. The Mother, &c,
{Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
The Word was made flesh. Alle-
luia, Alleluia.
Answer. The Word was made
flesh. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. And dwelt among us.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. The Word was made
flesh. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. He shall cry unto Me, —
Alleluia.
Answer. Thou art My Father. Al-
leluia.
SEXT.
Antiphon. The Angel said, &c,
{Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Heb. i. 10.)
AND: Thou, Lord, in the begin-
"^^ ning hast laid the foundation of
the earth, and the heavens are the
works of Thine hands.
Short Responsory.
The LORD hath made known. Al-
leluia, Alleluia.
Answer. The Lord hath made
known. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. His salvation.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. The Lord hath made
known. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. All the ends of the earth
have seen — Alleluia.
Answer. The salvation of our God.
Alleluia.
NONE.
Antiphon. Unto us this day, &c.r
{Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
All the ends of the earth have seen,
— Alleluia, Alleluia.
Answer. All the ends of the earth
have seen, — Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. The salvation of our God.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. The Word was made flesh.
Alleluia.
Answer. And dwelt among us.
Alleluia.
second vespers.
First Antiphon. Thine shall be the
dominion in the day of Thy power,
amid the brightness of the saints : *
from the womb before the day-star
have I begotten Thee.
Second Antiphon. The Lord sent re-
demption unto His people, * He hath
commanded His covenant for ever.
Third Antiphon. Unto the upright
there ariseth light in the darkness : *
the Lord is gracious, and full of com-
passion, and righteous.
Fourth Antiphon. With the Lord
there is mercy, * and with Him is
plenteous redemption.
Psalm CXXIX.
Out of the depths, &c, {p. 91).
Fifth Antiphon. Of the fruit of thy
body * will I set upon thy throne.
Psalm CXXXL.
Lord, remember David, &c, {p.
193)-
Chapter and Verse and Answer from
Lauds.
Hymn as at the First Vespers.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. This day the Christ is born :
ST STEPHEN S DAY.
281
this day the Saviour is appeared : *
this day the Angels sing praise in the
earth and the Archangels rejoice : this
day the righteous are glad and say :
Glory to God in the highest. Alleluia.
Commemoration of St Stephen.
Antiphon. l And Stephen, full of
grace and power, did great wonders
among the people.
Verse. Thou hast 2 crowned him
with glory and honour, O Lord.
Answer. And madest him to have
dominion over the works of Thy
hands.
Let us pray.
r* RANT, O Lord, that we may have
^^ grace to tread in his footsteps
whom we honour, and learn to love
and bless our enemies by the ex-
ample of Thy First Martyr Stephen,
who prayed even for his murderers to
JESUS Christ, Thy Son; Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
Dec. 26.
&t Stephen's Bag,
The Feast of St Stephen the First
Martyr.
Double of the Second Class, with an
Octave.
All from the Common Office for one
Martyr except what is otherwise given
here.
MATTINS.
Invitatory.
3 He That once a little Child,
Shivering in the manger lay,
Set on Stephen's blessed head
A crown that fadeth not away.
* O come, let us worship Him !
1 Acts vi. 8. 2 The name Stephen means
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Acts of
the Apostles (vi. 2.)
T N those days, when the number of
the disciples was multiplied, there
arose a murmuring of the Grecians
against the Hebrews, because their
widows were neglected in the daily
ministration. Then the twelve called
the multitude of the disciples unto
them, and said : It is not reasonable
that we should leave the Word of
God, and serve tables. Wherefore,
brethren, look ye out among you
seven men of honest report, full of
the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom
we may appoint over this business.
But we will give ourselves continually
to prayer, and to the ministry of the
word.
First Responsory.
And Stephen, full of grace and
power, did great wonders and miracles
among the people.
Verse. There arose certain of the
synagogue, disputing with Stephen ;
and they were not able to resist the
wisdom, and the Spirit which spake.
Answer. Did great wonders and
miracles among the people.
Second Lesson.
AND the saying pleased the whole
"^^ multitude. And they chose Ste-
phen, a man full of faith and of the
Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Pro-
chorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and
Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of
Antioch. Whom they set before the
Apostles : and when they had prayed,
they laid their hands on them. And
the word of God increased ; and the
multitude of the disciples multiplied
in Jerusalem greatly ; and a great
wn. 3 The original has a rhyme.
282
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
multitude of the priests were obedient
to the faith. And Stephen, full of
grace and power, did great wonders
and miracles among the people.
Second Responsory.
1 All that sat in the council, looking
steadfastly on Stephen, saw his face
as it had been the face of an angel
standing among them.
Verse. Full of grace and power, he
did great wonders and miracles among
the people.
Answer. His face as it had been
the face of an angel standing among
them.
Third Lesson.
/T,HEN there arose certain of the
synagogue, which is called the
synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyre-
nians, and Alexandrians, and of them
of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with
Stephen. And they were not able
to resist the wisdom and the Spirit
which spake. Then they suborned
men, which said they had heard him
speak blasphemous words against Moses
and against God. And they stirred up
the people, and the elders, and the
scribes ; and came upon him, and
caught him, and brought him to the
council, and set up false witnesses,
which said : This man ceaseth not to
speak words against this holy place,
and the law.
Third Responsory.
2 The blessed Stephen looked up
steadfastly into heaven, and saw the
glory of God, and said : — Behold, I
see the heavens opened, and the Son
i Acts vi. 15. 2 Acts vii. 55.
3 Now called Alfaques, in the district of Tunis, in North Africa. The Martyrology (Jan. 1)
says that "in the persecution by the Vandals he suffered much for the Catholic faith, and, on
account of his great learning, was banished by the Arians into the isle of Sardinia ; but, after-
ward permitted to return to his Bishopric, renowned for his life and preaching, made an holy
end." Born, a.d. 468. Died, 533.
of Man standing at the right hand of
the power of God.
Verse. But Stephen, being full of
the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly
into heaven, and saw the glory of God,
and said : —
Answer. Behold, I see the heavens
opened, and the Son of man standing
at the right hand of the power of
God.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Behold, I see the heavens
opened, and the Son of Man standing
at the right hand of the power of God.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St Fulgentius, Bishop [of Ruspa.] 3
{On St Stephen.)
'yESTERDAY we were celebrating
the birth in time of our Eternal
King ; to-day we celebrate the vic-
tory, through suffering, of one of His
soldiers. Yesterday our King was
pleased to come forth from His royal
palace of the Virgin's womb, clothed
in a robe of flesh, to visit the world ;
to-day His soldier, laying aside the
tabernacle of the body, entereth in
triumph into the heavenly palaces.
The One, preserving unchanged that
glory of the Godhead which He had
before the world was, girded Himself
with the form of a servant, and en-
tered the arena of this world to fight
sin ; the other taketh off the garments
of this corruptible body, and entereth
into the heavenly mansions, where he
will reign for ever. The One cometh
ST STEPHEN'S DAY.
283
down, veiled in flesh ; the other goeth
up, clothed in a robe of glory, red
with blood.
Fourth Responsory.
1 They stoned Stephen, calling upon
God and saying : Lord JESUS Christ,
receive my spirit ; and lay not this sin
to their charge.
Verse. And he kneeled down, and
cried with a loud voice, saying : —
Answer. Lord JESUS Christ, re-
ceive my spirit ; and lay not this sin
to their charge.
Fifth Lesson.
XHE One cometh down amid the
jubilation of angels ; the other
goeth up amid the stoning of the
Jews. Yesterday the holy angels were
singing, " Glory to God in the high-
est ; " to-day there is joy among them,
for they receive Stephen into their
company. Yesterday the Lord came
forth from the Virgin's womb ; to-day
His soldier is delivered from the prison
of the body. Y'esterday Christ was
for our sakes wrapped in swaddling
bands ; to - day He girdeth Stephen
with a robe of immortality. Yester-
day the new-born Christ lay in a
narrow manger ; to-day Stephen en-
tereth victorious into the boundless
heavens. The Lord came down alone
that He might raise many up ; our
King humbled Himself that He might
set His soldiers in high places.
Fifth Responsory.
2 They ran upon him with one ac-
cord, and cast him out of the city,
calling upon God, and saying : Lord
JESUS, receive my spirit.
Verse. And the witnesses laid
down their clothes at a young man's
1 Acts vii. 59, 60.
feet, whose name was Saul ; and they
stoned Stephen, calling upon God,
and saying : —
Answer. Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit.
Sixth Lesson.
ly/fY brethren, it behoveth us to con-
sider with what arms Stephen
was able, amid all the cruelty of the
Jews, to remain more than conqueror,
and worthily to attain to so blessed
a triumph. Stephen, in that struggle
which brought him to the crown
whereof his name is a prophecy, had
for armour the love of God and man,
and by it he remained victorious on
all hands. The love of God strength-
ened him against the cruelty of the
Jews ; and the love of his neighbour
made him pray even for his murderers.
Through love he rebuked the wander-
ing, that they might be corrected ;
through love he prayed for them that
stoned him, that they might not be
punished. By the might of his love
he overcame Saul his cruel persecutor ;
and earned for a comrade in heaven,
the very man who had done him to
death upon earth.
Sixth Responsory.
The ungodly fell upon the righteous,
to put him to death. But he received
the stones with joy, that he might earn
a crown of glory.
Verse. They stopped their ears,
and ran upon him with one accord.
Answer. But he received the
stones with joy, that he might earn
a crown of glory.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. But he received the
stones with joy, that he might earn
a crown of glory.
2 Acts vii. 56-58.
284
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (xxiii.
34-)
A T that time : Jesus said unto the
Scribes and Pharisees : Behold,
I send unto you Prophets, and wise
men, and Scribes ; and some of them
ye shall kill and crucify. And so on.
Homily on this passage by St
Jerome, Priest [at Bethlehem.] (Bk.
iv. Commentary on Matth. xxiii.)
We have already remarked that the
Lord's words, " Fill ye up the measure
of your fathers," (32,) refer in the first
place to Himself, Whom the Jews
afterwards put to death. In a second-
ary sense it may likewise be applied
to His disciples, of whom He saith,
" Behold, I send unto you Prophets,
and wise men, and Scribes." Here
observe that, according to the Apostle
writing to the Corinthians, (1 Cor. xii.
4,) there are diversities of gifts among
Christ's followers. Some are Prophets
of that which is to come ; some are
wise men, who know the due season
for rebuke and exhortation ; some are
Scribes learned in the law. And of
these they stoned Stephen, slew Paul
with the sword, crucified Peter, and
scourged the Disciples mentioned in
the Acts of the Apostles. (v. 40 ;
xvi. 23.)
Seventh Responsory.
Stephen, the servant of God, who
was stoned by the Jews, saw the
heavens opened : he saw and entered
in. Blessed is he, unto whom the
heavens were opened.
Verse. While his poor body was
crushed by the hurtling shower of
stones, God's brightness broke upon
him out of the heavenly palaces.
Answer. Blessed is he unto whom
the heavens were opened.
Eighth Lesson.
T T is a subject of dispute among
commentators who is meant by
Zacharias the son of Barachias. We
read of several persons of the name
of Zacharias. But here, in order to
prevent any mistake, it is particularly
said, " Whom ye slew between the
temple and the altar." I have read
various opinions in various places upon
this question, and I will give each.
First, some hold that Zacharias the
son of Barachias is the eleventh of
the twelve Minor Prophets ; and this
opinion is supported by the father's
name. But the Bible nowhere telleth
us that this Prophet was slain between
the temple and the altar ; and it is
hardly possible that he can have been,
for in his time it could scarcely be
said that even the ruins of the temple
were in existence. Secondly, others
maintain that this Zacharias was
Zacharias, the father of John the
Baptist. This interpretation is de-
rived from the dreams of the Apocry-
phal Gospels, wherein it is asserted
that he was martyred for preaching
Christ's coming.
Eighth Responsory.
The gates of heaven were opened
to Christ's blessed martyr Stephen,
and he is the first of all the martyrs.
Wherefore he reigneth crowned in
heaven.
Verse. For he was the first to
make an offering of his death to that
Saviour Who vouchsafed to suffer
death for us.
Answer. Wherefore he reigneth
crowned in heaven.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
ST STEPHEN'S DAY.
285
Answer. Wherefore he reigneth
crowned in heaven.
Ninth Lesson.
A THIRD school will have it that this
■^"^ Zacharias, the son of Barachias,
was that Zacharias of whom we read,
in 2 Chron. xxiv. 22, that he was
slain by Joash, king of Judah, between
the temple and the altar. Against
this it is to be remarked, that that
Zacharias was not the son of Barachias,
but of Jehoiada the priest ; whence it
is written, " Joash remembered not
the kindness which Jehoiada his father
had done to him." The question
therefore ariseth, if this opinion be
true, why, the name and manner of
death both agreeing with this explana-
tion, Zacharias is called the son, not
of Jehoiada, but of Barachias. In
Hebrew, Barachias signifieth the
Blessed of the Lord, and Jehoiada
proves his Righteousness. In the
Gospel used by the Nazarenes the
name of Jehoiada is used instead of
Barachias.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. l They stoned
Stephen, * calling upon God, and
saying : Lay not this sin to their
charge.
Second Antiphon. The stones of
the brook * were sweet to him : all
the souls of the righteous follow him.
Third Antiphon. O my God, my
soul followeth hard after Thee, * for
my flesh hath been stoned for Thy
sake.
Fourth Antiphon. Stephen saw the
heavens opened ; * he saw and en-
tered in : blessed is he unto whom the
heavens were opened.
Fifth Antiphon. 2 Behold, I see *
the heavens opened, and JESUS stand-
ing on the right hand of the power of
God.
Chapter. (Acts vi. 8.)
A ND Stephen, full of grace and
*^^ power, did great wonders and
miracles among the people.
Verse. 3 Devout men carried Ste-
phen to his burial.
Answer. And made great lamen-
tation over him.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias,
and Prayer throughout the Office from
the Cotmnemoration of the preceding
evening.
Commemoration of Christmas fro?n
the Lauds of yesterday.
PRIME.
Antiphon. They stoned Stephen,
&c, {First Antiphon at Lauds.)
Ln the Short Responsory the same
alteration as yesterday.
Martyrology.
Upon the 27th day of December
were born into the better life —
At Ephesus, the holy Apostle and
Evangelist John. After the writing of
his Gospel after his return from exile,
and after the Revelation which God
gave unto him, he lived on until the
time of the Emperor Trajan, and
founded and governed the churches of
all Asia. He died of old age in the
sixty-eighth year after the death of
Christ [about the year 101], and was
buried hard by the city of Ephesus.
At Alexandria, holy Maximus, Pope
of that See, who was eminently worthy
to be called a confessor [in the year
282].
At Constantinople the holy brethren
Theodore [Grapt] and Theophanes.
They were bred up from their child-
hood in the monastery of St Saba, and
afterwards stoutly contended for the
honouring of holy images against the
1 Acts vii. 58, 59.
VOL I.
2 Acts vii. 55.
8 Acts viii. 2.
K 2
286
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Emperor Leo the Armenian, for the
which he caused them to be beaten
and sent into exile, and after his death
they still stoutly withstood the Emperor
Theophilus, who was held captive by
the same ungodliness, for the which he
also caused them to be again beaten
and driven into exile. Theodore died
in prison, but Theophanes, after that
peace was given back to the Church,
was made Bishop of Nice, and fell
asleep in peace in the Lord [ninth cen-
tury].
Likewise, at Constantinople, the
holy virgin Niceras, who was emi-
nent for her holiness, in the time of
the Emperor Arcadius [about the
year 440].
Chapter at the end. (Acts vii. 59.)
AND he kneeled down, and cried
"^^ with a loud voice, saying : Lord,
lay not this sin to their charge. And
when he had said this, he fell asleep
in the Lord.
TERCE.
Antiphon. The stones of the brook,
* &c, {Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
SEXT.
NONE.
Antiphon. O my God, &c, ( Third
Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Acts vi. 9.)
'TWEEN there arose certain of the
synagogue of the Libertines, and
Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of
them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing
with Stephen, and they were not able
to resist the wisdom, and the Spirit
which spake.
1 When this is the first or last Prayer, it has, of course, the usual termination, " Through our
Lord, &c."
Antiphon. Behold, I see, * &c,
{Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
VESPERS.
All as the Second Vespers of Christ-
mas, till the Chapter.
Chapter from Lauds.
Verse. Stephen saw the heavens
opened.
Answer. He saw and entered in :
blessed is he unto whom the heavens
were opened.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Devout men carried Stephen
to his burial, and made great lamenta-
tion over him.
Commemoration of St John.
Antiphon. This is that John,
which leaned on the Lord's Breast at
supper ; even that blessed Apostle,
unto whom were made known the
secret things of heaven.
Verse. Very worshipful is blessed
John.
Answer. Which leaned on the
Lord's Breast at supper.
Let us pray.
TV/TERCIFUL Lord, we beseech
Thee to cast Thy bright beams
of light upon Thy Church, that it,
being enlightened by the doctrine of
Thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist
John, may at length attain to the light
of everlasting life.1
Commemoration of Christmas from
the Second Vespers of that day.
ST JOHN'S DAY.
287
Dec. 27.
77^ Feast of St John, Apostle and
Evangelist.
Double of the Second Class, with an
Octave.
All from the Common Office of
Apostles except the following :
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the First Epistle of
the Blessed Apostle John (i. 1.)
PHAT Which was from the begin-
ning, Which we have heard,
Which we have seen with our eyes,
Which we have looked upon, and our
hands have handled, of the Word of
life, (and the Life was manifested, and
we have seen It, and bear witness, and
show unto you that Eternal Life,
Which was with the Father, and was
manifested unto us) That Which we
have seen and heard declare we unto
you, that ye also may have fellowship
with us, and our fellowship be with the
Father, and with His Son JESUS
Christ. And these things we write
unto you that ye may rejoice, and that
your joy may be full. This then is
the message which we have heard
of Him, and declare unto you : That
God is light, and in Him is no dark-
ness at all.
First Responsory.
Very worshipful is blessed John,
which leaned on the Lord's Breast at
supper. To Him did Christ upon the
Cross commit His mother, maiden to
maiden.
Verse. The Lord chose him for his
clean maidenhood, and loved him
more than all the rest.
Answer. To him did Christ upon
the Cross commit His mother, maiden
to maiden.
Second Lesson.
T F we say that we have fellowship
with Him, and walk in darkness,
we lie, and do not the truth. But if
we walk in the light, as He is in the
light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If
we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we
make Him a liar, and His word is not
in us.
Second Responsory.
1 This is the disciple which testifieth
of these things, and wrote these things.
And we know that his testimony is
true.
Verse. He drank in the rivers of
the Gospel from the Lord's Breast as
from an holy fountain.
Answer. And we know that his
testimony is true.
Third Lesson, (ii. 1.)
IV/r Y little children, these things
write I unto you, that ye sin
not. And if any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, JESUS Christ
the righteous : and He is the propitia-
tion for our sins ; and not for ours
only, but also for the sins of the whole
world. And hereby we do know that
we know Him, if we keep His com-
mandments. He that saith, I know
Him, and keepeth not His command-
1 John xxi. 24.
288
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
ments, is a liar, and the truth is not in
him. But whoso keepeth His word,
in him verily is the love of God
perfected.
Third Responsory.
This is that most blessed Evangelist
and Apostle John. Who was found
worthy that the Lord should honour
him more than all the rest, by a
special privilege of love.
Verse. x This is the disciple whom
Jesus loved, which also leaned on the
Lord's Breast at supper.
Answer. Who was found worthy
that the Lord should honour him more
than all the rest, by a special privilege
of love.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Who was found worthy
that the Lord should honour him more
than all the rest, by a special privilege
of love.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book on
Ecclesiastical writers, written by St
Jerome, Priest [at Bethlehem.]
'"THE Apostle John "whom Jesus
loved " was a son of Zebedee,
and brother of the Apostle James, who
was beheaded by Herod soon after our
Lord suffered. He was the last of the
Evangelists to write his Gospel, which
he published at the request of the
Bishops of Asia, against Cerinthus and
other heretics, and particularly against
the then spreading doctrine of the
Ebionites, who asserted that Christ
had had no existence before Mary.
It was therefore needful for the Evan-
gelist to declare His Eternal and
Divine Generation.
Fourth Responsory.
2 Him that overcometh will I make
a pillar in My temple, saith the Lord,
and I will write My name upon him,
and the name of the city, which is
New Jerusalem.
Verse. 3 To him that overcometh
will I give to eat of the tree of life,
which is in the midst of the Paradise
of My God.
Answer. And I will write My
name upon him, and the name of the
city, which is New Jerusalem.
Fifth Lesson.
T N the fourteenth year after Nero,
Domitian stirred up the second
persecution, and John was exiled to
the island of Patmos, where he wrote
his Apocalypse, which hath been ex-
plained by Justin the Martyr and
Irenaeus. When Domitian was killed,
the Senate annulled all his acts, on
account of his savage cruelty, and the
Apostle returned to Ephesus, during
the reign of Nerva. He remained at
Ephesus until the time of Trajan, and
founded and governed all the Churches
of Asia. There, in an extreme old
age, he died, in the sixty-eighth year
after the Lord's passion, and was
buried near the city.
Fifth Responsory.
Jesus loved him, because his singu-
lar gift of purity made him more worthy
of love. He chose him for a virgin
unto Himself, and he remaineth a
virgin for ever.
Verse. At the end, when He was
dying upon the Cross, to him did
He commit His mother, maiden to
maiden.
Answer. He chose him for a
virgin unto Himself, and he remaineth
a virgin for ever.
1 John xxi. 20.
2 Apoc. iii. 12.
3 Apoc. ii. 7.
ST JOHN'S DAY.
289
Sixth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Com-
mentary upon the Epistle to the
Galatians, by the same author
(iii. 6.)
T^HE Blessed Evangelist John lived
at Ephesus down to an extreme
old age, and, at length, when he was
with difficulty carried to the Church,
and was not able to exhort the
congregation at length, he was used
simply to say at each meeting, " My
little children, love one another." At
last the disciples and brethren were
weary with hearing these words con-
tinually, and asked him, " Master,
wherefore ever sayest thou this only ? "
Whereto he replied to them, (worthy
of John,) "It is the commandment
of the Lord, and if this only be done,
it is enough."
Sixth Responsory.
1 T N the midst of the congregation
did the Lord open his mouth.
And filled him with the spirit of
wisdom and understanding.
Verse. He made him rich with joy
and gladness.
Answer. And filled him with the
spirit of wisdom and understanding.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And filled him with the
spirit of wisdom and understanding.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (xxi. 19.)
A T that time : JESUS saith unto
Peter : Follow Me. Peter, turn-
ing about, seeth the disciple whom
JESUS loved, following. And so on.
1 Ecclus. xv. 5, 6. 2 Hag. ii. 24.
Homily on this passage by St Austin,
Bishop [of Hippo,] (124//? Tract on
John. )
The Church knoweth of two different
lives which God hath revealed and
blessed : one is the life of faith, the
other the life of knowledge : one the
life of this pilgrimage, the other the
life of the eternal mansions ; one the
life of work, the other the life of rest :
one the life of the journey, the other
the life of home ; one the life of action,
the other the life of contemplation.
The one escheweth evil and doeth
good ; the other hath no evil to
eschew, and only an exceeding good
to enjoy. The one striveth with the
enemy, the other hath no enemies,
and reigneth.
Seventh Responsory.
2 In that day will I take thee, O My
servant, and will make thee as a
signet before Me. For I have chosen
thee, saith the LORD.
Verse. 3 Be thou faithful unto
death, and I will give thee a crown
of life.
Answer. For I have chosen thee,
saith the Lord.
Eighth Lesson.
XHE one succoureth the needy ; the
other is where there are no needy
to succour. The one forgiveth them
that trespass against it, that its own
trespasses may be forgiven ; the other
neither hath trespasses to forgive nor
to be forgiven. The one is chastened
with evil, lest it be exalted above
measure by good ; the other enjoyeth
such a fulness of grace that it feeleth
no evil, and cleaveth so firmly unto
the Highest Good, that it hath no
temptation to pride.
3 Apoc. ii. 10.
290
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Eighth Responsory.
This is that John which leaned on
the Lord's Breast at supper — even that
blessed Apostle unto whom were made
known the secret things of heaven.
Verse. He drank in the rivers of
the Gospel from the Lord's Breast, as
from an holy fountain.
Answer. Even that blessed Apostle
unto whom were made known the
secret things of heaven.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Even that blessed Apostle
unto whom were made known the
secret things of heaven.
Ninth Lesson.
VyHEREFORE the one is good,
but still sorrowful ; the other is
better and perfectly blessed. And of
these two lives there are types, of the
one in the Apostle Peter, of the other
in John. The one laboureth here even
unto the end, and findeth its end here-
after ; the other stretcheth out into the
hereafter, and in eternity findeth no
end. Therefore is it said unto the
one, "Follow Me;" but of the other,
" If I will that he tarry till I come,
what is that to thee ? Follow thou
Me." What is the meaning of these
words ? who can know ? who can
understand ? what is it ? is it " Follow
thou Me, imitating Me in the bear-
ing of earthly sorrow; let him tarry
till I come again, bringing the ever-
lasting reward ? "
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. Very worshipful *
is blessed John, which leaned on the
Lord's Breast at supper.
Second Antiphon. This is the dis-
ciple * which testifieth of these things,
1 Matth. xvi. 28.
and we know that his testimony is
true.
Third Antiphon. This is My dis-
ciple : * if I will that he tarry till I
come — ?
Fourth Antiphon. 1 There be some
standing here, * which shall not taste
of death, till they see the Son of man
in His kingdom.
Fifth Antiphon. 2 Behold My ser-
vant, * whom I have chosen, I have
put My spirit upon him.
Chapter. (Ecclus. xv. 1.)
T_T E that feareth the Lord will do
good : and he that keepeth
righteousness shall obtain her, and as
an honoured mother shall she meet
him.
Verse. This is the disciple which
testifieth of these things.
Answer. And we know that his
testimony is true.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias,
and Prayer throughout the Office from
the Commemoration at the preceding
Vespers.
Commemorations of Christmas and
of St Stephen from the Second Vespers
of Christmas Day.
PRIME.
Antiphon. Very worshipful, * &c,
{First Antiphon at Lauds.)
In the Short Responsory the same
alteration as before.
Martyrology.
Upon the 28th day of December,
were born into the better life —
At Bethlehem of Judah, the holy
innocent little children who were slain
for Christ's sake by Herod the King.
At Ancyra, in Galatia, the holy
2 Matth. xii. 18.
ST JOHN'S DAY.
291
martyrs Eutychius the priest and
Domitian the deacon.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Castor,
Victor, and Rogatian.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs,
Indes the eunuch, the virgins Domna,
Agape, and Theophila, and their com-
panions, who after long contendings
by divers kinds of death gained the
crown of martyrdom in the persecu-
tion under the Emperor Diocletian.
At Neo-Caesarea, in Pontus, in the
persecution under the Emperor Decius,
the holy martyr Troadius ; as he was
dying the ghost of holy Gregory the
wonder-worker appeared to him and
strengthened him to undergo mar-
tyrdom.
At Arabissa, in the lower Armenia,
the holy martyr Cassarius, who suffered
under the Emperor Galerius Maxi-
mian.
At Lyons, in Gaul, the holy con-
fessor Francis de Sales [1 567-1622],
Bishop [and Prince] of Geneva, whose
name was enrolled among those of the
Saints by Pope Alexander VII. on
account of his burning zeal for the
conversion of heretics. His feast is
kept by command of the said Pope
upon the 29th day of January, being
that day whereon his sacred body was
brought to Annecy from Lyons. Pope
Pius IX., in accordance with a vote of
the Congregation of Sacred Rites, de-
clared him a doctor of the universal
Church.
At Rome, the holy priest Domnio.
In Egypt, the holy monk Theodore
;[the Sanctified, Abbat — from 348,
death of St Pachom — of Tabenno,
in Egypt. He lived from 314-April
27, 367], a disciple of holy Pachom.
In the monastery of Lerins the holy
monk Anthony, famous for his miracles.
[A monk of Lerins, which monastery
he entered about 523. He died about
525-]
1 Apoc,
Chapter at the end. (Ecclus. xv. 5.)
T N the midst of the congregation did
the Lord open his mouth, and
filled him with the spirit of wisdom
and understanding, and clothed him
with a robe of glory.
TERCE.
Antiphon. This is the disciple, *
&c, (Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
SEXT.
Antiphon. This is My disciple, *
&c, (Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Ecclus. xv. 3.)
\UITH the bread of life and under-
standing did the Lord our God
feed him, and gave him the healthful
water of wisdom to drink.
NONE.
Antiphon. Behold My servant, *
&c, (Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
VESPERS.
• All as at the Second Vespers of
Christmas, till the Chapter.
Chapter as at Lauds.
Verse and Answer as at the Com-
memoration in the preceding Vespers.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. There went this saying abroad
among the brethren, that that disciple
should not die ; yet JESUS said not :
He shall not die ; but, If I will that he
tarry till I come.
Commemoration of the Holy
Innocents.
Antiphon. 1 These are they which
were not defiled with women : for they
xiv. 4.
292
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
are virgins, and follow the Lamb
whithersoever He goeth.
Verse. Herod was exceeding wroth,
and slew many children.
Answer. In Bethlehem Judah, the
city of David.
Let us pray.
f~\ GOD, Whose praise Thine Inno-
^^^ cent Martyrs did this day set
forth, not in confession but in death,
mortify and kill all vices in us, that
we, whose mouths profess Thy faith,
may by our lives also give glory to the
same.1
Commemorations of Christmas and
of St Stephen from the Second Vespers
of Christmas Day.
Dec. 28.
CJjtltienttas ©ag.
The Feast of the Holy Innocents,
Martyrs.
Double of the Second Class, with an
Octave.
All from the Common Office for
Many Martyrs, except what is other-
wise given here.
MATTINS.
Hymn?
THE moody tyrant hears aghast
News that the King of kings, at last,
Hath come to rule o'er Israel's name,
And David's Royal throne to claim.
Mad at the tidings is his cry !
" A King, who drives me forth, is nigh —
Haste ye, my guard, with hand on glaive,
Till ye in blood all cradles lave."
What is the gain of such a sin?
What doth his crime for Herod win?
Saved only from so many slain,
Away uninjured Christ is ta'en.
Jesu, to Thee be glory paid,
Born for us of a stainless maid ;
To Father, and to Spirit blest,
Like praise be evermore addrest. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Jeremiah (xxxi. 15.)
""THUS saith the LORD: A voice
was heard in the " Lofty City,"3
lamentation and weeping, and great
mourning, Rachel weeping for her
children, refused to be comforted for
them, because they were not. Thus
saith the LORD : Refrain thy voice
from weeping, and thine eyes from
tears : for thy work shall be rewarded,
saith the Lord, and they shall come
again from the land of the enemy.
And there is hope in thine end, saith
the Lord, and thy children shall
come again to their own border.
First Responsory.
4 An hundred, forty, and four thou-
sand, which were redeemed from the
earth ; these are they which were not
defiled with women. For they re-
mained virgins ; therefore are they
kings before God, and the Lamb of
God is with them.
Verse. These are they which came
out of great tribulation, and have
washed their robes in the Blood of the
Lamb.
Answer. For they remained vir-
gins ; therefore are they kings before
God, and the Lamb of God is with
them.
1 When this is the first or last Prayer, it has, of course, the usual termination, "Through
our Lord, &c."
* Verses from a hymn by Aurelius Prudentius Clemens, b. 348, d. after 404 : translation by
the Rev. Dr Littledale. a Ramah. * Apoc. xiv. 2, 4 ; vii. 14.
CHILDERMAS DAY.
295
Second Lesson.
\ HAVE surely heard Ephraim be-
moaning himself thus : Thou hast
chastised me ; and I was chastised as
a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke.
Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned ;
for Thou art the Lord my God. For
after that Thou hadst turned me, I
repented : and after that Thou hadst
instructed me, I smote upon my thigh :
I was ashamed, yea, even confounded,
because I did bear the reproach of my
youth. Is Ephraim My dear son ?
Is he a beloved child ? For since I
spake against him, I do earnestly
remember him still.
Second Responsory.
1 I heard under the altar the voices
of them that were slain, saying : How
long dost Thou not avenge our blood ?
And it was said unto them from God :
Rest yet for a little season, until the
number of your brethren be fulfilled.
Verse. I saw under the altar of
God the souls of them that were slain
for the Word of God, and for the
testimony which they held, and they
cried with a loud voice, saying :
Answer. How long dost Thou not
avenge our blood ? And it was said
unto them from God : Rest yet for a
little season, until the number of your
brethren be fulfilled.
Third Lesson.
CET thee up way-marks, make thee
2 monuments of thy grief, set
thine heart toward the high-way, even
the way which thou wentest : turn
again, O Virgin of Israel, turn again
to these thy cities. How long wilt
thou wander hither and thither, O
1 Apoc. vi. 9, 10, 11.
2 I.e., (perhaps) in going into exile, mark the road, since it will soon have to be retraced.
3 Apoc. iv. 10.
4 Some liturgical scholars question this ascription to St Austin, and pronounce the homily to
be a composition from various writers. See Revue Benedictine, 1891, p. 272.
thou back-sliding daughter ? for the
Lord hath created a new thing in
the earth : a woman shall compass a
man. Thus saith the LORD of hosts,
the God of Israel : As yet they shall
use this speech in the land of Judah,
and in the cities thereof, when I shall
bring again their captivity: The LORD
bless thee, O habitation of righteous-
ness, and mountain of holiness !
Third Responsory.
3 They worshipped Him That liveth
for ever and ever. And cast their
crowns before the throne of the Lord
their God.
Verse. And they fell down upon
their faces before the throne, and
blessed Him That liveth for ever and
ever.
Answer. And cast their crowns be-
fore the throne of the Lord their God.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And cast their crowns be-
fore the throne of the Lord their God.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of 4St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo.]
{\oth on the Saints.)
T~\ EARLY beloved brethren, to-day
we keep the birthday of those
children, who, as we are informed by
the Gospel, were massacred by the
savage King Herod. Therefore let
earth rejoice with exceeding joy, for
she is the mother of these heavenly
soldiers, and of this numerous host.
The love of the vile Herod could
294
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
never have crowned these blessed
ones as hath his hatred. For the
Church testifieth by this holy solem-
nity, that whereas iniquity did speci-
ally abound against these little saints,
so much the more were heavenly bless-
ings poured out upon them.
Fourth Responsory.
1 The blood of Thy saints have they
shed like water round about Jerusalem.
And there was none to bury them.
Verse. The dead bodies of Thy
servants have they given to be meat
unto the fowls of the air, the flesh of
Thy saints unto the beasts of the
earth.
Answer. And there was none to
bury them.
Fifth Lesson.
"DLESSED art thou, O Bethlehem
in the land of Judah, which hast
suffered the cruelty of King Herod in
the slaughter of thy children ; who art
found worthy to offer at once to God a
whole white-robed army of guileless
martyrs ! Surely, it is well to keep
their birth-day, even that blessed birth-
day which gave them from earth to
heaven, more blessed than the day that
brought them out of their mother's
womb. Scarcely had they entered on
the life that now is, when they obtained
that glorious life which is to come.
Fifth Responsory.
These holy ones suffered for Thy
sake, O Lord : take vengeance for
them. For day by day they cry unto
Thee.
Verse. Avenge, O Lord, the blood
of Thy saints which is shed.
Answer. For day by day they cry
unto Thee.
Sixth Lesson.
A1/"E praise the death of other
martyrs because it was the
crowning act of an undaunted and per-
sistent testimony ; but these were
crowned at once. He That maketh
an end to this present life, gave to
them at its very gates that eternal
blessedness which we hope for at its
close. They whom the wickedness of
Herod tore from their mothers' breasts
are rightfully called the flowers of
martyrdom ; hardly had these buds
of the Church shown their heads
above the soil, in the winter of un-
belief, when the frost of persecution
nipped them.
Sixth Responsory.
2 These are they which have not de-
filed their garments. They shall walk
with Me in white, for they are worthy.
Verse. These are they which were
not defiled with women : for they are
virgins.
Answer. They shall walk with Me
in white, for they are worthy.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. They shall walk with Me
in white, for they are worthy.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. 3 The Righteous
live * for evermore ; their reward also
is with the Lord.
Second Antiphon. These are they
which came out of great tribulation,
and have washed their robes in the
blood of the Lamb.
Third Antiphon. Behold, how
great with God is the reward * of
His Saints : 4 yea, they who died for
Christ's sake shall live for ever and
ever.
1 Ps. Ixxviii. 3, 2.
2 Apoc. iii. 4.
3 Wisd. v. 16.
4 Matth. v. 12.
CHILDERMAS DAY.
295
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (ii.
130
A T that time : The angel of the
■^^ Lord appeareth to Joseph in a
dream, saying : Arise, and take the
young Child, and His mother, and flee
into Egypt : and be thou there until I
bring thee word. And so on.
Homily by St Jerome, Priest [at
Bethlehem.] {Book i. Comment, on
Matth. ii.)
He took the young Child, and His
mother, and fled into Egypt, by night
and in darkness ; and the darkness of
that night was a figure of the darkness
of ignorance in which they left the un-
believers from whom they fled. But
when they returned into Judaea, we
learn not from the Gospel that it was
by night, or in darkness ; which is
an image of that light which will
lighten the Jews, when, at the end of
the world, they shall receive back the
faith, which now lighteneth the Gen-
tiles, even as Judaea received Christ
returning from Egypt.
Seventh Responsory.
The saints sung a new song before
the throne of God and the Lamb : and
their voices were echoed on earth.
Verse. These were redeemed from
among men, being the first-fruits unto
God, and to the Lamb, and in their
mouth was found no guile.
Answer. And their voices were
echoed on earth.
Eighth Blessing.
They whose feast-day we are keeping,
Be our advocates with God.
Eighth Lesson.
" THAT it might be fulfilled which
was spoken of the Lord by the
Prophet, saying : Out of Egypt have
I called My Son." Those who go
about to deny the authority of the
Hebrew Scriptures, ask where any
such passage is to be found in the
Septuagint. But, although they find
it not there, I tell them that the fact
of its being written in the Prophet
Hosea (xi. i) can be proved by the
texts which I have lately * published.
Eighth Responsory.
I saw under the Altar of God the
souls of them that were slain for the
word of God, which they held, and
they cried with a loud voice : Avenge,
O Lord, the blood of Thy saints,
which is shed.
Verse. Under the throne of God
all the saints cry aloud :
Answer. Avenge, O Lord, the
blood of Thy saints, which is shed.
If this day be Sunday the following
is added :
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Avenge, O Lord, the
blood of Thy saints, which is shed.
Ninth Lesson.
"HP HEN was fulfilled that which
was spoken by Jeremy the
Prophet, saying ; In Rama was there
a voice heard, weeping and great
mourning ; Rachel weeping for her
children." The child of Rachel was
Benjamin, and Bethlehem is not a
town belonging to his tribe. We
must therefore seek another reason
why Rachel should weep for the
1 viz., circ. A.D. 400. The reading of the LXX. is: "I loved [Israel], and called his sons
out of Egypt."
296
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
children of Judah, to whom Bethlehem
belongeth, as for her own. The plain
answer is that she is buried at Ephrath
close to Bethlehem, and she is called
Mother on account of the resting-place
of her earthly tabernacle being there.
It is possible also that she is called
Mother because the tribes of Judah
and Benjamin were joined together,
and Herod slew not only all the
children that were in Bethlehem, but
also in all the coasts thereof.
If it be Sunday, the Hymn, "We
praise Thee, O God, &c," is said, but
if not, then the following :
Second A ntiphon. H erod slew many
children * from two years old, and
under, for the Lord's sake.
Third Antiphon. l Their angels *
do always behold the face of My
Father.
Fourth Antiphon. In Rama was
there a voice * heard, weeping and
mourning, Rachel weeping for her
children.
Fifth Antiphon. Under the throne
of God * all the saints cry aloud :
Avenge our blood, O our God !
Chapter. (Apoc. xiv. 1.)
LOOKED, and, lo, a Lamb stood
on the mount Sion, and with Him
an hundred, forty, and four thousand ;
having His name and His Father's
name written in their foreheads.
Ninth Responsory.
What are these which are arrayed
in white robes ? and whence came
they ? And he said to me : These are
they which came out of great tribu-
lation, and have washed their robes,
and made them white in the Blood of
the Lamb.
Verse. I saw under the Altar of
God the souls of them which were
slain for the word of God, and for the
testimony which they held.
Answer. These are they which
came out of great tribulation, and have
washed their robes, and made them
white in the Blood of the Lamb.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. These are they which
came out of great tribulation, and have
washed their robes, and made them
white in the Blood of the Lamb.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. Herod was ex-
ceeding wroth, * and slew many chil-
dren in Bethlehem Judah, the city of
David.
1 Matth. xviii. 10.
2 Additional verses from the same hymn by Aurelius Prudentius Clemens ; translation by the
late Rev. Dr Neale.
Hymn.*1
A LL hail ! ye infant Martyr flowers !
Cut off in life's first dawning hours,
As rose-buds snapped in tempest strife,
When Herod sought your Saviour's life.
You, tender flock of lambs, we sing,
First victims slain for Christ your King :
Beneath the altar's heavenly ray,
With martyr palms and crowns ye play.
For their Redemption, glory be,
O Jesus, Virgin-born, to Thee !
With Father, and with Holy Ghost,
For ever from the Martyr-host ! Amen.
Verse and Answer, Antiphon at
the Song of Zacharias, and Prayer
throughout the Office, all from the
Commemoration at the preceding
Vespers.
Commemoration of Christmas, of St
Stephen, and of St John from their
respective Lauds.
CHILDERMAS DAY.
297
PRIME.
Antiphon. Herod was exceeding
wroth, * &c, {First Antiphon at
Lauds. )
In the Short Responsory the same
alteration as before.
Martyrology.
Upon the 29th day of December
were born into the better life —
At Canterbury, in England, the holy
martyr Thomas, Archbishop of that
see, who for his contending for right-
eousness and for the privileges of the
Church, was smitten with the sword in
his own cathedral by a band of wicked
men, and so passed away to be with
Christ [in the year 1 170].
At Jerusalem, holy David, the King
and Prophet [in the year of the world
2950].
At Aries, holy Trophimus, of whom
St Paul maketh mention in writing
unto Timothy. He was ordained
bishop by this same Apostle Paul,
and was the first who was sent to
Aries to preach the Gospel of Christ,
and it was a spring, as holy Pope
Zosimus writeth, whence streams of
faith ran into all Gaul.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Callistus,
Felix, and Boniface.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Dominic,
Victor, Primian, Lybosus, Saturninus,
Crescentius, Secundus, and Honoratus.
At Vienne, in Gaul, holy Crescens,
the disciple of the blessed Apostle
Paul and the first bishop of the said
city.
At Constantinople, holy Marcellus
[of Apamea] Abbat [of the Accemeti in
the year 485 or 486 in that city].
At Hiesmes, in the time of King
Childebert, the holy confessor Evroul,
Abbat [of the monastery of Ouche, in
the diocese of Lisieux, in Normandy.
He was born at Bayeux in 517,
founded the Abbey of Ouche and be-
came a monk in 567, and died on
December 29, 596].
Chapter at the end. (Apoc. xiv. 4.)
"T^HESE were redeemed from among
men, being the first-fruits unto
God and to the Lamb, and in their
mouth was found no guile ; for they
are without blemish before the throne
of God.
TERCE.
Antiphon. Herod slew many chil-
dren, * &c, {Second Antiphon at
Lauds. )
Chapter from Laicds.
SEXT.
Antiphon. Their angels, &c, ( Third
Antiphon at Lauds.")
Chapter. (Apoc. xiv. 4.)
'T^HESE are they which were not
defiled with women : for they
are virgins. These are they which
follow the Lamb whithersoever He
goeth.
NONE.
Antiphon. Under the throne of God,
* &c, {Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
VESPERS.
All as the Second Vespers of Christ-
mas, till the Chapter.
Then of St Thomas of Canterbury
(where he is of the First Class), from
the Office of One Martyr and the
following.
Prayer.
f~\ GOD, in defence of Whose
^-'^ Church the glorious Bishop
Thomas fell by the swords of wicked
men, grant, we beseech Thee, that all
that ask his help, may obtain whole-
some fruit of their petition. Through
our Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who
298
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
A Commemoration is made of the
Holy Innocents.
Antiphon. Innocent babes were
killed for Christ's sake, yea, the un-
righteous king slew the sucklings : now
they follow the Lamb whithersoever
He goeth, they are without fault before
the throne of God, and say continu-
ally : Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Verse. Under the throne of God
all the saints cry aloud :
Answer. Avenge our blood, O our
God.
Prayer as during the day.
If this be Saturday evening, a Com-
memoration is then made of the Sun-
day, taken from the Lauds of that day,
which will be found under December
30, {j). 305.)
Then, in any case, a Commetnoration
of Christinas {and, where St Thomas
of Canterbury is not of the First Class,
Commemorations of St Stephen, and of
St John, from the Second Vespers of
each respectively).
Dec. 29.
&t Eftomas, arcptsfjop of
Canterbury, Jlartpr.
The Feast of St Thomas, Archbishop
[of Canterbury,] Martyr.
Double of the First x Class, with an
Octave.
All from the Common Office for One
Martyr, except what is otherwise given
here.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Acts xx. 17, as in the
Common Office for a Martyr.
SECOND NOCTURN.
T^ HO MAS was born in London, [in
the year of our Lord 1 1 1 7,] and
succeeded Theobald in the Archbishop-
ric of Canterbury [in 1 162]. He had
previously filled with great distinction
the office of Lord Chancellor, and
showed an indomitable firmness in his
duty as Primate. When Henry II.,
King of England, in an assembly of
the Bishops and great men of his
realm, endeavoured to pass laws detri-
mental to the advantage and dignity
of the Church, he opposed himself so
steadily to the king's wishes, that,
neither promises, nor threats availing
to shake him, he was about to be cast
into prison, had he not made good his
escape in time. The whole of his
kinsfolk without regard to age or sex,
his friends, and his advisers, were then
banished the kingdom, and those who
were able, were bound by an oath to
make their way to the presence of
Thomas, in the hope that though care-
less of his own sufferings, he might
yield at the sight of their misery. But
neither flesh and blood, nor the plead-
ings of natural affection could make
him swerve from the line of his pastoral
duty.
Fifth Lesson.
LIE betook himself to Pope Alex-
ander III., by whom he was
graciously received, and who com-
mitted him to the care of the Cister-
1 In England St Thomas is the patron of the secular clergy, and for them therefore the
feast is of the First Class, but among some of the regulars it is only of the Second Class.
In the present translation it is given as of the First Class ; but where it is treated as of the
Second Class, the second half of the Vespers on Innocents' Day is of the Innocents, with a
Commemoration of him ; and his Commemoration is made after that of the Innocents,
while the Octave of the Innocents lasts.
ST THOMAS, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, MARTYR. 299
cians at Pontigni. As soon as this
came to the knowledge of King Henry,
he sent threatening letters to the
monks, in order to drive Thomas from
this shelter. The saint was unwilling
that the Cistercian Order should suffer
on his account, and therefore volun-
tarily withdrew from Pontigni, and
accepted the invitation of Lewis VII.,
King of France, to go to his court.
He remained here, until his banish-
ment was recalled at the intercession
of the Pope and of the King of France,
and he returned to England amid
great public joy. He was quietly con-
tinuing the work of a faithful shepherd
of souls, when certain calumniators
denounced him to the king as a plotter
against the crown and the public peace.
Henry, deceived by these libels, cried
out that it was hard that one priest
should never let him have quiet in his
kingdom.
Sixth Lesson.
COME wicked servants of the king,
hearing his words, and thinking
to do him pleasure, betook themselves
to Canterbury to rid him of the Arch-
bishop. They entered the cathedral
in the evening as Thomas was pro-
ceeding to assist at Evensong. The
clergy in attendance on him, conscious
of the attempt about to be made,
wished to bolt the doors. But the
saint caused them to be again opened,
saying, " The Church of God is not to
be made a castle of, and for the cause
of God's Church I am willing to die."
He then said to his murderers, " I
charge you in the name of the Al-
mighty God to hurt none of my
people." With these words he fell on
his knees, and commended himself to
God, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to
St Denis, and to the other holy
Patrons of the Church of Canterbury.
He presently offered his sacred head
for the stroke of death, and received it
from the swords of those wicked men
with the same constancy with which
he had withstood the commands of
the unrighteous king. The murderers
pulled out his brains and strewed them
all about the floor of the Church. He
testified on the 29th day of December,
in the [53rd] year of [his own age and
of] our Lord 1 1 70, and, being after-
wards honoured with many miracles,
was canonised by Pope Alexander IIL
[in 1 173].
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (x. 11.)
A T that time : Jesus said unto the
Pharisees : I am the Good Shep-
herd. The Good Shepherd giveth His
life for the sheep. And so on.
Homily by l St John Chrysostom,
Patriarch [of Constantinople.] (59///
on John. )
Dearly beloved brethren, the Bishops
of the Church hold a great office, an
office that needeth much that wisdom
and strength whereof Christ hath given
us an example. We must learn of
Him to lay down our lives for the
sheep and never to leave them ; and
to fight bravely against the wolf.
This is the difference between the true
shepherd and the hireling. The one
leaveth the sheep and seeketh his own
safety, but the other recketh not of his
own safety, so as he may watch over
the sheep. Christ then having given
us the pattern of a good shepherd,
warneth us against two enemies ; first,
the thief that cometh not but to kill
and to steal, and, secondly, the hire-
ling that standeth by, and defendeth
not them that are committed to his
charge.
1 Jan. 27.
30o
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Eighth Lesson.
"PZECHIEL hath said of old time,
(xxxiv. 2): "Woe be to the
shepherds of Israel ! do they not feed
themselves ? Should not the shep-
herds feed the flocks ? " But they did
the contrary, a great wickedness and
the root of many evils. " Therefore,"
he saith, " they brought not back that
which was gone astray : neither did
they search for that which was lost :
neither did they bind up that which
was broken, nor strengthen that which
was sick ; for they fed themselves, and
not the flock." And Paul hath the
same in other words, where he saith,
(Phil. ii. 21): "All seek their own,
not the things which are Jesus
Christ's."
Ninth Lesson.
/~*HRIST showeth Himself very dif-
ferent from either the thief or
the hireling ; whereas the thief cometh
to destroy, He came that they might
have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly. The hireling fleeth,
but He layeth down His life for the
sheep, that the sheep perish not. When
then the Jews went about to kill Him,
He ceased not to teach : He gave not
up them that believed in Him, but
stood steadfast and died. Wherefore
He hath good title often to say, " I am
the Good Shepherd." It was but a
little while, and He showed us how He
could lay down His life for the sheep.
And if it appeareth not as yet how
they have life, and have it more
abundantly, (but it shall appear, in
the world which is to come,) we may
well be persuaded of the truth of the
second promise, who have seen the
fulfilment of the first.
If the day be Sunday, the above
Ninth Lesson is read as one with
the Eighth to leave room for the
Homily of the Sunday, which will
be foutid under December 30, {p. 304,)
and the three Lessons of which are
read together as one preceded by the
Blessing.
May the Gospel's glorious word
Cleansing to our souls afford.
At Lauds, if the day be Sunday,
a Commemoration is made of that day
which will be found under Decetnber
3°, (A 3°5>) and then, in any case,
a Commemoratio7t of the Octave of
Christmas, {and where the Feast of St
Thomas of Canterbury is not a Double
of the First Class, Commemorations of
the Octaves of St Stephen, St John,
and the Holy Innocents from their re-
spective Lauds.)
At Prime, the same alteration in the
Short Responsory as before.
Martvrology.
Upon the 30th day of December
were born into the better life —
At Spoleto, under the Emperor
Maximian, the holy martyrs Sabinus,
bishop of that see; the deacons
Exuperantius and Marcellus, and the
President Venustian along with his
wife and children. Marcellus and
Exuperantius were first racked then
heavily cudgelled, then mangled with
hooks, and their sides were afterwards
burnt until they died. Venustian and
his wife and children were shortly
afterward put to the sword ; holy
Sabinus had his hands cut off, and
was long imprisoned, and at length
lashed to death. These did not
all suffer at the same time, but
they are all commemorated upon the
same day.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs
Mansuetus, Severus, Appian, Donatus,
Honorius and their companions.
At Thessalonica, the holy mart^
Anysia [about the year 303]. There
likewise holy Anysius, bishop of that
OFFICE OF THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS.
301
city. [He succeeded S. Ascole, and
died about the year 404.]
At Milan, the holy confessor Eu-
genius, bishop of that city.
At Ravenna, holy Liberius, bishop
of that city.
At Aquila, in the Abruzzi, holy
Rainerius, bishop of that city [in the
twelfth century].
At Vespers the service as at the
Second Vespers of Christmas until the
Chapter exclusive. The rest is of
St Thomas {where he is of the First
Class), from the Common Office for a
Martyr, with the special Prayer. A
Commemoration is made of the Sunday
'within the Octave of Christinas, the
Office of which will be found under
Dec. 30, or of the Day within the
Octave, whichever is the next day. If
the former, then a Commemoration of
Sunday and then of the Octave of
Christmas only ; if the latter, a Com-
memoration of the Octave of Christmas
and then of Sunday only. If the day
itself be actually Sunday then the
Commemoration is taken from the
Second Vespers, as follows :
Antiphon. The child Jesus in-
creased in age and wisdom before
God and man.
Verse. The Word was made flesh.
Alleluia.
Answer. And dwelt among us.
Alleluia.
Prayer.
(~\ ALMIGHTY, &c, {as at Lauds.
^^^ But if this day be any other
than Sunday, the Commemoration is
taken entirely from Lauds. )
Then a Commemoration of Christ-
mas, {and, where St Thomas of Can-
terbury is not of the First Class,
Commemorations of St Stephen, St
1 Archbishop Kenrick says that "this letter has been placed at the head of the letters
of St Paul, on account of the dignity of the Roman Church." — "It is probably sixth in the
order of time, having been written in the year 58, from Corinth, or Cenchrea." N. T., p. 459-
fohn, and the Holy Innocents, from
the Second Vespers of each respec-
tively. )
Note. If December 25, 26, 27, 28,
or 30 fall on a Sunday, the Office of
the Sunday is said upon December 30.
But if the Sunday should be the 29th
or the 3 1 st, the Sunday is commemor-
ated in the usual manner with the
Ninth Lesson, &r*c, in the Office of
St Thomas of Canterbury or of St
Silvester.
If Dec. 29 fall on a Friday, the
Office of Saturday is of the Octave of
Christmas, as given immediately here-
after, and the Office on Sunday is of St
Silvester, with merely a Commemora-
tion of Sunday.
Dec. 30.
©fltce of tije ©ctaue of
Cjjristmas*
Semi-double.
Alias on Christmas Day, except what
is otherwise given here, and that the
Aiitiphons are not doubled.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the Epistle of the
Blessed Apostle Paul to the Romans
(i. i.)i
TDAUL, a servant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an Apostle, separated
unto the Gospel of God, which He had
promised afore by His Prophets in the
holy Scriptures, concerning His Son,
That was born of the seed of David
302
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
according to the flesh, and determined
to be the Son of God with power, ac-
cording to the Spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
from the dead : by Whom we have re-
ceived grace and apostleship, for obedi-
ence to the faith among all nations,
for His name, among whom are ye
also the called of JESUS Christ : to all
that be in Rome, beloved of God,
called to be saints. Grace to you,
and peace from God our Father, and
the Lord JESUS Christ.
First Responsory.
This day is the true peace, &c, (Se-
cond Responsory on Christmas Day. )
Second Lesson.
"CMRST, I thank my God, through
JESUS Christ, for you all, that
your faith is spoken of throughout the
whole world. For God is my witness,
Whom I serve with my spirit, in the
Gospel of His Son, that without ceas-
ing I make mention of you always in
my prayers ; making request, if by any
means now at length I might have a
prosperous journey, by the will of God,
to come to you. For I long to see
you, that I may impart unto you some
spiritual gift, to the end ye may be
established : that is, that I may be
comforted together with you by the
mutual faith both of you and me.
Second Responsory.
O ye shepherds, &c, [Third Re-
sponsory on Christmas Day,) omitting
the last Verse and Answer.
Third Lesson.
"M" OW I would not have you ignor-
ant, brethren, that oftentimes I
purposed to come unto you (but was
hindered hitherto,) that I might have
some fruit among you also, even as
among other Gentiles. I am debtor
both to the Greeks and to the Bar-
barians, both to the wise and to the
unwise : so, as much as in me is, I
am ready to preach the Gospel to you
that are at Rome also. For I am not
ashamed of the Gospel. For it is the
power of God unto salvation to every
one that believeth, to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek. For therein
is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith, as it is written :
1 The just shall live by faith. For
the wrath of God is revealed from
heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold
the truth of God in unrighteousness :
because that which may be known of
God is manifest in them ; for God
hath showed it unto them.
Third Responsory.
How great is this mystery, &c,
(Fourth Responsory on Christmas
Day.)
At the end is added :
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Blessed is that virgin
whose womb was made meet to bear
the Lord Christ.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of Pope St Leo [the Great.] (gth
on Christmas.)
T\ EARLY beloved brethren, the
greatness of God's work, in its
breadth and height, passeth the power
of man's utterance ; and, therefore,
i Hab. ii. 4.
OFFICE OF THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS.
303
when we must needs not keep silence,
we find it hard to know what to say.
The words of the Prophet- — "Who
shall declare His generation?" (Isa.
liii. 8) — look not only to the Divine,
but also to the human birth of JESUS
Christ, the Son of God. Faith be-
lieveth, but words cannot explain, how
the two natures were joined in one
Person, — and therein we find that
we shall never lack matter of praise
in Him, Whose abundance ever out-
runneth the power of our expression.
Fourth Responsory.
Blessed is God's holy mother, &c,
{Fifth Responsory on Christmas Day.)
Fifth Lesson.
THEREFORE let us rejoice, that
this mystery of mercy is greater
than we can ever speak ; and let us
feel that it is good for us to fail if
we try to express the height and depth
of redeeming love. He cometh nearest
to the knowledge of the truth, who,
the farther he advanceth, seeth all the
more clearly that he can never overtake
that whereafter he searcheth. For he
that imagineth therein that he hath
ever attained unto the goal, hath not
found that which he seeketh, but hath
altogether missed.
Fifth Responsory.
O Mary, how holy, &c, (Sixth Re-
sponsory on Christmas Day,) down to
the Verse, " Glory, &c," exclusive.
Sixth Lesson.
DUT lest we should be confounded
at the weakness of our mortality,
we have help in the words of the
Prophets and Evangelists ; and they
are able so to inflame and teach us
that we may see the Birth of the
Lord, wherein the Word was made
Flesh, not so much as a thing past,
as a thing present. The proclamation
of the angel to the shepherds who
watched their flocks by night, ringeth
in our ears also ; and for this end are
we appointed to rule the Lord's flock,
that we may ever keep in our heart
the word revealed from heaven, and
say unto you, as we do this day :
" Behold, I bring you good tidings of
great joy, which shall be to all people ;
for unto you is born this day, in the
city of David, a Saviour, Which is
Christ the Lord ! "
Sixth Responsory.
Blessed be the womb, &c, (Seventh
Responsory on Christmas Day.)
At the end is added :
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. This day hath He been
pleased for the salvation of the world
to be born of a Virgin.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
(If a week-day.)
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (ii. 15.)
A T that time : The shepherds said
^^ one to another : Let us now go
even unto Bethlehem, and see this
thing which is come to pass, which
the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste. And so
on.
Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop [of
Milan.] (Bk. ii. on Luke ii.)
The shepherds came with haste.
This is how every one cometh who is
really earnestly seeking Christ. The
shepherds believed the angel. Wilt
304
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
not thou believe Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost, Angels, Prophets, and
Apostles ? Here also remark how
carefully every word in the Scripture
is chosen. They came with haste to
see this "Word," (as the original text
hath it.1) A Word, indeed ; the
Word of God. He that saw the
Lord's Flesh, saw the Word, that is,
God the Son.
{If Sunday.')
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (ii. 33.)
A T that time : Joseph and Mary the
~^^ mother of Jesus, marvelled at
those things which were spoken of
Him. And so on.
Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop [of
Milan.] {Bk. ii. on Luke ii.)
We see that God's abounding grace
is poured forth on all by the birth of
the Lord, and that the gift of prophecy
is not denied to the righteous, but to
the unbelieving. Simeon prophesieth
that our Lord Jesus Christ is set for
the fall and rising again of many in
Israel, setting forth that the just and
the unjust reap different fruits from the
coming of the Saviour ; so will it be
with us ; according to our individual
works will the True and Just Judge
apportion to us punishment or reward.
Seventh Responsory.
The Word was made Flesh, &c,
{Eighth Responsory on Christmas Day, )
down to the Verse " Glory, &c." ex-
clusive.
Eighth Lesson.
{If a week-day.)
"DECAUSE the office of a shepherd
is mean, think not meanly of the
example of their faith. Verily, that
1 Gr. Rhema.
which is poorest in learning is richest
in faith. The Lord seeketh not for
schools crowded with wise men, but
for a people of a single heart unused
to overlay and to disguise what they
learn, by vain and superfluous adorn-
ments. He will have straightforward-
ness rather than vain-glory.
{If Sunday.)
" \/EA, a sword shall pierce through
thine own soul also." We have
no record or tradition that Mary left
this world by suffering a violent death,
and the material sword can pierce the
body only, and not the soul. Where-
fore here we see the wisdom of Mary
in that she was not ignorant of the
heavenly mysteries. For, " the word
of God is quick, and powerful, and
sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder
of soul and spirit, and of the joints
and marrow, and is a discerner of
the thoughts and intents of the heart :
for all things are naked and opened
unto the eyes " 2 of the Son of God,
from Whom also the secret things of
our conscience are not hidden.
Eighth Responsory.
How is the King of heaven at-
tended ? He that containeth the world
is laid in a stable : lying in a manger,
reigning in heaven.
Verse. Unto us is born, this day,
in the city of David, a Saviour, Which
is Christ the Lord.
Answer. Lying in a manger, reign-
ing in heaven.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Lying in a manger, reign-
ing in heaven.
2 Heb. iv. 12, 13.
OFFICE OF THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS.
305
Ninth Lesson.
(If a week-day.)
HTHINK not meanly either of the
shepherds' words. The shep-
herds strengthen the faith even of
Mary ; the shepherds lead God's
people to His worship. For, " all
they that heard it, wondered at those
things which were told them by the
shepherds. But Mary kept all these
things and pondered them in her
heart." Let us learn the modesty of
the Holy Virgin, that modesty of
speech as of body, whereby she laid
up in her heart the evidences of her
faith.
(If Sunday.)
T"HERE had been a triple prophecy ;
the prophecy of Simeon had fol-
lowed the prophecy of the virgin, and
the prophecy of the wife ; those,
namely, of Mary and Elizabeth. And
now ought the widow also to prophesy,
that no sex nor state might be want-
ing. And Anna is brought before us
with such a title from her widowhood
and her life, that we may well believe
that she received the grace to an-
nounce the Advent of the Redeemer.
In our exhortation addressed to widows
we have already treated of her gifts at
length, and, as we have much matter
before us, we will not now again enter
on the subject.
The Hymn, " We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
If a week-day, are the same as on
Christmas Day, but if a Sunday, they
have the following :
Chapter. (Gal. iv. 1.)
"DRETHREN : The heir, as long as
he is a child, differeth nothing
from a servant, though he be lord of
all ; but is under tutors and governors
until the time appointed by the father.
Verse. The Word was made Flesh.
Alleluia.
Answer. And dwelt among us.
Alleluia.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
While all things were in quiet silence,
and that night was in the midst of her
swift course, Thine Almighty Word, O
Lord, leapt down out of Thy Royal
Throne.1
Prayer.
Q ALMIGHTY and everlasting
God, do Thou order all our
actions in conformity with Thy good
pleasure, that through the name of
Thy well-beloved Son, we may worthily
abound in all good works. Through
the same our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end. Amen.
Whether Week-day or Sunday, Com-
memorations are made of St Thomas,
of St Stephen, of St fohn, and of
the Holy Innocents.
PRIME.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 31st day of December
were born into the better life —
At Rome, holy Pope Silvester [I.]
who [was said by tradition to have]
baptized the Emperor Constantine the
Great, confirmed the decrees of the
Council of Nice, wrought many other
holy works, and fell asleep in peace [in
the year 335.]
Likewise at Rome, at the cemetery
of Priscilla upon the Salarian Way, the
holy martyrs Donata, Paulina, Rustica,
Nominanda, Serotina, Hilaria, and
their companions.
At Sens, blessed Sabinian [First]
1 Wisd. xviii. 14, 15.
306
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
bishop of that see, and Potentian, who
were sent thither to preach by the
Roman Pontiff, and adorned that city
by their last testimony. [He was the
Apostle of Sens.] There also in the
persecution under the Emperor Aure-
lian the holy virgin and martyr Colum-
ba, who conquered fire and was slain
with the sword [third century.]
At Rhessara, the holy exorcist
Hermes.
At Catania, in Sicily, the holy
martyrs Stephen, Pontian, Attalus,
Fabian, Cornelius, Sextus, Flos, Quin-
tian, Minervinus and Simplician.
On the same day holy Zoticus, a
Roman priest, who went to Constanti-
nople, and busied himself with the
■care of orphans.
At Ravenna, the holy confessor the
priest Barbatian.
On the same day holy Melania, the
younger, who left Rome along with
her husband Pinian [son of the Pre-
fect of Rome], and went to Jerusalem
where she became a nun, and he a
monk — and both died holy deaths.
[She was born in 383, married 410,
and died in 439.]
If the Office be not of the Sunday, it
continues as on Christinas Day, but if
of the Sunday it is as of Christmas
Day, with the following differences.
Chapter at the end. (Gal. iv. 7.)
"t^HEREFORE he is no more a
servant, but a son ; and if a
son, then an heir of God.
TERCE.
The Chapter from Lauds.
SEXT.
Chapter. (Gal. iv. 4.)
UT when the fulness of the time
was come, God sent forth His
B
Son, made of a woman, made under
the law, to redeem them that were
under the law, that we might receive
the adoption of sons.
NONE.
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Vespers of the following, with the
same Commemorations as at Lauds.
Dec. 31.
St Silvester [/.], Pope of Rome,
Confessor.
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, except what is
otherwise given here.
The first Vespers are of Christmas.
Double to the Chapter exclusive.
Commemorations of Christmas, St
Thomas of Canterbury, St Stephen,
St John, and the Holy Innocents,
as at the second Vespers of each, are
made, preceded, if Saturday evening,
by a Commemoration of the Sunday.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Romans (ii. 1.)
'"THEREFORE, thou art inexcus-
able, O man, whosoever thou art
that judgest ; for wherein thou judgest
another, thou condemnest thyself; for
thou that judgest, doest the same
things. But we are sure that the
judgment of God is according to truth
against them which commit such
HOGMANAY.
307
things. And thinkest thou this, O
man, that judgest them which do such
things, and doest the same, that thou
shalt escape the judgment of God ?
Or despisest thou the riches of His
goodness, and forbearance, and long-
suffering ? Knowest thou not that the
goodness of God leadeth thee to re-
pentance ?
Second Lesson.
"DUT, after thy hardness and impeni-
tent heart, treasurest up unto
thyself wrath, against the day of wrath
and revelation of the righteous judg-
ment of God, Who will render to every
man according to his deeds : to them
who, by patient continuance in well-
doing, seek for glory and honour and
immortality, eternal life ; but unto
them that are contentious and do not
obey the truth, but obey unrighteous-
ness, indignation and wrath.
Third Lesson.
^TRIBULATION and anguish upon
every soul of man that doeth evil,
of the Jew first, and also of the Gen-
tile,1 but glory and honour and peace,
to every man that worketh good, to
the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.1
For there is no respect of persons with
God. For as many as have sinned
without law shall also perish without
law ; and as many as have sinned
under law, shall be judged by law.
For not the hearers of the law are
just before God, but the doers of the
law shall be justified.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
CILVESTER [I.] was a Roman by
birth, and his father's name was
Rufinus. He was brought up from a
very early age under a Priest named
Cyrinus, of whose teaching and ex-
ample he was a diligent learner. In
his thirtieth year he was ordained
Priest of the Holy Roman Church by
Pope Marcellinus. In the discharge
of his duties he became a model for
all the clergy, and, after the death of
Melchiades, he succeeded him on the
Papal throne, [in the year of our Lord
314,] during the reign of Constantine,
who had already by public decree pro-
claimed peace to the Church of Christ.
Hardly had he undertaken the govern-
ment of the Church when he betook
himself to stir up the Emperor to pro-
tect and propagate the religion of
Christ. Constantine was fresh from
his victory over his enemy Maxentius,
on the Eve whereof the sign of the
Cross had been revealed to him limned
in light upon the sky ; and there was
an old story in the Church of Rome
that it was Silvester who caused him
to recognise the images of the Apostles,
administered to him holy Baptism, and
cleansed him from the leprosy of mis-
belief.
Fifth Lesson.
THE godly Emperor had already
granted to Christ's faithful people
permission to build public churches,
and by the advice of Silvester he
himself set them the example. He
built many Basilicas, and magnificently
adorned them with holy images, and
gifted them with gifts and endowments.
Among these there were, besides
others, the Church of Christ the
Saviour, hard by the Lateran Palace ;
that of St Peter, upon the Vatican
Mount ; that of St Paul, upon the
road to Ostia ; that of St Lawrence,
in Verus' field ; that of the Holy
Cross at the Sessorian hall ; that of
St Peter and St Marcellinus, upon the
Lavican Way ; and that of St Agnes,
1 Graeci.
3o8
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
upon the road to Mentana. Under
this Pope was held the first Council of
Nice, presided over by the Papal
Legates, and in the Presence of Con-
stantine, and three hundred and eigh-
teen Bishops, where the holy and
Catholic Faith was declared, and
Arius and his followers condemned ;
which Council was finally confirmed
by the Pope, at the request of all the
assembled Fathers, in a synod held
at Rome, where Arius was again con-
demned. This Pope issued many use-
ful ordinances for the Church of God.
He reserved to Bishops the right of
consecrating the Holy Chrism ; ordered
Priests to anoint with Chrism the
heads of the newly baptised ; settled
the officiating dress of Deacons as a
dalmatic and a linen maniple ; and
forbade the consecration of the Sacra-
ment of the Altar on anything but a
linen corporal.
Sixth Lesson.
HTHIS Silvester is likewise said to
have ordained that all persons
taking Holy Orders should remain a-
while in each grade before being pro-
moted to a higher ; that laymen should
not go to law against the clergy ; and
that the clergy themselves were not to
plead before civil tribunals. He de-
creed that the first and seventh days of
the week should be called respectively
the Lord's Day and the Sabbath, and
the others, Second Day, Third Day,
and so on. In this he confirmed the
use of the word " Feria " for the week-
days, the which use had already begun
in the Church. This word signifieth
an " holiday," and pointeth to the duty
of the clergy ever to lay aside all
worldly labour, and leave themselves
free to do continually the work of the
Lord. The heavenly wisdom with
which he ruled the Church of God,
was joined in him to a singular holi-
ness of life, and an inexhaustible
tenderness towards the poor ; in which
matter he ordained that the wealthy
clergy should each relieve a certain
number of needy persons ; and he also
made arrangements for supplying the
consecrated virgins with the neces-
saries of life. He lived as Pope
twenty - one years, ten months and
one day, and was buried in the
cemetery of Priscilla on the Salarian
Way, [in the year 335.] He held
seven Advent ordinations, and made
forty-two Priests, twenty-five Deacons,
and sixty-five Bishops of various sees.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke xii. 35, with
the Homily of St Gregory, as in the
Common Office for a Confessor not a
Bishop. If it be Sunday, the last
Lesson is omitted, or read as one
with the Eighth, and the Ninth Lesson
is the whole or the first part of the
Homily of the Sunday, already given
in the preceding Office — preceded by the
Blessing : —
May the Gospel's glorious word
Cleansing to our souls afford.
At Lauds, if Sunday, Christmas is
commemorated from the Lauds of that
day after the Commemoration of the
Sunday. Then Commemorations of St
Thomas of Canterbury, St Stephen,
St John, and the Holy Innocents, as
at the Lauds of each.
At Prime the same alteration as be-
fore in the Short Responsory.
MARTYROLOGY.
The morrow is the Octave of the
Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, upon
the which day is commemorated His
Circumcision.
Upon the same 1st day of Jan-
uary, were born into the better life —
NEW YEAR'S DAY.
309
At Rome, the holy martyr Al-
machius, who was slain by gladiators
[about the year 404] at the command
of Alpius, prefect of the city, be-
cause he said : " This is the Octave
of the Lord's Birth, cease from your
idolatrous superstitions, and your
unclean sacrifices."
Likewise at Rome, upon the Appian
Way, thirty holy soldiers who were
crowned with martyrdom, under the
Emperor Diocletian.
Likewise at Rome, the holy virgin
Martina, who was put to divers tor-
ments, under the Emperor Alexander,
and at length gained the crown of
martyrdom by the sword, whose feast
we keep upon the 30th day of the
month of January.
At Spoleto, in the time of the
Emperor Antonine, the holy martyr,
the priest Concordius. He was first
cudgelled, then racked, and afterwards
suffered imprisonment — wherein he
was comforted by a visit of angels,
and at length was delivered from this
life by the sword.
On the same day, the holy martyr
Magnus.
At Cassarea, in Cappadocia, the
burial of the holy Basil, bishop of
Caesarea [in the year 379], whose
feast we keep upon the 14th day of
June. Which is the day whereon he
was ordained a bishop.
In Africa, blessed Fulgentius, bishop
of the Church of Ruspa [in the year
508], who at the time of the per-
secution under the Vandals, suffered
much at the hands of the Arians be-
cause of his Catholic faith, and his
eminent teaching. He was exiled to
Sardinia [in the year 510]; but was
at length [in the year 523] allowed
to return to his own church, where
[in the year 533] he died a holy
death, famous for his life and his
words.
At Chieti, in Abruzzo Citeriore,
vol. I.
holy Justin, bishop of that city, famous
for the holiness of his life, and for the
miracles worked through him [in the
year 543].
At the monastery of St Claude, upon
the Jura Mountains, in the country of
Lyons, holy [4th] Eugendus, Abbat
[of Condat], whose life was illustrious
for his graces and miracles [in the
year 510].
At Senlis [in the year 1049], holy
Odilo, [6th] Abbat of Cluni [elected
in the year 994], who first com-
manded that in his monasteries a
commemoration of all the faithful
departed should be made upon the
first day after the festival of All
Saints, the which custom the Uni-
versal Church hath since approved
by adopting it.
At Monte Senario, in Tuscany, the
blessed confessor Bonfiglio, one of the
seven founders of the order of ser-
vants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to
whom he was devoted — and by whom
he was suddenly called away to heaven
[in the year 1262].
At Alexandria [in the year 470], the
burial of the holy virgin Euphrosyne,
who shone in her nunnery as a great
light by the power of her self-denial
and her miracles.
The Vespers are of the Circumcision,
without any Commemorations.
Jan. 1.
Ifoto gear's ©ag.
The Circumcision of the Lord, and
Octave of His Birth.
Double of the Second Class.
Everything as on Sundays except
what is otherwise given here.
3io
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, Verse and An-
swer, and Prayer from Lauds.
Psalms as in the Common Office for
Feasts of the Blessed Virgin.
Hymn from the Vespers of Christmas
Day.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 1 God, for His great love
wherewith He loved us, sent His Own
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.
Alleluia.
No Commemorations.
MATTINS.
Invitatory and Hymn as on Christ-
mas Day.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. The Lord hath
said unto Me: Thou art My Son, *
this day have I begotten Thee.
Psalm II.
Why do the heathen rage, &c,
(A 4-)
Second Antiphon. In the sun hath
He set His tabernacle : * and He is
as a bridegroom coming out of his
chamber.
Psalm XVIII.
The heavens declare, &c, {p. 17.)
Third Antiphon. Be ye lift up, ye
everlasting doors, * and the King of
glory shall come in.
Psalm XXIII.
The earth is the Lord's, &c, {p.
46.)
1 Eph. ii. 4 ; Rom. viii. 3. 2 ps. j. 5.
Verse. The Lord is as a bride-
groom.
Answer. Coming out of His
chamber.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Romans, (iii. 1.)
A \1 HAT advantage then hath the
Jew ? or what profit is there
of circumcision ? Much every way.
Chiefly, because that, unto them were
committed the oracles of God. For
what if some did not believe ? Shall
their unbelief make the faith of God
of none effect ? God forbid. Yea,
God is true : but every man a liar,
as it is written : — " That Thou might-
est be justified in Thy sayings, and
mightest overcome when Thou art
judged."2 But if our unrighteous-
ness commend the righteousness of
God, what shall we say ? Is God
unrighteous, Who taketh vengeance ?
(I speak as a man.) God forbid: for
then how shall God judge this world ?
First Responsory.
3 Behold the Lamb of God, behold
Him Which taketh away the sins of
the world ; behold Him of Whom I
said unto you : He That cometh after
me is preferred before me ; Whose
shoe's latchet I am not worthy to
unloose.
Verse. 4 He that is of the earth
speaketh of the earth ; He That com-
eth from heaven is above all.
Answer. Whose shoe's latchet I
am not worthy to unloose.
Second Lesson, (iii. 29.)
T S He the God of the Jews only ?
■*■ Is He not also of the Gentiles ?
Yea, of the Gentiles also. Seeing it
3 John i. 29. * John iii. 31.
NEW YEAR'S DAY.
311
is one God Which justifieth the cir-
cumcision by faith, and uncircumcision
through faith. Do we then make
void the law through faith ? God
forbid : yea, we establish the law.
(iv. 1.) What shall we then say that
Abraham, our father, hath found,
according to the flesh ? For if
Abraham were justified by works, he
hath whereof to glory, but not before
God. For what saith the Scripture ?
1 " Abraham believed God, and it was
counted unto him for righteousness."
Now to him that worketh is the re-
ward not reckoned of grace, but of
debt. But to him that worketh not,
but believeth on Him That justifieth
the ungodly, his faith is counted for
righteousness, according to the gracious
purpose of God. Even as David also
describeth the happiness of the man,
unto whom God imputeth righteous-
ness without works : 2 " Blessed are
they whose iniquities are forgiven, and
whose sins are covered."
Second Responsory.
This day which is breaking is holy :
O come, ye Gentiles, and worship the
Lord. For this day is much light
come down unto us from heaven.
Verse. 3 This is the day which the
Lord hath made, let us rejoice and
be glad in it.
Answer. For this day is much
light come down unto us from heaven.
Third Lesson.
(COMETH this blessedness then
upon the circumcision only, or
upon the uncircumcision also ? For
we say that faith was reckoned to
Abraham for righteousness. How
then was it reckoned ? When he was
in circumcision or in uncircumcision ?
Not in circumcision, but in uncircum-
cision. And he received the sign of
1 Gen. xv. 6. - Ps. xxxi. 1, 2.
circumcision, a seal of the righteous-
ness of the faith which he had, yet
being in uncircumcision ; that he might
be the father of all them that believe,
though they be not in circumcision, that
it might be imputed to them also for
righteousness ; and the father of cir-
cumcision to them who are not of the
circumcision only, but who also walk
in the steps of that faith of our father
Abraham, which he had, being yet in
uncircumcision.
Third Responsory.
4 Blessed be He That cometh in
the name of the Lord ! God is the
Lord Which hath showed us light.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. This is the day v/hich the
LORD hath made, let us rejoice and
be glad in it.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Thou art fairer
than the children of men, * grace is
poured into Thy lips.
Psalm XLIV.
Mine heart is overflowing, &c,
(P. 96.)
Second Antiphon. This man was
born in her, * and the Highest Him-
self hath established her.
Psalm LXXXVI.
Her foundation, &c, {p. 144.)
Third Antiphon. All the trees of
the wood shall rejoice * before the
Lord, for He cometh.
3 Ps. cxvii. 24.
4 Ps. cxvii. 26, 27.
312
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Psalm XCV.
0 sing unto the Lord, &c, {p.
148.)
Verse. Thou art fairer than the
children of men.
Answer. Grace is poured into thy
lips.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of Pope St Leo [the Great.] {jth
for Christmas.')
T~\ EARLY beloved brethren, who-
soever will keep truly and honour
piously this day's festival, it is neces-
sary for him neither to think falsely
of the Lord's Incarnation, nor meanly
of the Lord's Godhead. For as there
is danger, on the one hand, of denying
the truth of Christ's participation of
our nature, so is there no less danger,
on the other, of doing despite to the
equality of His glory with the glory
of the Father. Wherefore, when we
draw near to understand the mystery
of Christ's Birth, wherein He was
born of the Virgin Mary, we must
leave the clouds of earthly imagina-
tion behind and pierce the fog of
human wisdom with the eye of en-
lightened faith.
Fourth Responsory.
Rejoice with me, all ye that love
the Lord. For while I was yet little I
pleased the Most High, and from my
womb have I brought forth God and
man.
Verse. All generations shall call me
blessed, for God hath regarded the
lowliness of His hand-maiden.
Answer. For while I was yet little
I pleased the Most High, and from
my womb have I brought forth God
and man.
Fifth Lesson.
'T'HE authority on which we believe
is the authority of God Himself;
the teaching which we follow is the
teaching of God Himself. Wherefore
whether we lend the ear of our mind
to the testimony of the Law, or to the
revelations of the Prophets, or to the
full pealing of the Gospel trumpet,
that is true, which John the Son of
Thunder, uttered, when he was filled
with the Holy Ghost, and said : "In
the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word
was God. The Same was in the
beginning with God. All things were
made by Him, and without Him was
not anything made." True also is his
witness when he saith : " The Word
was made Flesh, and dwelt among us,
and we beheld His glory, the glory as
of the Only-begotten of the Father."
(John i. 1-3, 14.)
Fifth Responsory.
The heart of the Virgin was fixed,
when the Angel declared unto her the
mystery of God and she conceived :
then did she receive in her pure womb
Him That is fairer than the children
of men. And, she that is blessed for
ever, brought forth for us God and
man.
Verse.
Soon rises, in that modest shrine,
The Temple of the Lord Divine :
The stainless and unwedded one,
Within her womb conceived the Son.
Answer. And, she that is blessed
for ever, brought forth for us God and
man.
Sixth Lesson.
HP HE Person of the Son of God
therefore remaineth unchanged
and one, though He have two natures,
NEW YEAR'S DAY.
313
keeping His own, and taking ours.
He appeareth as man to be the re-
storer of men, but abideth all the
while in His immutable Godhead.
That Godhead which He shareth with
the Father was not a whit the less
Almighty, nor did the form of a ser-
vant touch the form of God to dero-
gate from it. The Most High and
Everlasting Being, bending down for
man's salvation, took the Manhood
into His glory ; He ceased not to be
That which He is from everlasting.
Hence we see the Only-begotten Son
of God in one place confessing that
the Father is greater than He, (John
xiv. 28,) and in another declaring
that He and the Father are One,
(x. 30.) This is an evident proof of
the distinction of His two natures, and
the unity of His Person ; for He is
inferior to the Father as touching His
Manhood, and yet equal to the Father
as touching His Godhead, and yet,
though He be God and Man, He is
not two, but One Christ.
Sixth Responsory.
Blessed and worshipful art thou, O
Virgin Mary ; from thee, still maiden
undefiled, the Saviour came a little
Child. He Whose glory filled the
heavens lay in a manger.
Verse. l O Lord, I have heard
Thy speech and was afraid ; I con-
sidered Thy works and trembled. O
Thou [That dwellest] between the two
living creatures !
Answer. He Whose glory filled the
heavens lay in a manger.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. He Whose glory filled the
heavens lay in a manger.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. In the beginning,
and before the worlds, the Word was
God, * and this day is He born the
Saviour of the world.
Psalm XCVI.
The Lord reigneth, &c, {p. 149.)
Second Antiphon. The Lord our
Saviour, * begotten before the day-
star, and before the worlds, hath this
day vouchsafed to be born.
Psalm XCVI I.
O sing unto the Lord, &c, {p. 157.)
Third Antiphon. When the Lord
was born the Angels sang together, *
saying : 2 Salvation to our God, Which
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the
Lamb.
Psalm XCVIII.
The Lord reigneth, &c, {p. 158.)
Verse. The Lord hath made known.
Alleluia.
Answer. His salvation. Alleluia.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (ii. 21.)
A T that time : When eight days
were accomplished for the cir-
cumcision of the Child, His name was
called Jesus. And so on.
Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop [of
Milan.] {Book ii. on Luke ii.)
So the Child is circumcised. This
is the Child of Whom it is said :
1 Hab. iii. 2. As to the "two living creatures," compare Exod. xxv. 22, &c. But this
reading of the Song of Habakkuk is not that of the present authorised version. (P. 154.)
2 Apoc. vii. 10.
3H
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
" Unto us a Child is born, unto us a
Son is given," (Isa. ix. 6.) "Made
under the law to redeem them that
were under the law." (Gal. iv. 4.)
" To present Him to the Lord,"
(22.) In my Commentary on Isaiah
I have already explained what is
meant by being presented to the
Lord in Jerusalem, and therefore I
will not enter into the subject again.
He that is circumcised in heart gain-
eth the protection of God, for " the
eyes of the Lord are upon the
righteous." (Ps. xxxiii. 16.) Ye will
see that as all the ceremonies of
the old law were types of realities
in the new, so the circumcision of the
body signified the cleansing of the
heart from the guilt of sin.
Seventh Responsory.
O Mary, how holy and how spotless
is thy virginity ! I am too dull to
praise thee : for thou hast borne in
thy breast Him Whom the heavens
cannot contain.
Verse. Blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the fruit of
thy womb.
Answer. For thou hast borne in
thy breast Him Whom the heavens
cannot contain.
Eighth Lesson.
DUT since the body and mind of
man remain yet infected with a
proneness' to sin, the circumcision of
the eighth day is also a type of that
complete cleansing from sin which we
shall have at the resurrection. This
ceremony was also performed in
obedience to the commandment of
God : 1 " Every male that openeth the
womb shall be called holy unto the
Lord." These words were written
with especial reference to the delivery
of the Blessed Virgin. Truly He That
opened her womb was holy, for He
was altogether without spot, and we
may gather that the law was written
specially for Him from the words of
the Angel : " That Holy Thing Which
shall be born of thee, shall be called
the Son of God."
Eighth Responsory.
The Virgin-Mother that knew not
a man, bore, but travailed not.
She fed the Saviour of the world,
The King of Angel hosts above,
Jesus, our Redeemer blest,
From the fountain of her breast.
Verse.
Soon rises in that modest shrine,
The Temple of the Lord Divine ;
The stainless and unwedded one,
Within her womb conceived the Son.
Answer.
She fed the Saviour of the world,
The King of Angel hosts above,
Jesus, our Redeemer blest,
From the fountain of her breast.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer.
She fed the Saviour of the world,
The King of Angel hosts above,
Jesus, our Redeemer blest,
From the fountain of her breast.
Ninth Lesson.
A MONG all that are born of women
■^ the Lord Jesus Christ stood
alone in holiness. Fresh from His
immaculate Birth, He felt no con-
tagion from human corruption, and
1 Luke ii. 23.
NEW YEARS DAY.
315
His heavenly Majesty drove it away.
If we are to follow the letter and say
that every male that openeth the womb
is holy, how shall we explain that so
many have been unrighteous ? Was
Ahab holy ? Were the false prophets
holy ? Were they holy on whom
Elijah justly called down fire from
heaven ? But He to Whom the sacred
commandment of the law of God is
mystically directed is the Holy One of
Israel ; Who also alone hath opened
the secret womb of His holy Virgin-
bride the Church, filling her with a
sinless fruitfulness to give birth to
Christian souls.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God," &c, is said.
Lauds.
First Antiphon. How wonderful is
the dealing here ! * The Maker of
man hath taken to Himself a living
body, and hath been pleased to be
born of the Virgin : He is come forth
conceived without seed, and hath
made us partakers of His Divine
nature.
Second Antiphon. When, in an
unspeakable manner, * Thou wast
born of a Virgin, the Scriptures were
fulfilled ; to save man, Thou earnest
down as dew upon the fleece : we
praise Thee, O our God !
Third Antiphon. Mother of God,
when Moses * saw the bush uncon-
sumed, we own that it was a figure of
the preservation of thy most wonder-
ful virginity : pray for us.
Fourth Antiphon. The Root of
Jesse hath blossomed : * the star is
arisen out of Jacob, the Virgin hath
given birth to the Saviour : we praise
Thee, O our God !
Fifth Antiphon. Behold, Mary
hath borne * for us a Saviour ; John
beheld Him and cried, saying : Be-
hold, the Lamb of God, behold Him
that taketh away the sins of the world.
Alleluia.
Chapter. (Tit. ii. 11.)
'"PHE grace of God our Saviour
hath appeared, teaching us, that,
denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, right-
eously, and godly in this present
world.
Hymn from the Lauds of Christmas
Day.
Verse. The Word was made Flesh.
Alleluia.
Answer. And dwelt among us.
Alleluia.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
This day is set forth a wonderful mys-
tery, * a new thing hath been created
in the earth — God is made man.
That which He was He remaineth,
and that which He was not He taketh,
suffering therein neither confusion nor
division.
Prayer throughout the Office.
r\ GOD, Who, by the fruitful vir-
^^^ ginity of the Blessed Mary,
hast given unto mankind the rewards
of everlasting life ; grant, we beseech
Thee, that we may continually feel
the might of her intercession, through
whom we have worthily received the
Author of our life, our Lord JESUS
Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. How wonderful, &c,
{First Atitiphon at Lauds.)
Ln the Short Responsory the same
alteration as before.
316
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
MARTYROLOGY.
The morrow is the Octave of holy
Stephen the Proto-Martyr.
At Rome are commemorated upon
the same day many holy martyrs
who defied the edict of the Emperor
Diocletian whereby it was commanded
to give up the holy books, they
being willing rather to give over
their own bodies to the executioners
than to give unto dogs that which
was holy.
Upon the same 2nd day of Jan-
uary, were born into the better
life—
At Antioch, blessed Isidore, Bishop
[in the year 420].
At Tomi, in Pontus, under Emperor
Licinius, the three holy brethren,
Argeus, Narcissus, and Marcellinus.
Argeus and Narcissus were slain with
the sword. Marcellinus was a boy,
he was taken among the recruits, and
for as much as he would not be
a soldier he was grievously flogged,
and after suffering long in prison
was drowned in the sea [in the year
320].
At Milan [after the year 431],
holy Martinian [17th] bishop of that
see.
At Nitria, in Egypt, the blessed
confessor Isidore [Bishop of Hermo-
polis in the fourth century].
Upon the same day the holy Bishop
Siridion.
In the Thebaid the holy Abbat
Macarius of Alexandria [about the year
395]-
Chapter at the end. (Heb. ii. 11.)
T'HEY shall perish, but Thou re-
mainest ; and they all shall wax
old as doth a garment, and as a
vesture shalt Thou change them,
and they shall be changed ; but
Thou art the Same, and Thy years
shall not fail.
TERCE.
Antiphon. When in an unspeak-
able manner, &c, {Second Antiphon
at Lauds. )
Chapter as at Lauds.
Short Responsory as at Terce on
Christmas Day.
SEXT.
Antiphon. Mother of God, &c,
( Third Antiphon at Lauds. )
Chapter. (Heb. i. 10.)
AND: Thou, Lord, in the begin-
*^^ ning hast laid the foundation of
the earth : and the heavens are the
works of Thine hands.
Short Responsory as on Sext on
Christmas Day.
NONE.
Antiphon. Behold, Mary, &c.
{Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory as at None on
Christmas Day.
VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Prayer
from Lauds.
Psalms as in the Common Office for
Feasts of the Blessed Virgin.
Hymn and Verse and Answer from
the Vespers of Christmas Day.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Herein is a great mystery of
heirship ; the womb of her that knew
not a man is become the temple of
God : in taking of her flesh He was
not defiled : all nations shall come
and say, Glory be to Thee, O Lord !
OCTAVE OF ST STEPHEN.
317
Commemoration of St Stephen.
Antiphon. Stephen, full of grace
and power, did great wonders among
the people.
Verse. Stephen saw the heavens
opened.
Answer. He saw and entered in :
blessed is he unto whom the heavens
were opened.
Let us pray.
r\ ALMIGHTY and everlasting
^-^ God, Who hast dedicated the
first-fruits of Thy Martyrs with the
blood of the Blessed Stephen ; grant,
we beseech Thee, that the same may
pray for us also, who prayed even for
his murderers to our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son ; Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
No other Commemoration.
Jan. 2.
<Dctavt of 0fc £foep0en.
Double.
All as on the Feast-day, (J>. 281),
except the following.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Acts of
the Apostles (vii. 51.)
1 " \7"E stiff-necked, and uncircum-
cised in heart and ears, ye
do always resist the Holy Ghost ; as
your fathers did, so do ye. Which
of the Prophets have not your fathers
persecuted ? And they have slain
them which showed before of the
coming of the Just One ; of Whom
ye have been now the betrayers and
murderers : who have received the
law by the disposition of Angels,
and have not kept it." When they
heard these things they were cut
to the heart, and they gnashed on
him with their teeth.
Second Lesson.
"DUT he, being full of the Holy
Ghost, looked up steadfastly into
heaven, and saw the glory of God,
and JESUS standing on the right hand
of God. And said : f* Behold, I see
the heavens opened, and the Son of
man standing on the right hand of
God." Then they cried out with a
loud voice, and stopped their ears,
and ran upon him with one accord.
And they cast him out of the city and
stoned him : and the witnesses laid
down their clothes at a young man's
feet, whose name was Saul. And
they stoned Stephen, calling upon
God, and saying : " Lord Jesus, re-
ceive my spirit."
Third Lesson.
AND he kneeled down and cried
"^^ with a loud voice, saying :
" Lord, lay not this sin to their
charge." And when he had said
this, he fell asleep in the Lord,
(viii. 1.) And Saul was consenting
unto his death. And at that time
there was a great persecution against
the Church which was at Jerusalem :
and they were all scattered abroad
throughout the regions of Judea and
Samaria except the Apostles. And
devout men carried Stephen to his
burial and made great lamentation
over him.
1 The end of the speech of the Saint before the Council.
VOL. I.
L 2
3i8
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of 1 St Austin, Bishop [of
Hippo.] (2nd on St Stephen.)
"C*VEN after the glory of yesterday,
bright with the splendour of
Christ our Saviour's Birth, this day
findeth itself an illumination of its own
from the crown of the blessed Martyr
Stephen. The whole earth knoweth
how manfully he fought and con-
quered : for he suffered at the very
fountain-head of the Church, that is
to say, in Jerusalem. It was in the
Church there that he ministered as a
Deacon : and in the youthful spring-
time of life dyed with his blood the
lily of his purity. His Passion is
very glorious, and many ways wonder-
ful, and when we read it in the Acts
of the Apostles, we seem rather to see
than to hear.
Fifth Lesson.
C* HRIST, the Captain of the Martyrs,
^ hath first suffered for us, leaving
us an example that we should follow
His steps, (i Pet. ii. 21.) And truly,
Blessed Stephen followed them, when,
having confessed Christ, he was stoned
to death by the Jews, and obtained the
crown which his name had foreshown.
For the meaning of the Greek name
"Stephanos" is "a crown." Already
he had a crown for his name, a fore-
shadowing of the martyr's palm which
he beareth in heaven.
Sixth Lesson.
"\1THEN they stoned him he did not
rejoice at the thought that God
would take vengeance on his perse-
cutors. On the contrary, he prayed
that they might be forgiven. For he
remembered the word of the Lord, that
saith : "Vengeance belongeth unto
Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord,"
(Heb. x. 30,) and again: "Say not
thou ; I will recompense evil [to mine
enemies], but wait on the LORD, and
He shall save thee." (Prov. xx. 22.)
The Lord God biddeth us also be
patient, knowing that in the great day
of retribution, we, as well as His holy
martyrs, shall be righted.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (xxiii.
34-)
A T that time : Jesus said unto the
^^ Scribes and Pharisees : Behold,
I send unto you Prophets, and wise
men, and scribes : and some of them
ye shall kill and crucify. And so on.
Homily by St Jerome, Priest [at
Bethlehem.] (Bk. iv. Comment, on
Matth. xxiii.)
" O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that
killest the Prophets." The Jerusalem
that killed the Prophets was not the
material stone and houses, but they
that dwelt therein. He wept over her
with a father's love, as also it is written
in another place that, when He saw
the city, He wept over it. (Luke xix.
41.) "How often would I have
gathered thy children together." Here
observe that Christ avoweth that He
had been the Sender of all the former
Prophets. "Even as an hen gathereth
her chickens under her wings." A
similar figure is found in the Song of
Moses in Deuteronomy, xxxii. II, "As
an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth
over her young, spreadeth abroad her
1 Some parts are certainly by St Austin ; others are probably not.
OCTAVE OF ST STEPHEN.
3*9
wings, taketh them, and beareth them
on her wings." 1
Eighth Lesson.
" TDEHOLD, your house is left unto
you desolate." God had al-
ready spoken these things once before,
by the mouth of Jeremiah, where He
saith : " I have forsaken Mine house,
I have left Mine heritage ; Mine in-
heritance is become unto Me like an
hyaena's den."2 (xii. 7.) The house
of the Jews, which was to be left unto
them desolate, is that Temple, whose
splendour they loved only too well,
when they slew the Owner of it for the
sake of it, and said of Christ, " This is
the heir ; come, let us kill Him, and
the inheritance shall be ours." ( Matth.
xxi. 38.)
Ninth Lesson.
" T^OR I say unto you, Ye shall not
see Me henceforth, till ye shall
say : Blessed is he that cometh in the
name of the Lord." Here He speaketh
to Jerusalem and to the Jewish people.
The words, " Blessed is He That
cometh in the name of the Lord,"
were indeed spoken by babes and
sucklings when the Saviour entered
Jerusalem in triumph, " and they
that went before and they that fol-
lowed, cried, saying, ' Blessed is He
That cometh in the name of the
Lord ; Hosanna in the highest,' "
(Mark xi. 9,) but they are originally
taken from Psalm cxvii. 26. — -Which
Psalm is all evidently written in
honour of the coniing of our Lord.
LAUDS.
Co?nmemorations of St Thomas of
Canterbury, of St John, and of the
Holy Innocents from their respective
Lauds.
Martyrology.
The morrow is the Octave of the
holy Apostle and Evangelist John.
Upon the same 3rd day of January,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, upon the Appian Way,
holy Pope Anterus, who suffered under
the Emperor Julius Maximian, and was
buried in the cemetery of Callistus.
[He reigned 1 month and 1 2 days in
the year 236.]
Upon the same day, holy Peter, who
suffered the death of the cross at the
city of Aulone. [In the year 311 or
291.]
On the Hellespont, the holy martyrs
Cyrinus, Primus, and Theogenes
[about the year 320.]
At Caesarea, in Cappadocia, the holy
centurion Gordius [about the year
320], in whose praise Basil the Great
delivered a noble discourse upon his
feast day.
In Cilicia, the holy martyrs Zozi-
mus and Athanasius the Notary, also
the holy martyrs Theopemptus and
Theona, who suffered an illustrious
martyrdom in the persecution under
Diocletian.
At Padua, the holy martyr Daniel
[in the year 168.]
At Vienne, in Gaul, holy Florence,
[8th] bishop of that see [successor to
S. Paracodius], who was exiled in the
time of the Emperor Gallienus, and
there finished his testimony [in the
year 252.]
At Paris [in the year 512], the holy
virgin [and Patron of Paris] Genevieve,
who was dedicated to Christ by blessed
Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, and was
famous for her wondrous graces and
miracles.
1 In the original this quotation is made from a different version to that in the Psalter (p. 172).
2 This passage in Jeremiah is somewhat obscure. See it, on Wednesday in Holy Week,
where the translation in the text is altogether different.
320
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
VESPERS.
Antiphons from Lauds.
Psalms as on Sunday, except the
last, which is :
Psalm CXV.
I believed, therefore have I spoken,
&c.,(p. 185.)
From the Chapter inclusive the Ves-
pers are of the Octave of St fohn.
Chapter. (Ecclus. xv. 1.)
T_T E that feareth the Lord will do
good ; and he that keepeth
righteousness shall obtain her, and as
an honoured mother shall she meet
him.
Hymn from the Common Office for
Apostles.
Verse and Answer, Antiphon at the
Song of the Blessed Virgin, and Prayer,
from the Commemoration of St fohn in
the Second Vespers of St Stephen, (p.
286.)
Commemoration of St Thomas of
Canterbury and of the Holy Innocents
from the Second Vespers of their Feasts
respectively.
Jan. 3.
<Dctavt of §t Jf©0n.
Double.
All as on the Feast-day, {p. 287,)
except the following.
1 I.e., "Unveiling" or " Revelation."
2 "Seniores." But the Greek is " Presbyteroi, " generally translated, or, rather, contracted,
"Priests." It may be suggested, with great reverence, that the arrangement described is
similar to that in the most ancient Churches, some of which still exist. In these the East end
has a large arch, here represented by the rainbow, opening into a semi-circular apse, which is
here represented by the hollow vault of heaven. At the end of the apse is a " throne" for the
Bishop, and the Presbyters sit round the apse on either side of him. On the chord of the apse
stands the Altar, and the Celebrant occupies the place "in the midst of the throne and the
elders," assigned by St John to the True High Priest, looking at the people over the Altar. The
" sea of glass " is described as in the place where there is a paved enclosure for the Choir, viz.
just westward of the Altar. Under the Altar are placed the reliques of the Saints, (in primitive
times always martyrs — Rev. vi. 9,) and lighted lamps hang before it.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Apoca-
lypse of the Blessed Apostle John,
(iv. 1.)
A FTER this I looked ; and, behold,
a door was opened in heaven ;
and the first voice which I heard, was
as it were of a trumpet talking with
me, which said : Come up hither, and
I will show thee things which must be
hereafter. And immediately I was in
the Spirit ; and, behold, a throne was
set in heaven, and One sat on the
throne. And He That sat was to look
upon like a jasper and a sardine
stone ; and there was a rainbow round
about the throne, in sight like unto an
emerald ; and round about the throne
were four-and-twenty seats ; and upon
the seats I saw four-and-twenty 2 elders
sitting, clothed in white raiment ; and
they had on their heads crowns of
gold.
Second Lesson.
AND out of the throne proceeded
"^^ lightnings, and voices and thun-
derings ; and there were seven lamps
of fire burning before the throne, which
are the seven spirits of God. And
before the throne there was a sea of
glass like unto crystal ; and in the
midst of the throne, and round about
the throne, were four living creatures
full of eyes before and behind. And
OCTAVE OF ST JOHN.
321
the first living creature was like a lion,
and the second living creature like a
calf, and the third living creature had
the face as a man, and the fourth liv-
ing creature was like a flying eagle.
And the four living creatures had each
of them six wings about him ; and they
are full of eyes about and within.
Third Lesson.
A ND they rest not day and night,
"^^ saying : Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord
God Almighty, Which was, and is,
and is to come. And when those
living creatures gave glory and honour
and blessing to Him That sat upon
the throne, Who liveth for ever and
ever, the four-and-twenty elders fell
down, and worshipped Him That
liveth for ever and ever, and cast
their crowns before the throne, saying :
Thou art worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory, and honour, and
power ; for Thou hast created all
things, and for Thy pleasure they are
and were created.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from a treatise of
St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo,] on
John. (36.)
(~\F the Four Evangelists, or, rather,
^^^ the Four Writers of the 'one
Evangel, the holy Apostle John hath
not unworthily been compared by
spiritual writers to an eagle, because
of the lofty and glorious flight of his
teaching, soaring above the other
three ; a flight that raiseth not him-
self alone, but also the hearts of all,
whosoever will hear him. The other
three writers walk with the Lord
upon earth, as with a man, and enlarge
little upon His Godhead ; but John,
as though it had wearied him to
walk upon earth, in the very first words
of his writing, riseth not above the
earth only, or above the firmament,
and the heavens, but above every
angel, and above every power of
things unseen, and flieth directly to
Him by Whom all things were made,
saying : "In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God."
Fifth Lesson.
'"PHEN he goeth on worthily of such
a beginning, and speaketh of the
Lord's Godhead as none hath ever
spoken, uttering freely the things
which he had heard. It is not with-
out cause that it is told of him in
that Gospel how he lay on Jesus'
Breast at supper. Truly he drank
secretly from that Breast, and what
he drank secretly he hath uttered
openly, that all men may know not
only how the Son of God became
man, suffered, and rose again for us,
but likewise how He was with the
Father before He took flesh, the Only-
begotten Son, the Word of the Father,
co-eternal with Him that begat Him,
equal to Him That sent Him.
Sixth Lesson.
JOHN is an eagle that soareth up
to the things that are not made,
and fixeth his eye unquailing upon
the secret and eternal Light. It is
said that the father-eagle taketh his
young in his talons and flieth with
them, that they may look at the sun.
Them that look at it boldly, he
acknowledgeth for his own offspring,
but them whose eyes shrink, he letteth
fall from his claws as bastards. Let
us consider, then, how mightily he
must speak who is likened to an
eagle ; and yet we who are reptiles
crawling on earth, weak, and of small
consideration even among men, dare
322
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
take in hand these utterances, to treat
of them, and to explain them, and
think that our intelligence understand-
eth them, or our speech commendeth
them.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (xxi. 19.)
A T that time : Jesus saith unto
■*~*- Peter : Follow Me. Then Peter,
turning about, seeth the disciple whom
Jesus loved following. And so on.
Homily by St John Chrysostom,
Patriarch [of Constantinople.] (87//;
Ho7ti. on John.)
Christ had made known great things
to Peter, charged him with the care
of the whole world, announced to him
his future martyrdom, and given him
testimony of His especial love. Peter
then would have John for a fellow and
helper, and he said, " What shall this
man do?" as it were, "Shall not he
also follow the same path with me ? "
At the supper, when Peter would ask
a question of the Lord, he dared not,
but got John for his spokesman ; and
now Peter asketh that which he
thought John fain would know, but
dared not ask for himself. Christ
" saith unto him : If I will that he
tarry till I come, what is that to
thee ? "
Eighth Lesson.
"DETER asked because of his great
love for John, hoping not to be
parted from him, and Christ answered
him, that with whatever affection he
loved him, he could not love him as
He loved him. " If I will that he
tarry till I come, what is that to
thee ? " Let us learn from these
words, by the teaching of Christ,
neither to chafe, nor to enquire too
curiously, where the will of God is
concerned. For when Peter would
be still asking, the Lord at length
checked him in these words for his
continued curiosity.
Ninth Lesson.
" T^HEN went this saying abroad
among the brethren, that that
disciple should not die ; yet JESUS
said not unto him, He shall not die ;
but, If I will that he tarry till I come,
what is that to thee ? " That is, He
would not have it thought that He
had disposed of them both in the
same way. He spoke thus that He
might check the untimely motion of
affection, and the desire to continue
the old companionship. The Apostles
were about to take in charge the whole
earth, and it behoved them no more
to continue together, lest the world
should suffer. Therefore the Lord
saith to Peter : " Thou hast received
thy task ; bend thyself to it, and do
it ; work and fight ; what is it to thee
if I will that he tarry here ? Turn
thou to thine own appointed labour
and finish it."
Lauds.
Commemoration of St Thomas of
Canterbury and of the Holy Innocents
from their proper Lauds.
MARTYROLOGY.
The morrow is Octave of the Holy
Innocents.
Upon the same 4th day of January,
were born into the better life —
In Crete, holy Titus, whom the
Apostle Paul ordained Bishop for the
Cretans. When he had faithfully
brought to an end [about the year
105], his work of preaching, he ob-
OCTAVE OF CHILDERMAS.
323
tained a blessed death, and was buried
in that church whereof the blessed
Apostle had appointed him a worthy
minister. His feast is kept upon the
6th day of the month of February.
At Rome, the holy martyrs the
priest Priscus, the clerk Priscillian,
and the devout woman Benedicta,
who won martyrdom by the sword in
the time of the wicked Emperor Julian
[the Apostate].
Likewise at Rome, the blessed
martyr Dafrosa, wife of the holy
martyr Flavian [mother of St Bibi-
ana]. After the execution of her
husband she was first sentenced to
exile, and then put to death under
the aforesaid Emperor Julian.
At Bologna, the holy martyrs
Hermes, Aggaeus, and Caius, who
suffered under the Emperor Maxi-
mian.
At Adrumetum, in Africa, the holy
martyr Mavillus, whom the cruel
President Scapula condemned to the
wild beasts in the persecution under
the Emperor Severus, and who thus
received the crown of martyrdom.
Likewise in Africa, the illustrious
martyrs Aquilinus, Geminus, Eugenius,
Marcian, Quintus, Theodotus, and
Tryphon [about end of fifth century].
At Langres, holy Gregory, bishop
of that see, famous for miracles [in
the year 539].
At Rheims, in Gaul [in the year
743], the holy confessor Rigobert,
bishop [in the year 722] of that see.
VESPERS.
Antiphons from Lauds.
Psalms from the Common Office for
the Second Vespers of Apostles.
Commemoration of St Thomas of
Canterbury from his Second Vespers,
and of the Holy Innocents from t/ieir
ftroper Lauds.
Jan. 4.
Ocfwe of £0tf*oettttae.
Octave of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs.
Double.
All as on the Feast-day, except the
following.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Romans (v. 1.)
THEREFORE being justified by
faith, let us have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ ;
by Whom also we have access by
faith into this grace, wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of the
sons of God. And not only so, but
we glory in tribulations also, knowing
that tribulation worketh patience, and
patience proof, and proof hope ; and
hope maketh not ashamed, because
the love of God is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Ghost, Which is
given unto us.
Second Lesson.
"CpOR wherefore, when we were yet
without strength, did Christ in
due time die for the ungodly ? For
scarcely for a righteous man will one
die ; yet peradventure for a good man
some would even dare to die. But
God commendeth His love towards
us ; in that while we were yet sinners
Christ died for us ; much more then
being now justified by His Blood, we
shall be saved from wrath through
Him.
324
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Third Lesson.
T70R if, when we were enemies, we
were reconciled to God by the
death of His Son, much more, being
reconciled, we shall be saved by His
life. And not only so, but we also
joy in God, through our Lord JESUS
Christ, by Whom we have now re-
ceived the Atonement. Moreover,
as by one man sin entered into the
world, and death by sin, so also
death passed upon all men, for that
all have sinned.
[which shall be returned hereafter],
but they are pledges taken with-
out being given, impounded without
being entrusted.
Fifth Lesson.
~\J ATURE is herself our witness of
what the scene must have been
when the tyrant dashed the little ones
against the stones. The childless
mothers tore their hair ; those, whose
infants had still escaped, strove vainly
to hide them, and their very cries
betrayed them, too young to have
learnt the silence of fear. Sometimes
the wretched mother struggled with
the executioner, as he dragged the
child to which she clung from her
arms. The fruit of her body is torn
from her breast. Was it for this that
her womb bore it, and her paps gave
it suck ? Had she carried it so ten-
derly, that the murderer might seize
it ? It had come of her body only
to be dashed against the stones.
Sixth Lesson.
COMETIMES a broken-hearted
woman cried to the ruffian to
kill her also ; wherefore leave her to
her childless widowhood ? If fault
there were, the fault was hers, — then
why not let her suffer and follow her
lost one ? Some must have cried out
that all were being slain for the sake
of One, and that One had escaped.
And surely some called for the com-
ing of the Messiah to deliver them.
" Come, come, O Saviour, how long
do we wait for Thee ? Thou art Al-
mighty — come, and save our chil-
dren." And so the cry of the mother
and the sacrifice of her offspring went
up together to heaven.
1 There are good grounds for doubting the ascription of the Sermon to St Austin.
2 Pignora sunt, non credita sed creata, non deposita sed exposita. The passage is very-
obscure. The imagery seems to be taken from a pawn-shop.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of 1 St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo.]
( I st for Childermas. )
rTHE Lord is born, and sorrow
breaketh out, not in heaven but
on earth ; to mothers is proclaimed
lamentation, to angels joy, to children
translation. God is born, and inno-
cence must be offered up to Him Who
cometh to condemn the malice of the
world. The Lamb that taketh away
the sins of the world is come to be
crucified, and the tender flock is
brought to the sacrifice. But the
mothers will lament over them whose
inarticulate bleating is silenced for
ever. Let us turn a look on this
great martyrdom, this heart-rending
sorrow. The sword is drawn, though
there is no offence to punish, only
jealousy shrieking for Him Who is
born, and doth no violence. And
here are mothers weeping over the
lambs of the flock. "In Ramah was
there a voice heard, weeping and
great mourning." 2 They are pledges
OCTAVE OF CHILDERMAS.
325
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (ii.
A T that time : The Angel of the
"^^ Lord appeared to Joseph in a
dream, saying : Arise, and take the
young Child, and His Mother, and
flee into Egypt : and be thou there
until I bring thee word. And so on.
Homily by St John Chrysostom,
Patriarch [of Constantinople.] {8th on
Matthew.)
When Joseph had heard this he
was not troubled, neither did he say,
" This is doubtful, or at least obscure.
Thou saidst not long ago, that He
shall save His people, and now appar-
ently Himself He cannot save ; but
we are to flee, and journey far, and
dwell in a strange land. Thy works
belie thy words." But Joseph said
none of these things, for he was faith-
ful ; neither did he curiously ask of
the angel the time of his return, which
God was not pleased to show him,
but only to send him that word, " Be
thou there until I bring thee word."
Eighth Lesson.
"LJT E was not slothful, but obeyed
cheerfully, and by faith bore all
tribulations with joy. God in His
mercy mingled some joy with his
sorrow, as He doth in all the saints,
whom He will have to abide continu-
ally neither in sorrow, nor in joy : but
weaveth their life ever with a strange
diversity. And let us consider how
He did it here.
The Eighth Responsory is added to,
as when the Feast falls on Sunday.
Ninth Lesson.
V\7"HEN St Joseph knew that the
Virgin was with child, he was
greatly troubled ; but forthwith an
Angel came to take away his fears.
The Lord was born and he rejoiced with
exceeding joy ; but straightway came
the great danger, when all Jerusalem
was troubled, the king in great wrath,
and murderers seeking the young
Child's life. The star shone over
Bethlehem, and the wise men came
to worship ; but Herod sought to slay
the Saviour ; and they arose, and fled
into a far country.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is always said.
At Lauds a Commemoration is made
of St Thomas of Canterbury, from the
Lauds of his feast.
MARTYROLOGY.
The morrow is the Eve of the
Epiphany of the Lord, the same day
is the Octave of the holy martyr
Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury.
Upon the same 5th day of January,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy Pope Teles-
phorus, who toiled much for Christ,
and under the Emperor Antoninus
Pius obtained by his testimony a
glorious martyrdom.
In Egypt are commemorated many
holy martyrs who were slain in the
Thebaid in divers ways, in the perse-
cution under the Emperor Diocletian.
At Antioch, the holy monk Simeon,
who lived for many years standing
upon a pillar, whence he is called
Stylitis [from the Greek style, which
is being interpreted a pillar], whose
life and conversation was wonderful
[in the year 459].
In England, the holy King Edward,
famous for his gift of chastity and of
the power of working miracles. By
326
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
command of Pope Innocent XI. his
feast is kept upon the 13th day of
October, which is the day of the trans-
lation of his sacred body [in the year
1066.]
At Alexandria [in the fourth cen-
tury], holy Syncletica, whose noble
acts holy Athanasius hath set before
us in his writing.
At Rome, the holy virgin yEmiliana,
father's sister to holy Gregory the
Great. Her sister Tharsilla, who had
gone to God before her, came and
called her, and upon the same day she
passed hence to be for ever with the
Lord [sixth century].
Upon the same day, the holy virgin
Apollinaris [about the year 440].
VESPERS.
Antiphons from, Lauds.
Psalms as on Sundays, except the
last, which is Ps. cxv., " I believed,
&c," p. 185.
The Office is then of St Thomas of
Canterbury, as in the Office of One
Martyr.
Prayer, p. 297.
Comme?noration of the Holy Inno-
cents, also from p. 298, with the
Prayer, p. 292.
Commemoration of Twelfth-Day
Eve.
A?itiphon. The Child Jesus in-
creased in stature and wisdom before
God and man.
Verse. The LORD hath made
known. Alleluia.
Answer. His salvation. Alleluia.
pleasure, that through the name of
Thy well-beloved Son, we may worthily
abound in all good works.
Commemoration of 1 St TELESPHORUS,
Pope and Martyr.
All frotn the Lauds of the Common
Office of one Bishop and Martyr.
Prayer. O God, Who year by year
dost gladden us by the solemn feast-
day of Thy blessed Martyr and Bishop
Telesphorus, mercifully grant that we
who keep his birthday, may ever
feel the joyful effects of his pro-
tection. Through our Lord JESUS
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
Jan. 5.
bctavt of §bt Zfyoma* of
Which day is also Twelfth-Day Eve.
Double.
All from the Common Office for One
Martyr, except the Prayer, which is
as on his feast, p. 297, and the fol-
lowing :
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Romans (vii. 1.)
TT'NOW ye not, brethren, (for I
speak to them that know the
law,) how that the law hath dominion
1 The First Vespers of the Common Office for one Martyr being already in use for the
Octave of St Thomas, the Commemoration of St. Telesphorus is taken from the Lauds,
according to the Pie, ix. 8.
Let us pray.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting
God, do Thou order all our
actions in conformity with Thy good
O
OCTAVE OF ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY.
327
over a man, so long as he liveth ?
For the woman which hath an hus-
band is bound up by the law to her
husband so long as he liveth : but if
the husband be dead, she is loosed
from the law of her husband. So
then, if, while her husband liveth, she
be married to another man, she shall
be called an adulteress ; but, if her
husband be dead, she is free from the
law of her husband ; so that she is no
adulteress, though she be married to
another man.
Second Lesson.
Vy HE RE FORE, my brethren, ye
also are become dead to the
law by the body of Christ ; that ye
should be married to another, even to
Him Who is raised from the dead ;
that we should bring forth fruit unto
God. For when we were in the flesh,
the motions of sin which were by the
law, did work in our members, to
bring forth fruit unto death. But now
we are delivered from the law of
death wherein we were held, that we
should serve in newness of spirit, and
not in the oldness of the letter.
Psalm by St Ambrose, Bishop [of
Milan. ] ( 2 1 st Sermon. )
" TDRINCES have persecuted me
without a cause : but my
heart standeth in awe of Thy word."
These are rightly the words of a
martyr, who beareth unjustly the tor-
ments of the persecutors, who hath
robbed no man, who hath violently
oppressed no man, who hath shed the
blood of no man, who hath imagined
to defile the bed of no man, who is
debtor to the laws in nothing, and who
is punished more grievously than if he
were a robber : who speaketh right-
eousness, and there is none that will
hear : who speaketh salvation, and all
men fight against him : who is able to
say : " When I spoke unto them, they
fought against me without a cause."
(Ps. cxix. 7.) They fight against him
without a cause, who can lay no sin to
his charge : they fight against him as
an evil-doer, who is by their own ac-
knowledgment righteous : they fight
against him as a warlock, who glorieth
in the name of the Lord, and who
doeth all things well because he doeth
all things for God's sake.
Third Lesson.
AIT HAT shall we say then ? Is the
law sin? God forbid. Nay,
I had not known sin, but by the law.
For I had not known lust, except the
law had said : Thou shalt not covet.
But sin, taking occasion by the com-
mandment, wrought in me all manner
of concupiscence. For without the
law sin was dead. For I was alive
without the law once : but when the
commandment came sin revived.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Exposi-
tion of the hundred-and-eighteenth
Fifth Lesson.
*T"*HEY fight against him in vain who
is accused of ungodliness among
the ungodly and the unfaithful, because
he teacheth Faith. Verily, him that
is fought against without a cause it
behoveth to be strong and patient.
Wherefore then saith he : "My heart
standeth in awe of Thy word ? " Awe
is the mark of the weak, the timid, and
the fearful. But there is also a weak-
ness unto salvation, there is a fear
which is an holy fear. "O fear the
LORD, all ye His Saints." (Ps. xxxiii.
10.) And again: "Blessed is the
man that feareth the Lord." (Ps.
cxi. 1.) And wherefore is he blessed ?
328
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
because he "delighteth greatly in His
commandments."
Sixth Lesson.
'T'HINK, then, how the martyr
standeth between two dangers.
On the one hand the wild beasts,
roaring for his blood, do indeed strike
terror ; he heareth the hissing of the
plates of white-hot metal, and seeth
surging up the flames of the fiery
furnace ; behind him is the clanking
of fetters, and beside him the execu-
tioner, stained with fresh blood ; think
of him there, face to face with the
apparatus of death — but think again —
of what thinketh he ? Of the Law of
God, of the everlasting fire, of the
eternal flames wherein the unbelieving
shall burn for ever, of that torture
whereof the agony is for ever new.
And then indeed his heart faileth for
fear, lest by giving way under torment
here, he should give himself up to
everlasting torment hereafter : then
indeed he trembleth, when Faith
maketh to glitter before his eyes the
awful sword of the judgment to come.
And in this, the faithful trembling of
the true-hearted, are there not both
unshaken hope of the eternal things,
and awe of the things of God ?
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (x. 1 1.)
A T that time : Jesus said unto the
■^^ Pharisees : I am the Good Shep-
herd. The Good Shepherd giveth
His life for His sheep. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (14th on the Gospels.)
Dearly beloved brethren, ye have
heard from the Holy Gospel what is
at once your instruction, and our
danger. Behold, how He Who, not
by the varying gifts of nature, but of
the very essence of His being, is
Goodness, behold how He saith : " I
am the Good Shepherd." And then
He saith what is the character of His
goodness, even of that goodness of
His which we must strive to copy :
" The Good Shepherd giveth His life
for the Sheep." As He had foretold,
even so did He ; as He had com-
manded, so gave He ensample. The
Good Shepherd gave His life for the
sheep, and made His Own Body and
His Own Blood to be our Sacramental
Food, pasturing upon His Own Flesh
the sheep whom He had bought.
Eighth Lesson.
"LT E, by despising death, hath shown
us how to do the like ; He hath
set before us the mould wherein it be-
hoveth us to be cast. Our first duty
is, freely and tenderly to spend our
outward things for His sheep, but
lastly, if need be, to serve the same
by our death also. From the light
offering of the first, we go on to the
stern offering of the last, and, if we be
ready to give our life for the sheep,
why should we scruple to give our
substance, seeing ,how much " more is
the life than meat?" (Matt. vi. 25.)
And some there be which love the
things of this world better than
they love the sheep ; and such as
they deserve no longer to be called
shepherds. These are they of whom
it is written : " But he that is an hire-
ling, and not the shepherd, whose own
the sheep are not, seeth the wolf
coming, and leaveth the sheep, and
fleeth" (12.) He is not a shepherd
but an hireling which feedeth the
Lord's sheep, not because he loveth
their souls, but because he doth gain
earthly wealth thereby. He that
OCTAVE OF ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY.
329
taketh a shepherd's place, but seeketh
not gain of souls, that same is but
an hireling ; such an one is ever
ready for creature-comforts, he loveth
his pre-eminence, he groweth sleek
upon his income, and he liketh well
to see men bow down to him.
Ninth Blessing.
May the Gospel's glorious word
Cleansing to our souls afford.
Ninth Lesson. (For the Eve of
the Epiphany.)
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (ii.
A T that time : When Herod was
dead, behold, an Angel of the
Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph
in Egypt, saying : Arise and take the
young Child and His Mother, and
go into the land of Israel. And so
on.
Homily by St Jerome, Priest [at
Bethlehem.] (Bk. i., Comm. on
Matth. ii.)
From the words, "they are dead,"
(in the Plural), which are used in this
passage of the Gospel, we may under-
stand that there were others beside
Herod " which sought the young
Child's life" — probably the Priests
and Scribes. "And he" (Joseph)
"arose, and took the young Child
and His Mother." It is not written,
" He took his wife and child," but
"he took the young Child and His
Mother ; " whence it is clear that the
holy Evangelist willeth to imply that
Joseph was not the father, but the
Guardian of Jesus, not the husband,
but the Betrothed of Mary.
1 Judges xiii. 5, however, contains almost the precise phrase, and is very like Luke i. 31,
and Matth. 1. 21.
" But when he heard that Archelaus
did reign in Judea, in the room of his
father Herod, he was afraid to go
thither." There are some persons
so grossly ignorant of history that
they confuse themselves over the two
Herods, as if the one mentioned here
were the same who afterwards set
our Lord at nought during His Pas-
sion, and they cannot understand how
he should now be said to be dead.
The Herod who was made friends
with Pilate over Christ's death, was
the son of the Herod who massacred
the infants of Bethlehem, and the
brother of Archelaus.
" He shall be called a Nazarene."
The Evangelist, in quoting these words,
saith that they were " spoken by the
Prophets," (Plural). If he had been
citing any one precise passage he
would have said " by the Prophet,"
in the Singular. But he is citing
the sense of the Prophets, and not
any individual passage in any of
their writings. He seemeth to refer
to the fact that in Hebrew the word
" Nazarene " signifieth " holy," and
that Christ is the Holy One of God
is the common declaration of all the
Scriptures.1
The Hymn, " We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
At Lauds a Commemoration is made
of the Eve of the Epiphany, from the
Lauds of the Sunday within the Octave
of Christmas, p. 305.
Then of St Te/esphorus, from the
First Vespers of One Martyr Prayer
as on the preceding evening.
Martyrology.
The morrow is the Epiphany of
the Lord.
Upon the same 6th day of January,
were born into the better life —
330
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
In the country of Rheims, by
command of the President Rictio-
varus, in the persecution under the
Emperor Diocletian, the holy virgin
and martyr Macra — she was first
cast into the fire but remained un-
hurt, whereupon her breasts were
cut off, and she was thrust into a
prison and rolled upon sharp pot-
sherds and live coals until she passed
away in prayer to be ever with the
Lord.
On the same day are commemorated
many holy martyrs in Africa, who
were burnt at the stake in the perse-
cution under the Emperor Severus.
At Rennes, in Gaul, the holy con-
fessor Melanius [Abbat of Platz]
[in the year 511], bishop of that see,
who after countless works of power
passed gloriously out of this world to
that heaven where his heart was al-
ready fixed [in the year 530].
At Florence, holy Andrew Corsini
of that city, a Carmelite friar, Bishop
of Fiesoli, who was famous for miracles
[in the year 1373], and whose name
was numbered by Urban VIII. among
those of the Saints, whose feast we
keep upon the 4th day of February.
At Geris, in Egypt, the holy hermit
Nilammon, who gave up his soul in
prayer to God while he was being
haled against his will to make him
a bishop [fifth century].
The Feast begins at sunset.
From henceforth till the end of the
Octave of Twelfth-Day, the last verse
of all the Hymns at Prime, Terce,
Sext, None, and Compline, is altered
in honour of the Epiphany.
33i
Jan. 6.
€fo*lft|)=I33ag,
2Tfce iEpiptjang x of the 3Loro.
Double of the First Class, with an Octave.
Everything as on Sundays except
what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Prayer
from Lauds.
The Last Psalm,
Psalm CXVI.
O praise the LORD, all ye nations,
&c, (p. 1 86.)
Hymn!1
"VXTHAT makes thee, cruel Herod, quake,
Lest Christ thy crown from thee
should take?
He will not seize an earthly throne,
Who heavenly kingdoms makes our own.
1 Epiphaneia — a Greek word, meaning Manifestation. By the Greeks themselves the Feast is
called most commonly the Theophaneia, or Manifestation of God. It is observed by the Church
in honour of the Manifestation of Christ upon three occasions : first, when a star led the wise
men to adore Him ; secondly, when He was baptized in Jordan, and the Father proclaimed
Him His Son; thirdly, when He " manifested forth His glory " by turning water into wine at
Cana. Of these occasions the first is principally commemorated on the Feast itself, and the
second on the Octave, but mentions of the latter penetrate the whole Office. Throughout the
whole East there is a Blessing of the Waters at the First Vespers, in which the people bathe, or
from which they are sprinkled, in honour of the Baptism of Christ, and there is a Ritual for the
purpose, according to the Roman Rite, which is in use in some Churches at Rome and else-
where. This ceremony is repeatedly alluded to in the Office, and must be kept in mind if it is
to be intelligently followed. The Birth of Christ appears (at least in some places) to have been
anciently observed on this day, as is still done by the Monophysite Armenians, and this perhaps
accounts in part for the great importance given to it.
2 Hymn by Coelius Sedulius, unaltered save in the first two lines ; translation extracted from
the " Hortus Animae." 3 Ps. lxxi. io.
The Sages coming from afar,
Follow the new appearing star :
With light they seek a better Light ;
Their gifts confess the God of might.
The heavenly Lamb in Jordan stood,
To sanctify the crystal flood ;
Our sins with that baptismal dew,
Were washed in Him, Who sin ne'er knew.
A strange miraculous power is shown :
The water pots are ruddy grown,
Whose waters by command Divine
Their nature change, and yield pure wine.
To Christ, Who did the Gentiles call,
Be endless glory given by all,
To God the Father we repeat
The same, and to the Paraclete. Amen.
Verse. 3 The kings of Tarshish and
of the isles shall bring presents.
332
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Answer. The kings of Arabia and
Saba shall offer gifts.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. When the wise men saw
the star, they said one unto another :
This is the sign of the Great King ;
let us go and search diligently for
Him, and present unto Him gifts,
gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Alleluia.
COMPLINE.
The last verse of the Hymn is said
thus :
Jesu, Whom now the Gentiles see,
To Thee all praise be given,
With Father, Spirit, One and Three,
Here as it is in heaven. Amen.
MATTINS.
The Lord's Prayer, the Angelic Salu-
tation, and the Apostles'1 Creed are re-
cited inaudibly, as usual, but the rest
of the beginning of Mattins is entirely
omitted, and the Service begins with
a large Sign of the Cross, then pro-
ceeds with the First Antiphon of the
First Nocturn, as follows :
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Give unto the
Lord, O ye sons of God : * worship
the Lord in His holy courts.
Psalm XXVIII.
Give unto the Lord, &c, {p. 75.)
Second Antiphon. It is a river,
the streams whereof make glad * —
Alleluia — the city of God — Alleluia.
Psalm XL V.
God is our refuge, &c, {p. 97.)
Third Antiphon. Sing praises to
our God, sing praises : * sing praises
1 Ps. lxv. 4. 2 Matth. iii. 16, 17.
unto our King, sing ye praises with
understanding.
Psalm XL VI.
O clap your hands, &c, (p. 98.)
Verse. 1 Let all the earth worship
Thee, and sing unto Thee.
Answer. Let them sing praises to
Thy Name, O Lord.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (lv. 1.)
TUT O, every one that thirsteth, come
ye to the waters ; and he that
hath no money, come ye, buy and
eat : yea, come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
Wherefore do ye spend money for
that which is not bread, and your
labour for that which satisfieth not ?
Hearken diligently unto Me, and eat
ye that which is good, and let your
soul delight itself in fatness. Incline
your ear and come unto Me : hear,
and your soul shall live : and I will
make an everlasting covenant with
you, even the sure mercies of David.
Behold I have given him for a witness
to the people, a leader and com-
mander to the nations.
First Responsory.
This day, 2 when the Lord was bap-
tized in Jordan, the heavens were
opened, and the Spirit descended like
a dove, and abode upon Him, and, lo,
the voice of the Father was heard,
3 like unto thunder, saying : This is
My beloved Son, in Whom I am well
pleased.
Verse. 4 The Holy Ghost de-
scended in a bodily shape like a dove
upon Him, and a voice came from
heaven —
3 Ps. xxviii. 3.
4 Luke iii. 22.
TWELFTH-DAY.
333
Answer. This is My beloved Son,
an Whom I am well pleased.
Second Lesson, (lx. i.)
A RISE, shine, [O Jerusalem,] for
thy light is come, and the glory
of the LORD is risen upon thee. For,
behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and gross darkness the people : but
the Lord shall arise upon thee, and
His glory shall be seen upon thee.
And the Gentiles shall walk in thy
light, and kings in the brightness of
thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round
about and see : all they gather them-
selves together, they come to thee ;
thy sons shall come from far, and thy
daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
Then thou shalt see, and tremble ;
and thine heart shall rejoice and be
enlarged, because the riches of the
sea shall be poured in upon thee, the
wealth of the Gentiles shall come unto
thee ; the multitude of camels shall
cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian
and x Ephah : all they from Saba
shall come : they shall bring gold and
incense, and they shall proclaim the
praises of the Lord.
Second Responsory.
The Holy Ghost appeared in a
bodily shape like a dove, and the
voice of the Father was heard : This
is My beloved Son, in Whom I am
well pleased.
Verse. The heavens were opened
unto him, and, lo, the voice of the
Father was heard, like unto thunder,
saying :
Answer. This is My beloved Son,
in Whom I am well pleased.
Third Lesson. (Isa. lxi. 10. )
T WILL greatly rejoice in the LORD,
and my soul shall be joyful in my
God : for He hath clothed me with
1 A country and tribe of the Midianites.
the garments of salvation, and hath
covered me with the robe of righteous-
ness, as a bridegroom decketh himself
with ornaments, and as a bride
adorneth herself with her jewels.
For as the earth bringeth forth her
bud, and as the garden causeth the
things that are sown in it to spring
forth, so the Lord 2 God will cause
righteousness and praise to spring
forth before all the nations, (lxii. I.)
For Zion's sake I will not hold my
peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will
not rest, until the Righteous One
thereof go forth as brightness, and her
Saviour as a lamp that burneth.
Third Responsory.
The kings of Tarshish and of the
isles shall bring presents. The kings
of Arabia and Saba shall offer gifts
unto the Lord God.
Verse. All they from Saba shall
come, they shall bring gold and in-
cense.
Answer. The kings of Arabia and
Saba shall offer gifts unto the Lord
God.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The kings of Arabia and
Saba shall offer gifts unto the Lord
God.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Let all the earth
worship Thee, and sing unto Thee : *
let them sing praises to Thy name, O
Lord.
Psalm LXV.
Make a joyful noise, &c, {p. 115.)
Second Antiphon. The kings of
Tarshish and the isles shall bring
presents * unto the Lord the King.
2 The name.
334
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Psalm LXXI.
Give the king Thy judgment, &c,
(p. 126.)
Third Antiphon. All nations
whom Thou hast made shall come *
and worship before Thee, O Lord.
Psalm LXXXV.
Bow down Thine ear, &c, {p. 143.)
Verse. The kings of Tarshish and
of the isles shall bring presents.
Answer. The kings of Arabia and
Saba shall offer gifts.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of Pope St Leo [the Great]
{2nd for Twelfth-Day.)
T~\ EARLY beloved brethren, re-
joice in the Lord ; again I say,
rejoice. But a few days are past
since the solemnity of Christ's Birth,
and now the glorious light of His
Manifestation is breaking upon us.
On that day the Virgin brought Him
forth, and on this the world knew
Him. The Word made Flesh was
pleased to reveal Himself by degrees
to those for whom He had come.
When Jesus was born He was mani-
fested indeed to the believing, but
hidden from His enemies. Already
indeed the heavens declared the glory
of God, and their sound went out into
all lands, when the Herald Angels
appeared to tell to the shepherds the
glad tidings of a Saviour's Birth ; and
now the guiding star leadeth the wise
men to worship Him, that from the
rising of the sun to the going down
thereof, the Birth of the true King
may be known abroad ; that through
those wise men the kingdoms of the
east might learn the great truth, and
the Roman empire remain no more in
darkness.
Fourth Responsory.
Shine, shine, O Jerusalem, for thy
light is come : and the glory of the
LORD is risen upon thee.
Verse. And the Gentiles shall walk
in thy light, and kings in the bright-
ness of thy rising.
Answer. And the glory of the
Lord is risen upon thee.
Fifth Lesson.
r~PHE very cruelty of Herod, when
he strove to crush at His birth
this King Whom he alone feared, was
made a blind means to carry out this
dispensation of mercy. While the
tyrant with horrid guilt sought to slay
the little Child he did not know, amid
an indiscriminate slaughter of inno-
cents, his infamous act served to
spread wider abroad the heaven-told
news of the Birth of the Lord. Thus
were these glad tidings loudly pro-
claimed, both by the novelty of their
story, and the iniquity of their ene-
mies. Then was the Saviour borne
into Egypt, that that nation, of a long
time hardened in idolatry, might by
the mysterious virtue which went out
of Him, even when His presence was
unknown, be prepared for the saving
light so soon to dawn on them, and
might receive the Truth as a wanderer
even before they had banished false-
hood.
Fifth Responsory.
All they from Saba shall come, they
shall bring gold and incense, and they
shall show forth the praises of the
Lord. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. The kings of Tarshish and of
the isles shall bring presents, the kings
of Arabia and Saba shall offer gifts.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
TWELFTH-DAY.
335-
Sixth Lesson.
T~\ EARLY beloved brethren, we re-
cognise in the wise men who
came to worship Christ, the first-fruits
of that dispensation to the Gentiles
wherein we also are called and en-
lightened. Let us then keep this Feast
with grateful hearts, in thanksgiving
for our blessed hope, whereof it doth
commemorate the dawn. From that
worship paid to the new-born Christ is
to be dated the entry of us Gentiles
upon our heirship of God and co-heir-
ship with Christ. Since that joyful
day the Scriptures which testify of
Christ have lain open for us as well as
for the Jews. Yea, their blindness
rejected that Truth, Which, since that
day, hath shed Its bright beams upon
all nations. Let all observance, then,
be paid to this most sacred day,
whereon the Author of our salvation
was made manifest, and as the wise
men fell down and worshipped Him in
the manger, so let us fall down and
worship Him enthroned Almighty in
heaven. As they also opened their
treasures and presented unto Him
mystic and symbolic gifts, so let us
strive to open our hearts to Him, and
offer Him from thence some worthy
offering.
Sixth Responsory.
There came wise men from the east
to Jerusalem, asking and saying :
Where is He That is born King of the
Jews ? for we have seen His star in
the east, and are come to worship the
Lord.
Verse. We have seen His star in the
east.
Answer. And are come to worship
the Lord.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And are come to worship
the Lord.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Instead of the ist Psalm the follow-
ing is said just as given here.
Antiphon. O come, let us worship
Him : for He is the Lord our God.
Psalm XCIV.
r\ COME, let us sing unto the
^-^ Lord : let us make a joyful
noise to the God of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence
with thanksgiving, and make a joyful
noise unto Him with psalms.
Antiphon. O come, let us worship
Him : for He is the Lord our God.
For the Lord is a great God, and
a great King above all gods.
In His hand are the inmost depths
of the earth : and the heights of the
hills are His also.
Antiphon. O come, let us worship
Him : for He is the Lord our God.
For the sea is His, and He made it,
and His hands formed the dry land.
Antiphon. O come, let us worship
Him : for He is the Lord our God.
And we are the people of His pas-
ture, and the sheep of His hand. To-
day if ye will hear His voice, harden
not your heart.
As in " the Provocation," and as
in the day of " Temptation " in the
wilderness, when your fathers tempted
Me, and proved Me, and saw My
works.
Antiphon. O come, let us worship
Him : for He is the Lord our God.
Forty years long was I grieved with
that generation, and said : It is a
people that do alway err in their
heart.
And they have not known My ways ;
unto whom I sware in My wrath that
they should not enter into My rest.
Antiphon. O come, let us worship
Him : for He is the Lord our God.
336
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Antiphon. O come, let us worship
Him : for He is the Lord our God.
The Service then proceeds as usual.
Second Antiphon. O worship the
Lord * — Alleluia — in His holy temple
— Alleluia.
Psalm XCV.
O sing unto the Lord, &c, (p.
148.)
Third Antiphon. Worship God * —
Alleluia — all ye His Angels — Alleluia.
Psalm XCV/.
The LORD reigneth, &c, {p. 149.)
Verse. O worship the Lord — Alle-
luia.
Answer. In His holy temple — Alle-
luia.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (ii. 1.)
AlfHEN Jesus was born in Bethle-
hem of Judah, in the days of
Herod the king, behold there came
wise men from the East to Jerusalem,
saying : Where is He that is born
King of the Jews ? And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (10th on the Gospels.)
Dearly beloved brethren, hear ye
from the Gospel lesson how, when the
King of heaven was born, the king of
earth was troubled ? The heights of
heaven are opened and the depths of
earth are stirred. Let us now consider
the question, why, when the Redeemer
was born, an angel brought the news
to the shepherds of Judea, but a star
led the wise men of the East to worship
Him. It seemeth as if the Jews as
reasonable creatures received a revela-
tion from a reasonable being, that is,
an angel, but the Gentiles without,
being as brutes, are roused not by a
voice, but by a sign, that is, a star.
Hence Paul hath it: "a sign, not to
them that believe, but to them that
believe not : but prophesying serveth
not for them that believe not, but for
them which believe." (1 Cor. xiv. 22.)
So the prophesying, (that is, of the
angel) was given to them that believed,
and the sign to them that believed not.
Seventh Responsory.
The star which the wise men had
seen in the East, went before them, till
they came where the young Child was.
And when they saw the star, they
rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Verse. And when they were come
into the house, they found the young
Child with Mary His Mother, and fell
down and worshipped Him.
Answer. And when they saw the
star, they rejoiced with exceeding great
joy.
Eighth Lesson.
'"PHUS also we remark that after-
wards the Redeemer was preached
among the Gentiles not by Himself,
but by His Apostles, even as, when a
little Child, He is shown to them, not
by the voice of angels, but merely by
the vision of a star. When He Him-
self had begun to speak He was made
known to us by speakers, but when He
lay silent in the manger, by that silent
testimony in heaven. But whether we
consider the signs which accompanied
His birth or His death, this thing is
wonderful, namely, the hardness of
TWELFTH-DAY.
337
heart of the Jews, who would not
believe in Him either for prophesying
or for miracles.
Eighth Responsory.
When the wise men saw the star,
they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the
house, they found the young Child with
Mary His Mother, and fell down and
worshipped Him ; and when they had
opened their treasures, they presented
unto Him gifts ; gold, and frankincense,
and myrrh.
Verse. The star which the wise men
had seen in the East, went before them,
till it came and stood over where the
young Child was.
Answer. And when they were come
into the house, they found the young
Child with Mary His Mother, and fell
down and worshipped Him.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And when they had
opened their treasures, they presented
unto Him gifts ; gold, and frankin-
cense, and myrrh.
Ninth Lesson.
A LL things which He had made,
"^^ bore witness that their Maker
was come. Let me reckon them after
the manner of men. The heavens
knew that He was God, and sent a
star to shine over where He lay. The
sea knew it, and bore Him up when
He walked upon it. The earth knew
it, and quaked when He died. The
sun knew it, and was darkened. The
rocks and walls knew it, and rent at
the hour of His death. Hell knew
it, and gave up the dead that were
in it. And yet up to this very
hour the hearts of the unbelieving
Jews will not acknowledge that He
to Whom all nature testified is their
God, and, being more hardened
than the rocks, refuse to be rent by
repentance.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. The Lord our Sa-
viour, * begotten before the day-star,
and before the ages, is this day made
manifest in the world.
Second Antiphon. O Jerusalem, *
thy light is come, and the glory of
the LORD is risen upon thee, and the
Gentiles shall walk in thy light.
Alleluia.
Third Antiphon. When the wise
men * had opened their treasures,
they presented unto the Lord gold,
frankincense, and myrrh. Alleluia.
Fourth Antiphon. O ye seas and
floods, * bless ye the Lord. O ye
wells, bless ye the Lord. Alleluia.
Fifth Antiphon.
1 Bright as a fiery beacon gleams
The guiding star, * whose mystic
beams
Shone o'er the crib where, veiled in
clay,
The new-born King of Glory lay.
When to the manger came the three,
They fell in worship on the knee,
Then to the King their gifts unfold,
The myrrh, the frankincense, and gold.
Chapter. (Isa. lx. I.)
A RISE, shine, O Jerusalem, for thy
"^ light is come, and the glory of
the Lord is risen upon thee.
1 Two verses of an Hymn.
338
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Hymn.1
DETHLEHEM ! of noblest cities,
None can once with thee compare ;
Thou alone the Lord of heaven,
Didst for us Incarnate bear.
Fairer than the sun at morning,
Was the star that told His birth ;
To the lands their God announcing,
Hid beneath a form of earth.
By its lambent beauty guided,
See, the Eastern Kings appear ;
See them bend, their gifts to offer, —
Gifts of incense, gold, and myrrh.
Offerings of mystic meaning ! —
Incense doth the God disclose ;
Gold a Royal Child proclaimeth ;
Myrrh a future tomb foreshows.
Holy Jesu, in Thy brightness
To the Gentile world displayed !
With the Father and the Spirit,
Endless praise to Thee be paid.
Amen.
Verse. Worship God — Alleluia.
Answer. All ye His angels.
Alleluia.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
This day is the Church joined unto
the Heavenly Bridegroom, * since
Christ hath washed away her sins in
Jordan ; the wise men hasten with
gifts to the marriage supper of the
King ; and they that sit at meat
together make merry with water
turned into wine. Alleluia.
Prayer throughout the Office.
r\ GOD, Who by the leading of a
^-^ star didst, as on this day, mani-
fest Thine Only-begotten Son to the
Gentiles, mercifully grant that we,
which know Thee now by faith, may
after this life have the fruition of Thy
glorious Godhead ; through the Same
1 Hymn by Aurelius Prudentius Clemens practically unchanged ; translation by the Rev.
iE. Caswall.
our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
PRIME.
Last verse of the Hymn as at Com-
pline.
Antiphon. The Lord our Saviour,
&c, {First Antiphon at Lauds.)
In the Short Responsory instead of
the Verse, "Thou That sittest at the
right hand of the Father," is said:
Verse. Thou That art manifested
unto us this day.
And the same alteration is made
every day till the end of the Octave.
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we call to mind the
return of the Child Jesus out of Egypt.
Upon the same 7th day of January,
were born into the better life —
At Nicomedia, for confessing Christ,
in the persecution under the Emperor
Galerius Maximian, the blessed mar-
tyr Lucian, priest of the Church of
Antioch, distinguished for his learn-
ing and eloquence, whose praise hath
been recorded by holy John Chrysos-
tom. He is buried at Helenopolis in
Bithynia.
At Antioch, the holy martyr the
deacon Cleri, who on account of his
glorious confession was seven times
put to the torture, suffered long in
prison, and at length was beheaded.
In the city of Heraclea, the holy
martyrs Felix and Januarius.
On the same day, the holy martyr
Julian.
In Denmark [in the year 1086], the
holy martyr King Canute [IV.], whose
TWELFTH-DAY.
339
feast is kept on January 19 [although
not in England].
At Pavia, the holy confessor Crispin
[I.], bishop of that see [in the year
248].
In Dacia, the holy bishop Nicetas,
who by his preaching of the Gospel
caused savage and barbarous tribes
to become mild and gentle. [Fifth
century.]
In Egypt, the blessed monk Theo-
dore, who flourished in holiness in the
time of the Emperor Constantine the
Great, and of whom mention is made
by holy Athanasius in the life of holy
Anthony.
At Barcelona [in the year 1275],
holy Raymond of Pehafuerte, of the
order of Friars Preachers, famous for
his holiness and teaching, whose feast
we keep upon the 23rd day of this
present month of January.
Chapter at the end. (Isa. lx. 6.)
A LL they from Saba shall come,
J^ they shall bring gold and in-
cense, and they shall show forth the
praises of the LORD.
TERCE.
The last verse of the Hymn is said
. thus :
Jesu, Whom now the Gentiles see,
Father and Spirit, One and Three,
To Thee, one God, be glory given,
By men on earth, by Saints in heaven.
Amen.
Antiphon. O Jerusalem, * &c,
{Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter and Prayer from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
The kings of Tarshish and of the
isles shall bring presents. Alleluia,
Alleluia.
Answer. The kings of Tarshish and
of the isles shall bring presents. Alle-
luia, Alleluia.
Verse. The kings of Arabia and
Saba shall offer gifts.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. The kings of Tarshish and
of the isles shall bring presents. Alle-
luia, Alleluia.
Verse. All they from Saba shall
come. Alleluia.
Answer. They shall bring gold and
incense. Alleluia.
SEXT.
The last verse of the Hymn is said
thus :
Jesu, by Gentiles now adored,
With Father and with Holy Ghost,
To Thee be praise, as God and Lord,
On earth as 'mid the Angelic host.
Amen.
Antiphon. When the wise men, *
&c, {Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Isa. lx. 4.)
[" I FT up thine eyes round about,
and see ; all they gather them-
selves together, they come to thee :
thy sons shall come from far, and thy
daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
Short Responsory.
All they from Saba shall come.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Answer. All they from Saba shall
come. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. They shall bring gold and
incense.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. All they from Saba shall
come. Alleluia, Alleluia.
340
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Verse. Worship the Lord. Alle-
luia.
Answer. In His holy courts. Alle-
luia.
NONE.
Last verse of the Hymn as at Com-
pline.
Antiphon. Bright as a fiery beacon
gleams, * &c, {Fifth Antiphon at
Lauds. )
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
Worship the Lord. Alleluia, Al-
leluia.
Answer. Worship the LORD. Alle-
luia, Alleluia.
Verse. In His holy courts.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Worship the Lord. Alle-
luia, Alleluia.
Verse. Worship God. Alleluia.
Answer. All ye His angels. Alle-
luia.
SECOND VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Prayer
from Lauds.
Hymn and Verse and Answer from
First Vespers.
Psalms as on Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. This day we keep a holiday
in honour of three wonders, * — this
day a star led the wise men to the
manger ; this day at the marriage,
water was made wine ; this day was
Christ, for our salvation, pleased
to be baptized of John in Jordan.
Alleluia.
If this day should be a Saturday,
the following Comtnemoration is made
of the Sunday within the Octave.
Antiphon. The Child JESUS tarried
behind in Jerusalem, and His parents
knew not of it, supposing Him to have
been in the company : and they sought
Him among their kinsfolk and ac-
quaintance.
Verse. All they from Saba shall
come. Alleluia.
Answer. They shall bring gold and
incense. Alleluia.
Let us pray.
f~\ LORD, we beseech Thee, merci-
^-y^ fully to receive the prayers of
Thy people which call upon Thee,
and grant that they may both perceive
and know what things they ought to
do, and also may have grace and
power faithfully to fulfil the same ;
through our Lord JESUS Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end. Amen.
COMPLINE.
Last verse of the Hymn as before.
The following are the rules for the
Service during the Octave of the Epi-
phany.
1 . If a Double Minor or Semidouble
Feast occur, it is not transferred, but
simplified. Only Doubles Major and
Feasts of Doctors may be transferred.
If Doubles Minor occur on a Double
of the first class they are omitted that
year. So also Simple Feasts which are
otherwise merely commemorated.
2. The Service is precisely the same
as on Twelfth-Day itself, except the
differences hereafter immediately noted,
and those given under the head of
every day.
SECOND DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE EPIPHANY. 34I
3. Mat tins commence as usual with
the following :
Invitatory. Christ is made mani-
fest unto us, * O come, let us worship
Him.
Hymn. What makes thee, &c,
{Hymn at First Vespers.)
4. Except on the Sunday within the
Octave, and on the Octave itself, the
First Responsory is as follows :
There are three precious gifts which
the wise men offered unto the Lord on
this day, and they speak a mystery of
the things of God, — Gold, to show
His kingly power ; frankincense, for
our Great High Priest ; and myrrh,
against the Lord's burying.
Verse. The wise men worshipped
the Captain of our Salvation, as He
lay in the manger, and when they had
opened their treasures, they presented
unto Him mystic gifts.
Answer. Gold, to show His kingly
power ; frankincense, for our Great
High Priest ; and myrrh, against the
Lord's burying.
5. The Third Nocturn begins as
follows :
First Antiphon. This man was
born in her, * and the Highest Him-
self shall establish her.
Psalm LXXXVI.
Her foundation, &c, {p. 144.)
6. Offices are hereafter given for
five days within the Octave, besides
the Octave-day itself, and the Sunday.
These Offices are recited one after
another on the five next week-days after
the Feast. For example, if the Feast
fell on a Saturday, the Office for the
Second Day within the Octave would
be said on Monday. The Lessons of
the First Nocturns of these days are
vol. 1.
subject to the change mentioned in the
eighth section.
7. The Antiphons are not doubled,
except on the Octave-day.
8. On the First Sunday after the
Epiphany is begun the First Epistle
of St Paul to the Corinthians, which
is continued on the following days till
the Saturday inclusive. These Lessons
are all given together at p. $59 ■ To
make room for them the Lessons from
the Epistle to the Romans are omitted
if need be. Hence, if the Feast fell on
a Saturday, all the rest of the Epistle
to the Romans would that year be
omitted.
9. If the Feast fall on a Sunday, the
Octave-day will do so too. Then the
first Suttday after the Feast will be
observed as the Octave-day, and the
Office of the Sunday will be said on
Saturday by anticipation, except the
beginning of the First Epistle to the
Corinthians, which will still be read
on Sunday, and its place in the Sutt-
day Office {said by anticipation on
Saturday) is supplied with Lessons
from the Epistle to the Romans, given
on p. 354.
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FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Romans (ix. 1.)
T SAY the truth in Christ, I lie not,
my conscience bearing me wit-
ness in the Holy Ghost ; that I have
great heaviness and continual sorrow
in my heart. For I could wish that
myself were anathema from Christ for
my brethren, my kinsmen according
to the flesh ; who are Israelites ; to
M
342
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
whom pertaineth the adoption, and
the glory, and the covenant, and the
giving of the law, and the service of
God, and the promises ; whose are
the fathers, and of whom, as concern-
ing the flesh, Christ came, Who is
over all — God, blessed for ever.
Amen.
Second Lesson.
1VJ OT as though the word of God
hath taken none effect. For
they are not all Israelites which are
of Israel ; neither, because they are
the seed of Abraham, are they all
children ; but, "In Isaac shall thy
seed be called ; " l that is, they which
are the children of the flesh, these are
not the children of God ; but the chil-
dren of the promise are counted for
the seed. — For this is the word of pro-
mise : 2 " At this time will I come,
and Sarah shall have a son." And
not only she, but when Rebecca also
had conceived [twins] by the same our
father Isaac.
Third Lesson.
"C7OR the children being not yet
born, neither having done any
good or evil, (that the purpose of God,
according to election, might stand,)
not of works, but of Him That calleth,
it was said unto her : 3 " The elder
shall serve the younger " — as it is
written : 4 " Jacob have I loved, but
Esau have I hated." What shall we
say then ? Is there unrighteousness
with God ? God forbid. For He saith
to Moses : 5 " I will have mercy on
whom I will have mercy, and I will
have compassion on whom I will have
compassion." So then, it is not of
him that willeth, nor of him that
runneth, but of God that showeth
mercy."
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo.]
{2nd on the Epiphany, 30th on the
Season. )
"\A7TSE men came from the East
to worship the Virgin's Son.
This is the event which we this day
commemorate, the occasion in honour
of which this sermon is preached. On
them that day first broke in gladness,
which year by year, now cometh round
to us for celebration. They were the
first-fruits of that Gentile Church
whereof we are the in-gathering. To
us the voice of Apostles, to them a
star, as a voice from heaven, pro-
claimed the advent of a Saviour ; and
to us the voice of the Apostolic
preachers is also as a voice from
heaven, a heaven declaring the glory
of God.
Fifth Lesson.
/^REAT is the mystery. While He
^"^ lay in the manger, He drew to
Himself wise men from the East ;
while He was unknown in the stable,
He was recognised in the heavens ;
and, being recognised in the heavens,
made Himself known in the stable.
So this day is called in the Greek
" Epiphaneia," which is, being inter-
preted, " Manifestation." Wherein is
manifested both the greatness and the
lowliness of Him, Whose greatness
was attested in the stars of heaven,
and Who, being sought on earth,
is found so lowly that there is no
room for Him in the inn. And yet,
though to be found in fashion as
a little Child wrapped in swaddling-
clothes, He is the object of worship
to the wise men and of terror to
the godless.
1 Gen. xxi. 12. 2 Gen. xviii. 10. s Gen. xxv. 23.
* Mai. i. 2, 3. B Exod. xxxiii. 19.
SECOND DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE EPIPHANY. 343
might come and worship Him," but,
in reality, that, when he had found
Him, he might put Him to death.
But, behold, of how light weight is
the malice of man, when it is tried
against the counsel of God. It is
written : " There is no wisdom, nor
understanding, nor counsel, against
the LORD," (Prov. xxi. 30.) So the
star which the wise men saw in the
East, still led them on ; they found
the new-born King, and presented unto
Him gifts ; then they were warned in
a dream that they should not return
to Herod. And as it came to pass
that, when Herod sought JESUS, he
could not find Him — even so is it
with hypocrites, who, while they make
pretence to seek the Lord to worship
Him, find Him not.
Eighth Lesson.
T T is as well to know that it is one
of the opinions of the Priscillianist
heretics l that every man is born under
the influence of a star ; and, to con-
firm this notion, they bring forward
the instance of the star of Bethlehem,
which appeared when the Lord was
born ; and which they call His star,
that is, the star ruling over His fate
or destiny. But if we consider the
words of the Gospel concerning this
star, they are : "It went before, till
it came and stood over where the
young Child was." Whence we see
that it was not the young Child Who
followed the star, but the star which
followed the young Child, as if to
show that the young Child ruled the
star, instead of the star ruling Him.
Ninth Lesson.
DUT I pray that the hearts of the
faithful may ever be free from the
thought that anything ruleth their
1 A branch of the Manichaean school, which arose in Spain towards the close of the fourth
century.
Sixth Lesson.
T^OR Herod feared when he heard
from the wise men of Him Whom
they sought, and of Whose birth they
knew by the witness of a star. What
will be the fearful judgment-seat of
Him, Who, even as a Suckling, struck
terror into haughty kings ? How
much wiser is the thought of those
kings who seek Christ like the wise
men, to worship Him, than of those
who seek Him, like Herod, to slay
Him ! who seek to put Him to that
same death, which He came to suffer
from His .enemies for their own
salvation, and which, by His death,
He hath trodden down ! Kings
will do well to fear Him Who
now sitteth at the right hand of
the Father, and Whom Herod
feared when He hung upon His
mother's breast.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (ii. 1.)
"VirHEN Jesus was born in Beth-
lehem of Judah, in the days of
Herod the King, behold, there came
wise men from the East to Jerusalem,
saying : Where is He That is born
King of the Jews ? And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great] {\oth on the Gospels.)
When Herod knew of the birth of
our King, he betook himself to his
cunning wiles, and lest he should be
deprived of an earthly kingdom he
desired the wise men to search dili-
gently for the young Child, and when
they had found Him, to bring him
word again. He said, " that he also
344
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
destiny. In this world there is but
One Who ruleth the destiny of man,
even He Who made man ; neither
was man made for the stars, but the
stars for man ; and if we say that
they rule his destiny, we set them
above him for whose service they
were made. When Jacob came out
of his mother's womb, and his hand
took hold on his elder brother Esau's
heel, he could not have done so unless
this his first movement had been
behind his brother, and, nevertheless,
such was not in after life the position
of those two brethren whom their
mother brought forth at one birth.
LAUDS.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
There came wise men from the East
to Bethlehem to worship the Lord : *
and when they had opened their
treasures, they presented unto Him
precious gifts ; gold, as unto the Great
King ; frankincense as unto the true
God ; and myrrh for His burying.
Alleluia.
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. When the wise men saw the
star, * they rejoiced with exceeding
great joy ; and when they were come
into the house, they presented unto
the Lord gold, frankincense, and
myrrh. Alleluia.
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FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Romans (xii. I.)
T BESEECH you, therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God, that ye pre-
sent your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service. And be not
fashioned according to this world :
but be ye transformed by the renew-
ing of your mind : that ye may prove
what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect will of God. For I say,
through the grace given unto me, to
every man that is among you : not
to think of himself more highly than
he ought to think ; but so to think
as to think soberly, according as God
hath dealt to each man a measure
of faith.
Second Lesson.
T_70R as we have many members in
one body, and all members have
not the same office ; so we, being
many, are one body in Christ, and
every one members one of another,
and having gifts differing according
to the grace that is given to us ;
whether prophecy, according to the
proportion of faith ; or ministry, in
ministering ; or he that teacheth, in
teaching ; he that exhorteth, in ex-
hortation ; he that giveth, in sim-
plicity ; he that ruleth, in carefulness ;
he that showeth mercy, in cheerfulness.
Third Lesson.
T ET love be without hypocrisy.
Abhor that which is evil, cleave
to that which is good ; be kindly
affectioned one to another, with
brotherly love, in honour preferring
one another ; not slothful in business ;
fervent in spirit ; serving the Lord ;
rejoicing in hope ; patient in tribula-
tion ; continuing instant in prayer ;
distributing to the necessity of the
saints ; given to hospitality. Bless
them which persecute you : bless and
curse not. Rejoice with them that
do rejoice, and weep with them that
weep ; be of the same mind one
toward another ; setting not your heart
THIRD DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE EPIPHANY. 345
on high things, but condescending to
things that are lowly.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo.]
{2nd on the Epiphany.)
TV/TANY kings of the Jews had been
born, and died, but which of
them was sought after by wise men
to worship him ? Not one : for not
one had been proclaimed by the voice
of heaven. Let us not also pass by
the fact that the enlightenment of the
wise men standeth in strong contrast
to the blindness of the Jews. The
first came from far to find Him,
Whom, being born in their midst,
the second knew not.
Fifth Lesson.
HHHE wise men found the young
Child among those who denied
Him. These holy pilgrims came and
worshipped the yet silent Christ in the
land whose inhabitants, after He grew
up and worked miracles, crucified
Him. They worshipped in that tiny
Body the God Whom, amid great
signs and wonders, the Jews would
not spare even as a man. They who
saw the Star which shone at His birth,
put it to more profit than they who
saw the sun veiled at His death.
Sixth Lesson.
HTHE star which led the wise men
towards the place where the
new-born God dwelt with His Virgin
Mother, ceased to shine when it came
to the city of Jerusalem, while they
were inquiring of the Jews where
Christ should be born. The Jews
answered them according to the tes-
timony of the Divine Scriptures : "In
Bethlehem of Judah : for thus it is
written : And thou Bethlehem in the
land of Judah, art not the least among
the princes of Judah, for out of thee
shall come a Governor, that shall rule
My people Israel." What else are
we to understand that God's Provi-
dence would here signify, than that
there should remain among the Jews
those Divine Writings only, whereby
the Gentiles are enlightened, while
they themselves remain dark ?
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (ii. 1.)
ATtTHEN JESUS was born in Beth-
lehem of Judah, in the days
of Herod the King, behold, there
came wise men from the East to
Jerusalem, saying : Where is He That
is born King of the Jews ? And so
on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (10th on the Gospels.)
The wise men brought gold, frank-
incense, and myrrh. Gold is the fit-
ting gift to a King, frankincense is
offered in sacrifice to God, and with
myrrh are embalmed the bodies of
the dead. By the gifts, therefore,
which they presented unto Him, the
wise men set forth three things con-
cerning Him unto Whom they offered
them ; by the gold, that He was
King ; by the frankincense, that He
was God ; and by the myrrh, that He
was to die. There are some heretics
who believe Him to be God, but con-
fess not His Kingly dominion over all
things ; these offer unto Him frank-
incense, but refuse Him gold. There
are some others who admit that He is
King, but deny that He is God ; these
present unto Him gold, but will not
give Him frankincense.
346
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Eighth Lesson.
'""PHERE are some other heretics
who profess that Christ is both
God and King, but not that He took
a dying nature ; these offer Him gold
and frankincense, but not myrrh for
the Manhood. Let us, however,
present gold unto the new-born Lord,
acknowledging His universal King-
ship ; let us offer unto Him frankin-
cense, confessing that He Who hath
been made manifest unto us in time,
is God before time was ; let us give
unto Him myrrh, believing that He
Who cannot suffer as touching His
Godhead, was made capable of death
as touching the manhood which He
shareth with us.
Ninth Lesson.
HP HERE is also another significa-
tion in this gold, frankincense,
and myrrh. Gold is a type of wis-
dom ; as saith Solomon : x " In the
mouth of the wise abideth a treasure to
be desired." Frankincense, which is
burnt in honour of God, is a figure
of prayer ; witness the words of the
Psalmist, (Ps. cxl. 2:) "Let my
prayer be set forth as incense before
Thee." By myrrh is represented the
putting to death of the body ; as
where the holy Church saith of her
labourers who strive for God even
unto death : "My hands dropped
with myrrh." (Cant. v. 5.)
LAUDS.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh, * are
the three precious gifts which the wise
men offered unto the Lord, as unto
the Son of God, the Great King.
Alleluia.
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. O Christ, Thou Light of
Light, Thou art made manifest, *
and the wise men have presented unto
Thee gifts. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
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FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Romans (xiii. 1.)
T ET every soul be subject unto the
higher powers. For there is no
power but of God : the powers that be
are ordained of God. Whosoever,
therefore, resisteth the power, resist-
eth the ordinance of God. And they
that resist earn for themselves dam-
nation : for rulers are not a terror to
good works, but to the evil. Wilt
thou then not be afraid of the power ?
Do that which is good, and thou shalt
have praise of the same ; for he is the
minister of God to thee for good.
Second Lesson.
DUT if thou do that which is evil,
be afraid ; for he beareth not
the sword in vain. For he is the
minister of God ; a revenger to exe-
cute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject
not only for wrath, but also for con-
science' sake. For, for this cause
pay ye tribute also : for they are
God's ministers, attending continually
upon Him for this very thing. Ren-
der, therefore, to all their dues ; trib-
ute to whom tribute is due ; custom
to whom custom ; fear to whom fear ;
honour to whom honour.
1 Prov. xxi. 20. (LXX.)
FOURTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE EPIPHANY. 347
Third Lesson.
f^WE no man anything, but to love
^^ one another ; for he that loveth
his neighbour, hath fulfilled the law.
For this, Thou shalt not commit
adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou
shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear
false witness, Thou shalt not covet ;
and if there be any other command-
ment, it is briefly comprehended in
this saying : " Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself." Love worketh
no ill to his neighbour. Therefore
love is the fulfilling of the law.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of Pope St Leo [the Great]
( 1 st for Twelfth-Day. )
"P) EARLY beloved brethren, we
have but lately celebrated that
day whereon the inviolate virginity
of Blessed Mary gave to man a
Saviour. And now the venerable
solemnity of the Epiphany giveth us
a continuance of joy. So that by the
nearness of these two holy Feasts, the
freshness of our gladness and the
quickening of our faith hath no time
wherein to die away. And truly it
concerneth the salvation of all men,
that the Mediator between God and
men is already made manifest before
leaving the humble city of His birth.
Fifth Lesson.
T T is true that the Lord chose the
nation of Israel, and in that na-
tion one family, whence to take upon
Him that nature which He shareth
with all mankind, but, at the same
time, He would not that the narrow
walls of His Mother's house should
imprison within them all the bright-
ness of His appearing, and, as He was
pleased to be born for all, so willed
He to be forthwith made manifest to
all. Three wise men in the East,
therefore, saw a new and brilliant
star, which, by excelling all others in
brightness and beauty, attracted the
eyes and thoughts of all beholders :
and thereby it became at once evi-
dent that some new and great event
had befallen.
Sixth Lesson.
T^HEN He Who had given the
sign, gave understanding to
those that saw it ; and having given
to them to understand that He was
born, He gave them the grace to seek
Him ; and, being sought by them,
was pleased to be found. The three
wise men followed the guiding of the
heavenly light, and, with their eyes
firmly fixed upon the glory that went
before them, were so led by the light
of grace as to obtain the knowledge
of truth. They, knowing that He
was born a King, sought Him in the
Royal City ; but He Who had taken
upon Him the form of a servant,
and came not to judge but to be
judged, had chosen Bethlehem for His
birth, and Jerusalem for His Suffering.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (ii. 1.)
"\1THEN JESUS was born in Beth-
lehem of Judah, in the days of
Herod the King, behold there came
wise men from the East to Jerusalem,
saying : Where is He That is born
King of the Jews ? And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (10th on the Gospels.)
The wise men teach us a great
lesson in that "they departed into
348
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
their own country another way."
That which they did, ("being warned
of God in a dream,") we ought to do.
Our country is heaven ; and, when we
have once known JESUS, we can
never get there by returning on the
way wherein we walked before we
knew Him. We have left our coun-
try far, by the way of pride, and dis-
obedience, and worldliness, and for-
bidden indulgence : we must seek that
heavenly Fatherland by tears, by sub-
jection, by contempt of the things
which are seen, and by curbing the
fleshly appetites.
Eighth Lesson.
T ET us then depart into our own
country another way. They that
have by enjoyment put themselves
away from it, must seek it again by
sorrow. Therefore, my dearly beloved
brethren, it behoveth us to be ever
fearful and watch, having continually
before the eyes of our heart, on the
one hand, the guilt of our doings, and,
on the other, the judgment at the
latter day. It behoveth us to think
how that awful Judge will surely come,
Whose judgment is hanging over us,
and hath not yet fallen : the wrath to
come is before sinners, and hath not
yet smitten them : and the Judge yet
tarrieth in order that, when He
cometh, there may haply be less to
condemn.
Ninth Lesson.
T ET us afflict ourselves for our
faults with weeping, and, with
the Psalmist, " let us come before His
Presence with thanksgiving." Let us
take heed that we be not fooled by
the appearance of earthly happiness,
or seduced by the vanity of earthly
pleasure. For the Judge is at hand,
even He That saith : " Woe unto you
that laugh now, for ye shall mourn
and weep," (Luke vi. 25.) Hence
also Solomon saith : " Even in laugh-
ter the heart is sorrowful ; and the
end of that mirth is heaviness," (Prov.
xiv. 13.) And again: "I said of
laughter, It is mad ; and of mirth,
What doeth it?" (Eccles. ii. 2.) And
yet again : " The heart of the wise is
in the house of mourning, but the
heart of fools is in the house of mirth,"
(vii. 5.)
LAUDS.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
We have seen His star * in the East,
and are come with gifts to worship
the Lord.
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Herod inquired * of the wise
men : What is the sign that ye have
seen that a King is born ? We have
seen the shining of the star, the glory
whereof enlighteneth the whole world."
ftfffl ©op wftgm t%t Qctavt
of t$t 6pq>0att£.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Romans (xiv. 1.)
TJIM that is weak in the faith re-
ceive ye, but not to doubtful
disputations. For one believeth that
he may eat all things : another, who is
weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that
eateth despise him that eateth not :
and let not him which eateth not,
judge him that eateth : for God hath
received him. Who art thou that
judgest another man's servant ? To
his own Master he standeth or falleth ;
yea, he shall be holden up : for God
is able to make him stand.
FIFTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE EPIPHANY. 349
Second Lesson.
17 OR one man esteemeth one day
above another ; another esteem-
eth every day alike ; let every man be
fully persuaded in his own mind. He
that regardeth the day, regardeth it
unto the Lord ; and he that eateth,
eateth to the Lord : for he giveth God
thanks. And he that eateth not, to
the Lord he eateth not, and giveth
God thanks. For none of us liveth to
himself, and none dieth to himself.
For whether we live, we live unto the
Lord ; and whether we die, we die
unto the Lord. Whether we live,
therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
Third Lesson.
T^OR to this end Christ died and
rose again, that He might be
the Lord both of the dead and living.
But why dost thou judge thy brother ?
Or why dost thou set at nought thy
brother ? For we shall all stand be-
fore the judgment-seat of Christ. For
it is written : "As I live, saith the
Lord, unto Me every knee shall bow,
and every tongue shall confess to
God."1 So then every one of us shall
give account of himself to God. Let
us not therefore judge one another any
more.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of 2 St Maximus, Bishop [of Turin.]
{\st on the Epiphany.)
"T^ EARLY beloved brethren, we are
instructed by the tradition of
the Fathers, that we have to keep
holiday on this solemnity in honour
of several joyful events. We are
taught that on this day, our Lord
Christ was, first, manifested to the
Gentiles by the leading of a star ;
secondly, that being bidden to a mar-
riage, He turned water into wine ;
and, thirdly, that He received baptism
from John, whereby He hallowed the
waters of the Jordan, and cleansed3
him that baptised Him.
Fifth Lesson.
Al^HICH of these events was the
greatest, He knoweth by Whose
Will they came to pass ; for us it is
needful to believe and doubt not that
whatever was wrought was wrought
for us. For to the Gentiles is given a
hope of worshipping that Very God of
Very God, to adore Whom the Chal-
daeans were led by the rays of a
glorious star. So also He That by
His Will changed water into wine,
hath given us to drink of the cup of
His Blood of the New Testament ;
and the Lamb of God baptized in the
Jordan hath hallowed for us that sav-
ing Fountain wherein we are born
again.
Sixth Lesson.
'"THEREFORE, my brethren, as we
have lately celebrated with glad-
ness the Festival of our Saviour's
birth, so now it behoveth us with all
earnestness to keep holy in His hon-
our, this the birth-day of His wonder-
working. And, verily, these three
anniversaries are rightly on one day
preached to us, who acknowledge the
unspeakable mystery of the Trinity
under the name of one God. By
these miracles the Lord Christ our
Redeemer willed to manifest to men
1 Isa. xlv. 23.
2 The Martyrology for June 25, says : — "At Turin, the birthday of St Maximus, Bishop and
Confessor, very famous for learning and holiness." He was born about the close of the fourth
century, was Bishop of Turin at the beginning of the fifth, and died after 465, aged eighty or
ninety years. Nothing more accurate is strictly historical. 3 Purificasse.
VOL. I. M 2
35o
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
some of the power of that Godhead,
Which in Him lay hidden under the
Manhood.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (ii. i.)
A1THEN JESUS was born in Beth-
lehem of Judah, in the days of
Herod the king, behold, there came
wise men from the East to Jerusalem,
saying : Where is He That is born
King of the Jews ? And so on.
Homily by St Jerome, Priest [at
Bethlehem.] (Bk. i. Comm. on Matth.
ii.)
"We have seen His star in the
East." In order that the Jews might
be confounded by hearing from the
Gentiles of the birth of Christ, the
star rose in the East. They knew
that it would come, by the prophecy
of Balaam, whose successors they
were. See the Book of Numbers,
(xxiv. 17.) The star led the wise
men to Judea, that the Priests, having
it demanded of them where Christ
should be born, might have no power
to plead that they knew not of His
coming.
Eighth Lesson.
" A ND they said unto him, In Beth-
lehem of Judea," — this is a
mistake of copyists.1 In our opinion,
what the Evangelist wrote must have
been, not "of Judea," but "of Judah."
Thus it is in the Hebrew text.2 Nor
is there any town called Bethlehem
among any other people, that this
1 Which has since been corrected in the Latin Vulgate, which now reads, " In Bethlehem of
Judah," but the accepted Greek text still retains the inaccuracy. The Missal agrees with the
V ulgate.
- I.e., (apparently) the Hebrew Gospel used by the Nazarenes, but now lost.
3 C. Vettius Aquilinus Juvencus, of the fourth century, priest and poet, composed his Poem
on the Gospels during the peace of Constantine.
should be called " of Judea " to dis-
tinguish it. But it is fitly distin-
guished as " of Judah," because there
is in Judea another Bethlehem, namely,
the one in Galilee. See the Book of
Joshua the son of Nun. (xix. 15.)
Finally, the passage cited, which is in
the prophet Micah, (v. 2,) hath :
" But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,
though thou be little among the
thousands of Judah[, yet out of thee
shall He come forth unto me that is
to be ruler in Israel."]
Ninth Lesson.
"AND when they had opened their
treasures they presented unto
Him gifts, gold, and frankincense,
and myrrh." The mystic meaning of
these gifts is thus neatly expressed by
Juvencus the Priest,3—
" To God made man, born Israel's King,
Frankincense, myrrh, and gold they bring."
" And being warned of God in a dream
that they should not return to Herod,
they departed into their own country
another way." They who had pre-
sented unto the Lord gifts, were
honoured by receiving a warning, not
from an Angel, but from God Himself;
whereas even Joseph was warned only
by an Angel. They departed into their
own country another way, that they
might not be brought into contact with
the unbelief of the Jews.
LAUDS.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
All nations shall come * from afar,
bringing their gifts with them. Alle-
luia.
SIXTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE EPIPHANY. 35 1
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. All they from Saba shall
•come, * they shall bring gold and
Incense. Alleluia, Alleluia.
$k\rt% <£)ap within tU (Octan of
t$t 6ptp#an£.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Romans (xv. 1.)
\A/"E then that are strong ought to
bear the infirmities of the weak,
and not to please ourselves. Let every
one of you please his neighbour in that
which is good, to edification. For
■even Christ pleased not Himself, but,
as it is written : 1 " The reproaches of
them that reproached Thee fell on Me."
For whatsoever things were written
aforetime were written for our learning,
that we, through patience and comfort
of the Scriptures, might have hope.
Second Lesson.
"VT OW the God of patience and con-
solation grant you to be like-
minded one toward another, according
to Christ JESUS, that ye may with one
mind and one mouth glorify God, even
the Father of our Lord JESUS Christ.
Wherefore receive ye one another as
Christ also received you, to the glory
of God. For I say that Jesus Christ
was a minister of the circumcision for
the truth of God, to confirm the
promises made unto the fathers ; but
that the Gentiles glorify God for His
mercy ; as it is written : 2 " Therefore
will I give thanks unto Thee, O Lord,
among the heathen, and sing praises
unto Thy Name." And again He
saith : 3 " Rejoice, O ye nations, with
His people." And again : 4 " O praise
the LORD, all ye nations, and praise
Him, all ye people."
Third Lesson.
A ND again Isaias saith: 5 " There
"^^ shall be a root of Jesse, and He
That shall arise to reign over the
Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles
trust." Now the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace in believing,
that ye may abound in hope, and in
the power of the Holy Ghost. And I
myself also am persuaded of you, my
brethren, that ye also are full of love,
filled with all knowledge, so that ye are
' able to admonish one another. Never-
theless, brethren, I have written the
more boldly unto you in some sort, as
putting you in mind ; because of the
grace that is given to me of God, that
I should be the minister of Jesus
Christ to the Gentiles, sanctifying the
Gospel of God, that the offering of the
Gentiles may be made acceptable and
sanctified in the Holy Ghost.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St Fulgentius,6 Bishop [of Ruspa.]
{$th on Twelfth-Day.)
HTHE same God Who in the Old
Testament had commanded the
first-fruits to be offered to Himself,
being born as a man, Himself con-
secrated to His own worship the first-
3 Deut. xxxii. 43 (LXX.)
1 Ps. lxviii. 10. 2 Ps. xvii. 50.
4 Ps. cxvi. 1. 6 Isa. xi. 10 (LXX.)
6 Fabius Claudius Gordianus Fulgentius, born 468 ; cr. bishop of Ruspa 508 ; died 533.
352
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
fruits of the nations. The Shepherds
were the first-fruits of the Jews, and
the wise men of the Gentiles. The
first came from near at hand, the
second from afar. " Where is He,"
say they, " that is born King of the
Jews ? " Herod, the king of the Jews,
had already had children. Archelaus
was born in a palace, Christ at an
inn ; Archelaus was laid in a silver
cradle, Christ in a manger. And yet
the wise men sought, not Archelaus,
but Christ ; they did not even name
him that was born in a palace, but
when they found Him That lay in
a manger, they fell down and wor-
shipped Him.
Fifth Lesson.
VX/'HO is the King of the Jews ?
The Poor and the Rich, the
Lowly and the Exalted One. Who is
the King of the Jews ? He Who,
being carried at the breast, is adored
as the Eternal ; He Who lieth tiny in
the manger, and is He Whom the
heavens cannot contain ; He Who is
meanly wrapped in swaddling clothes,
and is more glorious than all the
stars. Why art thou troubled, O
Herod ? He that is born King
of the Jews cometh not by carnal
warfare to conquer other kings,
but by a marvellous working, by
dying, to subdue them to Himself.
He is not born to be thy successor,
but that the world may faithfully
believe in Him. He cometh, not
that He may fight in the flesh, but
that He may conquer through the
suffering of death.
Sixth Lesson.
^pHE little Child, Whom the wise
men call the King of the Jews, is
the Maker and Lord of Angels. If
thou fearest Him at His birth, thou
hast more reason to fear Him as the
Almighty Judge. Fear Him, not as a
pretender to thy kingdom, but fear
Him as Him Who will pass a most
just sentence of condemnation on thee
because thou hast not believed in
Him. " Go," said Herod, " and bring
me word again, that I may come
and worship Him also." We know
thy cunning lying, thy godless un-
belief, thine iniquitous treachery. The
blood of the innocents which thou
didst cruelly shed, is witness to us
of what thou wouldst have done to
Him.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy Gos-
pel according to Matthew (ii. i.)
\\7 HEN Jesus was born in Beth-
lehem of Judah, in the days of
Herod the King, behold there came
wise men from the East to Jerusalem,
saying : Where is He That is born
King of the Jews ? And so on.
Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop [of
Milan.] (Booh ii. on Luke ii.)
What are the gifts of the faithful
and true ? Gold to our King, frank-
incense to our God, and myrrh to Him
Who died for us. The first is that
whereof are made the royal honours of
kings, the second is that mystic offer-
ing which is used in the worship of the
Divine Power, and the third is that
wherewith we pay respect to the dead,
whose bodies it keepeth from corrup-
tion. My brethren, let us who hear
and read these things, make offering
out of what treasures we have — albeit
we have it in earthen vessels. (2 Cor.
iv. 7.) If we confess that all that we
have, we have, not from ourselves, but
from Christ, how much more should
we confess that whatever we have is
not our own, but Christ's ?
SATURDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE EPIPHANY. 353
Eighth Lesson.
' I "HE wise men out of their treas-
ures presented unto Him gifts.
Wilt thou know how pleasing to Him
they were ? The star appeared to
them, but disappeared when it came
near Herod. Then it appeareth to
them again, leading them on the
way that led to Christ. This star
then was the way, and we know
that Christ calleth Himself "the
Way." (John xiv. 6.) And truly
also in the mystery of His Incar-
nation He is called a Star ; as it
is written : " There shall come forth
a Star out of Jacob, and a Man shall
rise out of Israel."1 Where Christ is,
there is a Star ; yea, He is Himself
" the bright and morning Star."
(Apoc. xxii. 16.) And the light that
leadeth to Jesus is His own.
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The wise men being warned
* in a dream, departed into their own
country another way.
I&afuvfcag witfyin t$t Ocfave.
The Sabbath within Eight Days of the
Epiphany.
,The Vespers from the Chapter are
as follows.
Chapter. (Rom. xii. 1.)
TDRETHREN, I beseech you, by
the mercies of God, that ye pre-
sent your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service.
Ninth Lesson.
T> EMARK another point. The wise
men came by one way and de-
parted by another. They that had
seen Christ, knew Christ, and they
departed better than they came.
There are two ways, — the one which
leadeth to destruction, the other which
leadeth to the kingdom ; the one is the
way of sin, which leadeth to Herod ;
the other is Christ, the true Way, Who
leadeth us home to the fatherland,
from that journeying here, whereof it
is said : " My soul hath long dwelt as
an exile." (Ps. cxix. 5.)
LAUDS.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
They that despised Thee * 2 shall
come unto Thee, and shall bow
themselves down at the Soles of
Thy Feet.
1 Numb. xxiv. 17, where in the present text it is not "a man," but "a sceptre." 'The
•"man" is LXX. 2 cf. Isa. lx. 14; Apoc. iii. 9.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as on
the Feast, {p. 331.)
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The Child Jesus tarried
behind in Jerusalem, * and His
parents knew not of it, supposing
Him to have been in the company ;
and they sought Him among their
kinsfolk and acquaintance.
Prayer.
f~\ LORD, we beseech Thee, merci-
^~^ fully to receive the prayers of
Thy people which call upon Thee :
and grant that they may both perceive
and know what things they ought
to do, and also may have grace and
power faithfully to fulfil the same,
through our Lord JESUS Christ, Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end. Amen.
354
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Then is made a Commemoration of
the Epiphany. The Antiphon is that
proper to that particular day within
the Octave.
Verse. All they from Saba shall
come — Alleluia.
Answer. They shall bring gold
and incense — Alleluia.
Unless it be the Fifth Day within
the Octave, in which case are said :
Verse. Worship God — Alleluia.
Answer. All ye His angels — Alle-
luia.
Prayer as on the Feast.
Should the Feast fall on a Sunday,
and therefore the Office for the Sunday
within the Octave be anticipated on
Saturday, the above, being the First
Vespers of the Sunday, are said on
Friday evening.
JFtrst ^untias after tfte
&foelfn>©a2.
The Lord's Day withi7i eight days of
the Epiphany.
All is said as on the Feast, according
to the rules given on p. 340, {which
see) except what is otherwise given
here.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
The following Lessons are only used
when this Office is said by anticipation
on Saturday. Otherwise the First
Epistle to the Corinthians is begun.
See, p. 359.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Romans (xvi. 1.)
COMMEND unto you Phcebe
our sister, who is a Deaconess of
the Church which is at Cenchreae, that
ye receive her in the Lord as be-
cometh Saints, and that ye assist
her in whatsoever business she hath
need of you : for she hath been a
succourer of many, and of myself also.
Greet Prisca, and Aquila, my helpers
in Christ JESUS, (who have for my
life laid down their own necks ; unto
whom not only I give thanks, but also
all the Churches of the Gentiles) and
the church that is in their house.
Second Lesson. (17.)
"M" OW I beseech you, brethren, mark
them which cause divisions and
offences, contrary to the doctrine which
ye have learned ; and avoid them.
For they that are such serve not
Christ our Lord, but their own belly :
and by good words and fair speeches
deceive the hearts of the simple. For
your obedience is known everywhere
abroad ; I rejoice therefore in you.
But I would have you wise unto that
which is good, and simple concerning
evil.
Third Lesson.
'"TIMOTHY my work -fellow, and
Lucius and Jason, and Sosipater,
my kinsmen, salute you. I, Tertius,1
who wrote this Epistle, salute you in
the Lord. Caius, mine host, and the
whole Church, salute you. Erastus,
the chamberlain of the city, saluteth
you, and Quartus a brother. The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be
with you all. Amen.
1 I.e., the secretary of the Apostle.
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE TWELFTH-DAY.
355
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of Pope St Leo [the Great.] ($th
on the Epiftfiany.')
T T is meet and right, dearly beloved
brethren, yea, it is our bounden
duty and godly service, to rejoice with
full hearts upon those days which
more especially set forth before us
the workings of God's mercy ; and
to have in honourable memory those
things that were done for our salvation.
Hereto are we called by the seasons
of the year which continually return,
and notably by this present, which,
after but a short time hath passed
since that day whereon the Co-
eternal Son of God was born of
a Virgin, bringeth now the Feast
of the Epiphany, hallowed by the
Manifestation of the Lord.
Fifth Lesson.
T N this said Manifestation the good
Providence of God hath appointed
a strong bulwark to our faith. For
now, while in solemn worship we call
to mind how the childhood of the
Saviour was adored in its first in-
fancy, we receive from the original
Scriptures the doctrine that Christ
was born with the very nature of
man. For this is that which maketh
of sinners saints, even to believe
that in one and the same our Lord
Jesus Christ there is very Godhead
and very Manhood — very Godhead,
as touching Which, He, being in
the form of God, is equal to the
Father from everlasting to everlast-
ing — and very Manhood, wherein
He, taking upon Him the form of a
servant, hath in these latter days
been born Man.
Sixth Lesson.
"POR the strengthening of this our
faith, which we profess in the
face of every false doctrine, the mercy
of God hath made it to come to pass
that one of those peoples who dwell
in the uttermost parts of the East,
and excel in the skill of reading the
stars, should see the sign of the birth
of that Child Who was to reign over
all Israel. There appeared to the
eyes of wise men a new star of such
passing beauty, as wrought in the
minds of all that saw it the persuasion
that the event, which is announced,
was of an importance not to be
neglected.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (ii. 42.)
~\\ 7"HEN Jesus was twelve years old
they went up to Jerusalem,
after the custom of the Feast, and
when they had fulfilled the days, as
they returned, the child JESUS tarried
behind in Jerusalem. And so on.
Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop [of
Milan.] {Bk. ii. on Luke ii.)
We read that when He was twelve
years old the Lord began to dispute.
The number of His years was the
same as the number of the Apostles
whom He afterwards sent forth to
preach the Faith. He Who, as touch-
ing His Manhood, was filled with
wisdom and grace from God, was
not careless of the parents of the same
Manhood, and, after three days, was
pleased to be found in the Temple :
thereby foreshadowing that, after the
three days of His victorious Passion,
He That had been reckoned with the
356
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
dead, would present Himself, living,
to our faith, in His heavenly Kingship
and Divine Majesty.
Eighth Lesson.
" T_J OW is it that ye sought Me ? "
Christ hath two Generations ;
one from His Father, another from
His Mother. That from His Father
is His Eternal Generation as God the
Son ; that from His Mother is that
whereby He came to work for us and
minister to us. Those acts, therefore,
of His, which are above nature, be-
yond His age, and different to His cus-
tom, proceeded not from the strength
of His Manhood, but from the power
of His Godhead. On another occa-
sion His Mother moveth Him to work
a miracle ; here He answereth her,
because she treateth that which was
of the Godhead, as though it had
been of the Manhood. On this occa-
sion it is said that He was twelve
years old, but on the other He had
already disciples. His mother had
seen His wonders on the earlier occa-
sion, and had learnt from her Son
to call on the mightier nature for a
work of power.1
Ninth Lesson.
" AND He came to Nazareth, and
was subject unto them." No
wonder that the great Teacher should
practise. And shall we marvel how
He Who was subject to His Mother,
was about His Father's business ? His
subjection to His Mother proceeded,
not from weakness, but from dutiful
affection. Nevertheless, the false ser-
pent lifteth its head from its cruel lair,
and spitteth poison from its venomous
breast. The heretics say that, as the
Son was sent by the Father, therefore
the Father is greater than the Son,
and, if the Father be greater than the
Son, there is that, than which the Son
is less ; yea, that He Who is sent,
hath of necessity, need of some
strengthening from outside Himself.
He was subject to His Mother ? Was
He less than she ? God forbid !
LAUDS.
Chapter. (Rom. xii. i.)
DRETHREN, I beseech you by the
mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
The Child Jesus tarried behind in
Jerusalem, * and His parents knew
not of it, supposing Him to have
been in the company ; and they
sought Him among their kinsfolk
and acquaintance.
Prayer throughout the Office.
f~\ LORD, we beseech Thee merci-
^^^ fully to receive the prayers of
Thy people which call upon Thee ;
and grant that they may both perceive
and know what things they ought to
do, and also may have grace and
power faithfully to fulfil the same,
through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Amen.
A Commemoration is made of the
Epiphany. Antiphon and Prayer as
on the Feast and the following.
Verse. All they from Saba shall
come — Alleluia.
1 Translated directly from the works of the Saint. In the Breviary the passage has got
corrupted, even to the substitution of a negative for an affirmative ("ne" for "ut").
OCTAVE DAY OF THE EPIPHANY.
357
Answer. They shall bring gold and
incense — Alleluia.
At Terce, Chapter and Prayer from
Lauds.
SEXT.
Chapter. (Rom. xii. 3.)
T7OR I say, through the grace given
unto me, to every man that is
among you : not to think of himself
more highly than he ought to think ;
but so to think as to think soberly.
NONE.
Chapter. (Rom. xii. 4.)
T^OR as we have many members in
one body, and all members have
not the same office ; so we, being
many, are one body in Christ, and
every one members one of another,
in Christ JESUS our Lord.
VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter and Prayer from
Lauds.
Psalms as on Sundays.
Hymn and Verse and Answer as at
the First Vespers of the Epiphany.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Son, why hast Thou thus
dealt with us ? * Thy father and I
have sought Thee sorrowing. How is
it that ye sought Me ? Wist ye not
that I must be in My Father's
house ?
A Commemoration is made of the
Epipha?iy. A/itiphon and Prayer as
at the Second Vespers of the Feast, and
the Verse and Answer "All they from
Saba, &c." as at Lauds.
May 9.
€>cttot ©ap of tfyt 6ptp#an£.
The Eighth Day after the Epiphany.
Double.
All as on the Feast except as other-
wise directed in the rules given on p.
340, or given here.
First Vespers as the First Vespers of
the Feast, except the Prayer, which is
taken from Lauds.
When this Octave Day falls on Sun-
day, the Vespers on Saturday are the
First Vespers of the Octave, with a
Co7nmemoration of the Sunday within
the Octave. This Commetnoration is
made by the Antiphon " Son, why hast
Thou, &c," Verse and Answer, " All
they from Saba, &c," and the Prayer,
" O Lord, we beseech Thee, &c," as
above. If the Octave Day /alls on a
Monday the same Commemoration is
made on Sunday evening.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season, that is, from 1 Cor.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of l St Gregory of Nazianzus, Pa-
triarch [of Constantinople.] (Dis-
course on the Epiphany, ,)2
[ AM not able to restrain the out-
bursts of my happiness. I feel
changed and elated. I forget my own
meanness while I undertake and try
to discharge the office of the great
John. It is true that I am not the
Forerunner, but at least I come from
2 In the original called by one of the Greek names : " The Holy Lights."
358
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
the desert.1 Christ is enlightened,2
or rather, He enlighteneth us with
His own light. Christ is baptized ;
let us go down with Him into the
water, that we may come up with
Him.
Fifth Lesson.
JOHN is baptizing. Jesus cometh.
He cometh that He may make
holy him who baptizeth Him ; He
cometh to bury the old Adam in the
waters ; He cometh to hallow the
blessed flood of Jordan. He Who is
Flesh and Spirit cometh to open for
all that should ever be baptized that
power of generation whereby new
peoples are constantly begotten of
water and the Holy Ghost. The
Baptist will not receive Him. Jesus
striveth with him. " I," saith John,
" have need to be baptized of Thee."
Thus speaketh the candle to the Sun,
the voice to the Word.
Sixth Lesson.
JESUS came up out of the water,
having, in a manner, washed the
whole world, and brought it up with
Him. And He saw the heavens
opened (not divided,) even those
heavens which Adam had once shut
upon himself and us his descendants,
— when the cherub's fiery sword
barred the gates of Paradise. And
the Holy Spirit bare witness, witness
unto Him Who is of One Substance
with Himself. And witness was given
from Heaven, unto Him that came
down from heaven.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (i. 29.)
A T that time : John seeth JESUS
coming unto him, and saith :
Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him
That taketh away the sin of the
world. And so on.
Homily by St Austin, Bishop [of
Hippo.] (6th Tract on John.)
John knew Jesus even before He
came to be baptized of him in Jordan,
as we perceive by the words : "I
have need to be baptized of Thee,
and comest Thou to me ? " Behold,
how he knew that He was the Lord,
how he knew that He was the Son of
God ! How do we prove that he
knew that He it was Who should
baptize with the Holy Ghost ? Be-
fore the Lord came to the river, when
many betook themselves to John to
be baptized of him, the Baptist said :
" I indeed baptize you with water :
but One Mightier than I cometh ; the
latchet of Whose shoes I am not
worthy to unloose : He shall baptize
you with the Holy Ghost and with
fire." (Luke iii. 16.) Behold, John
knew this also.
Eighth Lesson.
YET John
1 not.
saith : " I knew Him
Now, how are we to
explain this without calling John a
liar ? — and God forbid that we should
ever even think anything of the kind.
Was it not that when the Dove de-
scended on Christ, John then for the
first time knew Him to have that pe-
culiar attribute, that, whosoever should
baptize with His Baptism, whether
they were themselves just or unjust,
the virtue of the Sacrament should
proceed, not from them, but from
Him on Whom abode the Dove ; so
that He is the real Baptizer in every
1 St Gregory was a comrade of St Basil, and was brought from a solitude at Seleucia to be
Bishop of Constantinople.
2 Enlightenment is an ancient term for Baptism, still used by the Greeks.
OCTAVE DAY OF THE EPIPHANY.
359
Christian Baptism until the end of
time, and it is in this sense that it is
said of Him : " the Same is He
Which baptizeth with the Holy
Ghost " ? Whether it be Peter, or
Paul, or Judas, that performeth the
ceremony, the real Baptizer and effect-
ual Worker is Christ. For if the
holiness of the baptism depended on
the holiness of the particular officiator,
no two baptisms would be exactly
alike, and every one would be sup-
posed to be more or less regenerated
according as the minister who bap-
tized him was more or less of a saint.
Ninth Lesson.
"\J OW, my brethren, understand me.
The saints themselves, those
good men who appertain to the Dove,
those good men whose portion is in
Jerusalem, those good men in the
Church, of whom the Apostle saith,
" the Lord knoweth them that are
His," (2 Tim. ii. 19,) these good men
differ one from another by diversities
of graces, and are not all of the same
worthiness. Some are holier than
others, and some are better than
others. Supposing then (for the sake
of argument) that A is baptized by B,
a righteous saint, and C is baptized
by D who is less worthy in the sight
of God, who hath attained only a
lower degree in godliness, who is not
so chaste, and whose life is not so
good as B's : yet A and C receive just
the same thing. And how is this,
unless it be that it is Christ Himself
Who is the effectual Baptizer ?
LAUDS.
Prayer throughout the Office.
r\ GOD, Whose Only-begotten Son
was made manifest in the sub-
stance of our flesh, mercifully grant
that through Him our inward man may
be changed into the likeness of Him
Whose outward Man is made like
unto us. Even the same our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, One God, world
without end. Amen.
The Lessons from the First Epis-
tle of St Paul to the Corin-
thians,
Commenced on the Sunday within the
Octave of the Epiphany, and con-
tinued daily till the next Saturday.
Note 1. If a Week-day in this week
is observed as such, the Office is as in
the Psalter, and what is not given
there {for example, the Responsories,)
is according to Ch. XXVII. 5, of
the Pie.
Note 2. If the next Sunday be Septu-
agesima, then either on the preceding
Saturday, or, failing that, the first day
after the Octave which is not occupied
by a?i Office with Nine Lessons, the
Week-day Office is said with the fol-
lowing changes, —
(a.) The Lessons are those of the
Third Noctum of the Second Sunday
after the Epiphany, namely, from
St John ii. 1, with the Homily of
St Austin upon the same, given on
P- 371.
{b. ) The Responsories are those
given for the First Noctum of the
Third Sunday after the Epiphany {p.
381), namely: — First, "O Lord, re-
buke me not," &c. Second, " O God,
Which satest," &c. And Third,
" The Lord is at my right hand," &c.
(c.) The Antiphon at the Song of
Zacharias is that given in the Com-
memoration of the Second Sunday after
the Epiphany, at Lauds, on the Feast
of the Holy Name, p. 372, namely :
" There was a marriage in Cana," &c.
3<5o
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
(d.) The Prayer is from the same,
namely, " Almighty and everlasting
God, Who dost govern," &c.
If a Double Feast fall on this
Saturday, the Ninth Lesson will be
the Homily on St fohn for the Second
Sunday, with a Commemoration at
Lauds by the Antiphon for that Sun-
day given at the Feast of the Holy
Name, with Verse and Answer of
Ferial Lauds, and the Prayer of the
Second Sunday, after which no more
notice is taken of it.
JFtrst iSuntJajj after tije
(fHptpiianrj-
The First Lord's Day after the
Epiphany.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the First Epistle of
the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Corinthians 1 (i. I.)
TDAUL, called to be an Apostle of
JESUS Christ, through the will
of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
unto the Church of God which is at
Corinth, to them that are sanctified in
Christ Jesus, called to be Saints,
with all that in every place, whether
their's or our's, call upon the Name
of JESUS Christ our Lord. Grace be
unto you, and peace from God our
Father, and from the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Second Lesson.
T THANK my God always on your
behalf, for the grace of God
which is given you in Christ JESUS :
1 Archbishop Kenrick says: — "The First Epistle to the Corinthians was written from
Ephesus, about the year of our Lord 56 : or as Olshausen insists, 59. Corinth, the capital
of Achaia, and of all Greece after the fall of Athens, B.C. 86, . . . had received the faith,
by the preaching of St Paul, about the year 52."
that in everything ye are enriched in
Him, in all utterance and in all know-
ledge ; even as the testimony of Christ
was confirmed in you ; so that ye are
wanting in no grace, waiting for the
appearing of our Lord JESUS Christ,
Who shall also confirm you unto the
end, that ye may be blameless in the
day of the coming of our Lord JESUS
Christ. God is faithful by Whom ye
were called unto the fellowship of His
Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Third Lesson.
"VT OW I beseech you, brethren, by
the Name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that ye all speak the same
thing, and that there be no divisions
among you ; but that ye be perfected
together in the same mind, and in the
same judgment. For it hath been
declared to me of you, my brethren,
by them which are of the house of
Chloe, that there are contentions
among you. Now this I mean, that
every one of you saith : I am of
Paul ; and, I of Apollos ; and, I of
Cephas ; and, I of Christ. Is Christ
divided ? was Paul crucified for you ?
or were ye baptized in the name of
Paul?
QHonbap.
Second Day.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the First
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to the Corinthians (ii. 1.)
AND I, brethren, when I came to
"^^ you, came not with excellency
of speech or of wisdom, declaring
unto you the testimony of Christ.
For I deemed not myself to know
FIRST WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
361
anything among you, save JESUS
Christ, and Him crucified. And I
was with you in weakness, and in fear,
and in much trembling ; and my
speech and my preaching were not
with persuasive words of man's wis-
dom, but in demonstration of the
Spirit and of power ; that your faith
should not stand in the wisdom of
men, but in the power of God.
Second Lesson.
TTOWBEIT, we speak wisdom
among them that are perfect ;
yet not the wisdom of this world, nor
of the princes of this world, that come
to nought ; but we speak the wisdom
of God in a mystery, even the hidden
wisdom which God ordained before
the world unto our glory, which none
of the princes of this world knew ; for
had they known it, they would never
have crucified the Lord of glory. But
as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor
ear heard, neither have entered into
the heart of man, the things which
God hath prepared for them that love
Him.1
Third Lesson.
DUT God hath revealed them unto
us by His Spirit : for the Spirit
searcheth out all things, yea, the
deep things of God. For what man
knoweth the things of a man, save
the spirit of the man which is in
him ? Even so the things of God
knoweth no man, but the Spirit of
God. Now we have received, not the
spirit of the world, but the Spirit
Which is of God, that we might know
the things that are freely given to us
of God : which things also we speak,
not in the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost
teacheth, comparing spiritual things
with spiritual.
Third Day.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the First
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to the Corinthians (v. 1.)
T T is actually reported that there
is fornication among you, and
such fornication as is not named even
among the Gentiles, that one should
have his father's wife. And ye are
puffed up ; and have not rather
mourned, that he that hath done this
deed might be taken away from
among you. But I, verily, as absent
in body, but present in spirit, have
judged already, as though I were
present, him that hath so done this
deed ; in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, when ye are gathered together,
my spirit also being with you, with
the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to deliver such an one unto Satan for
the destruction of the flesh, that the
spirit may be saved in the day of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Second Lesson.
~\J OUR glorying is not good. Know
ye not that a little leaven leaven-
eth the whole lump ? Purge out the
old leaven, that ye may be a new lump,
as ye are unleavened. For even Christ
our Passover also hath been sacrificed :
therefore let us keep the feast, not
with old leaven, neither with leaven
of malice and wickedness, but with
the unleavened bread of sincerity and
truth.
Third Lesson.
WROTE unto you in an epistle :
Company not with fornicators.
Yet not altogether with the fornicators
1 Perhaps meant for a quotation from Isa. lxiv. 4, but the late Dr Neale inclined to the
belief that it was from some early Christian composition.
362
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
of this* world, or with the covetous, or
extortioners, or with idolaters : for
then must ye needs go out of the
world. But now I have written unto
you, not to keep company : if any man
that is called a brother be a fornicator,
or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer,
or a drunkard, or an extortioner : with
such an one, no, not to eat.
Fourth Day.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the First
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to the Corinthians (vi. I.)
T^ARE any of you, having a matter
against another, go to law before
the unjust, and not before the saints ?
Do ye not know that the saints shall
judge the world ? And if the world
shall be judged by you, are ye un-
worthy to judge the smallest matters ?
Know ye not that we shall judge
Angels ? How much more, things
that pertain to this life ? If, then, ye
have judgments of things pertaining to
this life, set them to judge who are
least esteemed in the Church. I
speak to your shame. Is it so that
there is not a wise man among you,
that shall be able to judge between
his brethren ? But brother goeth to
law with brother, and that before
the unbelievers.
Second Lesson.
1VT OW, therefore, there is utterly a
fault among you, because ye go
to law one with another. Why do ye
not rather take wrong ? Why do ye
not rather suffer yourselves to be
defrauded ? Nay, ye do wrong, and
defraud, and that your brethren.
Know ye not that the unrighteous
shall not inherit the kingdom of God ?
Be not deceived : neither fornicators,
nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves
with mankind, nor thieves, nor cove-
tous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners shall inherit the kingdom
of God. And such were some of you :
but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified,
but ye are justified in the name of our
Lord JESUS Christ, and in the Spirit of
our God.
Third Lesson.
A LL things are lawful unto me, but
"^^ all things are not expedient.
All things are lawful for me, but I will
not be brought under the power of
any. Meats for the belly, and the
belly for meats : but God shall destroy
both it and them. Now, the body is
not for fornication, but for the Lord,
and the Lord for the body. And God
hath both raised up the Lord : and
will also raise up us by His Own
power. Know ye not that your bodies
are the members of Christ ? Shall I
then take the members of Christ, and
make them the members of an harlot ?
God forbid. What ? Know ye not
that he which is joined to an harlot is
made one body ? For " the two,"
saith He, "shall be one flesh."1
But he that is joined unto the Lord
is one spirit. Flee fornication.
Fifth Day.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the First
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to the Corinthians (vii. i.)
"VT OW concerning the things whereof
ye wrote unto me : it is good
for a man not to touch a woman ;
1 Gen. ii. 24.
FIRST WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
363
nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let
every man have his own wife, and let
every woman have her own husband.
Let the husband render the debt unto
the wife ; and likewise also the wife
unto the husband. The wife hath not
power of her own body, but the hus-
band : and likewise also the husband
hath not power of his own body, but
the wife.
Second Lesson.
T^E FRAUD ye not one the other,
except perchance it be with con-
sent, for a time, that ye may give your-
selves to prayer ; and come together
again, that Satan tempt you not for
your incontinency. But I speak this
by permission, not of commandment.
For I would that ye all were even as I
myself. But every man hath his pro-
per gift of God, one after this manner,
and another after that. But I say to
the unmarried and widows : it is good
for them if they abide even as I. But
if they have not continency, let them
marry. For it is better to marry than
to burn.
Third Lesson.
A ND unto the married I command,
^^ not I, but the Lord ; let not the
wife depart from her husband ; but if
she depart, let her remain unmarried,
or be reconciled to her husband.
And let not the husband leave his
•wife. For to the rest speak I, not the
Lord : If any brother hath a wife that
believeth not, and she be pleased to
dwell with him, let him not leave
her. And the woman which be-
lieveth, and hath an husband which
believeth not, and he be pleased to
dwell with her, let her not leave
her husband:; for the unbelieving hus-
band is sanctified by the believing
wife, and the unbelieving wife is
sanctified by the believing husband ;
else were your children unclean, but
now are they holy.
Sixth Day.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the First
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to the Corinthians (xiii. 1.)
'T* HOUGH I speak with the tongues
of men and of angels, and have
not charity, I am become as sounding
brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And
though I have the gift of prophecy,
and understand all mysteries, and all
knowledge ; and though I have all
faith, so that I could remove mountains,
and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods
to feed the poor, and though I give
my body to be burned, and have not
charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Second Lesson.
/^HARITY suffereth long, and is
kind : charity envieth not, vaunt-
eth not itself, is not puffed up, doth
not behave itself unseemly, seeketh
not her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in
iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth ;
beareth all things, believeth all things,
hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth ; but whether
there be prophecies, they shall fail ;
whether there be tongues, they shall
cease ; whether there be knowledge,
it shall vanish away. For we know
in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is
come, then that which is in part shall
be done away.
Third Lesson.
\\J HEN I was a child, I spake as
a child, I felt as a child, I
thought as a child. But now that I
am become a man, I put away child-
364
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
ish things. Now, we see in a mirror
darkly ; but then, face to face. Now,
I know in part ; but then shall I know
even as also I have been known.
And now abideth faith, hope, love,
these three : but the greatest of these
is love.
The Sabbath.
If the next day be Septuagesitna
Sunday, then a peculiar Office is some-
times said on this day, (see Note 2, p.
359,) in which case the following Les-
sons are simply omitted.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the First
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to the Corinthians (xvi. 1.)
"VJ OW concerning the collection for
the Saints, as I have given
order to the Churches of Galatia, even
so do ye. Upon the first day of the
week let every one of you lay by him
in store whatsoever pleaseth him, that
there be no gatherings when I come.
And when I come, whomsoever ye
shall approve by your letters, them
will I send to bring your liberality unto
Jerusalem. And if it be meet that
I go also, they shall go with me.
But I will tarry at Ephesus until
Pentecost. For a great door and
evident is opened unto me, and there
are many adversaries.
Third Lesson.
TVT OW, if Timothy come, see that he
be with you without fear : for
he worketh the work of the Lord, as
I also do. Let no man therefore
despise him : but conduct him forth
in peace, that he may come unto me :
for I look for him with the brethren.
As touching our brother Apollos, I
tell you that I greatly desired him
to come unto you with the brethren :
but his will was not at all to come
at this time : but he will come when
he shall have convenient time. Watch
ye ; stand fast in the faith ; quit you
like men, and be strong. Let all
your things be done with charity.
Vespers are always the First Vespers
of the Feast of the Holy Name, except
when the next day is Septuagesitna
Sunday, in which case the Feast of the
Holy Name is transferred to Jan. 28,
{which see,) and these Vespers are,
from the Chapter, of Septuagesima,
with the Farewell to the Alleluia, all
the Office between this and that, being
that year omitted.
Second Lesson.
1VT OW I will come unto you, when
I shall pass through Macedonia,
for I do pass through Macedonia.
And it may be that I will abide, yea,
and winter with you ; that ye may
bring me on my journey whithersoever
I go. For I would not see you only
in passing ; but I trust to tarry a
while with you, if the Lord permit.
1 In the original this Office is not given here, but in the Proper Offices of Festivals. It is
inserted here, 1st, because it is nearly always so in practice ; and 2ndly, as a specimen of
the application of the General Rubrics.
&eccmti ^untiag after tjje
(fEptpfyansL
Feast of the Most Holy Name of
Jesus.1
Double of the Second Class.
All as on ordinary Sundays, except
what is otherwise given here.
SECOND WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
365
FIRST VESPERS.
First four Psalms as on Sundays.
First Antiphon. x Whosoever shall
call on the name of the Lord shall be
saved.
Second Antiphon. Holy and ter-
rible is His Name ; the fear of the
LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
Third Antiphon. 2Yet will I re-
joice in the LORD : I will joy in the
God of my salvation.
Fourth Antiphon. From the rising
of the sun unto the going down of
the same the Lord's Name is to be
praised.
Fifth Antiphon. I will offer the
sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call
upon the Name of the Lord.
Psalm CXV.
I believed, therefore have I spoken,
&c, (A 185.)
Nym?i.z
T ESUS ! the very thought of Thee
J With sweetness fills the breast !
Yet sweeter far Thy Face to see
And in Thy Presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find
A sweeter sound than Jesu's Name,
The Saviour of mankind !
O hope of every contrite heart !
O joy of all the meek !
To those who fall, how kind Thou art !
How good to those who seek !
But what to those who find? Ah ! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show —
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved-ones know.
Jesus ! our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be ;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity ! Amen.
Verse. . Blessed be the Name of
the Lord — Alleluia.
Answer. From this time forth,
and for evermore — Alleluia.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. He That is mighty hath done
to me great things, and holy is His-
Name — Alleluia.
Prayer throughout the Office.
f~\ GOD, Who hast appointed Thine
^^^ Only - begotten Son to be the
Saviour of mankind, and hast com-
manded that His Name should be
called JESUS, mercifully grant that we
who here on earth do worship that
His most Holy Name may be made
glad in heaven by His Presence.
Through the Same our Lord Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, One God, world
without end. Amen.
Commemoration of the First Vespers
of the Sunday.
Antiphon. God hath holpen His
servant Israel : as He spake to Abra-
ham and to his seed, to exalt them of
low degree for ever and ever.
Verse. Let the evening prayer
ascend unto Thee, O Lord.
Answer. And let there descend
upon us Thy mercy.
Prayer.
A LMIGHTY and everlasting God,,
Who dost govern all things in
heaven and earth, mercifully hear the
supplication of Thy people, and grant
us Thy peace all the days of our life.
Through our Lord JESUS Christ, Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
1 Joel ii. 32 ; Rom. x. 13. 2 Hab. iii. 18.
3 Except the last verse, selected from a hymn by St Bernard : translation by the Rev. E..
Caswall.
366
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end. Amen.
At Compline the last verse of the
Hymn is altered in honour of the In-
carnation.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. The Name which shall
be called Wonderful,1 the Name of
Jesus is the Name which is above
every name.2 * O come, let us wor-
ship Him.
3 Hymn.
r\ JESU, King most wonderful !
Thou Conqueror renowned !
Thou sweetness most ineffable !
In Whom all joys are found !
When once Thou visitest the heart,
Then truth begins to shine ;
Then earthly vanities depart ;
Then kindles love divine.
O Jesu, Light of all below !
Thou Fount of life and fire !
Surpassing all the joys we know,
All that we can desire.
May every heart confess Thy Name,
And ever Thee adore ;
And seeking Thee, itself inflame
To seek Thee more and more.
Thee may our tongues for ever bless,
Thee may we love alone ;
And ever in our lives express
The image of Thine own. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. O LORD our Ruler,
how excellent is Thy Name in all the
earth.
Second Antiphon. 4 At the Name of
Jesus, let eve.ry knee bow, of things
in heaven, and things in earth, and
things under the earth.
Psalm XVIII.
The heavens declare, &c, {p. 17.)
Third Antiphon. 5 Praise the LORD
and call upon His Name : remember
that His Name is exalted.
Psalm XXIII.
The earth is the Lord's, &c, {p.
46.)
Verse. 6 For Thy Name's sake, O
LORD, pardon mine iniquity.
Answer. For it is great.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Acts of
the Apostles (iii. 1.)
"VT OW Peter and John went up
together into the temple at
the hour of prayer, being the ninth
hour.7 And a certain man, lame
from his mother's womb, was carried ;
whom they laid daily at the gate of
the temple, which is called Beautiful,
to ask alms of them that entered into
the temple. Who, seeing Peter and
John about to go into the temple,
asked an alms. And Peter, fastening
his eyes upon him, with John, said :
Look on us. And he gave heed unto
them, expecting to receive something
of them. Then Peter said : Silver
and gold have I none, but such as
I have give I thee ; in the Name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up
and walk. And he took him by the
right hand, and lifted him up, and
1 Isa. ix. 6. 2 phii. ii. 9.
a Except the last verse, selected from a hymn by St Bernard, very slightly altered : translation
by the Rev. E. Caswall.
4 Phil. ii. 10. 5 Isa. xii. 4. « Ps. xxiv. 11. 7 I.e., None.
Psalm VIII, commencing with the
2nd verse.
Who hast set, &c, {p. 7.)
SECOND WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
367
immediately his feet and soles re-
ceived strength. And he, leaping up,
stood and walked, and entered with
them into the temple, walking, and
leaping, and praising God.
First Responsory.
Behold, thou shalt conceive, and
bring forth a Son, and shalt call His
Name Jesus ; for He shall save His
people from their sins.
Verse. His Name was called JESUS,
which was so named of the Angel,
before He was conceived in the womb.
Answer. For He shall save His
people from their sins.
Second Lesson.
AND all the people saw him walk-
ing, and praising God. And
they knew that it was he which sat
for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the
temple, and they were filled with
wonder and amazement at that which
had happened unto him. And, as he
held Peter and John, all the people
ran together unto them in the porch
that is called Solomon's, greatly won-
dering. And when Peter saw it, he
answered unto the people : Ye men
of Israel, why marvel ye at this ? or
why look ye so earnestly on us, as
though by our own power or strength
we had made this man to walk ?
The God of Abraham, and the God
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,
the God of our fathers, hath glorified
His Son Jesus, Whom ye delivered
up, and denied Him in the presence
of Pilate, when he was determined to
let Him go. But ye denied the Holy
One, and the Just, and desired a
murderer to be granted unto you ;
and killed the Author of life, Whom
God hath raised from the dead,
whereof we are witnesses. And His
Name, through faith in His Name,
hath made this man strong, whom
ye see and know : yea, the faith
which is by Him hath given him this
perfect soundness in the presence of
you all.
Second Responsory.
1 Blessed is Thy Name, O God of
our fathers, for in wrath Thou wilt
remember mercy. And in the time
of tribulation Thou forgivest the sins
of them that call upon Thee.
Verse. 2 And blessed be Thy glori-
ous Name for ever, O Thou Who only
doest wondrous things !
Answer. And in the time of tribu-
lation Thou forgivest the sins of them
that call upon Thee.
Third Lesson, (iv. 5.)
A ND it came to pass on the morrow,
"^^ that their rulers, and elders, and
scribes of Jerusalem, and Annas the
high priest, and Caiaphas, and John,
and Alexander, and as many as were
of the priests' kindred, were gathered
together. And when they had set
them in the midst, they asked : By
what power, or by what name have
ye done this ? Then Peter, filled with
the Holy Ghost, said unto them : Ye
rulers and elders of the people,
hearken : If we this day be examined
of the good deed done to the impotent
man, by what means he is made whole ;
be it known unto you all, and to all
the people of Israel, that by the Name
of our Lord JESUS Christ of Nazareth,
Whom ye crucified, Whom God raised
from the dead, even by Him doth this
man stand here before you whole.
This 3 is the stone which was set at
nought of you builders, which is be-
come the head of the corner ; neither
is there salvation in any other. For
1 Tobias iii. 13.
2 Ps. lxxi. 18, 19.
3 Ps. cxvii. 22.
368
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
there is no other Name under heaven
given among men, whereby ye must be
saved.
Third Responsory.
1 I will praise Thy Name continu-
ally ; yea, I will praise it with thanks-
giving.
Verse. 2 I will be glad and rejoice
in Thee : I will sing praise to Thy
Name, O Thou Most High.
Answer. Yea, I will praise it with
thanksgiving.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Yea, I will praise it with
thanksgiving.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. They shall be
mindful of Thy Name, O Lord, unto
all generations.
Psalm XLIV.
My heart is overflowing, &c, {p. 96.)
Second Antiphon. 3 O magnify the
Lord with me, and let us exalt His
Name together.
Psalm XL V.
God is our refuge, &c, {p. 97.)
Third Antiphon. i All nations whom
Thou hast made, shall come and wor-
ship before Thee, O Lord, and shall
glorify Thy Name.
Psalm LXXXVI.
Her foundation, &c, {p. 144.)
Verse. 5 For the glory of Thy Name,
deliver us, O Lord.
Answer. And forgive our sins, for
Thy Name's sake.
1 Ecclus. li. 15. 2 ps-
4 Ps. lxxxv. 9. s pSt
7 Cant. i. 3, where spiced, or perfumed oil {i.e
8 Ps. xxxv. 10. 9 Eph. v. 8.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of 6 St Bernard, Abbat [of Clairvaux.]
( 1 $th on the Song of Songs. )
TT is not idly that the Holy Ghost
likeneth the Name of the Bride-
groom to oil, when He maketh the
Bride say to the Bridegroom: "Thy
Name is as oil poured forth."7 Oil
indeed giveth light, meat, and unction.
It feedeth fire, it nourisheth the flesh,
it sootheth pain ; it is light, food, and
healing. Behold, Thus also is the
Name of the Bridegroom. To preach
it, is to give light ; to think of it, is to
feed the soul ; to call on it, is to win
grace and unction. Let us take it
point by point. What, thinkest thou,
hath made the light of faith so suddenly
and so brightly to shine in the whole
world but the preaching of the Name
of JESUS ? Is it not in the light of
this Name that God hath called us into
His marvellous light, even that light
wherewith we being enlightened, and
in His light seeing light,8 Paul saith
truly of us : "Ye were sometimes dark-
ness, but now -are ye light in the
Lord."9
Fourth Responsory.
10 Let them that know Thy Name
put their trust in Thee ; for Thou,
LORD, hast not forsaken them that
seek Thee.
Verse. n Arise, O Lord, help us,
and redeem us for Thy Name's sake.
Answer. For Thou, LORD, hast not
forsaken them that seek Thee.
Fifth Lesson.
''PHIS is the Name which the Apostle
was commanded to bear before
Gentiles, and kings, and the children
ix. 3. s Ps. xxxiii. 4.
lxxviii. 9. « Aug. 20.
., ointment) seems to be meant. So Gesenius.
10 Ps. ix. 11. « Ps. xliii. 26.
SECOND WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
369
of Israel, the Name which he bore as
a light to enlighten his people, crying
everywhere : 1 " The night is far
spent, the day is at hand ; let us there-
fore cast off the works of darkness,
.and let us put on the armour of light,
let us walk honestly as in the day."
lie pointed out to all that candle set
upon a candlestick, preaching in every
place JESUS and Him crucified. How
did that Name shine forth and dazzle
every eye that beheld it, when it came
like lightning out of the mouth of Peter
to give bodily strength to the feet of
the lame man, and to clear the sight
of many a blind soul ? Cast he not
fire when he said : " In the Name of
JESUS Christ of Nazareth, rise up and
walk " ?
Fifth Responsory.
2 Let us praise Thy great Name,
for it is terrible and holy.
Verse. 3 Some trust in chariots, and
some in horses, but we will call upon
the Name of the Lord our God.
Answer. For it is terrible and holy.
Sixth Lesson.
'HTHE Name of Jesus is not a Name
of light only, but it is meat also.
Dost thou ever call it to mind, and re-
main unstrengthened ? Is there any-
thing like it to enrich the soul of him
that thinketh of it ? What is there
like it to restore the fagged senses, to
fortify strength, to give birth to good
lives and pure affections ? The soul is
fed on husks if that whereon it feedeth
lack seasoning with this salt. If thou
writest, thou hast no meaning for me if
I read not of JESUS there. If thou
preach, or dispute, thou hast no mean-
ing for me if I hear not of JESUS there.
The mention of JESUS is honey in the
mouth, music in the ear, and gladness
in the heart. It is our healing too. Is
any sorrowful among us ? Let the
thought of Jesus come into his heart,
and spring to his mouth. Behold,
when the day of that Name beginneth
to break, every cloud will flee away,
and there will be a great calm. Doth
any fall into sin ? Doth any draw
nigh to an hopeless death ? And if he
but call on the life - giving Name of
JESUS, will he not draw the breath of a
new life again ?
Sixth Responsory.
4 O Lord, let all those that put their
trust in Thee rejoice, let them ever
shout for joy because Thou dwellest in
them ; let them also that love Thy
Name be joyful in Thee.
Verse. 5 They shall walk, O Lord,
in the light of Thy countenance ; and
in Thy Name shall they rejoice all the
day.
Answer. Let them also that love
Thy Name be joyful in Thee.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Let them also that love
Thy Name be joyful in Thee.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Sing unto the
Lord, and bless His Name : show
forth His salvation from day to day.
Psalm XCV.
O sing unto the Lord, &c. {p. 148.)
Second Antiphon. 6 According to
Thy Name, O God, so is Thy praise
unto the ends of the earth ; Thy right
hand is full of righteousness.
1 Rom. xiii. 12.
4 Ps. v. 12.
2 Ps. xcviii. 3.
5 Ps. lxxxviii. 16, 17.
3 Ps. xix. 8.
6 Ps. xlvii. 11.
37o
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Psalm XCVI.
The Lord reigneth, &c., (p. 149.)
Third Antiphon. 1 Sing unto God,
sing praises to His Name ; spread a
path before Him That rideth upon the
heavens : the Lord is His Name.
Psalm XCVI I.
O sing unto the Lord, &c, {p. 157.)
Verse. 2 Give unto the LORD glory
and honour.
Answer. Give unto the LORD the
glory due unto His Name.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (ii. 21.)
A T that time : When eight days
were accomplished for the cir-
cumcising of the Child, His Name was
called Jesus. And so on.
Homily by St Bernard, Abbat [of
Clairvaux.] (1st on the Circumcision.)
Behold a mystery, great and full of
wonder ! The Child is circumcised,
and His Name is called JESUS. Why
are these two things thus mentioned
together ? It would seem that circum-
cision should rather be for the saved
than for the Saviour ; that the Saviour
ought rather to be Circumciser than
circumcised. But behold here the
Mediator between God and men, how
even from His childhood He joineth
the things of the Highest to the things
of the lowest, the things of God to the
things of men. He is born of a
woman, but her womb is made fruitful
without the loss of the flower of her
virginity. He is wrapped in swad-
dling-bands, but these swaddling-bands
1 Ps. lxvii. 5.
3 Ps. cxiv. 3, 4.
are a theme for the jubilation of angels.
He is laid in a manger, but a bright
star standeth in heaven over the place.
So also in His circumcision, the cere-
mony gave proof of the reality of the
Manhood which He had taken, and
that Name which is above every name
proclaimed the glory of His Blessed
Majesty. As very son of Abraham
He underwent circumcision ; He
assumed the Name of JESUS as very
Son of God.
Seventh Responsory.
3 Sorrow and trouble did I find.
Then called I upon the Name of the
Lord.
Verse. 4 The Name of the Lord is
a strong tower ; I trusted in Him and
I am helped.
Answer. Then called I upon the
Name of the Lord.
Eighth Lesson.
A/I" Y JESUS beareth not that Name
as others have borne it before
Him, as a vain and empty title. It is
not in Him the shadow of a great
Name, but the very meaning of that
Name. That His Name was revealed
from heaven, is attested by the Evan-
gelist, where it is written, "Which
was so named of the Angel before He
was conceived in the womb." After
Jesus was born, men called Him
Jesus, but angels called Him Jesus,
before He was conceived in the
womb. The One Lord is the Saviour
of angels and of men ; of men, since
His Incarnation ; of angels, from the
beginning of their creation. " His
Name," saith the Evangelist, " was
called JESUS, which was so named of
the Angel before He was conceived in
the womb." In the mouth therefore
of two or three witnesses is every
2 Ps. xxviii. 2.
4 Prov. xviii. 10 ; Ps. xxvii. 7.
SECOND WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
371
word established ; 1 and that word
whereof the Prophet spoke as cut
short,2 is set forth at length in the
Gospel — the Word made Flesh.
Eighth Responsory.
O Lord, 3 I will wait on Thy
Name. For it is good before Thy
Saints.
Verse. 4 To give thanks unto Thy
Holy Name, and to triumph in Thy
praise.
Answer. For it is good before
Thy Saints.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. For it is good before
Thy Saints.
Ninth Blessing.
May the Gospel's glorious word
Cleansing to our souls afford.
Ninth Lesson.
( Of the Second Sunday after the
Epiphany. )
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (ii. 1.)
A T that time : There was a mar-
"^^ riage in Cana of Galilee, and
the mother of Jesus was there. And
both Jesus was called, and His dis-
ciples, to the marriage. And so on.
1 Matth. xviii. 16 ; Deut. xix. 15.
2 The allusion is apparently to the LXX. version of Isa. x. 22, which reads : " For though
thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant shall be saved ; for He will finish the
word and cut it short in righteousness, because a short word will God, the Lord of powers,
make in the whole world " — quoted in Rom. ix. 27, 28.
3 Ps. Ii. 11. 4 Ps. cv. 47. 5 1 Tim. iv. 3. 6 Matth. xix. 3 et seq.
7 A person bound to the recitation of the Divine Office would satisfy the obligation by
reading to this point only.
8 Quia ipsa esse uxor prior noluit, quae fidem conjugalem marito non servavit. As the
Church teaches that a marriage once validly contracted and consummated is indissoluble, two
explanations have been given to Matth. xix. 9. (1) That " porneia " is there used synonymously
with " moicheia," and a separation a mensa. et toro is meant ; (2) that the case referred to is
that given in Deut. xxii. 21.
Homily by St Austin, Bishop [of
Hippo.] (gth Tract on fohn.)
Even setting aside any mystical in-
terpretation, the fact that the Lord
was pleased to be asked, and to go
to a marriage, showeth plainly enough
that He is the Author and Blesser of
marriage. There were yet to be those
of whom the Apostle hath warned us
as " forbidding to marry ; " 5 who say
that marriage is a bad thing in itself,
and a work of the devil. Yet we read
in the 6 Gospel that when the Lord
was asked, "Is it lawful for a man to
put away his wife for every cause ? "
He answered that it was not lawful,
except it were for fornication. In
which answer ye will remember that
He used these words : " What God
hath joined together, let not man put
asunder." 7 {Eighth Lesson of the
Sunday.) They who are well in-
structed in the Catholic religion know
that God is the Author and Blesser of
marriage ; and that, whereas joining
together in marriage is of God, divorce
is of the devil. But it is lawful for a
man to put away his wife in case of
fornication,8 for by not keeping a
wife's faith to her husband she herself
hath first willed not to be wife. They
also who have made a vow of their
virginity to God and have thereby
attained to an higher degree of hon-
our and holiness in the Church, are
not unmarried, for they are a special
part of the marriage of the whole
Church, which is the Bride of Christ.
(Ninth Lesson of the Sunday.) The
372
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Lord, being asked, went to the mar-
riage, to strengthen the marriage tie,
and to shed light on the hidden mean-
ing of matrimony. In that marriage
feast the Bridegroom to whom it was
said, " Thou hast kept the good wine
until now," was a figure of the Lord
Christ, Who hath kept until now the
good wine, namely the Gospel.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God, &c." is said.
Celestial sweetness unalloyed !
Who eat Thee hunger still,
Who drink of Thee still feel a void
Which nought but Thou canst fill !
O my sweet Jesus ! hear the sighs
Which unto Thee I send !
To Thee my inmost spirit cries,
My being's hope and end !
Stay with us, Lord, and with Thy light
Illume the soul's abyss ;
Scatter the darkness of our night
And fill the world with bliss.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. l Thy Name is as
oil * poured forth, therefore do the
virgins love Thee.
Second Antiphon. 2 Know ye that
the Lord He is God, * and His
Name endure th for ever.
Third Antiphon. My soul thirst-
eth * for Thy Holy Name, O Lord.
Fourth Antiphon. 3 Blessed is the
Holy Name of Thy glory, and worthy
to be praised, and exalted above all
for ever.
Fifth Antiphon. Young men and
maidens, * old men and children,
praise the Name of the LORD, for His
Name alone is exalted.
O Jesu ! Spotless Virgin flower !
Our life and joy ! to Thee
Be praise, beatitude, and power,
Through all eternity ! Amen.
Verse. Our help is in the Name ot
the Lord.
Answer. Who made heaven and
earth.
Antiphoti at the Song of Zacharias.
5 He gave Himself to deliver His
people, and to get Himself an ever-
lasting Name. Alleluia.
Prayer throughout the Office, " O
God, Who hast appointed, &c," as at
Vespers.
Chapter. (Phil. ii. 8.)
DRETHREN, Christ humbled Him-
^ self and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly ex-
alted Him, and given Him a Name
which is above every name, that at
the Name of Jesus every knee should
bow.
Hymn.*
C\ JESUS, Thou the Beauty art
Oi angel worlds above !
Thy Name is music to the heart,
Enchanting it with love !
Commemoration of the Lauds of the
Sunday.
Antiphon. There was a marriage
in Cana of Galilee, * and Jesus was
there, and Mary His mother.
Verse. The Lord reigneth, He is
clothed with majesty.
Answer. The LORD is clothed
with strength, and hath girded Him-
self with power.
Prayer as at the Commemoration at
Vespers, " Almighty and everlasting
God, &c."
i Cant. i. 3. - Ps. xcix. 3. 3 Dan. iii. 52.
* Selected from a hymn by St Bernard ; translation by the Rev. E. Caswall.
B 1 Mace. vi. 44.
SECOND WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
373
PRIME.
The last verse of the Hymn is al-
tered in honour of the Incarnation.
Antiphon. Thy Name is as oil,
&c, {First Antiphon at Lauds.)
In the Short Responsory is said,
" Thou That wast born of the Virgin
Mary."
Chapter at the end. (Col. iii. 17.)
"WHATSOEVER, ye do in word
or deed, do all in the Name of
the Lord JESUS Christ, giving thanks
to God and the Father by Him.
TERCE.
The last verse of the Hymn is al-
tered in honour of the Incarnation.
Antiphon. Know ye that the Lord
He is God, &c, {Second Antiphon at
Lauds. )
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
Blessed be the Name of the Lord —
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Answer. Blessed be the Name of
the Lord — Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. From this time forth, and
for evermore.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Blessed be the Name of
the LORD — Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Give unto the LORD glory
and honour — Alleluia.
Answer. Give unto the Lord the
glory due unto His Name. Alleluia.
SEXT.
The last verse of the Hymn is altered
in honour of the Incarnation.
Antiphon. My soul thirsteth, &c,
{Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
VOL. I.
Chapter. (Phil. ii. 10.)
A T the Name of JESUS let every
^^ knee bow, of things in heaven,
and things in earth, and things under
the earth ; and let every tongue confess
that our Lord Jesus Christ is in the
glory of God the Father.
Short Responsory.
Give unto the Lord glory and
honour — Alleluia, Alleluia.
Answer. Give unto the Lord glory
and honour. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Give unto the Lord the
glory due unto His Name.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Give unto the Lord
glory and honour — Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. O magnify the Lord with
me — Alleluia.
Answer. And let us exalt His
Name together — Alleluia.
NONE.
The last Verse of the Hymn is altered
in honour of the Incarnation.
Antiphon. Young men and maidens,
&c, {Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter, Col. iii. 1 7, as at the end of
Prime.
Short Responsory.
O magnify the LORD with me —
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Answer. O magnify the LORD
with me — Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. And let us exalt His Name
together.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. O magnify the LORD
with me — Alleluia, Alleluia.
N
374
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Verse. Our help is in the Name of
the Lord — Alleluia.
Answer. Who made heaven and
earth — Alleluia.
SECOND VESPERS.
The same as First Vespers, except
the following :
An tip Aon at the Song of the Blessed-
Virgin. Thou shalt call His Name
Jesus : for He shall save His people
from their sins — Alleluia.
Commemoration of the SUNDAY.
AntipJwn. When the wine failed,
Jesus commanded them to fill the
water-pots with water, and the water
was made wine — Alleluia.
Verse. Let my prayer, O Lord, be
set forth.
Answer. As incense before Thee.
Prayer as at the two former Com-
memorations.
Note. It may possibly happen that
a Ninth Lesson is wanted for this
Feast [for if Septuagesima falls on
Second Sunday after Epiphany the
Feast of the Most Holy Name is trans-
ferred to fan. 28], in which case the
following is the
Ninth Lesson.
T T is no wonder that it should be at
His circumcision that the Name
of Jesus (which is, being interpreted,
" Saviour,") is given to the Child Who
is born unto us, for it was then that
He for the first time shed that sinless
Blood Which is the mean whereby
He hath chosen to work out our salva-
tion. It is no matter for the specula-
tion of Christians why the Lord Christ
1 A person bound to the recitation of the Divine Office can fulfil the obligation by reading
.the Lessons of Sunday only.
2 Written from some city in Macedonia, a year after the former.
was pleased to be circumcised. He
was circumcised for the same reason
for which He was born, and for which
He suffered. Neither one nor the
other was for Himself, but all for the
sake of the elect. He was not born
in sin ; He was not circumcised to
separate Him from sin ; neither did
He die for sins of His own, but for
ours. "Which was so named of the
Angel before He was conceived in the
womb." The Angel indeed gave Him
that title of " Saviour," but not for the
first time. Saviour is His Name from
everlasting ; He hath it of His own
proper nature to save. This title He
hath in Himself, not by the gift of
anything that He hath made, be it
man or Angel.
Second Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
{First Lesson of Sunday.1)
Here beginneth the 2 Second Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Corinthians (i. 1.)
DAUL, an Apostle of Jesus Christ,
by the will of God, and Timothy
our brother, unto the Church of God
which is at Corinth, with all the Saints
which are in all Achaia. Grace be to
you and peace, from God our Father,
and from the Lord JESUS Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord JESUS Christ, the Father of
mercies, and the God of all comfort,
Who comforteth us in all our tribula-
tion, that we also may be able to com-
fort them which are in any trouble, by
the comfort wherewith we ourselves
are comforted of God. For, as the
SECOND WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
375
sufferings of Christ abound in us, so
our consolation also aboundeth by
Christ. {Second Lesson of Sunday.)
And whether we be afflicted, it is
for your comfort and salvation, or
whether we be comforted it is for your
comfort, or whether we be exhorted it
is for your exhortation and salvation,
which is effectual to the enduring of
the same sufferings which we also
suffer, that our hope of you may be
steadfast, knowing that as ye are
partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye
be also of the consolation. {Third
Lesson of Sunday.) For we would
not, brethren, have you ignorant of
our trouble, which came to us in Asia,
that we were pressed out of measure
above strength, insomuch that we were
weary even of life. But we had the
answer of death 1 in ourselves, that we
might not trust in ourselves, but in
God, Which raiseth the dead ; Who
delivered us from so great danger,
and doth deliver ; in Whom we trust
that He will yet deliver us, ye also
helping together by prayer for us ;
that for the gift bestowed upon us,
by means of many persons, thanks
may be given by many on our behalf.
First Responsory.
2 O how great is Thy goodness, O
Lord, — which Thou hast laid up for
them that fear Thee !
Verse. Which Thou, O Lord, hast
wrought for them that trust in Thee
before the sons of men !
Answer. Which Thou hast laid up
for them that fear Thee !
Second Lesson.
{First Lesson of Monday, iii. i.)
"T^O we begin again to commend
ourselves ? Or need we (as
some others) epistles of commendation
to you, or from you ? Ye are our
epistle, written in our hearts, known
and read of all men ; manifestly de-
clared to be the epistle of Christ,
ministered by us, and written, not with
ink, but with the Spirit of the living
God ; not in tables of stone, but in
fleshly tables of the heart.
Second Responsory.
3 O God, be Thou my helper.
Neither leave me.
Verse. Nor forsake me — O God of
my salvation.
Answer. Neither leave me.
Third Lesson.
{Second Lesson of Monday.)
AND such trust have we through
"^^ Christ to God-ward ; not that
we are sufficient of ourselves to think
anything, as of ourselves ; but our
sufficiency is of God, Who also hath
made us able ministers of the New
Testament, not of the letter, but of the
Spirit : for the letter killeth, but the
Spirit giveth life. But if the ministra-
tion of death, engraven with letters
upon stones, was glorious, so that the
children of Israel could not steadfastly
behold the face of Moses, for the
glory of his countenance — which is
done away : how shall not rather the
ministration of the Spirit be glorious ?
{Third Lesson of Monday.) For if
the ministration of condemnation be
glory, much more doth the ministra-
tion of righteousness exceed in glory.
For even that which was glorious had
no glory in this respect, by reason of
the glory that excelleth. For if that
which is done away is glorious ; much
more that which remaineth is glorious.
Seeing then that we have such an
1 " ' The presentiment '—we felt that we should die." — Abp. Kenrick.
2 Ps. xxx. 20. ■•■ Ps. xxvi. 9.
376.
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
hope, we use great confidence ; and,
not as Moses, which put a veil over
his face, that the children of Israel
might not steadfastly look upon the
face of that which is done away. But
their minds are blinded. For until
this day remaineth the same veil un-
taken away in the reading of the Old
Testament, because it is taken away
in Christ.
Third Responsory,
1 1 will bless the Lord at all times.
His praise shall continually be in my
mouth.
Verse. My soul shall make her
boast in the Lord ; the humble shall
hear thereof and be glad.
Answer. His praise shall contin-
ually be in my mouth.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. His praise shall contin-
ually be in my mouth.
Prayer throughout the week, " Al-
mighty and everlasting God," &c, (p.
3650
Third Day,
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Second
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to the Corinthians (v. 1.)
T^OR we know that if our earthly
house of this tabernacle were
dissolved we have a building of God,
an house not made with hands, eternal
in the heavens. For in this we groan,
earnestly desiring to be clothed upon
with our house which is from heaven ;
i Ps. xxxiii. 2, 3.
2 Ps. xxxviii. 13, 14.
if so be that, being clothed, we shall
not be found naked. For we that
are in this tabernacle do groan, being
burdened, not for that we would be
unclothed, but clothed upon, that
mortality might be swallowed up of
life.
First Responsory.
2 O God, give ear unto my tears ;
hold not Thy peace, but, O, spare
me ! For I am a stranger with Thee,
and a sojourner.
Verse. 3 Be pleased, O Lord, to
deliver me ; O LORD, look upon me
to help me.
Answer. For I am a stranger with
Thee, and a sojourner.
Second Lesson.
'"THEREFORE we are always con-
fident, knowing that whilst we
are at home in the body, we are
absent from the Lord (for we walk by
faith, not by sight) : but we are con-
fident and willing rather to be absent
from the body, and to be present
with the Lord. Wherefore we labour,
that, whether present or absent, we
may please Him. For we must all
appear before the judgment-seat of
Christ, that every one may receive
the things done in his body, according
to that he hath done, whether it be
good or bad.
Second Responsory.
4 The Lord hath set my feet upon
a rock, and ordered my goings. And
He hath put a new song in my mouth.
Verse. He heard my cry : He
brought me up also out of an horrible
pit.
Answer. And He hath put a new
song in my mouth.
3 Ps. xxxix. 14. * Ps. xxxix. 3, 4.
SECOND WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
377
Third Lesson.
"[/"NOWING therefore the terror of
the Lord, we persuade men ; but
we are made manifest unto God. And
I trust also are made manifest in your
consciences. We commend not our-
selves again unto you, but give you
occasion to glory on our behalf; that
ye may have somewhat to answer
them which glory in appearance, and
not in heart. For whether we be
beside ourselves, it is to God ; or
whether we be sober, it is for your
cause. For the love of Christ con-
strained! us ; because we thus judge,
that if one died for all, then were all
dead : and Christ died for all : that
they which live should not henceforth
live unto themselves, but unto Him
Which died for them, and rose again.
Third Responsory.
1 I said : Lord, be merciful unto
me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned
against Thee.
Verse. Deliver me from all mine
iniquities, O Lord.
Answer. Heal my soul, for I have
sinned against Thee.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Heal my soul, for I have
sinned against Thee.
Fourth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Second
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to the Corinthians (vii. I.)
TTAVING therefore these promises,
dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the
flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God. Receive us. We
have wronged no man, we have cor-
rupted no man, we have defrauded
no man. I speak not this to condemn
you : for we have said before that ye
are in our hearts, to die and live with
you.
First Responsory.
Cut me not off in the midst of my
sins. Nor keep Thy wrath against
me for my latter end.
Verse. 2 Enter not into judgment
with Thy servant, O Lord.
Answer. Nor keep Thy wrath
against me for my latter end.
Second Lesson.
C^ REAT is my boldness towards you,
^"* great is my glorying of you ; I
am filled with comfort, I am exceeding
joyful in all our tribulation. For
when we were come into Macedonia,
our flesh had no rest, but we were
troubled on every side : without were
fightings, within were fears. Never-
theless God, That comforteth those
that are cast down, comforted us by
the coming of Titus. And not by
his coming only, but also by the con-
solation wherewith he was comforted
in you, when he told us your earnest
desire, your mourning, your zeal for
me : so that I rejoiced the more.
1 Ps. xl. 5.
Second Responsory.
3 My heart is ready, O God, my
heart is ready. I will sing and give
praise to the Lord.
Verse. Awake up, my glory, a-
wake, psaltery and harp ! I will awake
early.
Answer. I will sing and give
praise to the Lord.
2 Ps. cxlii. 2. . . 3 ps, ivi. sf 9..
378
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Third Lesson.
T^OR though I have made you sorry
with a letter, I repent not ; and,
if I had repented, perceiving that the
same epistle made you sorry, (though
it were but for a season,) now I re-
joice : not that ye were made sorry,
but that ye sorrowed to repentance.
For ye were made sorry according to
God, so that ye receive damage from
us in nothing. For the sorrow which
is according to God worketh repen-
tance to salvation not to be repented
of: but the sorrow of the world
worketh death.
thought to be bold against some,,
which think of us as if we walked ac-
cording to the flesh. For though we
walk in the flesh we do not war after
the flesh.
First Responsory.
3 In Thee, O God, do I put my
trust ; let me never be put to con-
fusion, O Lord : deliver me in Thy
righteousness, and cause me to escape.
Verse. Incline Thine ear unto me,
deliver me speedily.
Answer. And cause me to escape.
Third Responsory.
1 Unto Thee, O my Strength, will I
sing, for God is my defence, the God
of my mercy.
Verse. 2 I will be glad and rejoice
in Thee, I will sing praise to Thy
Name, O Thou Most High.
Answer. The God of my mercy.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. The God of my mercy.
Fifth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
* The Lesson is taken from the Second
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to the Corinthians (x. 1.)
"\J OW I, Paul, myself beseech you,
by the meekness and gentleness
of Christ, who in presence am base
among you, but being absent am bold
towards you. But I beseech you that
I may not be bold when I am present,
with that confidence wherewith I am
1 Ps. lviii. 18.
2 Ps. ix.
Second Lesson.
17 OR the weapons of our warfare
are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of
strongholds, casting down imagin-
ations, and every high thing that ex-
alteth itself against the knowledge of
God, and bringing into captivity every
thought to the obedience of Christ,
and having in a readiness to revenge
all disobedience, when your obedience
is fulfilled. Look ye on things after
the outward appearance ? If any man
trust to himself that he is Christ's,,
let him of himself think this again,
that, as he is Christ's, even so we
are Christ's.
Second Responsory.
4 Let my mouth be filled with Thy
praise, that I may sing of Thy glory,
all the day long of Thy greatness.
Cast me not off in the time of old
age ; forsake me not when my strength
faileth.
Verse. My lips shall be fain when
I sing unto Thee.
Answer. Forsake me not when
my strength faileth.
* Ps. lxx. x, 2. 4 Ps. Ixx. 8, 9, 23.
SECOND WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
379
Third Lesson.
"POR though
1 more
I should boast some-
what more of our authority,
which the Lord hath given us for edi-
fication, and not for your destruction,
I should not be ashamed. But that I
may not seem as if I would terrify you
by letters — ("for his letters," say
they, " are weighty and powerful,
but his bodily presence is weak, and
his speech contemptible,") — let such
an one think this, that such as we are
in word by letters when we are absent,
such will we be also in deed when we
are present. For we dare not make
ourselves of the number, or compare
ourselves with some that commend
themselves, but measuring ourselves
by ourselves, and comparing ourselves
to ourselves.
Third Responsory.
My lips shall be fain when I sing
unto Thee ; and my soul, which
Thou, O Lord, hast redeemed.
Verse. My tongue shall also talk
of Thy righteousness, all the day long
of Thy praise.
Answer. And my soul, which
Thou, O Lord, hast redeemed.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And my soul, which
Thou, O Lord, hast redeemed.
Sixth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Second
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to the Corinthians (xii. i.)
T F it behoveth me to glory (but it is
not expedient) yet I will come to
visions and revelations of the Lord.
1 Ps. Ixxxv. 12, 13.
I know a man in Christ above four-
teen years ago, (whether in the body,
I cannot tell, or whether out of the body,
I cannot tell ; God knoweth ;) such an
one to have been caught up to the
third heaven. And I know such a
man, (whether in the body, or out of
the body, I cannot tell ; God know-
eth ;) how that he was caught up
into paradise, and heard unspeakable
words, which it is not lawful for man
to utter.
First Responsory,
1 I will praise Thee, O Lord my
God, with all my heart, and I will
glorify Thy Name for evermore. For
great is Thy mercy toward me.
Verse. 2 Thou art my God, and I
will praise Thee : Thou art my God,
and I will exalt Thee.
Answer. For great is Thy mercy
toward me.
Second Lesson.
f~\ F such an one will I glory : yet
^~~^ of myself I will not glory, but
in mine infirmities. For though I
would desire to glory, I shall not be a
fool : for I will say the truth : but I
forbear, lest any man should think of
me above that which he seeth me to
be, or that he heareth of me. And
lest I should be exalted above meas-
ure through the abundance of the
revelations, there was given to me a
thorn in the flesh, the messenger of
Satan to buffet me. For this thing I
besought the Lord thrice, that it
might depart from me, and He said
unto me : My grace is sufficient for
thee : for My power is made perfect
in weakness.
Second Responsory.
Great, O Lord, is Thy mercy to-
ward me. And Thou hast delivered
my soul from the lowest hell.
2 Ps. cxvii. 28.
38o
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Verse. In the day of my trouble I
called upon thee, for Thou hast heard
me.
Answer. And Thou hast deliv-
ered my soul from the lowest hell.
Third Lesson.
TV/T OST gladly therefore will I rather
glory in mine infirmities, that
the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in mine infir-
mities, in reproaches, in necessities,
in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ's sake. For when I am weak,
then am I strong — I am become a
fool ; ye have compelled me. For I
ought to have been commended of
you : for in nothing am I behind the
very chiefest Apostles, though I be
nothing.
Third Responsory.
xThe Lord is my refuge. And
my God is the stay of my trust.
Verse. 2 He delivered me from the
strongest of mine enemies, and the
Lord was my stay.
Answer. And my God is the stay
of my trust.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And my God is the stay
of my trust.
i§>atur&ap.
The Sabbath.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Second
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to the Corinthians (xiii. i.)
T3EHOLD, this is the third time I
am coming to you. In the
mouth of two or three witnesses shall
1 Ps. xciii. 22.
every word be established. I told
you before, and foretell you, as pres-
ent, and now as absent, to them
which heretofore have sinned, and to
all other, that, if I come again, I will
not spare. Seek ye a proof of Christ
speaking in me, Which to you-ward is
not weak, but is mighty in you ? For
though He was crucified through
weakness ; yet He liveth by the power
of God. For we also are weak in
Him, but we shall live with Him by
the power of God toward you.
First Responsory.
Cut me not off, &c, {p. 377.)
Second Lesson.
"EXAMINE yourselves whether ye
be in the faith : prove your-
selves. Know ye not your own selves,
how that JESUS Christ is in you ? ex-
cept ye be reprobates. But I trust ye
shall know that we are not reprobates.
Now I pray God that ye do no evil ;
not that we should appear approved,
but that ye should do that which is
right : though we be as reprobates.
For we can do nothing against the
truth, but for the truth. For we are
glad that we are weak, and ye are
strong. This also we pray for, even
your perfection.
Second Responsory.
My heart is ready, &c, (p. 377.)
Third Lesson.
THEREFORE I write these things
being absent, lest, being present,
I should use sharpness, according to
the power which the Lord hath given
me to edification, and not to destruc-
tion. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be
perfect ; be of good comfort ; be of one
2 Ps. xvii. 18.
THIRD WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
381
mind ; live in peace, and the God of
peace and love shall be with you.
Greet one another with an holy kiss.
All the saints salute you. The grace
of our Lord JESUS Christ, and the love
of God, and the communion of the Holy
Ghost be with you all. Amen.
Third Responsory.
Unto Thee, O my Strength, &c,
(A 378.)
VESPERS.
The Prayer is taken from the Lauds
of the succeeding Sunday.
Father, to Whom be glory for ever
and ever. Amen.
First Responsory.
3 O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine
anger, neither chasten me in Thine hot
displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O
Lord, for I am weak.
Verse. 4 Fearfulness and trembling
are come upon me, and darkness hath
overwhelmed me.
Answer. Have mercy upon me, O
Lord, for I am weak.
Second Lesson.
MARVEL that ye are so soon re-
moved from him that called you
into the grace of Christ, unto another
Gospel : which is not another ; unless
there be some that trouble you, and
would pervert the Gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other Gospel unto
you than that which we have preached
unto you, let him be anathema. As
we said before, so say I now again : If
any man preach any other Gospel unto
you than that ye have received, let him
be anathema. For do I now persuade
men or God ? Or do I seek to please
men ? If I yet pleased men, I should
not be the servant of Christ.
Second Responsory.
5 O God, Which satest in the throne
judging right, be Thou a refuge for the
poor, a refuge in times of trouble.
For Thou alone beholdest mischief and
spite.
Verse. The poor leaveth himself
unto Thee ; Thou wilt be the helper of
the fatherless.
Answer. For Thou alone beholdest
mischief and spite.
1 The comparatively recent Feast of the Holy Home — Jesus, Mary, and Joseph — for this day,
kept in the dioceses of Westminster, Hexham, and Salford, will be found in the Appendix.
■ Abp. Kenrick says, " It was written probably about the year 54 of Christ."
* Ps. vi. 2, 3. < Ps. liv. 6. . 5 Ps. ix. 5 ; x. 14.
VOL. I. N 2
Cfjtrti &uri&a|j after tfje
<£ptpfjatt|L
The Third Lord's Day after the
Epiphany .l
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the 2 Epistle of the
Blessed Apostle Paul to the Galatians
(i- 1.)
DAUL, an Apostle (not of men,
neither by man, but by Jesus
Christ, and God the Father, Who
raised Him from the dead) and all the
brethren which are with me, unto the
Churches of Galatia. Grace be to you,
and peace, from God the Father, and
from our Lord JESUS Christ, Who gave
Himself for our sins, that He might
deliver us from this present evil world,
according to the will of our God, and
382
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Third Lesson.
T7OR I certify you, brethren, that the
Gospel which was preached of me
is not after man : for I neither received
it of man, neither was I taught it, but
by the revelation of JESUS Christ. For
ye have heard of my conversation in
times past in the Jews' religion, how
that beyond measure I persecuted the
Church of God, and wasted it, and pro-
fited in the Jews' religion above many
mine equals in mine own nation,
being more exceedingly jealous of the
traditions of my fathers.
Third Responsory.
1 The Lord is at my right hand, I
shall never be moved. Therefore my
heart is glad, and my tongue rejoiceth.
Verse. The Lord is the portion of
mine inheritance, and of my cup.
Answer. Therefore my heart is
glad, and my tongue rejoiceth.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Therefore my heart is
glad, and my tongue rejoiceth.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Exposi-
tion of the Epistle to the Galatians
by St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo.]
{Preface, Bk. iv. )
T^HE reason of the Apostle's writing
to the Galatians was this : that
they might understand that the grace
of God had worked in them that they
were no longer under the law. For
when the grace of the Gospel was
preached to them, there had not been
wanting to them some of them of the
circumcision, Christians indeed in
name, but who had not yet appre-
hended that great benefit of grace,
and desiring still to be bound with
burdens of the law — burdens which the
Lord God had laid, not upon such as
serve righteousness, but upon such as
serve sin, laying, that is to say, upon the
unrighteous a righteous law, whereby
their unrighteousness was made mani-
fest, not taken away. For there is not
anything which taketh away sin, save
only the grace of faith which worketh
by love.
Fourth Responsory,
2 O Lord, Thou hast shown me
the path of life. Thou shalt fill me
with joy in Thy presence, at Thy
right hand there are pleasures for
evermore.
Verse. Thou art He That shalt
restore mine inheritance unto me.
Answer. Thou shalt fill me with joy
in Thy presence, at Thy right hand
there are pleasures for evermore.
Fifth Lesson.
THESEmen of the circumcision
would have the Galatians, who
were under grace, to be under the
burdens of the law, persuading them
that the Gospel profited them nothing,
unless they should be circumcised,
and take on them the other outward
observances of the Jews' religion.
Whence the Galatians began to have
doubts of the Apostle Paul, by whom
the Gospel had been preached to them,
as one that held not the doctrine of the
other Apostles, who compelled the
Gentiles to come under the law.
Fifth Responsory.
8 I will love Thee, O Lord, my
strength ; the Lord is my rock, and
my fortress.
1 Ps. xv. 9, 5.
2 Ps. xv. 10, 5.
3 Ps. xvii. 2.
THIRD WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
383
Verse. My Deliverer, my God, mine
Helper.
Answer. And my fortress.
Sixth Lesson.
'T'HE same question is discussed
in the Epistle to the Romans,
but with this difference : in that case
the Apostle putteth an end to the
discussion, and stilleth the strife
which had arisen between the Jewish
and the Gentile converts, in con-
sequence of the Jews holding that
they had earned the knowledge of
the Gospel as a reward for their
observance of the law, and grudg-
ing the same knowledge to the un-
circumcised, as to men who had
done nothing to deserve it ; and
the Gentiles, on the contrary, main-
taining that they were superior to
the Jews, in that they were not
the murderers of the Lord. Now,
in this Epistle to the Galatians, the
Apostle addresseth himself to those
who were troubled by the authority
claimed by them who were of the
circumcision, and sought to bring
into subjection to the law them who
were of the uncircumcision.
Sixth Responsory.
1 The earth is the Lord's, and the
fulness thereof — the world, and they
that dwell therein.
Verse. For He hath founded it
upon the seas, and established it upon
the floods.
Answer. The world, and they that
dwell therein.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The world, and they that
dwell therein.
1 Ps. xxiii. r, 2.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew
(viii. 1.)
A T that time : When Jesus was
come down from the moun-
tain, great multitudes followed Him :
and, behold, there came a leper
and worshipped Him. And so
on.
Homily by St Jerome, Priest [at
Bethlehem.] (Bk. i. Comm. on Matth.
viii.)
When the Lord was come down
from the mountain, great multitudes
followed Him. They were not able
to follow Him when He went up.
And first there came a leper. This
poor creature's disease had prevented
him from hearing the Saviour's long
sermon on the Mount. Let it be
noted that he is the first person
specially named as being healed.
The second was the Centurion's ser-
vant ; the third was Peter's wife's
mother, who was sick of a fever at
Capernaum ; the fourth were they
who were brought unto Christ as
being troubled with evil spirits, from
whom He by His word cast out the
evil spirits, at the same time that
He healed all that were sick.
Seventh Responsory.
2 Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up
my soul. O my God, I trust in Thee,
let me not be ashamed.
Verse. O keep my soul and deliver
me.
Answer. O my God, I trust in
Thee, let me not be ashamed.
2 Ps. xxiv. i, 2, 20.
384
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Eighth Lesson.
"AND, behold, there came a leper,
'^^ and worshipped Him, saying :
— " Properly after preaching and
doctrine cometh occasion for a sign,
that the power of the miracle might
confirm in the hearers the truth of
the teaching that had gone before.
" Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst
make me clean." He that prayeth
the Lord to have the will, doubteth
not but that He hath the power.
"And Jesus put forth His hand,
and touched him, saying : I will ; be
thou clean." As soon as the Lord
put forth His Hand the leprosy de-
parted. Let us remark how lowly
and unbragging is the Lord's lan-
guage. The leper had said, "If
Thou wilt ; " the Lord answereth, " I
will." The leper, "Thou canst make
me clean," — the Lord, " Be thou
clean." Most Latin readers, misled
by the identity of form in that
language between the Present Infini-
tive Active and the Second Person
Singular Present Imperative Passive
of the Verb, read Christ's answer as
if it were, " I will to make thee clean."
This is wrong. The sentences are
separate. First cometh the expres-
sion of volition, " I will," then the
command, " Be thou clean."
Eighth Responsory.
1 One Seraph cried unto another —
Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God
of hosts : the whole earth is full of
His glory.
Verse. 2 There are Three That
bear record in heaven, the Father,
the Word, and the Holy Ghost : and
these Three are One.
Answer. Holy, Holy, Holy is the
Lord God of hosts : —
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
1 Isa. vi. 3.
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The whole earth is full
of His glory.
Ninth Lesson.
" A ND Jesus saith unto him : See
-^ thou tell no man." What
need was there to tell what his body
showed ?
" But go thy way, show thyself to
the Priest." There were divers reasons
why Christ should send him to the
Priest. First, for humility's sake, that
He might show reverence to God's
Priest. Then there was a command
in the law that they that were cleansed
of leprosy should make an offering to
the Priests. Moreover, that, when
the Priests saw the leper cleansed,
they might either believe in the Saviour,
or refuse to believe ; if they believed,
that they might be saved, and, if they
believed not, that they might have no
excuse. Lastly, that He might give
no ground for the accusation that was
so often brought against Him, that He
was unobservant of the law.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
When Jesus was come down from
the mountain, * behold, there came
a leper, and worshipped Him, saying :
Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make
me clean. And Jesus put forth His
Hand, and touched him, saying : I
will ; be thou clean.
Prayer throughout the day and week.
A LMIGHTY and everlasting God,
"^^ mercifully look upon our infirm-
ities, and in all our dangers and neces-
2 1 John v. 7.
THIRD WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
385
sities stretch forth the right hand of
Thy Majesty to help and defend us.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
One God, world without end. Amen.
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Lord, if Thou wilt, * Thou
canst make me clean : and Jesus
saith to him : I will ; be thou clean.
Qtlonbap.
Second Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Galatians (iii. 1.)
r\ FOOLISH Galatians, who hath
^^ bewitched you, that ye should
not obey the truth, before whose eyes
Jesus Christ hath been evidently set
forth, crucified among you ? This
only would I learn of you : Received
ye the Spirit by the works of the
law, or by the hearing of faith ?
Are ye so foolish, that, having be-
gun in the Spirit, ye are now made
perfect by the flesh ? Have ye
suffered so many things in vain ?
if it be yet in vain. He therefore
that ministereth to you the Spirit,
and worketh miracles among you,
doeth He it by the works of the
law, or by the hearing of faith ? As
it is written : " Abraham believed God,
and it was accounted to him for
righteousness."1
First Responsory.
O how great, &c, (J>. 375.)
Second Lesson.
jy'NOW ye therefore, that they
which are of faith, the same
are the children of Abraham. And
the Scripture, foreseeing that God
would justify the heathen through
faith, told before unto Abraham : "In
thee shall all nations be blessed."2
So then, they which be of faith shall
be blessed with faithful Abraham. For
as many as are of the works of the
law, are under the curse. For it is
written : " Cursed is every one that
continueth not in all things which are
written in the book of the law, to do
them."3
Second Responsory.
0 God, &c, (p. 375.)
Third Lesson.
DUT that no man is justified by the
law in the sight of God is evi-
dent, for "the just liveth by faith."4
And the law is not of faith ; but " the
man that doeth them shall live in
them."5 Christ hath redeemed us
from the curse of the law, being
made a curse for us ; (for it is
written : " Cursed is every one that
hangeth on a tree : ") 6 that the bless-
ing of Abraham might come upon
the Gentiles through Jesus Christ,
that we might receive the promise
of the Spirit through faith.
Third Responsory.
1 will bless, &c, {p. 376.)
1 Gen. xv. 6.
4 Hab. ii. 4.
2 Gen. xii. 3.
s Lev. xviii. 5.
3 Deut. xxvii. 26.
6 Deut. xxi. 23.
386
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Third Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Galatians (v. i.)
CTAND fast, and be not entangled
again with the yoke of bondage.
Behold I, Paul, say unto you, that, if
ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit
you nothing. For I testify again to
every man that circumciseth himself,
that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Christ is become of no effect unto you,
whosoever of you are justified by the
law : ye are fallen from grace. For
we in spirit by faith wait for the hope
of righteousness.
First Responsory.
O God, give ear, &c, {p. 376.)
Second Lesson.
T70R in Christ JESUS neither cir-
cumcision availeth anything, nor
uncircumcision ; but faith which work-
eth by love. Ye did run well : who
did hinder you, that ye should not
obey the truth ? This persuasion
cometh not of Him That calleth you.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole
lump. I have confidence in you in
the Lord, that ye will be none other-
wise minded. But he that troubleth
you shall bear his judgment, whoso-
ever he be.
Second Responsory.
The Lord hath set, &c, (p. 376.)
Third Lesson.
AND I, brethren, if I yet preach
*^^ circumcision, why do I yet suffer
persecution ? Then is the offence of
the Cross ceased. I would they were
even cut off which trouble you. For,
brethren, ye have been called unto
liberty : only use not liberty for an
occasion to the flesh, but by love serve
one another. For all the law is ful-
filled in one word : " Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself."1 But if ye
bite and devour one another, take heed
that ye be not consumed one of an-
other. I say then : Walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust
of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth
against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh : for these are con-
trary the one to the other, so that ye
do not the things that ye would.
Third Responsory.
I said, &c, {p. 377.)
Fourth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the 2 Epistle of the
Blessed Apostle Paul to the Ephe-
sians (i. 1.)
T3AUL, an Apostle of Jesus Christ,
by the will of God, to all the
Saints which are at Ephesus, and to
the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace
be to you, and peace, from God our
Father, and from the Lord Jesus
Christ. Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord JESUS Christ,
Who hath blessed us with all spiritual
1 Lev. xix. 18.
2 Abp. Kenrick says, "This letter was written about the year 62, when the Apostle was, the
first time, a prisoner at Rome."
THIRD WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
387
blessings in heavenly places in Christ,
according as He hath chosen us in
Him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and
without blame before Him in love.
ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of
promise, Which is the earnest of our
inheritance, until the redemption of
the purchased possession, unto the
praise of His glory.
First Responsory.
Cut me not off, &c, {p. 377.)
Third Responsory.
Unto Thee, &c, (p. 378.)
Second Lesson.
V\7"HO hath foreordained us unto
the adoption of children by
JESUS Christ to Himself, according to
the good pleasure of His will, to the
praise of the glory of His grace,
wherein He hath made us acceptable
in His beloved Son. In Whom we
have redemption through His Blood,
'the forgiveness of sins, according to
the riches of His grace, wherein He
hath abounded toward us in all wis-
dom and prudence : that He might
make known unto us the mystery of
His will, according to His good pleas-
ure, which He hath purposed in Him-
self, to gather together in one all
things in Christ, both which are in
heaven, and which are on earth, in
Him, in the dispensation of the fulness
•of times.
Second Responsory.
My heart is ready, &c, (p. 377.)
Third Lesson.
T N Whom we also have been called
to have part, being predestinated
according to the purpose of Him Who
worketh all things after the counsel of
His own will, that we should be to the
praise of His glory, who have first
trusted in Christ. In Whom ye also
trusted, after that ye heard the word
•of truth, (the Gospel of your salvation,)
in Whom also, after that ye believed,
£0ure&ap.
Fifth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Ephesians (iv. 1.)
T THEREFORE, the prisoner in the
Lord, beseech you that ye walk
worthy of the calling wherewith ye are
called, with all lowliness and meek-
ness, with long - suffering, forbearing
one another in love, giving diligence
to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace. There is one body
and one Spirit, even as ye are called
in one hope of your calling ; one
Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God
and Father of all, Who is above all,
and through all, and in us all.
First Responsory.
In Thee, O God, &c, {p. 378.)
Second Lesson.
DUT unto every one of us is given
according to the measure of the
gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith :
" When He ascended up on high, He
led captivity captive, and gave gifts
unto men." x Now that He ascended,
what is it but that He also descended
1 Ps. lxvii. 19.
388
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
first into the lower parts of the earth ?
He That descended is the Same also
That ascended up far above all heavens,
that He might fill all things.
Second Responsory.
Let my mouth, &c, {p. 378.)
A1
Third Lesson.
ND He gave some, Apostles ; and
some, Prophets ; and some,
Evangelists ; and some, Pastors and
Teachers, for the perfecting of the
Saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the building up of the body of
Christ : till we all come into the unity
of the faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ : that we henceforth
be no more children, tossed to and fro,
and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
craftiness, after the wiles of error
whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
But, speaking the truth in love, may
we grow up into Him in all things
Which is the Head, even Christ.
Third Responsory.
My lips, &c, {p. 379.)
Sixth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Ephesians (v. 1.)
DE ye therefore followers of God, as
dear children, and walk in love ;
as Christ also hath loved us, and hath
given Himself for us, an offering and
a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling
savour. But fornication, and all un-
cleanness or covetousness, let it not be
even named among you, as becometh
Saints ; neither filthiness, nor foolish
talking, or jesting, which are not be-
fitting, but rather, giving of thanks.
First Responsory.
I will praise, &c, {p. 379.)
Second Lesson.
~jp OR know ye and understand this ;
that no whoremonger, nor un-
clean person, nor covetous man, who
is an idolater, hath any inheritance in
the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no man deceive you with empty
words : for because of these things
cometh the wrath of God upon the
children of disobedience. Be not ye
therefore partakers with them. For ye
were sometime darkness, but now are
ye light in the Lord. Walk as chil-
dren of light.
Second Responsory.
Great, O Lord, &c, (p. 379.)
Third Lesson.
"P OR the fruit of light is in all good-
ness, and righteousness, and
truth ; proving what is acceptable
unto the Lord. And have no fellow-
ship with the unfruitful works of dark-
ness, but rather reprove them. For
it is a shame even to speak of those
things which are done of them in
secret. But all things that are re-
proved are made manifest by the
light : for whatsoever doth make
manifest is light. Wherefore he
saith : " Awake, thou that sleepest,
THIRD WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
389
and arise from the dead, and Christ
shall shine upon thee." l
Third Responsory.
The Lord is, &c, {p. 380.)
The Sabbath.
doing the will of God from the heart,,
with good will doing service as to the
Lord, and not to men : knowing that
whatsoever good thing any man doeth,
the same shall he receive of the Lord,
whether he be bond or free. And,
ye masters, do the same things unto
them, forbearing threatening ; know-
ing that both their and your Master is
in heaven, neither is there respect of
persons with Him.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Ephesians (vi. 1.)
/^HILDREN, obey your parents in
the Lord ; for this is right.
" Honour thy father and thy mother,"
which is the first commandment with
promise, "that it may be well with
thee, and thou mayest live long on
the earth."2 And, ye fathers, pro-
voke not your children to wrath, but
bring them up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord.
First Responsory.
Cut me not off, &c, {p. 377.)
Second Lesson.
CERVANTS, be obedient to them
that are your masters according
to the flesh, with fear and trembling,
in singleness of your heart, as unto
Christ ; not with eye-service, as men-
pleasers, but as the servants of Christ,
Second Responsory.
My heart is ready, &c, {p. 377.)
Third Lesson. •
T^INALLY, my brethren, be strong
in the Lord, and in the power
of His might. Put on the whole ar-
mour of God, that ye may be able to
stand against the wiles of the deviL
For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities and
powers, against the rulers of the dark-
ness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places. Where-
fore take unto you the whole armour
of God, that ye may be able to with-
stand in the evil day, and, having
done all, to stand.
Third Responsory.
Unto Thee, O my Strength, &c.r
{p. 378.)
VESPERS.
The Prayer is taken from the Lauds
of the succeeding Sunday.
1 The late Dr Neale believed this to be a quotation from an ancient Christian hymn.
2 Exod. xx. 12 ; Deuteron. v. 16.
39©
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
JFourtij .Suntjag after tije
(^pipfyang.
The Fourth Lord's Day after the
Epiphany.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the 1 Epistle of the
Blessed Apostle Paul to the Philip-
pians (i. i.)
TDAUL and Timothy, the servants of
Jesus Christ, to all the saints in
Christ JESUS which are at Philippi,
with the Bishops and Deacons. Grace
be unto you and peace, from God our
Father, and from the Lord JESUS
Christ. I thank my God upon every
remembrance of you, always in every
prayer of mine for you all making re-
quest with joy, for your fellowship in
the Gospel of Christ, from the first
day until now. Being confident of
this very thing, that He Which hath
begun a good work in you will per-
form it until the day of JESUS Christ.
Even as it is meet for me to think
this of you all, because I have you in
mine heart, inasmuch as both in my
bonds, and in the defence and confir-
mation of the Gospel, ye all are par-
takers of my joy.
First Responsory.
O Lord, rebuke me not, &c, {p.
38i.)
Second Lesson.
F'
OR God is my witness, how greatly
I long after you all in the bowels
of JESUS Christ. And this I pray,
that your love may abound yet more
and more in knowledge and in all
judgment : that ye may approve things
that are excellent, that ye may be sin-
cere and without offence till the day
of Christ, being filled with the fruits
of righteousness which are by JESUS
Christ, unto the glory and praise of
God. But I would ye should under-
stand, brethren, that the things which
happen unto me have fallen out rather
unto the furtherance of the Gospel ;
so that my bonds in Christ are
manifest in all the court and in
all other places, and many of the
brethren in the Lord, waxing con-
fident by my bonds, are much more
bold to speak the word of God
without fear.
Second Responsory.
O God, Which satest, &c, {p. 381.)
Third Lesson.
COME indeed preach Christ even
of envy and strife ; and some
also of goodwill ; some of love, know-
ing that I am set for the defence of
the Gospel, and some preach Christ
of contention, not sincerely, supposing
to add affliction to my bonds. What
then ? While Christ is preached any
way, whether in pretence or in truth,
I therein will rejoice, yea, and do
rejoice.
1 Abp. Kenrick says, "The faithful of Philippi cherished at all times a tender affection for [St
Paul],- and cheerfully contributed to his wants, especially when he was a prisoner at Rome,
whither they sent their offerings by the hands of Epaphroditus, who was probably their Bishop.
Paul showed his confidence and tender regard for them by accepting their contributions, which
he also gratefully acknowledged in this epistle. . . . The letter was written in the year 62, and
forwarded by Epaphroditus. It is believed to have been one of the last written during the
first imprisonment of the Apostle at Rome, as it indicates confidence that he would soon be
set at liberty.'
FOURTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
391
W]
Third Responsory.
The Lord is at my right hand, &c,
(A 382.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
of Moral [Reflections on Job] writ-
ten by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (iv. 30.)
rE refresh the body lest it should
grow too weak and fail us ; we
chasten it by abstinence, lest it should
wax gross, and become lord over us ;
we strengthen it with exercise, lest it
perish by the not using ; and straight-
way we give it rest, lest it faint through
weariness ; we succour it with raiment,
lest the cold should blight it ; and we
strip it of the raiment wherewith we
have clothed it, lest the heat should
afflict it. In all these so many offices
what do we but serve the corruptible ?
Upon what is all this care spent but
upon that wherover hangeth the doom
of weakness and change ?
Fourth Responsory.
O Lord, Thou hast shown me, &c,
{p. 382.)
Fifth Lesson.
"\1 7"ELL therefore saith Paul : " For
the creature was made subject
to vanity, not willingly, but by reason
of Him Who hath subjected the same
in hope : because the creature itself
also shall be delivered from the
bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God." (Rom.
viii. 20.) "The creature was made
subject to vanity, not willingly " — for
when man had of his own free will
abdicated his state of unchangeable
blessedness, the just sentence of death
was passed upon him, and whether he
willed or not, he became subject to the
state of change and corruption. But
"the creature itself also shall be
delivered from the bondage of corrup-
tion " when it shall rise again incor-
ruptible and be made partaker of the
glory of the children of God.
Fifth Responsory.
I will love Thee, &c, (p. 382.)
Sixth Lesson.
TTERE, then, the elect are still
subject to sorrow, being yet
bound by the sentence of corruption ;
but when we shall have put off this
corruptible we shall be loosed from
that sentence, and shall sorrow no
more. For though we earnestly desire
to appear before God, we are still hin-
dered by the burden of this dying body.
Rightly then are we called prisoners,
since we are not free to go whither we
will, that is to say, to God ; and
rightly did the prisoner Paul, yearning
after the things which are eternal, and
still weighed down with the burden of
this corruptible, rightly did he cry out :
" I have a desire to depart and to be
with Christ." (Phil. i. 23.) He would
not have felt this keenness if he had
not felt himself bound down.
Sixth Responsory.
The earth, &c, (p. 383.)
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (viii.
23-)
A T that time : When JESUS was
^*- entered into a ship, His disciples
followed Him ; and, behold, there arose
392
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
a great tempest in the sea, insomuch
that the ship was covered by the waves :
but He was asleep. And so on.
Homily by St Jerome, Priest [at
Bethlehem.] (Bk. i. Comm. on Matth.
viii.)
The fifth sign that He did was
when He took ship at Capernaum,
and commanded the winds and the
sea : the sixth, when, in the country
of the Gergesenes, He suffered the
devils to enter into the swine : the
seventh, when, as He came into His
own city, He cured the man sick of
the palsy lying on a bed. The first
man sick of the palsy that He cured
was the centurion's servant.
Seventh Responsory.
Unto Thee, O Lord, &c, (p. 383.)
Eighth Lesson.
" T^UT He was asleep; and His
disciples came to Him, and
awoke Him, saying : Lord, save us."
There is a type of this in the history of
Jonah, who, when the storm arose, was
lying fast asleep, and whom the sailors
woke to help them ; who also saved the
sailors by commanding them to throw
him into the sea, the said casting of
him into the sea, being, as we know, a
figure of Christ's Passion.
" Then He arose and rebuked the
winds and the sea." From these
words we understand that all things,
which have been made, are sentient to
their Maker. All things which He
rebuketh or commandeth, hear His
voice. This is not the error of the
heretics who will have it that every-
thing is quick, but part of the majesty
of the Creator, Who maketh to feel
Him things which we cannot make to
feel us.
Eighth Responsory.
One Seraph cried, &c, {p. 384.)
Ninth Lesson.
" T^UT the men marvelled, saying :
What manner of man is this,
that even the winds and the sea obey
Him ? " It was not His disciples that
marvelled, but the sailors, and the
others that were in the ship. tfr
however, any one willeth to with-
stand this our interpretation and to
maintain that it was the disciples
who marvelled, we are ready to
answer them that they who knew
not before the power of the Saviour
deserve to be stripped of the title of
disciples, and to be called simply
" the men."
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God," &c, is said.
LAUDS.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
When JESUS was entered into a ship, *
there arose a great tempest in the sea :
and His disciples awoke Him, saying :
Lord, Save us : we perish.
Prayer throughout the day and week.
r\ GOD, Who knowest us to be set
^^^ in the midst of so many and
great dangers, that, by reason of the
frailty of our nature, we cannot always
stand upright ; grant to us such health
of mind and body, that by Thy strength
and protection we may overcome all
evils, whereby for our sins we are
justly afflicted. Through our Lord
JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, One God, world without
end. Amen.
FOURTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
393
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Lord, Save us : * we perish :
give the word, O God, and let there be
a great calm !
keep your hearts
Christ Jesus.
and minds in
Second Responsory.
O God, &c, (J. 375-)
Second Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Philippians (iv. i.)
^THEREFORE, my brethren dearly
beloved and longed for, my joy
and my crown ; so stand fast in the
Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech
Euodia and entreat Syntyche, that
they be of the same mind in the Lord.
And I entreat thee also, true yoke-
fellow,1 help those women which
laboured with me in the Gospel, with
Clement 2 also, and with other my
fellow-labourers, whose names are in
the book of life.
First Responsory.
O how great, &c, {p. 375.)
Second Lesson.
TDEJOICEinth
I say, Rejoi(
the Lord alway : again
joice. Let your moder-
ation be known unto all men : for the
Lord is at hand. Be careful for
nothing ; but in everything by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known
unto God. And may the peace of
God, which passeth all understanding,
Third Lesson.
T7INALLY, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are holy,
whatsoever things are lovely, what-
soever things are of good report, if
there be any virtue, and if there
be any praise of obedience, think
on these things. Those things which
ye have both learned, and received,
and heard, and seen in me, do, and
the God of peace shall be with you.
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly,
that now at the last your care of me
hath flourished again, wherein ye
were also careful : but ye lacked
opportunity.
Third Responsory.
I will bless, &c, {p. 376.)
Third Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the Epistle of the
Blessed Apostle Paul to the 3 Colos-
sians (i. 1.)
TJAUL, an Apostle of Jesus Christ,
by the will of God, and Timothy
our brother, to the saints and faithful
brethren in Christ Jesus, which are
1 A very common opinion is that this is the Bishop, the bearer of the letter.
2 Afterwards Pope. Nov. 23.
3 Abp. Kenrick says: "The letter was written during the imprisonment of the Apostle at
Rome, about the year 62."
394
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
at Colossae. Grace be unto you and
peace from God our Father, and from
the Lord Jesus Christ. We give
thanks to God and the Father of our
Lord JESUS Christ, praying always for
you, since we heard of your faith in
Christ JESUS, and of the love which
ye have to all the Saints, for the hope
which is laid up for you in heaven,
whereof ye heard before in the word
of the truth of the Gospel, which is
come unto you, as it is in all the
world, and bringeth forth fruit, and
waxeth strong, as it doth also in you,
since the day ye heard of it, and knew
the grace of God in truth ; as ye
also heard of Epaphras our dear
fellow-servant,1 who is for you a
faithful minister of Christ JESUS ;
who also declareth unto us your
love in the Spirit.
First Responsory.
O God, give ear, &c, (p. 376.)
Second Lesson.
T^OR this cause we also, since the
day we heard it, do not cease
to pray for you, and to desire that ye
may be filled with the knowledge of
His will, in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding ; that ye may walk
worthy of God, in all pleasing, being
fruitful in every good work, and in-
creasing in the knowledge of God ;
strengthened with all might, accord-
ing to His glorious power, in all
patience and long - suffering, giving
thanks with joyfulness unto the
Father, Which hath made us meet
to be partakers of the inheritance of
the Saints in light.
Second Responsory.
The Lord hath set, &c, {p. 376.)
Third Lesson.
W
HO hath delivered us from the
power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of His
dear Son, in Whom we have redemp-
tion through His Blood, even the
forgiveness of sins : Who is the image
of the invisible God, the First-born
of every creature ; for by Him were
all things created, that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be Thrones,
or Dominions, or Principalities, or
Powers ; all things were created by
Him, and in Him, and He is before
all, and in Him all things consist.
And He is the Head of the body of
the Church ; Who is the Beginning,
the First-born from the dead.
Third Responsory.
I said, &c, (p. 377.)
Fourth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Colossians (iii. 12.)
"DUT on, therefore, as the elect of
God, holy and beloved, bowels
of mercy, kindness, humbleness, meek-
ness, long-suffering : forbearing one
another, and forgiving one another,
if any man have a quarrel against
any ; even as the Lord hath forgiven
you, so also do ye. And above all
these things put on charity, which is
the bond of perfectness ; and let the
peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to the which also ye are called in one
body ; and be ye thankful.
1 Probably their Bishop, (and first Apostle.
FOURTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
395
tinue in prayer, and watch in the same
with thanksgiving.
Third Responsory.
Unto Thee, &c, (p. 378.)
Fifth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the l First Epistle of
the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Thessalonians (i. 1.)
"DAUL, and Silvanus, and Timothy,
unto the Church of the Thes-
salonians, which is in God the Father,
and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace
be unto you and peace. We give
thanks to God always for you all,
making mention of you in our prayers
without ceasing, remembering the work
of your faith, and labour, and love,
and patience of hope in our Lord
Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and
our Father : knowing, brethren beloved
of God, your election ; for our Gospel
came not unto you in word only, but
also in power, and in the Holy Ghost,
and in much fulness, as ye know what
manner of men we were among you
for your sake.
First Responsory.
In Thee, O God, &c, {p. 378.)
Second Lesson.
AND ye became followers of us,
"^^ and of the Lord, receiving the
word in much affliction, with joy of
1 Abp. Kenrick says: "This letter is believed to be the first of [St Paul's] epistles. It
is ascribed to the close of the year 51, or the beginning of 52 ; though some date it as late
as the year 54."
First Responsory.
Cut me not off, &c, {p. 577.)
Second Lesson.
r ET the word of Christ dwell in
you richly, in all wisdom, teach-
ing and admonishing one another in
psalms, and hymns, and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord. Whatsoever ye do
in word or deed, do all in the Name
of the Lord JESUS Christ, giving
thanks to God and the Father by
Him. Wives submit yourselves unto
your own husbands, as it is fit in
the Lord. Husbands, love your wives,
and be not bitter against them.
Children, obey your parents in all
things : for this is well pleasing unto
the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your
children to anger, lest they be dis-
couraged.
Second Responsory.
My heart is ready, &c, {p. 377.)
Third Lesson.
CERVANTS, obey in all things
your masters according to the
flesh, not with eye-service, as men-
pleasers, but in singleness of heart,
fearing God. Whatsoever ye do, do
it heartily, as to the Lord, and not
unto men, knowing that of the Lord
ye shall receive the reward of the
inheritance. Serve the Lord Christ.
For he that doeth wrong shall re-
ceive for the wrong which he hath
done : and there is no respect of
persons with God. (iv. 1.) Masters,
give unto your servants that which
is just and equal, knowing that ye
also have a Master in heaven. Con-
396
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
the Holy Ghost, so that ye were
ensamples to all that believe in Mace-
donia and Achaia. For from you
sounded out the word of the Lord,
not only in Macedonia and Achaia,
but also in every place your faith
to God - ward is spread abroad, so
that we need not to speak any-
thing. For they themselves show
of us what manner of entering in
we had unto you ; and how ye
turned to God from idols, to serve
the living and true God, and to wait
for His Son from heaven (Whom
He raised from the dead) even
JESUS, Who hath delivered us from
the wrath to come.
Second Responsory.
Let my mouth, &c, {p. 378.)
Third Lesson.
T^OR yourselves, brethren, know our
entrance in unto you, that it was
not vain ; but even after that we had
suffered before, and were shamefully
entreated, as ye know, at Philippi,1
we were bold in our God to speak
unto you the Gospel of God with
much carefulness. For our exhor-
tation was not of deceit, nor of un-
cleanness, nor in guile : but as we
were approved of God to be put in
trust with the Gospel, even so we
speak, not as pleasing men, but God,
Which trieth our hearts. For neither
at any time used we flattering words,
as ye know, nor made occasion of
covetousness — God is witness ; nor of
men sought we glory, neither of you,
nor yet of others.
Sixth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the First
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to the Thessalonians (iv. 1.)
pURTHERMORE, then, we be-
seech you, brethren, and exhort
you by the Lord JESUS, that as ye
have received of us how ye ought
to walk and to please God, so ye
would walk, that ye may abound
more and more. For ye know what
commandments I gave you by the
Lord Jesus. For this is the will of
God, even your sanctification ; that ye
should abstain from fornication, that
every one of you should know how
to possess his vessel in sanctification
and honour ; not in the passion of
lust, even as the Gentiles, which know
not God.
First Responsory.
I will praise, &c, (p. 379.)
Second Lesson.
A ND let no man go beyond, nor de-
fraud his brother in any matter,
because that the Lord is the avenger
of all such, as we have forewarned
you, and testified. For God hath
not called us unto uncleanness, but
unto holiness. He therefore that
despiseth [these commands] despiseth
not man, but God ; Who hath also
given us His Holy Spirit.
Third Responsory.
My lips, &c, {p. 379.)
Second Responsory.
Great, O Lord, &c, {p. 379.)
1 Acts xvi. 21 et seg.
FOURTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
397
Third Lesson.
DUT as touching brotherly love, ye
need not that I write unto you :
for ye yourselves are taught of God
to love one another. But indeed ye
do it toward all the brethren which
are in all Macedonia. But we beseech
you, brethren, that ye increase more
and more, and that ye study to be
quiet, and to do your own business,
and to work with your own hands,
as we commanded you ; and that ye
walk honestly toward them that are
without, and covet no man's goods.
Third Respo?isory.
The Lord is, &c, {p. 380.)
and faith, in all your persecutions
and tribulations that ye endure, as
a manifest token of the righteous
judgment of God, that ye may be
counted worthy in the kingdom of
God, for which ye also suffer.
First Responsory.
Cut me not off, &c, {p. 377-)
Second Lesson.
IDUT if it is a righteous thing with
God to recompense tribulation
to them that trouble you ; ye who
are troubled shall receive rest with us,
when the Lord Jesus shall be re-
vealed from heaven with His mighty
angels, in flaming fire, taking ven-
geance on them that know not God,
and that obey not the Gospel of our
Lord JESUS Christ : who shall be
punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord, and
from the glory of His power, when He
shall come to be glorified in His
Saints, and to be admired in all them
that believe ; because our testimony
among you is committed for proof
to that day. Wherefore also we pray
always for you, that our God would
make you worthy of His calling, and
fulfil all the good pleasure of His
goodness, and the work of faith with
power, that the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ may be glorified in you,
and ye in Him, according to the
grace of our God, and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Second Responsory.
My heart is ready, &c, (p. 377-)
1 Abp. Kenrick says: "The preceding letter, especially that portion of it which referred
to the last judgment, (iv. 13 et seq.) having produced a deep impression on the Thessalonians,
some one took occasion to forge another in the name of the Apostle, announcing that the
judgment itself was at hand. The report of the terror which this announcement spread soon
reached St Paul, who "hastened to relieve them from their distressed state of mind, by assuring
them that a great apostacy must first take place, and the great enemy of Christ must appear,
before the final judgment of mankind. He did not, however, fail to set forth this event in all
its terrific character, &c."
The Sabbath.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the 1 Second Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Thessalonians (i. 1.)
"DAUL, and Silvanus, and Timothy,
unto the Church of the Thes-
salonians in God our Father, and in
the Lord JESUS Christ. Grace unto
you, and peace, from God our Father,
and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are
bound to thank God always for you,
brethren, as it is meet, because that
your faith groweth exceedingly, and
the charity of every one of you all
toward each other aboundeth : so that
we ourselves glory in you in the
Churches of God, for your patience
398
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Third Lesson, (ii.)
DUT we beseech you, brethren, by
the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and our gathering together
in Him, that ye be not soon shaken
in mind, nor be troubled, either by
spirit, or by word, or by letter, as
sent by us, as that the day of the
Lord is at hand. Let no man de-
ceive you by any means : for that
day shall not come except there come
falling-away first, and that man of
sin be revealed, the son of perdi-
tion, who opposeth and exalteth him-
self above all that is called God,
so that he sitteth in the temple of
God, showing himself as though he
were God.
Third Responsory.
Unto Thee, O my Strength, &c,
(A 378.)
VESPERS.
The Prayer is taken from the Lauds
of the succeeding Sunday.
JFiftij ^imfcajj after tije
(fEptpfyanjL
The Fifth Lord's Day after the
Epiphany.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the First Epistle of
the Blessed Apostle Paul to Tim-
othy,* (i. i.)
TJAUL, an Apostle of Jesus Christ,
by the commandment of God
our Saviour, and Christ Jesus our
hope — Unto Timothy, my beloved
son in the faith — Grace, mercy, and
peace from God the Father, and Christ
Jesus our Lord. As I besought thee
to abide still at Ephesus, when I
went into Macedonia, that thou might-
est charge some that they teach no
other doctrine, neither give heed to
fables, and endless genealogies, which
minister questions, rather than the
edifying which is of God in faith.
First Responsory.
O Lord, rebuke me not, &c. {p.
38i.)
Second Lesson.
TVT OW the end of the commandment
is charity, out of a pure heart,
and of a good conscience, and of faith
unfeigned. From which some having
swerved have turned aside unto vain
jangling, desiring to be teachers of
the law, understanding neither what
they say, nor whereof they affirm.
But we know that the law is good,
if a man use it lawfully ; knowing
this, that the law is not made for a
righteous man, but for the lawless
and disobedient, for the ungodly and
for sinners, for unholy and profane,
for murderers of fathers and murderers
of mothers, for manslayers, and whore-
mongers, for them that defile them-
selves with mankind, for men-stealers,
for liars and perjurers, and if there
be any other thing that is contrary
to sound doctrine, according to the
glorious Gospel of the blessed God,
which was committed to my trust.
O God,
38i.)
Second Responsory.
Which satest, &c, (p.
1 Jan. 24. "This letter," says Abp. Kenrick, "is assigned by Hug to Pentecost of the
year 59, although others more generally date it as late as 64."
FIFTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
399
Third Lesson.
T THANK Him Who hath enabled
me, even our Lord the Christ of
God, for that He counted me faithful,
putting me into the ministry ; who
was before a blasphemer, and a per-
secutor, and injurious ; but I obtained
the mercy of God, because I did it
ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace
of our Lord was exceeding abundant
with faith and love which is in Christ
JESUS. This is a faithful saying,
and worthy of all acceptation, that
Christ JESUS came into this world to
save sinners, of whom I am chief.
Howbeit, for this cause I obtained
mercy, that in me, first, JESUS Christ
might show forth all long-suffering,
for the teaching of them that should
hereafter believe on Him, to life
everlasting.
Third Responsory.
The Lord is at my right hand, &c,
(A 382.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo.]
{On the words of the Apostles, 8.)
" ''"PHIS is a saying made for man,1
and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ JESUS came into this world
to save sinners." Listen to the words
of the Gospel : 2 — " The Son of man is
come to seek, and to save that which
was lost." If man had not been lost,
the Son of man would not have come.
Wherefore, man had been lost ; God
came made Man, and man was found ;
man had perished by his own free
will : God made Man came by grace
which setteth free.
1 This is the reading of the old Latin version.
Fourth Responsory.
0 Lord, Thou hast shown me, &c.,.
(P. 382.)
Fifth Lesson.
T^OST thou ask how free-will avail-
eth to evil ? Call to mind a
sinner — Dost thou ask what God made
Man availeth to help ? Consider in
Him the grace which setteth free.
There is no example which so showeth
what availeth the free will of man,
when it is taken possession of by pride,
to use it without God's help, of evil is
there no greater and plainer example,
than the first man. The first man
fell : and where had he been if the
second Man had not come ? As the
first was man, so was the second Man,.
and therefore is this saying a saying.
made for man.
Fifth Responsory.
1 will love Thee, O Lord, &c,
{p. 382.)
Sixth Lesson.
1VT EITHER is there any example
which so showeth what availeth
the tenderness of the grace and the
abundance of the All-might of God, as
the Man That is the Mediator between
God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.
For what do we say, my brethren ? I
speak to them that have been bred up
in the Catholic Church, or who have
been reconciled to that Church. We
know and hold that the Mediator
between God and men, the Man
Christ JESUS, as touching His Man-
hood, is of the same nature as we.
For our flesh is not of one nature, and
His Flesh of another nature, neither
our soul of one nature and His Soul
of another nature. He took upon
Himself the same nature which He
had freely ordained to save.
2 Matth. xviii. 11.
4<X>
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Sixth Responsory.
The earth is the Lord's, &c.
<A 383-)
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (xiii.
24.)
A T that time : Jesus put forth unto
the multitudes this parable : The
Kingdom of heaven is likened unto a
man which sowed good seed in his
field. And so on.
Homily by St Austin, Bishop [of
Hippo.] {Qucest. Evati. Matth. xi.,
Bk. 4.)
When the Shepherds of the Church
wax careless, and since the Apostles
sleep the sleep of death, cometh the
devil, and soweth them whom the Lord
calleth "a seed of evil-doers." Now,
are these " seed of evil-doers " the
heretics, or Catholics of bad lives ?
It is possible to call even the heretics
a " seed of evil-doers " because they
have sprung up from the seed of the
Gospel, and been begotten in the
Name of Christ, though afterwards
they have turned after crooked ways
and lying doctrines.
Seventh Responsory.
Unto Thee, O Lord, &c, {p. 383.)
Eighth Lesson.
T3UT whereas it is written that they
were sown in the midst of the
wheat, we ought haply to understand
that they are of one communion with
the righteous. Nevertheless, foras-
much as the Lord saith, " The field is
the world," (and not, the Church,) we
may well understand that the " seed
of evil doers " are the heretics, since
in this world they are mingled together
with the good, not in one common
Communion, but only under one com-
mon name of Christian. But they
which are of one faith with the good
seed, and yet are themselves worthless,
may more fitly be likened to straw
than to tares, since the straw springeth
from one soil and one root with the
good ear.
Eighth Responsory.
One Seraph cried, &c, {p. 384.)
Ninth Lesson.
TTOWEVER, as touching the net
cast into the sea, and enclosing
a great multitude of fishes, both bad
and good, we may well understand
that by the bad are meant Catholics
of bad lives. For the sea is one thing
whereby we may understand to be
signified the world ; and the net
another, which seemeth to signify our
faith, or the Communion of one
Church. Between heretics and sinful
Catholics there is this difference, that
heretics believe a lie, and sinful
Catholics believe the truth, but live
not as they believe.
The Hymn, " We praise Thee, O
God," &c, is said.
LAUDS.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in
thy field ? * From whence then hath
it tares ? And he saith unto them :
An enemy hath done this.
Prayer throughout the day and week.
f~\ LORD, we beseech Thee to keep
^"^ Thy family continually in godli-
ness, that they who do lean only upon
FIFTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
40I
the hope of Thine heavenly grace, may
evermore be defended by Thy mighty
power. Through our Lord JESUS
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reign-
eth with Thee, in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, one God, world without
end. Amen.
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The master saith : Gather ye
together first the tares, * and bind
them in bundles to burn them ; but
gather the wheat into my barn.
Second Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the First
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to Timothy (iii. 1.)
'T^HIS is a true saying: If a man
desire the office of a Bishop, he
desireth a good work. A Bishop then
must be blameless, the husband of one
wife, sober,, prudent, of good behaviour,
modest, given to hospitality, apt to
teach, not given to wine, no striker,
but patient ; not a brawler, not cove-
tous ; one that ruleth well his own
house ; having his children in subjec-
tion with all modesty. For if a man
know not how to rule his own house,
how shall he take care of the Church
of God ? Not a novice, lest being
lifted up with pride, he fall into the
condemnation of the devil. Moreover,
he must have a good report of them
which are without, lest he fall into
reproach, and the snare of the devil.
Second Lesson.
T IKEWISE must the Deacons be
chaste, not double-tongued, not
given to much wine, not greedy of
filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the
faith in a pure conscience. And let
these also first be proved ; then let
them use the office of a Deacon, being
found blameless. Even so must the
women 1 be grave, not slanderers,
sober, faithful in all things. Let the
Deacons be the husbands of one wife ;
ruling their children and their own
houses well. For they that have used
the office of a Deacon well, purchase
to themselves a good degree, and
great boldness in the faith, which is
in Christ Jesus.
Second Respo?isory.
O God, &c, (/. 375.)
Third Lesson.
T^HESE things write I unto thee,
hoping to come unto thee short-
ly ; but if I tarry long, that thou
mayest know how thou oughtest to
behave thyself in the house of God,
which is the Church of the living
God, the pillar and ground of the
truth. And, without controversy,
great is the mystery of godliness,
which was manifest in the flesh,
justified in the Spirit, seen of Angels,
preached unto the Gentiles, believed
on in the world, received up into
glory, (iv. 1.) But the Spirit speak-
eth expressly that in the latter times
some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and
doctrines of devils.
First Responsory. Third Responsory.
O how great, &c, {p. 375.) I will bless, &c, {p. 376.)
1 Probably Deaconesses.
402
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Third Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the l Second Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to
Timothy (i. i.)
DAUL, an Apostle of Jesus Christ,
by the will of God, according to
the promise of life which is in Christ
Jesus, to Timothy, my dearly beloved
son, grace, mercy, and peace from
God the Father, and Christ JESUS our
Lord. I thank God, Whom I serve
from my forefathers with pure con-
science, that without ceasing I have
remembrance of thee in my prayers,
night and day greatly desiring to see
thee, being mindful of thy tears, that
I may be filled with joy, when I call
to remembrance the unfeigned faith
that is in thee, which dwelt first in
thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother
Eunice" ; and I am persuaded that in
thee also.
First Responsory.
O God, give ear, &c, {p. 376.)
Second Lesson.
V^HEREFORE, I put thee in re-
membrance that thou stir up
the gift of God which is in thee by
the putting on of my hands. For
God hath not given us the spirit of
fear, but of power, and of love, and of
soberness. Be not thou therefore
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me His prisoner : but be thou
partaker of the afflictions of the Gos-
pel according to the power of God,
Who hath saved us, and called us
1 Archbishop Kenrick says, — " The mention of the approaching consummation of [St Paul's]
ministry in the last chapter, and some facts . . . , have induced the general opinion that this
was the last letter from his pen."
with His holy calling, not according
to our works, but according to His
own purpose and grace which was
given us in Christ JESUS before the
world began.
Second Responsory.
The Lord hath set, &c, {p. 376.)
Third Lesson.
TDUT it is now made manifest by
the light of our Saviour JESUS
Christ, Who hath abolished death,
and hath brought life and immortality
to light through the Gospel, where-
unto I am appointed a preacher, and
an Apostle, and a teacher of the
Gentiles. For the which cause I also
suffer these things ; nevertheless I am
not ashamed. For I know Whom I
have believed, and am persuaded that
He is able to keep that which I have
committed unto Him against that day.
Hold fast the form of sound words
which thou hast heard of me, in faith
and love which is in Christ JESUS.
Third Responsory.
I said, &c, (p. 377.)
(JOe&neefcap.
Fourth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Second
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to Timothy (iii. 1.)
'"PHIS know also, that in the last
days perilous times shall come :
for men shall be lovers of their own
FIFTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
403
selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blas-
phemers, disobedient to parents, un-
thankful, unholy, without natural affec-
tion, contentious, false accusers, in-
continent, fierce, discourteous, traitors,
heady, high - minded, and lovers of
pleasure more than lovers of God ;
having a form of godliness, but deny-
ing the power thereof. And from
such turn away.
First Responsory.
Cut me not off, &c, {p. 377.)
Second Lesson.
T^OR of this sort are they which
creep into houses, and lead
captive silly women laden with sins,
led away with divers lusts, ever
learning and never able to come to
the knowledge of the truth. Now,
as Jannes and Mambres 1 withstood
Moses, so do these also resist the
truth, men of corrupt minds, repro-
bate concerning the faith : but they
shall proceed no further ; for their
folly shall be manifest unto all men,
as theirs also was.
Second Responsory.
My heart is ready, &c, {p. 377.)
Third Lesson.
T3UT thou hast been a diligent fol-
lower of my doctrine, manner
■of life, purpose of faith, long-suf-
fering, charity, patience, persecutions,
afflictions, which came unto me at
1 According to Jewish tradition, they were warlocks, disciples of Balaam, who were called
in by Pharaoh to oppose Moses in Egypt, and who afterwards accompanied Balaam when
he went to curse Israel. The form ot their names slightly varies. Accepted Greek, and
Vatican Codex. "Jannes and Jambres," Midrash Rabbah, "Yuchni and Mamre"," Jonathan
ben Uzziel, "Yanis and Yambris," or "Yamreh."
2 Acts xiii. 50 — xiv. 19.
3 A Gentile disciple, and (probably) convert, of St Paul, by whom he was made Bishop in
-Crete. See Alban Butler. Jan. 4.
Antioch,2 Iconium, and Lystra, what
persecutions I endured ; but out of
them all the Lord delivered me.
Yea, and all that will live godly in
Christ JESUS shall suffer persecution.
But evil men and seducers shall
wax worse and worse, deceiving and
being deceived.
Third Responsory.
Unto Thee, &c, {p. 378.)
Fifth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the Epistle of the
Blessed Apostle Paul to 3 Titus
(i. 1.)
TDAUL, a servant of God, and an
Apostle of JESUS Christ, accord-
ing to the faith of God's elect, and the
acknowledging of the truth which is
after godliness, in hope of eternal life
which God, That cannot lie, promised
before the world began, but hath in
His own times manifested His word
through preaching, which is com-
mitted unto me according to the com-
mandment of God our Saviour ; to
Titus, my beloved son after the com-
mon faith ; grace unto thee, and peace,
from God the Father, and JESUS
Christ our Saviour.
First Responsory.
In Thee, O God, &c, {p. 378.)
404
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Second Lesson.
T7OR this cause left I thee in Crete,
that thou shouldest set in order
the things that are wanting, and or-
dain Priests in every city, as also I
have appointed thee. If any be
blameless, the husband of one wife,
having faithful children, not accused
of riot or unruly. For a Bishop must
be blameless, as the steward of God,
not proud, not soon angry, not given
to wine, no striker, not given to filthy
lucre ; but a lover of hospitality,
courteous, sober, just, holy, temperate,
holding fast the faithful word as he
hath been taught ; that he may be
able by sound doctrine both to exhort
and to convince the gainsayers.
Second Responsory.
Let my mouth, &c, (p. 378.)
Third Lesson.
"C7 OR there are also many unruly, vain
talkers and deceivers, specially
they of the circumcision ; whose
mouths must be stopped ; who sub-
vert whole houses, teaching things
which they ought not, for filthy lucre's
sake. One of themselves, even a
prophet of their own,1 said : " The
Cretans are always liars, evil beasts,
slow bellies." This witness is true.
Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that
they may be sound in the faith, not
giving heed to Jewish fables, and
commandments of men, that turn from
the truth. Unto the pure all things
are pure ; but unto them that are de-
filed and unbelieving is nothing pure.
Sixth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to Titus
(ii. 15.)
''"PHESE things speak, and exhort,
and rebuke with all authority.
Let no man despise thee. (iii. 1.)
Put them in mind to be subject to
princes and powers, to obey orders,
to be ready to every good work, to
speak evil of no man, to be no
brawlers, but gentle, showing all
meekness unto all men.
First Responsory.
I will praise, &c, {p. 379.)
Second Lesson.
T7OR we ourselves also were some-
times foolish, unbelieving, de-
ceived, serving divers lusts and pleas-
ures, living in malice and envy, hate-
ful, and hating one another. But
after that the kindness and love of
God our Saviour appeared, not by
works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to His mercy He
saved us, by the laver of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost,
Which He shed on us abundantly
through JESUS Christ our Saviour:
that, being justified by His grace, we
should be made heirs, according to the
hope of eternal life.
Third Responsory.
My lips, &c, {p. 379O
Second Responsory.
Great, O Lord, &c, (/. 379.
1 Epimenides.
FIFTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
405
Third Lesson.
'"PHIS is a faithful saying, and these
things I will that thou affirm
constantly, that they which have be-
lieved in God should be careful to
maintain good works. These things
are good and profitable unto men.
But avoid foolish questions, and gene-
alogies, contentions, and strivings
about the law ; for they are unpro-
fitable and vain. A man that is an
heretic after the first and second
admonition avoid, knowing that he
that is such is subverted, and sinneth,
being condemned of his own judg-
ment.
Third Responsory.
The Lord is, &c, (p. 380.)
The Sabbath.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the Epistle of the Bles-
sed Apostle Paul to Philemon (1.)
T)AUL, a prisoner of JESUS Christ,
and Timothy our brother, unto
Philemon our dearly beloved and
fellow-labourer, and to our beloved
sister Appia, and Archippus our fellow-
soldier, and to the Church in thine
house. Grace to you, and peace,
from God our Father and the Lord
JESUS Christ. I thank my God, mak-
ing mention of thee always in my
prayers, hearing of thy love, and faith
which thou hast toward the Lord
JESUS, and toward all saints : that the
communication of thy faith may be-
come evident by the acknowledging of
every good work which is in you in
Christ Jesus.
First Responsory.
Cut me not off, &c, (p. 377.)
Second Lesson.
T^OR I have had great joy and con-
solation in thy love, because the
bowels of the saints are refreshed by
thee, brother. Wherefore, though I
might be much bold in Christ to enjoin
thee that which is convenient, yet for
love's sake I rather beseech thee, being
such an one as Paul the aged, and
now also a prisoner of JESUS Christ.
I beseech thee for my son Onesimus,1
whom I have begotten in my bonds,
which in time past was to thee unpro-
fitable, but now profitable to thee, and
to me, whom I have sent again to
thee.
Second Responsory.
My heart is ready, &c, {p. 377.)
Third Lesson.
T~^HOU therefore receive him as
mine own bowels ; whom I
would have retained with me, that in
thy stead he might have ministered
unto me in the bonds of the Gospel :
but without thy mind would I do noth-
ing, that thy benefit should not be, as
it were, of necessity, but willingly.
For perhaps he therefore departed for
a season from thee, that thou shouldest
receive him for ever ; not now as a
servant, but, instead of a servant, a
brother beloved, specially to me ; but
how much more unto thee, in the flesh,
and in the Lord ? If thou count me
therefore a partner, receive him as
myself. If he hath wronged thee, or
oweth thee aught, put that on mine
account. I, Paul, have written it with
mine own hand.
1 A run-away slave.
VOL. I.
4o6
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Third Responsory.
Unto thee, O my Strength, &c,
(A 378.)
VESPERS.
The Prayer is taken from the Lands
of the succeeding Sunday.
Sixty Simfcag after tfte
SEpqrfjaniJ-
The Sixth Lord's Day after the
Epiphany.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the Epistle of the
Blessed Apostle Paul to the Heb-
rews (i. 1.)
/^*OD, Who at sundry times1 and in
^-^ divers manners spake in time
past unto the fathers by the Prophets,
hath in these last days spoken unto
us by His Son, Whom He hath
appointed Heir of all things, by Whom
also He made the worlds : Who, be-
ing the brightness of His glory, and
the express image of His Substance,
and upholding all things by the word
of His power, when He had purged
our sins, sat down on the right hand
of the Majesty on high : being made
so much better than the angels, as He
hath by inheritance obtained a more
excellent name than they.
Second Lesson.
T^OR unto which of the angels said
He at any time : " Thou art My
Son, this day have I begotten Thee ? " 2
And again : " I will be to Him a
Father, and He shall be to Me a
Son ? " 3 And again, when He bring-
eth in the First-begotten into the
world, He saith : " And let all the
angels of God worship Him."4 And
of the angels He saith : " Who maketh
His angels spirits, and His ministers a
flame of fire."5 But unto the Son He
saith : " Thy throne, O God, is for
ever and ever : a sceptre of righteous-
ness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom.
Thou hast loved righteousness and
hated iniquity : therefore God, even
Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the
oil of gladness above Thy fellows."6
Second Responsory.
O God, Which satest, &c, {p. 381.)
Third Lesson.
AND: "Thou, Lord, in the begin-
"^ ning hast laid the foundation of
the earth, and the heavens are the
works of Thine hands. They shall
perish, but Thou remainest ; and they
all shall wax old as doth a garment,
and as a vesture shalt Thou change
them, and they shall be changed ; but
Thou art the Same, and Thy years
shall not fail."7 But to which of the
angels said He at any time : " Sit
Thou at My right hand, until I make
Thine enemies Thy footstool ? " 8 Are
they not all ministering spirits, sent
forth to minister for them who shall
be heirs of salvation ?
O God,
(A 381.)
1 [iro\vntp£>s. ]
& Ps. ciii. 4.
First Responsory.
rebuke me not,
2 Ps. ii. 7.
6 Ps. xliv. 7, 8.
Third Responsory.
&.c, The Lord is at My right hand, &c,
(P. 382.)
3 2 Kings (Sam.) vii. 14.
7 Ps. ci. 25-28.
* Ps. xcvi. 7.
8 Ps. cix. 1.
SIXTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
407
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of 1 St Athanasius, Pope [of Alex-
andria. ] ( 2 nd against the A rians. )
T F the heretics had but known the
person, the matter, and the times
of the Apostle who spoke, they would
never have spoken of Godhead as if It
were human, nor borne themselves so
wickedly, and withal so foolishly against
Christ. It will be permitted to us to
return, and to take again the first
words of the Lesson. The Apostle
then saith : " God, Who at sundry
times and in divers manners, spake in
time past unto the fathers by the
Prophets, hath in these last days spoken
unto us by His Son " — and again,
a little farther on: "When the Son
had purged our sins, He sat down on
the right hand of the Majesty on high :
being made so much better than the
angels as He hath by inheritance
obtained a more excellent name than
they." The Apostle here expressly
nameth the times wherein God hath
spoken unto us by His Son, and
wherein the Same His Son hath
purged our sins ; for when hath He
spoken unto us by His Son, when did
the Son purge our sins, or when was
He born a Man, but since God spake
unto the Fathers by the Prophets,
namely, in these last days ?
Fourth Responsory.
O Lord, Thou hast shown me, &c,
(A 382.)
Fifth Lesson.
*~pHE Apostle, about to enter on the
subject of the Word's human dis-
pensation and the last days, naturally
mentioneth first that God had not up
to those days been silent, but had
spoken unto the fathers by the
Prophets : and, after the Prophets had
discharged their office, and the law had
been given by the ministry of angels,
that the Son also came down unto us
to minister — and then he addeth,
" being made so much better than the
angels," to show that as the Son
differeth from a servant, so is the
ministry of the Son better than the duty
and office of servants.
Fifth Responsory.
I will love Thee, O Lord, &c, {p.
382.)
Sixth Lesson.
'T'HE Apostle, therefore, seeing the
difference between the new
ministry and the old, maketh very bold
in writing and speaking to the Jews.
For this cause, therefore, he doth not
compare the details of the two minis-
tries, and then come to the general
conclusion that the new was greater or
more honourable than the old, (lest any
should understand that the two minis-
tries were of the same kind, and that
the conclusion that the new is better is
arrived at by comparing the degrees in
each of things which they had in
common,) but he saith that the Son
"was made better," to distinguish at
once and completely the nature of the
Son from the nature of things created.
Sixth Responsory.
The earth is the Lord's, &c, (p.
383.)
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (xiii.
3i-)
A T that time : Jesus spake this
parable unto the multitude : ' The
kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of
May 2.
408
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
mustard-seed, which a man took and
sowed in his field. And so on.
Homily by St Jerome, Priest [at
Bethlehem.] {Book ii. Comment, on
Matth. xiii.)
The kingdom of heaven is the pro-
clamation of the Gospel, and that
knowledge of the Scriptures, which
leadeth unto life, and whereof it is
said to the Jews, "The kingdom of
God shall be taken from you, and
given to a nation bringing forth the
fruits thereof." (Matth. xxi. 43-)
Therefore is this kingdom like to
a grain of mustard - seed, which a
man took and sowed in his field.
By the man that sowed it in his
field, many understand to be meant
the Saviour, because He is the Sower
That soweth in the souls of believers ;
others understand every man that
soweth good seed in his own field, that
is, in himself and in his own heart.
Seventh Responsory.
Unto Thee, O Lord, &c, {p. 383.)
Eighth Lesson.
\ \J HO is he that soweth, but our own
* * mind and soul, which take the
grain from preaching, and by nourish-
ing it in the soil, cause it to sprout in
the field of our own breast? The
preaching of the Gospel is the least of
all doctrines. He that preacheth, for
his first lesson, God made man, Christ
dead, and the stumbling-block of the
Cross, receiveth at first but little credit.
Compare such teaching as this with the
doctrines of the Philosophers, with
their books, their magnificent elo-
quence, and their rounded sentences,
and thou shalt see how the grain of
the Gospel, when it is sown, is the
humblest of all seeds.
Eighth Responsory.
One Seraph cried, &c, {p. 384.)
B
Ninth Lesson.
UT when the doctrines of men
grow up, there is therein nothing
piercing, nothing healthy, nothing life-
giving. The plant is drooping, and
delicate, and soft. There are herbs
and grass whereof it may truly be said
that "the grass withereth and the
flower fadeth." (Isa. xl. 8.) But the
grain of Gospel seed, though, when it
was sown, it seemed to be the least of
all seeds, when once it is rooted in the
soul of man, or in the whole world,
groweth not into an herb, but becometh
a tree : so that the birds of the air
(whereby we may understand, either
the souls of believers, or the [angelic]
powers bound to the service of God,)
come and lodge in the branches
thereof. I consider that the branches
of the Gospel tree, which groweth from
the grain of mustard - seed, are the
divers developments of doctrine, on
which the birds above mentioned find
resting-places.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God," &c, is said.
LAUDS.
Antiphoti at the Song of Zacharias.
The kingdom of heaven * is like to a
grain of mustard-seed, which is the least
of all seeds, but, when it is grown, it is
the greatest among herbs.
Prayer throughout the day and week.
f^RANT us, we beseech Thee, O
^* Almighty God, ever to think such
things as be reasonable, and in every
word and work of ours, to do always
that is well pleasing in Thy sight.
Through our Lord JESUS Christ, Thy
SIXTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
409
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
One God, world without end. Amen.
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The kingdom of heaven * is
like unto leaven, which a woman took
and hid in three measures of meal till
the whole was leavened.
confidence, and the glory of the hope,
firm unto the end. Wherefore, as the
Holy Ghost saith : " To-day if ye will
hear His voice, harden not your hearts ;
as in 'the Provocation,' and as in
the day ' of Temptation ' in the
wilderness."
Second Responsory.
O God, &c, (p. 375-)
Qtlonfcap.
Second Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
to the Hebrews (iii. 1.)
VXTHEREFORE, holy brethren, par-
takers of the heavenly calling,
consider the Apostle and High Priest
of our confession, even JESUS ; Who is
faithful to Him That hath appointed
Him, as also Moses was faithful in all
His house. For He was counted
worthy of more glory than Moses,
inasmuch as He Who hath builded
the house hath more honour than the
house. For every house is builded by
some one ; but He That hath made all
things, is God.
First Responsory.
0 how great, &c, {p. 375.)
Second Lesson.
AND Moses verily was faithful in
all His house, as a servant, for
a testimony of those things which were
to be spoken after : but Christ, as a
Son, over His own house ; which
house we are, if we hold fast the
1 See v. 6.
2 [The Hebrew bears the translation : For
did not all they that came out of Egypt by
Third Lesson.
HPAKE heed, brethren, lest there be
in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the living
God ; but exhort one another daily,
while it is called "To-day," lest any
of you be hardened through the de-
ceitfulness of sin. For we are made
partakers of Christ, if we hold the
beginning of our confidence x steadfast
unto the end. While it is said : " To-
day, if ye will hear His voice, harden
not your hearts, as in ' the Provoca-
tion ' " — for some, when they had heard,
did provoke, howbeit not all that came
out of Egypt by Moses.2
Third Responsory.
I will bless, &c, {p. 376.)
Third Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
to the Hebrews (iv. 1.)
r ET us therefore fear, lest, a pro-
mise being left us of entering
into His rest, any of you should seem
to come short of it. For unto us was
who, when they had heard did provoke?
Moses ?]
Nay,
4io
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
the Gospel preached, as well as unto
them. But the word of hearing did
not profit them, not being mixed with
faith in them that heard it. For we
which have believed do enter into rest,
as He said : — " Unto whom I sware in
My wrath, that they should not enter
into My rest " — although the works
were finished from the foundation of
the world.
did from His. Let us labour, there-
fore, to enter into that rest, lest any
man fall after the same example of
unbelief. For the word of God is
quick and powerful, and sharper than
any two-edged sword, piercing even
to the dividing asunder of soul and
spirit, and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart.
First Responsory.
O God, give ear, &c, {p. 376.)
Third Responsory.
I said, &c, (p. 377.)
Second Lesson.
T7OR He spake in a certain place
(Gen. ii. 2) of the seventh day
on this wise : " And God did rest the
seventh day from all His works." And
in this place again : " They should not
enter into My rest." Seeing, therefore,
it remaineth that some must enter
therein, and they to whom it was
first preached entered not in, because
of unbelief : again He limiteth a certain
day, saying in David : " To-day " —
(after so long a time, as it is said
above) — " To-day if ye will hear His
voice, harden not your hearts."
Second Responsory.
The Lord hath set, &c, {p. 376.)
Fourth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
to the Hebrews (vi. 1.)
HTHEREFORE, leaving the prin-
ciples of the doctrine of Christ,
let us go unto things more perfect,
not laying again the foundation of
repentance from dead works, and of
faith toward God, of the doctrine of
baptisms, and of laying on of hands,
and of resurrection of the dead, and
of eternal judgment. And this will we
do, if God permit.
Third Lesson.
T70R if Jesus1 had given them rest,
then would he not afterward
have spoken of another day. There
remaineth therefore a rest 2 to the
people of God. For he that is
entered into his rest, he also hath
ceased from his own works, as God
1 viz. Joshua, or Josue — the name is the same which is Graecised, Latinised, and Anglicised
into Iesus or Jesus.
2 Relinquitur sabbatismus; literally "the keeping of a Sabbath;" Rheims has, very
elegantly, "a day of rest," but there is nothing about a day in the original, and the words
are given in the text in that form in which they have become something like a pious
proverb.
First Responsory.
Cut me not off, &c, {p. 377.)
Second Lesson.
"C70R it is impossible for those who
were once enlightened, and have
tasted of the heavenly Gift, and were
SIXTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY.
411
made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
and have tasted the good word of
God, and the powers of the world
to come, if they shall fall away, to
renew them again unto repentance ;
seeing they crucify to themselves the
Son of God afresh, and put Him to
an open shame.
Second Responsory.
My heart is ready, &c, {p. 377.)
Third Lesson.
T7OR the earth which drinketh in
the rain that cometh oft upon
it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for
them by whom it is dressed, receiveth
blessing from God. But that which
beareth thorns and briers is rejected,
and is nigh unto a curse : whose end
is to be burned. But, beloved, we
are persuaded better things of you,
and things nearer to salvation, though
we so speak. For God is not un-
righteous, to forget your work, and
the love which ye have showed in
His name, in that ye have ministered
to the saints, and do minister.
Third Responsory.
Unto Thee, &c, {p. 378.)
Fifth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
to the Hebrews (vii. 1.)
T7OR this Melchisedek, King of
Salem, Priest of the Most High
God, who met Abraham returning
from the slaughter of the kings, and
blessed him ; to whom also Abraham
gave a tenth part of all ; first, being,
by interpretation, King of Righteous-
ness, and, after that, also King of
Salem, which is, King of Peace ;
without father, without mother, with-
out descent, having neither beginning
of days nor end of life, but made
like unto the Son of God, abideth a
Priest continually.
First Responsory.
In Thee, O God, &c, (p. 378.)
Second Lesson.
"VT OW consider how great this man
was, unto whom even the Pa-
triarch Abraham gave the tenth of the
choicest spoils. And, verily, they that
are of the sons of Levi, who receive
the office of the priesthood, have a
commandment to take tithes of the
people according to the law, that is,
of their brethren, though they come
out of the loins of Abraham. But
he whose descent is not counted from
them, received tithes of Abraham, and
blessed him that had the promises.
Second Responsory.
Let my mouth, &c, {p. 378.)
Third Lesson.
AND, without all contradiction, the
■^^ less is blessed of the greater.
And here men that die receive tithes :
but there, he receiveth them, of whom
it is witnessed that he liveth. And
(as I may say) Levi also, who re-
ceiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abra-
ham ; for he was yet in the loins of
his father when Melchisedek met him.
If therefore perfection were by the
Levitical priesthood, (for under it the
people received the law,) what further
need was there that another Priest
412
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
should rise after the order of Mel-
chisedek, and not be called after the
order of Aaron ? For the priesthood
being moved there is made of necessity
a change also of the law.
Third Responsory.
My lips, &c, {p. 379.)
Sixth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
to the Hebrews (xi. 1.)
"jVT OW faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen. For by it the
elders obtained a good report.
Through faith we understand that the
worlds were framed by the word of
God, so that things which are seen
were not made of things which do
appear. By faith Abel offered unto
God a more excellent sacrifice than
Cain : by which he obtained witness
that he was righteous, God testifying
of his gifts, and by it he, being dead,
yet speaketh.
First Responsory.
I will praise, &c, {p. 379.)
Second Lesson.
DY faith Enoch was translated that
he should not see death, and
was not found, because God had
translated him : for, before his trans-
lation, he had this testimony, that he
pleased God. But without faith it is
impossible to please God. For he
that cometh to God must believe that
He is, and that He is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek Him. By
faith, Noah, being warned of God of
things not seen as yet, moved with
fear, prepared an ark to the saving of
his house, by the which he condemned
the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith.
Second Responsory.
Great, O Lord, &c, {p. 379.)
Third Lesson.
"DY faith he whose name is called
Abraham, obeyed the command
to go out into a place which he should
after receive for an inheritance, and
he went out, not knowing whither he
went. By faith he sojourned in the
land of promise, as in a strange coun-
try, dwelling in tabernacles with
Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of
the same promise. For he looked for
a city which hath foundations, whose
Builder and Maker is God.1
Third Responsory.
The Lord is, &c, {p. 380.)
The Sabbath.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
to the Hebrews (xiii. 1.)
f ET brotherly love continue among
you. Be not forgetful to enter-
tain strangers : for thereby some have
entertained angels unawares. Re-
member them that are in bonds, as
bound with them ; and them which
1 The reader is vehemently urged to finish reading this sublime chapter for himself.
SATURDAY BEFORE SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.
413
suffer adversity, as being yourselves
also in the body. Let marriage be
honourable in all, and the bed unde-
nted. But whoremongers and adulter-
ers God will judge.
First Responsory.
Cut me not off, &c, (p. 377.)
Second Lesson.
T ET your conversation be without
covetousness, and be content
with such things as ye have. For He
hath said : I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee :"1 so that we may
boldly say : " The LORD is mine helper,
and I will not fear what man shall do
unto me." 2 Remember them which
have the rule over you, who have
spoken unto you the word of God ;
whose faith follow, considering the
end of their conversation, JESUS
Christ, the Same yesterday, and to-
day, and for ever.
Second Responsory.
My heart is ready, &c, {p. 377.)
Third Lesson.
DE not carried about with divers
and strange doctrines. For it
is a good thing that the heart be es-
tablished with grace, not with meats ;
which have not profited them that
have been occupied therein. We
have an Altar, whereof they have no
right to eat which serve the taber-
nacle. For the bodies of those beasts
whose blood is brought into the Sanc-
tuary by the High Priest for sin, are
burned without the camp. Where-
fore JESUS also, that He might sanc-
tify the people with His own Blood,
suffered without the gate.
Third Responsory.
Unto Thee, O my Strength, &c,
(A 378.)
Note. If there be less than six
weeks between the Epiphany and Sep-
tuagesima, as many of the foregoing
weeks as may be necessary are omitted,
and the Office comtnences on the even-
ing before Septuagesima Sunday as im-
mediately hereafter given; but the
Antiphons, Prayers, and Homilies of
the omitted Sundays are afterwards
used for the latter Sundays before
Advent.
fhcLtuvlcy Before ^eptuageeima
The Sabbath before the Lord's Day
within Seventy Days of Easter.
VESPERS.
The Chapter and Prayer are taken
from the Lauds of the next ?norning.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The Lord said unto Adam : *
Of the tree which is in the midst of
the garden thou shalt not eat : in the
hour that thou eatest thereof, thou
shalt surely die.
At the end, the words, " Bless we
the Lord," are said thus —
Verse. Bless we the Lord — Alleluia,
Alleluia.
Answer. Thanks be to God —
Alleluia, Alleluia.
This is the Farewell to the Alle-
luia, which word is not uttered in
the Office again till Easter. At
the Compline of this evening and
every other Service, after the " Glory
1 Josh. i. 5.
- Ps. cxvii. 6.
VOL. I.
O 2
414
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
be to the Father, &c," at the
beginning, instead of " Alleluia," is
said :
Ceaseless praise to Thee be given,
O Eternal King of Heaven.
If the Vespers of this evening be
of a Festival, a Commemoration is
made of the Saturday, and the Fare-
well to the Alleluia takes place as
above.
If from Septuagesima to Low Sun-
day, both inclusive, a Feast fall on a
Sunday, it is transferred, or simpli-
fied, unless it be a Double of the First
Class, as the Patronal Feast, or the
Anniversary of the Consecration of the
Church where the Service takes place,
to which occasions yield all the Sun-
days except the First in Lent, and
Passion, Palm, Easter, and Low
Sundays.1
Septuagesima SuntiasL
The Lord's Day within Seventy Days
of Easter.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. Let us come before
the presence of the Lord : * and make
a joyful noise unto Him with Psalms.
The Second half of the First Verse
of the XCIVth Psalm, (Let us come,
&c.,) is omitted.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the Book, of Genesis
(i. i.)
T N the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth. And the
earth was without form and void, and
darkness was upon the face of the
deep : and the Spirit of God moved
upon the face of the waters. And
God said : Let there be light. And
there was light. And God saw the
light, that it was good ; and God
divided the light from the darkness ;
and God called the light Day, and the
darkness He called Night : and the
evening and the morning were the
first day. And God said : Let there
be a firmament in the midst of the
waters, and let it divide the waters
from the waters. And God made the
firmament, and divided the waters
which were under the firmament from
the waters which were above the fir-
mament. And it was so. And God
called the firmament Heaven : and
the evening and the morning were the
second day.
First Responsory.
In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth, wherein He
made man also, after His own image
and likeness.
Verse. 2 So God formed man of
the dust of the ground, and breathed
into his face the breath of life.
Answer. After His own image and
likeness.
Second Lesson.
AND God said : Let the waters
under the heaven be gathered
together unto one place, and let the
dry land appear. And it was so.
And God called the dry land, Earth ;
and the gathering together of the
waters called He Seas. And God saw
that it was good. And God said ;
Let the earth bring forth the green
herb yielding seed, and the fruit-tree
yielding fruit after his kind, whose
seed is in itself, upon the earth. And
it was so. And the earth brought
[Only Doubles Major and Feasts of Doctors may be transferred.]
Gen. ii. 7.
SEPTUAGESIMA.
415
forth the green herb yielding seed
after his kind, and the tree yielding
fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his
kind. And God saw that it was good.
And the evening and the morning
were the third day. And God said :
Let there be lights in the firmament
of the heaven, and let them divide the
day from the night ; and let them be
for signs, and for seasons, and for days
and years ; and let them be for lights
in the firmament of heaven ; and let
them give light upon the earth. And
it was so. And God made two great
lights, the greater light to rule the
day ; and the lesser light to rule the
night ; He made the stars also. And
God set them in the firmament of the
heaven, to give light upon the earth,
and to rule over the day and over the
night, and to divide the light from the
darkness. And God saw that it was
good. And the evening and the morn-
ing were the fourth day.
Second Responsory.
In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth, and the Spirit
of God moved upon the face of the
waters. \ And God saw everything
that He had made, and it was very
good.
Verse. 2 Thus the heavens and the
earth were finished, and all the hosts
of them.
Answer. And God saw everything
that He had made, and it was very
good.
Third Lesson.
AND God said: Let the waters
bring forth abundantly the mov-
ing creature that hath life, and fowl
that may fly above the earth in the
open firmament of heaven. And God
created great whales, and every living
creature that moveth, which the waters
1 Gen. i. 31.
brought forth abundantly after their
kind, and every winged fowl after his
kind. And God saw that it was good.
And God blessed them, saying : Be
fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters
in the seas, and let fowl multiply in
the earth. And the evening and the
morning were the fifth day. And God
said : Let the earth bring forth the
living creature after his kind, cattle
and creeping thing, and beast of the
earth after his kind. And it was so.
And God made the beast of the earth
after his kind, and cattle, and every-
thing that creepeth upon the earth
after his kind. And God saw that it
was good. And God said : Let Us
make man after Our Own image and
likeness, and let him have dominion
over the fish of the sea, and over the
fowl of the air, and over the cattle,
and over all the earth, and over every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the
earth.
Third Responsory.
The LORD formed man of the dust
of the ground, and breathed into his
face the breath of life, and man became
a living soul.
Verse. In the beginning God
created the heavens and the earth,
wherein He made man also.
Answer. And breathed into his
face the breath of life, and man be-
came a living soul.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And breathed into his
face the breath of life, and man be-
came a living soul.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the book in-
tituled "The Handbook," written
2 Gen., ii. 1.
416
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
by St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo.]
{Chaps, xxv., xxvi., xxvii., torn. 3.)
'THE Lord threatened man with the
punishment of death, in case he
sinned. Thus did He gift him with
free will, while He yet kept His lord-
ship over him, and helped him with
the dread of destruction. And so He
put him in that happy garden, under
the very shadow of the tree of life, in
that good place from whence, had he
kept his righteousness, he might have
passed to a better. But the first man
sinned, and was banished from Eden,
and infected all his descendants with
the disease of sin, poisoning their very
root, and bringing upon all that sen-
tence of death and damnation, which
he had earned for himself. So that
all that descend by fleshly generation
from Adam, and from the guilty
woman, who was the cause of his sin
and the partaker of his punishment,
derive from them original sin ; where-
by they are drawn through a way of
divers sins and sorrows, towards that
final ruin which they shall share with
the rebel angels who are at once their
corrupters, their lords, and their
comrades.
Fourth Responsory.
God took the man and put him into
the garden of Eden, to dress it and to
keep it.
Verse. x And the LORD God had
planted a garden aforetime in Eden,
and there He put the man whom He
had formed.
Answer. To dress it and to keep
it.
Fifth Lesson.
CO "by one man sin entered into
the world, and death by sin, (and
so death passed upon all men,) in
whom all have sinned." (Rom. v.
1 i. 8.
12.) By the world the Apostle signi-
fied! in this place all mankind. Thus
then hath the matter stood. The
damned mass of humanity lay in
misery, or rather wallowed in it, and
fell from bad to worse, till it joined
the company of the sinning angels, and
both together suffered the deserved
punishment of their vile treason.
Fifth Responsory.
The Lord God said : It is not good
that the man should be alone. Let Us
make an help meet for him.
Verse. But for Adam there was not
found an help meet for him ; and God
said —
Answer. Let Us make an help
meet for him.
Sixth Lesson.
HTO the wrath of God appertained
whatever sin man, through the
blind and untamed sting of his flesh,
willingly committeth, and whatever
punishment, declared and open, he
unwillingly suffereth. There is, in-
deed, no pause in that goodness of the
Creator whereby He giveth even to
the traitor angels life and strength,
(which if He gave not, they would be
annihilated,) and whereby He formeth
the seed of men, though they come of
a corrupt and condemned stock,
quickeneth them, strengtheneth and
fitteth their limbs for the changing
seasons of their life, extendeth their
knowledge in divers places, and giveth
them whereon to live. It hath been
His will rather to draw good out of
evil, than to suffer that there should
be no evil.
Sixth Responsory.
2 The Lord caused a deep sleep to
fall upon Adam, and He took one oi
2 ii. 21-23.
SEPTUAGESIMA.
417
his ribs. And the rib which the
Lord had taken from Adam made
He a woman, and brought her unto
Adam, to see what he would call her.
And he called her name Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.1
Verse. And while he slept He took
one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh
instead thereof.
Answer. And the rib which the
LORD had taken from Adam made
He a woman, and brought her unto
Adam, to see what he would call her.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And he called her name
Woman, because she was taken out of
Man.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (xx. 1.)
A T that time : Jesus spake this
"^^ parable unto His Disciples :
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a
man that is an householder, which
went out early in the morning to hire
labourers into his vineyard. And so
on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (lgth on the Gospels.)
We hear that the kingdom of heaven
is like unto a man that is an house-
holder, which went out early in the
morning, to hire labourers into his
vineyard. Who indeed is more justly
to be likened to an householder than
our Maker, Who is the Head of the
household of faith, bearing rule over
them whom He hath made, and being
Master of His chosen ones in the world,
as a Master over those that are in his
house ? He it is That hath the
Church for a vineyard, a vineyard that
ceaseth not to bring forth branches of
the True Vine, from righteous Abel to
the last of the elect that shall be born
in the world.
Seventh Responsory.
And the Lord God had planted a
garden aforetime in Eden, and there
He put the man whom He had formed.
Verse. And out of the ground made
the Lord God to grow every tree that
is pleasant to the sight, and good for
food, the tree of life also in the midst
of the garden.
Answer. And there He put the
man whom He had formed.
Eighth Lesson.
'X'HIS householder, then, for the
cultivation of his vineyard, goeth
out early in the morning, and at the
third hour, and the sixth hour, and the
ninth hour, and the eleventh hour, to
hire labourers into his vineyard. Thus
the Lord, from the beginning to the
end of the world, ceaseth not to gather
together preachers for the instruction
of His faithful people. The early
morning of the world was from Adam
until Noah ; the third hour from Noah
until Abraham ; the sixth hour from
Abraham until Moses ; the ninth hour
from Moses until the coming of the
Lord ; the eleventh hour from the
coming of the Lord until the end of the
world. At this eleventh hour are sent
forth as preachers the Holy Apostles,
who have received full wages, albeit
they be come in late.
Eighth Responsory.
2 Behold, Adam is become as One
of Us, to know good and evil. See
1 Virago, quia de Viro. In the Hebrew it is "Isshah" from "Ish." The Seventy appear
to have found it hopeless, and the Latin is clumsy, but the English does very well.
2 iii. 22.
418
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
lest he take of the tree of life and live
for ever.
Verse. Unto Adam also did the
Lord God make a coat of skins, and
clothed him, and said : —
Answer. See lest he take of the
tree of life and live for ever.
Ninth Lesson.
T^OR the cultivation of His vineyard,
(that is, the instruction of His
people, ) the Lord hath never ceased to
send into it labourers. First, by the
Fathers, then, by the Prophets and
Teachers of the Law, and lastly, by
the Apostles He hath dressed and
tended the lives of His people, as the
owner of a vineyard dresseth and
tendeth it by means of workmen.
Whoever in whatever degree joined
to a right faith the teaching of right-
eousness, was so far one of God's
labourers in God's vineyard. By the
labourers at early morning, and at the
third hour, the sixth hour, and the
ninth hour, may be understood God's
ancient people, the Hebrews, who
strove to worship Him with a right
faith in company with His chosen ones
from the very beginning of the world,
and thus continually laboured in His
vineyard. And now, at the eleventh
hour, it is said unto the Gentiles
also : "Why stand ye here all the day
idle ? "
The Hy7nn, "We praise Thee, O
God," &c, is not said on this or any
other Sunday before Easter.
Ninth Responsory.
1 The Lord said unto Cain : Where
is Abel thy brother ? Lord, I know
not : am I my brother's keeper ? And
He said unto him : What hast thou
done ? Behold, the voice of thy brother
1 iv. 9-11.
Abel's blood crieth unto Me from the
ground.
Verse. Cursed shalt thou be upon
the earth, which hath opened her
mouth to receive thy brother's blood
from thy hand.
Answer. Behold, the voice of thy
brother Abel's blood crieth unto Me
from the ground.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Behold, the voice of thy
brother Abel's blood crieth unto Me
from the ground.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. Have mercy upon
me, * O God, and cleanse me from my
sin : for against Thee only have I
sinned.
Psalm L.
Have mercy, &c, {p. 87.)
Second Antiphon. I will praise
Thee, * for Thou hast heard me.
Psalm CXVII.
O give thanks unto the LORD, &c,
{p- 37.)
Third Antiphon. O God, Thou art
my God, * early will I seek Thee,
because Thou hast been my help.
Psalms LXII. and LXVI.
O God, Thou art, &c, {p. 23.)
Fourth Antiphon. 2 Blessed art
Thou, * O our God, in the firmament
of heaven, and worthy to be praised
above all for ever.
The Song of the Three Holy Children.
Fifth Antiphon. Praise ye the LORD
* from the heavens.
2 Dan. iii. 56.
SEPTUAGESIMA.
419
Psalms CXLVIIL, CXLIX., and CL.
Praise ye, &c, {pp. 25, 26.)
Chapter. (1 Cor. ix. 24.)
DRETHREN, know ye not that they
W which run in a race run all,, but
one receiveth the prize ? So run that
ye may obtain.
Verse. Lord, Thou hast been our
refuge.
Answer. In all generations.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Thus saith the Lord : The kingdom of
heaven is like unto a man that is an
householder, * which went out early in
the morning to hire labourers into his
vineyard.
Prayer throughout the day and week.
r\ LORD, we beseech Thee favour-
^-^ ably to hear the prayers of Thy
people ; that we, who are justly
punished for our offences, may be
mercifully delivered by Thy goodness,
for the glory of Thy Name. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. And when he had
agreed * with the labourers for a
penny }- a day, he sent them into his
vineyard.
TERCE.
Antiphon. Go ye also * into my
vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that
will I give you.
SEXT.
Antiphon. Why stand ye here * all
the day idle ? They answered and
said unto him : Because no man hath
hired us.
Chapter. (1 Cor. ix. 25.)
AND every man that striveth for the
*"^ mastery is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a corruptible
crown, but we an incorruptible.
NONE.
Antiphon. The Lord of the vine-
yard saith : * Call the labourers, and
give them their hire.
Chapter. (1 Cor. x. 4.)
T^OR they drank of that spiritual
-*■ rock that followed them : and that
rock was Christ. But with many of
them God was not well pleased.
VESPERS.
Chapter as at Lauds.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The householder saith unto
his labourers : * Why stand ye here
all the day idle ? But they answered
and said : Because no man hath hired
us. Go ye also into my vineyard,
and whatsoever is right, that will I
give you.
Qttonfcag.
Second Day.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (i. 27.)
CO God created man in His Own
*^ image ; in the image of God
created He him: male and female
The Chapter is taken from Lauds.
1 Greek, denarion. Its value was nearly a shilling.
420
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
created He them. And God blessed
them, and said unto them : Be fruitful,
and multiply, and replenish the earth,
and subdue it ; and have dominion
over the fish of the sea, and over the
fowl of the air, and over every living
thing that moveth upon the earth.
And God said : Behold, I have given
you every herb bearing seed which is
upon the face of the earth, and every
tree in the which is the fruit of a tree
yielding seed, to you it shall be for
meat. And to every beast of the
earth, and to every fowl of the air, and
to every thing that creepeth upon the
earth wherein there is life, [I have
given it] for meat. And it was so.
And God saw everything that He had
made, and it was very good. And the
evening and the morning were the
Sixth Day.
First Responsory.
1 When the Lord walked in the
garden in the cool of the day, He
called, and said : Adam, where art
thou ? Lord, I heard Thy voice, and
I hid myself.
Verse. I heard Thy voice in the
garden, and I was afraid, because I
was naked.
Answer. And I hid myself.
Second Lesson.
'T'HUS the heavens and the earth
were finished, and all the host
of them. And on the seventh day God
ended His work which He had made ;
and He rested on the seventh day from
all His work which He had made.
And God blessed the seventh day
and sanctified it, because that in
it He had rested from all His work,
which He created and made. These
are the generations of the heavens
and of the earth, when they were
created, in the day that the Lord
God made the heavens and the earth,
and every plant of the field before it
sprung up in the earth, and every
herb of the field before it grew : for
the Lord God had not caused it to
rain upon the earth, and there was
not a man to till the ground ; but
there rose up a spring 2 from the
earth and watered the whole face of
the ground.
Second Responsory.
3 The Lord said unto Adam ; In
the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat
bread ; when thou tillest the ground
it shall not henceforth yield unto thee
her fruits. Thorns also and thistles
shall it bring forth to thee.
Verse. Because thou hast heark-
ened unto the voice of thy wife, and
hast eaten of the tree which I com-
manded thee, saying : Thou shalt not
eat of it, — cursed is the ground whereon
thou shalt labour.
Answer. Thorns also and thistles
shall it bring forth to thee.
Third Lesson.
CO the Lord God formed man of
*^ the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his face the breath of
life, and man became a living soul.
And the Lord God had planted a
garden aforetime in Eden, and there
He put the man whom He had formed.
And out of the ground made the Lord
God to grow every tree that is pleasant
to the sight, and good for food : the
tree of life also in the midst of the
garden, and the tree of knowledge of
good and evil. And a river went out
of Eden to water the garden, and from
thence it was parted, and became into
four heads.
1 iii. 8-io.
2 Hebrew, "a mist."
in. 19 ; iv. 12.
SEPTUAGESIMA.
421
Third Responsory.
The LORD formed man, &c, {p.
415.)
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. These last have wrought but
one hour, * and thou hast made them
equal unto us, which have borne the
burden and heat of the day.
Third Day.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (ii. 1 5.)
CO the Lord God took the man
and put him into the garden of
Eden, to dress it and to keep it ;
and He commanded him, saying : Of
every tree of the garden thou mayest
freely eat ; but of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt
not eat of it : for in the day that
thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely
die. And the Lord God said : It is
not good that the man should be
alone ; let Us make him an help meet
for him.
First Responsory.
God took the man, &c, {p. 416.)
Second Lesson.
CO out of the ground the LORD God
formed every beast of the field,
and every fowl of the air, and brought
them unto Adam, to see what he would
call them. And whatsoever Adam
called every living creature, that was
the name thereof. And Adam gave
names to all cattle, and to every fowl
of the air, and to every beast of the
field. But for Adam there was not
found an help meet for him.
Second Responsory.
The Lord God said, &c, {p. 416.)
Third Lesson.
AND the Lord God caused a deep
"^ sleep to fall upon Adam. And
while he slept, He took one of his
ribs, and closed up the flesh instead
thereof. And the rib which the Lord
God had taken from Adam made He a
woman, and brought her unto Adam.
And Adam said : This is now bone of
my bones, and flesh of my flesh : she
shall be called Woman, because she
was taken out of Man. Therefore
shall a man leave his father and his
mother ; and shall cleave unto his
wife ; and they twain shall be one
flesh.
Third Responsory.
The Lord caused, &c, (p. 416.)
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. And the householder said : *
Friend, I do thee no wrong : didst
not thou agree with me for a penny ?
Take that is thine, and go thy way.
Fourth Day.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (iii. 1.)
"V[ OW the serpent was more subtle
than any beast of the field which
the Lord God had made. And he
said unto the woman : Why hath God
said ye shall not eat of every tree of
the garden ? And the woman said
unto the serpent : We may eat of the
fruit of the trees of the garden ; but
422
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
of the fruit of the tree which is in the
midst of the garden, God hath said :
Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye
touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent
said unto the woman : Ye shall not
surely die. For God doth know that
in the day ye eat thereof, then your
eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be
as gods, knowing good and evil. And
the woman saw that the tree was good
for food, and that it was pleasant to
the eyes, and a tree to be desired :
and she took of the fruit thereof, and
did eat, and gave also unto her hus-
band with her, and he did eat. And
the eyes of them both were opened.
First Responsory.
And the Lord God, &c, {p. 417.)
Lord God said unto the Woman :
Wherefore hast thou done this ? And
she said : The serpent beguiled me,
and I did eat.
Second Responsory.
Behold, Adam is become, &c,
{p. 417-)
Third Lesson.
AND the Lord God said unto the
serpent : Because thou hast done
this, thou art cursed above all cattle,
and above every beast of the field ;
upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust
shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.
I will put enmity between thee and
the woman, and between thy seed and
her seed ; she l shall bruise thy head,
and thou shalt bruise her heel. And
unto the woman he said : I will greatly
multiply thy sorrows and thy concep-
tion : in sorrow shalt thou bring forth
children, and thou shalt be in the
power of thy husband, and he shall
rule over thee. And unto Adam He
said : Because thou hast hearkened
unto the voice of thy wife, and hast
eaten of the tree of which I com-
manded thee, saying : Thou shalt not
eat of it — cursed is the ground whereon
thou shalt labour ; in sorrow shalt thou
eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns
also and thistles shall it bring forth to
thee, and thou shalt eat the herb of
the field. In the sweat of thy face
shalt thou eat bread, till thou return
unto the ground ; for out of it wast
thou taken ; for dust thou art, and
unto dust thou shalt return. And
Adam called his wife's name Eve,*
because she was the mother of all
living.
1 Ipsa. Abp. Kenrick remarks that two MSS. examined by Kennicott read as the Vulgate,
and that in the very ancient style of the Pentateuch the gender of the Pronoun (without points)
is common. " The verb, however, is masculine, and the text is applied by St Irenasus to Christ
as ' the Seed predestined to trample under foot the seed of the serpent.' " See also the Breviary
itself, on March 25. (Fourth Lesson.) [Scholars now agree that the "ipsa" of the Vulgate
here is a scribal error, and that the passage refers to Christ.]
2 Chavah = Life.
Second Lesson.
AND when they knew that they
were naked, they sewed fig-
leaves together, and made themselves
aprons. And they heard the voice
of the Lord God walking in the
garden in the cool of the day ; and
Adam and his wife hid themselves
from the presence of the Lord God
amidst the trees of the garden. And
the Lord God called unto Adam, and
said unto him : Where art thou ? And
he said : I heard Thy voice in the
garden, and I was afraid, because I
was naked, and I hid myself. And
He said : Who told thee that thou
wast naked ? Hast thou eaten of the
tree whereof I commanded thee that
thou shouldest not eat ? And Adam
said : The woman, whom Thou gavest
me to be with me, she gave me of
the tree, and I did eat. And the
SEPTUAGESIMA.
423
Third Responsory.
The Lord said unto Cain,
(A 418.)
VESPERS.
&C,
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Take that thine is, * and go
thy way ; for I am good, saith the
Lord.
t£#urefca£.
Fifth Day.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (iv. 1.)
AND Adam knew his wife, and she
"^^ conceived, and bare Cain, and
said : I have gotten a man from God.1
And she again bare his brother Abel
— and Abel was a keeper of sheep,
but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
And in process of time it came to pass
that Cain brought of the fruit of the
ground an offering unto the LORD.
And Abel, he also brought of the
firstlings of his flock, and of the fat
thereof. And the Lord had respect
to Abel, and to his offering. But
unto Cain and to his offering He had
not respect : and Cain was very wroth,
and his countenance fell. And the
LORD said unto him : Why art thou
wroth ? and why is thy countenance
fallen ? If thou doest well shalt thou
not be accepted ? and if thou doest
not well, doth not sin lie at the door ? 2
But the desire thereof is under thee,
and thou hast control over it.
First Responsory.
In the beginning, &c, {First Re-
sponsory oil Sunday, p. 414.)
Second Lesso?i.
AND Cain said unto Abel his
"^ brother ; Let us go forth abroad.
And when they were in the field, Cain
rose up against Abel his brother, and
slew him. And the LORD said unto
Cain : Where is Abel thy brother ?
And he said : I know not ; am I my
brother's keeper ? And He said unto
him : What hast thou done ? The
voice of thy brother's blood crieth
unto Me from the ground. Now,
therefore, cursed shalt thou be upon
the earth, which hath opened her
mouth to receive thy brother's blood
from thy hand. When thou tillest
the ground it shall not henceforth
yield unto thee her fruits : a fugitive
and a vagabond shalt thou be on
the earth.
Second Responsory.
In the beginning, &c, {Second Re-
sponsory on Sunday, p. 415-)
Third Lesson.
AND Cain said unto the Lord:
*^^ My sin is too great for me to
gain pardon thereof.3 Behold, Thou
hast driven me out this day from the
face of the earth, and from Thy face
shall I be hid, and I shall be a fugi-
tive and a vagabond in the earth.
Every one therefore that findeth me
1 The name.
2 Like a beast of prey lying in wait. (Gesenius.) The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel on
the whole passage is : "If thou doest thy work well, will not thy guilt be forgiven thee? But if
thou doest not thy work well in this world, thy sin is retained unto the day of the great
judgment, and at the doors of thy heart lieth thy sin. And into thy hand have I delivered the
power over evil passion, and unto thee shall be the inclination thereof, that thou mayest
have authority over it, to become righteous, or to sin." (Etheridge's translation, I. 170.)
3 The Jerusalem Targum softens the hopelessness of this exclamation. "My sins are greater
than can be borne. Nevertheless there is power before Thee to absolve and forgive me."
(Etheridge's translation, I. 172.)
424
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
shall slay me. And the Lord said
unto him: It shall not be so: but
whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance
shall be taken on him sevenfold.
And the Lord set a mark upon Cain,
lest any finding him should kill him.
And Cain went out from the presence
of the Lord, and dwelt a vagabond
in the land on the East of Eden.
Third Responsory.
The Lord formed man, &c, (p.
4I5-)
At the beginning of the Mar tyro logy,
is said,
On the morrow we commemorate
the prayer of our Lord JESUS Christ
at the foot of the Mount of Olives.
Office in Memory of the Prayer of our
Lord JESUS Christ in the Garden
of Gethsemane.
Greater Double.
All as on Sundays, except the follow-
ing.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Prayer
from Lauds.
Last Psalm.
Ps. cxvi. O praise the LORD, &c,
{p. 186.)
Hymn.1
CEE the Eternal Word descending
From the throne of bliss supreme,
Love-constrained, His way now wending
Adam's children to redeem.
Pitying the world's disaster,
Yearning to repair its fall,
Prone upon the earth, our Master
Prays for pardon for us all.
O what anguish, what affliction
Hemmed Him round on every side.
Who shall tell His dereliction !
While His suppliant accents cried —
" O My Father ! O My Father !
Let this Chalice pass away —
Yet not My will, Thy will rather
Be accomplished this day — "
'Neath that load of anguish sinking
Drops of Blood stood on His Brow —
Wondering earth in silence drinking
One by one the Drops that flow.
But an angel swiftly gliding
Comes from heaven to His aid ;
And that Form the Godhead hiding
Comfort seeks from those He made.
To the Father praise be given —
Praise the Son, Whose Name is greater
Than all names beneath the heaven, —
Praise the Spirit, every creature. Amen.
Verse. 2 My soul is exceeding sor-
rowful,
Answer. Even unto death.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 3 He kneeled down, and
prayed, saying : Father, if Thou be
willing, remove this cup from Me ;
nevertheless, not My will, but Thine,
be done.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. Christ JESUS Who
prayed at the foot of the Mount
of Olives, * Him, O come, let us
worship !
Hymn Jrom Vespers.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. 4 Before thou
prayest, prepare thy soul, and be
not as one that tempteth God.
1 Hymn from the Proprium of the arch-diocese of Freiburg, translation by the Rev. Dr
Wallace. * Matth. xxvi. 38. 8 Luke xxii. 41, 42. * Ecclus. xviii. 23.
SEPTUAGESIMA.
425
Ps. xvi. Hear my right, O LORD,
&c, (p. 13.)
Second Antiphon. l Let nothing-
hinder thee to pray always, and de-
fer not until death to be justified.
Ps. xxiv. Unto Thee, O Lord, &c,
(A 46.)
Third Antiphon. 2 All things what-
soever ye shall ask in prayer, believ-
ing, ye shall receive.
Ps. cxli. I cried unto the LORD,
&c, {p. 200.)
Verse. My soul is exceeding sor-
rowful,
Answer. Even unto death.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Tobias (xii. 8-13.)
"DRAYER is good with fasting, and
to lay up alms rather than to lay
up stores of gold. For alms doth de-
liver from death, and the same it is
which purgeth away sin, and causeth
to find mercy and everlasting life.
But they that work sin and iniquity
are enemies of their own soul. There-
fore I show you the truth, and will
not keep an hidden matter back from
you. When thou didst pray with
tears, and bury the dead, and leave
thy dinner, and hide the dead in
thine house by day, and bury them
by night, I did bring up thy prayer
before the Lord. And because thou
wast accepted with God, it was needs
that temptation should try thee.
First Responsory.
3 In everything give thanks. Pray
without ceasing.
Verse. For this is the will of
1 Ecclus. xviii. 22.
2 Matth. xxi. 22.
God in Christ JESUS concerning you
all.
Answer. Pray without ceasing.
Second Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle James (v.
16.)
"DRAY one for another, that ye may
be healed, for the fervent prayer
of a righteous man availeth much.
Elias was a man subject to like
passions as we are, and he prayed
earnestly that it might not rain upon
the earth, and it rained not by the
space of three years and six months.
And he prayed again, and the heaven
gave rain, and the earth brought forth
her fruit. Brethren, if any of you do
err from the truth, and one convert
him, let him know that he which con-
verted! a sinner from the error of his
way shall save his soul from death,
and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Second Responsory.
When 4 ye stand praying, forgive,
if ye have aught against any.
Verse. That your Father also Who
is in heaven may forgive you your
trespasses.
Answer. Forgive, if ye have aught
against any.
Third Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Hebrews (v. 5.)
Christ glorified not Himself to be
made an High Priest, but He That
said unto Him : " Thou art My Son,
to-day have I begotten Thee." (Ps.
ii. 7.) As He saith also in another
place : " Thou art a Priest for ever,
3 1 Thess. v. 17, 18. 4 Mark xi. 25.
426
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
after the order of Melchisedek."
(Ps. cix. 4.) Who, in the days
of His flesh, when He had offered
up prayers and supplications, with
strong crying and tears, unto Him
That was able to save Him from
death, was heard, in that He feared.1
And though He was the Son of God,
yet learned He obedience by the
things which He suffered ; and be-
ing made perfect, He is become the
Author of Eternal Salvation unto all
them that obey Him — called of God
an High Priest after the order of
Melchisedek.
Third Responsory.
2 The LORD hath heard my sup-
plication ; the LORD hath received
my prayer.
Verse. 3 I cried with my whole
heart ; hear me, O Lord !
Answer. The Lord hath received
my prayer.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The Lord hath received
my prayer.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. 4 When ye pray
ye shall not be as the hypocrites
are ; for they love to pray standing
in the synagogues and in the corners
of the streets, that they may be seen
of men.
Ps. xlii. Judge me, O God, &c,
(P- 105.)
Second Antiphon. 5 But thou,
when thou prayest, enter into thy
closet, and, when thou hast shut
the door, pray to thy Father Who
is in secret.
Ps. liv. Give ear to my prayer,
&c, (p. 109.)
Third Antiphori. ° And it came
to pass in those days, that Jesus
went out into a mountain to pray,
and continued all night in prayer
to God.
Ps. cxx. I will lift up mine eyes,
&c, {p. 186.)
Verse. 7 O My Father, if it be
possible, —
Answer. Let this cup pass from
Me!
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Treatise
upon the Lord's Prayer written by
the Holy Martyr Cyprian, Bishop [of
Carthage. ] ( On the Lords Prayer. )
HP HE Lord hath indeed taught us to
pray, not by words only, but also
by deeds. He Himself prayed often-
times, and right earnestly, and showed
us by the witness of His Own example
what we are behoven to do ; as it is
written: "And He withdrew Himself
into the wilderness, and prayed."
(Luke v. 16.) And again: "And it
came to pass in those days that Jesus
went out into a mountain to pray, and
continued all night in prayer to God."
(Luke vi. 12.) If He prayed Who
was without sin, how much more are
sinners beholden to pray ? And if He
remained sleepless all night in unceas-
ing prayer, how much more ought we
to watch by night in common prayer ?
The Lord prayed and besought, but
not for Himself — for what had the
Innocent One to ask for for Himself?
But it was for us sinners that He
prayed, as Himself declareth when He
saith unto Peter : " Simon, Simon,
behold, Satan hath desired to have
you, that he may sift you as wheat ;
1 Or, "on account of His reverent submission." 2 Ps. vi. 10.
3 Ps. cxviii. 145. *. Matth. vi. 5. 5 Ibid., 6. 6 Luke vi. 12. 7 Matth. xxvi. 39.
SEPTUAGESIMA.
427
but I have prayed for thee, that thy
faith fail not." (Luke xxii. 31, 32.)
And a little while after, He prayed to
the Father for all, saying : " Neither
pray I for these alone, but for them
also which shall believe on Me through
their word, that they all may be one ;
as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in
Thee ; that they also may be one in
Us." (John xvii. 20, 21.)
Fourth Responsory.
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath
desired to have you, that he may sift
you as wheat ; but I have prayed for
thee, that thy faith fail not.
Verse. And when thou art con-
verted strengthen thy brethren.
Answer. I have prayed for thee,
that thy faith fail not.
Fifth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Com-
mentary upon the Epistle to the
Hebrews, written by St Anselm,
Archbishop [of Canterbury.] (v.)
LIE offered up prayers like a true
High Priest. That He prayed
we read oftentimes in the Gospel,
especially in that according to Luke,
who draweth Him in His Priestly
character. But even as all things
which He did in the Flesh, His prayers
and supplications were for men.
Through all His life He prayed to
the Father touching the Resurrection
of His Own Flesh, and our salvation,
and at the last moment before He
suffered, He offered up supplications,
that is, prayers most beseeching and
most vehement, with the utmost passion
and tenderness of His Heart, when,
"being in an agony He prayed more
earnestly, and His Sweat was as it
were great drops of Blood falling down
to the ground." (Luke xxii. 44.)
1 Ecclus. xxxv. 21.
These prayers and supplications He
offered up unto the Father, Who met
Him half-way by hearing Him. He
offered them up unto Him That was
able to save Him from death, that
is, to raise Him up again — unto
Him of Whom He knew that He
was able to save Him, that is, to
make Him so that He could die no
more and suffer no more, by deliver-
ing Him from death, so that His
Soul was not left in hell, neither did
His Flesh see corruption in the
grave. (Ps. xv. 10.)
Fifth Responsory.
1 The prayer of the humble pierceth
the clouds, and till it come nigh, he will
not be comforted.
Verse. And will not depart till the
Most High shall behold.
Answer. And till it come nigh, he
will not be comforted.
Sixth Lesson.
AND these prayers and supplications
"^^ He offered up with strong crying,
that is, with the keenest and liveliest
yearning of godly desire, as when,
being in an agony, He prayed more
earnestly, and even with tears, for in
that lengthened prayer we must believe
that He shed Tears as well as those
drops of Blood which trickled down
His Body in the place of sweat. And
He was heard, for in rising again, He
received that for which He had asked.
He was heard, that is, He in especial
was heard in a sense of thoroughness
in which no other hath ever been
heard, since, after the throes of the
struggle were over, the Father exalted
Him above everything created. More-
over, He was heard on account of
reverent submission,2 which meaneth
either that He was heard because as
2 Apo tes eulabeias.
428
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
the Son of God reverent submission
was due to His wishes, or else that He
was heard because of His reverent
submission to the Will of God, in that
He feared and honoured the Father
above all. Or again, we may under-
stand that He was heard, because His
reverent submission merited that He
should be heard. The out-pouring of
His Blood may in itself be called a
strong cry, wherein He was heard on
account of His reverent submission to
such suffering. His reverent sub-
mission in that case lay in this, that
having never done any evil, He was
willing to suffer, simply out of love.
Sixth Responsory.
1 Let now Thine ears be attentive
and Thine eyes open, to hearken unto
the prayer of Thy servant.
Verse. Which I pray before Thee
this day, night and day.
Answer. To hearken unto the
prayer of Thy servant.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. To hearken unto the
prayer of Thy servant.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. - Trouble and
anguish have taken hold on me : Thy
commandments are my delight.
Ps. iii. Lord, how are they in-
creased, &c, {p. 5.)
Second Antiphon. 3 I looked for
some to take pity on me, and there was
none ; and for comforters, but I found
none.
Ps. xii. How long wilt Thou forget,
&c, (p. 9.)
unto the dust ; quicken Thou me ac-
cording to Thy word.
Ps. lxxxvii. O Lord God of my
salvation, &c, {p. 145.)
Verse. 4 Watch and pray,
Answer. That ye enter not into
temptation.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (xxii. 39.)
A T that time : Jesus came out, and
went, as He was wont, to the
Mount of Olives ; and His disciples
also followed Him. And so on.
Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop [of
Milan.] (Bk. x. Comm. on Luke xxii.)
" Remove this cup from Me " — the
Man shrank from death, the God re-
mained unshaken in the counsel of His
Own Will. We must needs die to this
world that we may rise again to God,
that in accordance with God's sentence,
the law of the curse may work itself
out by our return to the dust of the
earth from whence we are taken.
"Not My will, but Thine be done."
In these words our Lord signifieth by
" My will " His human will, and by the
Father's will, His Own Divine Will.
The wills of men are temporal, but the
Will of God is eternal. There is not
one Will of the Father, and another
Will of the Son. There is but one
Will, where there is but one God.
Learn, nevertheless, from the ensample
of Christ, to be resigned to God's Will,
and not to choose that which best
pleaseth thyself, but that which thou
knowest will best please God.
Seventh Responsory.
3 I am come into the depth of the
Third Antiphon. 2 My soul cleaveth sea, and the flood overfloweth me.
1 2 Ezra (Nehem.), i. 6.
3 Ps. lxviii. 21, 3, 1.
2 Ps. cxviii. 143, 25.
4 Matth. xxvi. 41.
SEPTUAGESIMA.
429
Verse. Save me, O God, for the
waters are come in unto my soul.
Answer. And the flood overfloweth
me.
Eighth Lesson.
/~PHEN, let us consider the special
meaning of His different expres-
sions. " My Soul is exceeding sorrow-
ful, even unto death." (Matth. xxvi.
38.) So also elsewhere He saith :
"Now is My Soul troubled." (John
xii. 27.) It was not He Who had
taken the Manhood unto God Who was
troubled, but the Manhood Which He
had so taken. The soul of man is
able to be moved by divers feelings,
but not so God. " The Spirit indeed
is willing, but the Flesh is weak."1
(Matth. xxvi. 41.) That which was
exceeding sorrowful was not Himself
but His Soul. The Eternal Wisdom
was not sorrowful, the Divine Being
was not sorrowful, but the human Soul
of Jesus was sorrowful. He had taken
into the Godhead a Soul, but a Soul of
the same nature as mine.2 I am not
deceived into thinking that it was one
thing, when it seemed another. Sor-
rowful He seemed to be, and sorrowful
He was — not at the thought of His
Own sufferings, but of our sins.
Eighth Responsory.
3 Let my prayer come before Thee :
incline Thine ear unto my cry.
Verse. For my soul is full of
troubles, and my life draweth nigh
unto the grave.
Answer. Incline Thine ear unto
my cry.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Incline Thine ear unto
my cry.
Ninth Lesson.
THEN He saith : " I will smite the
shepherd, and the sheep of the
flock shall be scattered abroad."
(Matth. xxvi. 31.) He was sorrowful
because He was leaving us orphans.
But how resolutely He was giving
Himself up to die is sufficiently clear
by what followed, when He went to
meet those that sought Him, when He
calmed the agitated, when He nerved
the timid, when He received the traitor
himself with the condescension of a
kiss. Neither is it other than the
truth to say that He was sorrowful for
their sakes who were hunting Him
down, since He knew what a punish-
ment they were to undergo for that
unutterable crime. And because of
all these things He said : " Let this
cup pass from Me ! " It was not that
the Divine Son of the Divine Being
was afraid to die, but He would not
that even wicked men should perish on
His account.
The Hymn, " We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.4
First Afitipho7i. Jesus cometh
with His disciples unto a place called
Gethsemane, and saith unto them : Sit
ye here while I go and pray*yonder.
Second Antiphon. And He took
with Him Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful
and very heavy.
Third Antiphon. Then saith He
unto them : My soul is exceeding
sorrowful, even unto death ; tarry ye
here, and watch with Me.
Fourth Antipho?i. And He went a
little farther, and fell on His Face,
and prayed, saying : O My Father !
1 St Ambrose seems to understand these words as spoken by our Lord concerning Himself.
2 Suscepit animam meam, suscepit corpus meum.
3 Ps. lxxxvii. 3, 4. * Antiphons from Matth. xxvi. 36-39, 42.
430
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
if it be possible, let this cup pass from
Me!
Fifth Antiphon. O My Father !
if this cup may not pass away from
Me, except I drink it, Thy Will be
done !
Chapter. (Matth. xxvi. 40.)
JESUS cometh unto the disciples,
and findeth them asleep, and
saith unto Peter : What ! could ye not
watch with Me one hour ? Watch
and pray, that ye enter not into temp-
tation.
Hymn.1
"PROM high heaven the Mediator,
Whom the Prophets sang of yore,
Conies to heal our fallen nature,
Zion's daughters ! weep no more.
For the ill which Eden wrought us,
When our parents went astray,
Olivet to life hath brought us,
Where our Lord doth watch and pray.
The Redeemer of His nation,
Such the love which filled His Breast,
Hastens to make expiation
For the world by sin oppressed.
Now the Father's anger ceases,
And the Hand up-raised to smite,
All those threatening shafts releases,
Destined on our souls to light.
Thus the snares of hell are broken ;
Heaven's gates are open wide,
Where eternal joys unspoken
Welcome those for whom He died.
To the Father praise be given !
Praise the Son, Whose Name is greater
Than all names beneath the heaven,
Praise the Spirit, every creature. Amen.
Verse. 2 Lord, teach us to pray.
Answer. After this manner there-
fore pray ye.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
1 Another hymn from the Proprium of the
Dr Wallace.
Being in an agony He prayed more
earnestly, and His Sweat was as it
were great drops of Blood falling down
to the ground.
Prayer throughout the Office.
C\ LORD JESUS Christ, Who in the
^^^ garden didst both by Thy word
and by Thine ensample teach us to
pray that we enter not into temptation,
mercifully grant that we may ever be
so instant in prayer, that we may
worthily gain the comfortable fruits
thereof. Who livest and reignest with
God the Father, in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, one God, world without
end. Amen.
PRIME.
Ati tip/ton. Jesus cometh, &c,
{First Antiphon at Lauds.)
Ps. liii. (p. 36) and the two sections
of cxvm. (p. 38).
Chapter at the end. (Matth. v. 44.)
T3RAY for them which despitefully
use you and persecute you, that
ye may be the children of your Father,
Who is in heaven.
TERCE.
Antiphon. And He took with Him,
&c, (Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
My Soul is exceeding sorrowful.
Answer. My Soul is exceeding sor-
rowful,
Verse. Even unto death.
Answer. Exceeding sorrowful.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
arch-diocese of Freiburg, translation by the Rev.
2 Luke xi. 1 ; Matth. vi. 9.
SEPTUAGESIMA.
431
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. My Soul is exceeding sor-
rowful.
Verse. O my Father, if it be pos-
sible—
Answer. Let this cup pass from
Me!
SEXT.
Antiphon. Then saith He unto
them, &c, ( Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Luke xxi. 36.)
'\X7\ATCH ye therefore and pray
always, that ye may be ac-
counted worthy to escape all these
things that shall come to pass, and to
stand before the Son of Man.
Short Responsory.
O My Father ! if it be possible.
Answer. O My Father ! if it be
possible —
Verse. Let this cup pass from Me !
Answer. If it be possible.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. O my Father ! if it be
possible.
Verse. Watch and pray,
Answer. That ye enter not into
temptation.
NONE.
Antiphon. O My Father ! &c,
{Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
Watch and pray.
Answer. Watch and pray,
Verse. That ye enter not into
temptation.
Answer. And pray.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Watch and pray.
Verse. His Sweat
Answer. Was as it were great
drops of Blood.
SECOND VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Prayer
from Lauds.
Last Psalm.
Ps. cxv. I believed, &c, (p. 185.)
Hymn from first Vespers.
Verse. His Sweat
Answer. Was as it were great
drops of Blood.
Antiphon at the So fig of the Blessed
Virgin. l Behold, the hour is at hand,
and the Son of Man is betrayed into
the hands of sinners.
The Sabbath.
MATTINS.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (v. 15.)
AND Mahalaleel lived sixty and five
■^^ years, and begat Jared. And
Mahalaleel lived, after he begat Jared,
eight hundred and thirty years, and
begat sons and daughters. And all
the days of Mahalaleel were eight
hundred and ninety-five years ; and he
died. And Jared lived an hundred
sixty and two years, and he begat
Enoch. And Jared lived after he
1 Matth. xxvi. 45.
432
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
begat Enoch eight hundred years, and
begat sons and daughters. And all
the days of Jared were nine hundred
and sixty and two years ; and he died.
And Enoch lived sixty and five years,
and begat Methuselah.
First Responsory.
And the Lord God had planted,
&c, (p. 417.)
Second Lesson.
AND Enoch walked with God:
and he lived, after he begat
Methuselah, three hundred years, and
begat sons and daughters. And all
the days of Enoch were three hun-
dred sixty and five years. And he
walked with God ; and he was seen
no more, for God took him. And
Methuselah lived an hundred, eighty
and seven years, and begat Lamech.
And Methuselah lived, after he begat
Lamech, seven hundred eighty and two
years, and begat sons and daughters.
And all the days of Methuselah were
nine hundred sixty and nine years ;
and he died.
Second Responsory.
Behold, Adam is become, &c, {p.
4I7-)
Third Lesson.
AND Lamech lived an hundred
eighty and two years, and begat
a son, and he called his name Noah,1
saying : This same shall comfort us
concerning our work and toil of our
hands upon the ground which the
Lord hath cursed. And Lamech
lived, after he begat Noah, five
hundred ninety and five years, and
begat sons and daughters. And
all the days of Lamech were seven
hundred seventy and seven years ;
and he died.
Third Responsory.
The Lord said unto Cain, &c, /.
418.)
VESPERS.
Chapter and Prayer from Lauds of
the following morning.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The Lord said unto Noah : *
The end of all flesh is come before
Me : make thee an ark of planed
timber, that seed of all flesh may be
saved therein.
^exagestma SunUag.
The Lord's Day within Sixty Days
of Easter.
MATTINS.
Invitatory and omission in Ps.
XCIV. as on last Sunday.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (v. 31.)
AND when Noah was five hundred
years old he begat Shem, Ham,
and Japheth. (vi. 1.) And it came
to pass, when men began to multi-
ply on the face of the earth, and
daughters were born unto them, that
the sons of God 2 saw the daughters
of men that they were fair, and
1 I.e., "rest," or "comfort."
3 Targums — "the sons of the mighty," and Samaritan, "sons of the rulers."
SEXAGESIMA.
433
they took them wives of all which
they chose. And God said : l My
spirit shall not always continue in
man, for that he also is flesh : and
his days shall be an hundred and
twenty years. And there were giants
in the earth in those days. For
after that the sons of God came in
unto the daughters of men, and they
bare children to them, the same
became mighty men, which were of
old, men of renown.
First Responsory.
2 The Lord said unto Noah : The
end of all flesh is come before Me ;
for the earth is filled with violence
through them. And I will destroy
them with the earth.
Verse. Make thee an ark of
planed timber, rooms shalt thou make
in it.
Answer. And I will destroy them
with the earth.
Second Lesson.
AND God saw that the wickedness
-^ of man was great in the earth,
and that every thought of his heart
was only evil continually, and it re-
pented Him that He had made man
on the earth. And it grieved Him at
the heart ; and He said : I will destroy
man, whom I have created, from the
face of the earth ; both man and
beast, and the creeping thing, and
the fowls of the air : for it repenteth
Me that I have made them. But
Noah found grace in the eyes of the
Lord.
Second Responsory.
Noah was a just man and perfect ;
he walked with God. According to
i Targum of Onkelos : ' ' This evil generation shall not stand before Me for ever, because
they are flesh and their works are evil." Jonathan ben Uzziel : "Have I not imparted My
Holy Spirit to them, that they may work good works? And, behold, their works are wicked.
Behold, I will give them a prolongment of 120 years, that they may work repentance, and not
perish." 2 vi. 13.
all that God commanded him, so
did he.
Verse. He made him an ark, that
a seed of every sort might be saved
alive.
Answer. According to all that God
commanded him, so did he.
Third Lesson.
HPHESE are the generations of
Noah : Noah was a just man,
and perfect in his generations ; he
walked with God. And he begat
three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japhet.
The earth also was corrupt before
God, and was filled with violence.
And when God looked upon the earth
and beheld how it was corrupt, (for all
flesh had corrupted his way upon the
earth,) He said unto Noah: The end
of all flesh is come before Me : the
earth is filled with violence through
them, and I will destroy them with
the earth. Make thee an ark of planed
timber : rooms shalt thou make in the
ark, and shalt pitch it within and with-
out with pitch. And this is the fashion
thou shalt make it of: the length of
the ark shall be three hundred cubits,
the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the
height of it thirty cubits.
Third Responsory.
Forty days and forty nights were the
heavens opened ; and there went into
the ark two and two of all flesh wherein
is the breath of life. And the Lord
shut them in.
Verse. In the self-same day entered
Noah into the ark, and his sons, and
his wife, and the wives of his sons.
Answer. And the LORD shut
them in.
434
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And the LORD shut
them in.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
upon Noah's Ark by St Ambrose,
Bishop [of Milan.] {Chap, iv.)
\X/"E read that the Lord was angry.
It is in the thoughts, that is to
say, in the knowledge of God, that
man being put on earth and weighted
with the body cannot 1 be without sin,
for earth is the home of temptations,
and the flesh is a bait for corruption.
Yet man had a reasonable soul, and
his soul had power to control his
body ; and, being so made, he made
no struggle to keep himself from fall-
ing into that from whence he would
not return. God's thoughts are not
as man's thoughts ; in Him there is
no such thing as change of mind, no
such thing as to be angry and then
cool down again. These things are
written that we may know the bitter-
ness of our sins, whereby we have
earned the Divine wrath. To such
a degree had iniquity grown that God,
Who by His nature cannot be moved
by anger, or hatred, or any passion
whatsoever, is represented as provoked
to anger.
Fourth Responsory.
2 Noah builded an Altar unto the
LORD, and offered burnt offerings on
the Altar ; and the LORD smelled
a sweet savour, and blessed Noah,
and said : Be fruitful, and multiply,
and replenish the earth.
Verse. Behold, I establish My
covenant with you, and with your seed
after you.
1 Esse non possit, i.e., since the Fall.
Answer. Be fruitful, and multiply,
and replenish the earth.
Fifth Lesson.
AND God threatened that He would
destroy man. He said : " I will
destroy man, whom I have created,
from the face of the earth ; both man
and beast, and the creeping thing, and
the fowls of the air." What harm had
the animals done ? For man's use
had they been created, and, when man
was wiped away, they were of use no
longer. And there is an higher reason.
Man is a living soul, capable of reason,
who may be described as a living
animal, subject to death, and endowed
with reason. When then the highest
animal is gone, why should the lower
branches remain ? Why should any-
thing be saved alive, when righteous-
ness, the basis of salvation, is to be no
more ?
Fifth Responsory.
The Lord said unto Noah : 3 I do
set My bow in the clouds of heaven :
and I will remember My covenant
which is between Me and you.
Verse. And it shall come to pass,
when I bring a cloud over the heaven,
that My bow shall be seen in the
cloud.
Answer. And I will remember My
covenant which is between Me and
you.
Sixth Lesson.
DUT more effectually to condemn
the rest of men, and to manifest
the goodness of God, it is written that
Noah found grace in the eyes of the
Lord. Here we learn also that the
sin of his neighbour casteth no shadow
on the righteous, when he is kept as a
stock from whence the whole race are
to spring. He is praised, not because
2 viii. 20 ; ix. i, 9.
u. 13, 14.
SEXAGESIMA.
435
he was of a noble race, but because he
was a just man and perfect. The
stock of a just man yieldeth men of
just souls ; for virtues, like blood, are
hereditary. Among men are some
families illustrious for honourable pedi-
grees, and so there are also races of
souls whose comeliness is the lustre of
virtues.
Sixth Responsory.
By Myself have I sworn, saith the
Lord. I will not again bring the
waters of the flood upon the earth : I
will remember My covenant. And the
waters shall become no more a flood
to destroy all flesh.
Verse. I do set My bow in the
clouds, and it shall be for a token of
a covenant between Me and the earth.
Answer. And the waters shall no
more become a flood to destroy all
flesh.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And the waters shall no
more become a flood to destroy all
flesh.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (viii. 4.)
A T that time : When much people
were gathered together, and were
come to Jesus out of every city, He
spake by a parable : A sower went out
to sow his seed. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (1 $th on the Gospels.)
Dearly beloved brethren, the passage
from the Holy Gospel which ye have
just heard, needeth not so much that I
should explain it, as that I should seek
to enforce its lesson. The Truth Him-
self hath explained it, and, after that,
it beseemeth not man's frailty to fritter
away His exposition by any further
comment. But there is, in that very
explanation by the Lord, somewhat,
which it behoveth us well to weigh.
If it were but we who bade you believe
that by the seed is signified the word ;
by the field, the world ; by the birds,
the devils ; and by the thorns, riches
— ye would perchance doubt of the
truth of our explanation. Therefore
the Lord Himself hath vouchsafed to
give this explanation, and that, not for
this parable only, but that ye may
know in what manner to interpret
others, whereof He hath not given the
meaning.
Seventh Responsory.
1 God blessed Noah and his sons,
and said unto them : Be fruitful, and
multiply, and replenish the earth.
Verse. Behold, I establish My cov-
enant with you, and with your seed
after you.
Answer. Be fruitful, and multiply,
and replenish the earth.
Eighth Lesson.
"DEGINNING His explanation, the
Lord saith that He speaketh in
parables. Hereby He doth certify us,
when our weakness would unveil to
you the hidden meaning of His words.
If I spake of myself, who would believe
me when I say that riches are thorns ?
Thorns prick, but riches lull to rest.
And yet riches are indeed thorns, for
the anxiety they bring is a ceaseless
pricking to the minds of their owners,
and, if they lead into sin, they are
thorns which bloodily tear the soul.
But we understand from another Evan-
gelist (Matth. xiii. 22) that in this
ix. 7, 9.
436
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
place the Lord speaketh, not of riches
themselves, but of the deceitfulness of
riches.
Eighth Responsory.
Behold, I establish My covenant
with you, and with your seed after you.
Neither shall there any more be a flood
to destroy the earth.
Verse. I do set My bow in the
clouds, and it shall be for a token of a
covenant between Me and the earth.
Answer. Neither shall there any
more be a flood to destroy the earth.
Ninth Lesson.
HP HOSE riches are deceitful riches,
which can be ours only for a
little while ; those riches are deceitful
riches, which cannot relieve the poverty
of our souls. They are the only true
riches, which make us rich in virtues.
If then, dearly beloved brethren, ye
seek to be rich, earnestly desire the
true riches. If ye would be truly
honourable, strive after the kingdom
of heaven. If ye love the bravery of
titles, hasten to have your names
written down at Court above, where
Angels are. Take to heart the Lord's
words which your ear heareth. The
food of the soul is the word of God :
when the stomach is sick it throweth
up again the food which is put into it,
and so is the soul sick when a man
heareth and digesteth not in his
memory the Word of God. And if
any man cannot keep his food, that
man's life is in desperate case.
Him out of every city, He spake by a
parable : A sower went out to sow his
seed.
Verse. And, as he sowed, some fell
on good ground, and sprang up, and
bare fruit an hundred-fold.
Answer. A sower went out to sow
his seed.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. A sower went out to sow
his seed.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. Have mercy upon
me, O God, * after Thy great mercy.1
Psalm L.
Have mercy, &c, but beginning with
the words, "After Thy great mercy,"
(A 87.)
Second Antiphon. If the Lord be
my Saviour * I will not fear what man
can do unto me.
Psalm CXVII.
O give thanks unto the Lord, &c,
(A 37.)
Third Antiphon. Within the veil 2
I cried betimes : * O God, Thou art
my God, early will I seek Thee.
Psalms LXII. and LXVI.
O God, Thou art my God,
(A 23.)
Fourth A?itiphon.
* to the Lord
Let us
our God.
&c.
sing
praises
The Song of t tie Three Holy Children.
Fifth Antiphon. Praise God with
Ninth Responsory.
When much people were gathered
together to Jesus, and were come to
1 In the Latin the order of verse 3 is reversed in the Antiphon, ("After Thy great mercy,
have mercy," &c.,) and the Psalm consequently begins as usual.
2 The allusion is perhaps to the ancient custom of hanging a curtain before the chancel,
between Septuagesima and Easter. It is still so done, at least in Sicily, but the translator
does not think it is anywhere practised in Rome. Formerly it seems to have been nearly
co-extensive with Latin Christianity. Cf., however, verse 8.
[Lenten vails are still used in Spain.]
SEXAGESIMA.
437
the timbrel and dance ; * praise Him
with stringed instruments and organs.
Psalms CXLVIIL, CXL/X., and CL.
Praise ye, &c, (pp. 25, 26.)
Chapter. (2 Cor. xi. 19.)
T3RETHREN, ye suffer fools gladly,
seeing ye yourselves are wise :
for ye suffer if a man bring you into
bondage, if a man devour you, if a
man take of you, if a man exalt
himself, if a man smite you on the
face.
Verse and Answer as last Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
When much people were gathered to-
gether to Jesus, * and were come
to Him out of every city, He spake
by a parable ; a sower went out to
sow his seed.
good heart, bring forth fruit with
patience.
Chapter from Lauds.
SEXT.
A?itiphon. Some seed fell on good
ground, * and bare fruit, some an hun-
dred-fold, and some sixty-fold.
Chapter. (2 Cor. xi. 25.)
'T'HRICE was I beaten with rods,
once was I stoned, thrice I
suffered shipwreck, a night and a
day have I been in the deep of
the sea.
NONE.
Antiphon. If then, dearly beloved
brethren, ye seek to be rich, * ear-
nestly desire the true riches.
Chapter. (2 Cor. xii. 19.)
lV/r OST gladly therefore will I rather
glory in my infirmities, that the
Prayer throughout the day and week. power of Christ may rest upon me.
f~\ GOD, Who seest that we put
^^^ not our trust in anything that
we do, mercifully grant that through
the protection of the Teacher of the
Gentiles 1 we may be defended against
all adversity. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
PRIME.
SECOND VESPERS.
Chapter from Lauds.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. JESUS said to His disciples :
* Unto you it is given to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of God, but
to others in parables.
QTlon&ap.
Second Day.
Antiphon. Some seed fell on good First Lesson.
ground, * and bare fruit with patience. The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (vii. 1.)
XHE Lord said unto Noah : Come
thou and all thy house into the
word of God * in an honest and ark ; for thee have I seen righteous be-
1 This is on account of the "Station" at Rome being on this day at St-Paul's-without-
the-walls, for which reason also (apparently) has been chosen the long Epistle at Mass,
from 2 Cor.
VOL. I. P
TERCE.
Antiphon. They which keep the
433
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
fore Me in this generation. Of every
clean beast thou shalt take to thee by
sevens, the male and the female ; and
of beasts that are not clean by two,
the male and the female. Of fowls
also of the air by sevens, the male
and the female, to keep seed alive
upon the face of all the earth. For
yet seven days and I will cause it
to rain upon the earth forty days
and forty nights, and every living
substance that 1 have made will I
destroy from off the face of the
earth.
First Responsory.
In the self-same day entered Noah
into the ark, and his sons, and his wife
and the wives of his sons.
Verse. Every living substance was
destroyed from the earth, and Noah
only remained alive, and they that
were with him in the ark.
Answer. His wife, and the wives
of his sons.
Second Lesson.
A ND Noah did according unto all
■^^ that the Lord had commanded
him. (10.) And it came to pass
after seven days that the waters of
the, flood overflowed the earth. In
the six-hundredth year of Noah's life,
in the second month, the seventeenth
day of the month, the same day were
all the fountains of the great deep
broken up, and the water - spouts of
heaven were loosed ; and the rain
was upon the earth forty days and
forty nights.
Second Responsory.
1 The Lord remembered Noah,
and made a wind to pass over the
earth, and the waters assuaged,
and the rain from heaven was re-
strained.
Verse. And the waters returned
from off the earth continually, and
after the end of the hundred and
fifty days the waters were abated.
Answer. And the rain from heaven
was restrained.
Third Lesson.
T N the self-same day entered Noah,
and Shem, and Ham, and Japhet,
his sons, his wife, and the three wives
of his sons with them, into the ark ;
they, and every beast after his kind,
and all the cattle after their kind,
and every creeping thing that creepeth
upon the earth after his kind, and
every fowl after his kind. [And they
went in unto Noah into the ark,
two and two of all flesh, wherein
was the breath of life. And they
went in, male and female, of all
flesh, as God had commanded him :
and the Lord shut him in.] And
the flood was forty days upon the
earth, and the waters increased, and
bare up the ark, and it was lift up
above the earth.
Third Responsory.
Forty days and forty nights were
the heavens opened, and there went
into the ark of all flesh wherein is
the breath of life. And the Lord
shut them in.
Verse. In the self-same day en-
tered Noah into the ark, and his
sons, and his wife, and the wives
of his sons.
Answer. And the Lord shut them
in.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
1 viii. i.
SEXAGESIMA.
439
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And the LORD shut them
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. If ye would be truly honour-
able, * strive after our Fatherland
which is in heaven.
Third Day.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (viii. i.)
AND God remembered Noah, and
every living thing, and all the
cattle, that was with him in the ark,
and He made a wind to pass over
the earth, and the waters assuaged.
The fountains also of the deep, and
the water - spouts of heaven were
stopped, and the rain from heaven
was restrained. And the waters re-
turned from off the earth continually,
and after the end of the hundred
and fifty days, the waters were abated.
And the ark rested in the seventh
month, on the twenty-seventh day of
the month, upon the mountains of
Armenia.
First Responsory.
Noah builded, &c, {p. 434.)
Second Lesson.
AND the waters decreased continu-
ally until the tenth month : in
the tenth month, on the first day of
the month, were the tops of the
mountains seen. And it came to
pass at the end of forty days, that
Noah opened the window of the ark
which he had made, and he sent
forth a raven ; which went forth, to
and fro, until the waters were dried
up from off the earth. Also he sent
forth a dove after him, to see if the
waters were abated from off the face
of the ground. But the dove found
no rest for the sole of her foot, and
she returned unto him into the ark.
Second Responsory.
The Lord said, &c, {p. 434.)
Third Lesson.
A ND he stayed yet another seven
days, and again he sent forth
the dove out of the ark. And she
came in to him in the evening, and
she bare in her mouth an olive-branch
with green leaves. So Noah knew
that the waters were abated from off
the earth. And he stayed yet another
seven days, and sent forth the dove,
which returned not again unto him
any more. And it came to pass in
the six-hundredth-and-first year,1 in the
first month, the first day of the mdlth,
the waters were dried up from off the
earth.
Third Responsory.
By Myself, &c, (p. 435.)
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The seed is the word of
God, * and the Sower is Christ ; if
any man find Him, he shall never
be moved.
1 Of his age.
440
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Fourth Day.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (viii. 15.)
A ND God spake unto Noah, saying :
-• Go forth of the ark, thou, and
thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons'
wives with thee. Bring forth with
thee every living thing that is with
thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of
cattle, and of every creeping thing that
creepeth upon the earth, and go ye
upon the earth ; be fruitful and multi-
ply upon it. And Noah went forth,
and his sons, and his wife, and his
sons' wives with him ; every beast and
cattle, and whatsoever creepeth upon
the earth after their kinds, went forth
out of the ark.
First Responsory.
God blessed, &c, (p. 435.)
Second Lesson.
AND Noah builded an altar unto
the Lord, and took of every
clean beast, and of every clean fowl,
anqfcoffered burnt-offerings on the altar.
And the Lord smelled a sweet savour,
and said : I will not again curse the
ground any more for man's sake : for
the imagination of man's heart and his
thoughts are prone to evil from his
youth. Neither will I again smite
any more every thing living, as I have
done. While, the earth remaineth,
seed-time, and harvest, and cold and
heat, and summer and winter, and day
and night, shall not cease.
Second Responsory.
Behold, I establish, &c, (J>. 436.)
Third Lesson, (ix. 1.)
A ND God blessed Noah and his
sons, and said unto them : Be
fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the
earth. And the fear of you and the
dread of you shall be upon every beast
of the earth, and upon every fowl of
the air, upon all that moveth upon the
earth : all the fishes of the sea, into
your hand are they delivered. Every
moving thing that liveth shall be meat
for you ; even as the green herb, have
I given you all things ; but flesh with
the blood thereof shall ye not eat.
For your blood of your lives will I
require at the hand of every beast,
and at the hand of man ; at the hand
of every man's brother will I require
the life of man. Whoso sheddeth
man's blood, his blood shall be shed ;
for in the image of God made He
man.
Third Responsory.
In the self-same day, &c, {p. 438)
with this addition :
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. His wife, and the wives
of his sons.
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. But that on the good ground
* are they which in an honest and
good heart bring forth fruit with
patience.
Note. If any of the three Antiphons
given for the Song of the Blessed Virgin
on the three last days are omitted, and
the Office on the next day ( Thursday) is
of the Week-day, then the Antiphon at
the Song of the Blessed Virgin on that
day will be tfte last of those which have
been omitted.
SEXAGESIMA.
44I
Fifth Day.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (ix. 12.)
AND God said : This is the token
"^^ of the covenant which I make
between Me and you, and every living
creature that is with you, for perpetual
generations : I do set My bow in the
clouds, and it shall be for a token of a
covenant between Me and the earth.
And, it shall come to pass, when I
bring a cloud over the heaven, that My
bow shall be seen in the cloud ; and I
will remember My covenant which is
between Me and you, and every living
soul that quickeneth flesh, and the
waters shall no more become a flood
to destroy all flesh.
First Responsory.
The Lord said, &c, (p. 433.)
Second Lesson.
AND Noah began to be an husband-
man, and he planted a vineyard.
And he drank of the wine, and was
drunken ; and he was uncovered within
his tent. And Ham, the father of Ca-
naan, saw the nakedness of his father,
and told his two brothers without.
And Shem and Japhet took a garment
on their shoulders, and went back-
ward, and covered the nakedness of
their father ; and their faces were back-
ward, and they saw not their father's
nakedness.
Second Rcsponsory.
Noah was a just man, &c, (p. 433.)
VOL. I.
Third Lesson.
A ND Noah awoke from his wine,
"^■^ and knew what his younger son
had done to him, and he said : Cursed
be Canaan, a servant of servants shall
he be unto his brethren. And he
said : Blessed be the LORD God of
Shem ; let Canaan be his servant.
May God enlarge Japhet, and let him
dwell in the tents of Shem, and let
Canaan be. his servant. And Noah
lived after the flood three hundred and
fifty years. And all his days were
nine hundred and fifty years, and he
died.
Third Responsory.
Forty days, &c, (J>. 433.)
PRIME.
At the beginning oj the Martyrology
is said,
On the morrow we commemorate
the sufferings of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
jrifcag.
Sixth Day.
Office in Memory of the Sufferings of
our Lord JESUS Christ.
Greater Doicble.
All as on Sundays, except the follow-
ing.
FIRST VESPERS.
First Antiphon. I will take the cup
of salvation, and call upon the Name
of the Lord.
Ps. cxv. I believed, &c, {p. 185.)
Second Antiphon. With them that
hate peace I was peaceable. When I
spoke unto them they fought against
me without a cause.
P 2
442
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Ps. cxix. In my distress, &c, {p.
186.)
Third Antiphon. O Lord, preserve
me from the evil man.
Ps. cxxxix. Deliver me, &c, (p.
198.)
Fourth Antiphon. Keep me from
the snare which they have laid for me,
and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
Ps. cxl. Lord, I cry unto Thee,
&c, (p. 199.)
Fifth Antiphon. I looked on my
right hand and beheld, but there was
no man that would know me.
Ps. cxli. I cried unto the Lord,
&c, {p. 200.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Hymn}
TDLOOD is the price of heaven;
All sin that price exceeds ;
O come to be forgiven,
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
Beneath the thorny crown
The crimson fountain speeds ;
See how it trickles down,
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
Bearing the fatal wood
His band of Saints He leads,
Marking the way with Blood
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
On Calvary His shame
With Blood still intercedes ;
His open Wounds proclaim —
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
He hangs upon the tree,
Hangs there for my misdeeds :
He sheds His Blood for me ;
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
Ah me ! His Soul is fled ;
Yet still for my great needs
He bleeds when He is dead ;
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
Under the olive boughs,
Falling like ruby beads,
The Blood drops from His Brows,
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
His Blood is flowing still ;
My thirsty soul It feeds ;
He lets me drink my fill ;
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
While the fierce scourges fall,
The Precious Blood still pleads ;
In front of Pilate's hall
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
O sweet ! O precious Blood !
What love, what love it breeds !
Ransom, Reward, and Food,
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
1 The two beautiful and popular Hymns by the late Dr Faber which are here inserted at
Vespers and Mattins are not translations of the Hymns Mcerentes oculi and Aspice, infami,
but, whether the ideas were suggested by the Latin or whether it be an accidental coin-
cidence, they agree with the sense of the Latin so closely, that they might fairly be called
Paraphrases or imitations, and this consideration induces the Translator to insert them.
Absolute translations have been executed by the late Rev. E. Caswall and the Rev. Dr
Wallace. Rev. E. Caswall's will be found in an appendix to this volume.
SEXAGESIMA.
443
Verse. 1 He was offered up because
He willed it.
Answer. And with His stripes we
are healed.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 2 O all ye that pass by ! be-
hold, and see if there be any sorrow
like unto my sorrow.
Prayer as at the following Lauds.
At Compline the last verse of the
Hymn is said thus :
Lord Jesu, slain for us, to Thee
Eternal praise be given,
With Father, Spirit, One and Three,
Here as it is in heaven.
Death came, and Jesus meekly bowed ;
His failing Eyes He strove to guide
With mindful love to Mary's face ;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
O break, O break, hard heart of mine !
Thy weak self-love and guilty pride
His Pilate and His Judas were ;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
Come, take thy stand beneath the Cross,
And let the Blood from out that Side
Fall gently on thee, drop by drop :
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
A broken heart, a fount of tears,
Ask, and it will not be denied ;
A broken heart love's cradle is ;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
Invitatory.
was crucified,
us worship.
MATTINS.
Christ our King Who
* Him — O come ! — let
Hymn
f~\ COME and mourn with me awhile !
See, Mary calls us to her side ;
O come, and let us mourn with her ;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
Have we no tears to shed for Him,
While soldiers scoff and Jews deride?
Ah ! look how patiently He hangs ;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
How fast His Hands, His Feet are nailed ;
His blessed Tongue with thirst is tied ;
His failing Eyes are dim with Blood ;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
His Mother cannot reach His Face ;
She stands in helplessness beside ;
Her heart is martyred with her Son's ;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
Seven times He spoke, seven words of love,
And all three hours His silence cried
For mercy on the souls of men :
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
1 Isa. liii. 7, 5.
3 By Dr Faber as before ; two
O love of God ! O sin of man !
In this dread act your strength is tried ;
And victory remains with love ;
For He, our Love, is crucified !
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. The kings of the
earth set themselves, and the rulers
take counsel together against the LORD
and against His Anointed.
Ps. ii. Why do the heathen, &c,
(A 4-)
Second Antiphon. They be increased
that trouble me ; many are they that
rise up against me.
Ps. iii. Lord, how are they in-
creased, &c, (p. 5.)
Third Antiphon. They part my
garments among them ; and cast lots
upon my vesture.
Ps. xxi. My God, My God, &c,
{p. 48.)
2 Lam. i. 12.
verses are omitted.
444
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Verse. He was offered up because
He willed it.
Answer. And with His stripes we
are healed.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Romans (v. 8.)
/^OD commendeth His love toward
us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. Much
more then, being now justified by His
Blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through Him. For if, when we were
enemies, we were reconciled to God
by the death of His Son, much more,
being reconciled, shall we be saved by
His life. And not only so, but we
also joy in God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now
received the atonement. (17.) For
if by one man's offence, death reigned
by one, much more they which receive
abundance of grace, and bounty, and
righteousness, shall reign in life through
Jesus Christ.
First Responsory.
1 1 had planted thee a noble vine,
saith the Lord, and thou hast brought
forth unto Me grapes exceeding bitter,
for thou hast made ready a Cross for
thy Saviour.
Verse. 2 O My people, what have
I done unto thee ? and wherein have I
wearied thee ? Testify against Me.
Answer. For thou hast made ready
a Cross for thy Saviour.
Second Lesson.
'"THEREFORE, as by the offence of
one judgment came upon all men
to condemnation, even so, by the right-
: Cf. Jer. ii. 2t.
eousness of One, [the gift] came upon
all men unto justification of life. For
as by one man's disobedience many
were made sinners, so by the obedi-
ence of One shall many be made
righteous. Then, the law entered that
the offence might abound ; but where
sin abounded grace did much more
abound, that, as sin hath reigned unto
death even so might grace reign,
through righteousness, unto eternal
life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Second Responsory.
I brought thee forth out of Egypt ;
behind thee I caused Pharaoh to drown
in the Red Sea, and before thee I
went in the pillar of the cloud. And
thou didst betray Me unto the chief
Priests, and lead Me unto the judg-
ment-hall of Pilate.
Verse. O My people, what have I
done unto thee ? and wherein have I
wearied thee ? Testify against Me.
Answer. And thou didst betray
Me unto the chief Priests, and lead
Me unto the judgment-hall of Pilate.
Third Lesson, (vi.)
Vy'HAT shall we say then ? Shall
we continue in sin, that grace
may abound ? God forbid ; how shall
we, that are dead to sin, live any longer
therein ? Know ye not that so many
of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ
were baptized into his death ? For
we are buried with Him by baptism
into death, that, like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory
of the Father, even so we also may
walk in newness of life. For if we
have been planted together in the like-
ness of His death, we shall be also in
the likeness of His resurrection ; know-
- Micah vi. 3.
SEXAGESIMA.
445
ing this, that our old man is crucified
with Him, that the body of sin might
be destroyed, that henceforth we should
not serve sin. For he that is dead is
freed from sin. Now, if we be dead
with Christ, we believe that we shall
also live with Him.
Third Responsory.
I scourged Egypt in her first-born
for thy sake, and thou when thou hadst
scourged Me, didst deliver Me [to be
crucified,] Me, Who as a lamb before
his shearer, was dumb, and opened
not My Mouth.1
Verse. O My people, what have I
done unto thee ? and wherein have I
wearied thee ? Testify against Me.
Answer. And thou, when thou
hadst scourged Me, didst deliver Me
[to be crucified].
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Me, Who, as a lamb be-
fore his shearer, was dumb, and opened
not My Mouth.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Mine enemies
speak evil of me : When shall he die,
and his name perish ?
Ps. xl. Blessed is he that consider-
ed!, &c, (p. 94.)
Second Antiphon. Strangers are
risen up against me, and oppressors
seek after my soul.
Ps. liii. Save me, O God, by Thy
Name, &c, {p. 36.)
Third Antiphon. Mine enemies
tread me down all the day long ; all
their thoughts are against me for
evil.
Ps. lv. Be merciful unto me, &c,
(p. no.)
Verse. 2 God spared not His Own
Son.
Answer. But delivered Him up for
us all.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo.]
(41^ on the Passion.)
T\ EARLY beloved brethren, the
awful solemnity of the Lord's
sufferings is proclaimed unto us even
by the circumstances of the day itself
whereon they took place, that day
whereon the dumb elements were
dumb no longer. Let the light of
faith make the tongues of men tell
of that agony, whereon the silence of
darkness was eloquent. Our Lord
was weighing out upon the transom
of the Cross, as upon the transom of
a balance, the price of our salvation,
and by the payment of one death He
Who had made all, bought all, and
became the Restorer of all. For let
us have no hesitation in believing that
He bought the whole world, when He
paid more than the whole world was
worth, since the inestimable value of
the price paid infinitely exceeded the
value of the object redeemed. One
scale was weighted against the other,
but when it was done, they hung not
evenly.3 He Who had no sins of
His Own, by His merits took away
the sins of others. This victim of
goodness alone fell, that He might
lift up others, and since He alone
1 Isa. liii. 7. 2 Rom. viii. 32.
3 Inter redemptum et redimentem dispensatio fuit, compensatio non fuit.
446
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
owed nothing, He alone was able to
spend His superabundance in charity
for debtors.
Fourth Responsory.
I smote the kings of Canaan for thy
sake, and gave thee a kingly sceptre,
and thou didst put on Mine Head a
crown of thorns, and smite Me upon
the Head with a reed.
Verse. O My people, what have I
done unto thee ? and wherein have I
wearied thee ? Testify against Me.
Answer. And thou didst put on
Mine Head a crown of thorns, and
smite Me upon the Head with a
reed.
Fifth Lesson.
AND now judge from this, if He
hath paid for us so high a price,
what interest He will have from us.
On this day [on which He suffered]
the words of the prophet were fulfilled :
" I gave my back to the smiters, and
my cheeks to them that plucked off
the hair, I hid not my face from
shame and spitting." (Isa. 1. 6.) He
took our evil, that He might give us
His good. From the extent to which
He loved man after his fall, we may
understand how He was pleased to
love him before he sinned. When thou
seest what was the worth of thy ran-
som, let it make thee feel some shame
for sin. Behold the Holy One scourged
for the sake of a sinner, the Eternal
Wisdom mocked for the sake of a
fool, the Truth murdered for the sake
of a liar, the Righteous One condemned
for the sake of a criminal, the Merciful
One tortured for the sake of the cruel,
the Harmless One filled with bitterness
for the sake of a wretch, the Gentle
One given gall to drink, the Innocent
One doomed for the sake of the guilty,
Life dying for the sake of the dead.
Fifth Responsory.
I led thee through the wilderness
for forty years, and gave thee manna
to eat, and thou didst buffet Me and
scourge Me.
Verse. O My people, what have I
done unto thee ? and wherein have I
wearied thee ? Testify against Me.
Answer. And thou didst buffet Me
and scourge Me.
Sixth Lesson.
CENSELESS nature shuddered at
the sin of man. The rebel work
of His hands would not acknowledge
Him, but the quaking earth bore wit-
ness that He was Lord of the world,
and the shrinking sun confessed that
He was the King of heaven. His
[natural] Body was clad in a purple
robe, for the blood of His martyrs is
the stately robe of His [mystical body
the] Church. The crown upon His
Head was a crown of thorns, for the
sharp prickles of our sins, by the re-
mission whereof He claimeth the
glorious title of Redeemer, are likened
unto thorns and thistles. (Gen. iii.
1 8.) And now let us try to treat
Him otherwise than He was treated
then, to treat Him so that the lives of
His members may form a crown for
Him. Upon the Cross He saith : " I
thirst," (John xix. 28,) that thirst was
for unbelieving souls to believe in
Him ; but on the contrary they put
to His mouth the astringent vinegar
of deadly sin, whereinto they have
turned by malice the wine of wisdom
given unto them by God. The veil
of the Temple was rent in twain, for
the Synagogue lost her crown, the old
rites were abolished, and the fact of
one Church for all humanity stood re-
vealed. The graves were opened, for
death rightly lost her rights.
SEXAGESIMA.
447
Sixth Responsory.
I lifted thee up with a strong hand,
and thou didst lift Me up upon the
gibbet of the Cross, and thereon I
stretched forth My hands unto an
unbelieving and gainsaying people.1
Verse. O My people, what have
I done unto thee ? and wherein have
I wearied thee ? Testify against
Me.
Answer. And thou didst lift Me
up upon the gibbet of the Cross.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And thereon I stretched
forth My hands unto an unbelieving
and gainsaying people.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. As for the sons
of men, their teeth are spears and
arrows, and their tongue a sharp
sword.
Ps. lvi. Be merciful unto me, &c,
(J>. no.)
Second Antiphon. They bend their
bow, even bitter words, that they may
shoot in secret at the perfect.
Ps. lxiii. Hear my voice, &c,
(A 1 1 4-)
Third Antiphon. I am as a man
that hath no strength, lying nerveless
among the dead.
Ps. lxxxvii. O LORD God of my
salvation, &c, {p. 145.)
Verse. He became obedient unto
death,
Answer. Even the death of the
Cross.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (xix. 28.)
A T that time : JESUS, knowing that
^~^ all things were now accom-
plished, that the Scripture might be
fulfilled, said : I thirst. And so on.
Homily by St John Chrysostom, Pa-
triarch of Constantinople. {On John,
84.)
"JESUS, knowing that all things
were now accomplished, said : I thirst"
— even in this one word 2 making a
fulfilment of Scripture. And now see
here the spite of those that were there ;
we, although we had countless enemies,
who had grievously assailed us, if we
saw them at the point of death, would
be touched with some feeling of com-
passion. But those beings were no-
wise touched, but rather excited ; they
cracked their jests upon Him, " and
they filled a sponge with vinegar, and
put it upon hyssop, and put it to His
Mouth " — this was why the hyssop
was added, because to give them a
draught of hyssop is a way to put to
death felons. Seest thou in what a
calm of unruffled strength He went
through all this ? And then " When
Jesus therefore had received the
vinegar, He said : It is finished.
And He bowed His Head and gave
up the ghost."
Seventh Responsory.
I gave thee to drink out of the
rock the waters of salvation, and thou
didst give Me gall and vinegar to
drink.
Verse. O My people, what have
I done unto thee ? and wherein have
1 Rom. x. 21.
Dipso.
448
THE PROPER. OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
I wearied thee ? Testify against
Me.
Answer. And thou didst give Me
gall and vinegar to drink.
Eighth Lesson.
T T commonly is after death the head
falleth, but here the Head fell be-
fore death, whereby the Evangelist
showeth that He was [exalted as]
Lord above [the nature] of all others.
The Jews had now swallowed the
camel, and proceeded to strain out
the gnat ; having accomplished the
great murder, they discussed a point
about the honouring of a day. " Be-
cause it was the Preparation (para-
skcue,) that the bodies should not
remain upon the Cross on the Sab-
bath-Day, the Jews besought Pilate
that their legs might be broken, and
that they might be taken away."
Seest thou the force of the truth ?
What they did fulfilled a prophecy,
for thereby was another made clear.
" Then came the soldiers, and brake
the legs of the first, and of the other
which was crucified with Him, but
when they came to JESUS, and saw
that He was dead already, they brake
not His legs, but one of the soldiers
with a spear pierced His Side." Will-
ing, with a vile and iniquitous willing-
ness to do the Jews a pleasure, that
man outraged his Redeemer even in
death.
Eighth Responsory.
I opened the Red Sea before thee,
and thou didst open with a spear the
Side of thy Saviour, Who redeemed
the world by His Blood.
Verse. O My people ! what have
I done unto thee ? and wherein
have I wearied thee ? Testify against
Me.
Answer. And thou didst open
with a spear the Side of thy
Saviour.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Who redeemed the world
by His Blood.
Ninth Lesson.
T3UT rest Thou still, O Thou Whom
my soul loveth ! they thought to
do it wickedly, but they did service to
the truth. " For these things were
done, that the Scripture should be ful-
filled : ' Not a Bone of Him shall be
broken,' and, again, another Scripture
saith : ' They shall look on Him Whom
they pierced.' " Nor was it done for
this alone, but it was afterward a mean
to faith for Thomas and them that were
with him. And, yet again, another
great mystery was here established,
for "forthwith came thereout Blood
and Water." Not idly nor perchance
sprang forth that twofold Fountain, for
the Church, like her great Head,
" came by Water and Blood ; not
by Water only, but by Water and
Blood." (I John v. 6.) What this
meaneth the baptized do know, for
they have been born again of water,
and fed on Flesh and Blood. Hence
come the Sacraments, so that as often
as thou drinkest of that wondrous Cup,
thou dost as good as suck out of the
opened Side.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. 1 All the day long
have I been plagued, * and chastened
every morning.
1 Ps. lxxii. 14.
SEXAGESIMA.
449
Second Antiphon. l I gat me to
the mountain of myrrh, * and to
the hill of frankincense ; I was brought
as a lamb to the slaughter, and I was
dumb, and opened not my mouth.
Third Antiphon. 2 They pierced
my hands and my feet ; * they have
told all my bones.
Fourth Atttiphon. 3 I looked for
comforters and I found none ; * they
gave me also gall for meat, and in
my thirst they gave me vinegar to
drink.
Fifth Atttiphon. When JESUS had
received the vinegar, * He said : It is
finished — and He bowed His Head,
and gave up the ghost.
Earth hears, and to its base
Rocks wildly to and fro ;
Tombs burst ; seas, rivers, mountains quake
The vail is rent in two.
The sun withdraws his light ;
The midday heavens grow pale ;
The moon, the stars, the universe
Their Maker's death bewail.
Shall man alone be mute?
Come, youth and hoary hairs,
Come, rich and poor, come, all mankind,
And bathe those Feet in tears.
Come, fall before His Cross,
Who shed for us His Blood !
Who died, the Victim of pure love,
To make us sons of God.
Chapter. (Phil. ii. 5.)
TDRETHREN, let this mind be in
you, which was also in Christ
Jesus, Who, being in the form of
God, thought it not robbery to be
equal with God ; but emptied Him-
self, and took upon Him the form
of a servant, and was found in the
likeness of men. He humbled Him-
self and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the Cross.
Hymn.^
Q'ERWHELMED in depth of woe,
Upon the tree of scorn
Hangs the Redeemer of mankind
With racking anguish torn.
See how the nails those Hands
And Feet so tender rend ;
See down His Face, and Neck, and Breast
His Sacred Blood descend !
Hark ! with what awful cry
His Spirit takes Its flight,
That cry, it pierced His Mother's heart
And whelmed her soul in night.
1 Cant. iv. 6; Isa. liii. 7. 2 Ps
4 Another hymn from the Proprium of the
Rev. E. Caswall.
Jesu, all praise to Thee,
Our joy and endless rest ;
Be Thou our Guide while pilgrims here,
Our Crown amid the blest. Amen.
Verse. He was wounded for our
transgressions.
Answer. He was bruised for our
iniquities.
Antiphon at the So fig of Zacharias.
But when they came to Jesus, and
saw that He was dead already, they
brake not His Legs, but one of the
soldiers with a spear pierced His Side,
and forthwith came thereout Blood
and Water.
Prayer throughout the Office.
A LMIGHTY and everlasting God,
■^*~ Who didst send our Saviour to
take upon Him our flesh, and to en-
dure the Cross, that all mankind
should follow the example of His great
humility, mercifully grant that we who
, xxi. 17, 18. 3 Ps. lxviii. 21, 22.
arch-diocese of Freiburg, translation by the late
450
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
worship in memory of His Sufferings,
may worthily both follow the example
of His Patience and also be made par-
takers of His resurrection. Through
our Lord JESUS Christ, Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. All the day long, &c,
{First Antiphon at Lauds.)
The last verse of the Hymn is said
thus :
Lord Jesus, slain for us, to Thee
Eternal praise be given,
With Father, Spirit, One and Three,
Here as it is in Heaven.
Chapter at the end. (Isa. liii. 8.)
"\X/'HO shall declare His generation ?
For He was cut off out of the
land of the living : for the trans-
gression of my people did I smite
Him.
Instead of Verse, " Thou That sit-
test, &c," is said:
Verse. Thou That wast pleased
to suffer for us.
TERCE.
The last verse of the Hymn is said
thus :
Jesu, our Sacrifice, to Thee,
To Father, Spirit, One and Three,
Be praise, and thanks, and glory given,
By men on earth, by Saints in heaven.
Antiphon. I gat me, &c, {Second
Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
He was offered up because He
willed it.
Answer. He was offered up be-
cause He willed it.
Verse. And with His stripes we
are healed.
Answer. Because He willed it.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. He was offered up be-
cause He willed it.
Verse. God spared not His own
Son.
Answer. But delivered Him up for
us all.
SEXT.
The last verse of the Hymn is said
thus :
Lord JESU, Who for us didst die,
To Father, Thee, and Holy Ghost,
Be praise below, as praise on high,
On earth, as 'mid the Angelic host.
Antiphon. They pierced, &C.j
{Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Zech. xiii. 6.)
\\ 7"HAT are these wounds in thine
hands? Then he shall answer:
Those with which I was wounded in
the house of my friends.
Short Responsory.
God spared not His Own Son.
Answer. God spared not His Own
Son.
Verse. But delivered Him up for
us all.
Answer. His Own Son.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
SEXAGESIMA.
451
Answer. God spared not his Own
Son.
Verse. He became obedient unto
death,
Answer. Even the death of the
Cross.
NONE.
The last verse of the Hymn as at
Compline.
Antiphon. When JESUS, &c, {Fifth
Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prinic.
Short Responsory.
He became obedient unto death.
Answer. He became obedient unto
death,
Verse. Even the death of the
Cross.
Answer. Unto death.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. He became obedient unto
death.
Verse. He was wounded for our
transgressions.
Answer. He was bruised for our
iniquities.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. \ Joseph took down the Body
of JESUS, and wrapt It in linen, and
laid It in a sepulchre that was hewn in
stone. In that day there was a great
mourning, and the women sitting over
against the sepulchre, mourned, as one
mourneth for the death of the first-
born.2
Verse at Compline as before.
The Sabbath.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (xi. 10.)
T^ HESE are the generations of Shem.
Shem was an hundred years old,
and begat Arphaxad, two years after
the flood. And Shem lived, after he
begat Arphaxad, five hundred years,
and begat sons and daughters. And
Arphaxad lived five hundred and thirty
years, and begat Salah ; and Arphaxad
lived, after he begat Salah, three hun-
dred and three years,3 and begat sons
and daughters. And Salah lived thirty
years, and begat Eber. And Salah
lived after he begat Eber four hundred
and three years, and begat sons and
daughters.
SECOND VESPERS.
All as the First, except the follow-
ing.
Verse. He was wounded for our
transgressions.
Answer. He was bruised for our
iniquities.
First Responsory.
God blessed, &c, {p. 435.)
Second Lesso?i.
AND Eber lived four -and -thirty
■^^ years, and begat Peleg. And
Eber lived after he begat Peleg, four
1 Cf. Luke xxiii. 53 ; Matth. xxvii. 60 ; Zech. xii. io, 11.
2 There is almost invariably some commemoration, because, even if there be no feast on
the Friday, or Saturday, the Votive Office of the Immaculate Conception is obligatory in
England on the Saturday. 3 Present Hebrew text, 403. Targums, 430.
452
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
hundred and thirty years, and begat
sons and daughters. And Peleg lived
thirty years, and begat Reii. And
Peleg lived, after he begat Reii, two
hundred and nine years, and begat
sons and daughters. And Reii lived
two-and-thirty years, and begat Serug.
And Reii lived, after he begat Serug,
two hundred and seven years, and
begat sons and daughters. And Serug
lived thirty years, and begat Nahor.
And Serug lived, after he begat Nahor,
two hundred years, and begat sons
and daughters.
VESPERS.
Chapter and Prayer from the suc-
ceeding Lands.
Hymn, Verse, and Answer, as on p.
204.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Abraham, the Captain and
Father of our faith, * offered up a
burnt-offering on the altar instead of
his son.1
Second Responsory.
Behold, I establish, &c, (p. 436-)
Third Lesson.
AND Nahor lived nine-and-twenty
-'-*■ years, and begat Terah. And
Nahor lived, after he begat Terah, an
hundred and nineteen years, and begat
sons and daughters. And Terah lived
seventy years, and begat Abram, and
Nahor, and Haran. These are the
generations of Terah : Terah begat
Abram, Nahor, and Haran. And
Haran begat Lot. And Haran died
before his father Terah in the land of
his nativity in Ur of the Chaldees.
And Abraham and Nahor took them
wives ; the name of Abram's wife was
Sarai ; and the name of Nahor's wife
Melcha, the daughter of Haran the
father of Melcha and the father of
Iscah. But Sarai was barren and
had no children.
Third Responsory.
In the self-same day, &c, (p. 438),
(with the " Glory be to the Father,"
&c.)
©utnquagestma Suntum
The Lord's Day within Fifty Days of
Easter.
MATTINS.
Lnvitatory and omission in Psalm
XCIV. as on Septuagesima Sunday.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (xii. I.)
XT OW the LORD said unto Abram :
"*■ Get thee out of thy country and
from thy kindred, and from thy father's
house, and go into a land that I will
show thee : and I will make of thee a
great nation, and I will bless thee and
make thy name great, and thou shalt
be blessed. I will bless them that
bless thee, and curse him that curseth
thee ; and in thee shall all families of
the earth be blessed. So Abram de-
parted, as the LORD had spoken unto
him ; and Lot went with him. And
Abram was seventy and five years old
1 Gen. xxii. 13.
QUINQUAGESIMA.
453
when he departed out of Haran. And
he took Sarai his wife, and Lot his
brother's son, and all their substance
that they had gathered, and the souls
that they had gotten in Haran ; and
they went forth to go into the land of
Canaan. And when they were come
thither, Abram passed through the
land unto the place of Shechem, unto
" the noble vale." l And the Canaan-
ite was then in the land
First Responsory.
The Lord spake unto Abram, say-
ing : Get thee out of thy country, and
from thy kindred, and go unto the
land that I will show thee : and I will
make of thee a great nation.
Verse. I will surely bless thee and
make thy name great, and thou shalt
be blessed.
Answer. And I will make of thee
a great nation.
Second Lesson.
AND the Lord appeared unto
*^^ Abram and said unto him : Unto
thy seed will I give this land. And
there builded he an altar unto the
Lord, Who appeared unto him. And
he removed from thence unto a moun-
tain on the east of Bethel,2 and pitched
his tent there, having Bethel on the
west, and Hai on the east. And there
he builded an altar unto the LORD,
and called upon His Name. And
Abram journeyed, going on still to-
ward the south. And there was a
famine in the land, and Abram went
down into Egypt, to sojourn there : for
the famine was grievous in the land.
And it came to pass when he was
come near to enter into Egypt, that he
said unto Sarai his wife : I know that
thou art a fair woman to look upon,
and that when the Egyptians see thee,
they will say : This is his wife ; and
they will kill me, but they will save
thee alive. Say, therefore, I pray
thee, that thou art my sister : that it
may be well with me for thy sake, and
my soul shall live because of thee.
Second Responsory.
3 Abraham stood by the oak of
Mamre, and he saw three men coming
up by the path. He saw three, and
worshipped One.
Verse. Behold, Sarah thy wife shall
bear thee a son, and thou shalt call
his name Isaac.
Answer. He saw three, and wor-
shipped One.
Third Lesson.
AND it came to pass, that, when
Abram was come into Egypt,
the Egyptians beheld the woman that
she was very fair. The princes also
told Pharaoh, and commended her
before him ; and the woman was taken
into Pharaoh's house. And they en-
treated Abram well for her sake. And
he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses,
and men-servants, and maid-servants,
and she-asses, and camels. And the
LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house
with great plagues, because of Sarai,
Abram's wife. And Pharaoh called
Abram, and said unto him : What is
this that thou hast done unto me ?
Why didst thou not tell me that she
was thy wife ? Why saidst thou that
1 The meaning of both words seems uncertain. Abp. Kenrick, "The turpentine tree of
Moreh." LXX., "the lofty oak." Onkelos, "the plain of Moreh," (so also the Protestant
version.) Jonathan-ben-Uzziel, "the plain which had been showed." Jerusalem Targum,
"the plain (or, valley) of vision." And so on.
2 Afterwards so called by Jacob, xxviii. 19. 3 xviii. 1, 2 ; xvii. 19.
454
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
she was thy sister, so that I might take
her to me to wife ? Now, therefore,
behold thy wife, take her and go thy
way.
Third Responsory.
1 The Lord did tempt Abraham, and
said unto him : Take thy son Isaac
whom thou lovest, and offer him there
for a burnt-offering upon one of the
mountains which I will tell thee of.
Verse. And when the Lord called
him, he answered : Behold, here I am.
And the Lord said unto him :
Answer. Take thy son Isaac whom
thou lovest, and offer him there for a
burnt-offering upon one of the moun-
tains which I will tell thee of.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Take thy son Isaac whom
thou lovest, and offer him there for a
burnt-offering upon one of the moun-
tains which I will tell thee of.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
upon the Patriarch Abraham written
by St Ambrose, Bishop [of Milan.]
{Bk. i. 2.)
A BRAHAM was truly a great man,
illustrious as an example of
many virtues ; one the like of whom
the day-dreams of Philosophy have not
been able to produce. That which
she imagineth is less than that which
he did ; his simple truth and faith
were something grander than her lying
rounded periods. Let us then con-
sider what this man's loyalty was.
For that virtue is first to be taken
which was the source of all the others,
and thus this was the first which God
called for from him, when He said: "Get
thee out of thy country, and from thy
kindred, and from thy father's house."
It would have been enough to have
said, " Get thee out of thy country,"
for there were his kindred, and there
his father's house.
Fourth Responsory.
2 The Angel of the LORD called
unto Abraham and said : Lay not
thine hand upon the lad ; for now I
know that thou fearest God.
Verse. And Abraham stretched
forth his hand to slay his son ; and,
behold, the Angel of the Lord called
unto him out of heaven, and said : —
Answer. Lay not thy hand upon
the lad ; for now I know that thou
fearest God.
Fifth Lesson.
TDUT He gave the details of his
sacrifice one by one, that He
might see whether he loved Him, lest
also he should begin rashly, or should
seek to evade the heavenly command-
ment. But as the whole of the precept
was plainly set forth, lest anything
should be unconsidered, so also were
the rewards set forth, lest the burden
should seem hopeless. He was tried
as one that is strong, he was roused as
one that is true, he was called as one
that is righteous ; and he departed
loyally as the Lord had spoken unto
him. And Lot went forth with him.
That saying of the Seven Wise Men of
Greece is much spoken of — " Follow
God." But this did Abraham before
the Seven Wise Men were thought of;
he followed God, and went out of his
own land.
xxu. ir, io.
QUINQUAGESIMA.
455
Fifth Responsory.
1 The Angel of the Lord called
unto Abraham out of heaven the second
time, and said : I will bless thee, and
I will multiply thy seed as the stars of
the heaven.
Verse. Thy seed shall possess the
gate of his enemies, and in thy seed
shall all the nations of the earth be
blessed.
Answer. And I will multiply thy
seed as the stars of the heaven.
Sixth Lesson.
DUT, forasmuch as Abraham had
before had another country,
namely, the land of the Chaldees,
whence went forth Terah the father of
Abraham, and came unto Haran, and
forasmuch as he to whom it had been
said, " Get thee out from thy kindred,"
took Lot, his brother's son, with him,
let us consider whether this " Get thee
out of thy country " 2 signifieth not
" get thee out of this earthly dwelling,"
namely, our body, from which Paul
came forth, who said, " Our convers-
ation is in heaven." (Phil. iii. 20.)
Sixth Responsory.
3 O God of my master Abraham,
prosper my way which I go ; that I
may return again in safety unto the
house of my master.
Verse. O Lord, I pray Thee, be
merciful unto Thy servant —
Answer. That I may return again
in safety unto the house of my master.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. That I may return
again in safety unto the house of
my master.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (xviii.
3i.)
A T that time : JESUS took unto Him
the twelve, and said unto them :
Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all
things that are written by the Prophets
concerning the Son of man shall be ac-
complished. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (2nd on the Gospels.)
Our Redeemer, foreseeing that the
minds of His disciples would be
troubled by His suffering, told them
long before both of the pains of that
suffering, and of the glory of His
rising again, to the end that, when
they should see Him die as He had
prophesied, they might not doubt that
He was likewise to rise again. But,
since His disciples were yet carnal, and
could not receive the words telling of
this mystery, He wrought a miracle
before them. A blind man received
his sight before their eyes, that if they
could not receive heavenly things by
words, they might be persuaded of
heavenly things by deeds.
Seventh Responsory.
4 I came this day unto the well, and
I besought the Lord, and said : O
i xxn. 15, 17, 18.
2 There appears in this obscure passage to be some play on the word " terra," which stands
for a country as well as for earth or soil. Hence, " Exi de terra tua" might be translated
"Get thee of thy earth." 3 xxiv. 12. 4 xxiv. 42-44.
456
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Lord God of Abraham, Thou hast
prospered my way.
Verse. Therefore the virgin to
whom I shall say : Give me water of
thy pitcher to drink ; and she shall
say to me : Drink, my lord, and I
will give thy camels drink also ; let
the same be the woman whom the
LORD hath appointed out for my
master's son.
Answer. O Lord God of Abraham,
Thou hast prospered my way.
Eighth Lesson.
T)UT, dearly beloved brethren, we
must so take the miracles of our
Lord and Saviour, as believing both
that they were actually wrought, and
that they have some mystic interpreta-
tion for our instruction. For in His
works, power speaketh one thing and
mystery again another. Behold here,
for instance. We know not histori-
cally who this blind man was, but we
do know of what he was mystically the
figure. Mankind is blind, driven out
from Eden in the persons of his first
parents, knowing not the light of
heaven, and suffering the darkness of
condemnation. But, nevertheless,
through the coming of his Redeemer,
he is enlightened, so that now he seeth
by hope already the gladness of in-
ward light, and walketh by good works
in the path of life.
Eighth Responsory.
1 The word of the Lord came unto
Abram, saying : Fear not, Abram : I
am thy shield, and thy exceeding great
reward.
Verse. For I am the Lord thy God
That brought thee out of Ur of the
Chaldees.
Answer. Fear not, Abram : I
am thy shield, and thy exceeding
great reward.
Ninth Lesson.
\A/E must note that as Jesus drew
to Jericho a blind man re-
ceived his sight. Now, this name
Jericho, being interpreted, signifieth
" the city of the moon : " and in
Holy Scripture the moon is used as
a figure of our imperfect flesh, of
whose gradual corruption her monthly
waning is a type. As, therefore,
our Maker draweth nigh to Jericho,
a blind man receiveth his sight.
While the Godhead taketh. into itself
our weak manhood, man receiveth
again the light which he had lost.
By God's suffering in the Manhood,
man is raised up toward God. This
blind man is also well described as
sitting by the wayside begging : for
the Truth saith : " I am the Way.''
(John xiv. 6.)
Ninth Responsory.
A S the Lord passed by, a certain
*^^ blind man sat by the way-side,
and cried unto Him. And the Lord
asked him, saying : What wilt thou
that I shall do unto thee ? Lord, that
I may receive my sight.
Verse. And JESUS stood, and com-
manded him to be brought unto Him ;
and when he was come near, He asked
him, saying :
Answer. What wilt thou that I
shall do unto thee ?
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Lord, that I may receive
my sight.
XV. i, 7.
QUINQUAGESIMA.
457
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. O Lord, accord-
ing to the multitude of Thy tender
mercies, * blot out my transgressions.
Psalm L.
Have mercy, &c, (p. 87.)
Second Antiphon. Thou art my
God, * and I will praise Thee : Thou
art my God, and I will exalt Thee.
Psalm CXVII.
O give thanks, &c, {p. 37.)
Third Antiphon. O God, early
will I seek Thee, * to see Thy
power.
Psalms LXII. and LXVI.
O God, Thou art my ^od, &c, {p.
23-)
Fourth Antiphon. Sing praises, *
and exalt Him above all for ever.
The Song of the Three Holy Children.
Fifth Antiphon. Praise ye the
Lord * from the heavens, all His
angels.
Psalms CXLVIIL, CXL/X., and CL.
Praise ye the Lord, &c, {pp. 25,
26.)
Chapter. (1 Cor. xiii. 1.)
gRETHREN, though I speak with
the tongues of men and of
Angels, and have not charity, I am
become as sounding brass or a tink-
ling cymbal.
Verse and Answer as on Septua-
gesima Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, * and
all things that are written by the
Prophets concerning the Son of man
shall be accomplished : for He shall be
delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall
be mocked and spitted on ; and they
shall scourge Him, and put Him to
death, and the third day He shall rise
again.
Prayer throughout the day.
r~\ LORD, we beseech Thee, merci-
^^^ fully to hear our prayers, that
we, being loosed from all chains of our
sins, may by Thee be defended against
all adversity. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. As Jesus went on His
way, * as He was come nigh unto
Jericho, a certain blind man cried unto
Him, that he might worthily receive
his sight.
TERCE.
Antiphon. As the Lord passed by,
* a certain blind man cried unto
Him : Thou Son of David, have mercy
on me.
Chapter from Lauds.
SEXT.
Antiphon. And they that went be-
fore rebuked him, * that he should
hold his peace : but he cried so much
the more : Thou Son of David, have
mercy on me !
458
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
Chapter, (i Cor. xiii. 8.)
/""* H ARITY never faileth ; but whether
there be prophecies, they shall
fail ; whether there be tongues, they
shall cease ; whether there be know-
ledge, it shall vanish away. For we
know in part, and we prophesy in part.
NONE.
Antiphon. The blind man cried on
the Lord * so much the more, to give
him light.
silver. And he went on his journeys
from the South even to Bethel, unto
the place where his tent had been at
the beginning, between Bethel and
Hai, unto the place of the Altar which
he had made at the first : and there he
called on the Name of the Lord. And
Lot also, which was with Abram, had
flocks, and herds, and tents. And the
land was not able to bear them, that
they might dwell together : for their
substance was great, so that they could
not dwell together.
Chapter, (i Cor. xiii. 13.)
AND now abideth faith, hope, cha-
rity, these three : but the great-
est of these is charity.
VESPERS.
Chapter from Lauds.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. And Jesus stood, * and com-
manded the blind man to be brought
unto Him, and He asked him, saying :
What wilt thou that I shall do unto
thee ? Lord, that I may receive my
sight. And JESUS said unto him : Re-
ceive thy sight : thy faith hath saved
thee. And immediately he received
his sight, and followed Him, glorifying
God.
QUonfcap.
Second Day.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (xiii. I.)
A ND Abram went up out of Egypt,
"^^ he, and his wife, and all that he
had, and Lot with him, into the South.
And he was very rich in gold and in
First Responsory.
Abram removed his tent, and came,
and dwelt by the vale * of Mamre ; and
built there an altar unto the Lord.
Verse. And the Lord said unto
him : Lift up thine eyes, and look ; all
the land which thou seest, to thee will
I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
Answer. And built there an altar
unto the Lord.
Second Lesson.
'"THEREFORE there was a strife
between the herdmen of Abram's
cattle, and the herdmen of Lot's cattle.
And the Canaanite and the Perizzite
dwelled then in the land. Abram
therefore said unto Lot : Let there be
no strife, I pray thee, between me and
thee, and between my herdmen and
thy herdmen ; for we be brethren.
Behold, the whole land is before thee ;
separate thyself, I pray thee, from me.
If thou wilt take the left hand, then I
will go to the right : if thou depart to
the right hand, then I will go to the
left. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and
beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it
was well watered everywhere, before
the Lord destroyed Sodom and Go-
morrah, even as the garden of the
1 Some, instead of "vale "or "plain," read "oak" or "terebinth-tree."
QUINQUAGESIMA.
459
Lord, and like the land of Egypt, as
thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot
chose him all the plain of Jordan, and
journeyed eastward.
Second Responsory.
1 Abraham believed God, and it was
counted unto him for righteousness.
And therefore he became the friend of
God.
Verse. For he was righteous in the
sight of the Lord, and walked in His
ways.
Answer. And therefore he became
the friend of God.
Third Lesson.
A ND they separated themselves,
^^ brother from brother. Abram
dwelled in the land of Canaan, and
Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain
of Jordan, and abode in Sodom. But
the men of Sodom were very wicked,
and sinners before the Lord exceed-
ingly. And the Lord said unto
Abram, after that Lot was separated
from him : Lift up now thine eyes, and
look from the place where thou art,
Northward and Southward, and East-
ward and Westward : all the land
which thou seest, to thee will I give
it, and to thy seed for ever. And
I will make thy seed as the dust
of the earth.
Third Responsory.
The Lord did tempt, &c, {p. 454.)
Prayer throughout the day as on
Sunday.
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. And they, &c, {Antiphon at
Sext on Sunday, p. 456.)
Third Day in the Week within
Fifty Days of Easter.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (xiv. 8.)
AND there went out the king of
Sodom, and the king of Gomor-
rah, and the king of Admah, and the
king of Zeboiim, and the king of Belah,
(the same is Zoar:) and they joined
battle with them in the vale of the
woods, with Chedorlaomer, the king
of Elam, and with Tidal king of
nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar,
and Arioch king of Ellasar ; four kings
with five. And the vale of the woods
was full of slime-pits. And the kings
of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and fell
there : and they that remained fled to
the mountain. And they took all the
goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and
all their victuals, and went their way ;
and they took Lot, Abram's brother's
son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his
goods.
First Responsory.
The Angel of the Lord, {Fourth
Responsory on Sunday, p. 454.)
Second Lesson.
AND, behold, there came one that
had escaped, and told Abram
the Hebrew, for he dwelt in the vale
of Mamre the Amorite, brother of
Eshcol, and brother of Aner ; for these
were confederate with Abram. And
when Abram heard that his brother
Lot was taken captive, he armed his
trained servants, born in his house,
three hundred and eighteen, and pur-
sued them unto Dan. And he divided
his comrades, and warred against them
1 Gen. xv. 6.
460
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SEASON.
by night, and smote them, and pur-
sued them unto Hobah, which is on
the left hand of Damascus. And he
brought back all the goods, and his
brother Lot, and his goods ; and the
women also and the people.
Second Responsory.
The Angel of the Lord, &c, {Fifth
Responsory on Sunday, p. 455.)
Third Lesson.
AND the king of Sodom went out
"^^ to meet him, (after his return
from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer,
and of the kings that were with him,)
in the valley of Shaveh, which is the
King's Dale. And Melchizedek King
of Salem brought forth bread and wine,
(for he was the Priest of the Most
High God,) and blessed him, and
said : Blessed be Abram of the Most
High God, Maker of heaven and earth ;
and blessed be the Most High God,
Which hath delivered thine enemies
into thy hand. And he gave him
tithes of all.
Third Responsory. .
O God of my master, &c, {p. 455.)
Prayer throughout the day as on
Sunday.
VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Thou Son of David, * have
mercy on me. . What wilt thou that I
shall do unto thee ? Lord, that I may
receive my sight.
©fje Common of faints*
OFFICES FOR THE FEASTS OF THE SAINTS, ACCORDING TO THE
CLASS TO WHICH EACH SAINT BELONGS, AND COMMON TO
ALL THE SAINTS OF EACH CLASS RESPECTIVELY.
3L Apostles' !£*)*$♦
The Office is of the Week-day, begins
at Mattins, and ends at None. What
is not of the Week-day and what is
not specially given in its own place
is as follows.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (xv. 12.)
AT that time : Jesus said to His
disciples : This is My com-
mandment, That ye love one an-
other, as I have loved you. And
so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (27/^ on the Gospels.)
All the holy words of the Lord
are full of His commandments.
Why, then, speaketh the Lord of
the commandment to love one an-
other as if He gave no other com-
mandment? " This," saith He, "is
My commandment, That ye love
one another." Is it not because love
vol. 1.
is the one object of all His com-
mandments, and all His command-
ments are one ? For, even as a tree,
having but one root, bringeth forth
many branches, so, if the root be
love, many virtues do spring there-
from. Neither is the branch of
good works green, if it abide not
in the root of love.
Second Lesson.
'"THEREFORE the command-
J- ments of the Lord are mani-
fold, and yet one. Manifold, indeed,
by the diversity of working, but one,
as concerning the root of love. And
how it behoveth us to keep fast hold
on that root of love, we know from
Him, Who in sundry places of His
holy Scripture, moveth us to love
our friends in Him, and pur ene-
mies for Him. He truly abideth
in love, who loveth his friend in
God, and his enemy for God. For
there are some who love their neigh-
bour indeed, but by an affection
Q
462
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
engendered of kinship and of the
flesh : such love the Scripture for-
biddeth not : but it is one thing to
love our neighbour with that love
whereto nature doth freely move us,
and another thing to love him with
that love whereto we are obliged, if
we would do whatsoever the Lord
commandeth us.
Third Lesson.
HE, then, that loveth his neigh-
bour naturally, loveth him in-
deed, but attaineth not unto that
great reward of love, for he loveth
him, not after the spirit, but after the
flesh. Therefore, when the Lord
saith : " This is My commandment,
That ye love one another," He saith
also, "as I have loved you," — even
as though He said openly, " Love
ye one another, with that aim where-
with I have loved you." And in
this matter, dearly beloved brethren,
it behoveth us to watch ; for he that
hateth us of old time, even while he
draweth our mind to love the things
which are seen and temporal, rouseth
up against us our neighbour who is
weaker than we are, to take from us
that which we love.
Prayer at Lands and during the day.
GRANT, we beseech Thee, O
Almighty God, that the
worshipful Feast of Thy blessed
Apostle, [here insert the name of
the Saint,] on the eve whereof we
now stand, may avail us to the
increase both of godliness toward
Thee, and of health to our own
souls. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
The Long Preces are said at Lauds
and Prime, and the corresponding
short ones at Terce, Sext, and None,
kneeling.
3BL d?or Apostles an& lEbattgeltet**
Everything as on Sundays except
what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Hymn from
Lauds.
The Prayer is always Proper.
Last Psalm.
O praise the Lord, &c, (Ps. cxvi.,
/. 186.)
Verse. x Their sound is gone out
through all the earth.
1 Ps. xviii. 5.
Answer. And their words to the
ends of the world.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 2 For they will deliver you
up to the councils, and they will
scourge you in their synagogues,
and ye shall be brought before kings
and governors for My sake, for a
testimony against them and the
Gentiles.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. The Lord, He is the
King of the Apostles. * O come, let
us worship Him !
2 Matth. x. 17, 18.
FOR APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS.
463
Hymn,1
T^HE Lord's eternal gifts,
■*• The Apostles' mighty praise,
Their victories, and high reward,
Sing we in joyful lays.
Lords of the Churches they;
Triumphant Chiefs of war ;
Brave Soldiers of the Heavenly Camp ;
True Lights for evermore.
Theirs was the Saint's high faith ;
And quenchless hope's pure glow ;
And perfect charity, which laid
The world's fell tyrant low.
In them the Father shone ;
In them the Son o'ercame :
In them the Holy Spirit wrought,
And rilled their hearts with flame.
Praise to the Father, Son,
And Spirit, One and Three ;
As evermore hath been before,
And shall for ever be. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Only three Psalms are said.
First Antiphon. Their sound is
gone out through all the earth, and
their words to the ends of the world.
Psalm XVIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with the
same further obscure superscription, as in
Pss. xii. and xiii.]
"THE heavens declare the glory
. -■* of God, * and the firmament
showeth His handy-work.
Day unto day uttereth speech,
* and night unto night showeth
knowledge.
There is no speech nor language,
* where their voice is not heard.
Their sound is gone out through
all the earth : * and their words to
the ends of the world.
He hath set His tabernacle in the
sun : 2 * which is as a bridegroom
coming out of his chamber.
He rejoiceth as a strong man to
run a race : * his going forth is from
the end of the heaven.
And his circuit unto the ends of
it : * and there is nothing hid from
the heat thereof.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul : * the testimony
of the Lord is sure, making wise the
simple.
The statutes of the Lord are
right, rejoicing the heart : * the
commandment of the Lord is clear,
giving light unto the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is holy,
enduring for ever and ever : * the
judgments of the Lord are true,
righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than
gold and store of precious stones,
* sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb.
Verily, Thy servant keepeth them :
* in keeping of them there is great
reward.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse Thou me from secret faults :
1 Psirt of an hymn by St Ambrose, or by one of the Ambrosian school; slightly altered;
translation by the Rev. E. Caswall.
"- So the LXX., as well as the Vulgate. Cf. Ps. cii. 19 ; ciii. 2, 3. The sense seems to
be that the physical source of the light and life of this system is represented as a kind of
celestial counterpart of the tabernacle, which was the centre of the Divine authority as re-
vealed upon earth. The Hebrew, however, which is supported by St Jerome, reads, " In
them {i.e., the starry heavens) hath He set a tabernacle for the sun," and this reading seems
to commend itself to Archbishop Kenrick, who suggests that the " tabernacle " may signify
the region below the horizon, into which the sun retires nightly, as into a tent, to sleep, and
from which he issues in renewed glory every morning. Targum : — "In them hath He set
splendour as a tabernacle for the sun."
464
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
* preserve Thy servant also from
the sins of others.
If they get not dominion over me,
then shall I be undefiled : * and
I shall be cleansed from the great
transgression.
Let the words of my mouth, and
the meditation of mine heart, * be
acceptable in Thy sight for ever,
O Lord mine Helper, * and my
Redeemer !
Second Antiphon. The righteous
cry, and the Lord heareth.
Psalm XXXIII.
[Intituled " Of David, when he changed
his behaviour before Abimelech, who drove
him away and he departed." This incident
is thus described in 1 Kings (Sam.) xxi. 10.
" And David arose and fled that day for fear
of Saul, and went to Achish " (otherwise
called Abimelech) " the King of Gath. And
the servants of Achish said unto him : Is
not this David the King of the land ? Did
they not sing one to another of him in
dances saying, ' Saul hath slain his thou-
sands, and David his ten thousands '? And
David laid up these words in his heart, and
was sore afraid of Achish the King of Gath.
And he changed his behaviour before them,
and feigned himself mad in their hands,
and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and
let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
Then said Achish to his servants : Lo, ye
see the man is mad ; wherefore have you
brought him to me ? Have I need of mad-
.men, that ye have brought this fellow to
play the madman in my presence? Shall
this fellow come into mine house? xxii.
David therefore departed thence, and es-
caped to the cave of Adullam." This Psalm
is A B C Darian.]
I WILL bless the. Lord at all
times: * His praise shall con-
tinually be in my mouth. .
My soul shall make her boast in
the Lord : * the humble shall hear
thereof, and be glad.
0 magnify the Lord with me : *
and let us exalt His Name together.
1 sought the Lord, and He heard
me, * and delivered me from all my
distress.
Draw near unto Him, and be light-
ened, * and your faces shall not be
ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the
Lord heard him, * and saved him
out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encampeth
round about them that fear Him, *
and delivereth them.
O taste and see that the Lord is
good : * blessed is the man that
trusteth in Him.
O fear the Lord, all ye His Saints :
* for there is no want to them that
fear Him.
The mighty lack and suffer hunger :
* but they that seek the Lord shall
not want any good thing.
Come, ye children, hearken unto
me : * I will teach you the fear of
the Lord.
What man is he that desireth life,
* that loveth to see good days ?
Keep thy tongue from evil, * and
thy lips from speaking guile.
Depart from evil and do good : *
seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are upon
the righteous : * and His ears are
open unto their cry.
But the face of the Lord is against
them that do evil, * to cut off the re-
membrance of them from the earth.
The righteous cry and the Lord
heareth, * and delivereth them out
of all their troubles.
The Lord is nigh unto them that
are of a broken heart, * and saveth
such as be of a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the
righteous : * but the Lord will de-
liver them out of all.
The Lord keepeth all their bones :
* not one of them shall be broken.
FOR APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS.
465
The death of sinners is grievous :
* and they that hate the righteous
shall be guilty.
The Lord redeemeth the souls of
His servants : * and none of them
that trust in Him shall be guilty.
'Ihird Antiphon. Thou shalt
make them princes over all the
earth : they shall be mindful of
Thy Name, O Lord.
Psalm XLIV.
[This Psalm has a long superscription, the
exact meaning of which is not now certain.
It seems to have been a marriage-song writ-
ten to be sung by the Korahites. The Tar-
gum ascribes it to the time of Moses, but it
seems rather to belong to that of the Jewish
Monarchy. ]
IV /T INE heart is overflowing with
*■ * -*- a good matter : * I speak of
my works unto the king.
My tongue is the pen * of a ready
writer.
Thou art fairer than the children
of men, grace is poured into thy lips :
* therefore God hath blessed thee
for ever.
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, *
O most mighty !
In thy comeliness, and thy beauty,
* go forward, fare prosperously, and
reign,
Because of truth, and meekness,
and righteousness : * and thy right
hand shall lead thee wonderfully.
Thine arrows are sharp — (the
people shall fall under thee) — * into
the heart of the King's enemies.
1 Thy throne, O God, is for ever
and ever : * the sceptre of Thy
kingdom is a right sceptre.
Thou hast loved righteousness,
and hated iniquity : * therefore, God,
thy God, hath anointed thee with the
oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Thy garments smell of myrrh, and
aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory
palaces, * whereby kings' daughters
among thine honourable women have
made thee glad.
Upon thy right hand did stand
the queen in a vesture of gold, *
bedecked with divers colours.
Hearken, O daughter, and con-
sider, and incline thine ear : * for-
get also thine own people, and thy
father's house :
And the King shall greatly de-
sire thy beauty : * for He is the
Lord thy God,2 and Him shall they
worship.
And the daughters of Tyre shall
entreat thy favour * with gifts, even
all the rich among the people.
The King's daughter is all glo-
rious within, * in a vesture of gold,
clad in divers colours.
After her shall virgins be brought
unto the King : * her fellows shall
be brought unto thee.
With gladness and rejoicing shall
they be brought : * they shall enter
into the King's palace.
Instead of thy fathers shall be
thy children : * thou shalt make
them princes over all the earth.
They shall be mindful of thy
name, * unto all generations.
Therefore shall the people praise
thee for ever, * yea, for ever and ever.
Verse. Their sound is gone out
through all the earth.
Answer. And their words to the
ends of the world.
1 So are these words translated in Heb. i. 8, 9.
2 The word "God" is not in the Hebrew, and the original meaning, addressed to the
bride, is, " He is thy lord, and bow thou to him." So also St Jerome.
466
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
The following Lessons are not read if
Proper Lessons are assigned instead.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the First
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle
Paul to the Corinthians (iv. i.)
LET a man so account of us as of
4 the ministers of Christ, and
stewards of the mysteries of God. It
is required of stewards here, that a
man be found faithful. But with
me it is a very small thing that I
should be judged of you, or of man's
judgment : yea, I judge not mine
own self. For I know nothing
against myself: yet am I not here-
by justified : but He that judgeth
me is the Lord. Therefore judge
nothing before the time, until the
Lord come : Who both will bring
to light the hidden things of dark-
ness, and will make manifest the
counsels of the hearts : and then
shall every man have praise of God.
First Responsory.
1 Behold, I send you forth as
sheep in the midst of wolves, saith
the Lord ; be ye therefore wise as
serpents, and harmless as doves.
Verse. 2 While ye have light, be-
lieve in the light, that ye may be the
children of light.
Answer. Be ye therefore wise as
serpents, and harmless as doves.
Second Lesson.
A ND these things, brethren, I
-^*- have in a figure transferred
to myself and to Apollos for your
sakes, that ye might learn in us not
to think of men above that which is
written; that no one of you be puffed
up for one against another. For
who maketh thee to differ from an-
other? And what hast thou that
thou didst not receive? Now, if
thou didst receive it, why dost thou
glory, as if thou hadst not received
it? Now ye are full, now ye are
rich : ye have reigned as kings with-
out us : and I would to God ye did
reign, that we also might reign with
you. For I think that God hath set
forth us the Apostles last, as it were
appointed to death : for we are made
a spectacle unto the world, and to
Angels, and to men.
Second Responsory.
3 Take My yoke upon you, saith
the Lord, and learn of Me, for I am
meek and lowly in heart ; for My
yoke is easy, and My burden is
light.
Verse. And ye shall find rest
unto your souls.
Answer. For My yoke is easy,
and My burden is light.
Third Lesson.
\ \ TE are fools for Christ's sake,
* * but ye are wise in Christ :
we are weak, but ye are strong : ye
are honourable, but we are despised.
Even unto this present hour we both
hunger, and thirst, and are naked,
and are buffeted, and have no cer-
tain dwelling - place, and labour,
working with our own hands : being
reviled, we bless : being persecuted,
we suffer it : being defamed, we en-
treat : we are made as the filth of
the earth, and are the off-scouring of
all things unto this day. I write not
these things to shame you, but as
1 Matth. x. 16.
2 John xii. 36.
3 Matth. xi. 29.
FOR APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS.
467
my beloved sons, I warn you. For
though ye have ten thousand in-
structors in Christ ; yet have ye not
many fathers. For in Christ Jesus
I have begotten you through the
Gospel.
Third Responsory.
1 When ye stand before kings and
governors, take no thought how or
what ye shall speak ; for it shall be
given you in that same hour, what
ye shall speak.
Verse. For it is not ye that
speak, but the Spirit of your Father,
Which speaketh in you.
Answer. For it shall be given
you in that same hour, what ye
shall speak.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. For it shall be given
you in that same hour, what ye
shall speak.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. The princes of
the people are gathered together
with the God of Abraham.
Psalm XLVI.
[Intituled "A Psalm of the sons of
Korah," with another (now uncertain) direc-
tion. ]
f~\ CLAP your hands, all ye
^-* people : * shout unto God
with the voice of triumph.
For the Lord Most High is ter-
rible : * He is a great King over all
the earth.
He hath subdued the people
under us, * and the nations under
our feet.
He hath chosen His own inheri-
tance for us, * the excellency of
Jacob, whom He loved.2
God is gone up with a shout, *
and the Lord with the sound of a
trumpet.
Sing praises to our God, sing
praises : * sing praises unto our
King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the
earth : * sing ye praises with under-
standing.
God reigneth over the heathen :
* God sitteth upon the throne of
His holiness.
The princes of the people are
gathered together with the God of
Abraham : * for the mighty ones
of the earth are greatly exalted.
Second Antiphon. Thou hast
given the heritage to those that
fear Thy Name, O Lord.
Psalm LX.
[Intituled "of David." It has also a
musical (?) superscription now of uncertain
meaning.]
TJ EAR my cry, O God : * attend
n.
unto my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I
cried unto Thee : * when mine
heart was overwhelmed, Thou didst
lift me up upon a rock.
Thou didst lead me, for Thou
hast been a shelter for me, * a
strong tower from the enemy.
I will abide in Thy tabernacle
for ever : * I will make my refuge
in the covert of Thy wings.2
For Thou, O God, hast heard
my vows : * Thou hast given the
heritage to those that fear Thy
name.
Thou wilt prolong the King's
1 Matth. x. 18-20.
SLH.
468
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
life : * and his years to many
generations.
He shall abide before God for
ever : * who will seek for His
mercy and truth ?
So will I sing praise unto Thy
name for ever : * that I may daily
perform my vows.
Third Antiphon. They declared
the work of God, and understood His
doings.
Psalm LXIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David" with a
farther superscription of meaning now
uncertain.]
HEAR my voice, O God, in my
prayer : * preserve my life
from fear of the enemy.
Thou hast hidden me from the
secret counsel of the wicked, * from
the insurrection of the workers of
iniquity.
For they whet their tongue like
a sword : * they bend their bow,
even bitter words, that they may
shoot in secret at the perfect.
Suddenly do they shoot at him
and fear not : * they encourage
themselves in evil purpose.
They commune of laying snares
privily : * they say : Who shall see
them?
They search out iniquities : *
they accomplish a diligent search.
Man shall attain to thoughts that
are very deep : * but God shall
[still] be exalted.
The arrows of babes have pierced
them : * and their tongues are
weakened against them.
All that saw them were moved :
* and all men feared,
And declared the work of God, *
and understood His doings.
The righteous shall be glad in
the Lord, and shall trust in Him :
* and all the upright in heart shall
glory.
Verse. 1Thou shalt make them
princes over all the earth.
Answer. They shall be mindful
of Thy Name, O Lord.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (30th on the Gospels.}
IT is written : " By His Spirit the
Lord hath garnished the
heavens." (Job xxvi. 13.) Now
the garniture of the heavens are the
godly powers of preachers, and this
garniture, what it is, Paul teacheth
us thus : — " To one is given by the
Spirit the word of wisdom, to
another the word of knowledge by
the same Spirit; to another faith
by the same Spirit ; to another the
gifts of healing by the same Spirit,
to another the working of miracles,
to another prophecy, to another
discerning of spirits, to another
divers kinds of tongues, to another
the interpretation of tongues. But
all these worketh that one and the
self-same Spirit, dividing to every
man severally as He will. (1 Cor.
xii. 8.)
Fourth Responsory.
2 1 saw men standing together,
clad in shining raiment, and the
Angel of the Lord spake unto me,
1 Ps. xliv. 17, 18.
2 This Responsory reads like a quotation, but neither the translator nor any whom he
has consulted have succeeded in discovering its source. It is not in Scripture.
FOR APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS.
469
saying : These men are holy, for
they are the friends of God.
Verse. 1 1 saw a strong Angel of
God fly into the midst of heaven,
saying with a loud voice —
Answer. These men are holy,
for they are the friends of God.
Fifth Lesson.
SO much power then as have
preachers, so much garniture
have the heavens. Wherefore again
it is written : " By the word of the
Lord were the heavens made."
(Ps. xxxii. 6.) For the Word of
the Lord is the Son of the Father.
But, to the end that all the Holy
Trinity may be made manifest as
the Maker of the heavens, (that is,
of the Apostles,) it is straightway
added touching God the Holy
Ghost: "and all the host of them
by the Breath of His mouth."
Therefore the might of the same
heavens is the might of the Spirit,
for they had not braved the powers
of this world, unless the strength of
the Holy Ghost had comforted
them. For we know what manner
of men the Teachers of the Holy
Church were before the coming of
this Spirit : and since He came we
see in Whose strength they are
made strong.
Fifth Responsory.
2 Blessed are ye when men shall
revile you, and persecute you, and
shall say all manner of evil against
you falsely, for My sake ; rejoice,
and be exceeding glad, for great is
your reward in heaven.
Verse. 3When men shall hate
you, and when they shall separate
you from their company, and shall
reproach you, and cast out your name
as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.
Answer. Rejoice, and be ex-
ceeding glad, for great is your re-
ward in heaven.
Sixth Lesson.
\ fERILY, if we ask of the dam-
* sel that kept the door, she
will tell us what was the measure
of weakness and of strength in that
Shepherd4 of the Church nigh to
whose most holy body we are now
sitting, before that the Spirit came.
He was so stricken by the words of
one woman, that for fear of death,
he denied Life. And we may well
remember that Peter denied in cap-
tivity Him, Whom the thief con-
fessed, even when He was lifted up
upon the Cross. But let us hear
what that craven was after that the
Spirit came. When the rulers and
elders were gathered together, the
Apostles were beaten, and com-
manded not to speak at all nor
teach in the name of Jesus. And
Peter answered with great boldness,
" We ought to obey God rather
than men." (Acts v. 42.)
Sixth Responsory.
These are they which have con-
quered, and are become the friends
of God, who recked not of the
commandments of princes, and
earned the everlasting reward. And
now have they crowns on their
heads, and palms in their hands.
1 Cf. Apoc. viii. 13. 2 Matth. v. II, 12, 3 Luke yi. 22.
4 St Peter, buried in the Vatican Basilica, where this sermon seems to have been
preached.
VOL. I. Q 2
470
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Verse. * These are they which
came out of great tribulation, and
have washed their robes in the
blood of the Lamb.
Answer. And now have they
crowns on their heads, and palms
in their hands.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. • And now have they
crowns on their heads, and palms
in their hands.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Note that between Septuagesima and
Easter the word " Alleluia " in the fol-
lowing Antiphons is omitted.
First Antiphon. The horns of
the righteous shall be exalted.
[Alleluia.]
Psalm LXXIV.
[Intituled "A Psalm — A Song of Asaph,"
with a superscription of meaning now un-
certain, but, in part, indicating the tune
" Destroy not." The Targum says that it
was composed as a thanksgiving at the time
when David said " Destroy not thy people,"
and the occasion meant is probably that of
the plague provoked by David's number-
ing of the people, as related in the last
chapter of 2 Kings (Sam.)]
T JNTO Thee, O God, will we
^ give thanks : * we will give
thanks and call upon Thy name.
We will declare Thy wondrous
works : * when 1 shall take a set
time, I will judge uprightly.
The earth and all the inhabitants
thereof are dissolved : * I bear up
the pillars of it.2
I said unto the wicked : Deal not
wickedly : * and to the evil-doers :
Lift not up your horn on high.
1 Apoc. vii. 14, cf. 9.
5 Aromatic herbs, &c, were mixed with
Smith's Diet, of the Bible,— Wine.
Lift not up your horn on high : *
speak not wickedness against God.
For neither from the east, nor
from the west, nor from the desert
mountains : * for God is the judge :
He putteth down one, and setteth
up another : * for in the hand of the
Lord there is a cup of strong wine
full of mixture.3
And he turneth it this way and
that : surely the dregs thereof are
not wrung out : * all the wicked of
the earth shall drink them.
But I will declare for ever : * I
will sing praises to the God of
Jacob.
All the horns of the wicked also
will I break : * and the horns of the
righteous shall be exalted.
Second Antiphon. Light is sprung
up for the righteous. Alleluia : and
gladness for the upright in heart.
[Alleluia.]
Psalm XCVI.
[The Vulgate and the LXX. have the
superscription "[A Psalm] of David when
his country was re - established " — per-
haps meaning after the usurpation of Ab-
solom.]
THE Lord reigneth ; let the
earth rejoice : * let the mul-
titude of isles be glad thereof.
Clouds and darkness are round
about Him : * righteousness and
judgment are the foundation of
His throne.
A fire shall go before Him, * and
burn up His enemies round about.
His lightnings enlightened the
world : * the earth saw and trembled.
The hills melted like wax at
the presence of the Lord, * at
2 SLH.
wine to make it more intoxicating. See
FOR APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS.
471
the presence of the Lord of the
whole earth.
The heavens declared His right-
eousness, * and all the people
saw His glory.
Confounded be all they that
worship graven images, * and that
boast themselves of idols.
Worship Him, all ye His An-
gels ! * Zion heard, and was glad.
And the daughters of Judah
rejoiced, * because of Thy judg-
ments, O Lord !
For thou, Lord, art high above
all the earth : * Thou art exalted
far above all gods.
Ye that love the Lord, hate evil :
* the Lord preserveth the souls of
His saints ; He delivereth them out
of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sprung up for the
righteous, * and gladness for the
upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, ye right-
eous, * and give thanks to the
memorial of His holiness !
Third Antiphon. They kept His
testimonies, and the ordinance that
He gave them. [Alleluia.]
Psalm XCVIII.
[The Vulgate and the LXX. ascribe this
Psalm to David.]
*T^HE Lord reigneth, be the
-*- people never so impatient : *
He sitteth upon the Cherubim, be
the earth never so unquiet.
The Lord is great in Zion : *
and He is high above all people.
Let them praise Thy great and
terrible Name, for it is holy : * and
the King's majesty loveth judgment.
Thou dost establish equity : *
Thou executest judgment and right-
eousness in Jacob.
Exalt ye the Lord our God, and
worship at His footstool : * for it
is holy.
Moses and Aaron among His
priests, * and Samuel among them
that call upon His name.
They called upon the Lord, and
He answered them. * He spake
unto them in the cloudy pillar :
They kept His testimonies, * and
the ordinance that He gave them.
Thou answeredst them, O Lord
our God ! * O God, Thou forgav-
est them, though Thou tookest
vengeance of their inventions.
Exalt the Lord our God and
worship at His holy hill : * for the
Lord our God is holy.
Verse. x O God, Thy friends are
exceeding honourable.
Answer. Their power is waxen
right strong.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew
(xix. 27.)
A T that time : Peter said unto
^*- Jesus : Behold, we have for-
saken all, and followed Thee : what
shall we have therefore? And so
on.
Homily by St Jerome, Priest [at
Bethlehem.] {Bk. iii. on Matth. xix.)
Peter was a fisherman, he was not
rich, he earned his bread by his
hand and skill, and nevertheless he
is thus bold, and saith confidently :
"We have forsaken all." And be-
cause it sufficeth not to forsake only,
1 Ps. cxxxviii. 17.
472
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
incorruptible, (i Cor. xv. 53,) ye also
shall sit upon twelve thrones of judg-
ment, condemning the twelve tribes
of Israel, because, when ye believed
in Me, they would not. (John iii.
18.) And every one that hath for-
saken houses, or brethren, or sisters,
or father, or mother, or wife, or chil-
dren, or lands, for My Name's sake,
shall receive an hundredfold, and
shall inherit everlasting life." This
place agreeth well with that other
where the Saviour saith : " I came
not to send peace, but a sword.
For I am come to set a man at
variance against his father, and the
daughter against her mother, and the
daughter-in-law against her mother-
in-law; and a man's foes shall be
they of his own household."
(Matth. x. 34.) Every one, there-
fore, that hath set no store by
affection, and riches, and the pleas-
ures of the world, for Christ's faith's
sake, and the preaching of the Gos-
pel, shall receive an hundred-fold,
and shall inherit everlasting life.
Eighth Responsory.
These men are saints, whom the
Lord hath chosen in love unfeigned,
and hath given them glory everlast-
ing. These are they by the light of
whose teaching the Church is glori-
fied, even as the moon is glorified
by the light of the sun.
Verse. 3 The saints through faith
subdued kingdoms, wrought right-
eousness.
Anszver. By the light of whose
teaching the Church is glorified,
even as the moon is glorified by
the light of the sun.
1 A Greek cynic, remarkable for his self-denial, who flourished at Athens about B.C. 300.
2 Cf. Matth. xx. 22, 23. » Heb. xi. 33.
he addeth that which to do is to
be perfect: "and followed Thee."
"We have done that which Thou
hast commanded us, what reward
therefore wilt Thou give us ? "
" And Jesus said unto them : Amen
I say unto you, that ye which have
followed Me, in the regeneration,
when the Son of Man shall sit in
the throne of His glory, ye also
shall sit upon twelve thrones, judg-
ing the twelve tribes of Israel." He
said not, "Ye which have forsaken
all," for this did even Crates the
philosopher,1 and they which have
set nothing by riches are many, but,
" Ye which have followed Me."
This did the Apostles, and this
do believers do.
Seventh Responsory.
These are they who while yet
they lived in the flesh, planted the
Church in their own blood ; 2 they
drank of the Lord's cup, and became
the friends of God.
Verse. Their sound is gone out
through all the earth, and their
words to the ends of the world.
Answer. They drank of the
Lord's cup, and became the friends
of God.
Eighth Blessing.
He {or they) whose feast-day we
are keeping,
Be our Advocate {or Advocates)
with God.
Eighth Lesson.
" TN the regeneration, when the
-■• Son of Man shall sit in the
throne of His glory, and when the
dead shall rise again from corruption
FOR APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS.
473
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. By the light of whose
teaching the Church is glorified,
even as the moon is glorified by
the light of the sun.
Ninth Lesson.
DY reason of these words, "an
*-* hundredfold," some will have
it that there shall be a thousand
years after the resurrection, wherein
they that have forsaken all things
shall receive an hundredfold of
those things which they have for-
saken, and shall inherit everlasting
life. Such men consider not that
though in other things this were
worthy, as touching wives it is un-
seemly : for it becometh us not to
think that he that hath forsaken one
wife in this world, shall receive an
hundred wives in that which is to
come. But the meaning is this,
that every one that for the Saviour's
sake hath forsaken earthly things,
shall receive spiritual things : which
things, being rightly weighed against
earthly things, are as though an hun-
dredfold were weighed against one.
The Hymn, " We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. 1This is My
commandment, * That ye love one
another, as I have loved you.
Second Antiphon. l Greater love
hath no man than this, * that a man
lay down his life for his friends.
Third Antiphon. x Ye are My
friends, * if ye do whatsoever I
command you, saith the Lord.
Fourth Antiphon. 2 Blessed are
the peace- makers, blessed are the
pure in heart, for they shall see
God.
Fifth Antiphon. 3 In your pa-
tience * possess ye your souls.
Chapter. (Eph. ii. 19.)
ORETHREN, now ye are no
-*-^ more strangers and foreigners,
but fellow-citizens with the Saints,
and of the household of God : and
are built upon the foundation of
the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus
Christ Himself being the chief
corner-stone.
Hymn.*
TVT OW let the earth with joy resound,
-^ And Heaven the chant re-echo
round ;
Nor Heaven nor earth too high can
raise
The great Apostles' glorious praise.
O ye who, throned in glory dread,
Shall judge the living and the dead !
Lights of the world for evermore !
To you the suppliant prayer we pour.
Ye close the sacred gates on high ;
At your command apart they fly :
O loose for us the guilty chain
We strive to break, and strive in vain.
Sickness and health your voice obey ;
At your command they go or stay :
From sin's disease our souls restore ;
In good confirm us more and more.
So when the world is at its end,
And Christ to judgment shall descend,
May we be called those joys to see,
Prepared from all eternity.
Praise to the Father, with the Son,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One ;
As ever was in ages past,
And so shall be while ages last.
Amen.
1 John xv. 12-14.
2 Matth. v. 9, 8.
3 Luke xxi. 19.
4 Of tenth to fifteenth century ; author unknown ; translation by the Rev. E. Caswall
474
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
: Verse. 1 They declared the work
of God.
Answer. And understood His
doings.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
2 Ye which have forsaken all, and
have followed Me, shall receive an
hundredfold, and shall inherit ever-
lasting life.
The Prayer throughout the Office is
always special.
PRIME.
Antiphon. This is My com-
mandment, &c, {First Antiphon at
Lauds.}
Chapter at the end. (Acts v. 41.)
HP HE Apostles departed from the
*■ presence of the council, re-
joicing that they were counted
worthy to suffer shame for the sake
of the name of Jesus.
terce.
Antiphon. Greater love, &c,
(Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
Their sound is gone out through
all the earth.
Answer. Their sound is gone
out through all the earth.
Verse. And their words to the
ends of the world.
Answer. Through all the earth.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Their sound is gone
out through all the earth.
1 Ps. lxiii. 10.
Verse. Thou shalt make them
princes over all the earth.
Answer. They shall be mindful
of Thy Name, O Lord.
SEXT.
Antiphon. Ye are My friends,
&c, (Third Atitiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Acts v. 12.)
A ND by the hands of the Apos-
-*•*• ties were many signs and
wonders wrought among the people.
Short Responsory.
Thou shalt make them princes
over all the earth.
Answer. Thou shalt make them
princes over all the earth.
Verse. They shall be mindful of
Thy Name, O Lord.
Answer. Over all the earth.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Thou shalt make them
princes over all the earth.
Verse. O God, Thy friends are
exceeding honourable.
Answer. Their power is waxen
right strong.
NONE.
Antiphon. In your patience, &C.,
(Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
O God, Thy friends are exceeding
honourable.
Answer. O God, Thy friends are
exceeding honourable.
2 Matth. xix. 27-29.
FOR APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS.
475
Verse. Their power is waxen
right strong.
Atiswer. Exceeding honourable.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. O God, Thy friends are
exceeding honourable.
Verse. They declared the work
of God.
Answer. And understood His
doings.
SECOND VESPERS.
First Antiphon. The Lord hath
sworn, and will not repent : Thou
art a Priest for ever.
Ps. cix. The Lord said, &c, (/.
176.)
Second Antipho?i. That the Lord
may set him with the princes of His
people.
Ps. cxii. Praise the Lord, O ye
His servants, &c, (/. 178.)
Third Antiphon. O Lord, Thou
hast loosed my bonds : I will offer
to Thee the sacrifice of thanks-
giving.
Psalm CXV.
[In the Hebrew this Psalm is a continua-
tion of the last. The Vulgate and the LXX.
prefix "Alleluia."]
T BELIEVED, therefore have I
* spoken : * but I was greatly
afflicted.
I said in my haste : * All men
are liars.
What shall I render unto the
Lord * for all His benefits toward
me?
I will take the cup of salvation,
* and call upon the name of the
Lord.
I will pay my vows unto the
Lord in the presence of all His
people. * Precious in the sight
of the Lord is the death of His
Saints.
0 Lord, truly I am Thy servant :
* I am Thy servant, and the son of
Thine handmaid :
Thou hast loosed my bonds. * I
will offer to Thee the sacrifice of
thanksgiving, and will call upon the
name of the Lord.
1 will pay my vows unto the
Lord, in the presence of all His
people : * in the courts of the
Lord's house, in the midst of thee,
O Jerusalem !
[Here the Hebrew appends "Alle-
luia," which the Vulgate and the LXX.
prefix to the next Psalm.]
Fourth Antiphon. They went
forth weeping, sowing their seed.
Psalm CXXV.
[Intituled " A Song of Degrees."]
WHEN the Lord turned again
the captivity of Zion, * we
were like them that come again
from sickness.
Then was our mouth filled with
laughter, * and our tongue with
singing.
Then said they among the hea-
then : * The Lord hath done great
things for them.
The Lord hath done great things
for us : * whereof we are glad.
Turn again our captivity, O
Lord, * as the streams in the
south.
They that sow in tears * shall
reap in joy.
They go forth weeping, * sow-
ing their seed ;
476
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
They shall doubtless come again
with rejoicing, * bringing their
sheaves with them.
Fifth Antiphon. O God, Thy
friends are honourable ; their power
is waxen right strong.
Psalm CXXXVIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with a
musical (?) direction, the meaning of which
is not now certain.]
OLORD, Thou hast searched
me, and known me : * Thou
knowest my down-sitting and mine
up-rising :
Thou understandest my thoughts
afar off. * Thou searchest my path,
and my line,
And art acquainted with all my
ways : * before there is a word on
my tongue.
Lo, O Lord, Thou knowest all
things both new and old : * Thou
hast made me, and laid Thine hand
upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful
for me : * it is high, and I cannot
attain unto it.
Whither shall I go from Thy
Spirit? * or whither shall I flee
from Thy presence ?
If I ascend up into heaven, Thou
are there : * if I go down into hell,
Thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morn-
ing, * and dwell in the uttermost
parts of the sea; —
Even there shall Thine hand lead
me, * and Thy right hand shall hold
me.
If I say : Surely the darkness
shall cover me : * even the night
shall be light about me in my
pleasures.
For the darkness is not darkness
to Thee : and the night shineth as
the day : * the darkness and the
light to Thee are both alike.
For Thou didst form my reins :
* Thou hast upholden me from
my mother's womb.
I will praise Thee, for Thy great-
ness is terrible : * marvellous are
Thy works : and that my soul
knoweth right well.
My bones were not hid from
Thee, when Thou madest me in
secret : * nor my substance in the
lower parts of the earth.
Thine eyes beheld my substance
yet being imperfect : and in Thy
book all were written : * day by day
were they to be fashioned, when as
yet there was none of them.
But to me, O God, Thy friends
are exceeding honourable : * their
power is waxen right strong.
If I should count them, they are
more in number than the sand : * I
arose, and am still with Thee.
Surely Thou wilt slay the wicked,
O God : * depart from me, ye bloody
men.
For ye say in thought : * In
vain shall Thy people take Thy
cities.
Do not I hate them, O Lord,
that hate Thee? * and am not I
grieved at those that rise up against
Thee?
I hate them with perfect hatred :
* they are to me as enemies.
Search me, O God, and know
mine heart : * try me and know my
thoughts.
And see if there be any wicked
way in me : * and lead me in the
way everlasting.
Chapter, Hymn, and Verse and An-
swer from Lauds.
FOR APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS.
477
Antiphon at the Song of the nification of this number, Twelve.
Blessed Virgin. Wax valiant in "Ye shall sit," saith the Lord,
fight, and strive against the old "upon twelve thrones, judging the
serpent : and ye shall receive an twelve tribes of Israel."
everlasting kingdom. Alleluia.
Fifth Lesson.
T F then there be set there twelve
*- thrones of judgment, (Ps. cxxi.
5,) Paul, in that he is the thir-
teenth Apostle, hath not where to
sit, nor wherein to judge. Never-
theless, he hath said of himself
that he will judge not men only,
but angels. " Know ye not," saith
he, "that we shall judge angels?"
(i Cor. vi. 3,) — that is, the fallen
angels. Then might they have
answered him : " Wherefore boastest
thou thyself to be a judge ? For
where is thy seat ? The Lord hath
said that for the twelve Apostles
there shall be twelve thrones : one
of the twelve, even Judas, is in-
deed fallen, but holy Matthias is
chosen into his place ; for the twelve
thrones there are still twelve to sit
thereon : first find whereon thou
shalt sit, and afterward give thyself
out for a judge." Let us see, then,
what is the meaning of these twelve
thrones. By them is signified in
a mystery the whole world, since
the Church shall be through all
the earth, whence this building is
called to be built up together in
Christ.
©tfjer SUssons for rjje jjtasts
of tjje Apostles.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ex-
position of the Eighty-sixth Psalm
by St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo.]
" TJER foundation is in the holy
*■ *• mountains : the Lord lov-
eth the gates of Zion." Where-
fore hath the city twelve founda-
tions, and in them the names of
the Prophets and of the Apostles
of the Lamb?1 Because their
authority is the foundation where-
on our weakness resteth. Where-
fore are they the gates ? 2 Because
through them we enter in unto the
kingdom of God, since they have
preached the same unto us, and
when we enter in through their
preaching, we enter in by Christ,
Who is Himself The Door. (John
x. 7.) And, whereas it is written
that the city hath twelve gates, and,
again, that Christ is the one Door,
Christ is all the twelve, for He is
in all the twelve : and therefore
were twelve Apostles chosen. There
lieth a great mystery in the sig-
Sixth Lesson.
THEREFORE is it said that
there shall be twelve thrones,
because from all quarters shall there
come men to be judged ; even as it is
1 A sort of quotation from or allusion to Apoc. xxi. 14, but there the Prophets are
not mentioned.
2 Apoc. xxi. 12, says that on the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes
of Israel.
478
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
said that the city hath twelve gates,
because from all quarters shall the
nations of them which are saved,
enter into it. So, not the twelve
only, and the Apostle Paul, but all,
as many as shall judge, have part
in these twelve thrones, this signi-
fying, that they shall judge all men ;
even as all that enter into the
city, have part in her twelve gates.
For there are four quarters of the
world, the East, and the West, and
the North, and the South : of which
four quarters is mention often made
in the Scriptures. From the four
winds shall the elect be gathered
together, as saith the Lord in the
Gospel : " And He shall send His
Angels with a great sound of a
trumpet ; and they shall gather to-
gether His elect from the four winds,
from one end of heaven to the
other." (Matth. xxiv. 31.) From
the four winds, therefore, is the
Church called together ; and how
are they called? Everywhere are
they called in the Trinity ; for they
are called no otherwise than by
baptizing them in the Name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost. (Matth. xxvii. 19.)
Now four being multiplied by three
is twelve.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew
(xix. 27.)
A T that time : Peter said unto
-**■ Jesus : Behold, we have for-
saken all, and followed Thee : what
shall we have therefore ? And so on.
Homily by the Venerable Bede,
Priest [at Jarrow and Doctor of the
Church.] (Homily for St Benedict's
Birth-day.}
" If thou wilt be perfect," saith
Christ, " go and sell that thou hast,
and give to the poor, and come
and follow Me : and thou shalt
have treasure in heaven." (Matth.
xix. 21.) Yea, treasure that passeth
not away ! Unto such saith Jesus,
at the questioning of Peter : " Amen
I say unto you, that ye which have
followed Me, in the regeneration,
when the Son of Man shall sit in
the throne of His glory, ye also
shall sit upon twelve thrones, judg-
ing the twelve tribes of Israel." He
taught them, which work for His
Name's sake in this life, to look
for their reward in another life :
that is, in the regeneration. " In
the regeneration ! " — when we who
have been born dying creatures
into a dying life, shall in the re-
surrection be born again into an
undying life.
Eighth Lesson.
A ND soothly, it is a just retri-
^*- bution, that they, who, while
they were yet here, have for Christ's
sake set no store by being great
among men, should there by Christ
be singularly glorified to be the
assessors of His judgment-seat, even
they whom nothing here could turn
aside from being the followers of
His footsteps. Nevertheless, let
there be no man that believeth
that the twelve Apostles only, among
whom Matthias holdeth that place
from which Judas by transgression
fell, (Acts i. 25,) that they only
FOR APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS.
479
shall judge,, even as the twelve
tribes of Israel shall not alone be
judged : for then were the tribe of
Levi, which is the thirteenth, un-
judged.
Nitith Lesson.
MOREOVER, then, were Paul,
who is the thirteenth Apostle,
deprived of all part in the judg-
ment ; whereas he saith of him-
self: "Know ye not that we shall
judge angels ? How much more
things that pertain to this life?"
But it behoveth us to know that
every one who hath forsaken all
and followed Christ, as did the
Apostles, shall also come with Him
to judgment, even as every man
shall stand at His judgment seat.
And the Scriptures use often to
signify all by this number twelve ;
by the twelve thrones of the Apostles
are signified the thrones of all them
that shall judge ; and by the twelve
tribes of Israel, the whole number
of them that shall be judged.
©tfjer ^Lessons for tfje jFeasts
of ^Bbangeltsts.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the Book of the
Prophet Ezekiel (i. i.)
A ND it came to pass in the
-*~~*- thirtieth year, in the fourth
month, in the fifth day of the
month, as I was among the captives
by the river of Chebar, that the
heavens were opened, and I saw
visions of God. In the fifth day of
the month, which was the fifth year
of King Jehoiachim's captivity, the
word of the Lord came unto Ezekiel,
the son of Buzi, the Priest, in the
land of the Chaldeans, by the river
Chebar, and the hand of the Lord
was there upon him. And I looked,
and, behold, a whirlwind came
out of the North, a great cloud,
and a fire infolding itself, and a
brightness was about it, and out
of the midst thereof, (that is, out
of the midst of the fire,) as the
colour of amber.
Second Lesson.
ALSO in the midst thereof the
likeness of four living creat-
ures ; and this was their appear-
ance, they had the likeness of a
man. And every one had four
faces, and every one had four wings.
Their feet were straight feet, and
the sole of their feet was like the
sole of a calfs foot, and they
sparkled like the colour of glowing
brass. And they had the hands of
a man under their wings on their
four sides, and they had faces and
wings on four sides. And the
wings of one were joined to the
wings of another; they turned not
when they went ; they went every
one straight forward.
Third Lesson.
AS for the likeness of their faces,
they four had the face of a
man and the face of a lion on the
right side, and they four had the
face of an ox on the left side, and
480
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
they four had the face of an eagle
above. Thus were their faces, and
their wings were stretched upward,
two wings of every one were joined
one to another, and two covered
their bodies ; and they went every
one straight forward. Whither
the spirit was to go, they went,
and they turned not when they
went.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ex-
position of the Book of the
Prophet Ezekiel by Pope St
Gregory [the Great.] {Horn. 3,
Bk. i.)
r I ^HE Prophet writeth very min-
■*• utely touching the four holy
living creatures, whom he saw in
the spirit as being to come. He
saith : " Every one had four faces,
and every one had four wings."
What signifieth the face save like-
ness whereby we are known ? or
wings, save the power to fly ? since
it is by the face that man is known
from man, and by their wings that
the birds' bodies are carried up into
the air. So the face pertaineth to
certitude,1 and the wings to con-
templation. With certitude we are
known of God Almighty, Who saith :
"I am the Good Shepherd, and
know My sheep, and am known
of Mine." (John x. 14.) And
again : " I know whom I have
chosen." (xiii. 18.) And by con-
templation, whereby we rise above
ourselves, we as it were fly heaven-
wards.
1 Text,
Fifth Lesson.
EVERY one had four faces"
— four faces, that is, and
one body. If thou seek to know
what Matthew teacheth concerning
the Incarnation of the Lord, he
teacheth no other doctrine than
teacheth Mark, or Luke, or John.
If thou seek to know what John
teacheth, it is beyond all doubt
that his doctrine is the doctrine of
Matthew, and Mark, and Luke. If
thou ask concerning Mark, he hath
that which hath Matthew, and John,
and Luke. If thou wilt know of
Luke, know that he teacheth as
doth Matthew, and Mark, and John.
Therefore every one hath four faces,
for God knoweth and seeth in them
but one faith, which thou mayest
see in each and in all.
Sixth Lesson.
"AND every one had four wings."
^*- For they do all with one
accord preach our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Son of Almighty God :
toward Whose Godhead lifting up
the eyes of their mind, they do lift
the wings of contemplation, and do
fly. In the Evangelists, the face
pertaineth to the Lord's Manhood,
and the wings to His Godhead :
for they turn their face toward Him
Whom they see in bodily shape :
but when they say that He is, as
touching His Godhead, Incompre-
hensible, and Incorporeal, the wings
of their contemplation do, in a
manner, carry them in flight heaven-
ward. Because, then, they have
all one faith in the Incarnation,
and all equally look by contempla-
adfidem.
FOR APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS.
481
tion toward the Godhead : it is
well written of them, " Every one
had four faces, and every one had
four wings."
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the
Holy Gospel according to Luke
(x. 1.)
AT that time: The Lord ap-
pointed other seventy - two
also, and sent them two and two
before His face into every city and
place, whither He Himself would
come. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory
[the Great] (17th on the Gospels.)
Dearly beloved brethren, our
Lord and Saviour doth sometimes
admonish us by words, and some-
times by works. Yea, His very
works do themselves teach us : for
that which He doth silently His
example still moveth us to copy.
Behold how He sendeth forth His
disciples to preach by two and two :
since there are two commandments
to love, that is, a commandment to
love God, and a commandment to
love our neighbour : and where
there are not two, the one, being
alone, hath not whereon to do the
Lord's commandment. And no
man can properly be said to love
himself: for love tendeth outward
toward our neighbour, if it be the
love whereto the Gospel doth
oblige us.
Eighth Lesson.
BEHOLD, the Lord sendeth
forth His disciples to preach
by two and two : and thus doing,
He doth silently teach us that who-
soever loveth not his neighbour,
such an one it behoveth not to take
upon him the office of a preacher.
Well also is it said that He sent
them before His face into every
city and place whither He Himself
would come. The Lord followeth
His preachers : first cometh preach-
ing, and then the Lord Himself
cometh to the house of our mind,
whither the word of exhortation
hath come before : and so cometh
the truth into our mind.
Ninth Lesson.
^THEREFORE to preachers saith
-*■ Isaiah : " Prepare ye the way
of the Lord, make straight an high-
way for our God." (xl. 3.) And
again the Psalmist saith : " Spread
a path before Him That rideth upon
the West." (lxvii. 4.) The Lord
rideth upon the West ; above that
from which in death He veiled His
glory hath He royally exalted that
glory that excelleth, even the glory
of His rising again. He rideth upon
the West, Who, being risen again
from the dead, is throned high above
the death to which He bowed. Be-
fore Him, therefore, That rideth
upon the West, we spread a path,
when we set forth His glory before
the eyes of your mind, to the end
that He Himself may come after,
and Himself enlighten the same your
minds by His presence and His love.
482
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
55& dfor &mt$ of <&nt Jttat*t]n\
Everything as on Sundays, except
what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Anliphons, Chapter, and Prayer from
Lauds.
Last Psalm.
O praise the Lord, &c, (Ps. cxvi.,
p. 1 86.)
Hymn}
OGOD, of Thy soldiers
the Portion and Crown,
Spare Thy people, who hymn
the Praise of the Blest ;
Earth's bitter joys,
its lures and its frown,
He scanned them and scorned,
and so is at rest.
Thy Martyr, he ran
all valiantly o'er
An highway of blood
for the prize Thou hast given.
We kneel at Thy feet
and meekly implore,
That our pardon may wait
on his triumph in heaven.
Honour and praise
To the Father and Son
And the Spirit be done
Now and always. Amen.
Verse. 2 Thou hast crowned him
with glory and honour, O Lord.
Answer. And madest him to
have dominion over the works of
Thy hands.
Afitiphon at the Song of the
Blessed Virgin. 3This man is
holy, * for he hath striven for the
1 Abridged from an hymn of the Ambrosian
2 Ps. viii. 7.
3 Ecclus. iv. 33 ; I Mace. ii. 62 ; Matth. vii
law of his God even unto death, and
hath not feared for the words of the
ungodly : for he had his foundation
upon a strong rock.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. The Lord He is the
King of the Martyrs. * O come, let
us worship Him !
Hym?i as at First Vespers.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Only three Psalms are said.
First Antiphon. His delight *
was in the law of the Lord day
and night.
Ps. i. Blessed is the man, &c,
(/• 4.)
Second Antiphon. The Lord hath
set him * upon His holy hill, to
declare His decree.
Ps. ii. Why do the heathen,
&c, {p. 4.)
Third Antiphon. I cried unto
the Lord * with my voice, and
He heard me out of His holy
hill.
Ps. iii. Lord, how are they in-
creased, &c, (/. 5.)
Verse. Thou hast crowned him
with glory and honour, O Lord.
Answer. And madest him to
have dominion over the works of
Thy hands.
school ; translation by Cardinal Newman.
25-
FOR ONE MARTYR.
483
The following Lessons are not read
if other Lessons are assigned instead,
{either special, or from Scripture ac-
cording to the Season,) or if the Martyr
whose Feast is being kept was not a
Bishop. In the latter case, failing
other Lessons, are read those from
Rom. viir. 12, given on p. 499.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Acts
of the Apostles (xx. 17.)
FROM Miletus Paul sent to Eph-
esus, and called the elders of
the Church. And when they were
come to him, he said unto them :
Ye know, from the first day that I
came into Asia, after what manner I
have been with you at all seasons,
serving the Lord with all humility
of mind, and with many tears, and
temptations, which befell me by the
lying-in -wait of the Jews : how I
kept back nothing that was profit-
able unto you, but have showed
you, and have taught you publicly,
and from house to house, testifying
both to the Jews and also to the
Gentiles, repentance toward God,
and faith toward our Lord Jesus
Christ. And now, behold, I go
bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem,
not knowing the things that shall
befall me there ; save that the Holy
Ghost witnesseth in every city,
saying that bonds and afflictions
abide me at Jerusalem. But none
of these things move me, neither
count I my life dear unto myself:
so that I might finish my course
with joy, and the ministry which I
have received of the Lord Jesus,
to testify the Gospel of the grace
of God.
First Responsory.
This man is holy, for he hath
striven for the law of his God even
unto death, and hath not feared for
the words of the ungodly ; for he
had his foundation upon a strong
rock.
Verse. 2 This is he which loved
not his life in this world, and is
come unto an everlasting kingdom.
Answer. For he had his found-
ation upon a strong rock.
Second Lesson.
AND now, behold, I know that
ye all, among whom I have
gone preaching the kingdom of God,
shall see my face no more. Where-
fore I take you to record this day,
that I am pure from the blood of all
men. For I have not shunned to
declare unto you all the counsel of
God. Take heed unto yourselves,
and to all the flock, over the which
the Holy Ghost hath made you
Bishops to shepherd the Church of
God, which He hath purchased with
His Own Blood. I know this, that
after my departing shall grievous
wolves enter in among you, not
sparing the flock ; also of your own
selves shall men arise, speaking per-
verse things, to draw away disciples
after them. Therefore watch, and
remember that, by the space of three
years, I ceased not to warn every
one of you night and day with tears.
Second Responsory.
2 The righteous shall grow as the
lily ; yea, he shall flourish in the
presence of the Lord for ever.
Verse. 3 Those that be planted
1 Cf. John xii. 25.
2 Hos. xiv. 6; Isa. xvii. n, &c.
3 Ps. xci. 14.
484
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
in the house of the Lord, shall
flourish in the courts of the house
of our God.
Answer. Yea, he shall flourish
in the presence of the Lord for
ever.
Third Lesson.
A ND now I commend you to
-£*- God, and to the word of His
grace, Which is able to build you
up, and to give you an inheritance
among all them which are sanctified.
I have coveted no man's silver, or
gold, or apparel, as ye yourselves
know : for these hands have minis-
tered unto my necessities, and to
them that were with me. I have
showed you all things, how that so
labouring ye ought to support the
weak, and to remember the words
of the Lord Jesus, how He said :
It is more blessed to give than to
receive. And when he had thus
spoken, he kneeled down, and
prayed with them all. And they
all wept sore, and fell on Paul's
neck, and kissed him, sorrowing
most of all for the words which he
spake, that they should see his face
no more. And they accompanied
him unto the ship.
Third Responsory.
This is he which knew righteous-
ness, and saw great wonders, and
made his prayer unto the Most
High ; and he is numbered among
the Saints.
Verse. This is he which loved
not his life in this world, and is
come unto an everlasting kingdom.
Answer. And he is numbered
among the Saints.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And he is numbered
among the Saints.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. O ye sons of
men, * know that the Lord hath
set apart him that is holy for Him-
self.
Psalm IV.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with a
musical (?) direction of (now) uncertain
meaning. ]
V\THEN I called, the God of my
* * righteousness heard me : *
Thou hast enlarged me when I was
in distress :
Have mercy upon me, * and hear
my prayer.
0 ye sons of men, how long
will ye be dull of heart? * Why
will ye love vanity, and seek after
leasing ? x
But know that the Lord hath set
apart for Himself him that is holy :
* the Lord will hear me when I
call unto Him.
Be ye angry and sin not : * what
ye speak in your heart, repent upon
your bed.1
Offer the sacrifices of righteous-
ness, and put your trust in the Lord.
* There be many that say : Who will
show us any good ?
Lord, Thou hast set upon us the
light of Thy countenance. * Thou
hast put gladness in my heart,
More than in the time that
their corn, and wine, and oil *
increased.
1 will both lay me down in peace,
* and sleep,
SLH.
FOR ONE MARTYR.
485
For Thou, Lord, only * makest
me to dwell in safety.
Second Antiphon. O Lord, Thou
hast compassed him * with Thy
favour as with a shield.
Psalm V.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with a
musical (?) superscription.]
f~^ IVE ear unto my words, O
^-J Lord, * consider my suppli-
cation.
Hearken unto the voice of my cry,
* my King and my God !
For unto Thee will I pray. * O
Lord, in the morning Thou shalt
hear my voice :
In the morning will I stand before
Thee and look up. * For Thou art
not a God that hath pleasure in
wickedness :
Neither shall the evil dwell with
Thee, * nor the unrighteous stand
in Thy sight :
Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
* Thou shalt destroy all them that
speak leasing :
The Lord abhorreth the bloody
and deceitful man. * But as for me,
in the multitude of Thy mercy
I will come into Thine house : *
I will worship toward Thine holy
temple in Thy fear.
Lead me, O Lord, in Thy
righteousness, * because of mine
enemies ; make my way straight
before Thy face.
For there is no faithfulness in
their mouth : * their inward part
is very wickedness.
Their throat is an open sepulchre ;
they flatter with their tongue. *
Judge Thou them, O God!
Let them fall by their own coun-
sels ; cast them out in the multitude
of their transgressions, * for they
have rebelled against Thee, O Lord !
And let all those that put their
trust in Thee, rejoice : * let them
ever shout for joy, because Thou
dwellest in them :
Let them also that love Thy Name
be joyful in Thee. * For Thou wilt
bless the righteous.
0 Lord, Thou hast compassed us
* with Thy favour as with a shield.
Third Antiphon. Thou hast
crowned him * with glory and
honour in all the earth.
Psalm VIII.
[Intituled " A Psalm of David." It has
also a title which seems to show that it was
a song for the vintage.]
f~\ LORD, our Lord, * how ex-
^-^ cellent is Thy Name in all
the earth !
For Thy glory is exalted * above
the heavens.
1 Out of the mouth of babes and
sucklings hast Thou perfected praise
because of Thine enemies, * that
Thou mightest destroy the enemy
and the avenger.
When I consider Thine heavens,
the work of Thy fingers : * the moon
and the stars which Thou hast or-
dained :
What is man, that Thou art mind-
ful of him ? ■ * or the son of man,
that thou visitest him ?
Thou hast made him a little lower
than the angels, Thou hast crowned
him with glory and honour, * and
madest him to have dominion over
the works of Thine hands.
1 This verse was quoted by our Lord, concerning those who cried Hosannah on Palm
Sunday, Matt. xxi. 16.
486
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Thou hast put all things under
his feet, * all sheep and oxen, yea,
and the beasts of the field.
The fowl of the air, and the fish
of the sea, * that pass through the
paths of the sea.
O Lord, our Lord, * how excel-
lent is Thy Name in all the earth !
Verse. O Lord, Thou hast set a
crown of precious stones —
Answer. Upon his head.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St Austin, Bishop [of
Hippo.] (44//^ on the Saints.)
THE illustrious day whereon
the blessed Martyr N. (here
insert his name) conquered, doth
this day come round to us again :
and as the Church doth rejoice with
him in his glory, so doth she set
before us his footsteps to be fol-
lowed. For if we suffer, we shall
also reign with him. In his glorious
battle we have two things chiefly to
consider : the hardened cruelty of
the tormentor, and the unconquered
patience of the Martyr : the cruelty
of the tormentor, that we may abhor
it ; the patience of the Martyr, that
we may imitate it. Hear what the
' Psalmist saith, complaining against
sin : " Fret not thyself because of
the evil-doers, for they shall soon
dry up like the grass." (xxxvi. 1.)
But touching the patience which is
to be shown against the evil-doers,
hear the word wherewith the Apos-
tle moveth us : " Ye have need of
patience, that ye may receive the
promise." (Heb. x. 36.)
Fourth Responsory.
1 The Lord made him honourable,
and defended him from his enemies,
and kept him safe from those that
lay in wait for him, and gave him
perpetual glory.
Verse. He went down with him in-
to the pit, and left him not in bonds.
Ansiver. And gave him perpetual
glory.
Fifth Lesson.
SO the patience of the blessed
Martyr was crowned, and the
unchastened spite of the tormentor
is given over to everlasting torture.
Christ's glorious champion looked
for this during his battle, and shrank
not from prison. Like his Head, he
bore reproach, underwent mocking,
and feared not for scourges : and as
many sufferings as for Christ's sake
he bore before he died, so many
offerings did he make unto Him of
himself. He had drunk in the
Apostles' word and kept it deep in
him : " The sufferings of this pres-
ent time are not worthy to be com-
pared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us," (Rom. viii. 18,)
"for our light affliction which is
but for a moment, worketh for us
a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory." (2 Cor. iv. 17.)
Being lifted up above earthly things
by the love of this promise, and
tasting beforehand the sweetness of
the heavenly peace, he was unspeak-
ably moved, and said with the
Psalmist : " What have I in heaven,
and what is there upon earth that I
desire beside Thee ? My flesh and
my heart faileth : Thou art the God
of my heart, and God is my portion
for ever." (lxxii. 26.)
1 Wisd. x. 11-14, substituting "Lord" for "Wisdom."
FOR ONE MARTYR.
487
Fifth Responsory.
1 0 Lord, Thou hast given him
his heart's desire, and hast not with-
holden the request of his lips.
Verse. For Thou hast prevented
him with the blessings of sweetness :
Thou hast set a crown of precious
stones upon his head.
Answer. And hast not withholden
the request of his lips.
Sixth Lesson.
T^OR he considered, as far as man's
A weakness is able, through this
darkness, to fix the eyes of his mind
upon the eternal things, what is the
gladness of the city above : and
being not able to tell it, he cried
out wondering : " What have I in
heaven?" As though he would
have said : " It passeth my strength,
it passeth the power of my utterance,
it goeth beyond the reach of my
understanding, what is that beauty,
what is that glory, what is that
exaltation, wherein, when He hath
hidden us from the troubling of
men, in the secret of His presence,
our Lord Jesus Christ shall change
our vile body, that it may be fash-
ioned like unto His glorious Body ! "
(Ps. xxx. 21, Phil. iii. 21.) In sight
of this perfect liberty he shrank from
no danger, and quailed before no
suffering : and if he could have died
a thousand times, he would not have
thought himself to have bought it at
a price high enough.
Sixth Responsory.
2 The Lord hath put on him a
robe of honour, and put about his
head a crown of joy.
1 Ps. xx. 2, 3.
Verse. With the bread of life and
understanding hath the Lord fed
him, and given him the water of
health and wisdom to drink.
Answer. And put about his head
a crown of joy.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And put about his head
a crown of joy.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. The righteous
Lord * loveth righteousness : His
countenance doth behold upright-
ness.
Psalm X.
[Intituled "Of David." There is also a
superscription perhaps musical, but now of
uncertain meaning.]
T N the Lord put I my trust ;
-*■ how say ye to my soul, *
Flee as a bird to the mountain ?
For lo, the wicked bend their bow,
they make ready their arrows in the
quiver, * that they may privily shoot
at the upright in heart.
For they have destroyed that
which Thou hast established : *
and what hath the righteous done ?
The Lord is in His holy temple :
* the Lord's throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold the poor : * His
eyelids try the children of men.
The Lord trieth the righteous
and the wicked : * but he that lov-
eth iniquity hateth his own soul.
Upon the wicked He shall rain
snares : * fire, and brimstone, and
an horrible tempest, this shall be
the portion of their cup.
For the righteous Lord loveth
Altered from Ecclus. vi. 32 ; xv. 3.
488
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
righteousness : * His countenance
doth behold uprightness.
Second Antiphon. He shall dwell
* in Thy tabernacle, He shall rest
upon Thy holy hill.
Psalm XIV.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David."]
T ORD, who shall abide in Thy
-■— ' tabernacle ? * who shall
dwell in Thine holy hill ?
He that walketh uprightly, * and
worketh righteousness.
He that speaketh the truth in his
heart, * he that deceiveth not with
his tongue.
He that hath not done evil to his
neighbour, * nor taken up a reproach
against his neighbour.
In whose eyes a vile person is
despised : * but he honoureth them
that fear the Lord.
He that sweareth to his neighbour,
and deceiveth him not, * he that
putteth not out his money to usury,
nor taketh reward against the in-
nocent.
He that doeth these things, *
shall never be moved.
Third Antiphon. O Lord, Thou
hast set a crown * of precious stones
upon his head.
Psalm XX.
[This Psalm also bears the same title as
the xviiilh.]
THE king shall joy in Thy
* strength, O Lord : * and in
Thy salvation how greatly shall he
rejoice !
Thou hast given him his heart's
desire, * and hast not withholden
the request of his lips.1
1 SLH.
For Thou hast met him with the
blessings of sweetness : * Thou hast
set a crown of precious stones upon
his head.
He asked life of Thee : * and
Thou gavest him length of days for
ever and ever.
His glory is great in Thy salva-
tion : * honour and great majesty
shalt Thou lay upon him.
For Thou wilt give him to be a
blessing for ever : * Thou shalt
make him exceeding glad with Thy
countenance.
For the king trusteth in the
Lord, * and, through the mercy
of the Most High, he shall not be
moved.
Thine hand shall find out all
thine enemies : * thy right hand
shall find out all those that hate
thee.
Thou shalt make them as a fiery
oven in the time of thine anger : *
the Lord shall cut them off in His
wrath, and the fire shall devour
them.
Their fruit shalt thou destroy from
the earth, * and their seed from
among the children of men.
For they intended evil against
thee : * they imagined a device,
which they were not able to per-
form.
Therefore shalt thou cast them
behind thee : * thou shalt leave
their faces lying in thy track.
Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in
Thine own strength : * we will sing
and praise Thy power.
Verse. 2 His glory is great in
Thy salvation.
Answer. Honour and great ma-
jesty shalt Thou lay upon him.
2 Ps. xx. 4.
FOR ONE MARTYR,
489
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (xiv.
26.)
A T that time : Jesus said unto
■l** the multitudes : If any. man
come to Me, and hate not his fa-
ther, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters,
yea, and his own life also, he cannot
be My disciple. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great,] (37/^ on the Gospels.)
Dearly beloved brethren, if we
consider what and how great things
are promised unto us in heaven, all
things which are upon earth grow
poor to our mind. For when this
world's goods are reckoned against
the gladness above, they are found
to be a clog rather than an help.
This present life being compared to
life eternal, ought rather to be called
death than life. For what is the
daily failing of our corruption but,
as it were, a creeping death ? But
what tongue is there that can tell, or
what understanding that can com-
prehend how great is the rejoicing
in the city above, where they have
part with the choirs of Angels, where
they stand with the most blessed
spirits before the glory of the
Creator, where they see the face of
God present, where they behold the
Incomprehensible Light, where they
have no fear of death, and where
they rejoice eternally incorruptible ?
Seventh Responsory.
1 A crown of gold upon his
head, wherein is engraved Holiness,
an ornament of honour, a costly
work.
Verse. For Thou hast prevented
him with the blessings of sweetness,
Thou hast set a crown of precious
stones upon his bead.
Answer. Wherein is engraved
Holiness, an ornament of honour,
a costly work.
Eighth Blessing.
He whose feast-day we are keeping
Be our Advocate with God.
Eighth Lesson.
\ 1LT HEN we hear these things
* * our hearts burn within us ;
and we long to be already there,
where we hope to rejoice for ever.
But we cannot attain unto great
rewards, save through great labour.
Therefore saith the excellent preach-
er Paul : " He is not crowned, ex-
cept he strive lawfully." (2 Tim. ii.
5.) The greatness of the reward
doth delight our mind ; let not the
throes of the struggle dishearten us.
Therefore the Truth saith unto every
one that cometh unto Him : " If any
man come to Me, and hate not his
father and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters,
yea, and his own life also, he cannot
be My disciple."
Eighth Responsory.
This is a Martyr indeed, who
shed his blood for Christ's Name's
sake ; who feared not for the threats
of judges, nor sought to be great with
the glory of this world, but pressed
on unto the kingdom of heaven.
Verse. 2The Lord guided the
1 Altered from Ecclus. xlv. 14.
2 Wisd. x. 10, again substituting "the Lord" for "Wisdom."
490
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
righteous in right paths, and showed
him the kingdom of God.
Anszver. Who feared not for the
threats of judges, nor sought to be
great with the glory of this world,
but pressed on unto the kingdom
of heaven.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Who feared not for the
threats of judges, nor sought to be
great with the glory of this world,
but pressed on unto the kingdom
of heaven.
Upon a few occasions, instead of the
above, the following is the Eighth Re-
sponsory.
1 0 Lord, Thou hast prevented
him with the blessings of sweet-
ness ; Thou hast set a crown of
precious stones upon his head.
Verse. He asked life of Thee,
and Thou gavest him length of days
for ever and ever.
Answer. Thou hast set a crown
of precious stones upon his head.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Anszver. Thou hast set a crown
of precious stones upon his head.
Ninth Lesson.
BUT it may be asked how we
are commanded in one place
to hate our parents, and them that
are near us in the flesh, and in an-
other place to love even our enemies.
And, verily, the Truth hath said,
as touching a wife : " What God
hath joined together, let not man
1 Ts. xx. 4.
3 John viii. 12.
put asunder." (Matth. xix. 6.) And
Paul saith : " Husbands, love your
wives, even as Christ also loved the
Church." (Eph. v. 25.) Behold,
the disciple commandeth a man
to love his wife, and the Master
saith : " If any man hate not his
wife, he cannot be My disciple."
Doth the judge, then, order one
proclamation, and the crier make
another? or can the man both love
and hate ? If we consider well the
force of the commandment, we shall
be able in wisdom to do both.
Let us love wife, and kindred, and
neighbour, as touching their near-
ness in the flesh ; but as touching
the way of God, if they withstand
us therein, let us not know them,
but hate them and flee from
them.
The Hymn, " We praise Thee, O
God, &c, is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. 2 Whosoever
shall confess Me * before men,
him will I confess also before My
Father.
Second Antiphon. 3 He that fol-
loweth Me * walketh not in dark-
ness, but shall have the light of
life, saith the Lord.
Third Antiphon. 4 If any man
serve Me, * let him follow Me ; and
where I am, there shall also My
servant be.
Fourth Antiphon. 4 If any man
serve Me, * him will My Father,
Who is in heaven, honour.
Fifth Antiphon. 4 Father, I will
* that where I am, there shall also
My servant be.
2 Matth. x. 32.
4 John xii. 25, 26 ; xvii. 24.
FOR ONE MARTYR.
491
Chapter. (James i. 12.)
"DLESSED is the man that en-
-L' dureth temptation : for, when
he is tried, he shall receive the
crown of life, which God hath
promised to them that love Him.
Hymn.1
TV/TARTYR of unconquer'd might,
•'■*■*■ Follower of th' Incarnate Son !
Who, victorious in the fight,
Hast celestial glory won ;
By the virtue of thy prayer,
Let no evil hover nigh ;
Sin's contagion drive afar ;
Waken drowsy lethargy.
Loosen'd from the fleshly chain
Which detain'd thee here of old,
Loose us from the bonds of sin,
From the fetters of the world.
Glory to the Father be :
Glory to th' Incarnate Son ;
Glory, Holy Ghost, to Thee,
While eternal ages run. Amen.
Verse. 2 The righteous shall
flourish like the palm-tree.
Answer. He shall grow like a
cedar in Lebanon.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
3 He that hateth his life * in this
world, shall keep it unto life eternal.
If the Prayer is not special there is
said one of the following, which is also
used throughout the whole Office of the
Saint.
1 . Prayer for one Martyr, who was a
Bishop.
A/T ERCIFULLY consider our
^*- weakness, O Almighty God,
and whereas by the burden of
our sins we are sore let and hin-
1 Author unknown (tenth to thirteenth cen
the Rev. E. Caswall.
2 Ps. xci. 13.
dered, may it please Thee, that
the prayers of Thy blessed and
glorious Martyr and Bishop (here
insert his name) may shield us.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ
Thy Son, Who liveth and reign-
eth with Thee, in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
2. Another Prayer for the same.
f~\ GOD, Who year by year dost
^-S gladden us by the solemn
feast-day of Thy blessed Martyr
and Bishop, {here insert his name,)
mercifully grant that we who keep
his birthday, may ever feel the
joyful effects of his protection.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ
Thy Son, Who liveth and reign-
eth with Thee, in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
3. Prayer for a Martyr not a Bishop.
/^RANT, we beseech Thee, O
^-*" Almighty God, that we who
keep the birthday of Thy blessed
Martyr, {here insert his name,)
may be so holpen by his prayers,
that we may ever grow more and
more in love toward Thy holy
Name. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
4. Another for the same.
GRACIOUSLY hear us, we be-
seech Thee, O Almighty God,
and, at the petition of Thy blessed
tury) ; hymn slightly altered ; translation by
3 John xii. 25, 26 ; xvii. 24.
492
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Martyr, {here insert his name,) be
mercifully pleased to deliver us
from all things which may hurt
our bodies, and from all evil
thoughts which may defile our
souls. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. Whosoever, &c, {First
Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter at the end. (Ecclus. xxxix. 6.)
'T^HE righteous hath given his
■*■ heart to resort early to the
Lord That made him, and will pray
before the Most High.
TERCE.
Antiphon. He that followeth Me,
&c, {Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
Thou hast crowned him with
glory and honour, O Lord.
Answer. Thou hast crowned him
with glory and honour, O Lord.
Verse. And madest him to have
dominion over the works of Thy
hands.
Answer. With glory and hon-
our, O Lord.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Ansiver. Thou hast crowned him
with glory and honour, O Lord.
Verse. O Lord, Thou hast set
a crown of precious stones —
Answer. Upon his head,
SEXT.
Antiphon. If any man serve Me,
&c, {Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Ecclus. xv. 3.)
VyiTH the bread of life and
* * understanding hath the
Lord our God fed him, and given
him the water of health and wisdom
to drink.
Short Responsory.
O Lord, Thou hast set a crown
of precious stones —
Answer. O Lord, Thou hast set
a crown of precious stones —
Verse. Upon his head.
Answer. A crown of precious
stones.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. O Lord, Thou hast set
a crown of precious stones —
Verse. His glory is great in Thy
salvation.
Answer. Honour and great ma-
jesty shalt Thou lay upon him.
NONE.
Antiphon. Father, I will, &c,
{Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
His glory is great in Thy salva-
tion.
Answer. His glory is great in
Thy salvation.
Verse. Honour and great majesty
shalt Thou lay upon him.
Answer. In Thy salvation.
FOR ONE MARTYR.
493
Verse. The righteous shall flour-
ish like the palm-tree.
Ansiuer. He shall grow like a
cedar in Lebanon.
SECOND VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, Verse and An-
swer, and Prayer from Lands.
Psalm CXV.
[In the Hebrew this Psalm is a continua-
tion of the last. The Vulgate and the LXX.
prefix "Alleluia."]
T BELIEVED, therefore have I
-*• spoken : * but I was greatly
afflicted.
I said in my haste : * All men
are liars.
What shall I render unto the Lord
* for all His benefits toward me ?
I will take the cup of salvation,
* and call upon the name of the
Lord.
I will pay my vows unto the Lord
in the presence of all His people.
* Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of His Saints.
0 Lord, truly I am Thy servant :
* I am Thy servant, and the son of
Thine handmaid :
Thou hast loosed my bonds. * I
will offer to Thee the sacrifice of
thanksgiving, and will call upon the
name of the Lord.
1 will pay my vows unto the Lord,
in the presence of all His people : *
in the courts of the Lord's house, in
the midst of thee, O Jerusalem !
Hymn as at First Vespers.
Antiphon at the Song of the
Blessed Virgin. x If any man will
come after Me, * let him deny him-
self, and take up his cross, and
follow Me.
©tfjer Wessons for JJtasts of
©ne JHartsr.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ex-
position of the hundred -and -
eighteenth Psalm by St Ambrose,
Bishop [of Milan.] (21st Serjnon.)
" "ORINCES have persecuted me
-*• without a cause ; but my
heart standeth in awe of Thy word."
These are rightly the words of a
martyr, who beareth unjustly the
torments of the persecutors, who
hath robbed no man, who hath
violently oppressed no man, who
hath shed the blood of no man,
who hath imagined to defile the
bed of no man, who is debtor to
the laws in nothing, and who is
punished more grievously than if he
were a robber : who speaketh right-
eousness, and there is none that
will hear : who speaketh salvation,
and all men fight against him : who
is able to say : " When I spoke unto
them, they fought against me with-
out a cause." (Ps. cxix. 7.) They
fight against him without a cause,
who can lay no sin to his charge ;
they fight against him as an evil-
doer, who is by their own acknow-
ledgment righteous : they fight
against him as a warlock, who glor-
ieth in the name of the Lord, and
who doeth all things well because he
doeth all things for God's sake.
Fifth Lesson.
'~~PHEY fight against him in vain
*■ who is accused of ungodli-
ness among the ungodly and the
1 Matth. xvi. 24.
VOL. I.
494
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
unfaithful, because he teacheth
Faith. Verily, him that is fought
against without a cause it behoveth
to be strong and patient. Where-
fore then saith he : " My heart
standeth in awe of Thy word ? "
Awe is the mark of the weak, the
timid, and the fearful. But there
is also a weakness unto salvation,
there is a fear which is an holy fear.
" O fear the Lord, all ye His Saints."
(Ps. xxxiii. i o.) And again : " Blessed
is the man that feareth the Lord."
(Ps. cxi. i.) And wherefore is he
blessed ? because he " delighteth
greatly in His commandments."
Sixth Lesson.
^PHINK, then, how the martyr
-*■ standeth between two dangers.
On the one hand the wild beasts,
roaring for his blood, do indeed
strike terror ; he heareth the hissing
of the plates of white-hot metal, and
seeth surging up the flames of the
fiery furnace ; behind him is the
clanking of fetters, and beside him
the executioner, stained with fresh
blood ; think of him there, face to
face with the apparatus of death —
but think again — of what thinketh
he? Of the Law of God, of the
everlasting fire, of the eternal flames,
wherein the unbelieving shall burn
for ever, of that torture whereof the
agony is for ever new. And then
indeed his heart faileth for fear, lest
by giving way under torment here,
he should give himself up to ever-
lasting torment hereafter : then in-
deed he trembleth, when Faith
maketh to glitter before his eyes
the awful sword of the judgment to
come. And in this, the faithful
trembling of the true-hearted, are
there not both unshaken hope of
the eternal things, and awe of the
things of God ?
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew
(xvi. 24.)
A T that time : Jesus said unto
^*- His disciples : If any man
will come after Me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and
follow Me. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (32nd on the Gospels.)
Our Lord and Redeemer came
into the world a new Man, and gave
the world new commandments. For
against the ways of our old life,
brought and bred up in sin, He set
the contrast of His new life. It was
the old way, according to the know-
ledge of the carnal man, for every
man to keep his own goods, and, if
he were able to do it, to take his
neighbour's goods also, and, if he
were not able to take them, at least
to lust after them. But the Heavenly
Physician hath medicines wherewith
to meet all the diseases of sin. For,
even, as by the art of the physician,
things hot are healed by things cold,
and things cold by things hot, so
doth our Lord set against sin holi-
ness, ordaining for the lecherous
purity, for the miserly munificence,
for the hot-tempered meekness, and
for the proud lowliness.
Eighth Lesson.
SO the Lord, when He would give
a new commandment unto
them that came to Him, said :
FOR ONE MARTYR.
495
*' Whosoever he be of you that for-
saketh not all that he hath, he
cannot be My disciple," (Luke xiv.
33,) — as though He had said
openly : " All ye that according to
the old man lust after your neigh-
bour's goods, must, according to
the zeal of the new man, give
away even that which is your own."
But let us hear again what He
saith in this place : " If any man
will come after Me, let him deny
himself." First He saith that we
must deny to ourselves that which
is our own, and now that we
must even deny ourselves to our-
selves. Perchance it is not hard
for a man to give up that which
is his own, but it is exceeding
hard to give up himself. To deny
himself his possessions is little :
but to deny himself himself is a
denial exceeding great.
Ninth Lesson.
YET when we#come unto Him
the Lord will have us deny
to ourselves even ourselves, since
as many of us as are entered into
the battle of faith, are entered into
a contention against evil spirits.
But the evil spirits have nothing of
their own in this world, and there-
fore must we wrestle with them,
naked with naked. For if he that
is clothed, wrestle with him that is
naked, he faileth swiftly, because
he hath whereon he that is naked
taketh hold. And what are all
things earthly but things where-
with the soul is clothed upon?
whosoever therefore will wrestle
with Satan, let him cast away
his clothes, lest he be thereby
endangered.
Again other Lessons for the Third
Nocturn.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (x.
26.)
A T that time : Jesus said unto
■£*■ His disciples : There is no-
thing covered, that shall not be
revealed, and hid, that shall not
be known. And so on.
Homily by St Hilary, Bishop
[of Poitiers.] (Comm. on Matth.
Chap. 10.)
The Lord pointeth to the day of
judgment, that day wherein the
hidden counsels of the hearts shall
be made manifest, and those things
which are dark now shall be the
subject of all men's knowledge.
Therefore He warneth us not to
fear threats, nor persuasions, nor
the power of such as fight against
us j since in the day of judgment
it will be manifest that all these
things are null and void. "And
what I tell you in darkness, that
speak ye in light ; and what ye
hear in the ear, that preach ye
upon the house-tops." We read
not that the Lord's use was to
speak by night, or to tell His
doctrine in darkness, but that to
the carnal all His words were
darkness, and to the unbelieving
all His discourse night.
Eighth Lesson.
THEREFORE willeth He that
that which He hath spoken,
should be freely proclaimed in faith
and in confession. Therefore com-
496
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
mandeth He that that which He
hath told in darkness shall be
spoken in light, and that that
which He hath made to be heard
in the ear should be preached
upon the house-tops, that is, with
loud and high words. For it be-
hoveth us ever to make God
known, and to speak in the light
of Apostolic preaching the dark
things of the Gospel message, hav-
ing no fear of them which have
power over bodies, but none over
our souls, but rather fearing God,
Which is able to destroy both body
and soul in hell.
jFor Simple jFcasts of ©ne
fHartgr,
The Office is as on a Semi-double,
with the following exceptions.
FIRST VESPERS.
The Office is of the Week-day, till the
Chapter exclusive.
The Office of the Saint begins with
the Chapter, which, as also the Hymn,
Verse and Answer, Antiphon at the
Song of the Blessed Virgin, and Prayer
are all as given, (p. 482.) The Com-
mon Commemorations are said or not
according to the season .
At Compline are said Preces.
Ninth Lesson.
" T^EAR not them which kill the
-*■ body." Therefore we need
fear nothing which may chance to
our bodies, nor sorrow because of
the destruction of the flesh, when,
according to the laws of our nature
and that from whence we are
taken, we are unclothed upon, and
become a pure spirit. And, since
it behoveth us who are rooted
in such a doctrine, freely and con-
stantly to confess God, even were
it only because of the alternative
whereby we are bound, He saith
further : " Whosoever shall confess
Me before men, him will I con-
fess also before My Father, Which
is in heaven. But whosoever shall
deny Me before men, him will
I also deny before My Father,
Which is in heaven." Such wit-
nesses as He hath seen us to have
been here to His name before
men, such a Witness shall we
find Him to be hereafter to our
names before His Father Which
is in heaven.
MATTINS.
The Invitatory and Hyimi are as
just given.
Then follow the Week-day Psalms,
with their own Antiphon s.
On Mondays and Thursdays.
Verse. Thou hast crowned him
with glory and honour, O Lord.
Answer. And, madest him to
have dominion over the works of
Thy hands.
Absolution.
Graciously hear, &c.
On Tuesdays and Fridays.
Verse. O Lord, Thou hast set a
crown of precious stones —
Answer. Upon his head.
Absolution.
May His loving-kindness, &c.
On Wednesdays.
Verse. His glory is great in Thy
salvation.
FOR ONE MARTYR.
497
Answer, Honour and great ma-
jesty shalt Thou lay upon him.
Absolutio7i,
May the Almighty, &c.
First Blessing.
May His blessing be upon us,
Who doth live and reign for ever.
First Lesson from Scripture accord-
ing to the Season, being either the first
part, or, if the Saint have two Lessons,
the whole read as one, at will.
First Responsory.
On Mondays and Thursdays.
This man is holy, &c, {First Re-
sponsory in the preceding Office.)
On Tuesdays and Fridays.
The Lord made him honourable,
&c, {Fourth Responsory in the pre-
ceding Office.)
On Wednesdays.
A crown of gold, &c., {Seventh Re-
sponsory in the preceding Office.)
Second Blessing.
He whose feast-day we are keep-
ing
Be our Advocate with God.
Second Lesson is the first of the Le-
gend of the Saint, if there be two; if
not, it is the second from Scripture, to
which the third may be added at will.
Second Responsory.
On Mondays and Thursdays.
The righteous shall grow, &c,
{Second Responsory in the preceding
Office ;) with this addition :
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Yea, he shall flourish in
the presence of the Lord for ever.
On Tuesdays and Fridays.
O Lord, Thou hast given him,
&c, {Fifth Responsory in the preceding
Office ;) with this addition :
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And hast not with-
holden the request of his lips.
On Wednesdays.
This is a martyr indeed, &c.
Or, O Lord, Thou hast prevented,
&c, {Eighth Responsory in the pre-
ceding Office.)
Third Blessing.
May He That is the Angels'
King
To that high realm His people
bring.
Third Lesson is the whole or the sec-
ond part of the Legend of the Saint, if
there is one, or else the special Lesson
assigned.
Then the Hymn, " We praise Thee,
O God, &c," (s said, and so end Mat-
tins.
■ The rest of the Office is as on a Semi-
double, as just given; it ends at None,
inclusive; Preces are said at Prime,
and the Common Commemorations ar&
made at Lauds or not, according to
season.
ar£
the
498
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
TV. ifor #ta$t* of Jttang Jftartgrs-
Everything as on Sundays, except Answer. And shout for joy, all
what is otherwise given here. ye that are upright in heart.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Pray erfrojn
Lauds.
Last Psalm.
O praise the Lord, &c., (Ps. cxvi.,
p. 1 86.)
Hymn.1
rTHE triumphs of the martyred saints
*- The joyous lay demand,
The heart delights in song to dwell
On that victorious band :
Those whom the senseless world ab-
horred,
Who cast the world aside,
Deemed fruitless, worthless, for the
sake
Of Christ, their Lord and Guide.
For Thee they braved the tyrant's rage,
The scourge's cruel smart :
The wild beast's claw their bodies
tore,
But vanquished not the heart :
Like lambs before the sword they fell,
Nor cry nor plaint expressed :
For patience kept the conscious mind,
And armed the fearless breast.
What tongue can tell Thy crown pre-
pared
To wreathe the martyr's head ?
What voice Thy robe of white to clothe
His limbs with torture red ?
Vouchsafe us, Lord, if such Thy will,
Clear skies and seasons calm :
If not, the martyr's cross to bear,
And win the martyr's palm. Amen.
Verse. 2Be glad in the Lord,
»nd rejoice, ye righteous.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 3 For theirs is the kingdom
of heaven, who loved not their lives
in this world, and have attained
unto the reward of the kingdom,
and have washed their robes in the
blood of the Lamb.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. The Lord, He is the
King of the Martyrs. * O come,
let us worship Him !
Hymn.*
NOW, comrades, sing we the strife
and the victory,
Sing we the triumph, the joy, and the
majesty,
Fain be our lips when the theme for
their utterance
Tells of martyrdom glorified.
Wisdom was theirs which was reckoned
as foolishness,
Lost on a world which esteemed their
end honourless
While in the might of Thy Spirit they
followed Thee,
Jesus, heaven's eternal King.
Courage was theirs which no mocking
nor threatening
Daunted, nor all the inventions of
cruelty
Broke, when the conquerors, strong
under agony,
Crushed the power of the torturer.
1 Author unknown (sixth to ninth century) ; hymn altered at some places
by the late Dr Mant.
2 Ps. xxxi. II. 3 Cf. Matth. v. io ; John xii. 25 ; Apoc. vii. 14.
4 The original is a hymn of the Ambrosian school, perhaps by St Ambrose himself.
translation
FOR MANY MARTYRS.
499
Mute as the lamb that is led to the
slaughtering
Died they, no cry and no violence
uttering :
Peace in their hearts from the peace
of eternity
Only witnessing all was well.
Glory is theirs and unspeakable happi-
ness,
Bright with the light of unaltering
blessedness,
Stored up in heaven for such as have
died for Thee
By our minds inconceivable.
Praise be to Thee, their faith's Author
and Finisher,
Only-begotten with Him Who beget-
teth Thee,
And to the Spirit, Who, with Thee, co-
equally
Reigns eternally magnified. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Only three Psalms are said.
First Antiphon. By the rivers of
water * hath the Lord planted the
vineyard l of the righteous, and in
His Law do they meditate day and
night.
Ps. i. Blessed is the man, &c,
(A 4-)
Second Antiphon. 2As gold in
the furnace * hath the Lord tried His
chosen ones, and received them for
ever as a burnt-offering.
Ps. ii. Why do the heathen, &c,
(A 4-)
Third Antiphon. 2 Though the
elect be punished * in the sight of
men, yet is their hope full of immor-
tality for ever.
1 Cf. Isa. v. 7. 2 Wisd. iii. 6, 4.
3 In Apoc. xxi. 4, from which this beautiful Responsory is taken, the words are, " And
there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, &c." The mention of " death " seems to be
omitted because the Church will not apply that word to the glorious transit of her Martyrs,
which she habitually styles their "natalitia," or Birthday Festival.
Ps. iii. Lord, how are they in-
creased, &c, (/. 5.)
Verse. Be glad in the Lord, and
rejoice, ye righteous.
Answer. And shout for joy, all
ye that are upright in heart.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of Blessed Paul the Apostle to
the Romans (viii. 12.)
"DRETHREN, we are debtors, not
*-* to the flesh, to live after the
flesh. For if ye live after the flesh,
ye shall die : but if ye through the
Spirit do mortify the deeds of the
body, ye shall live. For as many
as are led by the Spirit of God, they
are the sons of God. For ye have
not received the spirit of bondage
again to fear, but ye have received
the Spirit of adoption, whereby we
cry : Abba ! (Father.) For the Spirit
Itself beareth witness with our spirit
that we are the children of God.
And if children, then heirs 5 heirs of
God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if
so be that we suffer with Him, that
we may be also glorified together.
For I reckon that the sufferings of
this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall
be revealed in us. For the earnest
expectation of the creature waiteth
for the manifestation of the sons of
God.
First Responsory.
God shall wipe away all tears
from the eyes of His Saints, and
there shall be no more 3 sorrow,
5oo
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
nor crying, neither shall there be
any more pain ; for the former
things are passed away.
Verse. They shall hunger no
more, neither thirst any more,
neither shall the sun light on
them, nor any heat.
Answer. For the former things
are passed away.
Second Lesson. (28.)
A ND we know that all things
*~** work together for good to
them that love God, to them who
are called to be Saints, according
to His purpose. For whom He did
foreknow, He also did predestinate
to be conformed to the image of
His Son, that He might be the
First-born among many brethren.
Moreover, whom He did predes-
tinate, them He also called : and
whom He called, them He also
justified : and whom He justified,
them He also glorified. What then
shall we say to these things? If
God be for us, who can be against
us ? He That spared not His own
Son, but delivered Him up for us
all, how shall He not with Him also
freely give us all things ? Who shall
lay anything to the charge of God's
elect? It is God That justifieth.
Who is He that condemneth? It
is Christ Jesus, That died, yea,
rather, That is risen again, Who is
even at the right hand of God, Who
also maketh intercession for us.
Second Responsory.
These men are holy, who have
gloriously shed their blood for the
Lord's sake, yea, who loved Christ in
1 Ps. xliii. 22.
their lives, and were made like unto
Him in their flesh, and therefore they
have earned crowns of victory.
Verse. One spirit, and one faith
was in them.
Answer. And therefore they
have earned crowns of victory.
Third Lesson.
\ AT HO then shall separate us
* * from the love of Christ ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
persecution, or sword ? As it is
written : For Thy sake we are killed
all the day long, we are accounted
as sheep for the slaughter.1 Nay,
in all these things we are more than
conquerors, through Him That loved
us. For I am persuaded that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor Prin-
cipalities, nor Powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor
might, nor height, nor depth, nor
any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Third Responsory.
They gave their bodies for God's
sake to death ; and gained the ever-
lasting crown.
Verse. 2 These are they which
came out of great tribulation, and
have washed their robes in the
Blood of the Lamb.
Answer. And gained the ever-
lasting crown.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And gained the ever-
lasting crown.
2 Apoc. vii. 14.
FOR MANY MARTYRS.
50I
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. 1 1 will give
unto My Saints a place * in the
kingdom of My Father, every one
by his own name, saith the Lord.
Psalm XIV.
[Intituled " A Psalm of David."]
LORD, who shall abide in Thy
tabernacle ? * who shall dwell
in Thine holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, * and
worketh righteousness.
He that speaketh the truth in his
heart, * he that deceiveth not with
his tongue.
He that hath not done evil to his
neighbour, * nor taken up a reproach
against his neighbour.
In whose eyes a vile person is
despised : * but he honoureth them
that fear the Lord.
He that sweareth to his neighbour,
and deceiveth him not, * he that
putteth not out his money to usury,
nor taketh reward against the in-
nocent.
He that doeth these things, *
shall never be moved.
Second Antiphon. To the Saints
that are in the earth * Thou hast
made all my counsels admirable.
Psalm XV.
[Intituled a work "of David," but the
specifically descriptive word is not now of
certain meaning.]
PRESERVE me, O Lord, for in
Thee do I put my trust : *
I have said unto the Lord : Thou
art my God, for Thou hast no need
of my goods.
To the Saints that are in His
land, * He hath made all my will
admirable.
Their sorrows are multiplied, *
that hasten after [a strange god.]
In their assemblies for blood-
shedding will I have no part : * nor
mention their names with my lips.
The Lord is the portion of mine
inheritance, and of my cup : *
Thou art He That shalt restore
mine inheritance unto me.
The lines are fallen unto me in
pleasant places : * yea, I have a
goodly heritage.
I will bless the Lord, Who hath
given me counsel : * my reins also
instruct me in the night seasons.
I have set the Lord always be-
fore my face : * because He is at my
right hand, I shall never be moved.
Therefore mine heart is glad, and
my tongue rejoiceth : * my flesh
also shall rest in hope,
For Thou wilt not leave my soul
in hell : * neither wilt Thou suffer
Thine Holy One to see corruption.
Thou hast shown me the path of
life, Thou shalt fill me with joy in
Thy presence : * at Thy right hand
there are pleasures for evermore.
Third Antiphon. 2 The Saints
that wait upon the Lord * shall
renew their strength ; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles,
they shall fly and not faint.
Psalm XXIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." The
Vulgate and the LXX. add "for the first
day of the week."]
n^ HE earth is the Lord's and the
-*■ fulness thereof; * the world,
and they that dwell therein.
1 Cf. John xiv. 2,
2 Isa..xl. 31.
VOL. I.
R 2
502
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
For He hath founded it upon the
seas, * and established it upon the
floods.
Who shall ascend into the moun-
tain of the Lord? * or who shall
stand in His holy place?
He that hath clean hands and a
pure heart, * who hath not lifted
up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn
deceitfully unto his neighbour.
He shall receive a blessing from
the Lord, * and mercy from the
God of his salvation.
This is the generation of them
that seek Him, * that seek the
face of the God of Jacob.1
Lift up your gates, O ye princes,
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
doors ! * and the King of glory
shall come in.
Who is this King of glory ? *
The Lord strong and mighty, the
Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your gates, O ye princes,
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
doors ! * and the King of glory
shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? *
The Lord of hosts, He is the
King of glory.1
Verse. 2 Let the righteous rejoice
before God.
Answer. Yea, let them exceed-
ingly rejoice.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St Austin, Bishop [of
Hippo.] (47//* on the Saints.)
DEARLY beloved brethren, as
often as we keep the Feasts
of the holy Martyrs, we look to
obtain of the Lord, by their inter-
cession, such good things in this life
that thereby we, following them, may
gain better in that which is to come.
For they only do truly keep Holiday
on the Feasts of the Martyrs, who
follow after the Martyrs' example.
These Feasts of the Martyrs are the
Martyrs' preaching, whereby to stir
us up to imitate what we are not
loath to honour.
Fourth Responsory.
3 Thy Saints, O Lord, have passed
a wonderful way, serving Thy com-
mandments, that they might be
found without hurt in the midst
of the mighty waters. Dry land
appeared, and, out of the Red Sea,
a way without impediment.
Verse. 4 He smote the rock, and
the waters gushed out, and the
streams overflowed.
Answer. Dry land appeared, and,
out of the Red Sea, a way without
impediment.
Fifth Lesson.
OUT we, who would fain rejoice
*-* with the Saints, would fain
not share with them the persecu-
tion of the world. Whosoever will
not take ensample of the holy Mar-
tyrs, as far as lieth in him, such
an one cannot attain unto their
blessedness. ' Thus preacheth the
Apostle Paul, when he saith : " As
ye are partakers of the sufferings,
so shall ye be also of the consola-
tion." (2 Cor. i. 7.) Yea, the Lord
Himself saith in the Gospel : " If
the world hate you, ye know that
it hated Me before it hated you."
(John xv. 18.) He will not be of
SLH.
2 Ps. Ixvii. 4.
3 Wisd. xix. 5-7 ; Neh. ix. 11.
4 Ps. lxxvii. 20.
FOR MANY MARTYRS.
503
the body, who will not be hated
with the Head.
Fifth Responsory.
The Saints of God shrank not
from the stripes of the executioners,
but died for Christ's Name's sake ;
that they might be made joint-heirs
in the house of the Lord.
Verse. They gave their bodies
for God's sake to death.
Answer. That they might be
made joint-heirs in the house of the
Lord.
Sixth Lesson.
OUT some man will say: "And
*-* who is he that can tread in
the footsteps of the blessed Mar-
tyrs ? " To such an one I answer
that, by the Lord's help, we are
able, if we so will, to tread in the
footsteps, not of the blessed Mar-
tyrs only, but even of the same
Lord Himself. Hearken, not to
me, but to the same Lord, Who
crieth unto all men : " Learn of
Me, for I am meek and lowly in
heart." (Matth. xi. 29.) Hear
also with what words the Apostle
Peter warneth us: "Christ suffered
for us, leaving us an example,
that we should follow His steps."
(1 Pet. ii. 21.)
Sixth Responsory.
1 As gold in the furnace hath the
Lord tried His chosen ones, and
received them as a burnt - offering,
and yet a while, and they shall be
regarded ; for the grace of God, and
His peace, are with His chosen.
Verse. They that put their trust
in Him shall understand the truth :
and such as be faithful in love shall
abide with Him.
Answer. For the grace of God,
and His peace, are with His chosen.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. For the grace of God,
and His peace, are with His chosen.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. 2 The righteous
live * for evermore ; their reward
also is with the Lord.
Psalm XXXII.
[The Vulgate and the LXX. ascribe this
psalm "to David."]
O EJOICE in the Lord, O ye
-^^ righteous : * praise is comely
for the upright.
Praise the Lord with harp : *
sing unto Him with the psaltery
of ten strings.
Sing unto Him a new song : *
play skilfully unto Him with a loud
noise.
For the word of the Lord is
right : * and all His works are done
in truth.
He loveth mercy and judgment : *
the earth is full of the goodness of
the Lord.
By the word of the Lord were
the heavens made, * and all the
host of them by the breath of His
mouth.
He gathereth the waters of the
sea together as an heap : * He lay-
eth up the depths in storehouses.
Let all the ea'rth fear the Lord :
* let all the inhabitants of the world
stand in awe of Him.
1 Wisd. iii. 6-9.
2 Wisd. v. 16.
504
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
For He spake, and it was done :
* He commanded, and it was made.
The Lord bringeth the counsel
of the heathen to nought : * He
maketh the devices of the people of
none effect, and setteth aside the
counsel of princes.
But the counsel of the Lord
standeth for ever, * the thoughts of
His heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God
is the Lord, * the people He hath
chosen for His own inheritance.
The Lord looketh from heaven :
* He beholdeth all the sons of men.
From the set place of His habi-
tation * He looketh upon all the
inhabitants of the earth.
He fashioneth the heart of every
one of them : * He considereth all
their works.
There is no king saved by the mul-
titude of an host : * a mighty man
is not delivered by much strength.
An horse is a vain thing for safety :
* by his great strength he shall not
escape.
Behold, the eyes of the Lord are
upon them that fear Him, * and
upon them that hope in His mercy.
To deliver their soul from death,
* and to feed them in time of famine.
Our soul waiteth for the Lord : *
for He is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in Him :
* because we have trusted in His
holy Name.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon
us, * according as we hope in Thee.
Second Antiphon. They gave up
their bodies unto death * rather
than serve idols : and therefore have
they crowns on their heads and
palms in their hands.1
Psalm XXXIII.
[Intituled " Of David, when he changed
his behaviour before Abimelech, who drove
him away and he departed." This incident
is thus described in I Kings (Sam.) xxi. io :
" And David arose and fled that day for fear
of Saul, and went to Achish " (otherwise
called Abimelech) " the King of Gath. And
the servants of Achish said unto him : Is
not this David the King of the land? Did
they not sing one to another of him in
dances saying, ' Saul hath slain his thou-
sands, and David his ten thousands'? And
David laid up these words in his heart, and
was sore afraid of Achish the King of Gath.
And he changed his behaviour before them,
and feigned himself mad in their hands,
and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and
let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
Then said Achish to his servants : Lo, ye
see the man is mad ; wherefore have you
brought him to me ? Have I need of mad-
men, that ye have brought this fellow to
play the madman in my presence? Shall
this fellow come into mine house? xxii.
David therefore departed thence, and es-
caped to the cave of Adullam. " This Psalm
is A B C Darian.]
T WILL bless the Lord at all
-*■ times : * His praise shall con-
tinually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in
the Lord : * the humble shall hear
thereof, and be glad.
0 magnify the Lord with me : *
and let us exalt His Name to-
gether.
1 sought the Lord, and He heard
me, * and delivered me from all my
distress.
Draw near unto Him, and be
lightened, * and your faces shall
not be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the
Lord heard him, * and saved him
out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encampeth
round about them that fear Him, *
and delivereth them.
O taste and see that the Lord is
1 Apoc. vii. 9.
FOR MANY MARTYRS.
505
good : * blessed is the man that
trusteth in Him.
O fear the Lord, all ye His
Saints : * for there is no want to
them that fear Him.
The mighty lack and suffer hun-
ger: * but they that seek the Lord
shall not want any good thing.
Come, ye children, hearken unto
me : * I will teach you the fear of
the Lord.
What man is he that desireth life,
* that loveth to see good days ?
Keep thy tongue from evil, * and
thy lips from speaking guile.
Depart from evil and do good : *
seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are upon
the righteous : * and His ears are
open unto their cry.
But the face of the Lord is
against them that do evil, * to cut
off the remembrance of them from
the earth.
The righteous cry and the Lord
heareth, * and delivereth them out
of all their troubles.
The Lord is nigh unto them that
are of a broken heart, * and saveth
such as be of a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the
righteous : * but the Lord will de-
liver them out of all.
The Lord keepeth all their bones :
* not one of them shall be broken.
The death of sinners is grievous :
* and they that hate the righteous
shall be guilty.
The Lord redeemeth the souls of
His servants : * and none of them
that trust in Him shall be guilty.
Third Antiphon. Behold, how
great with God is the reward * of
His Saints : 1 yea, they who died
for Christ's sake shall live for ever
and ever.
Ps. xlv. God is our refuge, &c,
(A 97-)
Verse. The righteous live for
evermore.
Ansiuer. Their reward also is
with the Lord.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the
Holy Gospel according to Luke
(xxi. 9.)
A T that time : Jesus said unto
•**• His disciples : When ye shall
hear of wars and commotions, be
not terrified : for these things must
first come to pass ; but the end is
not by and by. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (35^ on the Gospels.}
Our Lord and Redeemer will-
eth us to know what shall be the
signs that the end of the world is
at hand, to the end that ye may be
the less terrified, when that com-
eth whereof ye have already had
warning. Darts strike less which
are seen coming : and the plagues
of the earth will be to us more
bearable, if we are harnessed
against them with the shield of
foreknowledge. Behold, how He
saith : " When ye shall hear of
wars and commotions be not ter-
rified : for these things must first
come to pass j but the end is not
by and by." It behoveth us to
ponder these words of our Re-
deemer, wherein He warneth us of
suffering, from without, and from
1 Matth. v. 12.
506
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
within. Wars are the work of a
foreign enemy, commotions of the
citizens. Therefore, that He may
let us know that we shall be troubled
from within and from without, He
showeth that our wrestling shall be
in part against strangers, and in part
against our brethren.
Seventh Responsory.
Because of the covenant of the
Lord, and the laws of their fathers,
the Saints of God abode in brotherly
love, for one spirit and one faith
was ever in them.
Verse. x Behold how good and
how pleasant it is for brethren to
dwell together in unity.
Answer. For one spirit and one
faith was ever in them.
Eighth Blessing.
They whose feast-day we are
keeping
Be our Advocates with God.
Eighth Lesson.
BUT, when these woes come, the
end is not by and by. And
He saith further : " Nation shall
, rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom ; and great earth-
quakes shall be in divers places,
and pestilences, and famines, and
fearful sights and great signs shall
there be from heaven." Before the
last tribulation cometh, shall come
many other tribulations : and, by
the many woes which shall come
first, shall be foreshadowed the ever-
lasting woe which shall come in the
end. And therefore, after wars and
commotions, the end is not yet by
and by : many woes must come
first, to give warning of the woe that
hath no end.
Eighth Responsory.
O ye My Saints, who, being in
the flesh, didst have striving — I
will render unto you a reward of
your labours.2
Verse. 3 Come, ye blessed of My
Father, inherit the kingdom !
Answer. I will render unto you
a reward of your labours.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. I will render unto you
a reward of your labours.
On the Feasts of Martyrs who were
brothers the following is the Second or
Eighth Responsory.
Theirs is a brotherhood indeed,
whose tie no storms availed to
sever : together they followed the
Lord in the shedding of their
blood. Together they set at nought
the Royal Palace ; together they
attained unto the kingdom of
heaven.
Verse. Behold how good and
how pleasant it is for brethren to
dwell together in unity.
Answer. Together they set at
nought the Royal Palace ; together
they attained unto the kingdom of
heaven.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Together they set at
nought the Royal Palace ; together
they attained unto the kingdom of
heaven.
1 Ps. cxxxii. I.
2 Wisd. x. 17.
3 Matth. xxv. 34.
FOR MANY MARTYRS.
507
Third Antiphon. * The bodies
of the Saints are buried in peace, *
and their name liveth for evermore.
Fourth Antiphon. O all ye Mar-
tyrs of the Lord, bless ye the Lord
* for ever.
Fifth Antiphon. O ye Martyrs,
* praise ye the Lord from the
heavens, praise Him with the dance
—[Alleluia.]
Note that between Septuagesima and
Easter this last word "Alleluia" is
omitted.
The Chapter. (Wisd. iii. 1.)
HP HE souls of the righteous are
*- in the hand of God, and the
torment of death shall not touch
them. In the sight of the unwise
they seemed to die : but they are in
peace.
Hymn for many Martyrs?
OTHOU, the Martyrs' glorious
King,
Of Confessors the crown and prize ;
Who dost to joys celestial bring
Those who the joys of earth despise !
By all the praise Thy Saints have won ;
By all their pains in days gone by ;
By all the deeds which they have done ;
Hear Thou Thy suppliant people's
cry.
Thou dost amid Thy Martyrs fight ;
Thy Confessors Thou dost forgive ;
May we find mercy in Thy sight,
And in Thy sacred presence live.
To God the Father glory be,
And to His sole-begotten Son ;
And glory, Holy Ghost, to Thee !
While everlasting ages run. Amen.
Verse. 3Let the Saints be joy-
ful in glory.
1 Ecclus. xliv. 14.
2 The original hymn, written between the tenth and thirteenth centuries, is slightly
altered in the Breviary. 3 Ps. cxlix. 5.
Ninth Lesson.
BUT, forasmuch as the signs and
troubles whereof the Lord
speaketh are so manifold, we must
needs shortly consider each : for, of
necessity, we must suffer some
things from heaven, some from the
earth, some from the powers of
nature, and some from men. For
where He saith : " Nation shall rise
against nation " — He speaketh con-
cerning the troubling of men :
where : " great earthquakes shall
be in divers places " — concerning
wrath from above: where: "and
pestilences " — concerning the frailty
of the body : where : " and famines "
— concerning the barrenness of the
earth : where : " fearful signs from
heaven," and tempests — concerning
commotions of the air. As, then,
all things shall have an end, so, be-
fore the end, shall all things be
troubled : and we who have sinned
and come short in all things, shall
in all things be afflicted, that it may
be fulfilled that is written : " and
the world shall fight with Him
against the unwise." (Wisd. v. 21.)
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. O how many
torments have all the Saints suf-
fered, * that they might attain
safely unto the palm of martyrdom !
Second Antiphon. The Saints
have attained unto the kingdom, *
with palms in their hands ; they
have earned crowns of Majesty
from the Lord's hand.
508
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Answer. Let them sing aloud
upon their beds.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
1 Even the very hairs of your head
are all numbered : * fear not there-
fore; ye are of more value than
many sparrows.
If the Prayer is not special there is
said one of the following, tvhich is also
used throughout the whole Office of the
Saints.
Prayer for many Martyrs, who were
Bishops.
r\ LORD, we beseech Thee, that
^-^ the feast of Thy blessed Mar-
tyrs and Bishops (here insert their
names) may keep us, and their
worshipful prayers commend us.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ
Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth
with Thee, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Ame?i.
Prayer for many Martyrs, not Bishops.
f~\ GOD, by Whose mercy we
^S here keep the birthday of
Thy holy Martyrs, (here insert their
names,) grant us hereafter to rejoice
in their blessed company for all
eternity. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
A?iother for the same.
f~\ God, Who, year by year, dost
^-^ gladden us by the solemn
feast-day of Thy holy Martyrs,
(here insert their names,) mercifully
grant, that we who rejoice because
1 Luke xii. 7.
of their worthy deeds, may be also
stirred up to follow after their ex-
ample. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Atnen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. O how many torments,
&c, (First A?itiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter at the end. (VVisd. iii. 7.)
'T^HE righteous shall shine, and
-*• run to and fro like sparks
among the stubble. They shall
judge the nations, and have do-
minion over the people, and their
Lord shall reign for ever.
TERCE.
Antiphon. The Saints have at-
tained, &c, (Second Antiphon at
Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
2 Be glad in the Lord, and re-
joice, ye righteous.
Answer. Be glad in the Lord,
and rejoice, ye righteous.
Verse. And shout for joy, all
ye that are upright in heart.
Answer. And rejoice, ye right-
eous.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Be glad in the Lord,
and rejoice, ye righteous.
Verse. Let the righteous rejoice
before God.
Answer. Yea, let them exceed-
ingly rejoice.
2 Ps. xxxi. II.
FOR MANY MARTYRS.
509
SEXT.
Antiphoti. The bodies of the
Saints, &c, {Third Antiphon at
Lauds.)
Chapter. (Wisd. x. 17.)
THE Lord hath rendered to the
Saints a reward of their la-
bours, and guided them in a mar-
vellous way : and was unto them
for a cover by day, and a light of
stars in the night season.
Short Responsory.
Let the righteous rejoice before
God.
Answer. Let the righteous re-
joice before God.
Verse. Yea, let them exceed-
ingly rejoice.
Answer. Before God.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Let the righteous re-
joice before God.
Verse. The righteous live for
evermore.
Anstver. Their reward also is
with the Lord.
NONE.
Antiphon. O ye Martyrs, &c,
{Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
The righteous live for evermore.
Answer. The righteous live for
evermore.
Verse. Their reward also is with
the Lord.
Answer. For evermore.
1 Heb. xi. 33.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. The righteous live for
evermore.
Verse. Let the Saints be joyful
in glory.
Answer. Let them sing aloud
upon their beds.
SECOND VESPERS.
First Antiphon. These men are
holy, * for they have given up their
bodies unto death for the sake of
the covenant of their God, and have
washed their robes in the Blood of
the Lamb.
Second Antiphon. 1 The Saints
through faith subdued kingdoms,
* wrought righteousness, obtained
promises.
Third Antiphon. 2 The youth of
the Saints shall be renewed * like
the eagle's : they shall grow as the
lily in the city of the Lord.
Fourth Antiphon. God shall wipe
away all tears from the eyes of His
Saints : * and there shall be no more
sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there
be any more pain ; for the former
things are passed away.
Fifth Antiphon. In the heavenly
kingdoms, * there is the dwelling of
the Saints : there shall be their rest
for ever and ever.
Psalm CXV.
[In the Hebrew this Psalm is a continua-
tion of the last. The Vulgate and the LXX.
prefix "Alleluia."]
T BELIEVED, therefore have I
A spoken : * but I was greatly
afflicted.
I said in my haste : * All men
are liars.
2 Ps. cii. 5 ; lxxi. 16 ; Isa. xxxv. 1.
5io
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
What shall I render unto the
Lord * for all His benefits toward
me?
I will take the cup of salvation, *
and call upon the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows unto the Lord
in the presence of all His people.
* Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of His Saints.
0 Lord, truly I am Thy servant :
* I am Thy servant, and the son of
Thine handmaid :
Thou hast loosed my bonds. * I
will offer to Thee the sacrifice of
thanksgiving, and will call upon the
name of the Lord.
1 will pay my vows unto the Lord,
in the presence of all His people : *
in the courts of the Lord's house, in
the midst of thee, O Jerusalem !
[Here the Hebrew appends "Alle-
luia," which the Vulgate and the LXX.
prefix to the next Psalm.]
Chapter, and Verse and Answer from
Lauds.
Hymn from First Vespers.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. In heaven do rejoice the
souls of the Saints * who have fol-
lowed the steps of Christ ; and
because they shed their blood for
the love of Christ, therefore shall
they be made glad for ever with
Christ.
©tijcr Hessons for tfje Jtasts
of fHano fHartorg.
SECOND N0CTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St John Chrysostom,
Patriarch [of Constantinople.]
(ist on the Martyrs. Tom. iii.)
T^VERY man knoweth how, by
*-* the good Providence of God,
the divers glories of His Martyrs are
held in such esteem by His people,
that the same His Saints in all places
receive worthy honour, and before
us is set, by the favour of Christ, the
noble ensample of their courage :
thus are we stirred up to consider,
on the occasion of these Holidays,
how great glory doth abide them in-
heaven, whose birthdays are thus
kept upon earth : thereby, also, we
are roused to strive to be like them,
brave, godly, and true : so that, in
the strength of Christ, we, like them,
may wrestle with, and conquer our
enemy, and, when we have gained
the same victory that they gained,
may with them at last be glorified in
the kingdom of heaven.
Fifth Lesson.
T7OR what man is there willing to
■*• share their reward, that if he
do not first lay hold on their stead-
fastness, follow after the ensample of
their faith, and imitate their brave
patience, can either seek or find
their glory by likeness to their lives ?
But whosoever doth so follow them,
let him not doubt but that, though
in very deed he gain not the crown
of martyrdom, he is yet able by good
works to make himself meet there-
for. For we have a most merciful
God, Which either giveth Martyrdom
unto such as be willing, or, without
Martyrdom, doth make them joint
heirs with the Saints in the kingdom
of God.
Sixth Lesson.
T^OR even as afflictions unman
*■ the ungodly, so do trials
harden the righteous. Even thus
FOR MANY MARTYRS.
511
did the Saints strive against sin ;
but the work braced their muscles,
and in death they were more than
conquerors. Of such as run in a
race, no man saith that they are
strong, unless they run, and none
can be crowned, unless he conquer.
No soldier prevaileth against his
enemy, unless he fight ; or winneth
the Emperor's favour, unless he have
warred. Christian ! the needful arms
are thine ! In thy hands are the
strong weapons, wherewith thou canst
conquer the enemy !
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (vi. 17.)
A T that time : Jesus came down
^~*- from the mountain, and stood
in the plain, and the company of His
disciples, and a great multitude of
people out of all Judea, and Jeru-
salem, and from the sea coast of
Tyre and Sidon. And so on.
Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop
[of Milan.] (Bk. v. on Luke vi.)
Mark well how Jesus goeth up-
ward with His disciples, and down-
ward to the multitude. How should
the multitude behold Christ, save in
a lower place ? Such go not up to
the things which are above ; such
attain not to the things which are
high. And when Jesus cometh
down, He findeth such as are
diseased : for such like go not up
to the heights. Hence also Matthew
1 The latter half of this Lesson, from the words " It is written," &c, is one of the most
difficult passages in the Breviary, and seems to require a short note, especially as it is so
often recited in the Church Service. (1.) "For the octave" is meant as a translation of
the Hebrew words " Alhashsh'minith," found in the superscription of Pss. vi. and xi.
The real meaning of these words seems to have been lost for at least two thousand years,
saith that there were there " all
sick people," (iv. 23.) Of these
every man had need of healing,
that, when he had received strength,
by and by, he might go up into the
mountain. And therefore, being
Himself come down, He healeth
them in the plain, that is to say, He
calleth them away from their lust,
and freeth them of their blindness.
He cometh down to our wounds, to
the end that by a certain use of
His nature, and by the abundance
thereof, He might make us joint-
heirs of the kingdom of heaven.
Eighth Lesson.
" OLESSED be ye poor, for
-L' your's is the kingdom of
God." Saint Luke giveth us but
four of the Lord's Beatitudes, and
Saint Matthew eight : but in those
eight are contained these four, and
in these four those eight. For in
these four are embraced the cardinal
virtues : and in those eight they are
set forth in a number full of mystery.
It is written at the head of more
than one of the Psalms that they
are " for the octave," and thou hast
received the commandment : " Give
a portion to seven, and also to
eight " — to seven or eight what ?
Perchance degrees of blessedness.
For as this eighth [Beatitude] doth
name the most glorious realization
of our hope — ["the kingdom of
Heaven "] — so doth it also name
the most royal exertion of our
strength — [" blessed are they which
are persecuted."] s
512
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Ninth Lesson.
BUT let us first consider the fuller
of the forms of these Beati-
tudes. " Blessed be ye poor, for
your's is the kingdom of God."
Both of the Evangelists give to this
Beatitude the first place. Yea,
surely, for poorness, at least in
spirit, is the first in order, the
mother, and procreatrix of virtues ;
since he that setteth no store by
temporal things, winneth toward
eternal things ; neither is any man
able to gain the kingdom of heaven,
on whom the love of this present
world doth so press, that he cannot
rid himself thereof.
Another Homily.
Seventh Lesson.
0
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (xii. i.)
AT that time : Jesus said unto
His disciples : Beware of the
leaven of the Pharisees, which is
hypocrisy. And so on.
Homily by the Venerable Bede,
Priest [at Jarrow and Doctor of the
Church.] {Bk. iv. on Luke, Cap. Hi.)
Touching this leaven the Apostle
warneth us : " Therefore let us keep
the feast, not with old leaven,
neither with the leaven of malice
and wickedness, but with the un-
leavened bread of sincerity and
truth." (i Cor. v. 8.) For even
as a little leaven doth infect the
whole lump wherein it is put, and
the savour thereof doth spread all
abroad therein, so doth hypocrisy,
when once it hath tainted the soul,
drive out from it all sincerity and
truth. The meaning, therefore, of
this passage is this : " Beware, lest
ye be as the hypocrites, for yet a
little while, and all men shall see
that ye are good, and they are evil."
Eighth Lesson.
AS touching what followeth :
" For there is nothing co-
vered that shall not be revealed,
neither hid, that shall not be
known. Therefore, whatsoever ye
have spoken in darkness shall be
heard in the light." These words
are true, not only as concerning
the world which is to come, where-
in the secrets of all hearts shall
be made manifest, but even as con-
cerning this present world, since
and conjectures on the subject have exercised the various ingenuity of the learned, who are
widely disagreed. It is, however, a pretty general idea that the phrase is a technical
musical direction, and has something to do with the number 8. Gesenius believes it to
correspond to the Italian " basso," and to imply a composition intended for men's voices.
(2.) Eccles. xi. begins thus : "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after
many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight ; for thou knowest not what evil
shall be upon the earth." This latter verse the Rev. T. P. Dale, in his profound trans-
lation and Commentary upon Ecclesiastes, renders, "Give a share all round, and to some
one else beside, for thou dost not know what sort of mischief shall be in the earth," and
he says, "It is equivalent to our 'everybody and some one else.'" The whole would seem
to be an exhortation to almsgiving full even to abundance : seven, as the " perfect" number,
being chosen to imply a full number generally. Cf. Job v. 19 ; Micah v. 5 ; Matth. xviii.
22. (3.) benedictionibus. Sicut enim spei nostra; octava perfectio est, ita octava summa
virtutum est." The translator confesses to great uncertainty as to the meaning, but, upon
full and repeated consideration, at the interval of years, he is inclined to think that
" octava" agrees with "benedictio" understood, and that the paraphrase in the text is the
most probable sense.
FOR MANY MARTYRS.
513
now that which the Apostles spake
and suffered in the darkness of
persecution, and the gloom of dun-
geons, is, since that the Church is
glorified, told of them for a me-
morial of them, wherever their acts
are read throughout the whole
world. " Be not afraid of them
that kill the body," for they that
persecute the righteous, when they
have killed the body, "after that,
have no more that they can do."
Truly, it is a childish folly which
maketh such men to cast the dead
limbs of the martyrs to birds and
beasts, while yet they have no
strength to withstand the Almight of
God, whereby He will surely quicken
the same limbs and raise them up
again.
Ninth Lesson.
OF persecutors there are two
kinds : first, of such as do
openly rage in cruelty against us ;
and, secondly, of such as do seek,
by cunning wiliness and lying, to
beguile us. Against both these
the Saviour willeth to guard and
strengthen us, in one place warning
us to be not afraid of them that
kill the body, and, in another place,
to beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees : since, when we are dead,
neither the cruelty of the one class,
nor the falsehood of the other, will
be able any more to touch us.
"Are not five sparrows sold for
two farthings?" If God, saith the
Lord, if God cannot forget the least
of the works of His hands that
hath life, the little birds that fly
hither and thither in the air, if He
cannot forget them, wherefore should
ye, who are made in the image and
likeness of your Maker, wherefore
should ye be afraid of them that kill
the body? He that is the careful
Lord of the beasts, which think not,
how much more shall He be careful
of man which hath a reasonable soul?
jFor Simple jjtasts of JEang
JSartgrs.
The Office is as on a Semi-double, with
the following exceptions.
FIRST VESPERS.
The Office is of the Week-day, till the
Chapter, exclusive.
The Office of the Saints begins with
the Chapter, which, as also the Hymn,
Verse and Answer, Antiphon at the
Song of the Blessed Virgin, and Prayer
are all as just given, {p. 498.) The
Common Commemorations are said or
not according to the season.
At Compline are said Preces.
MATTINS.
The Invitatory and Hymn are as just
given.
Then follow the Week-day Psalms,
with their own Antiphons.
On Mondays and Thursdays.
Verse. Be glad in the Lord, and
rejoice, ye righteous.
Answer. And shout for joy, all
ye that are upright in heart.
Absolution.
Graciously hear, &c.
On Tuesdays and Fridays.
Verse. Let the righteous rejoice
in the presence of God.
Answer. Yea, let them be exceed-
ing glad.
5H
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Absolution.
May His loving-kindness, &c.
On Wednesdays.
Verse. The righteous live for
evermore.
Answer. Their reward also is
with the Lord.
Absolution.
May the Almighty, &c.
First Blessing.
May His blessing be upon us,
Who doth live and reign for ever.
First Lesson from Scripture, accord-
ing to the Season, being either the first
part, or, if the Saints have two Lessons,
the whole read as one, at will.
First Responsory.
On Mondays and Thursdays.
God shall wipe away, &c., {First
Responsory in the preceding Office.)
Second Responsory.
On Mondays and Thursdays.
These men are holy, &c., (Second
Responsory in the preceding Office?)
with the following addition :
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And therefore they have
earned crowns of victory.
On Tuesdays and Fridays.
The Saints of God shrank not,
&c, (Fifth Responsory in the preced-
ing Office?) with the following addi-
tion :
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. That they might be
made joint-heirs in the house of the
Lord.
On Wednesdays.
O ye, My Saints, &c, (Eighth
Responsory in the preceding Office.)
On Tuesdays and Fridays.
Thy Saints, O Lord, &c, (Fourth
Responsory in the preceding Office.)
On Wednesdays.
Because of the covenant, &c,
(Seventh Responsory in the preceding
Office.)
Second Blessing.
They whos.e feast - day we are
keeping,
Be our Advocates with God.
Second Lesson is the First of the Le-
gend of the Saint, if there be two; if
not, it is the Second from Scripture, to
which the Third may be added, at will.
Third Blessing.
May He That is the Angels' King,
To that high realm His people
bring.
Third Lesson is the whole or the
Second part of the Legend of the Saints,
if there is one, or else the special Lesson
assigned.
Then the Hymn, "We praise Thee,
O God," &c, is said, and so end
Mattins.
The rest of the Office is as on a Semi-
double, as just given ; it ends at None,
inclusive; Preces are said at Prime,
and the Common Commemorations are
made at Lauds or not, according to the
season.
FOR ONE BISHOP AND CONFESSOR.
515
V. dPor dfeasts of one 23tef)op an& ®onfie$gor*
Everything as on Sundays, except
what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Prayer from
Lauds.
Last Psalm.
O praise the Lord, &c, (Ps. cxvi.,
/. 186.)
Hytrin.1
1.
SAFE now for ever, Jesu's true
Confessor,
Whose happy festal here His people
keep,
Doth of his labours for his mighty
Blesser,
Rich harvest reap.
2.
Gentle was he, wise, pure, and lowly-
hearted,
Sober and modest, ever foe to
strife,
While in his frame there flowed as yet
unparted
Currents of life.
Ofttimes hath He Whose face he sees
in heaven,
Being entreated for His servant's
sake,
To us on earth- the same for healer
given
Sick whole to make.
Wherefore our choir, in thankfulness
adoring,
Lifteth its voice with melody of laud,
While he on high for us his prayer is
pouring
Unto his God.
5-
Glory and honour, virtue and salvation
Be unto Him, Who, in His might
divine,
Ruleth supremely over all creation,
One and yet Trine. Amen.
Verse. 2 The Lord loved him
and beautified him.
Answer. He clothed him with
a robe of glory.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. O thou Priest and Bishop,
* thou worker of mighty works,
thou good shepherd over God's
people, pray for us unto the Lord.
For Doctors.
O right excellent Teacher, Light
of the Holy Church, N. (here insert
his name) blessed lover of the
Divine Law, pray for us to the
Son of God.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. The Lord, He is
the King of the Confessors. * O
come, let us worship Him.
Hymn as at First Vespers.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Only three Psalms are said.
First Antiphon. Blessed is the
man * that doth meditate in the
law of the Lord : his delight is
therein day and night, and what-
soever he doeth shall prosper.
1 Hymn of the Middle Ages, after the manner of the Ambrosian school, but very much
altered ; translation by the Rev. Dr Littledale, except the first verse, and the third.
2 Ecclus. xlv. 9.
5i6
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Ps. i. Blessed is the man, &c,
{P- 4.)
Second Antiphon. Blessed and
holy is he * that putteth his trust
in the Lord, that declareth the
decree of the Lord, and is set
upon His holy hill.
Ps. ii. Why do the heathen,
&c., {p. 4.)
Third Antiphon. Thou, O Lord,
art my glory, * Thou art a shield
for me : Thou art the Lifter-up of
mine head, and Thou hast heard
me out of Thy holy hill.
Ps. iii. Lord, how are they in-
creased, &c, [p. 5.)
Verse. The Lord loved him and
beautified him.
Answer. He clothed him with
a robe of glory.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the
First Epistle of the Blessed
Apostle Paul to Timothy (iii. 1.)
THIS is a true saying : If a man
desire the office of a Bishop,
he desireth a good work. A Bishop,
then, must be blameless, the hus-
band of one wife, sober, prudent,
of good behaviour, modest, given
to hospitality, apt to teach, not given
to wine, no striker, but patient ;
not a brawler, not covetous ; one
that ruleth well his own house, hav-
ing his children in subjection with
all gravity. For if a man know not
how to rule his own house, how
shall he take care of the church of
God? Not a novice, lest, being
lifted up with pride, he fall into
the condemnation of the devil.
1 Matth. xxv. 21, 20.
Moreover, he must have a good
report of them which are without,
lest he fall into reproach, and the
snare of the devil.
First Responsory.
1 Well done, thou good and faith-
ful servant, thou hast been faith-
ful over a few things. I will make
thee ruler over many things ; en-
ter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Verse. Lord, thou deliveredst unto
me five talents; behold, I have gained
beside them five talents more.
Answer. Enter thou into the
joy of thy Lord.
Second Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the
Epistle to Titus (i. 7.)
FOR a Bishop must be blame-
less, as the steward of God :
not proud, not soon angry, not given
to wine, no striker, not given to filthy
lucre : but a lover of hospitality,
courteous, sober, just, holy, tem-
perate, holding fast the faithful word,
as he hath been taught : that he may
be able by sound doctrine both to ex-
hort and to convince the gainsayers.
For there are many unruly, vain
talkers, and deceivers, specially they
of the circumcision, whose mouths
must be stopped : who subvert
whole houses, teaching things which
they ought not, for filthy lucre's
sake.
Second Responsory.
2 Behold an high priest, who in
his days pleased God : therefore
the Lord assured him by an oath
that He would multiply his seed
among His people.
2 Ecclus. xliv. 16, 22, 25.
FOR ONE BISHOP AND CONFESSOR.
517
Verse. He hath made him a
blessing unto all nations, and hath
established His covenant upon his
head.
Answer, Therefore the Lord as-
sured him by an oath that He
would multiply his seed among His
people.
Third Lesson, (ii. 1.)
OUT speak thou the things
-^ which become sound doc-
trine : that the aged men be sober,
chaste, temperate, sound in faith,
in charity, in patience. The aged
women likewise, that they be in
behaviour as becometh holiness,
not false accusers, not given to
much wine, teachers of good things ;
that they may teach the young
women to be sober, to love their
husbands, to love their children, to
be discreet, chaste, sober, keepers
at home, good, obedient to their
own husbands, that the word of
God be not blasphemed. Young
men likewise exhort to be sober-
minded. In all things show thy-
self a pattern of good works, in
doctrine, in uncorruptness, in gravity,
sound speech, that cannot be con-
demned : that he that is of the
contrary part may be ashamed, hav-
ing no evil thing to say of us.
Third Responsory.
1 The Lord hath sworn and will
not repent : Thou art a Priest for
ever after the order of Melchisedek.
Verse. The Lord said unto my
Lord : Sit Thou at My right hand.
Answer. Thou art a Priest for
ever after the order of Melchisedek.
1 Ps. cix. 5, 1.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Thou art a Priest for
ever after the order of Melchisedek.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. When His holy
one called, * the Lord heard him,
yea, the Lord heard him, and gave
him peace.
Psalm IV.
[Intituled " A Psalm of David," with a
musical (?) direction of (now) uncertain
meaning.]
Vy HEN I called, the God of my
* * righteousness heard me : *
Thou hast enlarged me when I was
in distress :
Have mercy upon me, * and hear
my prayer.
0 ye sons of men, how long
will ye be dull of heart ? * Why
will ye love vanity, and seek after
leasing ? 2
But know that the Lord hath set
apart for Himself him that is holy :
* the Lord will hear me when I
call unto Him.
Be ye angry and sin not : * what
ye speak in your heart, repent upon
your bed.2
Offer the sacrifices of righteous-
ness, and put your trust in the
Lord. * There be many that
say : Who will show us any good ?
Lord, Thou hast set upon us the
light of Thy countenance. * Thou
hast put gladness in my heart,
More than in the time that their
corn, and wine, and oil * increased.
1 will both lay me down in peace,
* and sleep,
2 SLH.
5i8
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
For Thou, Lord, only * makest
me to dwell in safety.
Second Antiphon. Let all those
that put their trust in Thee rejoice,
0 Lord, for Thou hast blessed the
righteous ; * Thou hast compassed
him with Thy favour as with a
shield.
Psalm V.
[Intituled " A Psalm of David," with a
musical (?) superscription.]
r~* IVE ear , unto my words, O
^^ Lord, * consider my suppli-
cation.
Hearken unto the voice of my cry,
* my King and my God !
For unto Thee will I pray. * O
Lord, in the morning Thou shalt
hear my voice :
In the morning will I stand before
Thee and look up. * For Thou art
not a God that hath pleasure in
wickedness :
Neither shall the evil dwell with
Thee, * nor the unrighteous stand
in Thy sight :
Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
* Thou shalt destroy all them that
speak leasing :
The Lord abhorreth the bloody
and deceitful man. * But as for me,
in the multitude of Thy mercy
I will come into Thine house : *
1 will worship toward Thine holy
temple in Thy fear.
Lead me, O Lord, in Thy
righteousness, * because of mine
enemies ; make my way straight
before Thy face.
For there is no faithfulness in
their mouth : * their inward part
is very wickedness.
Their throat is an open sepulchre ;
they flatter with their tongue. *
Judge Thou them, O God !
Let them fall by their own coun-
sels ; cast them out in the multi-
tude of their transgressions, * for
they have rebelled against Thee, O
Lord!
And let all those that put their
trust in Thee, rejoice : * let them
ever shout for joy, because Thou
dwellest in them :
Let them also that love Thy Name
be joyful in Thee. * For Thou wilt
bless the righteous.
0 Lord, Thou hast compassed
us * with Thy favour as with a
shield.
Third Antiphon. O Lord, our
Ruler, * how excellent is Thy
Name in all the earth ! Who hast
crowned Thine holy one with glory
and honour, and madest him to
have dominion over the works of
Thy hands.
Psalm VIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." It has
also a title which seems to show that it was
a song for the vintage.]
OLORD, our Lord, * how ex-
cellent is Thy Name in all
the earth !
For Thy glory is exalted * above
the heavens.
1 Out of the mouth of babes and
sucklings hast Thou perfected praise
because of Thine enemies, * that
Thou mightest destroy the enemy
and the avenger.
When I consider Thine heavens,
the work of Thy fingers : * the moon
and the stars which Thou hast or-
dained :
1 This verse was quoted by our Lord, concerning those who cried Hosannah on Palm
Sunday, Matthew xxi. 16.
FOR ONE BISHOP AND CONFESSOR.
519
What is man, that Thou art mind-
ful of him? * or the son of man,
that Thou visitest him ?
Thou hast made him a little lower
than the angels, Thou hast crowned
him with glory and honour, * and
madest him to have dominion over
the works of Thine hands.
Thou hast put all things under
his feet, * all sheep and oxen, yea,
and the beasts of the field.
The fowl of the air, and the fish
of the sea, * that pass through the
paths of the sea.
O Lord, our Lord, * how ex-
cellent is Thy Name in all the
earth !
Verse. x The Lord hath chosen
him for a Priest unto Himself.
Answer. To offer up unto Him
the sacrifice of praise.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St Maximus, Bishop [of
Turin.] (59^ Horn., being the
2nd on St Eusebius of Vercelli.)
TT is idle to strive to add anything
■*■ to the praise of our holy and
most blessed Father N., {here insert
the name of the Saint whose Feast is
being kept,) whose Feast is this day
kept. The beauty of his life ought
not to be the subject of panegyrics,
so much as the object of imitation.
The Scripture saith : " A wise son
is the glory of his father,"2 — truly
then will he be honoured by such
as, by doing after his en sample,
show themselves to be his children
— " for in Christ Jesus hath he
begotten us through the Gospel."
(1 Cor. iv. 15.)
Fourth Responsory.
3 1 have found David My servant,
with My holy oil have I anointed
him; for My hand shall help
him.
Verse. The enemy shall prevail
nothing against him, nor the son of
wickedness afflict him.
Answer. For My hand shall
help him.
Fifth Lesson.
VVTHATSOEVER, therefore, of
* * virtue and grace there may
be in this holy people, all the bright
streams thereof do flow from him, as
from a most clear fountain. By his
manly chastity, by his sternly noble
temperance, by the graceful courtesy
which marked him, he drew all men's
love to God : and by his eminent
ministry in his Bishoprick he hath
left behind him in his disciples,
many heirs of his priesthood.
Fifth Responsory.
3 1 have laid help upon one that
is mighty, and have exalted one
chosen out of My people ; for My
hand shall help him.
Verse. I have found David My
servant, with My holy oil have I
anointed him.
Answer. For My hand shall
help him.
1 Cf. Ecclus. xlv. 20.
2 There does not appear to be any such passage in Scripture. Prov. x. I is some-
thing like it.
3 Ps. lxxxviii. 21, 20.
520
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Sixth Lesson.
TT is very meet and right that
*~ upon this day, which is made
a joyful day for us because it is the
day whereon our blessed Father N.,
{here insert his name,) passed away
to heaven, I say it is very meet and
right that on this day we should
sing that verse of the Psalms : " The
righteous shall be in everlasting re-
membrance." (cxi. 7.) His memory
is rightly honoured among men who
is at this present making glad among
Angels. The word of God saith :
" Judge none blessed before his
death," (Ecclus. xi. 30,) as though
it were said, " Judge him blessed
when life is ended, praise him when
he is made perfect." For there are
two main reasons why it is better to
praise a dead man than a living,
since, if thou call him holy and
worthy after his death, thou dost it
when neither canst thou be cor-
rupted by being a flatterer, nor he
by being flattered.
Sixth Responsory.
This is he which wrought great
wonders before God, and the whole
earth is full of his teaching. l May
he pray for all people, that their
sins may be forgiven unto them !
Verse. This is he which loved not
his life in this world, and hath at-
tained unto the kingdom of heaven.
Ansiver. May he pray for all
people, that their sins may be for-
given unto them !
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. May he pray for all
people, that their sins may be for-
given unto them !
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Lord, this Thy
Saint * shall dwell in Thy taber-
nacle, and this that hath worked
righteousness shall abide upon Thy
holy hill.
Psalm XIV.
[Intituled " A Psalm of David."]
T ORD, who shall abide in Thy
-*-' tabernacle ? * who shall dwell
in Thine holy hill ?
He that walketh uprightly, * and
worketh righteousness.
He that speaketh the truth in his
heart, * he that deceiveth not with
his tongue.
He that hath not done evil to his
neighbour, * nor taken up a reproach
against his neighbour.
In whose eyes a vile person is
despised : * but he honoureth them
that fear the Lord.
He that sweareth to his neighbour,
and deceiveth him not, * he that
putteth not out his money to usury,
nor taketh reward against the in-
nocent.
He that doeth these things, *
shall never be moved.
Second Antiphon. He asked life
of Thee, * and Thou, O Lord, gavest
it : honour and great majesty hast
Thou laid upon him : Thou hast
set a crown of precious stones upon
his head.
Psalm XX.
[This Psalm also bears the same title as
the xviiith.]
THE king shall joy in Thy
strength, O Lord : * and in
Thy salvation how greatly shall he
rejoice !
1 Cf. 2 Mace. xv. 14.
FOR ONE BISHOP AND CONFESSOR.
521
Thou hast given him his heart's
desire, * and hast not withholden
the request of his lips.1
For Thou hast met him with the
blessings of sweetness : * Thou hast
set a crown of precious stones upon
his head.
He asked life of Thee: * and
Thou gavest him length of days for
ever and ever.
His glory is great in Thy salva-
tion : * honour and great majesty
shalt Thou lay upon him.
For Thou wilt give him to be a
blessing for ever : * Thou shalt
make him exceeding glad with Thy
countenance.
For the king trusteth in the
Lord, * and, through the mercy
of the Most High, he shall not be
moved.
Thine hand shall find out all
thine enemies : * thy right hand
shall find out all those that hate
thee.
Thou shalt make them as a fiery
oven in the time of thine anger : *
the Lord shall cut them off in His
wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
Their fruit shalt thou destroy from
the earth, * and their seed from
among the children of men.
For they intended evil against
thee : * they imagined a device,
which they were not able to perform.
Therefore shalt thou cast them
behind thee: * thou shalt leave
their faces lying in thy track.
Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in
Thine own strength : * we will sing
and praise Thy power.
Third Antiphon. He shall re-
ceive * a blessing from the Lord,
and mercy from the God of his
1 SLH.
salvation : for this is the generation
of them that seek the Lord.
Psalm XXIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." The
Vulgate and the LXX. add "for the first
day of the week."]
THE earth is the Lord's and the
fulness thereof; * the world,
and they that dwell therein.
For He hath founded it upon the
seas, * and established it upon the
floods.
Who shall ascend into the moun-
tain of the Lord ? * or who shall
stand in His holy place?
He that hath clean hands and a
pure heart, * who hath not lifted
up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn
deceitfully unto his neighbour.
He shall receive a blessing from
the Lord, * and mercy from the
God of his salvation.
This is the generation of them
that seek Him, * that seek the
face of the God of Jacob.1
Lift up your gates, O ye princes,
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
doors ! * and the King of glory
shall come in.
Who is this King of glory ? *
The Lord strong and mighty, the
Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your gates, O ye princes,
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
doors ! * and the King of glory
shall come in.
Who is this King of glory ? *
The Lord of hosts, He is the
King of glory.1
Verse. 2Thou art a Priest for
ever.
Answer. After the order of Mel-
chisedek.
2 Ps. cix. 5.
522
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew
(xxv. 14.)
A T that time : Jesus spake unto
-**- His disciples this parable : A
man, travelling into a far country,
called his own servants, and deliv-
ered unto them his goods. And
so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (gth on the Gospels.)
Dearly beloved brethren, this Les-
son from the Holy Gospel moveth us
to take good heed lest we, who are
seen in this world to have received
more than others, should thereby
bring ourselves into greater condem-
nation from the Maker of this world.
To whom much is given, of the
same is much required. Therefore,
let him that receiveth much, strive
to be all the more lowly, and all
the more ready to do God service,
for his very gifts' sake, knowing that
he will be obliged to give account
thereof. Behold, a man, travelling
into a far country, calleth his own
servants, and delivereth unto them
talents, to the end that they may
trade therewith. After a long time,
the lord of those servants cometh,
and reckoneth with them, and to
them that have done well He ren-
dereth a reward of their labours,
but that servant which was care-
less of his master's work He con-
demneth.
Seventh Responsory .
The Lord loved him and beauti-
fied him ; He clothed him with a
1 1 Thess. v. 8.
robe of glory, and crowned him at
the gates of Paradise.
Verse. The Lord hath put on
him the breast-plate of faith,1 and
hath adorned him.
Answer. And crowned him at
the gates of Paradise.
Eighth Blessing.
He whose feast-day we are keep-
ing
Be our Advocate with God.
Eighth Lesson.
\X THAT 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 de-
livered 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, hear-
ing, taste, smell, and touch. By
the five talents therefore are sig-
nified the five senses, that is, out-
ward knowledge. By the two, wit
and work. And by the figure of
the one talent, understanding, which
is alone.
Eighth Responsory.
2 Let your loins be girded about,
and your lights burning, and ye
yourselves like unto men that wait
2 Luke xii. 35, 36.
FOR ONE BISHOP AND CONFESSOR.
523
for their lord, when he will return
from the wedding.
Verse. l Watch therefore, for ye
know not what hour your Lord doth
come.
Answer. And ye yourselves like
unto men that wait for their lord,
when he will return from the wed-
ding.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And ye yourselves like
unto men that wait for their lord,
when he will return from the wed-
ding.
Eighth Rcsponsory for Doctors,
2 In the midst of the congregation
did the Lord open his mouth. And
filled him with the spirit of wisdom
and understanding.
Verse. He made him rich with
joy and gladness.
Answer. And filled him with
the spirit of wisdom and under-
standing.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And filled him with
the spirit of wisdom and under-
standing.
Ninth Lesson.
" A ND 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 Father-
land which is above, that they teach
well all whom they can, and of
those very outward things which
they have received make gain
1 Matth. xxiv. 42. 2 Ecclus. xv. 5,
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.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. 3 Behold an high
priest, * who in his days pleased
God, and was found righteous.
Second Antiphon. 3 None was
found like unto him, * to keep the
Law of the Most High.
Third Antiphon. 3 Therefore the
Lord assured him * by an oath that
He would multiply his seed among
His people.
Fourth Antiphon. O all ye
Priests of God, * bless ye the
Lord : O all ye servants of the
Lord, sing praises unto our God.
Alleluia.
This last word, " Alleluia, is omitted
between Septuagesima and Easter.
Fifth Antiphon. Good and faith-
ful servant, * enter thou into the
joy of thy Lord.
6. 3 Ecclus. xliv. 16, 17, 20, 22.
524
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Chapter. (Ecclus. xliv. 17.)
J3EHOLD an high priest, who in
-■-' his days pleased God, and
was found righteous, and in the
time of wrath he made a propitia-
tion.
Hymn}
TESU, the world's Redeemer, hear !
J Thy Bishops' fadeless crown, draw
near !
Accept with gentler love to-day
The prayers and praises that we pay !
The day that crowned with deathless
fame
This meek Confessor of Thy Name,
Whose yearly feast, in solemn state,
Thy faithful people celebrate.
The world, and all its boasted good,
As vain and passing, he eschewed ;
And therefore, with Angelic bands,
In endless joys for ever stands.
Grant then that we, O gracious God,
May follow in the steps he trod ;
And freed from ev'ry stain of sin,
As he hath won, may also win.
To Thee, O Christ, our loving King,
All glory, praise, and thanks we bring :
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete. Amen.
Verse. 8 The Lord guided the
just in right paths.
Answer. And showed him the
kingdom of God.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Well done, thou good and faithful
servant; * thou hast been faithful
over a few things, I will make thee
ruler over many things, saith the
Lord.
If the Prayer is not special, there is
said one of the following, which is also
used throughout the whole Office of the
Saint.
Prayer.
/^RANT, we beseech Thee, O
^-Jr Almighty God, that the wor-
shipful Feast of Thy blessed Con-
fessor and Bishop N., {here insert
his name,) may avail us to the in-
crease both of godliness toward
Thee, and healthfulness to our own
souls. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
Another Prayer.
IT EAR, O Lord, we beseech
-*■ *- Thee, the prayers which we
offer Thee on this the solemn
Feast-day of Thy blessed Confessor
and Bishop N., (here insert his name,)
and, for the sake of him who so
nobly served Thee, forgive us our
trespasses. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
For Doctors.
f~\ GOD, Who didst give unto
^-s Thy people Thy blessed ser-
vant N., (here insert his name,) to
feed them with the bread of eternal
life, grant, we beseech Thee, that
even as on earth he showed unto us
Thy lively word, so in heaven we
may worthily be holpen by the
succour of his prayers to Thee on
our behalf. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
1 Author unknown ; hymn of the tenth to thirteenth centuries, with alterations ; trans-
lation by J. D. Chambers, Esq. '- Wisd. x, 10.
FOR ONE BISHOP AND CONFESSOR.
525
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
The same Prayer throughout the day.
PRIME.
Antiphon. Behold, an high priest,
&c., {First Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter at the end. (Ecclus. xlv. 19.)
r I ^O execute the office of the
-*■ Priesthood, and to be hon-
oured for His Name's sake, and to
offer to Him the incense which He
had chosen, for a sweet savour.
TERCE.
Antiphon. None was found, &c,
{Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
The Lord loved him, and beauti-
fied him.
Answer. The Lord loved him,
and beautified him.
Verse. He clothed him with a
robe of glory.
Answer. And beautified him.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The Lord loved him,
and beautified him.
Verse. The Lord hath chosen
him for a Priest unto Himself.
Atiszver. To offer up unto Him
the sacrifice of praise.
SEXT.
Antiphon. Therefore the Lord,
&c, {Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
vol. 1.
Chapter. (Ecclus. xliv. 20.)
NONE was found like unto him,
to keep the Law of the Most
High ; therefore the Lord assured
him by an oath, that He would mul-
tiply his seed among His people.
Short Responsory.
The Lord hath chosen him for a
Priest unto Himself.
Answer. The Lord hath chosen
him for a Priest unto Himself.
Verse. To offer up unto Him
the sacrifice of praise.
Answer. A Priest unto Himself.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Anszver. The Lord hath chosen
him for a Priest unto Himself.
Verse. Thou art a Priest for ever.
Answer. After the order of Mel-
chisedek.
NONE.
Antiphon. Good and faithful,
&c, {Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
Thou art a Priest for ever.
Answer. Thou art a Priest for
ever.
Verse. After the order of Mel-
chisedek.
Answer. For ever.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Thou art a Priest for
ever.
Verse. The Lord guided the
just in right paths.
Answer. And showed him the
kingdom of God.
s
526
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
SECOND VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Verse and
Answer from Lauds.
Hymn from First Vespers.
Last Psalm.
Psalm CXXXI.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees." It
reads like a Processional for some transla-
tion of the Sacred Ark, perhaps that de-
scribed in 3 (i) Kings vii. (Saturday before
8th Sunday after Pentecost.)]
LORD, remember David, * and
' all his meekness :
How he sware unto the Lord : *
he vowed a vow unto the God of
Jacob ; —
Surely I will not come into the
tabernacle of mine house, * nor go
up into my bed ;
I will not give sleep to mine eyes,
* or slumber to mine eyelids ;
I will not give the temples of
mine head any rest, until I find out
a place for the Lord, * an habita-
tion for the God of Jacob.
1 Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah :
* we found it in the fields of "the
Wood."
We will go into His tabernacle :
* we will worship in His foot-
prints.
Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest, *
Thou and the ark of Thine holi-
ness.
Let Thy priests be clothed with
righteousness, * and let Thy Saints
shout for joy.
For Thy servant David's sake,
* turn not away the face of Thine
Anointed.
The Lord hath sworn in truth
unto David, and He will not turn
1 This verse relates to the fetching of the ark from Kirjath-jearim, (literally "The
town-of-the-woods,") which stood at the borders of the territory of Ephraim, here called
Ephratah. See 2 Kings (Sam.) vi. (Thursday, 5th week after Pentecost.)
from it : * Of the fruit of thy body
will I set upon thy throne.
If thy children will keep My
covenant, * and My testimony
that I shall teach them,
Then their children for ever *
shall sit upon thy throne.
For the Lord hath chosen Zion :
* He hath chosen it for His habita-
tion.
This is My rest for ever : * here
will I dwell, for I have chosen it.
I will abundantly bless her
widows : * I will satisfy her poor
with bread.
I will clothe her Priests with
salvation : * and her Saints shall
shout aloud for joy.
There will I make the horn of
David to bud : * I have ordained
a lamp for Mine Anointed.
His enemies will I clothe with
shame : * but upon him shall My
sanctification flourish.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The Lord loved him * and
beautified him ; He clothed him
with a robe of glory, and crowned
him at the gates of Paradise.
But if the Saint were a Pope, the
following is said instead :
Being made the Chief Bishop, *
he dreaded not earthly things, but
pressed on gloriously unto the king-
dom of heaven.
For Doctors.
O right excellent Teacher, Light
of the Holy Church, N. {here insert
his name) blessed lover of the Divine
Law, pray for us to the Son of God.
FOR ONE BISHOP AND CONFESSOR.
527
<©tfter Wessons for jfcasts of
<©ne iStsfjop ano Confessor,
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St Maximus, Bishop
[of Turin.] (59/^ Homily, being
the 2nd on St Eusebius of Vercelli.)
OUR Blessed Father N., (here
^S insert the name of the Saint
whose Feast is being kept,) is safe
now, and we may safely praise his
great deeds. He that kept such a
manful hand upon the tiller of faith,
hath now cast the anchor of hope
in moorings of great calm, and
brought his ship, heavy laden with
heavenly riches and everlasting mer-
chandise, safe into the haven where
he would be. Thus fareth it now
with him who never fainted, but
for so long time held up ever the
shield of the fear of God against all
that did beset him. What was his
whole life but one long fight against
an enemy that never slept ?
Fifth Lesson.
f~\ HOW many blinded souls
^-^ there were, that had wan-
dered away from the path of the
Truth, and were hanging from the
edge of the precipice over the pit,
when he gave them sight again, and
opened their eyes that they might
see Christ ! How many deaf ears
were there, stopped up with unbelief
and condemnation, when he opened
them to hear that voice of com-
mandment that speaketh from
heaven, and gave them that precious
hearing that heareth God calling us
to be forgiven, so that they obeyed,
and answered ! How many wounded
spirits were there, to whom his
tongue, persuading them and pray-
ing for them like the tongue of an
angel, brought health again !
Sixth Lesson.
f~\ HOW God wrought in him
^-^ to cleanse and pardon, by
discipline and exhortation, many a
stricken soul, long distempered, and,
as it seemed, incurably foul with
sin, covered all over with virulent
leprosy ! How many souls there
were, dwelling in living bodies, but
dead, and crushed and buried under
the sense of sin, whom he quick-
ened again for God, by calling them
to amendment as to light, souls
dead to God, in which that great
follower of his Lord killed sin by
the same Lord's life-giving death.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew
(xxiv. 42.)
A T that time : Jesus said unto
^~*- His disciples : Watch, for ye
know not what hour your Lord doth
come. And so on.
Homily by St Hilary, Bishop [of
Poitiers.] (Comment, on Matth.
chap. 26.)
To the end that we may know that
our ignorance of that day whereof
no man knoweth is not without use,
the Lord moveth us to watch for
the coming of the thief, to be ever
instant in prayer, and ever busy in
528
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
such works as He commandeth.
He showeth how that the devil is
that thief who watcheth ever how
he may spoil our goods, breaking
into the house of our body; that,
while we are dwelling therein care-
less and heavy with sleep, he may
dig through our walls with the arms
of his craft and temptations. Us,
therefore, it behoveth to be ready,
who have ever our ignorance con-
cerning that day to be unto us a
reason of watchfulness.
Eighth Lesson. {Chap. 27.)
"VXTHO then is a faithful and
* * wise servant, whom his
Lord hath made ruler over His
household?" Although the Lord
doth move us all in common to
weary not in carefulness and watch-
ing, He layeth more especially upon
the rulers of His people, that is,
the Bishops, this duty, to look al-
ways for His coming. For such an
one is that faithful and wise servant,
made ruler over his Lord's house-
hold, who ever seeketh such things
as be convenient and useful for the
people unto him committed. Such
an one, if he hear this word, and do
that which he is commanded, that
is, if he strengthen by seasonable and
sound doctrine such things as be
weak, if he bind together that which
is sundered, if he make straight
again what is become crooked, and
give to the household the lively
Word which is able to feed them
unto life eternal, if such an one do
thus, and meanwhile the hour which
he knoweth not come upon him,
he shall obtain glory of the Lord,
as a faithful steward and an useful
overseer : that is, he shall have
glory with God, for in all things he
shall have of that which is best.
Ninth Lesson.
OUT if that servant despise the
*-* longsuffering of God, Which
waiteth to give salvation unto all
men, and begin to wax wanton
against his fellow - servants, and to
give himself over to the evil and
the vices of this present world,
having all his care for the worship
of his belly : the Lord of that ser-
vant shall come in a day when he
looketh not for Him, and shall cut
him off from the goods wherewith
he was entrusted, and appoint him
his portion with the hypocrites, in
everlasting punishment, because he
hath disobeyed the commandments,
because he hath minded the things
of this present world, because he
hath lived the life of an heathen,
because being unmindful of the
judgment to come, he hath afflicted
with hunger, and thirst, and stripes,
the flock committed to his care.
If it should be that several Bishops
and Confessors are to be honoured by
one Feast, the Office is the same as that
just given, except as follows :
1 . In the Common Prayer the words
"Thy Blessed Confessor and Bishop
N." are altered into " Thy blessed Con-
fessors and Bishops N. and N."
2. In the Sermons by St Maximus of
Turin everything said of the Saint in
the Singular Number is altered into the
Plural. For example: "Our Blessed
Fathers N. and N. are safe now,
and we may safely praise their great
deeds. They that kept such manful
hands upon the tiller, &c. &c. &c."
3. The following Lessons may be read
in the First Nocturn.
FOR ONE BISHOP AND CONFESSOR.
529
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
of Ecclesiasticus (xliv. 1.)
TET us now praise famous men,
■*— * and our fathers that begat us.
The Lord hath wrought great glory
by them through His great power
from the beginning. Such as did
bear rule in their kingdoms, men
renowned for their power and their
understanding, showing forth among
the Prophets the dignity of Prophets,
and still ruling over the people that
now is, and by the strength of
wisdom instructing the people in
most holy words. Such as by their
skill sought out musical tunes, and
published canticles of the Scriptures.
Second Lesson.
A /TEN rich in virtue, studying
^*-*- comeliness, living at peace
in their houses. All these were
honoured in their generations, and
were the glory of their times. They
that were born of them have left a
name behind them, that their praises
might be reported. And some there
be which have no memorial ; who
are perished as though they had
never been ; who also were born as
though they had not been born, and
their children after them.
Third Lesson.
OUT these were merciful men,
-L' whose righteousness hath not
been forgotten : with their seed
shall continually remain a good
inheritance, their children have an
holy heritage : their seed also abideth
firm in the covenant, and their
children for their sakes remain for
ever. Their seed, and their glory,
shall not be blotted out. Their
bodies are buried in peace, but their
name liveth for evermore. Let the
people tell of their wisdom, and the
congregation show forth their praise.
jFor a Simple jfcast of a
Btsjjop artti Confessor*
The Office is as on a Semi-double,
with the following exceptions.
FIRST VESPERS.
The Office is of the Week-day, till the
Chapter, exclusive. The Office of the
Saint begins with the Chapter, which,
as also tfie Hymn, Verse and Answer,
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin, and Prayer are all as just given,
{p. 515 et seq.) The Common Comme-
morations are said or not according to
the season.
A t Compline are said Preces.
MATTINS.
The Invitatory and Hymn are as just
given.
Then follow the Week-day Psalms,
with their own Antiphons.
On Mondays and Thursdays.
Verse. The Lord loved him and
beautified him.
Answer. He clothed him with
a robe of glory.
Absolution.
Graciously hear, &c.
On Tuesdays and Fridays.
Verse. The Lord hath chosen him
for a Priest unto Himself.
Answer. To offer up unto Him
the sacrifice of praise.
53Q
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Absolution.
May His loving-kindness, &c.
On Wednesdays.
Verse. Thou art a Priest for
ever.
Answer. After the order of
Melchisedek.
Absolution.
May the Almighty, &c.
First Blessing.
May His blessing be upon us,
Who doth live and reign for ever.
First Lesson from Scripture, accord-
ing to the Season, being either the first
part, or, if the Saint have two Lessons,
the whole read as one, at will.
First Responsory.
On Mondays and Thursdays.
Well done, &c, {First Responsory
in the preceding Office.)
On Tuesdays and Fridays.
I have found David, &c., {Fourth
Responsory in the preceding Office?)
On Wednesdays.
The Lord loved him, &c, {Seventh
Responsory in the precedifig Office?)
Second Blessing.
They whose feast-day we are keep-
ing,
Be our Advocates with God.
Second Lesson is the First of the
Legend of the Saint, if there be two; if
not, it is the Second from Scripture, to
which the Third may be added at will.
Second Responsory.
On Mondays and Thursdays.
Behold an high priest, &c.,
{Second Responsoty in the preceding
Office,) with this addition :
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Therefore the Lord
assured him by an oath that He
would multiply his seed among His
people.
On Tuesdays and Fridays.
I have laid help, &c., {Fifth
Responsory in the preceding Office?)
with the following addition :
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. For My hand shall
help him.
On Wednesdays.
Let your loins, &c., {Eighth Re-
sponsory in the preceding Office.)
Third Blessing.
May He That is the Angels'
King,
To that high realm His people
bring.
Third Lesson is the whole or the
second part of the Legend of the Saint,
if there be one, or else the special Lesson
assigned.
Then the Hymn, " We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said, and so end Matti/is.
The rest of the Office is as on a Semi-
double, as Just given j it ends at None,
inclusive; Preces are said at Prime, and
the Common Commemorations are made
at Lauds or not, according to the season.
FOR A CONFESSOR NOT A BISHOP.
531
V$. d?or &mt& of a Gtonfmot not a Msfiop*
Everything as on Sundays, except
what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Prayer from
Lauds.
Last Psalm.
O praise the Lord, &c, (Ps.
cxvi., p. 186.)
Hymn. This is the day, &c, or,
CAFE now for ever, Jesu's true Con-
**-* fessor,
Whose happy festal here His people
keep,
Doth of his labours for his mighty
Blesser,
Rich harvest reap.
Gentle was he, wise, pure, and lowly-
hearted,
Sober and modest, ever foe to strife,
While in his frame there flowed as yet
unparted
Currents of life.
Ofttimes hath He Whose face he sees
in heaven,
Being entreated for His servant's
sake,
To us on earth the same for healer
given
Sick whole to make.
Wherefore our choir, in thankfulness
adoring,
Lifteth its voice with melody of laud,
While he on high for us his prayer is
pouring,
Unto his God.
5-
Glory and honour, virtue and salvation
Be unto Him, Who, in His might
divine,
Ruleth supremely over all creation,
One and yet Trine. Amen.
Verse. The Lord loved him and
beautified him.
Answer. He clothed him with
a robe of glory.
Antiphon at the Song of the
Blessed Virgin. l I will liken him
unto a wise man, * which built his
house upon a rock.
For Doctors.
O right excellent Teacher, Light
of the Holy Church, N. {here insert
his name) blessed lover of the
Divine Law, pray for us to the Son
of God.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. The Lord, He is
the King of the Confessors. * O
come, let us worship Him.
Hymn as at First Vespers.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Only three Psalms are said.
First Antiphon. Blessed is the
man * that doth meditate in the
law of the Lord : his delight is
therein day and night, and what-
soever he doeth shall prosper.
Ps. i. Blessed is the man, &c,
(A 4.)
1 Matth. vii. 24.
532
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Second Antiphon. Blessed and
holy is he * that putteth his trust
in the Lord, that declareth the
decree of the Lord, and is set
upon His holy hill.
Ps. ii. Why do the heathen, &c,
(A 4.)
Third Antiphon. Thou, O Lord,
art my glory, * Thou art a shield
for me : Thou art the Lifter-up of
mine head, and Thou hast heard
me out of Thy holy hill.
Ps. iii. Lord, how are they in-
creased, &c, (p. 5.)
Verse. The Lord loved him and
beautified him.
Answer. He clothed him with
a robe of glory.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
of Wisdom (iv. 7.)
^P HOUGH the righteous be pre-
-*- vented with death, yet shall
he be in rest. For honourable age
is not that which standeth in length
of time, nor that is measured by
number of years : but wisdom is
the grey hair unto men, and an
unspotted life is old age. He
pleased God, and was beloved of
Him, so that living among sinners,
he was translated. He was taken
away speedily, lest that wickedness
should alter his understanding, or
deceit beguile his soul. For the
bewitching of naughtiness doth ob-
scure things that are honest, and
the wandering of concupiscence
doth undermine the simple mind.
He, being made perfect in a short
time, fulfilled a long time : for his
soul pleased the Lord : therefore
hasted He to take him away from
among the wicked.
First Responsory.
Well done, thou good and faith-
ful servant, thou hast been faith-
ful over a few things, I will make
thee ruler over many things ; en-
ter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Verse. Lord, Thou deliveredst
unto me five talents ; behold, I
have gained beside them five talents
more.
Answer. Enter thou into the
joy of thy Lord.
Second Lesson.
r I ^HIS the people saw, and under-
-■- stood it not, neither laid they
this up in their minds, that the
grace of God and His mercy are
with His Saints, and that He hath
respect unto His chosen. Thus the
righteous that is dead doth condemn
the ungodly which are living, and
youth that is soon perfected, the
many years of the unrighteous. For
they shall see the end of the wise,
and shall not understand what God
in His counsel hath decreed of him,
and to what end the Lord hath set
him in safety. They shall see him
and despise him : but the Lord
shall laugh them to scorn. And
they shall thereafter fall without
honour, and be a reproach among
the dead for evermore : for when
they are puffed up, He shall rend
them, and they shall be speechless,
and He shall shake them from the
foundation, and they shall be utterly
laid waste.
FOR A CONFESSOR NOT A BISHOP.
533
Second Respo7isory.
1 The righteous shall grow as the
lily ; yea, he shall flourish in the
presence of the Lord for ever.
Verse. 2 Those that be planted
in the house of the Lord, shall
flourish in the courts of the house
of our God.
Answer. Yea, he shall flourish
in the presence of the Lord for ever.
Third Lesson.
AND they shall be in sorrow, and
their memorial shall perish.
When they cast up the accounts of
their sins they shall come with fear,
and their own iniquities shall con-
vince them to their face, (v.) Then
shall the righteous stand in great
boldness before the face of such as
have afflicted them, and made no
account of their labours. When
they see it, they shall be troubled
with terrible fear, and shall be amazed
at the strangeness of their salvation,
and they, repenting and groaning for
anguish of spirit, shall say within
themselves : These were they whom
we had sometimes in derision, and
a proverb of reproach. We fools ac-
counted their life madness, and their
end to be without honour. Behold,
how they are numbered among the
children of God, and their lot is
among the Saints.
Third Responsory.
This is he which knew righteous-
ness, and saw great wonders, and
made his prayer unto the Most
High ; and he is numbered among
the Saints.
Verse. This is he which loved not
his life in this world, and is come
unto an everlasting kingdom.
Answer. And he is numbered
among the Saints.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And he is numbered
among the Saints.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. When His holy
one called, * the Lord heard him ;
yea, the Lord heard him, and gave
him peace.
Psalm IV.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with a
musical (?) direction of (now) uncertain
meaning.]
WHEN I called, the God of my
righteousness heard me : *
Thou hast enlarged me when I was
in distress :
Have mercy upon me, * and hear
my prayer.
O ye sons of men, how long
will ye be dull of heart? * Why
will ye love vanity, and seek after
leasing ? 3
But know that the Lord hath set
apart for Himself him that is holy :
* the Lord will hear me when I
call unto Him.
Be ye angry and sin not : * what
ye speak in your heart, repent upon
your bed.3
Offer the sacrifices of righteous-
ness, and put your trust in the Lord.
* There be many that say : Who will
show us any good ?
Lord, Thou hast set upon us the
light of Thy countenance. * Thou
hast put gladness in my heart,
1 Hos. xiv. 6 ;
Isa. xvii. II, &c.
2 Ps. xci. 14.
3 SLH
VOL. I.
S 2
534
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
More than in the time that their
corn, and wine, and oil * increased.
I will both lay me down in peace,
* and sleep,
For Thou, Lord, only * makest
me to dwell in safety.
Second Antiphon. Let all those
that put their trust in Thee rejoice,
0 Lord, for Thou hast blessed the
righteous ; * Thou hast compassed
him with Thy favour as with a
shield.
Psalm V.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with a
musical (?) superscription.]
f~^ IVE ear unto my words, O
^-*" Lord, * consider my suppli-
cation.
Hearken unto the voice of my cry,
* my King and my God !
For unto Thee will I pray. * O
Lord, in the morning Thou shalt
hear my voice :
In the morning will I stand before
Thee and look up. * For Thou art
not a God that hath pleasure in
wickedness :
Neither shall the evil dwell with
Thee, * nor the unrighteous stand
in Thy sight :
Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
* Thou shalt destroy all them that
speak leasing :
The Lord abhorreth the bloody
and deceitful man. * But as for me,
in the multitude of Thy mercy
I will come into Thine house : *
1 will worship toward Thine holy
temple in Thy fear.
Lead me, O Lord, in Thy
righteousness, * because of mine
enemies ; make my way straight
before Thy face.
For there is no faithfulness in
their mouth : * their inward part
is very wickedness.
Their throat is an open sepulchre ;
they flatter with their tongue. *
Judge Thou them, O God !
Let them fall by their own coun-
sels ; cast them out in the multi-
tude of their transgressions, * for
they have rebelled against Thee, O
Lord!
And let all those that put their
trust in Thee, rejoice : * let them
ever shout for joy, because Thou
dwellest in them :
Let them also that love Thy Name
be joyful in Thee. * For Thou wilt
bless the righteous.
0 Lord, Thou hast compassed
us * with Thy favour as with a
shield.
Third Antiphon. O Lord, our
Ruler, * how excellent is Thy Name
in all the earth ! Who hast crowned
Thine holy one with glory and hon-
our, and madest him to have domin-
ion over the works of Thy hands.
Psalm VIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." It has
also a title which seems to show that it was
a song for the vintage.]
r~\ LORD, our Lord, * how ex-
^~J cellent is Thy Name in all
the earth !
For Thy glory is exalted * above
the heavens.
1 Out of the mouth of babes and
sucklings hast Thou perfected praise
because of Thine enemies, * that
Thou mightest destroy the enemy
and the avenger.
When I consider Thine heavens,
1 This verse was quoted by our Lord, concerning those who cried Hosannah on Palm
Sunday, Matthew xxi. 16.
FOR A CONFESSOR NOT A BISHOP,
535
the work of Thy fingers : * the moon
and the stars which Thou hast or-
dained :
What is man, that Thou art mind-
ful of him ? * or the son of man,
that Thou visitest him ?
Thou hast made him a little lower
than the angels, Thou hast crowned
him with glory and honour, * and
madest him to have dominion over
the works of Thine hands.
Thou hast put all things under
his feet, * all sheep and oxen, yea,
and the beasts of the field.
The fowl of the air, and the fish
of the sea, * that pass through the
paths of the sea.
O Lord, our Lord, * how ex-
cellent is Thy Name in all the
earth !
Verse. l The mouth of the right-
eous speaketh wisdom.
Answer. And his tongue talketh
judgment.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St John Chrysostom,
Patriarch [of Constantinople.]
{On St Fhilogonius, Tom. iii.)
" I ^HE blessed N., (here insert the
■*■ name of the Saint whose Feast
is being kept,) whose Feast we are
this day keeping, doth justly call on
our tongue to tell what great deeds
he wrought. To-day did that blessed
servant of God pass into that higher
life, which is a life of peace, a life
where there is no trouble. To-day
his ship reached that harbour where-
after wreck is to be dreaded no more.
He hath felt trouble and anguish of
spirit for the last time. And where-
fore marvel we that that place is one
where the mind is vexed no more,
when we remember that Paul saith
even to men living here in this life
— " Rejoice evermore, pray without
ceasing"? (i Thess. v. 16, 17.)
Fourth Responsory.
2 The Lord made him honourable,
and defended him from his enemies,
and kept him safe from those that
lay in wait for him, and gave him
perpetual glory.
Verse. He went down with him
into the pit, and left him not in
bonds.
Answer. And gave him perpetual
glory.
Fifth Lesson.
T_T ERE there are sicknesses, here
-■- -*- there are strivings, here there
are untimely deaths, here there are
lies, here there are jealousies, here
there are troubles, here there is
anger, here there are lustings, here
there are pit-falls unnumbered, here
there are daily cares, here one evil
followeth after another, and all bring
vexation. And yet Paul hath it that
even here a man may rejoice ever-
more, if he will but raise his head
above the flood of earthly things,
and order his life aright. How much
better shall we fare when we have
passed away from all these things,
and all these things are taken away
from us, when we shall have no ill-
health, nor disease, nor matter
wherein to sin, when that hard
thing, right of property, shall exist
no more, whereby all unrighteousness
cometh into this life, and strifes un-
numbered are begotten.
1 Ps. xxxvi. 30.
a Wisd. x. 11-14, substituting "Lord " for "Wisdom."
536
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Fifth Responsory.
The Lord loved him and beauti-
fied him : He clothed him with a
robe of glory, and crowned him at
the gates of Paradise.
Verse. The Lord hath put on
him the breast-plate of faith,1 and
hath adorned him.
Answer. And crowned him at
the gates of Paradise.
Sixth Lesson.
TN this verily do I most chiefly
■*■ rejoice, for the happiness of
that holy servant of God, in that,
being taken away hence, and having
found here no abiding city, he is
become a citizen of that other city,
which is the city of the living God :
from the Church here he is gone,
but he is come unto the Church of
the first-born, which are written in
heaven, (Heb. xii. 22, 23); he keep-
eth holiday with us no more, but he
is passed to where he holdeth high
festival with Angels. And what be
that city, and that Church, and that
festival above, Paul biddeth us
know, saying : " Ye are come unto
the city of the living God, the heav-
enly Jerusalem, and unto the Church
of the first-born which are written in
heaven, and to an innumerable com-
pany of Angels."
Sixth Responsory.
2 This is he which did according
unto all that God commanded him ;
and God said unto him : Enter
thou into My rest ; for thee have I
seen righteous before Me among all
people.
Verse. This is he which loved
not his life in this world, and is
come unto an everlasting kingdom.
Answer. For thee have I seen
righteous before Me among all
people.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. For thee have I seen
righteous before Me among all
people.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Lord, this Thy
Saint * shall dwell in Thy taber-
nacle, and this that hath worked
righteousness shall abide upon Thy
holy hill.
Psalm XIV.
[Intituled " A Psalm of David."]
T ORD, who shall abide in Thy
-^ tabernacle ? * who shall dwell
in Thine holy hill ?
He that walketh uprightly, * and
worketh righteousness.
He that speaketh the truth in his
heart, * he that deceiveth not with
his tongue.
He that hath not done evil to his
neighbour, * nor taken up a reproach
against his neighbour.
In whose eyes a vile person is
despised : * but he honoureth them
that fear the Lord.
He that sweareth to his neighbour,
and deceiveth him not, * he that
putteth not out his money to usury,
nor taketh reward against the in-
nocent.
He that doeth these things, *
shall never be moved.
Second Antiphon. He asked life
of Thee, * and Thou, O Lord,
1 1 Thess. v. 8.
2 Cf. Gen. vii. 5, 1 ; Ps. xciv. 11 ; Heb. iv. II.
FOR A CONFESSOR NOT A BISHOP.
537
gavest it : honour and great ma-
jesty hast Thou laid upon him :
Thou hast set a crown of precious
stones upon his head.
Psalm XX.
[This Psalm also bears the same title as
the xviiith.]
HTHE king shall joy in Thy
■*• strength, O Lord : * and in
Thy salvation how greatly shall he
rejoice !
Thou hast given him his heart's
desire, * and hast not withholden
the request of his lips.1
For Thou hast met him with the
blessings of sweetness : * Thou hast
set a crown of precious stones upon
his head.
He asked life of Thee : * and
Thou gavest him length of days for
ever and ever.
His glory is great in Thy salva-
tion : * honour and great majesty
shalt Thou lay upon him.
For Thou wilt give him to be a
blessing for ever : * Thou shalt
make him exceeding glad with Thy
countenance.
For the king trusteth in the Lord,
* and, through the mercy of the
Most High, he shall not be moved.
Thine hand shall find out all
thine enemies : * thy right hand
shall find out all those that hate
thee.
Thou shalt make them as a fiery
oven in the time of thine anger : *
the Lord shall cut them off in His
wrath, and the fire shall devour
them.
Their fruit shalt thou destroy from
the earth, * and their seed from
among the children of men.
For they intended evil against
thee : * they imagined a device,
which they were not able to per-
form.
Therefore shalt thou cast them
behind thee : * thou shalt leave
their faces lying in thy track.
Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in
Thine own strength : * we will sing
and praise Thy power.
Third Antiphon. He shall re-
ceive * a blessing from the Lord,
and mercy from the God of his sal-
vation : for this is the generation
of them that seek the Lord.
Psalm XXIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." The
Vulgate and the LXX. add "for the first
day of the week."]
'"PHE earth is the Lord's and
*■ the fulness thereof; * the
world, and they that dwell there-
in.
For He hath founded it upon the
seas, * and established it upon the
floods.
Who shall ascend into the moun-
tain of the Lord? * or who shall
stand in His holy place?
He that hath clean hands and
a pure heart, * who hath not
lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor
sworn deceitfully unto his neigh-
bour.
He shall receive a blessing from
the Lord, * and mercy from the
God of his salvation.
This is the generation of them
that seek Him, * that seek the face
of the God of Jacob.1
Lift up your gates, O ye princes,
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
SLH.
538
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
doors ! * and the King of glory
shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? *
The Lord strong and mighty, the
Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your gates, O ye princes,
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
doors ! * and the King of glory
shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? *
The Lord of hosts, He is the
King of glory.1
Verse. 2The law of his God is
in his heart.
Answer. None of his steps shall
slide.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (xii.
35-)
A T that time : Jesus said unto
^* His disciples : Let your loins
be girded about, and your lights
burning. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great] (13M on the Gospels.)
Dearly beloved brethren, the
words of the Holy Gospel, which
have just been read, lie open be-
fore you, and, lest their very plain-
ness should make them seem to
some to be hard, we will go through
them with such shortness as that
neither may they which understand
not remain unenlightened, nor they
which understand be wearied. The
Lord saith : " Let your loins be
girded about." Now, we gird our
loins about, when by continency we
master the lustful inclination of the
flesh. But, forasmuch as it sufficeth
not for a man to abstain from evil
1 SLH.
deeds, if he strive not to join thereto
the earnest doing of good works, it
is immediately added : " And your
lights burning." Our lights burn
when, by good works, we give bright
example to our neighbour ; concern-
ing which works the Lord saith :
" Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father Which
is in heaven." (Matth. v. 16.)
Seventh Responsory.
This is he which wrought great
wonders before God, and praised
the Lord with all his heart. May
he pray for all people, that their
sins may be forgiven unto them !
Verse. Behold a man without
blame, a worshipper of God in
truth, keeping himself clean from
every evil work, and abiding still
in his innocency.
Answer. May he pray for all
people, that their sins may be for-
given unto them !
Eighth Blessing.
He whose feast-day we are keeping
Be our Advocate with God.
Eighth Lesson.
TTERE, then, are two command-
* -*- ments, to gird our loins
about, and to keep our lights burn-
ing— the cleanness of purity in our
body, and the light of the truth in
our works. Whoso hath the one
and not the other, pleaseth not
thereby our Redeemer ; that is, he
pleaseth Him not which doth good
works, but bridleth not himself from
the pollutions of lust, neither he
2 Ps. xxx vi. 31.
FOR A CONFESSOR NOT A BISHOP.
539
which is eminent in chastity, but
exerciseth not himself in good
works. Neither is chastity a great
thing without good works, nor good
works anything without chastity.
And if any man do both, it remain-
eth that he must look by hope
toward our Fatherland above, and
not have for his reason wherethrough
he turneth himself away from vice,
the love of honour in this present
world.
Eighth Responsory.
Let your loins be girded about,
and your lights burning, and ye
yourselves like unto men that wait
for their lord, when he will return
from the wedding.
Verse. Watch, therefore, for ye
know not what hour your Lord doth
come.
Answer. And ye yourselves like
unto men that wait for their lord,
when he will return from the wed-
ding.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And ye yourselves like
unto men that wait for their lord,
when he will return from the wed-
ding.
Eighth Resp07isory for Doctors.
In the midst of the congregation
did the Lord open his mouth. And
filled him with the spirit of wisdom
and understanding.
Verse. He made him rich with
joy and gladness.
Answer. And filled him with the
spirit of wisdom and understanding.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Anszver. And filled him with the
spirit of wisdom and understanding.
Ninth Lesson.
" A ND ye yourselves like unto
*~*- men that wait for their lord,
when he will return from the wed-
ding : that, when he cometh and
knocketh, they may open unto him
immediately." The Lord cometh
at the hour of judgment : He
knocketh when, by the pains of
sickness, He biddeth us know that
death is nigh. To Him open we
immediately, if we receive Him in
love. Whoso feareth to leave this
body, will not open to the Judge
when He knocketh, for he dreadeth
to see that Judge, Whom he know-
eth that he hath despised. But
whosoever knoweth that his hope
and works are built upon a good
foundation, when he heareth the
Judge knock, openeth to Him im-
mediately, for to such an one that
coming is blessed, — yea, when the
hour of death is at hand, such an
one haileth with gladness a glorious
reward.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. 1 Lord, Thou
deliveredst unto me five talents : *
behold, I have gained beside them
five talents more.
Second Antiphon. 2 Well done,
thou good servant, * thou hast
been faithful in a very little, enter
thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Third Antiphon. 3 A faithful and
wise servant * whom his Lord hath
made ruler over His household.
Fourth Antiphon. i Blessed is
that servant * whom his Lord,
1 Matth. xxv. 20.
3 Matth. xxiv. 45.
2 Matth. xxv. 21 ; Luke xix. 17.
4 Matth. xxiv. 46 ; Luke xii. 36, 37 ; Apoc. iii. 20.
54Q
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
when He cometh and knocketh
at the door, shall find watching.
Fifth Antiphon. 1Thou good and
faithful servant, * enter thou into
the joy of thy Lord.
Chapter. (Ecclus. xxxi. 8.)
"DLESSED is the man that is
*-* found without blemish, and
hath not gone after gold, neither
hath put his trust in riches, nor in
treasure. Who is he, and we will
call him blessed? For wonderful
things hath he done in his life.
Hymn?
T ESUS ! Eternal Truth sublime !
J Through endless years the Same !
Thou Crown of those who through all
time
Confess Thy Holy Name !
Thy suppliant people, through the
prayer
Of Thy blest Saint, forgive ;
For his dear sake Thy wrath forbear,
And bid our spirits live.
Again returns the sacred day
With heavenly glory bright,
Which saw him go upon his way
Into the realms of light.
All objects of our vain desire,
All earthly joys and gains,
To him were but as filthy mire ;
And now with Thee he reigns.
Thee, JESUS, his all-gracious Lord,
Confessing to the last,
He trod beneath him Satan's fraud,
And stood for ever fast.
In holy deeds of faith and love,
In fastings and in prayers,
His days were spent ; and now above
Thy heavenly Feast he shares.
Then for his sake Thy wrath lay by,
And hear us while we pray ;
And pardon us, O Thou Most High !
On this his festal day.
All glory to the Father be,
And Sole Incarnate Son ;
Praise, Holy Paraclete, to Thee,
While endless ages run. Amen.
Verse. The Lord guided the just
in right paths.
Answer. And showed him the
kingdom of God.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacha-
rias. Well done, thou good and
faithful servant ; * thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will
make thee ruler over many things :
enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Prayer.
f~\ GOD, Who, year by year, dost
^-* gladden us by the solemn
Feast-day of Thy blessed Confessor
{here insert his name,) mercifully
grant unto all who keep his birth-
day, grace to follow after the pattern
of his godly conversation. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son,
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee,
in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.
Another Prayer.
f~\ LORD, mercifully hear the
^-^ supplications which we offer
unto Thee on this the solemn
Feast-day of Thy blessed Confes-
sor {here insert his name,) and, for-
asmuch as we put no trust in our
own righteousness, grant that we
may be holpen by his prayers who
walked with Thee. Through our
1 Matth. xxv. 21 ; Luke xix. 17.
2 Hymn of the Ambrosian school, slightly altered ; translation by the Rev. E. Caswall.
FOR A CONFESSOR NOT A BISHOP.
541
Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in
the unity of the Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.
For Doctors.
OGod, Who didst give unto
Thy people Thy blessed ser-
vant N. {here insert his name) to
feed them with the bread of eternal
life, grant, we beseech Thee, that
even as on earth he showed unto us
Thy lively word, so in heaven we
may worthily be holpen by the suc-
cour of his prayers to Thee on our
behalf. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
The same Prayer throughout the day.
Antiphon. Lord, Thou deliver-
edst, &c, {First Antiphon at Lauds?)
Chapter at the end. (Wisdom x. io.)
HP HE Lord guided the just in
-■- right paths, showed him the
kingdom of God, and gave him
knowledge of holy things, made him
rich in his travails, and multiplied
the fruit of his labours.
TERCE.
Antiphon. Well done, &c, {Sec-
ond Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Laudsi
Short Responsory.
The Lord loved him, and beauti-
fied him.
Answer. The Lord loved him,
and beautified him.
Verse. He clothed him with a
robe of glory.
Answer. And beautified him.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The Lord loved him,
and beautified him.
Verse. The mouth of the right-
eous speaketh wisdom.
Anszver. And his tongue talketh
judgment.
SEXT.
Antiphon. A faithful and wise
servant, * &c, {Third Antiphon at
Lauds?)
Chapter. (Ecclus. xxxix. 6.)
THE righteous giveth his heart
to resort early to the Lord
that made him, and will pray be-
fore the Most High.
Short Responsory.
The mouth of the righteous
speaketh wisdom.
Answer. The mouth of the
righteous speaketh wisdom.
Verse. And his tongue talketh
judgment.
Answer. The righteous speaketh
wisdom.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The mouth of the
righteous speaketh wisdom.
Verse. The law of his God is
in his heart.
Answer. None of his steps shall
slide.
542
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
NONE.
Atitiphoti. Thou good and faith-
ful servant, &c, {Fifth Antiphon at
Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
The law of his God is in his
heart.
Answer. The law of his God is
in his heart.
Verse. None of his steps shall
slide.
Answer. In his heart.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The law of his God is
in his heart.
Verse. The Lord guideth the just
in right paths.
Answer. And showed him the
kingdom of God.
SECOND VESPERS.
Same as at First Vespers, except the
Jolloiving.
Verse and Answer from Lauds.
Antiphon at the Song of the
Blessed Virgin. 1 Lo, a servant of
God who esteemed but little things
earthly.
And by word and work laid him
up treasure in heaven.
For Doctors.
O right excellent Teacher, Light
of the Holy Church, N. [here insert
his name) blessed lover of the Divine
Law, pray for us to the Son of God.
©tfjer Cessans for leasts of
a Confessor not a Btsfyop.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
of Ecclesiasticus (xxxi. 8.)
BLESSED is the man that is
found without blemish, and
hath not gone after gold, neither
hath put his trust in riches nor in
treasure. Who is he, and we will
call him blessed ? For wonderful
things hath he done in his life.
Whoso hath been tried thereby,
and found perfect, the same shall
have glory for ever ; who might
offend, and hath not offended ; or
done evil, and hath not done it.
His goods are established in the
Lord, and all the congregation of
the Saints shall declare his alms.
Second Lesson, (xxxii. 18.)
WHOSO feareth the Lord will
receive His discipline : and
they that seek Him early shall find
His blessing. He that seeketh the
law shall be filled therewith : but
the hypocrites shall be offended
thereat. They that fear the Lord
shall find righteous judgment, and
shall kindle justice as a light. (28.)
He that believeth God taketh heed
to the commandments : and he that
trusteth in Him shall fare never the
worse, (xxxiii. 1.) There shall no
evil happen unto him that feareth
the Lord : but in temptation God
will keep him, and deliver him from
evil. A wise man hateth not the
commandments and judgments,
1 An elegiac couplet.
FOR A CONFESSOR NOT A BISHOP.
543
neither is he tossed to and fro
therein as a ship in a storm. A
man of understanding trusteth in
the law of God, and the law is
faithful unto him.
Third Lesson, (xxxiv. 14.)
T^HE spirit of those that fear God
1 is precious, and is blessed in
His sight. For their hope is in
Him that saveth them, and the eyes
of God are upon them that love
Him. Whoso feareth the Lord
shall fear nothing, nor be afraid,
for He is his hope. Blessed is the
soul of him that feareth the Lord.
To Whom doth he look ? And
Who is his strength ? The eyes of
the Lord are upon them that fear
Him, He is their mighty protection,
and strong stay ; a defence from
heat, and a cover from the sun at
noon, a preservation from stumbling,
and an help from falling. He rais-
eth up the soul, and lighteneth the
eyes ; He giveth health, and life,
and blessing.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
of Moral [Reflectionjs upon Job,
written by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (Bk. x. Chap. xvi. on
Job xii.)
' I AHE simplicity of the righteous
-*- is made a subject of derision.
The wisdom of this world hideth our
true feelings by artifice, and useth
language to conceal our thoughts ;
this is the wisdom which demon-
strated! the truth of falsehood, and
showeth the falsehood of the truth.
This kind of shrewdness the young
acquire by practice, and children pay
for the learning it. Those who are
good at this look down upon their
neighbours ; those who are bad at
it are humble and timid, and wonder
at it in others ; they regard this
astuteness too, wrong though it be,
with wistful admiration, under soft-
ened epithets. Unstraightforward-
ness is called good breeding. The
principles of the world teach those
who entertain them, to try and rise
to distinction, and when they have
attained the bubble of glory which
is so soon to pass away, to feel it
sweet to have at their feet them
on whom they may wreak rich
revenge. These principles teach
a man, as long as he is strong
enough, to give way to nobody
else, and, if he hath no chance by
force, to try and attain his object
by diplomacy.
Fifth Lesson.
'T^HE wisdom of the righteous is
' ^ the contrary of all this. They
seek to avoid deception, to give their
thoughts a clear expression in their
words, to love the truth because it is
the truth, to avoid falsehood, and
rather to suffer than to inflict evil.
Such are they who seek not to avenge
themselves for wrong, and deem it
gain to be despised for the truth's
sake. This their simplicity is made
a subject of derision, for such as are
wise in this world believe the purity
of their virtue to be simple foolery.
Whatsoever is done innocently, they
consider without doubt stupid. Such
works as the truth approveth are
idiotic, when tried by carnal stand-
ards of wisdom. After all, what
544
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
stupider thing is there in this world
than to express our real thoughts in
our words, to keep nothing quiet by
skilful tact, to repay no injuries, to
pray for them which curse us, to seek
poverty, to give up property, to strive
not with such as take from us, to
turn the other cheek to the smiter ?
Sixth Lesson. (C/i. xvii.)
" A LAMP despised in the
-**■ thoughts of the rich, is
ready for the time appointed."
(Job xii. 5.) 1 It often happeneth
that one of the elect, who is on his
way to be happy for ever, is crushed
down here by repeated misfortunes.
He reposeth in no luxury of posses-
sions, no distinction marketh him as
honourable among men, no admir-
ing followers court him, no rich
dress maketh comely his bodily
appearance. Everybody seeth in
him a person to be looked down
upon, and his reputation is that of
one unworthy of the world's favour.
And yet, that is a man who, to the
eyes of the Judge Who seeth in'
secret, is glorious through virtue,
whose life is radiant with worth.
He disliketh to be honoured, and
doth not refuse to meet with con-
tempt. He bringeth abstinence to
bear on his body, and his luxury is
spiritual richness in love. He trieth
to keep his feelings patient, and
when he hath to stand up for right-
eousness' sake, is glad to be despised.
He feeleth from his heart for the
afflicted, and the prosperity of the
godly giveth him as much pleasure
as if it were his own. He is care-
ful inwardly to digest the food of
the Holy Word. When he is in-
quired of, he doth not know how
to give a double answer.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (xii. 32.)
A T that time : Jesus said unto
^*- His disciples : Fear not, little
flock, for it is your Father's good
pleasure to give you the kingdom.
And so on.
Homily by the Venerable Bede,
Priest [at Jarrow and Doctor of the
Church.] {Bk. iv. Ch. 54 on Luke
xii.)
The elect are called a little flock,
perchance because the reprobate are
far more in number than they, but,
more probably, because they love to
be lowly, since it is God's will that
however much His Church should
grow in numbers, she should grow
with lowliness even unto the end of
the world, and should enter lowly
into that kingdom which is hers by
His promise. That kingdom He
promiseth to her here, when He
biddeth her to seek only the king-
dom of God, and, to comfort her in
her travail, He doth so sweetly and
so graciously say that her Father will
give it to her.
Eighth Lesson.
" OELL that ye have and give
^ alms." Fear not, He saith,
lest, while ye fight for the kingdom
of God, ye should lack such things
1 I.e. , the just man seems to shine now but dimly, but at the same time he shall shine
in splendour. — Abp. Kenrick.
FOR A CONFESSOR NOT A BISHOP.
545
as are needful for this life, nay rather,
sell even that which ye have, and
give alms. This doth, whosoever
for the Lord's sake leaveth all that
he hath, and then worketh with his
hands, that so he may have to eat,
and withal to give alms. In this
doth the Apostle boast himself, say-
ing : " I have coveted no man's
silver, or gold, or apparel, as ye
yourselves know : for these hands
have ministered unto my necessities,
and to them that were with me. I
have showed you all things, how
that so labouring ye ought to support
the weak." (Acts xx. 33, 34, 35.)
Ninth Lesson.
u pROVIDE yourselves bags
* which wax not old" — that
is to say, by almsgiving, the reward
thereof remaineth for ever. Never-
theless, we must not think here that
this commandment forbiddeth the
Saints to keep money for their own
use, and for helping of the poor.
The Lord Himself, to Whom Angels
ministered, had a bag, and kept
therein that which the faithful people
gave unto Him (John xii. 6,) to re-
lieve therewith the need of His
disciples, and other poor folk. But
we are commanded not to serve
God for gain, nor to work unright-
eousness for fear of poverty.
Number is altered into the Plural. For
example: "The blessed N. and N.,
whose Feast we are this day keeping,
do justly call, &c, &c."
If it should be that several Confessors
not Bishops are to be honoured by one
Feast, the Office is the same as that just
given, except the following :
1. In the Common Prayer the words
" Thy blessed Confessor N." are altered
into "Thy blessed Confessors N. and
N.," and the word " his" into " their."
2. In the Sermon by St John Chry-
sostom everything said, in the Singular
For A b bats the Office is as above, ex-
cept the following:
Prayer.
f~\ LORD, we beseech Thee, that
^~s the prayers of Thy blessed
Abbat N. (here insert his name) may
commend us unto Thee, and that
what for our own worthiness we
cannot obtain, Thou mayest grant
us through his help. Through our
Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in
the unity of the Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xix. 27, with the
Homily of St Jerome upon the same,
(A 47I-)
Other Lessons.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (xi.
A T that time Jesus answered
**» and said : I thank Thee, O
Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because Thou hast hid these things
from the wise and prudent, and
hast revealed them unto babes.
And so on.
Homily by St Austin, Bishop [of
Hippo.] (10th Sermon on the Words
of the Lord.)
" Come unto Me, all ye that la-
bour ! " And wherefore labour we
546
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
all, but because we are frail, sickly,
dying creatures, burdened with
earthen vessels which distress us?
But if these fleshly vessels be dis-
tressful, let the open expanse of love
be free and wide. " Come unto
Me, all ye that labour ! " — and why ?
That we may labour no more. His
promise is an instant promise, for
He calleth such as are labouring.
Perchance they will ask Him what
shall be their reward? "And I,"
saith He, "will give you rest. Take
My yoke upon you, and learn of
Me " — not how to make the world,
not how to create all things visible
and invisible, not to work wonders
in the earth, nor to raise the dead
— but — "for I am meek and
lowly in heart."
Eighth Lesson.
WILT thou be great? Begin
by being little. Dost thou
think to raise up a lofty building?
Then lay the foundations thereof
in lowliness. The greater soever,
and the more massy, be that which
any man thinketh to build, so much
the deeper doth he dig his founda-
tion. And when the house is built,
it towereth heavenward ; but he
which layeth the foundation goeth
down into the earth. The build-
ing, therefore, is low before it is
high, and, after it is low, it riseth
high to the roof.
Ninth Lesson.
WHAT is the roof of the house
on which we labour ? Whither
do its spires rise ? I answer you at
once ; to the presence of God. You
see how high it is, yea, what it is
to see God. He that will, under-
standeth what I say, and he
heareth. What is promised you is
to see God, God, the True, God,
the Supreme. Blessed is he who
seeth Him by Whom he is seen.
Such as worship false gods see
them easily, but they see them who
have eyes and see not. But unto
us it is promised that we shall see
that God Who liveth and seeth.
(Gen. xvi. 14.)
Other Lessons.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew
(xix. 27.)
AT that time : Peter said unto
Jesus : Behold, we have for-
saken all, and followed Thee : what
shall we have therefore? And so
on.
Homily by the Venerable Bede,
Priest [at Jarrow and Doctor of the
Church.] {For St Benedict's Birth-
day.)
In the judgment to come, the
elect will be in two classes. One
class are they who have forsaken all,
and followed the Lord : and these
shall judge along with Him. The
other class are they who have not
equally forsaken all that they had,
but who have been careful daily to
give alms of their goods to the poor
of Christ : these shall be the sub-
jects of judgment, and these are
they who shall then hear these
words: "Come, ye blessed of My
Father, inherit the kingdom pre-
pared for you from the foundation
of the world : for I was an hun-
gered, and ye gave Me meat : I was
FOR DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH.
547
thirsty, and ye gave Me drink."
(Matth. xxv. 34, 35.)
Eighth Lesson,
OF the reprobate also we gather,
from the words of the Lord,
that there will be two classes. One
class are they who, being made par-
takers in the mystery of Christian
faith, have neglected to show their
faith by their works : these are they
to whom it will be said at the judg-
ment : " Depart from Me, ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for
the devil and his angels : for I was
an-hungered, and ye gave Me no
meat." (41.) The other class are
they who either have never received
the faith and mysteries of Christ,
or who, having received, have apos-
tatised, and abandoned it : and
touching these it is said : " But he
that believeth not is condemned al-
ready, because he hath not believed
in the name of the only-begotten
Son of God." (John iii. 18.)
Ninth Lesson.
A ND now that we have touched
^*- for a moment, with fear and
just dread, upon these things, let us
rather turn our hearing to the right
joyful promises of our Lord and
Saviour. Let us look what His so
great, beautiful, and fatherly love
will give to such as follow Him ;
not the reward of life everlasting
only, but gifts exceeding precious
in this life also. "Every one,"
saith He, " that hath forsaken
houses, or brethren, or sisters, or
father, or mother, or wife, or chil-
dren, or lands, for My Name's sake,
shall receive an hundredfold, and
shall inherit everlasting life." For
every one that shall forsake earthly
affections and goods, to go and be
Christ's disciple, the further he
goeth on in Christ's love, the more
shall he find who will rejoice to
give him a place in their hearts,
and to minister to him of their
substance.
YTM. dfor lioctovg of t&e <Bf)Uxtf).
The Office is that of a Bishop and
Confessor, or of a Confessor not a
Bishop, (pp. 515 and 531) according as
the particular Doctor was a Bishop or
not, with the differences marked in those
two Offices, and the following.
Lessons.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
of Ecclesiasticus (xxxix. 1.)
HE that is wise will seek out the
wisdom of all the antient,
and be occupied in prophecies. He
will keep the sayings of the renowned
men, and where subtil parables are,
he will be there also. He will seek
out the secrets of grave sentences,
and be conversant in dark parables.
He will serve among great men, and
appear before princes. He will
travel through strange countries, for
he will try the good and the evil
among men.
Second Lesson.
TIE will give his heart to resort
-*■ *■ early to the Lord that made
him, and will pray before the most
548
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
High. He will open his mouth in
prayer, and make supplication for
his sins. If the great Lord will,
He will fill him with the spirit of
understanding, and he shall make
the utterances of his wisdom to
distil as the rain, and shall give
thanks unto the Lord in his prayer.
He shall direct his counsel and
knowledge, and in His secrets
shall he meditate.
Third Lesson.
HE shall show forth that which
he hath learnt, and shall
glory in the law of the covenant of
the Lord. Many shall commend
his understanding, and it shall not
be blotted out for ever. His me-
morial shall not depart away, and
his name shall live from generation
to generation. Nations shall show
forth his wisdom, and the Church
shall declare his praise.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
of Moral [Reflectionjs on Job,
written by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (Bk. ix. ch. vi.)
1 TN the Book of Job (ix. 9), it is
*■ written that it is God " which
maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Hy-
ades." Now if by the constellation
Orion be mystically signified the
spiritual constellation of the holy
Martyrs, whom can we understand
to be named after them under the
title of the Hyades, but the Doctors
1 The first and part of the second sentence is here inserted for the sake of the sense.
- Quamobrem prohibits sunt stellae pluviarum. This would appear to have been a
copyist's blunder in St Gregory's Bible for " Quamobrem prohibits sunt stillce pluviarum
— Therefore the X3.\n-drops have been withholden." — Jer. iii. 3.
of the Holy Church? When the
glorious constellation of the Martyrs
had set, and the light of the faith
grew stronger, then appeared the
constellation of the Doctors in the
firmament of the Church, even in
that spring-time when the winter of
unbelief was past, and the Sun of
truth rose higher to shine on the
hearts of His faithful ones. The
storms of persecution were gone, and
the long nights of unbelief were
over ; then rose the Doctors to shine
on the Church, when the spring-
time of belief promised her a
brighter year.
Fifth Lesson.
IT beseemeth well that the holy
Doctors be figured by Hyades,
for these stars are so styled from the
Greek word " hyetos," and " hyetos "
signifieth rain. The Hyades are
therefore named after rain, because
when they rise they undoubtedly
bring rain. Well, then, do we apply
the name of the Hyades to those
who, when they rise to shine in the
firmament of the universal Church,
make the rain of holy preaching to
fall upon the parched ground of
man's heart. For if the word of
preaching had not been as rain,
then had Moses never said : " My
doctrine shall drop as the rain,"
(Deut. xxxii. 2,) nor had the Truth
said by Isaiah : " I will also com-
mand the clouds that they rain no
rain upon it," (v. 6,) nor yet these
words which we have just quoted :
" Therefore the rain-stars have been
withholden." 2
FOR DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH.
549
Sixth Lesson.
A T the same time that the Hy-
-^*- ades come bringing rain, the
sun daily riseth higher in the heavens :
thus do we, seeing the learning of
the Doctors, and having our minds
saturated with the rain of preaching,
grow warmer in faith. And when
the hot heavens shine fiery over her,
the wet earth tendeth to harvest :
thus do we, when the fire of holy
learning burneth bright in our heart,
tend to bring forth the fruit of
good works. When, day by day,
we learn more of the knowledge of
heavenly things, a spring-time of
inward light is opening within us,
a new Sun is irradiating our mind,
and, as we know Him better by the
words of His Teachers, He doth
daily Himself shine the more therein.
As the end of the world groweth
nearer, the knowledge of things
heavenly will grow greater, and con-
tinue to develop with time.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (v.
I3-)
A T that time : Jesus said unto
^*- His disciples : Ye are the
salt of the earth ; but if the salt
have lost his savour, wherewith shall
it be salted ? And so on.
Homily by St Austin, Bishop
[of Hippo.] (Bk. i. on the Lord's
Sermon on the Mount, ch. vi.
torn. 4.)
The Lord showeth how that such
men are to be esteemed but fools as
do so run after things temporal,
either through lust for abundance
thereof, or through dread of lack of
the same, as to lose those things
which are eternal, and which, as
men cannot give them, so likewise
neither can they take them away.
If, therefore, the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be salted ?
This is as much as to say : Ye are
they by whom the stale mass of
mankind is to be sweetened ; if ye,
therefore, through shrinking from
the trials of persecutions, which en-
dure but for a moment, do your-
selves cast away that kingdom which
is everlasting, who will there be to
correct your backsliding, seeing that
ye be they, and none other, whom
God hath chosen to correct the
backslidings of all others ?
Eighth Lesson.
" TT is thenceforth good for
*~ nothing, but to be cast out,
and to be trodden under foot of
men." He that suffereth persecu-
tion is not thus trodden under foot
of men ; he that in good sooth is
trodden under foot of men, is he
which, through fear of persecution,
hath lost his savour. No man can
be trodden upon, unless he be be-
neath him which treadeth upon him ;
but he cannot be beneath his tor-
mentor, who, suffer he how grievously
soever in his body upon earth, hath
still his heart in heaven.
Ninth Lesson.
YE are the light of the world."
They whom the Lord hath,
just above, called the salt of the
earth, the same doth He now call
the light of the world. By the
55o
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
earth, whereof they were said to
be the salt, we have not understood
to be signified that earth whereupon
we walk with our bodily feet, but
the men which dwell upon the earth,
or sinners, for the sweetening and
correction of whose stinking corrup-
tion the Lord hath sent His Apostles,
as it were, as so much salt. And so
here also, by the world we are to
understand, not the heavens and the
earth, but the men which are in the
world, or which love the world for
the enlightening of whom the Apos-
tles have been sent.
"A city that is set on an hill
cannot be hid" — that is, set upon
the heights of the same plain and
great righteousness, whereof the
mountain upon the which the Lord
taught was itself a figure.
Another Homily for the Third
Nocturn.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (v.
i3.)
AT that time : Jesus said unto
His disciples : Ye are the
salt of the earth. But if the salt
have lost his savour, wherewith shall
it be salted ? And so on.
Homily by St Hilary, Bishop [of
Poitiers.] {Comment, on Matth. v.)
"Ye are the salt of the earth.
But if the salt have lost his savour,
wherewith shall it be salted ? It is
thenceforth good for nothing, but to
be cast out, and to be trodden under
foot of men." There is, I take it,
no such thing as salt of the earth.
How, then, can the Apostles be
called the salt of the earth? But
the true meaning of these words
will be made plain, when we con-
sider the duty of Apostles, and the
nature of salt itself. Now, salt is a
compound of the elements of water
and fire, out of the which two things
in salt there is made one.
Eighth Lesson.
'"PHIS thing, therefore, thus made
^ to serve in divers ways the
use of men, doth keep from corrup-
tion bodies whereon it is sprinkled,
and doth readily yield to all the
senses the perception of its inborn
savour. And thus are the Apostles,
seeing that they are the preachers of
the kingdom of heaven, and in a
certain sense the sowers of the
seed of life everlasting, since that
Word of God which they scatter
hath power to make this mortal
put on immortality. Meetly then
are they called salt, the savour of
whose teaching doth keep sweet
the receiver thereof even unto
life everlasting.
Ninth Lesson.
BUT the nature of salt is to be
ever the same, and unchang-
ing, and, on the other hand, the
nature of man hath this weakness,
to be changeable. He only is blessed
who hath continued even unto the
end in all the works which God
hath commanded. Therefore doth
the Lord warn them whom He
calleth the salt of the earth, that
they are behoven to remain strong
in that strength which He hath
given unto them, lest, becoming
FOR DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH.
551
themselves savourless, they should
be impotent to season others ; losing
the freshness of their own saltness,
be unable to stop the corruption
round about them ; and so the
Church cast them out of her but-
tery, and they and those that they
should have salted, be together
trodden under foot of such as
enter in.
A Third Homily for the Third
Nocturn.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (v.
13.)
A T that time : Jesus said unto
■f** His disciples : Ye are the
salt of the earth. But if the salt
have lost his savour, wherewith shall
it be salted ? And so on.
Homily by St John Chrysostom,
Patriarch [of Constantinople.] (15M
on Matth.)
Consider how that the Lord saith :
" Ye are the salt of the earth," by
the which figure He showeth what a
necessary of life is the Gospel. By
this figure, He hath us to know that
they unto whom He spake have an
account to render, not of their
own life only, but for the whole
world. Not unto two cities, saith
the Lord, nor unto ten, nor
unto twenty, nor unto one people,
as I sent the Prophets, send I you.
But I send you unto every land and
sea, even unto the whole world, lying
groaning, as it is, under the burden
of divers sins.
Eighth Lesson,
THESE words, " Ye are the salt
of the earth," show unto us
the whole nature of man as savour-
less and stinking with the strong
corruption of sin. And therefore
demandeth He of His Apostles such
qualities as are most needful and
useful to the furthering the salvation
of many. He that is gentle and
lowly, tender and just, shutteth not
up all these good things in his own
heart, but openeth these bright foun-
tains that they may gush forth for
the use of his neighbour. He whose
heart is pure, and who seeketh peace,
suffering persecution for the truth's
sake, doth still lead a life for the
good of the commonwealth.
Ninth Lesson.
THINK not, saith the Lord,
that the struggle is easy
whereunto ye shall be led, neither
shall your reckoning be of light
matters. Ye are the salt of the
earth. Have ye then salted that
which is corrupted? Nay, for it is
impossible that that which is once
corrupted can be made sound again
by the rubbing it with salt. This
it is not asked of them to do. But
their work is to sprinkle with salt,
and to keep fresh thereafter, such
things as the Lord hath given over
into their charge, and which He
Himself hath made new, and freed
from all taint, before giving them.
To make sound after the cor-
ruption of sin, is the work of
Christ's power alone ; to preserve
from falling away again, is the
duty and the toil commanded to
the Apostles.
552
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
VM$. dFor &mt& of tfie mmrt Virgin Jttarjv
All as on Sundays, except the fol-
lowing.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Prayer from
Lauds.
Ps. cix. The Lord said, &c, (J>.
176.)
Ps. cxii. Praise the Lord, O ye
His servants, &c., (/. 178.)
Psalm CXXI.
[Intituled " A Song of Degrees, of David."]
r WAS glad when they said unto
-*- me : * Let us go into the house
of the Lord.
Our feet have been wont to
stand * within thy gates, O Jerusa-
lem !
Jerusalem is builded as a city *
that is compact together:
Whither the tribes go up, the
tribes of the Lord, * the testimony
of Israel, to give thanks unto the
name of the Lord.
For there are set thrones for judg-
ment, * the thrones for the house of
David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusa-
lem : * they shall prosper that love
thee.
Peace be within thy walls, * and
prosperity within thy palaces.
For my brethren and companions'
sakes, * I will now say — Peace be
within thee !
Because of the house of the Lord
our God, * I will seek thy good.
Psalm CXXVI.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees, of Solo-
mon." The LXX. omits the ascription to
Solomon.]
"PXCEPT the Lord build the
■*— ' house, * they labour in vain
that build it :
Except the Lord keep the city,
* the watchman waketh but in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up
early, * rise up when ye are
rested, ye that eat the bread of
sorrow :
For He giveth His beloved sleep.
Lo, children are an heritage of the
Lord, * the fruit of the womb is His
reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a
mighty man, * so are the children
of the out-cast.
Happy is the man that hath his
desire satisfied with them : * he shall
not be ashamed when he speaketh
with his enemies in the gate.
Psalm CXLVII.
[In the Hebrew this is the continuation
of the preceding Psalm. The Vulgate and
the LXX. prefix "Alleluia," and the LXX.
adds " of Haggai and Zechariah."]
PRAISE the Lord, O Jerusalem !
-*■ * praise thy God, O Zion !
For He hath strengthened the
bars of thy gates : * He hath blessed
thy children within thee :
He maketh peace in thy borders :
* and filleth thee with the finest of
the wheat.
He sendeth forth His command-
1 It is now usual to insert this Common Office into Breviaries, but it is placed last of
all, after the Office for the Consecration of Churches.
FOR FEASTS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
553
ment upon earth : * His word run-
neth very swiftly.
He giveth snow like wool : * He
scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
He casteth forth His ice like
morsels : * who can stand before
His cold ?
He sendeth out His word, and
melteth them : * He causeth His
wind to blow, and the waters flow.
He declareth His word unto
Jacob, * His statutes and His
judgments unto Israel.
He hath not dealt so with any
nation : * neither hath He made
known to them His judgments.
[The Hebrew adds " Alleluia," which
the Vulgate and the LXX. prefix to the
next Psalm.]
Hymn. 1
IT AIL, thou " Star-of-Ocean," 2
■*- ■*■ Portal of the sky,
Ever- Virgin Mother
Of the Lord Most High !
Oh, by Gabriel's AVE
Uttered long ago,
EVA's name reversing,3
'Stablish peace below !
Break the captive's fetters —
Light on blindness pour-
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore —
Show thyself a Mother —
Offer Him our sighs,
Who, for us Incarnate,
Did not thee despise.
Virgin of all virgins !
To thy shelter take us —
Gentlest of the gentle !
Chaste and gentle make us.
Still as on we journey,
Help our weak endeavour,
Till with thee and Jesus,
We rejoice for ever.
Through the highest heaven
To the Almighty Three,
Father, Son, and Spirit,
One same glory be. Amen.
Verse. Holy Virgin, my praise
by thee accepted be.
Answer. Give me strength a-
gainst thine enemies.
Antiphon at the Song of the
Blessed Virgin. O Holy Mary, be
thou an help to the helpless, a
strength to the fearful, a comfort
to the sorrowful; * pray for the
people, plead for the clergy, make
intercession for all women vowed
to God ; may all that are keeping
this thine holy Feast-day feel the
might of thine assistance.
The words, "Are keeping this thine
holy Feast-day," are very often altered
on the different Festivals, which alter-
ations will be found in their own
places.
At Compline the last verse of the
Hymn is altered in honour of the In-
carnation.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. Holy Virgin Mary,
* Mother of God, pray for us.
Hymn.4
THE God Whom earth, and sea, and
sky
Adore, and laud, and magnify,
Who o'er their threefold fabric reigns,
The Virgin's spotless womb contains.
1 Authorship and date unsettled ; translation by the Rev. E. Caswall.
2 Apparently meant for a translation of MRYM. See note in the Office of her name,
between September 8 and September 9.
3 I.e., Eva, written backwards, reads Ave (Hail). This quaint conceit is clearer in the
translation than in the Latin.
4 From an hymn ascribed to Venantius Fortunatus ; translation by the late Rev. Dr Neale.
554
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
The God, Whose will by moon and sun,
And all things in due course is done,
Is borne upon a maiden's breast,
By fullest heavenly grace possessed.
How blest that Mother in whose shrine
That great Artificer Divine,
Whose hand contains the earth and
sky,
Vouchsafed, as in His ark, to lie !
Blest, in the message Gabriel brought ;
Blest, by the work the Spirit wrought ;
From whom the great Desire of earth
Took human Flesh and human birth.
All honour, laud, and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee !
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Only three Psalms are said.
First Antiphon. l Blessed art
thou among women, * and blessed
is the fruit of thy womb.
Psalm VIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." It has
also a title which seems to show that it was
a song for the vintage. ]
f~~\ LORD, our Lord, * how ex-
^S cellent is Thy Name in all
the earth !
For Thy glory is exalted * above
the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and
sucklings hast Thou perfected praise
because of Thine enemies, * that
Thou mightest destroy the enemy
and the avenger.
When I consider Thine heavens,
the work of Thy fingers : * the moon
and the stars which Thou hast or-
dained :
What is man, that Thou art mind-
ful of him ? * or the son of man,
that Thou visitest him ?
Thou hast made him a little lower
than the angels, Thou hast crowned
him with glory and honour, * and
madest him to have dominion over
the works of Thine hands.
Thou hast put all things under
his feet, * all sheep and oxen, yea,
and the beasts of the field.
The fowl of the air, and the fish
of the sea, * that pass through the
paths of the sea.
O Lord, our Lord, * how excel-
lent is Thy Name in all the earth !
Second Antiphon. 3 O Holy Mo-
ther of God, * thou hast yielded a
pleasant odour like the best myrrh.
Psalm XVIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with the
same further obscure superscription, as in
Pss. xii. and xiii.]
'T^HE heavens declare the glory
-*■ of God, * and the firmament
showeth His handy-work.
Day unto day uttereth speech,
* and night unto night showeth
knowledge.
There is no speech nor language,
* where their voice is not heard.
Their sound is gone out through
all the earth : * and their words to
the ends of the world.
He hath set His tabernacle in the
sun : 4 * which is as a bridegroom
coming out of his chamber.
1 Luke i. 42.
2 This verse was quoted by our Lord, concerning those who cried Hosannah on Palm
Sunday, Matthew xxi. 16. 3 Ecclus. xxiv. 20.
4 So the LXX., as well as the Vulgate. Cf. Ps. cii. 19 ; ciii. 2, 3. The sense seems to
be that the physical source of the light and life of this system is represented as a kind 01
celestial counterpart of the tabernacle, which was the centre of the Divine authority as
FOR FEASTS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
555
again and again before this maiden's
bed * the tender idylls of the play.
Psalm XXIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." The
Vulgate and the LXX. add "for the first
day of the week."]
'T^HE earth is the Lqrd's and
* the fulness thereof; * the
world, and they that dwell therein.
For He hath founded it upon the
seas, * and established it upon the
floods.
Who shall ascend into the moun-
tain of the Lord ? * or who shall
stand in His holy place?
He that hath clean hands and a
pure heart, * who hath not lifted
up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn
deceitfully unto his neighbour.
He shall receive a blessing from
the Lord, * and mercy from the
God of his salvation.
This is the generation of them
that seek Him, * that seek the
face of the God of Jacob.1
Lift up your gates, O ye princes,
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
doors ! * and the King of glory
shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? *
The Lord strong and mighty, the
Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your gates, O ye princes,
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
doors ! * and the King of glory
shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? *
The Lord of hosts, He is the
King of glory.1
revealed upon earth. The Hebrew, however, which is supported by St Jerome, reads,
" In them (i.e., the starry heavens) hath He set a tabernacle for the sun," and this reading
seems to commend itself to Archbishop Kenrick, who suggests that the "tabernacle" may
signify the region below the horizon, into which the sun retires nightly, as into a tent, to
:sleep, and from which he issues in renewed glory every morning. Targum : — " In them
hath He set splendour as a tabernacle for the sun."
1 SLH.
He rejoiceth as a strong man to
run a race : * his going forth is from
the end of the heaven.
And his circuit unto the ends of
it : * and there is nothing hid from
the heat thereof.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul : * the testimony
of the Lord is sure, making wise the
simple.
The statutes of the Lord are
right, rejoicing the heart : * the
commandment of the Lord is clear,
giving light unto the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is holy,
enduring for ever and ever : * the
judgments of the Lord are true,
righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than
gold and store of precious stones,
* sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb.
Verily, Thy servant keepeth them :
* in keeping of them there is great
reward.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse Thou me from secret faults:
* preserve Thy servant also from
the sins of others.
If they get not dominion over me,
then shall I be undefiled : * and
I shall be cleansed from the great
transgression.
Let the words of my mouth,
and the meditation of mine heart,
* be acceptable in Thy sight for
■ever,
O Lord mine Helper, * and my
Redeemer !
Third Antiphon. Sing for us
556
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Verse. In thy comeliness and
thy beauty.
Answer. Go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
First Lesson.
■ The Lesson is taken from the Pro-
verbs of Solomon (viii. 12.)
WISDOM, dwell with prudence,
-■- y and find out knowledge of
witty inventions. The fear of the
Lord is to hate evil ; pride, and
arrogancy, and the evil way, and the
double mouth, do I hate. Counsel
is mine, and sound wisdom ; under-
standing is mine ; mine is strength.
By me kings reign and princes
decree justice. By me princes rule,
and nobles command righteousness.
I love them that love me, and those
that seek me early shall find me.
First Respo?isory.
O how holy and how spotless
is thy virginity ! I am too dull
to praise thee ; for thou hast
borne in thy breast Him Whom
the heavens cannot contain.
Verse. Blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the fruit of
thy womb.
Answer. For thou hast borne in
thy breast Him Whom the heavens
cannot contain.
Second Lesson.
RICHES and honour are with
me, yea, durable riches and
righteousness. My fruit is better
than gold and precious stones, and
my revenue than choice silver. I
walk in the way of righteousness, in
the midst of the paths of judgment ;
that I may cause those that love
me to inherit substance, and that I
may fill their treasures. The Lord
possessed me in the beginning of
His ways, before His works of old.
I was set up from everlasting, or
ever the earth was. When there
were no depths, I was already con-
ceived ; when there were no foun-
tains abounding with water, before
the mountains were settled in their
strength, before the hills, was I
brought forth.
Second Responsory.
Rejoice with me, all ye that love
the Lord, for while I was yet a little
one, I pleased the Most High.
And I have brought forth from my
bowels God and man.
Verse. x All generations shall
call me blessed, since the Lord
hath regarded the lowliness of His
handmaiden.
Atmver. And I have brought
forth from my bowels God and
man.
Third Lesson. (34.)
"DLESSED is the man that hear-
*-* eth me, watching daily at my
gates, and waiting at the posts of
my doors. Whoso findeth me find-
eth life, and shall obtain salvation
from the Lord ; but he that sinneth
against me wrongeth his own soul.
All they that hate me love death,
(ix. 1.) Wisdom hath builded her
house ; she hath hewn out her seven
pillars. She hath killed her beasts ;
she hath mingled her wine : she
hath also furnished her table. She
hath sent forth her maidens unto
the citadel, and unto the walls of
1 Luke i. 48.
FOR FEASTS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
557
the city, to cry out : Whoso is
simple, let him come unto me.
And unto them that want under-
standing, she saith : Come, eat of
my bread, and drink of the wine
which I have mingled.
Third Responsory.
Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary,
who hast carried the Lord, the
Maker of the world. Thou hast
borne Him Who created thee, and
thou abidest a virgin for ever.
Verse. Hail, Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Answer. Thou hast borne Him
Who created thee, and thou abidest
a virgin for ever.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Thou hast borne Him
Who created thee, and thou abidest
a virgin for ever.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. In thy comeli-
ness and thy beauty, * go forward,
fare prosperously, and reign.
Psalm XLIV.
[This Psalm has a long superscription, the
exact meaning of which is not now certain.
It seems to have been a marriage-song writ-
ten to be sung by the Korahites. The Tar-
gum ascribes it to the time of Moses, but it
seems rather to belong to that of the Jewish
Monarchy.]
"]\ j\ INE heart is overflowing with
•*■'-*- a good matter : * I speak of
my works unto the king.
My tongue is the pen * of a ready
writer.
Thou art fairer than the children
of men, grace is poured into thy lips :
* therefore God hath blessed thee
for ever.
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, *
O most mighty !
In thy comeliness, and thy beauty,
* go forward, fare prosperously, and
reign,
Because of truth, and meekness,
and righteousness : * and thy right
hand shall lead thee wonderfully.
Thine arrows are sharp — (the
people shall fall under thee) — * into
the heart of the King's enemies.
1 Thy throne, O God, is for ever
and ever : * the sceptre of Thy
kingdom is a right sceptre.
Thou hast loved righteousness,
and hated iniquity : * therefore,
God, thy God, hath anointed thee
with the oil of gladness above thy
fellows.
Thy garments smell of myrrh, and
aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory
palaces, * whereby kings' daughters
among thine honourable women have
made thee glad.
Upon thy right hand did stand
the queen in a vesture of gold, *
bedecked with divers colours.
Hearken, O daughter, and con-
sider, and incline thine ear : * for-
get also thine own people, and thy
father's house.
And the King shall greatly de-
sire thy beauty : * for He is the
Lord thy God,2 and Him shall they
worship.
And the daughters of Tyre shall
entreat thy favour * with gifts,
1 So are these words translated in Heb. i. 8, g.
2 The word "God" is not in the Hebrew, and the original meaning, addressed to the
bride, is, " He is thy lord, and bow thou to him." So also St Jerome.
VOL. I. T
558
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
even all the rich among the
people.
The King's daughter is all glo-
rious within, * in a vesture of gold,
clad in divers colours.
After her shall virgins be brought
unto the king : * her fellows shall
be brought unto thee.
With gladness and rejoicing shall
they be brought : * they shall enter
into the King's palace.
Instead of thy fathers shall be
thy children : * thou shalt make
them princes over all the earth.
They shall be mindful of thy
name, * unto all generations.
Therefore shall the people praise
thee for ever, * yea, for ever and ever.
Second Antiphon. God shall give
her the help of His countenance ;
* God is in the midst of her, she
shall not be moved.
Psalm XLV.
[This Psalm has a superscription of un-
certain meaning, but of which part seems
to imply that it was to be sung by treble
voices, from the choir of the Korahite
family. And the Targum ascribes it, but
apparently by a mere guess, to the time when
Korah and his fellow-rebels were destroyed
by an earthquake in the wilderness, but
"the children of Korah died not" (Num.
xxvi. 10, II).]
GOD is our refuge and strength,
* our help in trouble, which
is come upon us exceedingly.
Therefore will we not fear, though
the earth be removed, * and though
the mountains be carried into the
midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar
and be troubled ; * though the
mountains shake with the swelling
thereof x
[There is] a river, the streams
whereof make glad the city of God :
* the Most High hath hallowed His
Tabernacle.
God is in the midst of her, she
shall not be moved : * God shall
help her right early.
The heathen raged, and the king-
doms were moved : * He uttered
His voice, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with
us : * the God of Jacob is our
refuge.1
Come and behold the works of
the Lord, what wonders He hath
wrought in the earth ; * He maketh
wars to cease unto the end of the
earth.
He breaketh the bow and cut-
teth the weapons in sunder : * and
burneth the shields in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am
God : * I will be exalted among
the heathen, and I will be exalted
in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with
us : * the God of Jacob is our
refuge.1
Third Antiphon. O Holy Mo-
ther of God : * all we who dwell
in thee are in gladness.
Psalm LXXXVI.
[Intituled "A Psalm. A Song of the
sons of Korah." The Targum adds that it
was based upon words of the ancients,
perhaps meaning that the two first verses
before the SLH were an ancient saying to
which the rest was a later addition.]
ITER foundation is in the holy
■*■ -^ mountains : the Lord lov-
eth the gates of Zion more than all
the dwellings of Jacob !
Glorious things are spoken of
thee, * O city of God ! 1
1 SLH.
FOR FEASTS OF THE ELESSED VIRGIN MARY.
559
I will make mention of Rahab x
and Babylon * that know me.
Behold the "Strangers,"2 and
Tyre, and the people of Ethiopia, *
these were there —
And of Zion shall it not be said :
This and that man was born in her,
* and the Highest Himself hath
established her ? 3
The Lord shall make count,
when He writeth up the people [and
the princes,] 4 * of all that are in
her.5
All they that dwell in thee * are
in gladness.
Verse. God shall give her the
help of His countenance.
Answer. God is in the midst of
her, she shall not be moved.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St John Chrysostom,
Patriarch [of Constantinople.]
{Found in Metaphrastes.)
XHE Son of God chose for His
■*■ Mother not a woman of
wealth, not a woman of substance,
but that blessed maiden whose soul
was bright with grace. It was be-
cause Blessed Mary had preserved a
superhuman chastity, that she con-
ceived the Lord Jesus Christ in her
womb. Let us then fly to the most
holy maiden, who is Mother of God,
that we may gain the help of her
patronage. Yea, all ye that be
virgins, whosoever ye be, run to
1 That is "the Insolent One," namely, Egypt. 2 I.e., the Philistines.
3 Is the meaning that Jerusalem shall be illustrious as the birth-place of all kinds of
distinguished persons? The Targum, curiously enough, says that the persons meant are
David and Solomon, whereas David is a native of Bethlehem.
4 Displaced from the beginning of the next verse.
5 SLH. 6 I.e., Wisdom. Ecclus. xxiv. 17, 20.
7 Cant. viii. 5 ; vi. 10, 4, 8.
the Mother of the Lord. She will
keep for you by her protection your
most beautiful, your most precious,
and your most enduring possession.
Fourth Responsory.
6 1 was exalted like a cedar in
Lebanon, and as a cypress -tree
upon Mount Zion. Like the best
myrrh I yielded a pleasant odour.
Verse. Like cinnamon and sweet
balsam.
Anszver. I yielded a pleasant
odour.
Fifth Lesson.
\ EERILY, dearly beloved bre-
* thren, the Blessed Virgin
Mary was a great wonder. What
thing greater or more famous than
she, hath ever at any time been
found, or can be found ? She alone
is greater than heaven and earth.
What thing holier than she hath
been, or can be found? Neither
Prophets, nor Apostles, nor Martyrs,
nor Patriarchs, nor Angels, nor
Thrones, nor Lordships, nor Sera-
phim, nor Cherubim, nor any other
creature, visible or invisible, can be
found that is greater or more ex-
cellent than she. She is at once the
hand-maid and the parent of God,
at once virgin and mother.
Fifth Responsory.
7 Who is this that cometh up like
the sun ? This, comely as Jerusa-
lem? The daughters of Zion saw
56o
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
her, and called her blessed ; the jewels, He greatly desired her
queens also, and they praised her.
Verse. l And about her it was
as the flower of roses in the
spring of the year, and lilies of
the valleys.
Answer. The daughters of Zion
saw her and called her blessed ;
the queens also, and they praised
her.
Sixth Lesson.
SHE is the Mother of Him Who
was begotten of the Father
before all ages, and Who is acknow-
ledged by Angels and men to be
Lord of all. Wouldst thou know
how much nobler is this virgin than
any of the heavenly powers ? They
stand before Him with fear and
trembling, veiling their faces with
their wings, but she offereth human-
ity to Him to Whom she gave birth.
Through her we obtain the remis-
sion of sins. Hail, then, O Mother !
heaven ! damsel ! maiden ! throne !
adornment, and glory, and found-
ation, of our Church ! cease not to
pray for us to thy Son and our
Lord Jesus Christ ! that through
thee we may find mercy in the day
of judgment, and may be able to
obtain those good things which God
hath prepared for them that love
Him, by the grace and goodness of
our Lord Jesus Christ; to Whom,
with the Father, and the Holy
Ghost, be ascribed all glory, and
honour, and power, now, and for
ever and ever. Amen.
Sixth Responsory.
When the Lord beheld the daugh-
ter of Jerusalem adorned with her
beauty ; and when the daughters
of Zion saw her, they cried out
that she was most blessed, saying :
Thy name is as ointment poured
forth.
Verse. Upon thy right hand
did stand the Queen in a vesture
of gold wrought about with divers
colours.
Anstver. And when the daugh-
ters of Zion saw her, they cried
out that she was most blessed.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Saying, Thy name is as
ointment poured forth.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Joy to thee, *
O Virgin Mary, thou hast trampled
down all the heresies in the whole
world.
Psalm XCV.
[In I Par. (Chron. ) xvi. it is stated that
David gave this Psalm to Asaph and his
brethren upon the day that the ark was
brought to Jerusalem. The text is there
given somewhat differently, and the whole
forms the second part of one Psalm, of
which the first part consists of the first
fifteen verses of Ps. civ. The Vulgate and
the LXX. note that it was sung at the
rebuilding of the Temple after the Cap-
tivity.]
OSING unto the Lord a new
song : sing unto the Lord,
all the earth.
Sing unto the Lord, and bless
His Name : * show forth His sal-
vation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the
heathen, * His wonders among all
people.
1 Ecclus. 1. 8.
FOR FEASTS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
56l
For the Lord is great, and greatly
to be praised : * He is to be feared
above all gods.
For all the gods of the heathen
are devils : * but the Lord made
the heavens.
Praise and beauty are before
Him : * holiness and majesty are
in His sanctuary.
Give unto the Lord, O ye kin-
dreds of the people, give unto the
Lord glory and honour : * give
unto the Lord the glory due unto
His name.
Bring sacrifices, and come into
His courts : * O worship the Lord
in His holy temple !
Let all the earth fear before
Him. * Say among the heathen,
The Lord reigneth !
He hath established the world
also, that it shall not be moved :
* He shall judge the people right-
eously.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let
the earth be glad, let the sea roar,
and the fulness thereof: * let the
fields be joyful and all that is
therein.
Then shall all the trees of the
wood rejoice before the Lord, for
He cometh, * for He cometh to
judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with
righteousness : * and the people
with His truth.1
Second Antiphon. Holy Virgin,
my praise by thee accepted be ; *
give me strength against thine
enemies.
Psalm XCVI.
[The Vulgate and the LXX. have the
superscription "[A Psalm] of David when
his country was re - established " — per-
haps meaning after the usurpation of Ab-
solom.]
HP HE Lord reigneth; let the
* earth rejoice : * let the mul-
titude of isles be glad thereof.
Clouds and darkness are round
about Him : * righteousness and
judgment are the foundation of
His throne.
A fire shall go before Him, * and
burn up His enemies round about.
His lightnings enlightened the
world : * the earth saw and trem-
bled.
The hills melted like wax at
the presence of the Lord, * at
the presence of the Lord of the
whole earth.
The heavens declared His right-
eousness, * and all the people
saw His glory.
Confounded be all they that
worship graven images, * and that
boast themselves of idols.
Worship Him, all ye His An-
gels ! * Zion heard, and was glad.
And the daughters of Judah
rejoiced, * because of thy judg-
ments, O Lord !
For thou, Lord, art high above
all the earth : Thou art exalted
far above all gods.
Ye that love the Lord, hate
evil : * the Lord preserveth the
souls of His saints ; He deliver-
eth them out of the hand of the
wicked.
1 In 1 Par. (Chron.) xvi. the Psalm continues: — "O give thanks unto the Lord, for
He is good : for His mercy endureth for ever. And say ye : Save us, O God of our
salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give
thanks to Thy holy Name, and glory in Thy praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
for ever and ever. And all the people said : ' Amen ' and praised the Lord " — possibly in
Ps. cxxxv.
562
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Light is sprung up for the
righteous, * and gladness for the
upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, ye right-
eous, * and give thanks to the
memorial of His holiness !
Third Antiphon during most of
the year. After thy delivery thou
still remainest a virgin * undented ;
Mother of God, pray for us.
Third Atitiphon, during Advent.
The angel of the Lord announced
unto Mary, * and she conceived
of the Holy Ghost.
Psalm XC VI I.
[Intituled "A Psalm." The Vulgate and
the LXX. ascribe it to David.]
f~\ SING unto the Lord a new
^-^ song : * for He hath done
marvellous things.
His right hand, and His holy arm,
* hath gotten Him the victory.
The Lord hath made known His
salvation : * His righteousness hath
He openly showed in the sight of
the heathen.
He hath remembered His mercy,
* and His truth towards the house
of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have
seen * the salvation of our God.
Make a joyful noise unto the
Lord, all the earth, * make a
loud noise and rejoice, and sing
praise.
Sing unto the Lord with the
harp, with the harp and the voice
of a psalm. * With trumpets and
sound of cornet,
Make a joyful noise before the
Lord, the King. * Let the sea
roar, and the fulness thereof, the
world and they that dwell therein.
Let the floods clap their hands,
let the hills be joyful together be-
fore the Lord. * For He cometh
to judge the earth :
With righteousness shall He judge
the world, * and the people with
equity.
Verse. God hath chosen her and
fore-chosen her.
Answer. He hath made her to
dwell in His tabernacle.
Seventh Lesson.
The" Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (xi.
27.)
A T that time : as Jesus spake
^*- unto the multitudes, a cer-
tain woman of the company lifted
up her voice and said unto Him :
Blessed is the womb that bare
Thee. And so on.
Homily by the Venerable Bede,
Priest [at Jarrow and Doctor of
the Church.] (Bk. iv. ch. 49 on
Ltike xi.)
It is plain that this was a woman
of great earnestness and faith.
The Scribes and Pharisees were
at once tempting and blaspheming
the Lord, but this woman so clearly
grasped His Incarnation, and so
bravely confessed the same, that she
confounded both the lies of the
great men who were present, and
the faithlessness of the heretics who
were yet to come. Even as the
Jews then, blaspheming the works
of the Holy Ghost, denied the very
Son of God Who is of one sub-
stance with the Father, so after-
wards did the heretics, by denying
that Mary always a Virgin did,
FOR FEASTS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
563
under the operation of the Holy
Ghost, supply flesh to the Only-
begotten One of God, when He
was about being born in an human
Body, even so, I say, did the her-
etics deny that the Son of Man
should be called a true Son, Who
is of one substance * with His
Mother.
Seventh Responsory.
O Holy Virgin Mary, happy in-
deed art thou, and right worthy
of all praise, for out of thee rose
the Sun of righteousness, even
Christ our God.
Verse. Pray for the people,
plead for the clergy, make inter-
cession for all women vowed to
God. May all that are keeping
this thine holy Feast-day feel the
might of thine assistance.
Answer. For out of thee rose
the Sun of righteousness, even
Christ our God.
Eighth Blessing.
She whose feast-day we are keep-
ing-
Mary, blessed Maid of maidens,
Be our advocate with God.
Eighth Lesson.
BUT if we shall say that the
Flesh, Wherewith the Son of
God was born in the flesh, was
something outside 2 of the flesh of
the Virgin His Mother, without
reason should we bless the womb
that bare Him, and the paps
which He hath sucked. But the
Apostle saith : " God sent forth
His Son, made of a woman, made
under the law," (Gal. iv. 4,) and
they are not to be listened to who
read this passage : " Born of a
woman, made under the law." He
was made of a woman, for He
was conceived in a virgin's womb,
and took His Flesh, not from no-
thing, not from elsewhere, but from
the flesh of His Mother. Other-
wise, and if He had not been
sprung of a woman, He could not
with truth be called the Son of
man. Let us therefore, denying
the doctrine of Eutyches, lift up
our voice, along with the Uni-
versal Church, whereof that woman
was a figure, let us lift up our
heart as well as our voice from the
company, and say unto the Saviour :
" Blessed is the womb that bare
Thee, and the paps which Thou
hast sucked ! " Blessed Mother ! of
whom one 3 hath said :
Thou art His Mother Who reigns o'er
earth and o'er heaven for ever.
Eighth Responsory.
All generations shall call me
blessed. For He That is Mighty,
even the Lord, hath done to me
great things ; and Holy is His
Name.
Verse. And His mercy is on
them that fear Him, from gener-
ation to generation.
Answer. He That is Mighty,
even the Lord, hath done to me
great things, and Holy is His
Name.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
1 Verum consubstantialemque matri filium.
3 The poet Sedulius— an Irishman, of the fifth century.
2 Extranea.
564
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Answer. He That is Mighty,
even the Lord, hath done to me
great things, and Holy is His
Name.
Ninth Lesson.
" \7"EA, rather, blessed are they
. i that hear the Word of God
and keep it." How nobly doth
the Saviour say "Yea" to the
woman's blessing, declaring also
that not only is she blessed who
was meet to give bodily birth to
the Word of God, but that all they
who spiritually conceive the same
Word by the hearing of faith, and,
by keeping it through good works,
bring it forth and, as it were, care-
fully nurse it, in their own hearts,
and in the hearts of their neigh-
bours, are also blessed. Yea, and
that the very Mother of God her-
self was blessed in being for a while
the handmaid of the Word of God
made Flesh, but that she was much
more blessed in this, that through
her love she keepeth Him for
ever.
The Hymn, " We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. While the King
sitteth at his table, * my spikenard
sendeth forth the smell thereof.
Second Antiphon. ! His left hand
is under my head, * and his right
hand doth embrace me.
Third Antiphon. 2 1 am black
but comely, * O ye daughters of
Jerusalem. Therefore the King
hath loved me, and brought me
into his chamber.
Fourth Antiphon. 3 Lo ! the win-
ter is past, * the rain is over and
gone. Rise up, my love, and come
away.
Fifth Antiphon. O Holy Mother
of God ! thou art become beautiful *
and gentle in thy gladness.
Chapter. (Ecclus. xxiv. 14.)
4 T WAS created from the begin-
** ning, before the world ; and
I shall never fail. In the holy taber-
nacle I served before him.
Hymn.b
r\ GLORIOUS Virgin, ever blest,
^-^ All daughters of mankind above,
Who gavest nurture from thy breast
To God, with pure maternal love.
What we had lost through sinful Eve
The Blossom sprung from thee re-
stores,
And, granting bliss to souls that grieve,
Unbars the everlasting doors.
O Gate, through which hath passed the
King!
O Hall, whence light shone through
the gloom !
The ransomed nations praise and sing
The Offspring of thy virgin womb.
Praise from mankind and heaven's host,
To Jesus of a Virgin sprung,
To Father and to Holy Ghost,
Be equal glory ever sung. Amen.
Verse. Grace is poured into thy
lips.
Answer. Therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacha-
rias. 6 O Mary ! Blessed art thou
3 Cant. ii. II, 10.
1 Cant. ii. 6. 2 Cant. i. 5, 4.
4 The speaker in these Little Chapters is Wisdom.
5 From the hymn beginning "The God Whom earth," &c. , ascribed to Venantius
Fortunatus ; translation by the Rev. Dr. Littledale. 6 Luke i. 45.
FOR FEASTS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
565
that hast believed, * for there shall
be a performance of those things
which were told thee from the
Lord. Alleluia.
Prayer throughout the Office, if there
be none special.
GRANT, we beseech Thee, O
Lord God, unto all Thy ser-
vants, that they may remain con-
tinually in the enjoyment of sound-
ness both of mind and body, and
by the glorious intercession of the
Blessed Mary, always a Virgin, may
be delivered from present sadness,
and enter into the joy of Thine
eternal gladness. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
PRIME.
The last verse of the Hymn is altered
in honour of the Incarnation.
Antiphon. While the King, &c,
{First Antiphon at Lauds.)
In the Short Responsory instead of
the Verse, "Thou that sittest, &c," is
said :
Verse. Thou that wast born of
the Virgin Mary.
Chapter at the end. (Ecclus. xxiv. 19.)
T N the broad ways I gave a sweet
-*- smell like cinnamon and aro-
matic balm ; I yielded a pleasant
odour like the best myrrh.
1 I.e., the Jews
VOL. I.
TERCE.
The last verse of the Hymn is altered
in honour of the Incarnation.
Antiphon. His left hand, &c,
{Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
In thy comeliness and in thy
beauty.
Answer. In thy comeliness and
in thy beauty.
Verse. Go forward, fare prosper-
ously, and reign.
Answer. In thy beauty.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. In thy comeliness and
in thy beauty.
Verse. God shall help her with
His countenance.
Answer. God is in the midst of
her, she shall not be moved.
Prayer from Lauds.
SEXT.
The last verse of the Hy?nn is altered
in honour of the Incarnation.
Antiphon. I am black, &c,
{Third Antiphott at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Ecclus. xxiv. 15.)
A ND so I was established in
-**■ Zion, and likewise in the
holy city was I given to rest, and
in Jerusalem was my power. And
I took root among the honourable
people,1 even in the portion of my
God as His own inheritance, and
t 2
5^6
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
mine abiding was in the full as-
sembly of the Saints.
Short Responsory.
God shall help her with His
countenance.
Answer. God shall help her
with His countenance.
Verse. God is in the midst of
her, she shall not be moved.
Answer. With His counten-
ance.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. God shall help her
with His countenance.
Verse. God hath chosen her,
and fore-chosen her.
Answer. He hath made her to
dwell in His tabernacle.
Prayer from Lauds.
NONE.
The last verse of the Hymn is altered
in honour of the Incarnation.
Antiphon. O Holy Mother, &c,
{Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
God hath chosen her, and fore-
chosen her.
Answer. God hath chosen her,
and fore-chosen her.
Verse. He hath made her to
dwell in His tabernacle.
Answer. And fore-chosen her.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. God hath chosen her,
and fore-chosen her.
Verse. Grace is poured into thy
lips.
Answer. Therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever.
Prayer from Lauds.
SECOND VESPERS.
The same as the First, except the fol-
lowing:
Verse. Holy Virgin, my praise
by thee accepted be.
Answer. Give me strength against
thine enemies.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. All generations shall call
me blessed, * for God hath regarded
the lowliness of His hand-maiden.
At Compline the last verse of the
Hymn is altered in honour of the
Incarnation.
Note. The above-mentioned altera-
tions of the last verses of the Hymns
at Compline, Prime, Terce, Sext, None,
and Compline, and in the Verse in the
Short Responsory at Prime, are made
every day within the Octaves of the
Feasts of the Blessed Virgin, and that
even when the Office of the day is not
of her.
Here follows in the original the Office
of the Blessed Virgin as a Sim fie for
Saturdays, but it is here omitted, as
ufon all Saturdays upon which it could
occur the Votive Office of the Immacu-
late Conception is obligatory in Eng-
land upon all persons bound to the
recitation of the Divine Office.
FOR VIRGINS.
567
Whether one or many, Martyr or not Martyr.
All as on Sundays, except the fol- Hy7nn}
lowing.
The Psalms are the same as in the 1.
Office for Feasts of the Blessed Virgin, ^ H I L D of the Virgin Maker of Thv
except the Third Psalm of the Second \_, m other '
Nocturn, which is Psalm XL VI I.,
" Great is the Lord, &c," {p. 98).
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter,
Prayer from Lauds.
Hymn, and
For One Virgin.
Verse. 1 In thy comeliness and
thy beauty.
Answer. Go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Come, Bride of Christ, and
take the everlasting crown * which
the Lord hath prepared for thee.
For Many Virgins.
Verse. 2 After her shall virgins
be brought unto the King.
Answer. Her fellows shall be
brought unto thee.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 3Trim your lamps, O ye
wise virgins ! * Behold the Bride-
groom cometh ! Go ye out to meet
Him !
MATTINS.
Invitatory. The Lord He is the
King of the Virgins. * O come,
let us worship Him !
Virgin-engendered, of the Virgin Son,
Virgin is she of whom we sing another
Victory won.
If the Saint be not a Martyr the 2nd
and yd verses are omitted.
Double the palm of triumph which she
beareth,
Strove she to vanquish woman's fear
of death :
Quelled now the hand of death and hell
appeareth
Her feet beneath.
Death won no conquest, nor the thou-
sand terrors,
Kindred of death — fierce torments
bravely borne :
Gave she her blood : that blood the
radiance mirrors
Of life's new morn.
When she pleads for us, at her sweet
petition,
That we may sing with conscience
pure of sin,
From debt of guilt O grant us Thy re-
mission
And peace within.
Glory to Thee, O Father, Son, and
Spirit,
Glory co-equal on the throne on high,
Equal in power, in unity of merit,
Eternally. Amen.
1 Ps. xliv. 5, 6. 2 Ps. xliv. 15. 3 Matth. xxv. 6, 7.
4 Author unknown, hymn somewhat altered ; translation by the Rev. G. Moultrie.
568
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. x O how lovely
and glorious * is the generation of
the chaste !
Second Antiphon. Sing for us
again and again before this maiden's
bed * the tender idylls of the play.2
Third Antiphon. 3 Return, return,
0 Shulammith ! * Return, return,
that we may look upon thee.
Verse. In thy comeliness and
thy beauty —
Answer. Go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the First
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle
Paul to the Corinthians (vii. 25.)
CONCERNING virgins I have
no commandment of the Lord :
yet I give my judgment, as one that
hath obtained mercy of the Lord, to
be faithful. I suppose, therefore,
that this is good for the present need,
that it is good for a man so to be.
Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek
not to be loosed. Art thou loosed
from a wife ? Seek not a wife. But
and if thou marry, thou hast not
sinned. And if a virgin marry, she
hath not sinned. Nevertheless, such
shall have trouble in the flesh. But
1 spare you. But this I say, breth-
ren : The time is short — it remain-
eth that both they that have wives
be as though they had none ; and
they that weep, as though they wept
not ; and they that rejoice, as though
they rejoiced not ; and they that
buy, as though they possessed not ;
and they that use this world, as not
abusing it. For the fashion of this
world passeth away.
First Responsory for a Virgin and
Martyr.
Come, Bride of Christ, and
take the everlasting crown, which
the Lord hath prepared for thee,
even for thee who for the love of
Him hast shed thy blood, and art
entered with Angels into His gar-
den.4
Verse. Come, O My chosen one,
and I will establish My throne in
thee, for the King hath greatly
desired thy beauty.5
Answer. And thou art entered
with Angels into His garden.4
First Responsory for a Virgin not a
Martyr.
Come, O My chosen one, and I
will establish My throne in thee,
for the King hath greatly desired
thy beauty.
Verse. In thy comeliness and
thy beauty, go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.5
1 Wisd. iv. 1.
2 Drama. The Song of Solomon (the form of which is dramatic,) seems to be the play
referred to.
3 Cant. vi. 13. The translation follows the Hebrew and Latin as to the proper name.
The Breviary text has "Sunamitis," which seems to be either a misprint or a conjectural
emendation, founded on the belief that the name is a local designation from the town of
Shunem (cf. 3 (1) Kings i. 3, &c.) But this town, teste Eusebio, was also called " Sulem,"
and is now known as "Solam." However, the most common view has been that the
name is a feminine form of Solomon, (cf. in English, John and Jane, Francis and Frances,
&c.) Vide Gesenius sub vocibus. It is found in the New Testament, under the form of
"Salome." Mark xv. 40, xvi. 1.
* Latin: paradisus. 6 Ps. xliv. 12, 5, 3.
FOR VIRGINS.
569
Answer. For the King hath
greatly desired thy beauty.
Second Lesson.
DUT I would have you without
-L' carefulness. He that is un-
married careth for the things that
belong to the Lord, how he may
please God. But he that is mar-
ried careth for the things that
are of the world, how he may
please his wife, and he is divided.
The unmarried woman, and the
virgin careth for the things of the
Lord, that she may be holy both
in body and in spirit. But she
that is married careth for the things
of the world, how she may please
her husband. And this I speak
for your own profit : not that I
would cast a snare upon you, but
for that which is seemly, and which
giveth occasion to attend upon the
Lord without distraction.
Second Responsory.
1 Grace is poured into thy lips ;
therefore God hath blessed thee
for ever.
Verse. In thy comeliness and
thy beauty, go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
Answer. God hath blessed thee
for ever.
Third Lesson.
T F any man think that he behav-
* eth himself unseemly toward
his virgin, if she pass the flower
of her age, and need so require,
let him do what he will — he sin-
neth not, and if she marry. Never-
theless, he that standeth steadfast
in his heart, having no necessity,
1 Ps. xliv. 12, 5, 3.
but hath power over his own will,
and hath so decreed in his heart,
that he will keep his virgin, doeth
well. So then, he that giveth his
virgin in marriage doeth well; and
he that giveth her not, doeth better.
The wife is bound by law as long
as her husband liveth. But if her
husband have fallen asleep, she is
free ; she may marry whom she
will — only, in the Lord. But she
will be happier if she so abide,
after my judgment — and I also
think that I have the Spirit of
God.
Third Responsory.
In thy comeliness and thy beauty,
go forward, fare prosperously, and
reign.
Verse. Grace is poured into thy
lips, therefore God hath blessed
thee for ever.
Answer. Go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. In thy come-
liness and thy beauty, * go for-
ward, fare prosperously, and* reign.
Second Antiphon, God shall help
her with His countenance ; * God
is in the< midst of her; she shall
not be moved.
Third Antiphon. 2 Many waters
cannot * quench love.
Verse. God shall help her with
His countenance.
Answer. God is in the midst of
her ; she shall not be moved.
2 Cant. viii. 7.
57Q
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St Ambrose, Bishop
[of Milan.] (Bk. i. on Virgins?)
PHIS day is a maiden's Birth-
-*• day. The love of virginity
provoketh us to say somewhat
touching maidenhood, lest, if we
pass thereby, we should seem to
cast a slur on that which was her
chief strength. Virginity is not
to be praised because it is a grace
which is poured forth in Martyrs,
but because it is a grace which
maketh Martyrs. But what un-
derstanding of man can rightly
grasp this excellency which riseth
above the laws of nature herself?
What natural voice can pourtray
a thing which is supernaturally
noble? It is a reflection on earth
of a glory whose home is in heaven.
And it is but that which we may
justly look for, when we see her
who hath her Husband in heaven,
live a life whose model is the life
of heaven.
Fourth Responsory.
Because of truth, and meekness,
and righteousness ; and thy right
hand shall lead thee wonderfully.
VeAe. In thy comeliness, and
thy beauty, go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
Answer. And thy right hand
shall lead thee wonderfully.
Fifth Lesson.
FT was maidenhood that pierced
^ beyond the clouds, the atmos-
phere, the Angels, and the stars,
and came upon the Word of God
in the very bosom of the Father,
and sucked Him into her heart.
For who, that hath once found such
blessedness, would leave it again ?
"For thy name is as ointment
poured forth, therefore do the virgins
love thee," and draw thee after
them. (Cant. i. 3.) Lastly, it is
not I, but the Lord by Whom it
is said that they which neither marry
nor are given in marriage are as the
angels of God in heaven. (Matth.
xxii. 30.) Let no man therefore
marvel that they which be married
unto the Lord of angels should be
likened themselves to angels. •
Fifth Responsory.
1Thou hast loved righteousness,
and hated iniquity; therefore God,
thy God, hath anointed thee with
the oil of gladness.
Verse. Because of truth, and
meekness, and righteousness.
Answer. Therefore God, thy
God, hath anointed thee with the
oil of gladness.
Sixth Lesson.
V\ /"HO would deny that this is a
* * life which hath come down
from heaven, seeing it is a life
whereof it is not easy to find an
ensample before God came down to
dwell in a Body of clay? Then
was it a virgin which conceived Him
in her womb, and the Word was
made Flesh, that Flesh might be
made God. Some will say : Con-
cerning Elias also, we find not that
he shared in the lusting after a
bodily coming-together. Yea; and
1 Ps. xliv. 9.
FOR VIRGINS.
571
therefore it is that he was carried
up in a fiery chariot into heaven ;
therefore is it that he is seen with
the Lord amid all the glory of the
Transfiguration ; therefore it is that
he is to come as a Forerunner of
the Lord's coming again.
Sixth Responsory.
After her shall virgins be brought
unto the King, her fellows shall be
brought unto thee with gladness and
rejoicing.
Verse. In thy comeliness and thy
beauty, go forward, fare prosperous-
ly, and reign.
Answer. They shall be brought
unto thee with gladness and re-
joicing.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. They shall be brought
unto thee with gladness and re-
joicing.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. x I am black but
comely, * O ye daughters of Jeru-
salem ; therefore hath the King loved
me, and brought me into his cham-
ber.
Second Antiphon. l Draw me
after thee ; * we will run after the
savour of thy good ointments ; thy
name is as oil poured forth.
Third Antiphon. Come, Bride of
Christ, * and take the everlasting
crown which the Lord hath prepared
for thee.
Verse. God hath chosen her, and
fore-chosen her.
Answer. He hath made her to
dwell in His tabernacle.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew
(xxv. 1.)
A T that time : Jesus said to His
-*"*- disciples : The Kingdom of
heaven shall be likened unto ten
virgins, which took their lamps, and
went forth to meet the Bridegroom
and the Bride. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] {\2th on the Gospels.}
Dearly beloved brethren ; often-
times do I warn you to fly corrupt
conversation, and to keep yourselves
unspotted from the world. But the
portion which is this day read from
the Holy Gospel doth oblige me to
say that even to these good things
which ye do, ye must needs take
all careful heed. Look ye well to
it, that, when ye work righteousness,
ye do it not as seeking the praise
and admiration of men, for if the
lust of praise do once creep in, that
which seemeth so fair without, loseth
its reward within. Behold how the
Redeemer speaketh of these ten vir-
gins. He calleth them all virgins, yet
entered not all of them into the door
of blessedness, for there were some
of them who sought outwardly the
honour of virginity, but would take
no oil within their vessels with their
lamps.
Seventh Responsory.
This is one of those wise virgins,
whom the Lord found watching, for
when she took her lamp, she took
oil with her. And when the Lord
came, she went in with him to the
marriage.
1 Cant. i. 5, 4.
572
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Verse. At midnight there was a
cry made : Behold ! the Bridegroom
cometh ! go ye out to meet him !
Answer. And when the Lord
came, she went in with Him to the
marriage.
Eighth Blessing.
She {or they) whose feast-day we
are keeping,
Be our Advocate (or Advocates)
with God.
Eighth Lesson.
13 UT, first of all, it is for us to
*~* ask : What is the kingdom of
Heaven? And wherefore shall the
same be likened unto ten virgins,
whereof, albeit five were wise, yet
five were foolish ? For if the king-
dom of heaven be such that there
shall in no wise enter into it any-
thing that defileth, neither whatso-
ever worketh abomination, or maketh
a lie, (Apoc. xxi. 27,) how can it be
like unto five virgins which were
foolish? But we must know that,
in the word of God, the kingdom of
heaven doth oftentimes signify the
Church as she now is, touching the
which the Lord saith in another
place : " The Son of Man shall send
forth His Angels, and they shall
gather out of His kingdom all things
that offend." (Matth. xiii. 41.) In
that kingdom of Blessedness, where-
in peace shall have her perfect reign,
there shall be nothing found that
offendeth for the angels to gather
out.
Eighth Responsory.
At midnight there was a cry
made : Behold ! the Bridegroom
cometh ! go ye out to meet him !
Verse. Trim your lamps, O ye
wise virgins.
Answer. Behold ! the Bridegroom
cometh ! go ye out to meet him !
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Behold ! the Bridegroom
cometh ! go ye out to meet him !
Ninth Lesson.
1 1 ^HE body of every man doth
-*- consist of five senses, and five
being doubled, is ten. Forasmuch,
therefore, as the whole body of the
faithful doth consist of two sexes,
the Holy Church is likened unto
ten virgins. And forasmuch as in
the Church the good are for the
present mingled with the bad, and
the reprobate with the elect, it is
rightly said that, of the ten virgins,
five are wise and five are foolish.
There are many who have self-con-
trol, which do keep themselves from
lusting after things outward, whose
hope beareth them to things inward,
who chastise the flesh, who long
with intense home-sickness for their
Fatherland which is in heaven, who
seek an eternal reward, and who will
not to receive for their labours the
praise of men. These are they who
reckon their glory, not in the mouths
of men, but in the testimony of their
own conscience. And many there
be likewise who afflict the body by
self-control, and yet who seek for
their self - control applause from
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. This is one of
the wise virgins, * one chosen out
of the number of the careful.
FOR VIRGINS.
573
Second Antiphon. This is one of
the wise virgins, * whom the Lord
found watching.
Third Antiphon. x This is one
which hath not known the sinful
bed, * she shall have fruit in the
visitation of holy souls.
Fourth Antiphon. Come, O my
chosen one, * and I will establish
My throne in thee.
Fifth Antiphon. She is beautiful
* among the daughters of Jerusalem.
Chapter. (2 Cor. x. 17.)
"DRETHREN, he that glorieth,
-^ let him glory in the Lord.
For not he that commendeth him-
self is approved, but whom the
Lord commendeth.
Hymn.'1
JESU, the Virgin's Crown, do Thou
Accept us, as in prayer we bow ;
Born of that Virgin, whom alone
The Mother and the Maid we own.
For One Virgin.
Verse. Grace is poured into thy
lips.
Answer. Therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever.
For tnany Virgins.
Verse. After her shall virgins be
brought unto the King.
Answer. Her fellows shall be
brought unto thee.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
For one Virgin. 3 The kingdom of
heaven is like unto a merchantman
* seeking goodly pearls, who, when
he had found one pearl of great
price, went and sold all that he had,
and bought it.
For many Virgins. Trim your
lamps, O ye wise virgins ! * Behold !
the Bridegroom cometh ! go ye out
to meet him !
Amongst the lilies Thou dost feed,
With Virgin choirs accompanied ;
With glory decked, the spotless brides
Whose bridal gifts Thy love provides.
They, wheresoe'er Thy footsteps bend,
With hymns and praises still attend ;
In blessed troops they follow Thee,
With dance, and song, and melody.
We pray Thee therefore to bestow
Upon our senses here below,
Thy grace, that so we may endure
From taint of all corruption pure.
All laud to God the Father be :
All laud, Eternal Son, to Thee :
All laud, as is for ever meet,
To God the Holy Paraclete. Amen.
Prayer for a Virgin and Martyr.
f~~\ GOD, Who, amidst the won-
^-J drous work of Thy Divine
power, dost make even weak women
to be more than conquerors in the
uplifting of their testimony, merci-
fully grant unto all us which do keep
the Birthday of Thy blessed hand-
maiden and witness N. {here mention
her name) grace to follow her steps
to Thee-ward. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
1 Wisd. iii. 13.
2 Hymn of the Ambrosian school, somewhat altered ; translation by the Rev. Dr Neale.
3 Matth. xiii. 45, 46.
574
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Another Prayer for a Virgin and
Martyr.
r\ LORD, we pray Thee that Thy
^-* blessed handmaiden and wit-
ness N., {here mention her name,)
in whom Thou hast ever been
well pleased, because of her worthy
maidenhood and her mighty show-
ing-forth of Thy power, may entreat
Thy pardon on our behalf. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
Prayer for a Virgin not a Martyr.
/GRACIOUSLY hear us, O God
^— ^ of our salvation, and grant
that as the Birthday of Thy blessed
handmaiden N. (here mention her
name) doth make us happier, so the
fruit of her godly earnestness may
make us better. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
Prayer for many Virgins, Martyrs.
f~* RANT unto us, we beseech
^-* Thee, O Lord, our God, that
we may ever call to mind, with all
worship and thanksgiving, the vic-
tory of Thy holy Virgin Martyrs
NN., (here mention their names,) and
although we know that our mind
cannot comprehend Thee Who art
this day their exceeding great re-
ward, give us always the grace hum-
bly to worship Thee. Through our
Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in
the unity of the Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. This is one, &c,
(First Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter at the end.
For a Virgin and Martyr. (Ecclus.
li. 13.)
OLORD my God, Thou hast
lifted up my dwelling on
earth ; and I prayed for deliver-
ance from death — I called upon
the Lord, the Father of my Lord,
that He would not leave me in
the days of my trouble, and in
the time of the proud, when there
was no help.
For a Virgin not a Martyr. (Wisd.
iv. 1.)
OHOW lovely and glorious is
the generation of the chaste !
For the memorial thereof is im-
mortal, because it is known with
God and with men.
TERCE.
Antiphon. This is one, &c,
(Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
In thy comeliness and in thy
beauty.
Answer. In thy comeliness and
in thy beauty.
Verse. Go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
Answer. In thy beauty.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. In thy comeliness and
in thy beauty.
FOR VIRGINS.
575
Verse. God shall help her with
His countenance.
Answer. God is in the midst of
her, she shall not be moved.
Prayer from Lauds.
SEXT.
Antiphon. This is one, &c,
{Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (2 Cor. xi. 2.)
T^OR I am jealous over you
*■ with godly jealousy. For I
have espoused you to one hus-
band, that I may present you as
a chaste virgin to Christ.
Short Responsory.
God shall help her with His
countenance.
Answer. God shall help her
with His countenance.
Verse. God is in the midst of
her, she shall not be moved.
Answer. With His countenance.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. God shall help her
with His countenance.
Verse. God hath chosen her,
and fore-chosen her.
Answer. He hath made her to
dwell in His tabernacle.
Prayer from Lauds.
NONE.
Antiphon. She is beautiful, &c,
{Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
God hath chosen her, and fore-
chosen her.
Answer. God hath chosen her,
and fore-chosen her.
Verse. He hath made her to
dwell in His tabernacle.
Answer. And fore-chosen her.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. God hath chosen her,
and fore-chosen her.
Verse. Grace is poured into thy
lips.
Answer. Therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever.
Prayer from Lauds.
SECOND VESPERS.
All as First, except the following.
For one Virgin.
Verse. Grace is poured into thy
lips.
Answer. Therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever.
<&tf)tt lUggottg for
Purging*
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
of Ecclesiasticus (li. 1.)
WILL thank Thee, O Lord and
** King, and Praise Thee, O God
my Saviour. I will give praise unto
576
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Thy Name; for Thou hast been
mine Helper and Defender, and
hast preserved my body from des-
truction, and from the snare of
the slanderous tongue, and from
the lips that forge lies, and hast
been mine Helper against mine
adversaries. And hast delivered
me, according to the multitude of
the mercies of Thy Name, from
them that roared against me, and
that were ready to devour me : out
of the hands of such as sought after
my life, and from the gates of trouble
that were open all around me ;
from the choking of the fire that
compassed me, so that when I
stood in the midst of the flame I
was not scorched : from the depth
of the belly of hell, from an unclean
tongue, and from lying words, and
from an unjust king, and from an
unrighteous tongue.
Second Lesson.
1\/TY soul shall praise the Lord
-L'i- even unto death, for my life
was near to the hell beneath. They
compassed me on every side, and
there was no man to help me. I
looked for the succour of men, but
there was none. Then thought I
upon Thy mercy, O Lord, and upon
Thine acts of old ; how Thou de-
liverest such as wait for Thee, O
Lord, and savest them out of the
hands of the people.
Third Lesson.
THOU hast lifted up my dwell-
ing on earth, and I prayed
for deliverance from death. I called
upon the Lord, the Father of my
Lord, that He would not leave me
in the days of my trouble, and in
the time of the proud, when there
was no help. I will praise Thy
Name continually, and will sing
praise with thanksgiving; for that
my prayer was heard. For Thou
savedst me from destruction, and
deliveredst me from the evil time.
Therefore will I give thanks, and
praise Thee, and bless the Name
of the Lord.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
of the holy Martyr Cyprian, Bishop
[of Carthage,] concerning the rules
and clothing of Virgins. (2.)
AM now to address myself to
* virgins, and as their condition
is one of such glorious exaltation, I
am the more behoven to be careful.
This mass of consecrated virginity
is the flower upon the plant of the
Church. It is the charm and love-
liness of spiritual grace. It is a
generation of gladness. It is a
work of praise and honour, un-
touched and uncorrupted. It is the
image of God reflecting the holiness
of the Lord. It is the brightest
portion of the flock of Christ. It
is the joy of our holy Mother the
Church, and the rich blossom of her
glorious fruitfulness, and every addi-
tion to the number of her virgins
is an increase of her gladness. To
these I speak, them I exhort, more
in tenderness than in authority.
Not that I, who am so worthless,
and little, and feel so keenly the
lowliness of mine own estate, would
speak as finding any fault to re-
FOR VIRGINS.
577
prove, but because when I feel the
tenderest care, I feel the most
nervous dread of any troubling by
the wicked one.
Fifth Lesson.
T^HIS is not an unreasonable
*~ care, nor a groundless dread,
which looketh to the way of salva-
tion and keepeth the life-giving com-
mandments of the Lord, to the end
that they, who have consecrated
themselves to Christ, who have
turned their back for ever upon
the pleasure of the flesh, who have
vowed themselves God's own in
body as well as in mind, may finish
the work for which so vast a reward
awaiteth them j that they may desire
no more to seem fair and pleasing
in any eyes but those of the Lord,
from Whose hand they look to re-
ceive the wage of their continence,
as He Himself hath said : " All men
cannot receive this saying, save they
to whom it is given. For there are
some eunuchs which were so born
from their mother's womb ; and
there are some eunuchs which were
made eunuchs of men ; and there
be eunuchs which have made them-
selves eunuchs for the kingdom of
heaven's sake. He that is able to
receive it, let him receive it."
(Matth. xix. n, 12.)
Sixth Lesson.
A ND yet again, the voice of an
-^*- Angel hath proclaimed what
is the reward of continence. " These
are they which were not defiled with
women ; for they are virgins. These
are they which follow the Lamb
whithersoever He goeth." (Apoc.
xiv. 4.) Neither is it to man only
that the Lord hath promised this
glorious reward for virginity. He
passeth not by women, but, since
the woman is made out of the man,
and taken and formed from him,
God in His Holy Scriptures useth
mostly to address Himself to the
race in the form wherein He origin-
ally created it, for they are twain
in one flesh, and when mankind is
spoken of, womankind also is signi-
fied. But if continence be a follow-
ing of Christ, and virginity have her
aim in the kingdom of heaven, what
concern have such with earthly
finery, or with self-adorning, where-
by, while they seek to please men,
they offend God ?
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew
(xix. 3.)
A T that time : the Pharisees came
^*- unto Jesus, tempting Him
and saying unto Him : Is it lawful
for a man to put away his wife for
any cause ? And so on.
Homily by St John Chrysostom,
Patriarch of [Constantinople.] (63?*/
on Matthew.)
Seeing that directly to exhort them
unto virginity was well-nigh more
than they could bear, our Lord
seeketh to draw them to the desire
thereof, taking occasion by the need-
fulness of a law against divorce.
Then He showeth that virginity is
possible, saying : " There are some
eunuchs which were so born from
their mother's womb ; and there are
578
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
some eunuchs which were made
eunuchs of men ; and there be
eunuchs which have made them-
selves eunuchs for the kingdom of
heaven's sake." In these words He
persuadeth them indirectly to choose
virginity, while He teacheth them
that such a gift is not so good as
to be impossible.
Eighth Lesson.
r I AHIS His doctrine He establish-
-■■ eth somewhat thus. Suppos-
ing that thou hadst been born a
eunuch by nature, or hadst been
made a eunuch by the cruelty of
men, so that thou hadst no sexual
enjoyment, and hadst no credit for
having none, what wouldest thou
do ? Give God thanks therefore,
that thou dost, for a reward and a
crown, what such others suffer with
no reward and no crown — yea, and
that, rather a lighter burden than
the same, and that not only because
thou hast the joy of hope, and of
knowing that thou doest well, but
also because thou art not so bat-
tered by storms of desire as they
are.
Ninth Lesson.
V\THEN, therefore, He had
* * spoken of such as are eu-
nuchs by nature, or by mutilation,
and are eunuchs vainly and use-
lessly, unless they also bridle their
thoughts, and of such as deny them-
selves for the kingdom of heaven's
sake, He added : " He that is able
to receive it, let him receive it,"
that He might make them the
readier by showing the very sternness
of the work, and, in His unspeakable
goodness, He would not include
any such precept within the re-
quirements of the law, and, by say-
ing this, showeth it to be the more
possible, that He might increase
the desire of freely choosing it.
Simple <©te for Utrrjtns.
The Office is as on a Semi-double,
with the following exceptions.
FIRST VESPERS.
The Office is of the Week-day, till the
Cliapter exclusive.
The Office of the Saint or Saints be-
gins with the Chapter, which, as also
the Hymn, Verse and Answer, Anti-
phon at the Song of the Blessed Virgin,
and Prayer, are all as just given.
At Compline are said Preces.
MATTINS.
The Invitatory and Hymn arc as
just given.
Then follow the Week-day Psalms,
with their own Antiphon.
On Mondays and Thursdays.
Verse. In thy comeliness and
thy beauty.
Answer. Go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
On Tuesdays and Fridays.
Verse. God shall give her the
help of His countenance.
Answer. God is in the midst
of her, she shall not be moved.
For Wednesdays.
Verse. God hath chosen her,
and fore-chosen her.
FOR VIRGINS.
579
Answer. He hath made her to
dwell in His tabernacle.
First Blessing.
May His blessing be upon us,
Who doth live and reign for ever.
First Lesson from Scripture accord-
ing to the Season, being either the first
part, or, if the Saint or Saints have two
Lessons, the whole read as one, at will.
First Responsory.
On Monday and Thursday.
Come, Bride of Christ, &c. Or,
Come, O My chosen one, &c,
{p. 568.)
On Tuesday and Friday.
Because of truth and meekness,
&c., (/. 570.)
On Wednesday.
This is one of those wise virgins,
&c, (/>. 571.)
Second Blessing.
She (or they) whose feast-day we
are keeping,
Be our Advocate {or Advocates)
with God.
Second Lesson is the first of the
Legend of the Saint or Saints, if there
be two ; if not, it is the second from
Scripture, to which the third may be
added at will.
Second Responsory.
On Monday and Thursday.
Grace is poured into thy lips, &c,
(j>. 569,) with this addition:
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer.
for ever.
God hath blessed thee
On Tuesday and Friday.
Thou hast loved righteousness,
&c, (p. 570,) with this addition:
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Therefore God, thy
God, hath anointed thee with the
oil of gladness.
On Wednesday.
At midnight, &c, (j>. 572.)
Third Blessing.
May He That is the angels' King
To that high realm His people
bring.
Third Lesson, the whole or second
part of the Lesson of the Feast.
Then the Hymn, " We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said, and so end Mattins.
The rest as on a Semi- double, as
just given; it ends at None, inclusive ;
Preces are said at Prime, and the
Common Commetnorations are made at
Lauds or not, accordiftg to the Week-
day.
58o
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
X, dfor $olg Women,
Whether One or Many, Martyr or not Martyr, but not Virgin.
All as on Sundays, except the follow-
ing.
The Psalms are the same as in the
Office for Feasts of the Blessed Virgin,
except the Third Psalm of the Second
Nocturn, which is Psalm XLVIL,
" Great is the Lord, &c," {p. 98.)
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, Hymn, and
Prayer from Lauds.
Verse. In thy comeliness and
thy beauty.
Answer. Go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. *The kingdom of heaven
is like unto a merchantman, seeking
goodly pearls ; * who, when he had
found one pearl of great price, gave
up all that he had and bought it.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. For the confession
of Blessed N. * {here insert her
name), let us praise our God.
Hymn.
WHEN she pleads for us, at her
sweet petition,
That we may sing with conscience pure
of sin,
From debt of guilt, O grant us Thy
remission
And peace within.
Glory to Thee, O Father, Son, and
Spirit,
Glory co-equal on the throne on high !
Equal in power, in unity of merit
Eternally ! Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. O how lovely
and glorious is the generation * of
the chaste.
Second Antiphon. His left hand
is under my head, * and his right
hand doth embrace me.
Third Antiphon. Return, return,
O Shulammith, * return, return, that
we may look upon thee.
Verse. In thy comeliness and thy
beauty.
Answer. Go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
Lessons for a Martyr from Ecclus. li. I,
(A 575-)
For a Woman not a Martyr.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Pro-
verbs of Solomon (xxxi. 10.)
"I \ THO can find a virtuous wo-
" * man ? For her price is far
above the rarest merchandise. The
heart of her husband doth safely
trust in her, so that he shall have
no need of spoil. She will do him
good and not evil, all the days of
her life. She seeketh wool and flax,
and worketh wisely with her hands.
She is like the merchant's ship, she
bringeth her food from afar; she
riseth also, while it is yet night, and
giveth meat to her household, and a
portion to her maidens. She con-
1 Matth. xiii. 45, 46.
FOR HOLY WOMEN.
58l
sidereth a field, and buyeth it ; with
the fruit of her hands she planteth
a vineyard. She girdeth her loins
with strength, and strengtheneth her
arms.
First Responsory.
Come, O My chosen one, and I
will establish My throne in thee, for
the King hath greatly desired thy
beauty.
Verse. In thy comeliness and
thy beauty, go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
Answer. For the King hath
greatly desired thy beauty.
Second Lesson.
SHE tasteth and perceiveth that
her merchandise is good. Her
candle goeth not out by night. She
layeth her hands to hard work, and
her fingers hold the distaff. She
spreadeth out her hands to the poor,
yea, she reacheth forth her hands to
the needy. She is not afraid of the
cold of snow for her household, for
all her servants are clothed with
double garments. She maketh for
herself coverings of tapestry : her
clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sitteth among the elders
of the land. She maketh linen and
selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto
the Canaanite.1
Second Responsory.
Grace is poured into thy lips ;
therefore God hath blessed thee for
ever.
Verse. In thy comeliness and
1 Used by the Jews for an itinerant trader, much as we call a tramp an Egyptian (vulg.
Gipsy.)
thy beauty, go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
Ansiver. God hath blessed thee
for ever.
Third Lesson.
CTRENGTH and honour are her
^ clothing ; and she will laugh
in the latter day. She openeth her
mouth with wisdom, and in her
tongue is the law of kindness. She
looketh well to the ways of her
household, and eateth not the bread
of idleness. Her children arise up,
and call her blessed ; her husband,
and he praiseth her. Many daugh-
ters have gotten riches, but thou
excellest them all. Favour is de-
ceitful, and beauty is vain : a woman
that feareth the Lord, she shall be
praised. Give her of the fruit of
her hands, and let her own works
praise her in the gates.
Third Responsory.
In thy comeliness and thy beauty,
go forward, fare prosperously, and
reign.
Verse. Grace is poured into thy
lips, therefore God hath blessed thee
for ever.
Answer. Go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. In thy comeli-
ness and thy beauty, * go forward,
fare prosperously, and reign.
582
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Second Antiphon. God shall help
her with His countenance : * God is
in the midst of her ; she shall not
be moved.
Third Antiphon. Many waters
cannot * quench love.
Verse. God shall help her with
His countenance.
Answer. God is in the midst of
her : she shall not be moved.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
upon Widows by St Ambrose,
Bishop [of Milan.] (Near the
end.)
BEHOLD the field of the
-*• Church, that the same is a
fruitful field, somewhile smiling with
the brightness of virginity, some-
while golden with the ripe harvest
of widowhood, somewhile rich with
the crop of marriage. These things
be diverse, but they be the fruits of
the same field. There are not so
many choice lilies as stalks of
bearded grain, ears for the harvest,
and there are more places in the
soil fitted once to receive seed than
there are places which, when they
have yielded a crop, are fitted again
to be ploughed. Good, then, is
widowhood, which the judgment of
an Apostle hath so often commend-
ed, widowhood, which is the teacher
of faith and of purity.
Fourth Responsory.
Because of truth, and meekness,
and righteousness ; and thy right
hand shall lead thee wonderfully.
Verse. In thy comeliness and
thy beauty, go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
Answer. And thy right hand
shall lead thee wonderfully.
Fifth Lesson.
^THEREFORE, they who worship
-*■ adultery and uncleanness in
their gods made celibacy and widow-
hood punishable. They who lusted
after abominations, taxed self-con-
trol. The pretence was the desire
of fruitfulness, but the aim was to
abolish virginity, the resolution of
chastity. When a soldier hath served
his time he layeth down his arms,
leaveth his trade, and retireth bim
to his own lands, that as well him-
self may rest after the toils of life,
as that the hope of rest to come
may make others the more ready to
undergo work. So also the aged
labourer leaveth it for others to
guide the handle of the plough, and
withdraweth from the weariness of
his younger days' labour to essay the
task of an old man's thoughtful super-
vision. It is easier to prune vines,
than to stamp them out, to check the
first wild outburst of their vigour, and
to curtail the wantonness of their
young growth, so teaching, even by
the ensample of the vineyard, that
chastity, which keepeth itself within
the bearing of but a few children.
Fifth Responsory.
Thou hast loved righteousness,
and hated iniquity ; therefore God,
thy God, hath anointed thee with the
oil of gladness.
Verse. Because of truth, and
meekness, and righteousness.
Answer. Therefore God, thy God,
hath anointed thee with the oil of
gladness.
FOR HOLY WOMEN.
583
Sixth Lesson.
IKE to these is a widow, a
-*— ' veteran retiring to rest upon
the earned rewards of her chastity,
and who, albeit she layeth down the
arms of wifehood, still ruleth the
order of all her household ; albeit
she be at rest from bearing burdens,
she is careful in the marriage of her
youngers, and with the wisdom of
age chooseth what study is the most
useful, what fruit is the richest, what
wedlock is the meetest. And so,
if the government of the field be
given more to the elder than to the
younger, wherefore shouldest thou
hold that a wife is more useful
than a widow? But if they which
persecuted the faith persecuted also
widowhood, then, surely, in the eyes
of them which hold the faith, must
widowhood be looked upon as a
reward, rather than shrunk from as
a punishment.
Sixth Responsory.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is
vain : a woman that feareth God she
shall be praised.
Verse. Give her of the fruit of
her hands, and let her own works
praise her in the gates.
Answer. A woman that feareth
God, she shall be praised.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. A woman that feareth
God, she shall be praised.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. I am black but
comely, * O ye daughters of Jeru-
salem ; therefore hath the King
loved me, and brought me into His
chamber.
Second Antiphon. Draw me after
thee : * we will run after the savour
of thy good ointments, thy name is
as oil poured forth.
Third Antiphon. Come, Bride of
Christ, * and take the everlasting
crown, which the Lord hath prepared
for thee.
Verse. God hath chosen her, and
fore-chosen her.
Answer. He hath made her to
dwell in His Tabernacle.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (xiii.
44-)
AT that time : Jesus spake unto
His disciples this parable :
The kingdom of heaven is like unto
treasure hid in a field. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (nth on the Gospels?)
Dearly beloved brethren, the king-
dom of heaven is likened unto the
things of earth, to the end that by
the mean of things which we know,
our mind may rise to the contem-
plation of the things which we
know not ; by the ensample of
things which are seen, may fix her
gaze on things which are not seen ;
by the touch of things which she
useth, may be warmed towards the
things which she useth not ; by
things which she knoweth and lov-
eth, to love also the things which
she knoweth not. For, behold,
" the kingdom of heaven is likened
unto treasure hid in a field, the
584
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
which when a man hath found, he
hideth, and, for joy thereof, goeth
and selleth all that he hath and
buyeth that field."
Seventh Responsory.
She openeth her mouth with wis-
dom, and in her tongue is the law of
kindness. She looketh well to the
ways of her household, and eateth
not the bread of idleness.
Verse. She tasteth and perceiv-
eth that her merchandise is good.
Her candle goeth not out by night.
Answer. And she eateth not the
bread of idleness.
Eighth Lesson.
AND herein we must remark that
the treasure, when once it
hath been found, is hidden to keep
it safe. He who keepeth not
hidden from the praises of men his
eager striving heavenwards, doth not
enough to keep the same safe from
the attacks of evil spirits. In this
life we are, as it were, on the way
home, and the road is beset by evil
spirits, as it were, by highwaymen.
He, therefore, inviteth robbery who
carrieth his treasure glaringly. This
I say, not that our neighbour should
not see our good works — since it is
written : " Let your light so shine
before men that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father
Which is in heaven " (Matth. v.
1 6) — but that we should not seek,
by what we do, to gain the praise
of men. Let the outward work
agree with the inward thought, that
by our good works we may give an
ensample to our neighbour, and still,
by our intention, directed only to
the pleasing God, we may also have
liefer that our works were secret.
Eighth Responsory.
1 The kingdom of this world and
all the beauty of life I have es-
teemed as nothing, for the excel-
lency of the love of Jesus Christ
my Lord, Whom, having seen, I
loved ; Whom, having believed, I
longed after.
Verse. My heart is overflowing
with a good matter ; I speak of my
works unto the King.
Answer. Whom, having seen, I
loved ; Whom, having believed, I
longed after.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Whom, having seen, I
loved ; Whom, having believed, I
longed after.
Ninth Lesson.
THE treasure is the desire for
heaven ; the field wherein it
is hidden is the earnest observance
wherewith this desire is surrounded.
Whosoever turneth his back upon
the enjoyments of the flesh, and by
earnest striving heavenward, putteth
all earthly lusts under the feet of
discipline, so that he smileth back
no more when the flesh smileth at
him, and shuddereth no more at
anything that can only kill the body
— whosoever doth thus, hath sold all
that he had, and bought that field.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
1 Cf. Phil. iii. 8.
FOR HOLY WOMEN.
585
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. l While the king
* sitteth at his table, my spikenard
sendeth forth the smell thereof.
Second Antiphon. 2 We will run
after thee, * in the savour of thy
good ointments. The virgins love
them exceedingly.
Third Antiphon. 2 Lo ! the
winter is past, * the rain is over
and gone. Rise up, my love, and
come away.
Fourth Antiphon. Come, O My
chosen one, * and I will establish
My throne in thee. Alleluia.
Omit this Alleluia between Septua-
gesima and Easter.
Fifth Antiphon. She is beauti-
ful * among the daughters of Jer-
usalem.
Chapter for a Martyr. (Ecclus. li. 1.)
I" WILL thank Thee, O Lord and
-■■ King, and praise Thee, O God
my Saviour. I will give praise un-
to Thy Name, for Thou hast been
my Helper and Defender, and hast
preserved my body from destruction.
Chapter for a Woman neither Virgin
nor Martyr. (Prov. xxxi. 10.)
TAT" HO can find a virtuous wo-
* ^ man ? For her price is far
above the rarest merchandise. The
heart of her husband doth safely
trust in her, so that he shall have
no need of spoil.
Hymn?
I" AUD we the Saint most sweet
-1— ' Shining in glory blest,
Who bore a hero's noble heart
Within a woman's breast.
Pierced with the love of Christ
The world's false love she fled :
And Heavenward with might and main
Upon her journey sped.
With fasts she pined the flesh,
But on sweet food of prayer
Feasted her spirit pure ; and now
Doth joys eternal share.
O Christ our King and God !
Thou strength of all the strong !
To Whom alone all holy deeds,
And all great works belong ;
For her deep plaints on high,
To us propitious be ;
And in the glorious Trinity
Glory eterne to Thee. Amen.
Verse. Grace is poured into thy
lips.
Answer. Therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacha-
rias. Give her of the fruit of her
hands, * and let her own works
praise her in the gates.
Prayer as for Virgins.
/GRACIOUSLY hear us, O God
^~* of our salvation, and grant
that as the Birthday of Thy blessed
handmaid N. {here mention her name)
doth make us happier, so the fruit
of her godly earnestness may make
us better. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. While the king, &c,
{First Antiphon at Lauds?)
1 Cant. i. II. 2 Cant. i. 3, 2 ; ii. 11, 10.
3 Hymn by Cardinal Silvius Antonianus ; translation by the Rev. E. Caswall.
586
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Chapter at the cud.
For a Martyr. (Ecclus. li. 8. )
MY soul shall praise the Lord
even unto death, for Thou,
O Lord our God, deliverest such
as wait for Thee, and savest them
out of trouble.
For a Woman neither Virgin nor
Martyr. (Prov. xxxi. 29.)
MANY daughters have gotten
riches, but thou excellest
them all. Favour is deceitful and
beauty is vain ; a woman that feareth
the Lord, she shall be praised.
TERCE.
Antiphon. We will run, &c,
{Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
In thy comeliness and in thy
beauty.
Answer. In thy comeliness and
in thy beauty.
Verse. Go forward, fare pros-
perously, and reign.
Answer. In thy beauty.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. In thy comeliness and
in thy beauty.
Verse. God shall help her with
His countenance.
Answer. God is in the midst of
her, she shall not be moved.
Prayer from Lauds.
SEXT.
Antiphon. Lo ! the winter is past,
&c, {Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter for a Martyr. (Ecclus. li. 4.)
' I AHOU hast delivered me, ac-
-*- cording to the multitude of
the mercies of Thy Name, from
them that roared against me, and
that were ready to devour me,
out of the hands of such as sought
after my life, and from the gates
of trouble that were^ open all
around me.
Chapter for a Woman neither Virgin
nor Martyr. ■ (Prov. xxxi. 10.)
SHE spreadeth out her hand to
the poor, yea, she reacheth
forth her hands to the needy. She
is not afraid of the cold of snow
for her household.
Short Responsory.
God shall help her with His
countenance.
Answer. God shall help her
with His countenance.
Verse. God is in the midst of
her, she shall not be moved.
Answer. With His countenance.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. God shall help her
with His countenance.
Verse. God hath chosen her,
and fore-chosen her.
Answer. He hath made her to
dwell in His tabernacle.
Prayer from Lauds.
NONE.
She is beautiful, &c, {Fifth Anti-
phon at Lauds?)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
FOR HOLY WOMEN.
587
Short Responsory.
God hath chosen her, and fore-
chosen her.
Answer. God hath chosen her,
and fore-chosen her.
Verse. He hath made her to
dwell in His tabernacle.
Answer. And fore-chosen her.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. God hath chosen her,
and fore-chosen her.
Verse. Grace is poured into thy
lips.
Answer. Therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever.
Prayer from Lauds.
SECOND VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, Hymn, and Verse
and Answer from Lauds.
Psalms as at First Vespers.
Antiphon at the Song of the
Blessed Virgin. She spreadeth out
her hand to the poor, * yea, she
reacheth forth her hands to the
needy, and eateth not the bread of
idleness.
©tfjer lessens for tfje .Secotto
tectum for a JHartpreo
SEomatt not a Utrgttt.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St John Chrysostom,
Patriarch [of Constantinople.]
(6"jth on divers places in the New
Testament.}
'"PHE commemorations which I
* love and welcome the most are
the commemorations of the Martyrs,
and, while I love and welcome them
all, more especially do I do so
when the wrestling set before us is
the wrestling of a woman. The
weaker the vessel, the stronger the
grace, the greater the spoils, the
clearer the victory; and that, not
because the sex of the wrestler is
frail, but because the enemy is now
conquered by her through whom
he once conquered.
Fifth Lesson.
F> Y a woman he overcame, by a
*-f woman he is overcome. 'A
woman was once his weapon ; a
woman is now become the instru-
ment of his defeat ; he findeth that
the weak vessel cannot be broken.
The first woman sinned and died ;
this one died rather than sin. The
first, under the delusion of a lying
promise, (Gen. iii. 4,) broke the
law of God ; this one chose rather
to keep covenant with her Bene-
factor, than to keep this present life.
What excuse for softness and sloth
can men any longer hope to make ?
or what forgiveness, when women
bear themselves so bravely and man-
fully, and gird themselves up so nobly
for the wrestling of godliness ?
Sixth Lesson.
S
HE had a weak body, and a
sex which is exposed to hurt ;
but grace came, and made nothing
of these frailties. Nothing is stronger
than one in whose mind the fear of
God is firmly and wilfully rooted.
The enemy may threaten fire, or
iron, or beasts, or anything else, but
such an one taketh them all for
matters not worth consideration.
And thus did this blessed woman do.
588
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
X3L ifor tf)e lirtftcattott of a Gfyuvtf).
All as on Sundays except the fol-
lowing.
FIRST VESPERS.
AntiphonSy Chapter, and Prayer from
Lauds.
Last Psalm.
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem,
&c, (Ps. cxlvii.,/. 203.)
Hymn.1
"DLESSED City, heavenly Salem,
■*-* Vision dear of peace and love,
Who, of living stones upbuilded,
Art the joy of Heaven above,
And, with angel cohorts circled,
As a Bride to earth dost move !
From celestial realms descending,
Bridal glory round her shed,
To His Presence, decked with jewels,
By her Lord shall she be led :
All her streets, and all her bulwarks,
Of pure gold are fashioned.
Bright with pearls her portal glitters ;
It is open evermore ;
And, by virtue of His merits,
Thither faithful souls may soar,
Who for Christ's dear Name, in this
world
Pain and tribulation bore.
Many a blow and biting sculpture
Polished well those stones elect,
In their places now compacted
By the Heavenly Architect,
Who therewith hath willed for ever
That His Palace should be decked.
Laud and honour to the Father,
Laud and honour to the Son ;
Laud and honour to the Spirit ;
Ever Three and ever One :
Consubstantial, Co-eternal,
While unending ages run. Amen.
1 Mediaeval hymn, author unknown. Dr Neale's translation from the original text, with
one line altered.
'2 Ps. xlv. 5 ; Jer. vii. 10 ; 3 Kings viii. 29, &c. 3 Ps. xcii. 5.
4 Gen. xxviii. 21, 22. 8 Ex. xvii. 15.
Verse. This is the house of God,
stoutly builded.
A?iswer. Well founded upon a
sure rock.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 2 The Most High hath hal-
lowed His Tabernacle. * For this
is the House of God, whereon His
Name shall be called, whereof it is
written : My Name shall be there,
saith the Lord.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. 3 Holiness becometh
the house of God. * In her let
us worship her Bridegroom, even
Christ.
Hymn from Vespers.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Lift up your
gates, O ye princes, * and be ye lift
up, ye everlasting doors.
Ps. xxiii. The earth is the
Lord's, &c., (p. 46.)
Second Antiphon. 4The Lord
shall be my God, * and this stone
shall be called God's house.
Ps. xlv. God is our refuge, &c.,
(J>- 97-)
Third Antiphon. 5 Moses built
an altar * unto the Lord God.
Ps. xlvii. Great is the Lord,
&c, {p. 98.)
FOR THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH.
589
Verse. Holiness becometh Thine
house, O Lord, —
Answer. For ever.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Second
Book of Paralipomena (vii. 1.)
"XT OW when Solomon had made
^ ^ an end of praying, the fire
came down from heaven, and con-
sumed the burnt-offerings and the
sacrifices ; and the glory of the Lord
filled the house. And the Priests
could not enter into the house of
the Lord, because the glory of the
Lord had filled the Lord's house.
And when all the children of Israel
saw how the fire came down, and
the glory of the Lord upon the
house, they bowed themselves with
their faces to the ground upon
the pavement, and worshipped and
praised the Lord, [saying :] For
He is good ; for His mercy en-
dureth for ever ! Then the King
and all the people offered sacri-
fices before the Lord. And King
Solomon offered a sacrifice of
twenty - and - two thousand oxen,
and an hundred and twenty
thousand sheep. So the King
and all the people dedicated the
house of God.
First Responsory.
When the Temple was dedi-
cated the people sang praise, and
sweet in their mouths was the
sound.
Verse. xThe Lord's house is es-
tablished in the top of the moun-
tains ; and all nations shall flow
unto it.
1 Isa. ii. 2.
Answer. And sweet in their
mouths was the sound.
Second Lesson.
A ND the Priests waited on their
-**- offices ; the Levites also with
instruments of music of the Lord,
which David the King had made
to praise the Lord — " Because His
mercy endureth for ever" — singing
David's hymns by their ministry.
And the Priests sounded trumpets
before them, and all Israel stood.
Moreover, Solomon hallowed the
middle of the Court that was before
the house of the Lord ; for there
he offered burnt-offerings and the
fat of the peace-offerings, because
the brazen altar which Solomon had
made was not able to receive the
burnt-offerings and the meat-offerings
and the fat. Also at the same time
Solomon kept the Feast seven days
and all Israel with him, a very great
congregation, from the entering in
of Hamath unto the River of Egypt.
And in the eighth day he made a
solemn assembly j for they kept the
dedication of the altar seven days,
and the Feast seven days.
Second Responsory.
The Lord's house is established
in the top of the mountains, and
exalted above the hills, and all
nations shall flow unto it, and shall
say : Glory be to Thee, O Lord !
Verse. 2 They shall doubtless
come again with rejoicing, bring-
ing their sheaves with them.
Answer. And all nations shall
flow unto it, and shall say : Glory
be to Thee, O Lord!
2 Ps. cxxv. 6.
VOL. I.
590
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Third Lesson.
THUS Solomon finished the
house of the Lord, and the
King's house, and all that came
into Solomon's heart to make in
the house of the Lord, and in
his own house, he prosperously
effected. And the Lord appeared
to him by night, and said unto
him : I have heard thy prayer,
and have chosen this place to My-
self for an house of sacrifice. If
I shut up heaven that there be
no rain, or if I command the locusts
to devour the land, or if I send
pestilence among My people ; if
My people, upon whom My Name
is called, shall pray, and seek My
face, and turn from their wicked
ways, then will I hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin, and will
heal their land. Now Mine eyes
shall be open and Mine ears attent
unto the prayer that is made in
this place. For now have I chosen
and sanctified this place, that My
Name may be there for ever, and
Mine eyes and Mine heart shall
be there perpetually.
Third Responsory.
1 O Lord, bless this house which
I have built unto Thy Name.
Whosoever shall come unto this
place and pray, then hear Thou
from the excellent throne of Thy
glory.
Verse. O Lord, if Thy people
turn and pray toward Thy sanc-
tuary.
Answer. Hear Thou from the
excellent throne of Thy glory.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Ansiver. Hear Thou from the
excellent throne of Thy glory.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. This is none
other but the house of God, and
this is the gate of heaven.
Ps. lxxxiii. How lovely are Thy
tabernacles, &c, (p. 142.)
Second Antiphon. 2 Jacob beheld
a ladder set up on the earth, and
the top of it reached to heaven,
and the angels of God descending
on it. And he said : Surely this
place is holy.
Ps. lxxxvi. Her foundation, &c,
(p. 144.)
Third Antiphon. 2 Jacob set up
the stone for a pillar, and poured
oil upon the top of it.
Ps. lxxxvii. O Lord God of my
salvation, (p. 145.)
Verse. 3 My house —
Answer. Shall be called the
house of prayer.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the
Sermons of St Austin, Bishop
[of Hippo.] (252nd for the
Season.}
DEARLY beloved brethren, as
often as we keep the Dedi-
cation - Feast of some Altar or
Church, if we think faithfully and
carefully, and live holily and right-
eously, that which is done in temples
made with hands, is done in our
soul by a spiritual building. He
lied not who said: "The temple
1 Founded on Solomon's Prayer at the Dedication of the Temple.
2 Gen. xxviii. 17, 12, 18. 3 Mark xi. 17.
FOR THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH.
591
of God is holy; which temple ye
are" (i Cor. iii. 17,) and again:
" Know ye not that your body is
the temple of the Holy Ghost, Which
is in you," (vi. 19.) And therefore,
dearly beloved brethren, since by
the grace of God, without any fore-
going deserts of our own, we have
been made meet to become the
Temple of God, let us work as
hard as we can, with His help,
that our Lord may not find in His
Temple, that is, in us, anything to
offend the eyes of His Majesty.
Fourth Responsory.
1 If they pray toward this place,
forgive the sin of Thy people, O
God, and teach them the good way
wherein they should walk, and
manifest forth Thy glory in this
place.
Verse. 2 Give ear, O Shepherd of
Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph
like a flock, Thou that sittest upon
the Cherubim.
Answer. Forgive the sin of Thy
people, O God, and teach them
the good way wherein they should
walk, and manifest forth Thy glory
in this place.
Fifth Lesson.
ET the Tabernacle of our
■1— ' heart be swept clean of vices
and filled with virtues. Let it be
locked to the devil, and thrown
open to Christ. Yea, let us so
work, that we may be able to open
the door of the kingdom of heaven
with the key of good works. For
even as evil works are so many
bolts and bars to close against us
the entrance into life, so beyond
doubt are good works the key there-
to. And therefore, dearly beloved
brethren, let each one look into his
own conscience, and when he findeth
the wounds of guilt there, let him
first strive by prayers, fasting, or
almsdeeds to purge his conscience,
and so let him dare to take the
Eucharist.
Fifth Responsory.
How dreadful is this place !
Surely this is none other but the
house of God, and this is the gate
of heaven.
Verse. This is the house of
God, stoutly builded, well founded
upon a sure rock.
Answer. Surely this is none
other but the house of God, and
this is the gate of heaven.
Sixth Lesson.
"T^OR if he acknowledge his ini-
-■■ quity, and withdraw himself
from the Altar of God, he will
soon attain unto the mercy of the
pardon of God, for, as he that
exalted himself shall be abased,
so shall he that humbleth himself
be exalted. (Luke xiv. n.) He
who, as I have said, acknowledg-
ing his iniquity, withdraweth him-
self through lowliness from the
Altar of the Church, till he have
mended his life, need have but
little fear that he will be excom-
municated from the eternal marriage-
supper in heaven.
Sixth Responsory.
Jacob rose up early in the morn-
ing, and set up the stone for a
1 Founded on Solomon's prayer at the Dedication of the Temple.
2 Ps. lxxix. 1.
592
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
pillar, and poured oil upon the top
of it, and vowed a vow unto the
Lord. Surely this place is holy, and
I knew it not.
Verse. And Jacob awaked out
of his sleep, and he said :
Answer. Surely this place is holy,
and I knew it not.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Surely this place is holy,
and I knew it not.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. He that dwell-
eth in the help of the Most High
* shall abide under the shadow of
the God of heaven.
If the Office be Semi - double
the Psalm begins with the words
" Shall abide under the shadow ; " if
Double, with, "He will say to the
Lord."
Ps. xc. He that dwelleth, &c,
{p. 207.)
Second Antiphon. The Temple
of the Lord is holy. * The same
is God's workmanship and God's
building.
Ps. xcv. O sing unto the Lord,
&c, (p. 148.)
Third Antiphon. x Blessed be the
glory of the Lord * from His [holy]
place. Alleluia.
Ps. xcviii. The Lord reigneth,
&c, (p. 158.)
Verse. This is the house of God,
stoutly builded.
Answer. Well founded upon a
sure rock.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (xix. 1.)
A T that time : Jesus entered
"**• and passed through Jericho.
And, behold, there was a man
named Zacchaeus, which was the
chief among the publicans, and he
was rich. And so on.
Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop
[of Milan.] {Bk. viii. on Luke.)
Zacchaeus was little of stature, that
is, he was not raised aloft among
men by nobility of birth, and, like
the most of the world, he possessed
few merits. When he heard that
the Lord and Saviour, Who had
come unto His Own, and Whom
His Own had not received, (John i.
1 1,) was coming, he desired to see
Him. But the sight of Jesus is
not easy ; to any on the earth it is
impossible. And since Zacchgeus
had neither the Prophets, nor yet
the Law, as a gracious help to his
nature, he climbed up into a syca-
more tree, raising his feet above the
vanity of the Jews, and straightening
the crooked branches of his former
life, and therefore he received Jesus
to lodge within his house.
Seventh Responsory.
My house shall be called the
house' of prayer, saith the Lord.
2 Therein, he that asketh, receiveth ;
he that seeketh, findeth ; and to him
that knocketh, it shall be opened.
Verse. 3Ask, and ye shall re-
ceive ; seek, and ye shall find.
Answer. And to him that knock-
eth, it shall be opened.
1 Ezek. iii. 12.
2 Luke xi. 9, 10.
3 John xvi. 24 ; Matth. vii. 7.
FOR THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH.
593
Eighth Lesson.
HE did well to climb up into a
tree, that a good tree might
bring forth good fruits, (Matth. vii.
17,) and that the slip of the wild
olive, grafted, contrary to nature,
into the good olive, might bring
forth the fruits of the law. (Rom.
xi. 17, 24.) For the root is holy,
however unprofitable the branches.
Their barren beauty hath now been
overshadowed by the belief of the
Gentiles in the Resurrection, as by
a material upgrowth. Zacchaeus,
then, was in the sycamore tree, and
the blind man by the way-side,
(xviii. 35.) For the one, Jesus stood
waiting to show mercy, and asked
him before He healed him, what he
would that He should do for him ;
being unbidden of the other, He
bade Himself to be his Guest,
knowing how rich was the reward
of receiving Him. Nevertheless,
albeit He had heard no words of
invitation, yet had He seen how
his heart went.
Eighth Responsory.
1 All thy walls are of stones most
precious. The towers of Jerusalem
shall be built up with jewels.
Verse. The gates of Jerusalem
shall be built up with the sapphire
stone, and the emerald, and all her
walls round about with stones most
precious.
Ansiver. The towers of Jerusa-
lem shall be built up with jewels.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The towers of Jerusa-
lem shall be built up with jewels.
Ninth Lesson.
OUT lest we should seem haughti-
*-* ly to pass by the poor blind
man, and to hurry on to the rich
one, let us stand waiting for him,
as the Lord stood and waited ; let
us ask of him, as Christ asked of
him. Let us ask, because we are
ignorant ; Christ asked, because He
knew. Let us ask, that we may
know whence he received his cure ;
Christ asked, that all of us may
know from one ensample where-
through we are to earn a sight of
the Lord. Christ asked, that we
might believe that none, save they
that confess Him, can be saved.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. Holiness be-
cometh Thine house, * O Lord,
for ever.
Second Antiphon. My house *
shall be called the house of prayer.
Third Antiphon. This is the
Lord's house * stoutly builded, well
founded upon a sure rock.
Fourth Antiphon. The Lord's
house is well founded * upon a
sure rock.
Fifth Antiphon. All thy walls
are of stones most precious, * and
the towers of Jerusalem shall be
built up with jewels.
Chapter. (Apoc. xxii. 2.)
I SAW the holy city, New Jeru-
salem, coming down from God
out of heaven, prepared as a Bride
adorned for her husband.
1 Cf. Tobias xiii. 21, and Apoc. xxi. 18-20.
594
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Hymn}
/^HRIST is made the sure Found-
^ ation,
And the precious Corner-Stone,
Who, the two walls underlying,
Bound in each, binds both in one :
Holy Zion's Help for ever,
And her Confidence Alone.
All that dedicated City,
Dearly loved by God on high,
In exultant jubilation
Pours perpetual melody ;
God the One, and God the Trinal,
Singing everlastingly.
To this Temple, where we call Thee,
Come, O Lord of hosts, to-day !
With Thy wonted loving-kindness
Hear Thy people as they pray ;
And Thy fullest benediction
Shed within its walls for aye.
Here vouchsafed to all Thy servants
That they supplicate to gain :
Here to have and hold for ever
Those good things their prayers ob-
tain ;
And hereafter in Thy glory,
With Thy blessed ones to reign.
Laud and honour to the Father ;
Laud and honour to the Son ;
Laud and honour to the Spirit ;
Ever Three and ever One :
Consubstantial, Co-eternal,
While unending ages run. Amen.
Verse. This is the Lord's house,
stoutly builded —
Answer. Well founded upon a
sure rock.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Zacchseus, make haste and come
down, for to-day I must abide at thy
house. * And he made haste and came
down, and received Him joyfully into
his house. This day is salvation come
from God to this house. , Alleluia.
Between Septuagesima and Easier
omit "Alleluia."
1 Dr Neale, with two lines altered — an
Hymns, p. 22.)
Prayer.
f~\ GOD, Who dost every year
^~S bring round unto us again
the day whereon this Thine holy
temple was hallowed, and bringest
us again in soundness of body and
mind to be present at Thine holy
worship, graciously hear the suppli-
cations of Thy people, and grant
that whosoever shall come into
this Thine house to ask good at
Thine hand, may be rejoiced in
the obtaining of all his request.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ
Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth
with Thee, in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
On the actual day on which the
Church is dedicated, and also when the
Dedication Feasts of two Churches come
together, for the other Prayer, is used
the following.
S~\ GOD, Who invisibly contain-
^-^ est all things, and yet art
pleased for the salvation of men to
show forth visible signs of Thy
power, fill this house with the glory
of Thine indwelling power ; and
grant that all who gather themselves
together to pray in this place, may
receive the good comfort of Thine
help in every tribulation where-
in they cry unto Thee. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son,
Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without
end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. Holiness becometh,
&c, {First Antiphon at Lauds.)
alteration applauded by himself. (Mediaeval
FOR THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH.
595
Chapter at the end. (Apoc. xxi. 4.)
AND God shall wipe away all
•**- tears from their eyes, and
there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain ; for
the former things are passed away.
And He That sat upon the throne
said : Behold, I make all things
new.
TERCE.
Antiphon. My house, &c., {Se-
cond Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
Holiness becometh Thine house,
O Lord.
Answer. Holiness becometh
Thine house, O Lord — -
Verse. For ever.
Answer. O Lord.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Holiness becometh
Thine house, O Lord.
Verse. This place is holy, where-
in the Priest prayeth.
Answer. For the pardon of the
transgressions and offences of the
people.
SEXT.
Antiphon. This is the Lord's
house, &c, {Third Antiphon at
Lauds!)
Chapter. (Apoc. xxi. 3.)
ANDI heard a great voice out of
■^*- the throne, saying : Behold,
the tabernacle of God is with men,
and He will dwell with them. And
they shall be His people ; and God
Himself shall be with them, and be
their God.
Short Responsory.
This place is holy, wherein the
Priest prayeth.
Answer. This place is holy,
wherein the Priest prayeth —
Verse. For the pardon of the
transgressions and offences of the
people.
Answer. The Priest prayeth.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. This place is holy,
wherein the Priest prayeth.
Verse. This is the Lord's house,
stoutly builded —
Answer. Well founded upon a
sure rock.
NONE.
Antiphon. All thy walls, &c,
{Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
This is the Lord's house, stoutly
builded.
Answer. This is the Lord's
house, stoutly builded —
Verse. Well founded upon a
sure rock.
Answer. Stoutly builded.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. This is the Lord's
house, stoutly builded.
Verse. The Lord's house is
well founded —
Answer. Upon a sure rock.
596
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
SECOND VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Prayer from
Lauds.
Last Psalm.
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem,
&c., (Ps. cxlvii.,/. 203.)
Hymn. Blessed city, heavenly
Salem, &c, (First Vespers.)
Verse. Holiness becometh Thine
house, O Lord —
Answer. For ever.
Antiphon at the Song of the
Blessed Virgin. How dreadful is
this place. * Surely this is none
other but the house of God, and
this is the gate of heaven.
All as ott the Feast, except that the
Antiphons are not doubled, and the
following.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the
Treatise upon the Psalms, written
by St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo.]
(On Ps. cxxi.)
ERUSALEM is builded as a
city." Brethren, when David
said that, Jerusalem was no longer
in building, but already builded.
He speaketh then of some city which
"J
is even now being built, and which
I know not, whereunto do run in
faith, the living stones, concerning
whom Peter saith (I. ii. 5): "Ye
also, as lively stones, are built up
a spiritual house," that is, an holy
temple unto God. But what
meaneth he by the words, " Ye al-
so, as lively stones, are built up " ?
If thou believest, thou livest ; but
if thou believest, then art thou be-
come a temple of God ; as indeed
the Apostle Paul hath it: "The
temple of God is holy, which temple
ye are." (1 Cor. iii. 17.)
Fifth Lesson.
""PHE city then is still in building.1
** Stones are being hewn out of
the mountains by the hands of them
that preach the truth, and are be-
ing cut square, that they may be
fitted into the everlasting walls.
Many stones are still in the hands
of the workman, and they must not
fall out of his hands if they would
be meet stones, and make part of
the masonry of the temple. This
is that Jerusalem which is builded as
a city, and her foundation is Christ.
So saith the Apostle Paul : " Other
foundation can no man lay than
that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
(1 Cor. iii. n.)
Sixth Lesson.
'"FHERE the foundation is first
-*- laid in the earth, then the
walls are builded up thereon, and
the weight of the walls presseth
downward, for the foundation is be-
neath them. But if our foundation
be in heaven, then must we be so
1 The next two sentences seem to be quoted, or at least taken from the Shepherd of
Hermas.
FOR THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH.
597
builded as to press, not downward,
but upward. This great Church
which ye behold with your bodily
eyes was builded up by bodies,
and because bodies builded it up,
they laid the foundations thereof
beneath. But we who are builded
up a spiritual house, have our found-
ation above us. Thitherward let us
run, that we may be built in, for
it is of Jerusalem that it is said :
" Our feet have been wont to stand
within thy gates, O Jerusalem ! "
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (xix. i.)
A T that time : Jesus entered and
^_*- passed through Jericho. And,
behold, there was a man named
Zacchasus, which was the chief
among the publicans, and he was
rich. And so on.
Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop
[of Milan.] (Bk. viii. on Luke.)
(xviii. 43.) "And immediately
[the blind man] received his sight,
and followed Him, glorifying God."
He could not have received his sight
but by following Christ, by glorify-
ing God, and by turning away from
the world. But now let us turn to
speak words of kindness to the rich.
We are fain, if we can, to heal all
men, and we would give no offence
to the rich ; and they would have
ground of righteous offence if we
applied to them roughly and untruly
that which is said about a camel
passing through the eye of a needle,
or if we passed them by too quickly,
as represented in Zacchasus.
Eighth Lesson.
T^HE rich should learn that there
A is nothing wrong in possess-
ing wealth ; the wrong is in those
who possess wealth without knowing
how to use it. Riches are indeed
a stumbling-block to the wicked, but
to the good they are a means of
grace. Zacchaeus was rich, and he
was one of Christ's chosen ones ;
but when he gave the half of his
goods to the poor, and restored
four-fold anything which he had
taken from any man by false ac-
cusation (for simple restoration is
not enough, neither doth one who
keepeth possession of ill-gotten gains,
really give gifts, in that which he
giveth, since it is not his plunder,
but gifts out of that which is his
own, that are asked for,) [when
Zacchaeus, I say, did these things,]
he received manifold recompense.
Ninth Lesson.
TT is well mentioned that he was
-*- the chief among the publicans.
Who need give up hope, when he
seeth one that had acquired wealth
by false accusation attain unto
salvation ?
" And he was rich." Know that
all rich men are not misers.
" He was little of stature." The
Scripture saith nothing of any man's
stature, save of that of Zacchseus.1
And wherefore ? Perchance his
littleness of stature was spiritual,
being a mental dwarfing through sin,
or a childishness in faith. He had
1 However, Deut. iii. 11 ; 1 Kings (Sam.) x. 23, &c.
VOL. I.
U 2
598
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
not yet promised to make restitution;
he had not yet seen Christ ; and he
is well called little. Whereas John
was called great, (Luke i. 15,) John,
who saw Christ, and the Spirit like
a dove descending and abiding on
Him, as he himself "bare record,
saying : I saw the Spirit descending
from heaven like a dove, and It
abode on Him." (John i. 32.)
£0tt* ©ap witfyin tU <Oct*n.
All as on the Feast, except that the
Antiphons are not doubled, and the
following.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St Austin, Bishop [of
Hippo.] (256th for the Season.)
*T^HE reason of the present gather-
-*- ing is the dedication of an
house of prayer. That house is the
house of our prayers, but the house
of God is ourselves. If we are the
house of God, we are being built
in this world, that we may be con-
secrated at the end of this world.
The time of building is the time of
work ; the time of consecration is
the time of holiday -keeping. Thus
it was with this building ; while it
was yet being put together, there
was toil; now that the believers
in Christ are gathered together in
it, there is rejoicing. Believing is,
as it were, the hewing of timbers
from the forests, and stones from
the mountains. Catechising and
baptizing are the shaping and squar-
ing and polishing of the stones by
the hands of the workmen. And
still they make not an house for
the Lord, until they be mortared
together with charity.
Fifth Lesson.
"\T ONE of these beams and stones
■^ ^ could have entered into this
building, unless they had been
meetly joined together, unless they
had been coupled in agreement one
with another, and united, as it were,
in the embrace of love. When thou
seest in any house that the beams
and stones are well joined together,
thou enterest therein boldly, fearing
not that it will fall upon thee. So
also, when the Lord Christ was fain
to enter [into His spiritual temple,
the Church,] and to dwell in us,
He said, as it were to build us :
"A new commandment I give unto
you, that ye love one another."
(John xiii. 34.) " A new command-
ment I give unto you " — ye have
hitherto been old ; ye made Me no
house ; ye lay in your ruins. That
ye may rise, therefore, from your
ruins, love one another.
Sixth Lesson.
^THINK then, my kind friends,1
*- that according to what hath
been foretold and promised, this
house is being builded throughout
the whole world. When the Jews
returned from the captivity, and the
house of God was builded up again,
1 Charitas vestra.
FOR THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH.
599
it was said in a song extracted from
an older psalm : " Sing unto the
Lord a new song; sing unto the
Lord, all the earth." J That which
the Psalm calleth a new song, the
Lord calleth a new commandment.
For wherefore should we sing a new
song unless it were to tell of a new
love ? Since singing is lovers' wont —
41 Love upon the singer's tongue
Prompts the measure that is sung." 2
Let us love, and love unselfishly ;
for we love the Lord, and better
than He there is nothing ; let us
love Him for His own sake, and
ourselves in Him, as for Him.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (xix. i.)
A T that time : Jesus entered, and
-**• passed through Jericho. And,
behold, there was a man named
Zacchseus, which was the chief
among the publicans. And he was
rich. And so on.
Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop
[of Milan.] {Bk. viii. on Luke.)
["He sought to see Jesus . . .
and could not, for the press."] What
is this press but the brute herd, which
cannot perceive the crown of wis-
dom ? Therefore, as long as
Zacchseus remained in the herd, he
could not see Christ. When he
"For the Lord
way." This is
signifying that
riseth above the herd, then he seeth
Him ; that is to say, when he had
got over the stupidity of the common
people, he gained a view of Him
Whom he desired,
was to pass that
beautifully added -
He was about to pass, either where
the sycamore-tree stood, or where
Zacchseus was to believe in Him —
thereby at once affording a mystic
type and conferring a grace. For
thus had He come, to pass by way
of the Jews unto the Gentiles.
Eighth Lesson.
" A ND when Jesus came to the
^~*- place, He looked up and
saw him." For now was Zacchseus
climbed up on high amid the blossom
of good works, as in the boughs of
a fruitful tree. And here, since we
have begun to take mystic inter-
pretations, we may remark how de-
lightful a fruit to a believer's taste
is the cheerful rest of the Lord's
Day. See also, how that Zacchseus
in the sycamore was like a young
fig of the new season, in whom, as
in other things, was fulfilled that
which is written : " The fig-tree
putteth forth her green figs." (Cant,
ii. 13.)
Ninth Lesson.
CHRIST came for this, that trees
might bring forth, not fruit,
but men. We have read elsewhere :
" When thou wast under the fig-tree,
I saw thee." (John i. 48.) Nathaniel
1 Ps. xcv. In the LXX. this Psalm is intituled " An Ode of David, when the house was
built up after the captivity." It is really by David, as appears from 1 Par. (Chron.) xvi.,
and was composed by him as part of a Psalm for the occasion of the Ark's arrival at
Jerusalem, whence it seems (according to the LXX.) to have been extracted, and used
as suitable to the occasion to which they refer it.
2 Vox hujus cantoris
Fervor est sancti amoris.
6oo
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
was under the tree, that is, above
the root ; for the root is holy, and
he was a righteous man. Neverthe-
less, Nathaniel was still underneath
the tree, for he was under the law ;
but, Zacchaeus had gone up the tree,
for he was above the law ; Nathaniel
was Christ's privy defender, but
Zacchaeus was His open preacher.
Nathaniel was still seeking Christ
out of the law, but Zacchaeus had
gone above the law, by giving up
his goods in order to follow the
Lord.
$oiurf0 ©Ag witfyin ffle Octavt.
All as on the Feast, except that the
Antiphons are not doubled, and the
following.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St Austin, Bishop [of
Hippo.] (256M on the Season.)
CONSIDER that passage in the
"Song of rejoicing at the
opening of the house of David," l
which we have just sung amid the
wrecks of the masons' sheds : " Thou
hast put off my sackcloth." That
referreth to the wrecks ; but what
to the new building ? " And girded
me with gladness." Here is the
utterance for the opening of the
house : " To the end that my glory
may sing praise to Thee." And
who is the speaker? Tell it from
his own words. Were I to explain
it, I should only make it darker,
therefore I will but repeat his own
words, and at the sound of his speech
ye shall know him forthwith, that
ye may love him for his address.
Who is he that can say : " O Lord,
Thou hast brought up My soul
from the grave " ?
Fifth Lesson.
WHO is He Whose soul hath
already been brought up from
the grave, but He in Whose mouth
are put elsewhere the words, " Thou
wilt not leave My soul in hell " ?
This Psalm is intituled " a Song of
rejoicing at the opening of the house
of David," and the first thing spoken
of therein is deliverance, as it is
said : " I will extol Thee, O Lord,
for Thou hast lifted me up, and
hast not made my foes to rejoice
over me." Consider that by these
foes are meant the Jews, who
thought that they had slain Christ,
overcome in Him their enemy, and
destroyed Him as they might a man
mortal like other men.
Sixth Lesson.
BUT He rose again the third day,
and His utterance is : "I
will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou
hast lifted Me up " — in connection
with which, consider the saying of
the Apostle : " God hath highly
exalted Him." (Phil. ii. 9.) "And
hast not made My foes to rejoice
over Me." They rejoiced indeed
over the death of Christ, but at His
Resurrection, Ascension, and preach-
ing, some of them were cut to the
1 Ps. xxix. from which all the texts quoted are taken, except those marked otherwise.
FOR THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH.
60 1
heart. When He was preached, the
faithful testimony of His Apostles
cut some of them to the heart,
and some were converted, and
some were hardened, and some were
confounded, but none rejoiced.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
AT that time : Jesus entered and
passed through Jericho. And
behold, there was a man named
Zacchaeus, which was the chief
among the publicans, and he was
rich. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great,] (Bk. xxviii. of Moral {Re-
flections on Job\ ch. 27.)
If we would be truly wise, and
behold wisdom herself, we must
humbly acknowledge ourselves to be
fools. Let us cast away harmful
wisdom, and learn praiseworthy folly.
For this reason indeed is it written :
" God hath chosen the foolish things
of the world, to confound the wise."
(1 Cor. i. 27.) And again it is
said : " If any man among you
seemeth to be wise in this world,
let him become a fool, that he may
be wise." (iii. 18.) And unto this
doth the very Gospel bear witness,
wherein it is said that Zacchaeus
"sought to see Jesus, Who He
was ; and could not for the press,
because he was little of stature.
And he ran before, and climbed
up into a sycamore tree to see Him ;
for He was to pass that way." For
this name Sycamore, being inter-
preted, signifieth the " Foolish Fig." x
Eighth Lesson.
LITTLE Zacchaeus therefore ac-
cepted the humiliation of hav-
ing recourse to the sycamore — and
saw the Lord. They who humbly
choose to be fools in the estimation
of the world, have a deep insight
into the wisdom of God. The press
standeth in our way, on account
of our little stature, when we are
fain to see the Lord ; for the toil-
some din of worldly business tor-
menteth our weak minds, so as to
hinder our perceiving the light of
the truth. But we climb up wisely
into the sycamore tree, if we willingly
give up our minds to that folly which
God giveth unto us. What can be
more utter folly (in this world) than
not to seek for that we have lost, to
leave that whereof we have been
robbed in the hands of our de-
spoilers, to take no revenge for
wrongs which have been done us,
yea, even to offer to him that taketh
away our cloak, our coat also, and
be patient?
Ninth Lesson.
THE Lord biddeth us, as it were,
to climb up into the syca-
more, where He saith : " Of him
that taketh away thy goods, ask
them not again." (Luke vi. 30.)
And again : " Whosoever shall smite
thee on thy right cheek, turn to him
the other also." (Matth. v. 39.)
From the boughs of this sycamore
tree, the Lord is seen passing by.
He may indeed, as yet, not be seen
face to Face, but by this wise folly
the inward eye may see the Wisdom
1 Sukamoros— which St Gregory seems to have derived from sukos, a fig, and moros,
(pr. mzvros,) a fool, but the derivation now generally accepted is sukos, a fig, and moros,
a mulberry, as a plant combining certain characteristic features of both trees.
602
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
of God, as it were, passing by, even
that Wisdom Which they that are
wise in their own conceit cannot
see. They are mixed up in the
overbearing press of their own im-
aginations, and have not yet found
the sycamore tree whereinto to climb
up, if they would see the Lord.
fifrfl ©ap witfyin ffle Octave.
All as on the Feast, except that the
Antiphons are not doubled, and the fol-
lowing.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St Austin, Bishop [of
Hippo.] (256th for the Season.)
" nPHOU hast not made my foes
-■■ to rejoice over me." (Ps.
xxix. 2.) Now-a-days, when Churches
are filled with believers, do we
imagine that this maketh the Jews
to rejoice ? Churches are built, con-
secrated, and filled ; wherefore should
they rejoice ? Not only do they not
rejoice, but they are put to con-
fusion ; and the words are fulfilled
which are written : "I will extol
Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast lifted
me up, and hast not made my foes
to rejoice over me " — Thou hast not
made them to rejoice over Me, for
even if they turn and believe in
Me, Thou wilt make them to re-
joice, not over Me, but in Me.
Lest we should make overlong our
exposition of our song, let us take
another point. How saith Christ :
" Thou hast put off My sackcloth,
and girded Me with gladness"?
His sackcloth was the likeness of
sinful flesh.
Fifth Lesson.
T^HINK not lightly thereof, be-
* cause He calleth it His sack-
cloth ; the price of thy redemption
was wrapped up in it. " Thou hast
put off My sackcloth." Let us turn
aside to look more closely at this
sackcloth — " Thou hast put off My
sackcloth." The sackcloth was put
off when He suffered. How saith
He, therefore, unto God the Father,
" Thou hast put off My sackcloth " ?
Wilt thou hear how it is that He
saith unto the Father, "Thou
hast put off My sackcloth " ? It
is because God "spared not His
Own Son, but delivered Him up
for us all." (Rom. viii. 32.) By
means of the Jews, who knew not
what they did, He did that where-
by they that knew should be re-
deemed, and they that gainsaid
should be put to confusion. They
know not what good their evil deed
hath done for us. The sackcloth
was hung up, amid the rejoicings
of the ungodly — the persecutor
rent it with his spear, and the Re-
deemer caused our price to spring
forth.
Sixth Lesson.
ET Christ the Redeemer sing,
-*— ' let Judas that sold Him groan,
and the Jews that bought Him
blush. Judas sold Him, and the
Jews bought Him, and both buyer
and seller in the wicked bargain are
FOR THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH.
603
condemned, both alike have cast
themselves away. Let our Head
therefore speak concerning His slain
Body, His hallowed Body — let Him
speak, and let us listen. " 'Thou,'"
saith He, " ' hast put off My sack-
cloth, and girded Me with gladness '
— Thou hast put off My mortality,
and hast girded Me with immortality
and incorruption — ' to the end that
My glory may sing praise unto Thee,
and not be silent.' " What meaneth
this, "and not be silent"? "No
more shall the lance pierce Me,
and I hang silent under the blow."
For " Christ being raised from
the dead, dieth no more ; death
hath no more dominion over Him."
(Rom. vi. 9.)
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (xix. 1.)
A T that time : Jesus entered and
^*- passed through Jericho. And,
behold, there was a man named
Zacchseus, which was the chief
among the publicans. And he was
rich. And so on.
Homily by the Venerable Bede,
Priest [at Jarrow, and Doctor of the
Church.] (Bk. v. ch. 77 on Luke
xix.)
" The things which are impossible
with men, are possible with God."
(xviii. 27.) For behold the camel,
when he hath laid aside his load,
passeth through the eye of a needle,
that is to say, the rich man and the
publican, when he putteth off from
him the burden of his riches, and
despiseth to be wealthy by unjust
means, entereth into the strait gate
and narrow way which leadeth unto
life. He that with earnest faith
desired to see the Saviour, helped
the defect of his natural stature by
climbing up into a tree, and thereby
he earned what he longed for, but
dared not to ask, even the blessed-
ness of having the Lord to abide
as a guest at his house.
Eighth Lesson.
^7 ACCH^EUS, whose name, being
*-^ interpreted, signifieth "Justi-
fied," is a type of such from among
the Gentiles as believe. The more
they be harassed by the cares of
this world, the more they be weighed
down by the sense of sin, the hum-
bler is their prayer. " But," [saith
the Apostle Paul unto such,] "ye are
washed, — but, ye are sanctified, —
but, ye are justified, in the Name of
the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of
our God." (1 Cor. vi. 11.) Such
desired to see the Saviour as He
entered into Jericho, but could not
for the press, for, albeit wishful for
that grace of faith which the Saviour
brought into the world, the long-used
habit of sin stood in the way of the
desire.
Ninth Lesson.
" I AHE press of evil habits which
*- rebuked the blind man, that
he should hold his peace, and not
cry for light, the same press hind-
ered the publican from seeing Jesus.
But even as the blind man over-
came them by crying so much the
more, so must he that is little of
stature needs get above the obstruc-
tion of the harmful crowd, by seek-
ing an higher place, ascending from
the earth, and betaking him up into
604
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
the tree, that is, the Cross. And
the Cross is a Sycamore, (a tree
with leaves somewhat like to those
of a mulberry, but higher, whence
also it is called by the Latins
"Celsa," that is, the High tree,)
for the name " Sycamore " signifi-
ed, being interpreted, the " Foolish
Fig," and thus is the Cross, which
feedeth us with figs them that be-
lieve, but is mocked at as foolish-
ness by them that believe not.
^t;rf0 ©ap within tU Ott&vt.
All as on the Feast, except that the
Antiphons are not doubled, and the fol-
lowing.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St Austin, Bishop
[of Hippo.] (256th for the
Season.)
""THEREFORE, while I joyfully
-*■ gaze upon the new walls of
this holy Church, which we this day
hallow unto the name of God, I find
that I owe high praise to our God,
and to you, my holy brethren, a
suitable discourse upon the building
of the house of God. But my dis-
course will only be suitable if it
contain for your spiritual up-build-
ing,1 that which, God inwardly
building, may avail toward your
souls' health. That building which
we behold with our bodily eyes,
wrought in these walls, must be re-
flected spiritually in our minds, and
that finish which we see in stone
and wood, it must be the work of
God's grace to finish within our
own bodies.
Fifth Lesson.
TN the first place, therefore, let us
-*- give thanks unto our Lord
God, from Whom cometh down
every good gift and every perfect
gift. (James i. 17.) Let us with all
the cheerfulness of our hearts praise
Him for having put it into the
thoughts of His faithful ones to
raise unto Him this house of prayer,
stirred up their love and given them
help, breathed the will into them
when they as yet had it not, and
then enabled them to carry out
their will. "For it is God Which
worketh in you both to will and
to do of His good pleasure."
(Phil. ii. 13.) And thus it is He
Himself Who hath begun, and
hath finished.
Sixth Lesson.
A ND forasmuch as He never
^*- suffereth good works to lie
unrewarded in His sight, He will
give a reward meet for so great a
work to those His faithful ones, unto
whose labours He hath already given
His helpful blessing. And yet have
we more thanks to give unto our
Lord God. For this Church, which
He hath caused to be builded unto
His Name, He hath made more
1 This sentence contains an untranslateable play upon the word "edification."
FOR THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH.
605
honourable with the reliques of His
holy Martyrs.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (xix. 1.)
A T that time : Jesus entered and
-*"*- passed through Jericho. And,
behold, there was a man named
Zacchaeus, which was the chief
among the publicans. And he was
rich. And so on.
Homily by the Venerable Bede,
Priest [at Jarrow, and Doctor of the
Church.] {Bk. v. ch. 77, on Luke
xix.)
"And when Jesus came to the
place, He looked up, and saw him."
The Saviour, passing through Je-
richo, came to the place whither
Zacchaeus had already run before,
and climbed up into a sycamore-
tree. Thus did He send through-
out the world the preachers of His
Word, in whom Himself did indeed
speak and go, and so came unto
those who were already high up-
lifted by believing in His sufferings,
and fain to be blessed with the full
revelation of His Godhead. " He
looked up, and saw him " — for the
eyes of His choice were toward one
whom the grace of faith had raised
above earthly desires, and who stood
aloft above the unbelieving multi-
tudes. " To look on " signifieth
with God to choose or to love ;
whence it is said : " The eyes of the
Lord are upon the righteous." (Ps.
xxxiii. 16.) Even we also hasten to
look at things which we love, while
we turn our eyes away from what is
loathesome to us.
Eighth Lesson.
JESUS therefore looked on one
that was fain to look on Him,
chose one that chose Him, and
loved one that loved Him. This
progress, namely, to go on, by be-
lieving in the Lord's Incarnation, to
an acknowledgment of His God-
head, is, as it were, to climb up
into a sycamore-tree to catch a sight
of Jesus' Face ; this progress, I say,
the excellent Teacher [Paul] point-
eth at, when he saith : " I deter-
mined not to know anything among
you, save Jesus Christ, and Him
Crucified." (1 Cor. ii. 2.) And
again in rebuking certain he saith :
" Ye are become such as have need
of milk, and not of strong meat,"
(Heb. v. 12) — herein signifying by
milk the weakness of the dispensa-
tion in time, and by strong meat,
the sublimity of the everlasting
glory.
Ninth Lesson.
" A ND [Jesus] said unto him :
■£** Zacchaeus, make haste and
come down, for to-day I must abide
at thine house. And he made
haste, and came down, and received
Him joyfully." The Lord abode
awhile in the house of the chief of
the Pharisees — that is to say, He
taught in the synagogue of the Jews ;
but since they spake against Him
with envenomed tongues, because
He washed not His hands before
He sat down to eat, because He
healed on the Sabbath Day, because
He received publicans and sinners,
because He rebuked their greed, and
did other things worthy of God, He
was wearied by their wickedness,
and turned away and left them, say-
ing : " Behold, your house is left
6o6
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
unto you desolate." (Matth. xxiii.
38.) But to-day He must abide in
the house of little Zacchaeus — that
is to say, He must rest, while the
beams of the new light are bright,
in the lowly hearts of the believing
nations.
§tnnt§ ©ap within t$t <Dct<wt.
All as on the Feast, except that the
Antiphons are not doubled, and the fol-
lowing.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St John Chrysostom,
Patriarch [of Constantinople.]
{Horn. 33 on Matth. ix.)
HP HE Church is the common
-*- house of all. Hereinto ye
first do enter, and then we, keeping
the form of the disciples ; and there-
fore, so soon as we be come in, that
we may follow the rule given to
them, (Luke x. 5,) we greet you all
with the salutation of " Peace." Let
no one then be drowsy, let no one
keep his mind occupied with worldly
business, when the Priests are come
in for the sermon. The punishment
for doing so is no light one. I had
a thousand times rather be left alone
in one of your own houses, when I
come to visit you, than that ye
should not listen unto me when I
am preaching here. This would vex
me more than that, for this is more
your house than that.
Fifth Lesson.
T^OR this is the house wherein
-*- our greatest treasures and our
hopes are laid up. What is there
here that is not great and wonder-
ful? The Table here is the most
precious and glorious of tables. The
lamp here is the most precious and
glorious of lamps, as they know who
have in faith been anointed with oil
therefrom, and been healed of sick-
ness.1 The Ambry 2 here is far the
best and the most needful, for there-
in is laid up, not raiment, but mercy
— albeit they be few that take It.
The bed here is the noblest of beds,
for what can be better than that
pillow whereon resteth the written
Word of God ? 3
Sixth Lesson.
A ND in good sooth, if we were
-^*- all at one, we should have
none other house than this. And
that I utter not herein an hard
saying, witness those three thousand
and five thousand who had but one
house and one table and one mind.
"The multitude of them that be-
lieved," saith [the author of the Acts
of the Apostles] " were of one heart
and of one soul" (iv. 32.) But
since we are far from such perfection
as their's, and are parted in divers
houses, let us strive to be like them,
at least when we come together here.
For albeit in other things we are
1 The oil used for Extreme Unction is, in the Greek rite, taken from the lamp that
burns before the picture of our Lord.
2 Area, no doubt the Tabernacle.
3 In Greek Churches a copy of the Gospels is kept lying on the altar.
FOR THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH.
607
poor and needy, do ye at the
least welcome us kindly when we
come in hither among you ; and
when I say, " Peace be unto you,"
do ye answer, not with your voices
only but with your hearts, "And
with thy spirit."
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the
Holy Gospel according to Luke
(xix. 1.)
A T that time : Jesus entered and
-^*- passed through Jericho. And,
behold, there was a man named
Zacchseus, which was the chief
among the publicans. And he was
rich. And so on.
Homily by the Venerable Bede,
Priest [at Jarrow, and Doctor of
the Church.] {Continuation of the
last.)
" And when they saw it, they all
murmured, saying, That He was
gone to be guest with a man that
is a sinner." It is clear that the
Jews have always hated that the
Gentiles should be saved. It is
written : " And the next Sabbath-
Day came almost the whole city
together, to hear the word of God.
But when the Jews saw the multi-
tudes, they were filled with envy,
and spake against those things which
were spoken by Paul." (Acts xiii.
44.) And elsewhere it is told how
that even the faithful brethren con-
tended with the Prince of the
Apostles, "saying, Thou wentest in
to men uncircumcised, and didst eat
with them." (xi. 3.)
Eighth Lesson.
" A ND Zacchseus stood, and said
^*- unto the Lord : Behold,
Lord, the half of my goods I give
to the poor ; and if I have taken
anything from any man by false
accusation I restore him four-fold."
While others were blaming the
sinner, Zacchseus himself stood, that
is, continued in that truth of faith
wherein he had begun, and showed
himself to be not only a sinner con-
verted, but even to have taken a
place among the perfect. " If," saith
the Lord, "thou wilt be perfect, go
and sell that thou hast, and give to
the poor, and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven." (Matth. xix. 21.) If a
man before his conversion have lived
blamelessly, after his conversion he
can give to the poor all that he
hath —
Ninth Lesson.
DUT if he have had any unjust
*~* dealings, he is bound first of
all, according to law, to make resti-
tution, and not till afterwards must
he give to the poor that which re-
maineth unto him. And thus will it
become true of him also, when he
keepeth nothing for himself, but hath
dispersed and hath given to the poor,
that " his righteousness endureth for
ever." (Ps. cxi. 9.) And this is
that wise folly, which the publican
gathered from his sycamore-tree, like
life-giving fruit, namely, to make res-
titution of that which he had robbed,
to give away that which was his own,
to hold cheap the things which are
seen, to be fain even to die for the
things which are not seen, to deny
himself, and to will to follow in the
steps of that Lord upon Whom
thitherto he had not looked.
6o8
THE COMMON OF SAINTS.
Ocf<we;©a£ of tU ©eoicafion.
Double.
All as on the Feast, except the fol-
lowing.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the First
Epistle of Pope St Felix IV.1
{On Consecration, dist. i. ch. 2.)
WE read that Moses, by the
command of the Lord,
made and hallowed a tabernacle,
with the table and altar, and other
vessels and furniture thereof, for the
worship of God ; and we know that
he hallowed the same, not only by
prayers to God, but by anointing
them, at the command of the Lord,
with holy oil. How these things
were done, and how none others but
Priests anointed with holy ointment,
and arrayed before the Lord in holy
garments, and Levites, handled, car-
ried, set up, and put in order these
holy things, all this is to be found
written in the Law of the Lord,
among the ordinances which Moses
wrote down at the command of the
Lord.
Fifth Lesson.
IN the Books of Kings we read
how David, the most godly of
princes, made more splendid the
worship of God, and was fain to
build a temple unto the Lord, but
was withheld, because of the quantity
of blood which he had shed, and
only gathered together treasures for
that end ; and how Solomon his
son, at the command and with the
help of God, did that which his
father had desired to do, and hal-
lowed the temple and the altar and
the other things pertaining to the
worship of God. "And at that time
Solomon held a Feast, and all Israel
with him, a great congregation, from
the entering in of Hamath unto the
River of Egypt, before the Lord
our God seven days and seven days,
even fourteen days, and on the
eighth day he sent the people away."
(3 Kings viii. 65, 66.)
Sixth Lesson. (Ch. 17.)
THE Feast of the Dedication of
Churches and Priests is to be
kept year by year, as the Lord Him-
self hath given us an ensample, that
we should follow His steps, by com-
ing with the rest of the people to
keep the Feast of the Dedication of
the Temple ; as it is written : " It
was at Jerusalem the Feast of the
Dedication, and it was winter. And
Jesus walked in the temple in
Solomon's Porch." (John x. 22,
23.) That these Dedication-Feasts
are to be kept for eight days, ye will
find in the Third Book of Kings,
after the account of the Dedication
of the Temple.
In the Third Nocturn are read the
Lessons from the first day omitted with-
in the Octave.
a.d. 526-30.
Elje proper £>ffice of tije faints.
November 30.
JFeast of &t Slirtrrefo, Apostle.
Double of the Second Class.
All from the Common Office for
Apostles, {p. 462,) except what is
otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter and Prayer
from Lauds.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 1 One of the two which fol-
lowed the Lord was Andrew, * Simon
Peter's brother. Alleluia.
A Commemoration is made of St
Willibrord, then of the Week-day if
in Advent.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. 2 The Lord saw
Peter and Andrew, * and He called
them.
Second Antiphon. Follow Me, and
I will make you fishers of men, * saith
the Lord.
Third A?itiphon. And they left
their nets, * and followed the Lord
their Saviour.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Romans (x. 4.)
r^HRIST is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that
believeth. For Moses describeth the
righteousness which is of the law,
that the man which . doeth these
things shall live thereby.3 But the
righteousness which is of faith
speaketh on this wise : 4 Say not in
thine heart, Who shall ascend into
heaven ? that is, to bring Christ
down from above : or, Who shall
descend into the deep ? that is, to
bring up Christ again from the dead.
But what saith the Scripture ? The
word is nigh thee, even in thy
mouth, and in thy heart : that is,
the word of faith which we preach :
that if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth the Lord JESUS, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath
raised Him from the dead, thou shalt
be saved.
First Responsory.
5 The Lord, walking by the Sea of
Galilee, saw Peter and Andrew cast-
ing their nets into the sea, and He
called them saying : Follow Me, and
I will make you fishers of men.
1 John i. 40.
4 Deut. xxx. 11, 12, 14.
2 Matth. iv. 18-20.
s Matth. iv. 18, 19.
3 Lev. xviii. 5.
6io
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Verse. For they were fishers, and
He saith unto them—
Answer. Follow Me, and I will
make you fishers of men.
Second Lesson.
"P^OR with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness, and with the
mouth confession is made unto salva-
tion. For the Scripture saith : l Who-
soever believeth on Him shall not be
ashamed. For there is no difference
between the Jew and the Greek ; for
the same Lord over all is rich unto
all that call upon Him. For whoso-
ever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved. 2 How then
shall they call on Him in Whom they
have not believed ? And how shall
they believe in Him of Whom they
have not heard ? And how shall
they hear without a preacher ? And
how shall they preach, except they
be sent ? As it is written : 3 How
beautiful are the feet of them that
preach the Gospel of peace, and bring
glad tidings of good things !
Second Responsory.
As soon as the blessed Andrew
heard the voice of the Lord calling
him, he left his nets, by the exercise
and use whereof he lived, and fol-
lowed Him Who giveth life ever-
lasting.
Verse. Thisis that disciple who for
the love of Christ hung upon the cross,
and suffered for the law of his God.
Answer. And followed Him Who
giveth life everlasting.
Third Lesson.
TDUT they have not all obeyed the
Gospel. For Isaias saith : 4Lord,
who hath believed our report ? So
then faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of Christ. But
I say : Have they not heard ? Yes
verily, their sound went into all the
earth, and their words unto the ends
of the world.5 But I say : Did not
Israel know ? First Moses saith : 6 I
will provoke you to jealousy by them
that are no people : and by a foolish
nation I will anger you. But Isaias
is very bold, and saith : " I was found
of them that sought Me not : I was
made manifest unto them that asked
not after Me. But to Israel He
saith : All day long I have stretched
forth My hands unto a disobedient
and gainsaying people.
Third Responsory.
Andrew the good teacher, the
friend of God, was led to the cross,
and when he saw it afar off, he
said: God bless thee, O cross, —
be welcome to the follower of Him
That hung on thee, even my Master
Christ.
Verse. God bless thee, O cross,
— thou art hallowed by the Body of
Christ ; His Members make thee
goodly as with pearls.
Answer. Be welcome to the fol-
lower of Him That hung on thee,
even my Master Christ.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Be welcome to the fol-
lower of Him That hung on thee,
even my Master Christ.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Whom the Lord
called to be His Apostle, * when he
was by the sea, him also He counted
worthy to be His martyr. Alleluia.
Second Antiphon. Andrew was to
1 Isa. xlix. 23.
8 Ps. xviii. 5.
2 Joel ii. 32.
6 Deut. xxxii. 21.
3 Isa. Hi. 7.
7 Isa. lxv. 1, 2.
4 Isa. liii. 1.
FEAST-DAYS IN NOVEMBER.
6ll
the Lord as a sweet savour, * which
He loved exceedingly.
Third Antiphon. The blessed
Andrew hung alive upon the cross for
two days * for Christ's Name's sake,
and, all the while, he taught the
people.
Fourth Lesson.
XHE Apostle Andrew was born at
Bethsaida, a town of Galilee,
and was the brother of Peter. He
was a disciple of John the Baptist,
and heard him say of Christ, " Behold
the Lamb of God," (John i. 35-37, 40,)
whereupon he immediately followed
Jesus, bringing his brother also with
him. Some while after, they were
both fishing in the Sea of Galilee, and
the Lord Christ, going by, called them
both, before any other of the Apostles,
in the words, " Follow Me, and I will
make you fishers of men." They
made no delay, but left their nets, and
followed Him. (Matth. iv. 18-20.)
After the death and Resurrection of
Christ, Andrew was allotted Scythia
as the province of his preaching, and,
after labouring there, he went through
Epirus and Thrace, where he turned
vast multitudes to Christ by his teach-
ing and miracles. Finally he went to
Patras in Achaia, and there also he
brought many to the knowledge of
Gospel truth. /Egeas the Pro-consul
resisted the preaching of the Gospel,
and the Apostle freely rebuked him,
bidding him know that while he held
"himself a judge of his fellow men, he
was himself hindered by devils from
knowing Christ our God, the Judge
-of all.
Fourth Responsory.
The man of God was led to be
•crucified, and the people cried with a
loud voice, saying : The innocent
blood of this just person is condemned
without a cause.
Verse. And when they led him out
to crucify him, all the people ran to-
gether and cried, saying :
Answer. The innocent blood of
this just person is condemned without
a cause.
Fifth Lesson.
'"F'HEN /Egeas, being angry, an-
swered him, " Boast no more of
this thy Christ. He spake words even
such as thine, but they availed Him
not, and He was crucified by the Jews."
Whereto Andrew boldly answered that
Christ had given Himself up to die for
man's salvation ; but the Pro-consul
blasphemously interrupted him, and
bade him look to himself, and sacri-
fice to the gods. Then said Andrew,
" We have an altar, whereon day by
day I offer up to God, the Almighty,
the One, and the True, not the flesh
of bulls nor the blood of goats, but a
Lamb without spot : and when all they
that believe have eaten of the Flesh
Thereof, the Lamb That was slain
abideth whole and liveth." Then
^Egeas being filled with wrath, bound
the Apostle in prison. Now, the
people would have delivered him, but
he himself calmed the multitude, and
earnestly besought them not to take
away from him the crown of martyr-
dom, for which he longed and which
was now drawing near.
Fifth Responsory.
O precious cross, which the Mem-
bers of my Lord have made so fair
and goodly, welcome me from among
men, and join me again to my Master,
that, as by thee He redeemed me, so
by thee also He may take me unto
Himself.
Verse. The blessed Andrew
stretched forth his hands to heaven
and prayed, saying : Precious cross,
be my salvation, —
612
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Answer. That, as by thee He re-
deemed me, so by thee also He may
take me unto Himself.
Sixth Lesson.
COME short while after, he was
brought before the judgment-seat,
where he extolled the mystery of the
cross, and rebuked vEgeas for his un-
godliness. Then yEgeas could bear
with him no longer, but commanded
him to be crucified, in imitation of
Christ. Andrew, then, was led to the
place of martyrdom, and, as soon as
he came in sight of the cross, he cried
out, " O precious cross, which the
Members of my Lord have made so
goodly, how long have I desired thee !
how warmly have I loved thee ! how
constantly have I sought thee ! And,
now that thou art come to me, how is
my soul drawn to thee ! Welcome
me from among men, and join me
again to my Master, that as by thee
He redeemed me, so by thee also He
may take me unto Himself." So he
was fastened to the cross, whereon he
hung living for two days, during which
time he ceased not to preach the faith
of Christ, and, finally, passed into the
Presence of Him the likeness of Whose
death he had loved so well. All the
above particulars of his last sufferings
were written by the Priests and
Deacons of Achaia, who bear witness
to them of their own knowledge.
Under the Emperor Constantine the
bones of the Apostle were first taken
to Constantinople, whence they were
afterwards 1 brought to Amalfi. In the
Pontificate of Pope Pius II. his head
was carried to Rome, where it is kept
in the Basilica of St Peter.
Sixth Responsory.
2 All day long I have stretched forth
my hands upon the cross unto a diso-
1 By the Crusaders, a.d. 1210.
bedient and gainsaying people, which
walketh in a way that is not good, but
after their own sins.
Verse. 3 The Lord God to Whom
vengeance belongeth, the God to
Whom vengeance belongeth, hath
shown Himself: lift up Thyself, Thou
Judge of the earth, render a reward to
the proud.
Answer. Which walketh in a way
that is not good, but after their own
sins.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Which walketh in a way
that is not good, but after their own
sins.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Suffer not Thy ser-
vant, O Lord, to be parted from Thee:
* the hour is come to lay my body in
the earth, and for Thee to bid me
come unto Thyself.
Second Antiphon. But Andrew be-
sought the people * not to hinder his
passion.
Third Antiphon. Welcome me from
among men and join me again to my
Master ; * that, as by thee He re-
deemed me, so by thee also He may
take me unto Himself.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (iv.
A T that time : Jesus, walking by
the Sea of Galilee, saw two
brethren, Simon called Peter, and
Andrew his brother, casting a net into
the sea. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (5//* on the Gospels.)
Isa. lxv. 2.
3 Ps. xciii. 1.
FEAST-DAYS IN NOVEMBER.
613
Dearly beloved brethren, ye hear
how that Peter and Andrew, having
once heard the Lord call them, left
their nets, and followed their Saviour.
As yet they had seen none of His
miracles, as yet they had received no
promise of their exceeding and eternal
reward ; nevertheless, at one word of
the Lord they forgot all those things
which they seemed to have. We have
seen many of His miracles ; we have
received many of His gracious chasten-
ings ; many times hath He warned us
of the wrath to come — and yet Christ
calleth and we do not follow.
Seventh Responsory.
The holy Andrew lifted up his eyes
to heaven, and prayed, and cried with
a loud voice, and said : Thou art my
God, Whom I have seen ; suffer not
the unjust judge to take me down
from the cross ; for now I know what
the power of Thy holy Cross is.
Verse. Thou art Christ my Master,
Whom I have loved, Whom I have
known, Whom I have confessed : in
this thing hear me.
Answer. For now I know what
the power of Thy holy Cross is.
Eighth Lesson.
T_T E who calleth us to be converted
is now enthroned in heaven; He
hath broken a the necks of the Gentiles
to the yoke of the faith, He hath laid
low the glory of the world, and the
wrecks thereof, falling ever more and
more to decay, do preach unto us that
the coming of that day when He is to
be revealed as our Judge is drawing
nigh : and yet, so stubborn is our mind,
that we will not yet freely abandon
that which, will we, nill we, we lose
day by day. Dearly beloved brethren,
what shall we answer at His Judg-
ment-seat, we whom no lessons can
persuade, and no stripes can break of
the love of this present world ?
Eighth Responsory.
When Andrew saw the cross he
cried, saying : How wonderful art
thou, O cross ! O cross, how love-
able art thou ! O cross, thy bright
beams enlighten the darkness of the
whole world ! Welcome a follower
of JESUS, that, as by thee He died
to redeem me, so by thee also He
may take me unto Himself.
Verse. O precious cross, which
the Members of my Lord have made
so fair and goodly, —
Answer. Welcome a follower of
Jesus, that, as by thee He died to
redeem me, so by thee also He may
take me unto Himself.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Welcome a follower of
Jesus, that, as by thee He died to
redeem me, so by thee also He may
take me unto Himself.
Ninth Lesson.
COME one perchance will ask in
his heart, what Peter or Andrew-
had to lose by obeying the call of
the Lord ? Dearly beloved brethren,
we must consider here rather the in-
tention than the loss incurred by this
obedience. He that keepeth nothing
for himself, giveth up much ; he that
sacrificeth his all, sacrificeth what is
to him a great deal. Beyond doubt,
we cling to whatever we have, and
what we have least, that we desire
most. Peter and Andrew therefore
gave up much when they gave up
even the desire of possessing any-
thing.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
1 Or "bent" — subdidit.
614
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. God bless thee,
precious cross, * be welcome to the
follower of Him That hung on thee,
even my Master Christ.
Second Antiphon. The blessed
Andrew prayed and said : * O Lord,
King of everlasting glory, receive me
hanging on this gallows.
Third Antiphon. Andrew was the
servant of Christ, * a worthy Apostle
of God, the brother of Peter, and
likened to Christ and to Peter in his
death.
Fourth Antiphon. Christ's dear
handmaid Maximilla took the body
* of the Apostle and buried it with
spices in an honourable place.
Fifth Antiphon. O Lord, Thou
hast caused them that persecuted the
just to be swallowed up in hell, * but
to the just Thou hast Thyself shown
the way on the tree of the cross.
Chapter. (Rom. x. 10.)
"DRETHREN, with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness,
and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation. For the Scrip-
ture saith : Whosoever believeth on
Him, shall not be ashamed.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Spare unto us this just man, release
unto us this holy one : * slay not the
friend of God, who is just, courteous,
and godly.
Prayer throughout the Office.
f~\ LORD, we humbly beseech Thy
^-"^ Majesty, that even as Thou
didst give Thy blessed Apostle An-
drew to Thy Church to be a teacher
and a ■ ruler on earth, so, now that
he is with Thee, he may continually
make intercession for us. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son,
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee,
in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.
If in Advent a Commemoration is
made of the Week-day.
PRIME.
Antiphon. God bless thee, &c,
(First Antiphon at Lauds.)
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy confessor Felix de Valois,
of whom mention is made upon the
4th day of November.
Upon the same first day of Decem-
ber, were born into the better life —
The Prophet Nahum, who sleepeth
in Begabar.
At Rome, [about the year 283,] the
holy martyrs the Priest Diodorus, and
the Deacon Marianus with many others,
who gained the glory of martyrdom by
command of the Emperor Numerian.
There likewise the holy martyrs
Lucius, Rogatus, Cassian, and Candida.
On the same day, the holy martyr
Ansanus, who confessed Christ at
Rome, under the Emperor Diocletian,
and was cast into prison ; then was
brought to Sienna in Tuscany, where
he was beheaded, and so finished the
course of his testimony, [about the year
304-]
At Ameria, in Umbria, under the
same Diocletian, the holy martyr
Olympias ; he was a man of consular
rank, who had been converted by
blessed Firmina, and died upon the
rack, [about the year 284.]
At Arbela, in Persia, the holy martyr
Ananias.
At Narni, the holy martyr Proculus,
Bishop [of that see,] who, after many
good works, was beheaded by order
of Totila, King of the Goths.
At the city of Casala, the holy
martyr Evasius, Bishop [of that see.]
At Milan, holy Castritian, Bishop
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
6l5
[of that see,] who gained great praise
for his worthy acts and his godly and
pious conduct of affairs during the most
troublous times of the Church.
At Brescia, holy Ursicinus, Bishop
[of that see.]
At Noyon, [in, probably, the year
659,] holy Eloy, Bishop [of that see,]
whose marvellous life is commended
by the number of signs wrought through
him.
At Verdun, [in the year 591,] holy
Ageric, Bishop [of that see.]
On the same day, holy Natalia,
the wife of the blessed martyr Had-
rian ; she ministered for a long time
to the holy martyrs who were kept
in prison at Nicomedia under the
Emperor Diocletian, and after their
battle was over went to Constanti-
nople, where she fell asleep in peace.
Chapter at the end. (Rom. x. 16.)
T7OR Isaias saith : Lord, who hath
believed our report ? So then
faith cometh by hearing, and hearing
by the word of Christ. But I say :
Have they not heard ? Yes verily,
their sound went into all the earth,
and their words unto the ends of the
world.
TERCE.
Antiphon. The blessed Andrew,
&c, {Second Antiphon at Lauds. ,)
Chapter from Lauds.
SEXT.
Ajttiphon. Andrew was the ser-
vant, &c, (Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Rom. x. 12.)
T7OR there is no difference between
the Jew and the Greek : for
the same Lord over all is rich unto
all that call upon Him. For who-
soever shall call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved.
NONE.
Antiphon. O Lord, Thou hast
caused, &c, (Fifth Antiphon at
Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
SECOND VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Prayer
fro7ti Lauds.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. When the blessed Andrew
came to the place where the cross
was made ready, he cried and said :
O precious cross, * of a long time
have I desired thee, and, now that
thou art made ready for me, my
soul is drawn to thee, and I come
to thee in peace and gladness ; thou
also oughtest to welcome me with
joy, for I am the disciple of Him
Who hung on thee.
A Cotnmemoration is made of the
following.
Prayer from his Office.
Lf in Advent, a Commemoration is
made of the Week-day.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
December i.
£>t jjtitx tie Falots, Confessor.
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Confessor not a Bishop, (p. 531,) ex-
cept the following.
Prayer throughout the Office.
(~\ GOD, Who by a sign from heaven
^ didst call Thy blessed Confessor
Felix out of the desert to become a
6i6
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
redeemer of bondsmen, grant, we be-
seech Thee, unto his prayers, that
Thy grace may deliver us from the
bondage of sin, and bring us home
unto our very fatherland, which is in
heaven. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
TUT EW de Valois, who afterwards
took the name of Felix, was born
[in the year 1 127] of the same family
of the de Valois which in after times
became Kingly. From his earliest
childhood he gave tokens, especially by
his pity toward the poor, of the holiness
of his coming life. When he was still
a little lad he distributed money to the
poor with his own hand, with the
seriousness of an old man. When he
was a little bigger he used to send
them dishes from the table, and took
especial delight in treating poor
children with the most toothsome of the
sweetmeats. As a boy he took clothes
off his own back more than once, to
cover the naked. He begged and
obtained from his uncle Theobald,
Earl of Champagne and Blois, the life
of a felon condemned to death, fore-
telling to him that this blackguard
cut-throat would yet become a man of
most holy life — which did indeed come
to pass as he had said.
Fifth Lesson.
A FTER a praiseworthy boyhood, he
"^^ began to think of withdrawing
from the world in order to be alone
with heavenly thoughts. But he first
wished to take orders, to the end that
he might clear himself of all expecta-
tion of succeeding to the crown, to
which, in consequence of the Salic
Law, he was somewhat near. He be-
came a Priest, and said his first Mass
with deep devotion. Then, in a little
while, he withdrew himself into the
wilderness, where he lived in extreme
abstinence, fed by heavenly grace.
Thither, by the inspiration of God,
came the holy Doctor John de la Mata
of Paris, and found him, and they led
an holy life together for several years,
until they were both warned of an
Angel to go to Rome and seek a special
Rule of life from the Pope. Pope
Innocent III. while he was solemnly
celebrating the Liturgy [on the 28th
day of January, 1 1 98,] received in a
vision the revelation of the Order and
Institute for the redemption of bonds-
men, and he forthwith clad Felix and
John in white garments marked with a
cross of red and blue, made after the
likeness of the raiment wherein the
Angel had appeared. This Pope also
willed that the new Order should bear,
as well as the habit of three colours,
the name of the Most Holy Trinity.
Sixth Lesson.
Air HEN they had received the con-
firmation of their rule from
Pope Innocent, John and Felix en-
larged the first house of their Order,
which they had built a little while be-
fore at Cerfroi, in the dicecese of
Meaux, in France. There Felix
wonderfully devoted himself to the
promotion of Regular Observance and
of the Institute for the redemption
of bondsmen, and thence he busily
spread the same by sending forth
his disciples into other provinces.
Here it was that he received an ex-
traordinary favour from the blessed
Maiden-Mother. On the night of the
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
617
Nativity of the Mother of God, the
brethren lay all asleep, and by the
Providence of God woke not to say
Mattins. But Felix was watching, as
his custom was, and came betimes
into the Choir. There he found the
Blessed Virgin in the midst of the
Choir, clad in raiment marked with
the Cross of his Order, the Cross of
red and blue ; and with her a company
of the heavenly host in like garments.
And Felix was mingled among them.
And the Mother of God began to sing,
and they all sang with her and praised
God ; and Felix sang with them ; and
so they finished the Office. So now
that he seemed to have been already
called away from glorifying God on
earth, to glorify Him in heaven, an
Angel told Felix that the hour of his
death was at hand. When therefore
he had exhorted his children to be
tender to the poor and to slaves, he
gave up his soul to God [upon the 4th
day of November] in the year of
Christ 1 2 1 2, in the time of the same
Pope Innocent III., being four-score-
and-five years old, and full of good
works.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke xii. 32, with the
Homily of the Venerable Bede, {p. 544.)
If in Advent a Commemoration is
made of the Week-day at Lauds.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 2nd day of December,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, [about the year 363,]
the holy Virgin and martyr Bibiana,
who under the profane Emperor
Julian was for Christ's sake flogged
to death with scourges loaded with
lead.
There likewise, the holy martyrs the
Priest Eusebius, the Deacon Marcellus,
Hippolytus, Maximus, Adria, Paulina,
Neo, Mary, Martana, and Aurelia,
who suffered martyrdom under the
judge Secundian, in the persecution
under the Emperor Valerian, [in the
year 256.]
Likewise at Rome, [at the end of
the 2nd century,] the holy martyr Pon-
tian and four others.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Severus,
Securus, Januarius, and Victorinus,
who were there crowned with martyr-
dom, [about the year of Christ 300.]
At Aquileia, [about the year 409,]
the holy Confessor Chromatius, Bishop
[of that see.]
At Imola, [in the year 450,] holy
Peter, Bishop of Ravenna, styled
Chrysologus, [or him of the golden
words,] famous for his teaching and
holiness, whose feast we keep upon the
4th day of this present month.
At Verona, [in the sixth century,]
the holy confessor Lupus, Bishop [of
that see.]
At Edessa, [about the year 468,]
holy Nonnus, Bishop [first of that see,
and afterwards of Heliopolis in Syria,]
through whose prayers Pelagia the
penitent was converted to Christ.
At Troas, in Phrygia, holy Bishop
Silvanus, famous for miracles.
At Brescia, holy Bishop Evasius.
At Second Vespers a Commemoration
is made of the following.
Prayer from her Office.
If in Advent, of the Week-day.
December 2.
Ejje fMg Virgin anti JEartgr
Btfnana,
Semi-double.
All from the Common Office for One
Virgin and Martyr, {p. 567,) except
what is otherwise given here.
6i8
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Prayer throughout the Office.
f~\ GOD, the Giver of all good gifts,
who unto the lily of pure maiden-
hood in the hand of Thy servant Bibi-
ana, didst join the palm of a glorious
martyrdom, grant us, we beseech Thee,
at her pleading, that our hearts and
minds being joined to Thee by Thy
love, we may escape all dangers which
do presently beset us, and finally
attain unto Thine everlasting joy.
Through our Lord JESUS Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Amen.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture, according
to the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
"DIB I AN A was a Roman maiden,
distinguished on account of the
nobility of her family, but now far
more distinguished for her confession
of Christ. In the reign of the foul
tyrant, Julian the Apostate, her father
Flavian, although he was an ex-Prae-
fect, was branded as a slave and ban-
ished to Acquapendente, not far from
Rome, where he soon died a martyr
for his faith. His wife, Dafrosa, and
his two daughters, Bibiana and De-
metria, were first imprisoned in their
own house, with the idea of starving
them to death ; but the mother was
afterwards taken outside the city and
beheaded. Bibiana and her sister
Demetria, after the death of their
holy parents, were stripped of all
they had in the world. Apronianus,
Praetor of the city, who hankered
after their property, continued to per-
secute them, but although they were
destitute of all human support, God,
Who giveth bread to the hungry,
fed them, and kept them in health,
life, and strength, to the wonder of
their enemies.
Fifth Lesson.
A PRONIANUS then attacked them,
to make them worship the gods
of the Gentiles, and promised them
the restoration of their property, the
favour of the Emperor, and a great
marriage for each of them, if they
would give way, and, on the other
hand, imprisonment, stripes, and
death. But neither promises nor
threats availed, for they remained
firm in the faith, being resolved
rather to die than to pollute them-
selves by doing according to the
deeds of the heathen ; and, as for
the iniquity of the Praetor, they
loathed it continually. At length
the strength of Demetria gave way,
and she fell down suddenly, and died
in the Lord, before the eyes of her
sister Bibiana. Then Bibiana was
put into the hands of an artful woman
named Rufina, to seduce her if pos-
sible ; but she had known the law of
Christ from her childhood, and kept the
lily of her purity undefiled, triumph-
ing over the efforts of that vile per-
son, and disappointing the lust of the
Praetor.
Sixth Lesson.
T^HEN, when Rufina saw that her
false words availed not, she took
to blows, and scourged Bibiana daily,
but the saint was not staggered in her
holy resolution. At last the Praetor*
mad with baffled lust, when he found
his labour was thrown away, ordered
his lictors to strip her naked, hang
her up by the hands to a pillar, and
flog her to death with whips weighted
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
619
with lead.1 When all was over, her
sacred body was thrown out for the
dogs to eat. It lay two days in the
Forum Tauri, but the animals would
not touch it ; and, at last, a Priest,
named John, took it, and buried it by
night beside the graves of her mother
and sister, near the Licinian Palace.
This is the place where there is still a
church, dedicated in the name of St
Bibiana. When this church was being
restored by Urban VIII., the bodies of
these three holy women, Bibiana, De-
metria, and Dafrosa, were found, and
were re-buried under the High Altar.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xiii. 44, with
the Homily of St Gregory (J>. 583.)
At Lauds, in Advent, a Commemor-
ation is made of the Week-day.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 3rd day of December is
commemorated the birth into the
better life —
In the island of San-Chan, in the
Canton River, in China, holy Francis
Xavier of the Society of Jesus, Apostle
of the Indies, illustrious for the con-
version of the Gentiles, for gifts and
miracles, who died, [in the year 1552,]
full of good works and labours, upon
this present 2nd day of December, but
his feast is kept upon the morrow by
order ot Alexander VII.
In Judea, the holy prophet Zephan-
iah, [in the seventh century B.C. He
is the ninth of the twelve minor
prophets.]
Upon the same 3rd day of Decem-
ber, were born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy martyrs the Tri-
bune Claudius, his wife Hilaria, their
sons Jason and Marus, and seventy
soldiers. The Emperor Numerian
commanded a great stone to be tied
to Claudius and that he should be
cast into the river ; the soldiers and
the sons of Claudius he also caused
to be put to death. The blessed
Hilaria buried the bodies of her sons,
and was praying at their grave soon
after, when she was seized by the
heathen, and departed hence to be
ever with the Lord, [about the year
257-]
At Tangier, in Morocco, [in the
year 398,] the holy martyr Cassian.
He had of a long time discharged
the office of a public clerk when the
thought came to him from heaven
that it was an accursed thing to
serve for the slaughter of Christians ;
he resigned his office therefore, and
under the public profession of a Christ-
ian he earned the victory of martyrdom,
[in the year 398.]
Likewise in Africa, the holy martyrs
Claudius, Crispin, Magina, John, and
Stephen.
In Hungary, the holy martyr
Agricola.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs
Ambicus, Victor, and Julius.
At Milan, [about the year 318,] the
holy Confessor Mirocles, Bishop [of
that see,] of whom mention is made
by holy Ambrose.
In England, holy Brian, first Bishop
of Dorchester, [he was a Priest of
Rome about the year 650, whose feast
we keep upon the 5th day of this
present month of December.]
At Chur, in Switzerland, holy Lucius,
King of the Britons [of Morganweg,]
who was the first British prince to re-
ceive the faith of Christ, in the time of
Pope Eleutherus, [about the year 182.]
At Sienna, in Tuscany, the holy
Hermit Galgan, [of the order of St
Benedict. He lived on a mountain
called Siepi, and died in the year
1181.]
1 In the year 363.
620
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
December 3.
St jjrancis Xaoter, Confessor ,
Double.
Allfro7n the Common Office of a Con-
fessor not a Bishop, {p. 531,) except
what is otherwise given here.
Prayer throughout the Office.
f~\ GOD, Who wast pleased to make
^^^ the preaching and miracles of
the blessed Francis an instrument to
gather in the people of the Indies into
Thy Church, mercifully grant that we
who venerate the glorious memory of
his worthy deeds, may also have the
grace to follow the pattern of his
virtues. Through our Lord JESUS
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reign-
eth with Thee, in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, one God, world without
end. Amen.
At First Vespers Commemorations
are made of St Bibiana, and of the
Week-day.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture, according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
T^RANCIS was of noble family, and
was born in the castle of Xavier,
in the dicecese of Pampeluna, [in the
year of our Lord 1506.] He was a
companion of St Ignatius at Paris, and
one of his earliest disciples. Under
his teaching, he learnt to become so
wrapt in the contemplation of divine
things, that he was sometimes lifted in
ecstasy off the ground, which happened
to him several times when he was
saying Mass in public before large
congregations. He earned these re-
freshments of the soul by the sharpest
punishment of the body. He gave up
the use not only of meat and wine, but
also of wheaten bread ; he lived on
the vilest food, and ate only once
every two or three days. He used an
iron scourge till his blood ran freely ;
he shortened the hours of his rest, and
lay only on the ground.
Fifth Lesson.
THE hardness and holiness of his
life had made him meet to be
called to be an Apostle, and when
John III., King of Portugal, asked
Pope Paul III. to send to the Indies
some members of the then new Society
of Jesus, the Pontiff, by the advice of
St Ignatius, sent Francis to enter on
that vast field of labour with the
powers of Apostolic Nuncio. He
arrived [in India on the 6th day of
May, in the year 1542.] When he
began his work, it seemed as though
God Himself taught him the many
and difficult languages of the natives.
It even happened that when he
preached in one language to a mixed
congregation of different nationalities,
each one heard him in his own tongue
wherein he was born.1 He travelled
over countless districts, always walk-
ing, and often bare-footed. He intro-
duced the faith into Japan, and six
other countries. In India he turned
many hundred thousands to Christ,
and regenerated many chiefs and
kings in the holy font. And not-
withstanding that he was doing all
these great things for God's ser-
1 Cf. Acts ii. 8.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
621
vice, so deep was his lowliness that
when he wrote to St Ignatius, the
General of the Society, he did so
on his knees.
Sixth Lesson.
^*OD was pleased to support his
zeal for spreading the Gospel
with many and great miracles. He
gave sight to a blind man. On one
occasion the supply of fresh water
failed when he was at sea, and five
hundred sailors were in danger of
perishing by thirst, but the servant of
God, by the sign of the Cross, turned
salt water into fresh, and they used it
for a considerable time. Some of this
water was also carried into different
countries, and a great number of sick
persons were instantaneously cured by
it. He called several dead men to
life, among whom was one who had
been buried the day before, and who
was disinterred by command of the
saint ; and likewise two others who
were being carried to the grave, and
whom he took by the hand and re-
stored living to their parents. He
had the spirit of prophecy, and fore-
told many things, remote both in place
and time. Utterly worn out with his
labours, he died full of good works in
the island of San-Chan in the Canton
River, [upon the 2nd day of December,
in the year of our Lord 1552.] His
body was buried in quick lime, and,
being again taken up, was again buried
in the same, but at the end of many
months it was found entirely incorrupt,
and sweet, and, when cut, blood flowed
freely from it. From China it was
carried to Malacca, and, as soon as it
reached that place, a plague, which
was raging there, ceased. At length,
when he had become famous through-
out the whole world for new and
wonderful miracles, Gregory XV. added
his name to the list of the Saints.
VOL. 1.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Mark (xvi.
*5-)
A T that time : Jesus said unto His
disciples : Go ye into all the
world, and preach the Gospel to every
creature. And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (29th on the Gospels.)
By the words " every creature " we
may understand every tribe of the Gen-
tiles. Of aforetime it had been said,
" Go not into the way of the Gentiles,"
(Matth. x. 5,) but now, "Preach the
Gospel to every creature," that, since
the Jews had proudly rejected the
preaching of the Apostles, that might
become our gain which was the seal
of their condemnation. But when the
Eternal Truth sendeth forth His dis-
ciples to preach, what doth He but
scatter seed over the field of the world ?
He scattereth abroad a few grains for
seed, that He may afterward reap an
abundant harvest in our faith.
Eighth Lesson.
HP HE great harvest of faithful souls
throughout the whole world
would never have sprung up, if the
hand of the Lord had not first scattered
those chosen grains of preachers over
the reasonable soil of men's minds.
Then is written, " He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved : but he
that believeth not, shall be damned."
Now, perchance, thou sayest in thine
heart : I believe, and therefore I shall
be saved. True, if to thy faith thou
dost add works. He only hath a living
faith whose life doth not give the lie
to his profession. It is of this that
x
622
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Paul speaketh, where he saith of
certain vain believers, " They profess
that they know God ; but in works
they deny Him." (Tit. i. 16.)
Ninth Lesson.
" AND these signs shall follow them
■'*■ that believe : In My name they
shall cast out devils, they shall speak
with new tongues, they shall take up
serpents ; and if they drink any deadly
thing, it shall not hurt them ; they
shall lay hands on the sick, and they
shall recover."
My brethren, these signs do not
follow us. Do we, then, not believe ?
Nay. The truth is, these things were
needful when the Church was youug.
That she might grow by the increase
of the faithful, she needed to be
nourished with miracles. So we,
when we plant a young tree, con-
tinually water and tend it, till we
see that it hath taken firm root in
the earth : but when once it hath
taken firm root, it can grow of itself.
Hence Paul saith of tongues :
"Tongues are for a sign, not to
them that believe, but to them that
believe not." (i Cor. xiv. 22.)
At Lauds- is made a Commemoration
of the Week-day.
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast of
the holy Confessor Peter Chrysologus,
Archbishop of Ravenna, [in the year
450,] of whom mention is made upon
the 2nd day of this present month of
December.
Upon the same 4th day of December,
were born into the better life —
At Nicomedia, in the persecution
under the Emperor Maximin, the holy
Virgin and martyr Barbara. After a
cruel and wasting imprisonment she
endured burning with torches, the cut-
ting off of her breasts, and other
torments, and finished her testimony
by the sword, [in the year 235.]
At Constantinople, [in the year
780,] the holy martyr Theophanes
and his Companions.
In Pontus, [about the year 330,] the
blessed Confessor Meletius, Bishop [of
Sebastopol.] He was a man of ex-
traordinary learning, but this gift was
outshone in him by the mightiness of
his soul and the straightforwardness
of his life.
At Bologna, holy Felix, Bishop [of
that see,] who had erstwhile been a
Deacon of the church of Milan under
holy Ambrose.
In England, holy Osmund, Bishop,
[in the year 1078, of Salisbury,] whose
feast we keep upon the 17th day of
July, which is the day of the trans-
lation of his sacred body. [He was
Count of Seez in Normandy, and,
following William the Conqueror, was
made Count of Dorset and Lord High
Chancellor of England. He died in
1099, and was canonised by Pope
Calixtus III., in the year M58-]
At Cologne, [in the year 1075,]
holy Annon, Bishop [of that see.]
In Mesopotamia, [about the year
449,] holy Maruthas, Bishop of Tagrit,
who raised up again the churches
of God in Persia which had been
cast down in the persecution under
King Isdegerd ; he was famous for
many miracles, and achieved honour
even among his enemies. [Several
of his works are extant. Tagrit is
now Miafarakin.]
At Parma, [in the year 11 33,] holy
Bernard, Cardinal-bishop of that city,
of the Congregation of the Order of
St Benedict, called that of Vallom-
brosa.
Vespers are of the following, from
the Chapter, inclusive.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
623
December 4.
St $eter ^ijrgsologus, ^rcij=
oisijop [of Eabenna,] Con=
feasor, attti ©octor of tije
Cfjurrfj,
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, {p. 515,) except
what is otherwise given here.
Prayer throughout the Office.
f~\ GOD, Who by a sign from heaven
^^ didst mark out the blessed Peter
Chrysologus, the excellent Teacher,
to be a ruler and instructor of souls,
grant, we pray Thee, that even as
Thou didst give him to be a teacher
of Thy lively truth on earth, so, now
that he is with Thee, we may worthily
have him continually to make inter-
cession for us. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
FIRST VESPERS.
The first verse of the Hymn is
altered.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. O right excellent Teacher, &c.
Commemorations of St Francis Xa-
vier, of the Week-day, and of the holy
Virgin and Martyr Barbara. Her
Commemoration is taken from the
Co?n?non Office for one Virgin and
Martyr, (p. 567,) with the Prayer,
" O God, Who amidst the wondrous
works of Thy Divine power, &c.
MATTINS.
The first verse of the hymn is
altered.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessotis from 1 Tim. iii. I, as in the
Common Office, {p. 516.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
OETER, called in Greek " Chryso-
logos," or, " of the golden words,"
on account of his wonderful eloquence,
was born of respectable parents at
Imola, near Ravenna. He displayed
a very early leaning to godliness, and
became a disciple of Cornelius of
Rome, Bishop of Imola. This Pre-
late, having experience of his learning
and holiness of life, soon ordained him
Deacon. On the death of the Arch-
bishop of Ravenna, the people of that
place elected a successor, and sent
him, according to custom, to Rome, to
be confirmed in his appointment by
Pope Sixtus III. The Archbishop
elect accordingly set forth, along with
the ambassadors of the people of
Ravenna and Cornelius, Bishop of
Imola, attended by Peter the Deacon.
While they were yet on the way, the
holy Apostle Peter and Apollinaris the
Martyr appeared to the Supreme
Pontiff in a dream, leading a young
man between them, whom they com-
manded him to make Archbishop.
As soon as the embassy arrived at
Rome the Pope knew in Peter the
young man of his dream, chosen of
God to the Archbishopric. Where-
fore he set aside him that the people
of Ravenna had presented, and pre-
ferred Peter to that Metropolitan
Church, in the year of our Lord,
433. The ambassadors of the people
of Ravenna took it ill, till they heard
the vision : then they gave them-
selves up to the will of God, and
received the new Archbishop with
great reverence.
624
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Fifth Lesson.
pETER being against his will con-
secrated Archbishop, arrived at
Ravenna, where he was received with
great joy by the Emperor Valentinian,
the Empress-Mother Galla Placidia,
and all the people. And this one
thing he asked of them, that, as he,
for the saving of their souls, had not
refused to bear the heavy weight of
the Archbishopric, so they would
strive to follow his warnings, and live
in submission to the law of God.
He took the bodies of the two Saints,
namely, Barbatian the Priest, and
German, Bishop of Auxerre, and caused
them to be embalmed with rich oint-
ments and honourably buried, and he
kept the cowl and haircloth shirt of
German for a legacy for himself. At
Classis, three miles from Ravenna, he
built a Baptistery of extraordinary size,
and several splendid churches, in
honour of the blessed Apostle Andrew
and other Saints. He preached a
most severe sermon against the acting
and dancing of guisards 1 about New
Year time, in which discourse he said
among other things, " He that jesteth
with the devil will never rejoice with
Christ." By command of Pope Leo I.
he addressed an Epistle to the Council of
Chalcedon against the heretic Eutyches.
He also confuted Eutyches himself in
another letter, which is likewise pub-
lished in the new editions of the Acts
of the Council, and is matter of Church
History.
Sixth Lesson.
^yHEN he preached in public his
vehemence was such that he
sometimes became speechless from
excitement. This happened to him
once when he was preaching on the
subject of the woman who had an
issue of blood. (Matth. ix. 20-22.)
The congregation on this occasion
1 Homines
were so wrought up, that they filled
the whole place with tears, cries, and
prayers, and Peter afterwards thanked
God, Who had turned his failure to
the profit of their souls. When he
had ruled the Church of Ravenna in
holiness for about eighteen years, God
gave him knowledge that the end of
his labours was at hand, and he re-
turned to his home at Imola, to die.
When he arrived at Imola, he en-
tered the church of St Cassian, and
offered upon the High Altar a great
circlet of gold, set with stones of great
price, a golden chalice and a silver
paten. Water poured out of these
vessels hath often healed hydrophobia
and fevers. Some of the people of
Ravenna had followed the Archbishop,
but he now dismissed them, with a
charge to use great prudence in their
choice of his successor. Then he fell
to prayer, that God would mercifully
receive his spirit, asking the same
likewise for the sake of his patron St
Cassian, and so he passed in peace
to a better life, on a 2nd of December,
about the year of our Lord 450. His
holy body was buried, amid the sorrow
and veneration of the whole city, hard
by the remains of St Cassian, where
it lieth even to this day, guarded with
great reverence. One arm was cut
off and sent to Ravenna, where it is
preserved in the Ursian Church, in
a reliquary of gold and precious stones.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. v. 13, with the
Homily of St Austin upon the same,
iP- 549-)
Eighth Responsory.
In the midst of the congregation,
&c-> (/>• 539-)
At Lauds are made Commemorations
of the Week-day and of St Barbara.
personati.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
625
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep in England
the feast of the holy Confessor Brian,
first Bishop of Dorchester, of whom
mention is made upon the 3rd day of
this present month of December.
Upon the same 5 th day of December,
were born into the better life —
At Mutalasque, in Cappadocia, the
holy Saba, Abbat [in Palestine in the
year 531,] who shone in Palestine as a
marvellous ensample of holiness, and
toiled manfully for the Catholic faith
against those that impugned the holy
Council of Chalcedon, [held in the year
45i-]
At Thebeste, in Africa, holy Crispina,
[of Thagara,] a woman of very high
rank, who refused to sacrifice to idols,
in the days of the Emperors Diocletian
and Maximian, and was therefore be-
headed by command of the Pro-consul
Anolinus, [in the year 304.] Holy
Augustin doth oftentimes speak in
her praise.
At Thagara, in Africa, the holy
martyrs Julius, Potamia, Crispin,
Felix, Gratus, and seven others.
At Nice, upon the river Var, holy
Bassus, Bishop [of that see, in the
third century.] In the persecution
under the Emperors Decius and Valer-
ian the President Perennius caused
him for Christ's faith's sake to be
racked, burnt with plates of white-
hot metal, beaten with cudgels and
loaded scourges, cast into the fire,
and when he came out therefrom un-
harmed, to be pierced with two nails,
and so he achieved an illustrious
martyrdom.
At Pavia, the holy martyr Dalmatius,
Bishop [of that see,] who suffered in
the persecution under the Emperor
Maximian, [in the year 304.]
At Pentinia, in the Abruzzi, the holy
martyr Pelinus, Bishop of Brindisi.
In the days of the Emperor Julian
the Apostate a temple of Mars fell
down in answer to his prayer, where-
fore the heathen priests beat him
direfully, and he earned the crown of
martyrdom by eighty - five wounds,
[about the year 362.]
Likewise, [in the sixth century,]
the holy martyr Anastasius, whose
desire for martyrdom caused him to
show himself of his own will to the
persecutors.
At Trier (Treves), [about the year
566,] holy Nicetius, Bishop [of that
see,] a man of wonderful holiness.
[Two of his works are still extant.]
At Polybotus, in Asia, holy John,
called the Wonder-worker, Bishop [of
that see in the time of the Emperor
Leo the I saurian.]
Vespers are of the following from
the Chapter, inclusive.
December 5.
&t Brian, Btsijop [of ©or.
rfjesterj Confessor.
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, {p. 515,) except
the following.
Prayer throughout, " Grant, we be-
seech Thee, &c," {p. 524.)
first vespers.
A Commemoration is made of the
preceding.
Antiphon, " O right excellent
teacher, &c," and Prayer from his
Office.
Then of the Week-day, and then of
St Saba,1 Abbat, from the Common
1 Born at Mutalasca, in Cappadocia, in the year 439. Died at the Monastery now called
from him at Mar Saba, between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, December 5, 532.
626
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Office, {p. 531,) with the Prayer,
"O Lord, we beseech Thee, &c,"
(A 545-)
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson. {From Bede, iii. 7, and
the Saxon Chronicle.}
T N the year of Christ 634, the West
Saxons, under their King Cyne-
gils, received the Faith, the Word of
God being preached among them by
the Bishop Brian, who had come into
Britain at the persuasion of Pope
Honorius. He made a personal pro-
mise to this Pope that he would go
into far parts of England, where no
teacher had yet reached, and there
sow the seed of our holy Faith. The
Pope therefore commanded Asterius,
Bishop of Genoa, to consecrate him a
Bishop.
Fifth Lesson.
"\17~HEN Brian came to Britain, the
first place he went to was the
country of the West Saxons, whom he
found steeped in idolatry. Among
them therefore he deemed it better to
abide, than to go further in search of
subjects for his preaching. He con-
verted and baptized the King and his
people, and Cynegils afterwards re-
ceived from the font the most holy
Oswald, King of the Northumbrians,
whose daughter he was about to take
in marriage, and thus, by a beautiful
coincidence, became first his god-father
and then his son-in-law.
Sixth Lesson.
T^HESE two Kings joined in giving
to Brian the city of Dorchester,
to be his See, and thence, after build-
ing and hallowing Churches, and call-
ing many people to God by holy
labour, he passed away to be for ever
with the Lord, [about the year 650.]
At Dorchester he was buried, but after
many years, Bishop Hedda removed
his body to Winchester, where it was
honourably laid in the Church of the
Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xxv. 1 4, with
the Homily of St Gregory, (p. 522.)
At Lauds, a Commemoration is
made of the Week-day, and then of St
Saba, with the Prayer as before.
MARTYROLOGY.
On the 6th day of December, were
born into the better life —
At Myra, which is the chief city of
Lycia, [in the year 324,] the holy
Confessor Nicolas, Bishop [of that
see,] of whom among many other
signs and wonders it is recorded that
when the Emperor Constantine had
condemned certain persons to death
and these called upon Nicolas, who
was alive, and afar off, he appeared
unto the Emperor, and bent him to
mercy by exhortation and threats.
In Africa, the holy women Dionysia,
Dativa, and Leontia, and the monk
Tertius, the physician ^Emilian, Boni-
face, and three others, who in the
Vandal persecution under the Arian
King Hunneric were tormented in
most grievous and manifold ways for
their defence of the Catholic faith, and
so earned a place among Confessors of
Christ, [in the year 484.]
At the same time and place, the
holy martyr Majoricus, the son of
holy Dionysia. He was but a little
lad and was in fear of the torments,
but by the looks and words of his
mother, he was so strengthened that
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
627
he became mightier than them all,
and died under the torture ; his
mother took his body to her heart,
and buried it in their home, and
was used to pray instantly at his
grave.
On the same day, the holy priest
Polychronius, who was saying Mass in
the time of the Emperor Constantius,
when the Arians attacked him and
slew him, [fourth century.]
At Granada, in Spain, the blessed
martyr Peter Paschasius, Bishop of
Jaen, of the order of blessed Mary of
Ransom for the redemption of captives,
[in the year 1300.]
At Rome, the holy Virgin Asella,
who, as writeth blessed Jerome,
was blessed from her mother's
womb, and passed her life in fast-
ings and prayers unto a good old
age. [Born about 334 and died
about 410.]
Vespers from the following from the
Chapter inclusive.
December 6.
&t Nicolas, ^rrfjoisijop [of
JEpraJ Confessor.
Double.
All from the Common Office of a
Bishop and Confessor, {p. 5I5>) ex~
cept what is otherwise given here.
Prayer throughout the Office.
r\ GOD, Who hast made the blessed
^-^ Bishop Nicolas famous by count-
less signs and wonders, deliver us,
we beseech Thee, for his sake and by
his prayers, from the everlasting fires
of hell. Through our Lord JESUS
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
First Vespers, as regards St Nicolas,
begin with the Chapter.
A Commemoration is made of St
Brian. Prayer as in his Office, and
then of the Week-Day.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
"M" I COLAS was born at the famous
city of Patara in Lycia. His
parents obtained him from God by
prayer, and the holiness of his life
was marked even from the cradle.
When he was at the breast he never
would suck more than once on Wed-
nesdays and Fridays, and that always
after sunset, though he sucked freely
on other days. This custom of fast-
ing he never broke through during
his whole life. While he was still
a young man he lost both his father
and mother, after which he gave his
whole property away to the poor.
One particular example is given of
his Christian charity. There was a
certain needy man in the city who
had three marriageable daughters,
for whom he could not get husbands,
and so thought to make them harlots.
When Nicolas heard of it, he went
to the house by night and threw in
by the window such a sum of money
as made a dowry for one of them.
This he did a second and a third
time, and thus by his charity they
were honourably given in marriage.
Fifth Lesson.
~\K /"HEN he had given himself en-
tirely to God he set forth for
Palestine, that he might see the Holy
628
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Places, and worship therein. Dur-
ing this pilgrimage he embarked
once on board a ship when the sky
was clear and the sea calm, but he
foretold a great storm, which after-
wards arose and raged until the sailors
were afraid ; and then the saint by
prayer stilled the tempest. After he
had returned home, and his holy life
was known to all men, God bade him
go to Myra, which is the chief city
of Lycia, at a time when the Bishop
had just died and the Bishops of the
Province were called together to choose
a successor. While they deliberated,
they received a warning from heaven
to choose that Nicolas who should
first come into the church in the
morning. In obedience to that warn-
ing, Nicolas was seized at the door
of the church, and with universal con-
sent consecrated Archbishop. In his
great office he was an unceasing model
of purity, as he had always been, of
gravity, of regularity in prayer, of
watching, of abstinence, of charity,
of hospitality, of meekness in exhorta-
tion, and of sternness in rebuke.
Sixth Lesson.
XT E was the comforter of widows
and orphans by money, by ad-
vice, and by labour. He was the
deliverer of the oppressed, so mightily,
that it is related that the Emperor
Constantine once unjustly condemned
three Tribunes to death, and these
unhappy men called upon Nicolas,
though living and absent, to save
them, who yet appeared in a vision
to the Emperor, and forced him by
threats to set them free. When the
Emperors Diocletian and Maximian
published their edict against Chris-
tianity, Nicolas did not cease to
preach the truth at Myra, wherefore
he was seized by the soldiers of the
Emperors, carried away from his
See, and thrown into prison, where
he remained until the accession of
Constantine. This Prince set him
free, and he returned to Myra. He
betook himself to the first Council of
Nice, where he was one of the 318
Bishops who condemned the heresy
of Arius. He returned thence to his
Bishopric, and, not long after, be-
came aware of the approach of death.
When his last moment was come,
he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and,
when he saw the Angels coming to
meet him, he began to recite the
thirtieth Psalm, " In Thee, O Lord,
do I put my trust," and when he
had said, " Into Thy hands I com-
mend my spirit," he passed to the
heavenly Fatherland.1 His body was
finally removed to Bari in Apulia,
where it is kept with great fame and
honour.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xxv. 1 4, with
the Homily of St Gregory, {p. 522.)
At Lauds is made a Commemora-
tion of the Week-day.
MARTYROLOGY.
The morrow is the eve of the Im-
maculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin Mary.
On the same day is kept the feast
of the holy Confessor Ambrose, Arch-
bishop of Milan, and Doctor of the
universal Church, the which is adorned
by his holiness and teaching. [His
birth into the better life, in the year
397, is recorded upon the 4th day
of April. The 7th day of December
is the day of his ordination to the
Bishopric of Milan.]
Upon the same 7th day of Decem-
ber, were born into the better life —
At Alexandria, the blessed soldier
1 In the year 342 ?
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
629
Agatho. During the persecution un-
der the Emperor Decius, there were
some that would make mock of the
bodies of the martyrs, and Agatho
forbade them, whereupon straightway
a cry of the whole mob was got up
against him, he was brought before
the judge, and as he stood firm in
the confession of Christ he was be-
headed, [about the year 250.]
At Antioch, the holy martyrs Poly-
carp and Theodore.
At Tebourba, in Africa, the holy
martyr Servus, who in the Vandal
persecution under the Arian king
Hunneric, was long cudgelled, re-
peatedly jerked up with pulleys and
dropped upon flints, and scraped with
sharp stones, and by this torment
gained the palm of martyrdom, [in
the year 384.]
At Chieti, in the kingdom of Naples,
[in the ninth century,] the holy Con-
fessor Urban, Bishop of [that see.]
At Saintes, in Gaul, [about the
year 400,] the holy Abbat Martin, at
whose grave by the power of God
famous miracles are oftentimes wrought.
[He was the founder and first Abbat of
the Monastery of Sanjon.]
At Meaux, [in the year 657,] the
holy Virgin Fara [de Champigny,
Abbess of Faremoutier, in the diocese
of Meaux.]
Vespers of the following, from the
Chapter inclusive.
December 7.
£t ^morose, Bisijop [of Jfti-
latt,] Confessor ano ©octor
of tfje (Efjurdj,
Double.
All from the Common Office of one
Bishop and Confessor, {p. 515,) ex-
cept what is otherwise given here.
VOL. I.
Prayer throughout the Office. O
God, Who didst give unto Thy
people, &c.
FIRST VESPERS.
The first verse of the Hymn is
altered.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. O right excellent Teacher,
&c.
Commemoration of St Nicolas, and
of the Week-day.
MATTINS.
The first verse of the Hymn is
altered.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from 1 Tim. iii. 1, as in
the Common Office, {p. 516.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
A MBROSE, Bishop of Milan, was
the son of another Ambrose, a
Roman citizen, and was born when
his father was Prefect of Gaul, [about
the year of our Lord 340.] A swarm
of bees settled upon his face when he
was in his cradle, which was con-
sidered an omen of his future elo-
quence. He received a liberal edu-
cation at Rome. He was afterwards,
under the Prefect Probus, made
governor of Liguria and ^Emilia,
and so came with authority to Milan.
Auxentius, an Arian, who had been
intruded into the Bishoprick of Milan,
happening to die, the most violent
disputes arose about the choice of
a successor. Ambrose came to the
church in his official capacity, and
urged upon the contending factions,
in a long and powerful speech, the
necessity of keeping the public peace ;
X 2
630
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
whereupon a child suddenly cried out,
"Ambrose, Bishop," and the whole
assembly took it up, and unanimously
called for his election.
Fifth Lesson.
A MBROSE refused, and would not
yield to their prayers, where-
upon they carried their petition to
the Emperor Valentinian. It was
very pleasing to this Prince that
those he had appointed as judges
should be chosen Bishops, as also
to the Prefect Probus, who had, as
it were prophetically, said to him
when he appointed him, " Go and
govern them more like a Bishop
than a Judge." When the will of
the Emperor was added to the de-
sire of the people, Ambrose yielded,
and received Baptism, (for hitherto
he was only a Catechumen,) Con-
firmation, and Communion, and then
the several Orders on successive days,
till on the eighth day, which was the
7th of December, [in the year 374,]
the weight of the Episcopate was
laid upon his shoulders. Being
made Bishop, he showed himself a
stout upholder of the Catholic faith,
and the discipline of the Church,
and turned to the truth great num-
bers of Arians and other heretics,
and, among them, he begat in Christ
Jesus that burning and shining light
of the Church, Austin.
Sixth Lesson.
A FTER the murder of the Emperor
Gratian, [in 383,] Ambrose was
sent as an ambassador to Maximus,
by whom he had been slain, and, as
he refused to repent, the Bishop re-
nounced his communion. After the
massacre which the Emperor Theodo-
sius had commanded at Thessalonica,
[in 390,] he refused to permit that
Prince to enter a church. The
Emperor pleaded that he was no
worse than David, who had been
guilty of adultery and murder, to
which Ambrose answered him, "As
thou hast followed him in his sin,
follow him also in his repentance."
Then Theodosius humbly did public
penance laid upon him by the Bishop.
At length the Saint was worn out with
his continual labour and care for the
Church, (for the which also he com-
posed many excellent books,) and fore-
told that the day of his death was at
hand, though he had not then fallen
into his last sickness. As he lay
dying, Honoratus, Bishop of Vercelli,
heard a voice from God three times
crying to him that the hour of
Ambrose's departure was come, where-
upon he went to him quickly, and
gave him the sacred Body of our
Lord. When he had received It,
the Saint, still praying, with his
hands stretched out in the form of
a cross, gave his spirit to God,
upon the 4th day of April, in the
year of Christ, 397.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. v. 13, with the
Hotnily of St Austin, (p. 549.)
Eighth Responsory.
In the midst of the congregation,
&c., (p. 539.)
At Lauds a Commemoration is made
of the Week-day.
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the glorious Mary, Mother of
God, and always a Virgin, whom
the supreme Pontiff Pius IX. did
upon this day solemnly define to
have been by a singular gift of
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
631
God preserved unstained by original
sin.
Upon the same 8th day of De-
cember, were born into the better
life —
At Rome, the blessed Pope Euty-
chian, who with his own hands buried
in divers places three hundred and
forty - two martyrs, whose fellow he
himself afterwards became, being
crowned with martyrdom under the
Emperor Numerian and buried in
the cemetery of Callistus. [He suc-
ceeded Felix I. (269-274); after five
days' interregnum he became Pope on
Jan. 3, 275, and died on Dec. 8, 283.]
At Alexandria, the holy martyr
Macarius. Under the Emperor Decius
the judge dealt with him in many
words to persuade him to deny Christ,
but as he only professed his faith the
more constantly he was burnt alive, [in
the year 250.]
At Treves, holy Eucharius, a dis-
ciple of the blessed Apostle Peter, and
the first Bishop of that city.
In Cyprus, the holy Bishop So-
phronius, who was a wonderful pro-
tector of little children, orphans, and
widows, and an helper of all the poor
and depressed.
In the monastery of Lisieux, the
holy Abbat Romaric, who was the first
man in the court of King Theodobert,
but gave up the world, and became
the first in monastic observance. [He
was a monk of Luxeuil. He founded
the Abbey of Remiremont, of which
he became second Abbat in the year
627, and died on Dec. 8, 653.]
At Constantinople, the holy Hermit
Patapius, famous for his graces and
miracles.
At Verona, is commemorated the
ordination of holy Zeno, Bishop [of
that see in the fourth century.]
Vespers of the following.
December 8.
immaculate ©onctptton of tfie Me#0i&
Virgin Jfflarg*
Double of the First Class, with an Octave.
All from the Common Office for
.Feasts of the Blessed Virgin, {p. 552,)
■except what is otherwise given here.
Commemoration of St Ambrose,
{Antiphon, "O right excellent, &c.,")
and of the Week-day.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, Verse and An-
swer, and Prayer from Lauds.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. All generations shall call me
blessed, * for He That is mighty hath
done to me great things. Alleluia.
This word "Alleluia" is omitted in
Septuagesima and Sexagesima Weeks.
COMPLINE.
The last verse of the Hymn is altered
in honour of the Incarnation.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. Let us keep the Feast of
the stainless Conception of the Virgin
Mary: * let us worship Christ, her Son,
and her Lord and ours.
632
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Hymn. l
"DLEST Guardian of all virgin souls!
Portal of bliss to man forgiven !
Pure Mother of Almighty God !
Thou hope of earth, and joy of Heaven !
Fair Lily, found among the thorns !
Most beauteous Dove with wings of gold !
Rod from whose tender root upsprang
That healing Flower long since foretold !
Thou Tower, against the dragon proof!
Thou Star, to storm -toss'd voyagers dear !
Our course lies o'er a treacherous deep;
Thine be the light by which we steer.
Scatter'the mists that round us hang,
Keep far the fatal shoals away ;
And while through darkling waves we sweep,
Open a path to life and day.
O Jesu, born of Virgin bright !
Immortal glory be to Thee ;
Praise to the Father infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. O Lord, how ex-
cellent is Thy Name * in all the earth,
Who hast made Thee a worthy taber-
nacle in the Virgin Mary.
Second Antiphon. The Lord hath
set * His tabernacle in the sun.
Third Antiphon. Even in her Con-
ception * did Mary receive a blessing
from the Lord, and mercy from the
God of her salvation.
Verse. 2 It is Almighty God That
girdeth me with strength.
Answer. And maketh my way per-
fect.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (iii. i.)
THE serpent was more subtle than
■*• any beast of the field which the
Lord God had made. And he said
1 Translation by the Rev. E. Caswall.
* Rom. v. 12 ; Luke i. 30.
unto the woman, Why hath God said,
Ye shall not eat of every tree of the
garden ? And the woman said unto
the serpent, We may eat of the fruit
of the trees of the garden ; but of
the fruit of the tree which is in the
midst of the garden, God hath said,
Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall
ye touch it, lest ye die. And the
serpent said unto the woman : Ye
shall not surely die. For God doth
know that in the day ye eat thereof,
then your eyes shall be opened :
and ye shall be as gods, knowing
good and evil.
First Responsory.
8 By one man sin entered into the
world, in whom all have sinned. Fear
not, Mary, for thou hast found grace
with God.
Verse. 4The Lord hath delivered
thy soul from death, yea, the Lord was
thy stay.
Answer. Fear not, Mary, for thou
hast found grace with God.
Second Lesson.
AND the woman saw that the tree
was good for food, and that it
was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to
be desired : and she took of the fruit
thereof, and did eat, and gave also
unto her husband with her, and he did
eat. And the eyes of them both were
opened ; and they knew that they were
naked, and they sewed fig-leaves to-
gether and made themselves aprons.
And they heard the voice of the Lord
God walking in the garden in the cool
of the day ; and Adam and his wife
hid themselves from the presence of
the Lord God, amidst the trees of
the garden.
2 Ps. xvii. 33.
* Cf. Ps. lv. 13, xvii. 21.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
633
Second Responsory.
1 Come unto me all ye that be de-
sirous of me, and I will declare what
God hath done for my soul.
Verse. 2 As the Lord liveth, by me
He hath fulfilled His mercy.
Answer. And I will declare what
God hath done for my soul.
Third Lesson.
AND the Lord God called unto
Adam, and said unto him :
Where art thou ? And he said : I
heard Thy voice in the garden : and I
was afraid, because I was naked, and
I hid myself. And He said : Who
told thee that thou wast naked ? Hast
thou eaten of the tree whereof I com-
manded thee that thou shouldest not
eat ? And Adam said : The woman
whom Thou gavest me to be with me,
she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
And the Lord God said unto the
woman : Wherefore hast thou done
this ? And she said : The serpent
beguiled me, and I did eat. And the
Lord God said unto the serpent : Be-
cause thou hast done this, thou art
cursed above all cattle, and above
every beast of the field ; upon thy
belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt
thou eat all the days of thy life : I will
put enmity between thee and the wo-
man, and between thy seed and her
seed : she shall bruise thy head, and
thou shalt bruise her heel.
Third Responsory.
3 My beloved is white like snow in
Lebanon, her lips drop as the honey-
comb. Honey and milk are under her
tongue.
Verse. Come from Lebanon, My
Spouse, thou shalt be crowned with a
crown of grace.
Answer. Honey and milk are under
her tongue.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Honey and milk are under
her tongue.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Grace is poured
into her Conception, * and she is
fairer than the daughters of men.
Second Antiphon. God hath holpen
her right early, * the Most High hath
hallowed His tabernacle.
Third Antiphon. Glorious things
are spoken of thee, O City of God ; *
the Lord hath laid thy foundation in
the holy mountains.
Verse. 4 By this I know that Thou
favourest me.
Answer. Because mine enemy can-
not triumph over me.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St Jerome, Priest [at Bethlehem.5]
( On the Assumption. )
VIW'HO and what was the blessed
and glorious Mary, always a
Virgin, hath been revealed by God by
the message of an Angel, in these
words, " Hail, thou that art full of
grace, the Lord is with thee : blessed
art thou among women." It was
fitting that a fulness of grace should
be poured into that Virgin who hath
given to God glory and to man a
Saviour, who hath brought peace to
earth, who hath given faith to the
Gentiles, who hath killed sin, who
hath given law to life, who hath made
the crooked ways straight. Verily,
she is full of grace. To others grace
1 Ecclus. xxiv. 26 ; Ps. lxv. 16.
* Ps. xl. 12.
2 Judith xiii. 18. 3 Cant. v. 10, iv. ir,
5 To be found among his spurious works.
634
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
cometh measure by measure ; in Mary
grace dwelleth at once in all fulness.
Verily, she is full of grace. We be-
lieve that the holy Fathers and Pro-
phets had grace ; but they were not
full of grace. But into Mary came a
fulness of all the grace which is in
Christ, albeit otherwise [than as it is
in Him.] Therefore is it said :
" Blessed art thou among women,"
that is, " Blessed art thou above all
women." The fulness of blessing in
Mary utterly neutralized in her any
effects of the curse of Eve. In her
praise Solomon writeth in the Song
of Songs, (ii. 10,) "Rise up, my
dove, my fair one, for the winter
is past, the rain is over and gone."
And again, " Come from Lebanon,
my Spouse, come, thou shalt be
crowned." (iv. 8.)
Fourth Responsory.
1 I came out of the mouth of the
Most High, the first-begotten before
every creature. I made the unfading
light to arise in the heavens. When
there were no depths I was conceived.
Verse. For the Lord hath created
me in righteousness, and hath held
mine hand, and hath kept me.
Answer. When there were no
depths I was conceived.
Fifth Lesson.
"M^ OT unjustly then is she bidden
to come from' Lebanon, for
Lebanon is so named on account of
its stainless and glistening whiteness.
The earthly Lebanon is white with
snow, but the lonely heights of Mary's
holiness are white with purity and
grace, brilliantly fair, whiter far than
snow, sparkling with the gifts of the
Holy Ghost — she is undefiled like a
dove, all clean, all upright, full of
grace and truth. She is full of mercy,
and of the righteousness that hath
looked down from heaven, and there-
fore is she without stain because in
her hath never been any corruption.
She hath compassed a man in her
womb, saith holy Jeremiah, but she
conceived not by the will of fallen
man. "The Lord," saith the Pro-
phet, "hath created a new thing in
the earth ; a woman shall compass a
man." (xxxi. 22.) Verily, it is a new
thing. Verily, it was a new work of
power, greater than all other works,
when God, Whom the world cannot
bear, and Whom no man shall see
and live, entered the lodging of her
womb, breaking not the blissful cloister
of her virgin flesh. And in her body
He was borne, the Infinite inclosed
within her womb. And from her
womb He came forth, so that it was
fulfilled which was spoken of the
Prophet Ezekiel, saying, "This gate
shall be shut, it shall not be opened,
and no man shall enter in by it ; be-
cause the Lord, the God of Israel,
hath entered in by it, therefore it shall
be shut." (xliv. 2.) Hence also in the
Song of Songs it is said of her, (iv.
12,) "A garden enclosed is my sister,
my spouse, a garden enclosed, a
fountain sealed, thy perfumes are a
garden of delights." Verily a garden
of delights, filled with the perfumes of
all flowers, rich with the sweet savour
of grace. And the most holy Virgin
herself is a garden enclosed, whereinto
sin and Satan have never entered to
sully the blossoms, a fountain sealed,
sealed with the seal of the Trinity.
(So far the Sermon.)
Fifth Responsory.
2 No defiled thing can fall into her ;
she is the brightness of the everlast-
1 I.e., Wisdom. Ecclus. xxiv. 5, 6 ; Prov. viii. 24. - Wisd. vii. 25, 26, 29.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
635
ing light, and the unspotted mirror of
the power of God.
Verse. For she is more beautiful
than the sun, and being compared with
the light, she is found before it.
Answer. She is the brightness of
the everlasting light, and the unspotted
mirror of the power of God.
Sixth. Lesson.
THE fact that the Virgin Mother of
God had at the moment of her
conception triumphed over the foul
enemy of man, hath ever been borne
out by the Holy Scriptures, by the
venerable tradition of the Church, and
by her unceasing belief, as well as
by the common conviction of all
Bishops and faithful Catholics, and
by marked acts and constitutions of
the Holy See. At length the Supreme
Pontiff Pius IX., in compliance with
the wishes of the Universal Church,
determined to publish it as a truth of
faith, on his own absolute and unerring
authority, and accordingly, on the 8th
day of December, 1854, in the Vatican
Basilica, in presence of a great multi-
tude composed of the Fathers Cardinals
of the Holy Roman Church, and
Bishops from all parts of the earth,
he, with the consent and jubilation of
the whole world, declared and defined
as follows : That doctrine which de-
clareth that the most blessed Virgin
Mary was in the first instant of her
Conception preserved, by a special
privilege granted unto her by God,
from any stain of original sin, is a
doctrine taught and revealed by God,
and therefore is to be held by all
faithful Christians firmly and con-
stantly.
Sixth Respo?isory.
1 There appeared a great wonder in
heaven : a Woman clothed with the
sun, and the moon under her feet, and
upon her head a crown of twelve
stars.
Verse. 2 The Lord hath clothed
her with the garments of salvation,
and hath covered her with the robe of
righteousness, yea, as a bride He hath
adorned her with jewels.
Answer. And upon her head a
crown of twelve stars.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And upon her head a
crown of twelve stars.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Holiness and
beauty are in her Conception : * de-
clare her glory among all people.
Second Antiphon. Rejoice ye all
in the Lord : * and give thanks
at the remembrance of His holi-
ness.
Third Antiphon. The Lord hath
made known His salvation : * the
glory of His Mother hath He openly
showed in the sight of the heathen.
Verse. 3 I will extol Thee, O
Lord, for Thou hast lifted me up.
Answer. And hast not made my
foes to rejoice over me.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (i. 26.)
A T that time : The Angel Gabriel
"^^ was sent from God, unto a city
of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a
virgin espoused to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And so on.
1 Apoc. xii. 1.
2 Cf. Isa. lxi. 10.
3 Ps. xxix. 2.
636
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Homily by St German, Patriarch [of
Constantinople. ] * ( On the Presentation
of the Blessed Virgin.)
Hail, Mary, full of grace, holier
than the Saints, higher than the
heavens, more glorious than the
Cherubim, more honourable than the
Seraphim, and the most worshipful
thing that the hands of God have
made.
Hail, O dove, bearing in thy beak
the olive-branch of peace that telleth
us of salvation from the spiritual flood,
(Gen. viii. 10, n,) — dove, blessed
omen of a safe harbour, whose wings
are of silver, and thy feathers of gold,
shining in the bright beams of the
Most Holy and Light-giving Spirit.
(Ps. lxvii. 14.)
Hail, thou living garden of Eden,
planted towards the East by the right
hand of the Most Merciful and Mighty
God, wherein do grow to His glory
rich lilies and unfading roses, for the
healing of them that have drunk in
death from the blighting and pestilen-
tial breezes of the bitter West, (Gen.
ii. 8, 9) ; Eden, wherein hath sprung
that Tree of life, Whereof if any man
eat he shall live for ever. (Gen. ii.
9 ; iii. 22. John vi. 52.)
Hail, stately Palace of the King,
most holy, stainless, purest, House of
the Most High God, adorned with
His Royal splendour, open to all,
filled with Kingly dainties ; Palace
wherein is that spiritual bridal cham-
ber, not made with hands, nor hung
with divers colours, in the which the
Eternal Word, when He would raise
up fallen man, wedded flesh unto
Himself, that He might reconcile
unto the Father them who had cast
themselves away.
Seventh Responsory.
2 A garden enclosed is my sister,
my spouse, a garden enclosed, a foun-
tain sealed. O Mary, thy perfumes
are a garden of delights.
Verse. Open to me, my sister, my
love, my dove, my undefiled.
Answer. O Mary, thy perfumes
are a garden of delights.
Eighth Lesson.
TIT AIL, O rich and shady Mountain
of God, whereon pastured the
True Lamb, Who hath taken away
our sins and infirmities, (Hab. iii. 3 ;3
Isa. liii. 4 ; John i. 29,) — mountain,
whereout hath been cut without hands
that Stone which hath smitten the
altars of the idols, and become the
head-stone of the corner, marvellous
in our eyes. (Dan. ii. 34 ; Ps. cxvii.
22, 23.)
Hail, thou holy Throne of God,
thou divinest store-house, thou temple
of glory, thou bright crown, thou
chosen treasure, thou mercy-seat for
the whole world, thou heaven declar-
ing the glory of God. (Ps. xviii. 2.)
Hail, thou vessel of pure gold, made
to hold the manna that came down
from heaven, the sweet food of our
souls, even Christ. (Ex. xvi. 33 ;
Heb. ix. 4 ; John vi. 49-51.)
Hail, O purest Virgin, most praise-
worthy and most worshipful, hallowed
treasury for the wants of all creatures ;
thou art the untitled earth, the un-
ploughed field ; thou art the vine full
of flowers, the well overflowing with
waters, Maiden and Mother ; thou art
the Mother that knew not a man, the
hidden treasure of guilelessness, and
the clear, bright star of holiness ; by
1 The Martyrology (May 12) says, that this "holy Patriarch, illustrious for his graces and
teaching, most faithfully withstood the Emperor Leo the Isaurian, when that Prince published
an edict against the Holy Images. Elected to the Patriarchal throne, A.D. 715, expelled by
the heretics, 730, and died May 12, 733.
2 Cant. iv. 12; v. 2. 3 LXX.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
637
thy most acceptable prayers, strong
from thy motherly mouth, obtain for
all estates of men in the Church that
they may continually tend unto Him
Who is the Lord, and God, and Maker
of thee, and of them, and of all, but of
thee the Son also, conceived without
man's intervention ; obtain this, O
Mother, pilot them to the harbour of
peace.
Eighth Responsory.
My soul doth magnify the Lord ; for
He That is mighty hath done to me
great things, and holy is His name.
Verse. For, behold, from henceforth
all generations shall call me blessed.
Answer. For He That is mighty
hath done to me great things, and
holy is His name.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. For He That is mighty
hath done to me great things, and
holy is His name.
that are under them, according to the
commandment of God. Behold, this
is thine own city,1 which hath thee for
her towers and her foundations, —
crown her with victory, gird the house
of God with strength, keep undefiled
the loveliness of His tabernacles, — as
for them that praise thy name, be thou
their deliverer from strife and bitter-
ness of spirit. Free thou the prisoner,
protect the wanderer, and if there be
any that hath no refuge, be thou to
him a consolation. Stretch forth thine
hand and help the whole earth — so
shall we year by year keep this and
all thy feasts, and at last be found
with thee in Christ Jesus, Who is
Lord of all, and verily our God. To
Him, with the Holy Father, Who is
the Fountain of Life, and the co-
eternal Spirit, Three Persons and One
Substance, even as there is one King-
dom, be glory and strength, now and
for ever. Amen.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
Ninth Lesson.
T)E it thine to clothe God's priests
with righteousness, and to make
them shout aloud for joy (Ps. cxxxi.
9, 16,) in approved and stainless, and
upright and glorious faith. Thine be
it to guide in peace the sceptres of
orthodox princes, even of princes who
put their trust in thee to be the crown
of their Majesty, and the Royal Robe
of their greatness, and the firm found-
ation of their dominion, more than in
purple, or fine gold, or pearls, or pre-
cious stones ; thine be it to put under
their feet the unfaithful nations, nations
that blaspheme thee, and the God
That was born of thee ; thine be it to
keep in meek obedience the people
1 Constantinople.
3 Cf. Matth. xvii. 2.
r> Cf. Cant. i. 3, 4.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. 2 Thou art all fair,
O Mary, * there is no spot of original
sin in thee.
Second Antiphon. 3 Thy raiment *
is white as snow, and thy countenance
as the sun.
Third Antiphon. 4Thou art the
exaltation of Jerusalem, * thou art
the great glory of Israel, thou art
the great rejoicing of our nation.
Fourth Antiphon. 40 Virgin Mary,
* blessed art thou of the Most High
God, above all the women upon the
earth.
Fifth Antiphon. 5 Draw us, *
Maiden undefiled, we will run after
thee in the odour of thy perfumes.
2 Cf. Cant. iv. 7.
4 Judith xv. 10 ; xiii. 23.
638
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Chapter. (Prov. viii. 22.)
'"THE Lord possessed me in the be-
ginning of His ways, before His
works of old. I was ordained from
everlasting, from the beginning, or
ever the earth was. When there were
no depths I was conceived.
Verse. This day is the Holy Virgin
Mary conceived without sin.
Answer. The Virgin's foot hath
bruised the serpent's head.
In the Votive Office :
Verse. Maiden Mother of God, thy
stainless conception,
Answer. Was a message of joy to
the whole world.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
The Lord God said unto the serpent :
I will put enmity between thee and the
woman, * and between thy seed and
her seed ; she shall bruise thy head.
Alleluia.
In Septnagesima and Sexagesima
otnit "Alleluia."
Prayer.
C\ GOD, Who didst cause that a
virgin should be conceived with-
out sin, to the end that she might be
made a meet dwelling-place for Thy
dear Son ; O God, Who through the
precious death of the Same Thy Son
foreseen by Thee, didst keep her clean
from all stain, hear us, we beseech
Thee, and grant that by her prayers,
we also who are presently defiled, may
finally be made pure, and so with her
attain unto Thee. Through the Same
our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
A Commemoration is made of the
Week-day.
PRIME.
Antiphon. Thou art all fair, &c,
{First Antiphon at Lauds.)
In the Short Responsory, instead of
"Thou That art to come into the
world," is said :
Verse. Thou That wast born of the
Virgin Mary.
And this is done throughout the
whole Octave.
MARTVROLOGY.
Upon the 9th of December, were
born into the better life —
At Toledo, in Spain, the holy Virgin
and martyr Leocadia. In the perse-
cution under the Emperor Diocletian
the suffered a terrible imprisonment
under Dacian, Prefect of Spain, and
when she heard of the grievous tor-
ments of blessed Eulalia and the
other martyrs, she knelt down in
prayer and gave up her unstained
spirit to Christ, [in the year 303.]
At Carthage, the holy martyr
Resti tutus, Bishop [of that see,] con-
cerning whom on whose solemn feast-
day holy Augustine preached a dis-
course to the people.
Likewise in Africa, the holy martyrs
Peter, Successus, Bassian, Primitivus,
and twenty others.
At Limoges, in France, [in the year
46,] the holy Virgin and martyr Valeria.
At Verona, holy Proculus, Bishop
[of that see, in the fourth century.] In
the persecution under the Emperor
Diocletian he was buffeted and cud-
gelled and thrust out of the city, but
was at length restored to his awn
church and fell asleep in peace.
At Pavia, holy Syrus, the first
Bishop of that city, who was eminent
for the signs and powers of an apostle.
At Apamea, in Syria, blessed Julian,
Bishop, who shone with holiness in
the time of the Emperor Severus.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
639
At Perigueux, in France, [about the
year 586,] the holy Abbat Cyprian, a
man of great holiness. [He lived as a
hermit in the latter part of his life
near Dordogne, at a place now called
after him.]
At Nazianzus, [about the year 371,]
holy Gorgonia, sister of blessed
Gregory the theologian, who hath
written of her graces and miracles.
At Grai, in Burgundy, [in the year
1636,] holy Peter Fourier, Canon
Regular of Our Saviour, founder of
the Canonesses Regular of Our Lady
for the education of girls ; whom, il-
lustrious for his virtues and miracles,
Leo the Thirteenth added to the roll
of the Saints.
Chapter at the end. (Apoc. xii. 1.)
HTHERE appeared a great wonder in
heaven : a Woman clothed with
the sun, and the moon under her feet,
and upon her head a crown of twelve
stars.
TERCE.
Antiphon. Thy raiment, &c,
{Second Antipho?i at Lauds.)
Chapter and Prayer from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
It is Almighty God That girdeth me
with strength.
Answer. It is Almighty God That
girdeth me with strength.
Verse. And maketh my way perfect.
Answer. That girdeth me with
strength.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. It is Almighty God That
girdeth me with strength.
Verse. By this I know that Thou
favourest me.
Answer. Because mine enemy shall
not triumph over me.
SEXT.
Antiphon. Thou art the exaltation
of Jerusalem, &c, {Third Antiphon
at Lauds. )
Chapter. (Ezek. xliv. 2.)
'"THIS gate shall be shut, it shall not
be opened, and no man shall
enter in by it ; because the Lord, the
God of Israel, hath entered in by it,
therefore it shall be shut for the Prince ;
the Prince, He shall sit in it.
Short Responsory.
By this I know that Thou favourest
me.
, Answer. By this I know that Thou
favourest me.
Verse. Because mine enemy shall
not triumph over me.
Answer. Thou favourest me.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. By this I know that Thou
favourest me.
Verse. I will extol Thee, O Lord,
for Thou hast lifted me up.
Answer. And hast not made my
foes to rejoice over me.
Prayer from Lauds.
NONE.
Antiphon. Draw us, &c, {Fifth
Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou
hast lifted me up.
Answer. I will extol Thee, O Lord,
for Thou hast lifted me up.
Verse. And hast not made my foes
to rejoice over me.
Answer. Thou hast lifted me up.
640
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. I will extol Thee, O Lord,
for Thou hast lifted me up.
Verse. Maiden Mother of God, thy
stainless conception,
Answer. Was a message of joy to
the whole world.
Prayer from Lauds.
SECOND VESPERS.
All as the First, except the follow-
ing:
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. This day is a rod sprung
from the root of Jesse : this day is
Mary conceived without any stain of
sin : this day hath she bruised the
head of the old serpent. Alleluia.
In the Votive Office it is, " O holy
Mary, &c," (p. 181,) ending, "may
all that keep the memory of thine
holy and stainless conception, feel the
might of thine assistance."
A Commemoration is made of the
Week-day.
December 9.
&uonb ©ap within f0e Octave of
f#e jfmmacufafe Conception.
All as yesterday, except what is
otherwise given here.
FIRST NOCTURN.
The Lessons are taken from Scrip-
ture according to the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Dog-
matic Bull of Pope Pius IX.
pOD is unspeakable. His ways
^■^ are mercy and truth ; His
Will is Almighty Power ; and His
wisdom reacheth mightily from one
end to another, and sweetly ordereth
all things. (Wisd. viii. 1.) He from
all eternity foresaw the sorrowful fall
of man by the transgression of Adam,
and, in His mysterious purpose, He
decreed, before the worlds were, that
the Word should be made flesh, to
the end that man, who had been
seduced by the fraud of the devil,
might not perish, but that as in
the first Adam all die, in Christ all
might be made alive. (1 Cor. xv.
22.) And to this end, the Eternal
Creator from the beginning, and
before all ages, chose and ordained
a woman to be the Mother of His
Only - begotten Son, of whom He
should take flesh and be born, in the
blessed fulness of time. (Gal. iv. 4.)
And this woman He loved with so
great a love that He allowed His
Will to be freely wrought in her.
(1 Thess. iv. 3.)
Fifth Lesson.
AlfHEREFORE, He bestowed upon
her, out of the treasure of the
Divinity, such a wealth of gifts of grace
as He hath bestowed upon none of
the Angels and none of the Saints.
He made her always free from any the
slightest pollution of sin, so fair and
so upright that no other of His works
are like to her, and only Himselfcan
we understand to excel her. Verily,
this was most fitting, that this most
worshipful Mother should be made
bright with the brightness of uncon-
taminated holiness, and should con-
quer the old serpent by escaping
altogether the stain of original sin, for
she was that Mother to whom the
Eternal Father was willing to give
the Co-Eternal and Co-Equal Only-
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
641
begotten Son of His love, to be her
Son also.
Sixth Lesson.
THE Catholic Church, which,
through the perpetual teaching
of the Holy Ghost, is the pillar and
ground of the truth, (1 Tim. iii. 15,)
hath always held the original innocence
of this most exalted Virgin to be
bound up with her wonderful holiness,
and her mighty dignity of Mother of
God. This doctrine she hath felt
herself to hold by the gift of God, and
as part of that faith once delivered
from heaven unto the Saints, (Jude 3,)
and as time hath gone on, she hath
continually explained, put forth, and
upheld it. This belief is found strong
in the earliest times, and rooted as
it were in the hearts of Christ's faith-
ful people ; by the care and study
of holy Bishops it hath been taught in
all parts of the Catholic world ; and
the Church herself pointed to it when
she allowed the Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary to be held as a
feast, for exciting the piety and de-
votion of her children. In the case
of the Saints the Church celebrateth
only the day of their being made
perfect at death, [but of her Divine
Lord, of His Blessed Mother, and of
St John the Baptist she venerateth the
birth also, as of those sanctified in
the womb.] When [therefore] she
[goeth further and] maketh the case
of the Blessed Virgin an exception to
all others besides that of Christ, keep-
ing holiday in honour of her concep-
tion [as well as of her birth,] it is
manifest that she regardeth that
Conception as altogether singular,
wonderful, and different to all other
conceptions, except only Christ's,
namely, as holy.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (i. 26.)
p^T that time: The Angel Gabriel
was sent from God, unto a
city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to
a Virgin espoused to a man whose
name was Joseph, of the house of
David, and the Virgin's name was
Mary. And so on.
Homily by St Sophronius, Patri-
arch [of Jerusalem.]1 {On the An-
nunciation. )
When this blessed Angel was sent
to the most pure virgin what did he
say ? In what words did he break
the happy news of Redemption ?
" Hail, thou that art full of grace,
the Lord is with thee." 2[Now this
word " Hail " is in the original
" Chaire," which being interpreted
signifieth "Rejoice."] The mess-
enger of joy in his first word bid-
deth her rejoice. He knew well
that his message was a message of
good tidings of great joy to men,
(Luke ii. 10,) yea, to all creatures,
— a message of healing to all sick-
nesses. He knew well that his mess-
age was a message of God's light
to a dark world. He knew well that
it proclaimed the end of error. He
knew well that it blunted the sting
of death. He knew well that it
broke the power of corruption. He
knew well that it brought victory
over hell. He knew well that it
told of salvation to all the fallen
children of Adam, groaning under
that yoke of malediction which fell
on them when they were thrust out
1 An eminent opponent of the Monothelite heretics. Elected to the Patriarchal throne,
A.D. 634. Died March 11, 639 or 644.
2 The above sentence is inserted to give meaning to the rest of the Homily, which was
written in Greek.
642
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
of Eden, and banished from that
happy home. Therefore, when he
began to speak, he spoke in tones
of rejoicing, and opened his message
with sounds of gladness. Therefore
made he the name of joy to herald
the tidings of good, which were to
be for a joy unto all people, who-
soever should believe.
Eighth Lesson.
AND, of a truth, it was fitting
"^^ that God's proclamation of joy
should open with the accents of
gladness. And this is the reason
why the angel nameth joy first, be-
cause he knew the coming fruits of
his message, and that his converse
with the Virgin was to bring joy to
the whole world. Can we find any
joy or any brightness like the joy
and the brightness of that salutation
addressed to the Blessed Mother of
gladness ? Rejoice, O mother of
joy more than heavenly ! Rejoice,
O thou that nourishest joy in the
highest! Rejoice, O Lady, full of
.the joy of salvation ! Rejoice, O
thou that bringest a joy that passeth
not away ! Rejoice, O mysterious
treasury dispensing unspeakable joy !
Rejoice, O most blessed fountain,
overflowing with unfailing joy ! Re-
joice, O store-house of God, filled
with the everlasting joy of eternity !
Rejoice, O fair tree, bearing fruit of
life-giving joy ! Rejoice, O Maiden
Mother of God ! Rejoice, O thou
that after child-birth remainest a
virgin ! Rejoice, O wonder, who,
after all wonders, art still the most
wonderful !
Ninth Lesson.
V\7"HO shall worthily set forth thy
glory ? Who shall make bold
to say what thou art ? Who will
hold himself able to tell of all thy
splendour ? Thou art the exaltation
of humanity ; thou art made much
higher than the Angels ; thy bright-
ness hath thrown the brightness
of the Archangels into shadow ;
thou lookest down upon the lofty
seats of the Thrones ; thou makest
the height of the Lordships to seem
low ; thy rank taketh precedence be-
fore the rank of the Principalities ;
compared with thee the Powers are
weakness ; thou art a Mighty one
mightier than all the Mighty ; thine
earthly eyes see further than the
contemplation of the Cherubim can
reach ; the Seraphim have six wings,
but thy flight is nobler than their's ;
in a word, thou hast far excelled
every other work of God ; thou wast
far purer than any other creature ;
and thou hast conceived the Creator
of all creatures, carried Him in thy
womb, and brought Him forth ; thou
hast been chosen, out of all that
He has made, to be His mother.
At Lauds a Commemoration is
made of the Week-day.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 10th day of December,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy Pope Melchi-
ades, [who reigned 3 years, 7 months,
and 62 days, from the year 310
till January 10, 314,] who "'suffered
much in the persecution under
the Emperor Maximian, but fell
asleep in the Lord after peace had
been restored to the church.
Upon the same day the holy mar-
tyrs Carpophorus the Priest, and
Abundius the Deacon. In the per-
secution under the Emperor Diocle-
tian they were first most cruelly
cudgelled and recommitted to prison,
where they were denied food and
drink, then they were racked, and
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
643
suffered long imprisonment, and lastly
were beheaded, [in the year 303.]
At Merida, [in Estramadura,] in
Spain, [in the same year,] under the
Emperor Maximian, the holy Virgin
and martyr Eulalia, at the age of
twelve years. The President Dacian
commanded her to be put to many
tortures for confessing Christ ; at last
she was hung upon the rack, and
lacerated with hooks ; and, burning
torches being put to her sides, some
of the flame and smoke went down
her throat and she gave up the
ghost.
Likewise at Merida, the holy Virgin
and martyr Julia, who was a Com-
panion of the blessed Eulalia, and
the only one who clave unto her as
she went to suffer.
At Alexandria, under the Emperor
Gallerius Maximian, the holy martyrs
Mennas, Hermogenes, and Eugra-
phus.
At Lentini, in Sicily, the holy
soldiers, Mercury and his Compan-
ions, all martyrs, who were slain
with the sword in the time of the
Emperor Licinius, under the Presi-
dent Tertyllus.
At Ancyra, in Galatia, the holy
martyr Gemellus, who, after most
grievous torments under the Em-
peror Julian the Apostate, achieved
martyrdom by the death of the cross.
At Vienne, [about the year 650,]
the holy Confessor Sindulph, Bishop
[of that see.]
At Brescia, holy Deusdedit, Bishop
[of that see. ]
At Loretto, in Picenum, is com-
memorated the translation, [in the
year 1294,] of the holy house of
Mary the Mother of God, wherein
the Word was made flesh.
At Vespers a Commemoration is
made of the Week-day and then of St
Melchiades1 Pope and Martyr. Anti-
phon and Verse and Answer from
the Common Office, (p. 482.) Prayer,
" Mercifully consider our weakness,"
&c, (p. 491.)
December 10.
tyiv* ©ap within tfyt £>dave of
t$t ^mmatufati Conception.
All as on the Feast, except what
is otherwise given here.
FIRST NOCTURN.
The Lessons are taken from Scrip-
ture according to the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Dog-
matic Bull of Pope Pius IX.
T30TH in her Offices and in the
most holy Liturgy the Church
hath been accustomed to apply to
the creation of Mary the language
in which the Holy Scriptures set
forth the Eternal Generation of the
Uncreated Wisdom, and that, be-
cause Mary was predestined in the
decree of the Incarnation of the
same Wisdom. This practice hath
been received by the faithful in all
quarters, and plainly showeth what
hath been the mind of the Church
of Rome, which is the mother and
mistress of all Churches, on the sub-
ject of the sinless conception of the
Virgin. Nevertheless, it is fitting
to set forth in greater detail the
celebrated acts of this Church, on
account of that pre-eminent rank and
power which all other Churches are
bound to yield her, because she is
1 Elected to succeed Eusebius, July 2, 311. Died Jan. 10, 314.
644
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
the centre of Catholic truth and
unity, wherein alone Doctrine is
always preserved pure, and from
whom all the other Churches must
needs receive the tradition of the
Faith.
Fifth Lesson.
'T'HUS it hath always been one of
the most striking features of
the Roman Church that she hath
most powerfully asserted, guarded,
promoted, and vindicated the doc-
trine that the Virgin was conceived
without sin. It hath been the boast
of Our Predecessors that by their
authority they instituted in the
Roman Church the Feast of the
Conception of Mary, and caused it
to be observed with an Office and
a Mass wherein her privilege of
immunity from original sin was
openly asserted. Our said Prede-
cessors have done everything in
their power to increase the love of
the faithful for this doctrine : by
granting Indulgences in its honour ;
by giving permission to cities, pro-
vinces, and kingdoms to choose for
their Patroness the Mother of God,
under her title " Conceived without
sin ; " by approving of Guilds, Con-
gregations, and Associations of per-
sons under vows, all instituted in
honour of the sinless Conception ;
by praising the piety of those who
have founded Convents, Hospitals,
Altars and Churches named from
this belief; and lastly, by encourag-
ing those who have taken an oath
to defend this opinion to the utmost
of their power.
Sixth Lesson.
lyr OREOVER, Our said Predeces-
sors with great joy ordained
that the Feast of the said Concep-
tion should be observed as of the
same rank as that of the Nativity
of the Blessed Virgin, and appointed
that it should be kept with an Octave
throughout the whole Church. They
added this Feast to those which are
commanded to be kept with solem-
nity, and ordered that the ceremony
called a " Papal Chapel " should take
place every year on this Feast in
our Patriarchal Basilica of our Lady
of the Snows. And above all did
they rejoice in the hope of strengthen-
ing this belief in the minds of the
faithful, and stirring them up to
love and venerate the Virgin con-
ceived without sin, when they granted
permission to add to the Litany of
Loretto the invocation, " Queen con-
ceived without original sin," and to
insert the word "stainless" into the
Preface of the Mass on this Feast,
that so the law of prayer might be-
come the law of belief.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (i. 26.)
A T that time : The Angel Gabriel
was sent from God, unto a city
of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a vir-
gin espoused to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And so on.
Homily by St Bernard, Abbat [of
Clairvaux.] {2nd on this text.)
Rejoice, father Adam, and yet more
thou mother Eve, ye that are the
source of all, and the ruin of all, and
the unhappy cause of their ruin before
ye gave them birth. Be comforted
both in your daughter, and such a
daughter ; but chiefly thou, O woman,
of whom the first evil came, and who
hast cast thy slur upon all women.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
645
The time is come for the slur to be
taken away, and for the man to have
nothing to say against the woman.
At the first, when he unwisely began
to make excuse, he scrupled not to
throw the blame upon her, saying,
" The woman whom Thou gavest to
be with me, she gave me of the tree,
and I did eat." Wherefore, O Eve,
betake thyself to Mary : Mother, be-
take thyself to thy daughter : let the
daughter answer for the mother : let
her take away her mother's reproach ;
let her make up to her father for her
mother's fault : for if man be fallen by
means of woman, it is by means of
woman that he is raised up again.
Eighth Lesson.
VyHAT didst thou say, O Adam ?
"The woman whom Thou gav-
est to be with me, she gave me of the
tree, and I did eat." These are
wrathful words, by the which thou
dost rather magnify than diminish
thine offence. Nevertheless, Wisdom
hath defeated thy malice. God asked
thee that He might find in thee an
occasion of pardon, but, in that He
found it not, He hath sought and
found it in the Treasure of His Own
mercy. One woman answereth for
another ; the wise for the foolish ; the
lowly for the proud ; for her that gave
thee of the tree of death, another that
giveth thee to taste of the tree of life ;
for her that brought thee the bitter
food of sin, another that giveth thee
of the sweet fruits of righteousness.
Wherefore accuse the woman no more,
but speak in thanksgiving, and say,
" Lord, the woman whom Thou hast
given me, she hath given me of the
tree of life, and I have eaten ; and it
is in my mouth sweeter than honey,
for thereby hast Thou quickened me."
(Ps. cxviii. 103, 93.) Behold, it was
for this that the angel Gabriel was
sent to the Virgin, to the most worship-
ful of women, a woman more wonder-
ful than all women, the restorer of
them that went before, and the quick-
ener of them that come after her.
Ninth Lesson.
V\7"AS it not of this thy daughter, O
Adam, that God spake when
He said unto the serpent, " I will put
enmity between thee and the woman " ?
And if thou wilt still doubt that He
speaketh of Mary, hear what followeth :
"She shall bruise thy head." Who
won this conquest but Mary ? She
brought to nought the whole wiles of
Satan, whether for the pollution of her
body or the injury of her soul. Was
it not of her that Solomon spake,
where he saith, " Who shall find a
virtuous woman?" (Prov. xxxi. 10.)
The wise man knew the weaknesses of
women, how frail they are in body,
and how changeable in mind. But he
had read that God had promised that
the enemy, who had prevailed by
means of a woman, was by a woman
to be overthrown, and he believed.
But he wondered greatly, and said,
" Who shall find a virtuous woman ? "
that is to say : If our salvation, and
the bringing back of that which is lost,
and the final triumph over the enemy,
is in the hand of a woman, it must
needs be that a virtuous woman be
found, meet to work in that matter.
At Lands a Commemoration is made
of the Week-day, and then of St Mel-
chiades. Antiphon, and Verse and
Answer from the Common Office for a
Martyr, (J>. 482.) Prayer, "Merci-
fully consider our weakness, &c." (p.
491.)
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the nth day of December,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy Confessor Pope
646
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Damasus [of Spain], who condemned
the arch-heretic Apollinaris, and re-
stored to his papacy Peter, Pope of
Alexandria, who had been driven into
exile ; moreover, he found the bodies
of many holy martyrs, and caused to
be engraved upon their tombstones
verses composed by himself. [He
died in the year 384.]
Likewise at Rome, the holy martyr
Thrason, who fed at his own expense
Christians who were in prison or sent
to work in the baths, or at other
public works. He was arrested by
order of the Emperor Maximian, and
crowned with martyrdom along with
two others named Pontian and Pre-
textatus, [about the year 293.]
At Amiens, under the same Em-
peror Maximian, the holy martyrs
Victoricus and Fuscian. Rictiovarus
the President had iron spikes driven
into their nostrils and ears, and red-
hot nails hammered into their temples ;
after which their eyes l were torn out,
their bodies pierced with darts, and
their heads cut off, and so they and
holy Gentian, their host, passed away
to be for ever with the Lord, [in the
year 303.]
[At Astrahara, near Persepolis,] in
Persia, the holy martyr Barsabas,
[with ten monks, whose Abbat he
was, in the year 342, at the begin-
ning of the great persecution under
Sapor II.]
In Spain, the holy martyr Eutychius.
At Piacenza, holy Sabinus, Bishop
of that see, [in the fourth century,]
famous for miracles.
At Constantinople, [about the year
489,] holy Daniel the Stylite.
Vespers are of the following, from
the Chapter inclusive.
December ii.
&t ©amasus, $ope anti
Confessor,
Semi-double.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, (p. 515,) except
what is ot/ierwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
The Vespers begin at the Chapter.
Prayer throughout the Office.
T_T EAR our prayers, O Lord, and
at the petition of Thy blessed
Bishop and Confessor Damasus, merci-
fully grant us pardon and peace.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end. Amen.
A Commemoration is made of the
Immaculate Conception, and of the
Week-day.
COMPLINE.
The last verse of the Hymn is altered
in honour of the Incartmtion.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
The lessons are taken from Scrip-
ture according to the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
T~\ AM ASUS was a Spaniard, a man
of eminence and of great learn-
ing in the Scriptures, [and was elected
1 This passage is very peculiar, for if "tempera eorum clavis ardentibus transfixa fuissent,"
it must have been completely indifferent to them what might afterwards be done to their
eyes, &c. The order had probably been given to put them through a certain process, which
was continued to the end, although the second stage, perhaps by the intentional humanity
of the executioners, had put an end to their lives.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
647
to the Chair of Peter in the year of
our Lord, 366. In 381] he convoked
the First Council of Constantinople,
wherein he crushed the wicked heresy
of Eunomius and Macedonius. He
confirmed the condemnation of the
Assembly, at Rimini, which condem-
nation had already been pronounced by
Liberius. This Assembly of Rimini
was that in which, to use the language
of St Jerome, Valens and Ursacius
brought it about through trickery that
the Faith of Nice was abrogated by
mob law, and the world afterwards
groaned in amazement to find itself
Arian.
Fifth Lesson.
HP HIS Pope built two Basilicas, first,
St Lawrence's, near Pompey's
Theatre, which he magnificently en-
riched, and endowed with houses
and farms ; and, secondly, another,
over the Catacombs on the Road to
Ardea. He also consecrated the
Platonia, where the bodies of St Peter
and St Paul lay for some time, and
decorated it with elegant inscriptions
in poetry composed by himself. He
wrote on the subject of virginity both
in prose and verse, and likewise many
other poems on various subjects.
Sixth Lesson.
T_J E ordained that false accusers
should be punished for the
offences which they had falsely laid to
the charge of their neighbours. He
established the usage, which already
prevailed in many churches, of singing
the Psalms, both by day and by night,
by alternate choirs, and of adding at
the end of each Psalm the words,
" Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost." It was
at his command that St Jerome revised
the translation of the New Testament
to accord with the Greek text. He
ruled the Church for seventeen years,
two months, and twenty-six days. He
held five Advent ordinations, wherein
he ordained thirty-one Priests, eleven
Deacons, and sixty-two Bishops for
divers Sees. At length he fell asleep
in the Lord, in the reign of Theodosius
the Elder, [upon the 10th day of
December, in the year 384, being]
aged nearly eighty years, and full of
righteousness, truth, and judgment.
He was buried beside his mother and
sister in the Church which he had
himself founded on the Road to Ardea.
His reliques were afterwards taken
to the Basilica of St Lawrence, which
is thence sometimes called " San
Lorenzo in Damaso."
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xxiv. 42, with
the Homily of St Hilary, (p. 527.)
At Lauds a Commemoration of the
Immaculate Conception, and of the
Week-day.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
The last verse of all the Hymns is
altered in honour of the Incarnation.
At Prime, " Thou That wast born
of the Virgin Mary."
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 12th day of December,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy martyr Synesius,
who was ordained a Reader in the
time of the blessed Pope Xystus, and
converted many to Christ ; he was
accused before the Emperor Aure-
lian, and received the crown of mar-
tyrdom by being beheaded, [in the
year 270.]
At Alexandria, under the Emperor
Decius, the holy martyrs Epimachus
and Alexander; they were long kept
in chains and put to divers torments,
648
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
but they persevered in the faith, and
at the last were burnt, [in the year 250.]
Likewise at Alexandria, the holy
women Ammonaria the Virgin, Mer-
curia, Dionysia, and another called
also Ammonaria. In the aforesaid
persecution under the Emperor De-
cius, the first of these died a blessed
death by the sword, after overcoming
torments unheard of. The judge was
ashamed to be conquered by women,
and shrank from causing the applica-
tion to them of the same tortures as
to the first, and so conquered by their
steadfastness, ordered them to be be-
headed, [in the year 250.]
On the same day, the holy martyrs
Hermogenes, Donatus, and twenty-
two others.
At Treves, [in the fourth century,]
under the President Rictiovarus, in
the persecution under the Emperor
Diocletian, suffered the holy martyrs
Maxentius, Constantius, Crescentius,
Justinus, and their Companions.
Vespers of the following, from the
Chapter inclusive.
December 12.
§\\ti> ©ap within tU QctAM of t$t
3mm&c\ktati Conception.
Semi-double.
All as on the Feast, except that
none of the Antiphons are doubled,
and whatever else is given here.
At Vespers a Commemoration of
St Damasus, (Antiphon, " Being
made the Chief Bishop, &c," (p. 526)
and Prayer as at his First Vespers)
and of the Week-day.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
The Lessons are taken from Scrip-
ture according to the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Dog-
matic Bull of Pope Pius IX.
THE language used in public wor-
ship is the necessary offspring
of the teaching which it expresseth,
and the former can have no safety
unless the latter be settled. Where-
fore Our Predecessors the Roman
Pontiffs, while encouraging the pious
love of the faithful for the Concep-
tion of the Blessed Virgin, have
taken care ceaselessly to inculcate
the sinlessness of the same. They
have always particularly insisted that
the Feast should be observed not in
honour of Mary's sanctification, a
false opinion, most foreign to the
mind of the Church [but which hath
nevertheless been maintained by
some,] but in honour of her Con-
ception itself.
Fifth Lesson.
'T'HE same Our Predecessors have
likewise resisted the dreams of
those who have imagined that in the
sinless Conception there were Two
Instants, and that the Church cele-
brateth the Second and not the
First. Indeed, Our said Prede-
cessors have considered the sinless-
ness of the First Instant to be as
much a truth for their assertion,
protection, and promulgation, as the
sinlessness of the Conception at all.
Hence came those words in which
Our Predecessor Alexander VII. in
a decree declareth the mind of the
Church, and saith, " Christ's faithful
people, drawn by love to His
most blessed Mother, the Virgin
Mary, have of a long time believed
that God, at the very First Instant
in which He made her soul and
joined it to her body, by a special
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
649
THIRD NOCTURN.
grace and privilege granted to her,
through the merits of His dear Son,
Christ JESUS, the Saviour of the
world, Whose precious death He
foreknew, cleansed her from all sin,
original as well as actual ; and it is
in this belief, and no other, that AT that time : The Angel Gabriel
the said faithful of Christ have al- was sent from God, unto a
ways kept with devotion and joy city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (i. 26.)
the Feast of the said Conception."
Sixth Lesson.
T T hath always been one of the
most weighty cares of Our said
Predecessors the Roman Pontiffs to
protect the doctrine of the sin-
lessness of Mary's Conception from
any sort of attack or corruption.
Not only have they suffered no one
to condemn and traduce it, but they
have gone much further, and in
public and repeated declarations
have averred : That that doctrine
which holdeth that the Virgin was
conceived without sin is a doctrine,
the arguments in support of which
are strong enough to enable the
a Virgin espoused to a man whose
name was Joseph, of the house of
David, and the Virgin's name was
Mary. And so on.
Homily by St Tarasius, Patriarch
[of Constantinople.]1 {On the Pres-
entation of the Mother of God.)
O Mary, where shall I find words
to praise thee ? Maiden undefiled,
virgin unstained, exaltation of women,
glory of daughters ! Holy Maiden
Mother, blessed art thou among
women, thy glory is in thy guileless-
ness, and thy name is a name of
purity. In thee the curse of Adam
is done away, and the debt of Eve
paid. Thou art the clean offering
of Abel, chosen out of the firstlings
profession thereof to be made at of the flock, a pure sacrifice. Thou
the time of public worship, which art the hope of Enoch, that firm hope
is antient, which is almost univer- that he had in God, and was not
sal, which is one of those which ashamed. Thou art the grace that
the Church of Rome encourageth was in Enoch in this life, and his
and protecteth, and which is worthy transit to a better. Thou art the
even to be expressed in the Holy Ark of Noah, and the bond of re-
Liturgy itself, and in the most
solemn prayers of the Church. Our
said Predecessors did not stop even
here, but in order to preserve the
doctrine of the Virgin's sinless Con-
conciliation with God in a new re-
generation. Thou art the exceeding
glory of the kingdom and Priesthood
of Melchisedech. Thou art the un-
shaken trust of Abraham, and his
ception from any injury, they strictly faith in the promise of children that
forbade that the opposite opinion were to-be. Thou art the renewed
should be maintained either in pub- oblation and the reasonable burnt-
lie or in private, to the end that it offering of Isaac. Thou art the
might at length die out under their ladder that Jacob saw going up to
disapprobation. heaven, and the most noble of all
1 The Martyrology for Feb. 25 mentions at Constantinople, "the holy Bishop Tharasius,
famous for learning and godliness, addressed to whom there exists an Epistle of Pope
Adrian I. in defence of holy Images." Consecrated on a Christmas Day, about a.d. 780.
Died Feb. 25, 806.
650
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
his children throughout the twelve
tribes of Israel. According to the
flesh thou art the daughter of Judah.
Thou art the modesty of Joseph,
and the overthrow of the old Egypt,
yea, and of the Synagogue of the
Jews. O purest ! Thou art the
book of Moses the Lawgiver,
whereon the new covenant is writ-
ten with the finger of God, for the
new Israel, fleeing from the spiritual
Egypt, even as the old law was
written upon Sinai, for the old
Israel, that Israel which was fed
in the wilderness upon manna and
water from the rock, whereof both
were types of Christ, which was yet
to come from thy womb, as a bride-
groom from his chamber. Thou art
Aaron's rod that budded. Thou art
David's daughter, all glorious within,
clothed in a vesture of gold, wrought
about with divers colours.
Eighth Lesson.
T^HOU art the vision of the Pro-
phets and the fulfilment of
those things which they foretold.
Thou art the gate whereof Ezekiel
spake, when he prophesied, and
said, " This gate shall be shut, it
shall not be opened, and no man
shall enter in by it ; because the
LORD, the God of Israel, hath en-
tered in by it, therefore it shall be
shut" (xliv. 2.) Thou art the Rod
of Jesse, whereof Isaiah spake, (xi.
I,) even that Rod whose Flower is
Christ, and whose offshoots shall
choke out all the seedlings of sin,
and fill the earth with plants of
grace. Thou art the Covenant fore-
told by Jeremiah when he said (xxxi.
31) "Behold, the days come, saith
the Lord, that I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel,
and with the house of Judah, not
according to the covenant that I
made with their fathers " — thereby
signifying the coming of thy Son,
and calling upon all nations to
worship Him for their God, even
to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Thou art the great mountain spoken
of by Daniel, the man greatly be-
loved, wherefrom is cut without
man's hands the corner-stone, that
is, Christ, which hath smitten in
pieces the parti-coloured image of
the old serpent. I honour thee as
the unpolluted fountain, I proclaim
that thou art full of grace, I praise
thee as the clean and undefiled
tabernacle of God. Verily, where
sin abounded, grace did much more
abound. As by a woman death
entered into the world, by a woman
came the power to rise again. The
serpent gave us to eat deadly fruit,
but that fall hath ended in the life-
giving Bread of Immortality. Eve,
our first mother, brought forth Cain the
first murderer ; thou, O Mary, hast
brought forth Christ, the first-fruits
of life and of the resurrection. Ear
hath not heard the like. It hath
not entered into the heart of man
to conceive this new thing. Blessed
be the unspeakable depths of the
Wisdom of God.
Ninth Lesson.
AND now we, the people of God,
a holy generation, an acceptable
congregation, the nestlings of the dove
of peace, children of grace, do with
purified minds and unpolluted lips,
praise God in the tongues of all
nations in this joyful solemnity of the
Virgin. This is a noble Feast where-
in the Angels keep holiday and men
do most fitly offer praise, even a feast
wherein we echo with reverence and
joy that salutation first spoken by
Gabriel. Hail Mary ! Hail, thou
Paradise of God the Father, whence
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
6SI
the knowledge of Him floweth in
broad rivers to the ends of the earth !
Hail, Dwelling-place of God the Son,
whence He came forth clothed in
flesh ! Hail, mysterious Tabernacle of
God the Holy Ghost ! Hail, thou that
art holier than the Cherubim ! Hail,
thou that art more glorious than the
Seraphim ! Hail, thou that art nobler
than the heavens ! Hail, thou that
art brighter than the sun ! Hail, thou
that art fairer than the moon ! Hail,
manifold splendour of the stars !
Hail, light cloud, dropping the dew of
heaven ! Hail, holy breeze, clearing
the air of the vapours of sin ! Hail,
royal theme of the Prophets ! Hail,
sound of the Apostles gone out into
all the earth ! Hail, most excellent
confession of the Martyrs ! Hail, just
hope of the Patriarchs ! Hail, pecu-
liar honour of all the Saints ! Hail,
source of health to dying creatures !
Hail, O Queen, ambassadress of
peace ! Hail, stainless crown of
motherhood ! Hail, advocate of all
under heaven ! Hail, restoration of
the whole world ! Hail, thou that art
full of grace, the Lord is with thee,
even the Lord that is before thee,
and from thee, and that is with us.
To Him, with the Father, and the
most holy and Life-giving Spirit, be
ascribed all praise, now and ever,
world without end. Amen.
At Lauds a Commemoration is made
of the Week-day.
MARTYROLOGY.
On the 1 3th day of December, were
born into the better life —
At Syracuse, in Sicily, in the perse-
cution under the Emperor Diocletian,
the holy Virgin and martyr Lucy.
By command of Paschasius the Con-
sular she was handed over to panders
to make a public mock of her chastity,
but when they would have led her away
they could not move her even with
ropes, and not even when these were
drawn by many yoke of oxen ; then
they poured upon her boiling pitch,
rosin, and oil ; but these did not hurt
her, and at length she was smitten in
the neck with a sword, and so finished
her testimony, [in the year 303.]
In Armenia, in the same persecution
under the Emperor Diocletian, the
holy martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius,
Eugenius, Mardarius, and Orestes.
Eustratius was first put to dreadful
torments under Lysias, and after-
wards to the like at Sebaste, along
with Orestes, under the President
Agricolaus, and was then cast into
a furnace, wherein he gave up the
ghost. Orestes was laid upon an iron
bed heated with fire, and so passed
away to be ever with the Lord. The
others finished their testimony in
divers ways in the country of the
Arabraci, after enduring most cruel
sufferings under the President Lysias.
Their bodies were afterwards brought
to Rome and honourably buried in
the church of St Apollinaris.
In the island of Sulcis,1 off the coast
of Sardinia, [in the second century,]
under the Emperor Hadrian, the holy
martyr Antiochus.
At Cambray, in Gaul, the holy
Confessor Aubert, Bishop [of that
see, and of Arras. He was con-
secrated on March 21, 633, and
died in the year 669.]
At Ponthieu, [in Gaul, in the year
669,] the holy Confessor Josse, [King
of Brittany and hermit at Ponthieu.]
In the country of Strasbourg, [in
the eighth century,] the holy Virgin
Othilia. [First Abbess of Hohen-
burg, of the order of St Benedict,
she was daughter of a Duke of
Alsace.]
1 Now called Sant* Antioco.
652
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
At Moulins, in Gaul, the holy widow
Jeane Frances Fremiot de Chantal,
[1572- 1641,] foundress of the Con-
gregation of Nuns of the Visitation
of St Mary. She was eminent by
her noble birth, by the holiness of
her life, which she sanctified unceas-
ingly in the four different states of
maiden, wife, widow, and nun, and
by the grace of working miracles,
and Clement XIII. enrolled her name
among those of the Saints. Her
sacred body was translated to Annecy,
in Savoy, and there entombed with
solemn pomp in the first church
of their order. Clement the XIV.
ordered her feast to be kept by the
Universal Church upon the 21st day
of August.
Vespers of the following.
December i 3.
&t Hucg, Firsm anti Jttartgr*
COMPLINE.
The last verse of the Hymn is altered
in honour of the Incarnation.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from 1 Cor. vii. 25 {p. 568.)
First Responsory.
Maiden Lucy, why seekest thou of
me that which thou thyself canst pre-
sently give thy mother ? For thy
faith hath holpen her, and, behold,
she is made whole — because thou hast
made in thy virginity a pleasant dwell-
ing-place for thy God.
Verse. Even as Christ hath by me
glorified Catania, so by thee shall He
glorify Syracuse.
Answer. Because thou hast made
in thy virgkaity a pleasant dwelling-
place for thy God.
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Virgin and Martyr, {p. 567,) except
what is given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons at the Psalms, and
Prayer from Lauds.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. In patience hast thou
possessed thy soul, Lucy, Bride of
Christ : thou hast hated the things
that are in the world, and art glorified
among the Angels ; thou hast shed
thine own blood, and conquered the
Adversary.
A Comtnemoration is made of the
Immaculate Conception, and of the
Week-day.
1 I.e., Instead of loving me.
Second Responsory.
I besought my Lord JESUS Christ
that this fire might not take hold upon
me ; and I obtained from the Lord
that I should not finish my testimony
for yet a while.
Verse. For so much as they loved
me,1 so bitterly spake they against
me: but I gave myself unto prayer.2
Answer. And I obtained from the
Lord that I should not finish my testi-
mony for yet a while.
Third Responsory.
The Lord made her to prevail in
the battle, and she was glorified in
the sight of God and man : she spake
wisdom before princes : and the Lord
of all loved her.
Verse. God shall help her with His
2 Cf. Ps. cviii. 4.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
653
countenance : God is in the midst of
her : she shall not be moved.
Answer. And the Lord of all loved
her.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And the Lord of all
loved her.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
I" UCY was a maiden of Syracuse,
the daughter of a noble Christian
family. Her mother Eutychia, being
afflicted with an issue of blood, went
with her to Catania, to pray before
the body of the blessed Agatha. Lucy,
by her earnest prayers at the grave,
obtained her mother's cure, through
the intercession of Agatha, and then
immediately begged her to give to
Christ's poor the whole dowry which
had been set apart for herself. As
soon, therefore, as they returned to
Syracuse, they sold the property, and
distributed the money among the poor.
Fourth Responsory.
Come, Bride of Christ, &c. (First
Responsory in the Common Office. )
Fifth Lesson.
"\17"HEN this came to the ears of
one to whom her parents had
betrothed her against her will, he
accused Lucy before Paschasius the
Prefect of being a Christian. The
Prefect could not move her to commit
idolatry, either by his entreaties or
his threats ; nay, the more he strove
to persuade her, so much the bolder
did she become in her confession.
Then, seeing that he could prevail
nothing, "words," saith he, "will
cease when we come to blows." 1 To
whom the virgin answered, " God's
servants will never want words, for
the Lord Christ hath said : When ye
shall stand before kings and governors,
take no thought how or what ye shall
speak, for it shall be given you in
that same hour what ye shall speak,
for it is not ye that speak, but the
Holy Ghost Which speaketh in you."
(Matth. x. 18-20; Mark xiii. 9-1 1.)
Fifth Responsory.
Grace is poured into thy lips, &c,
(Second Responsory in the Common
Office.) '
Sixth Lesson.
'T^HEN Paschasius asked her saying,
1 "Is the Holy Ghost in thee?"
Whereto she answered, "They that
live in chastity and piety are the
temples of the Holy Ghost." " Then,"
said he, " I will send thee to be
prostituted in a brothel, and get the
Holy Ghost out of thee." To whom
she made reply, " Thou canst not
prostitute my will. If thou cause this
poor body to be violated, the crown
of my soul's purity will be brighter
through suffering." Then he bade
them take her to the place of shame,
but by the power of God it became
impossible to move her. Whereupon,
being inflamed with anger, he had
pitch, resin, and boiling oil poured
upon her, and then set on fire. But
the fire did not take hold upon her.
Therefore he practised many other
cruelties upon her, and at last thrust
a sword through her neck. When
Lucy had received this wound, she
began to speak of the peace of the
Church, which it should enjoy after
the death of Diocletian and Maximian,
and presently returned her soul into
the hands of God. She testified on
•vol. 1.
1 There is an untranslateable pun on verba and verbera.
654
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
the thirteenth day of December.1
Her body was buried at Syracuse, but
afterwards taken to Constantinople,
and lastly to Venice.
Sixth Responsory .
In thy comeliness, &c, {Third Re-
sponsory in the Common Office.)
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xiii. 44, with
the Homily of St Gregory, {p. 583.)
Seventh Responsory.
Because of truth, &c, {Fourth Re-
sponsory in the Common Office for Holy
Women. )
Eighth Responsory .
Thou hast loved righteousness, &c.
{Fifth Responsory in the Common Office
for Holy Women,) to which is added :
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Therefore God, thy God,
hath anointed thee with the oil of
gladness.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. When holy Lucy
prayed, * the blessed Agatha appeared
to her, and comforted the handmaid
of Christ.
Second Antiphon. Maiden Lucy, *
why seekest thou of me that which
thou thyself canst presently give thy
mother ?
Third Antiphon. Maiden Lucy, *
by thee shall Christ glorify Syracuse.
Fourth Antiphon. I bless Thee, O
Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, be-
cause through Thy Son the fire is
quenched round about me.
Fifth Antiphon. Lucy my sister, *
maiden consecrated to God, why seek-
est thou of me that which thou thyself
canst presently give thy mother ?
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Lucy, Bride of Christ, thou art become
as a pillar that cannot be shaken ; all
the people wait for thee, until thou re-
ceive the crown of life. Alleluia.
Prayer throughout the Office, "Gra-
ciously hear us, O God of our salva-
tion, &c," {p. 585.) "Thy blessed
handmaiden and witness Lucy."
A Commemoration is made of the
Immaculate Conception, and of the
Week-day.
PRIME, TERCE, SEXT, NONE.
The last verse of all the Hymns is
altered in>. honour of the Incarnation.
The Antiphons are taken successively
from Lauds, omitting the Fourth.
At Prime, " Thou That wast born
of the Virgin Mary."
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 14th day of December,
were born into the better life —
At Alexandria, [in the year 250,]
the holy martyrs Heron, Arsenius,
and Isidore, and a lad Dioscorus.
In the persecution under the Em-
peror Decius the judge caused Heron,
Arsenius, and Isidore to be lacerated
with divers torments, and, when he
saw them to be all equally steadfast,
to be burnt. Dioscorus was heavily
whipped, but God was pleased that,
for the comfort of the faithful, he
should then be set at liberty.
At Antioch, the holy martyrs Drusus,
Zosimus, and Theodore.
Upon the same day, [in the year
284,] the holy martyrs Justus and
Abundius. Under Olybrius the Presi-
1 " She died in prison of the wounds she had received, about the year 304." Alban Butler.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
655
dent, in the persecution under the
Emperor Numerian, they were cast
into the fire, and when they appeared
thence unburnt, they were beheaded.
At Rheims, the holy martyrs Nicas-
ius, Bishop, [in the year 400,] of that
see ; the Virgin Eutropia, his sister,
and their Companions, who were slain
by the savage enemies of the Church
[in the year 407.]
In the island of Cyprus the blessed
Spiridion, Bishop [of Tremithos ;] he
was one of those Confessors whose right
eyes were put out and their left thighs
hamstrung, and were condemned to
penal servitude in the mines by the
Emperor Galerius Maximian. He was
illustrious for the gift of prophecy, and
the fame of miracles, and at the Coun-
cil of Nice, [held in 325,] he confuted
and converted to the faith a heathen
philosopher who attacked the Christian
religion, [and died after the year 347.]
At Bergamo, the holy Confessor
Viator, Bishop [of that see.]
At Pavia, holy Pompey, Bishop [of
that see.]
At Naples, in Campania, [in the
year 596,] holy Agnello, Abbat [at
Naples,] famous for the grace of
miracles, who, when the city had been
beleaguered, had often been seen with
a flag marked with a cross, delivering
it from the enemy.
At Ubeda, in Spain, the holy Con-
fessor John of the Cross [died in 1 591 ;]
a companion of holy Teresa in reform-
ing the Carmelites, whose feast is kept
upon the 24th day of November.
At Milan, the holy Hermit Matronian.
SECOND VESPERS.
Antiphons at the Psalms and Prayer
from Lauds.
Antiphon at the Song- of the Blessed
Virgin. The Holy Ghost came upon
the bride of Christ in great power, so
that she could not be moved.
A Commemoration is made of the
Immaculate Conception, and of the
Week-day.
At Compline the Hymn is altered as
at the other Hours.
Note. If the Feast of St Lucy
should fall upon the Third Sunday in
Advent, it is merely commemorated at
both Vespers and Lauds without having
the Ninth Lesson, (J>. 578.)
December 14.
§bmnt§ ©ap witfyin tfyi Octave of
i$t 3imnacufafe Conception.
Semi-double.
All as on the Feast, except that none
of the Antiphons are doubled, and what-
ever else is differently given here.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
The Lessons are taken from Scripture
according to the Season. If this day
happen to be Ember Wednesday, they
are from Proverbs viii. 12, {p. 556.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Dog-
matic Bull of Pope Pius IX.
T T is known to all men, with what
care this doctrine of the sinless-
ness of the conception of the Mother
of God hath been handed down, set
forth, and defended by the most dis-
tinguished Religious Orders, Theol-
ogians, Universities, and Doctors
skilled in the things of God. All men
know likewise how carefully Christian
Bishops, even in their public teaching,
have professed the doctrine that
through the merits of Christ our
656
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Lord and Saviour, foreknown by God,
the Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of
God, was delivered from ever being
the victim of original sin, but, on the
contrary, had the fruits of redemption
applied to her at the very moment of
her Conception, and was therefore re-
deemed in a nobler way than others.
But the weightiest fact of all is that
the most holy Council of Trent, when,
in accordance with the Holy Scrip-
tures, as interpreted by the holy
Fathers and the approved Councils,
it decreed that all men are conceived
in sin, expressly added that it did not
mean thereby to say that the blessed
and stainless Mary, Mother of God,
did not form an exception to the rule.
From this declaration of the Fathers
of Trent it can clearly be drawn that
there is nothing in the Bible, nothing
in tradition, and nothing in the Fathers
which can rightly be adduced against
this prerogative of the most Blessed
Virgin ; nay, as far as circumstances
demanded, they as much as declared
her free from the original stain.
Fifth Lesson.
T N truth, this doctrine upon the Con-
ception of the most Blessed Virgin
is day by day more earnestly set forth
by the graver thought of the Church,
by her teaching, by her care, by her
learning, and by her wisdom. It is
explained, taught, confirmed, and won-
derfully spread among all peoples and
nations of the Catholic world. The
Church hath received it from the
Fathers, as a part of the original
faith, attested strongly by the most
ancient and venerable monuments of
both the Eastern and Western
Churches. Indeed, the Fathers and
Ecclesiastical writers, learned in Holy
Scripture, are marked by no more
earnest feature than that in all their
books and Scriptural Commentaries,
written for the confirmation of doc-
trine, and the edification of the faith-
ful, they do all in divers ways preach
and teach the excelling holiness of this
Virgin, her dignity, her freedom from
any stain of sin, and the glory of her
victory over the dark enemy of our
race.
Sixth Lesson.
A LL Commentators on the Book of
Genesis remark that passage
where God at the very time of the
Fall speaketh of the Atonement, to the
confusion of the lying serpent, and the
comfortable hope of man, and saith :
" I will put enmity between thee and
the woman, and between thy seed and
her seed," and all the ancients teach
that by this passage is meant the most
merciful Saviour of mankind, namely,
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-
Begotten Son of God and His most
blessed Mother the Virgin Mary, as if
the enmity which both He and she
felt against the devil was, in a sense,
of a kind common to them Both.
Christ took our nature upon Him, and
is become the Mediator between God
and man, ( 1 Tim. ii. 5,) blotting out the
handwriting that was against us, nail-
ing it to His Cross, (Col. ii. 14,) and
the most Holy Virgin, by that subtle,
close, and abiding tie which bindeth
mother to Child, feeleth along with
Him His truceless enmity to the ser-
pent, and He, through His merits,
hath granted to her that moment of
victory wherein her stainless foot
bruised the serpent's head.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (i. 26.)
A T that time : The angel Gabriel
■^^ was sent from God, unto a city
of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
657
virgin espoused to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary. And
so on.
Homily by St Sophronius, Patriarch
[of Jerusalem.] {On the Annuncia-
tion. )
Blessed indeed art thou among wo-
men, for thou hast turned the curse of
Eve into a blessing ; thou hast even
brought a blessing upon Adam, when
he lay smitten by the first sentence of
death. Blessed indeed art thou among
women, for thou art the mean whereby
the Father's blessing hath come upon
man, and delivered him from the old
curse. Blessed indeed art thou among
women, for by thee thy fathers have
found salvation ; the salutation of the
Angel telleth thee that thou art about
to bear them a Deliverer. Blessed
indeed art thou among women, for
thou, not knowing a man, conceivest
a Son through Whom the whole
earth shall be blessed, and bring
forth thorns and thistles no more.
Blessed indeed art thou among wo-
men, for thou remainest thyself no
more than a woman, and yet art
made Mother of God. If That holy
Thing Which shall be born of thee
be truly God made Man, then art
thou truly Mother of God, for God
is made thine Offspring.
Eighth Lesson.
" T^EAR not, Mary, for thou hast
found grace with God " —
abiding grace. Thou hast found
grace with God — exceeding grace.
Thou hast found grace with
God — all desirable grace. Thou
hast found grace with God - —
greater grace than any other. Thou
hast found grace with God — unfail-
ing grace. Thou hast found grace
with God — saving grace. Thou hast
found grace with God — immoveable
grace. Thou hast found grace with
God — invincible grace. Thou hast
found grace with God — everlasting
grace. Before thee there have been
others, many others, made wonder-
ful in holiness, but to none hath it
been given, as to thee, to be full of
grace ; to none hath it been given,
as to thee, to attain to such divine
riches ; to none, as to thee, to be pre-
vented by purifying grace ; to none,
as to thee, to shine from the day-
spring with light from heaven ; to
none, as to thee, to be exalted
above all things before created.
Ninth Lesson.
AND justly; for none hath ever
"^^ drawn so near to God as thou
hast ; none hath ever been gifted
by God with good gifts as thou
hast ; none hath ever received of
God's grace as thou hast. Thou
art mightier than all things which
are called mighty among men ; thou
hast received more than the good-
ness of God hath conferred on any
other. It is indeed because God
made His home in thee that thou
thus aboundest. There hath never
been any save thee that hath com-
prehended the Incomprehensible ;
none save thee that hath enjoyed
His presence so much ; none that
He hath made so ready therefor ;
none on whom the uncreated light
hath shone so clearly ; and there-
fore none who hath, like thee,
sheltered the Lord God, the Maker
and Lord of all, conceived Him in
thy womb, and brought Him into
the world, to redeem men lying
under the Father's sentence, and
to offer to them everlasting salvation.
Wherefore, O Lady, I have already
cried unto thee with the Angel, and
I will still cry — " Hail, thou that art
658
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
full of grace, the Lord is with thee !
Blessed art thou among women ! "
A Commemoration of the Weik-day
is made at Lauds.
MARTYROLOGY.
To-morrow is the Octave of the
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin Mary.
Upon the same day is commem-
orated the ordination [on December 1 5,
about the year 340,] of holy Eusebius,
Bishop of Vercelli, [he was a Reader
of the Church of Rome,] who was
born into the better life upon the 1st
day of August, but whose feast is kept
upon the 16th day of this present
month of December by command of
Pope Benedict XIII. [He was born
about the year 3 1 5 and died about the
year 371 or 375.]
Upon the same 1 5th day of De-
cember, were born into the better
life—
At Rome, [in the third century,] the
holy martyrs Irenaeus, Antony, Theo-
dore, Saturninus, Victor, and seven-
teen others who suffered for Christ's
sake in the persecution under the
Emperor Valerian.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Faus-
tinus, Lucius, Candidus, Ccelian, Mark,
Januarius, and Fortunatus.
Likewise in Africa, holy Valerian,
Bishop [of Abbenze.] When he was
more than eighty years of age the
Arian king Genseric, during the
Vandal persecution, sought to make
him consent to give up the vessels
of the church, and because he stead-
fastly refused so to do, he caused
him to be thrust out of the city
alone, and since it was forbidden
to any man to allow him to come
into his house or to dwell in his
field, he lay a long time in the open
air on the public highway, and finished
the course of his blessed life, [in the
year 457,] in the profession and de-
fence of Catholic truth.
In the country of Orleans, the holy
Confessor Maximin, [2nd Abbat ot
Michy, in the Diocese of Orleans
about the year 520.]
In the country of the Iberians,
beyond the Black Sea, [in the third
century,] the holy handmaiden Christi-
ana, [the Apostle of the Iberians of
the Caucasus,] who in the time of the
Emperor Constantine, by the power
of her miracles, brought that people
to believe in Christ.
Vespers of the following.
December 15.
bctavt of t$t ^mmacvitatt £on*
cepfton.
Double.
All as on the Feast, {First Vespers
as the First Vespers of the Feast,) ex-
cept what is otherwise given here.
FIRST vespers.
A Commemoration is made of the
Week-day.
MATTINS.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Dog-
matic Bull of Pope Pius IX.
T^ROM of old time continual
prayers have been offered to
this Apostolic See not only by Bish-
ops, Churchmen, and the Regular
Orders, but also by Emperors and
Kings, beseeching that the sinless-
ness of the Conception of the
Mother of God might be made the
subject of a Dogmatic Definition.
These prayers have been still more
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
659
urgently addressed in recent times to
Our Predecessor, of happy memory,
Gregory XVI., and to Ourselves, by
the Bishops, by the Secular Clergy, by
the Regular Orders, and by the most
eminent Christian Princes and nations.
The knowledge of these things hath
caused Our heart to rejoice, and
they have been the serious occupa-
tion of Our thoughts ever since, in
spite of our unworthiness, the in-
scrutable Providence of God was
pleased to set Us in this supreme
Chair of Peter, and to put His
Church into Our hands, for Us to
govern. Since then, We have had
nothing so much at heart as to
yield to the desires of the Church
in this matter, to the increasing of
the veneration of which the most
holy Virgin is already the object,
and to the setting in a clearer light
the singular graces with which God
hath adorned her, being Ourselves
especially drawn to the same by
the reverence, love, and affection
with which We have been from
Our childhood animated towards the
same most holy Virgin Mary, Mother
of God.
Fifth Lesson.
AND now We trust in the Lord
that the time is come to de-
fine as a truth of faith the doctrine
of the stainless Conception of the
most holy Virgin Mary, Mother of
God, that doctrine already set forth
by Holy Scripture, by the ancient
tradition, by the unbroken belief of
the Universal Church, by the one
common opinion of the Catholic
Episcopate and laity, and by the
marked acts and decrees of Our
Predecessors. We have weighed
everything in Our mind, and We
have without ceasing implored the
help and light of God's Holy Spirit
by earnest prayer, and We are of
opinion that it is Our duty no
longer to delay, but by Our Supreme
Decision to settle and declare that
the Virgin was conceived without sin,
and thus to satisfy the godly cravings
of the whole Christian world, as well
as the instinct of Our own love for the
said most holy Virgin, and, above all,
because she is His Mother, to glorify
our Lord Jesus Christ by this act,
since whatever we do rightly to
honour the Mother must redound
to the glory of the Son.
Sixth Lesson.
VyHEREFORE, having in all
fasting and humbleness of
heart continually implored God the
Father through His Blessed Son, to
hear Our own prayers and those of
His whole Church, and to teach and
strengthen Our mind by the power of
His Holy Spirit, having begged the in-
tercession of the Church Triumphant,
and, above all, with groans called on
the Holy Ghost the Comforter, We
now, moved by Him, for the honour
of the Holy and Undivided Trinity,
for the greater praise and exaltation
of the Virgin Mother of God, the
glory of the Catholic Faith, and the
good of Christianity, in the name
and authority of our Lord JESUS
Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter
and Paul, and in Our own, declare
and define that : — That doctrine
which declareth that the most blessed
Virgin Mary was, in the first in-
stant of her Conception, preserved,
by a special grace and privilege
granted to her by Almighty God,
through the merits of Christ Jesus,
Saviour of mankind, which He fore-
knew, from any stain of original
sin, is a doctrine taught and re-
vealed by God, and therefore from
this time forward must be held by
all faithful Christians firmly and con-
66o
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
from the East even unto the West !
Hail, gate of heaven, full of grace,
of whom the Prophet in the Song
of Songs openly speaketh in the
course of his prayer, saying, " A
garden enclosed is My sister, My
Spouse, a garden enclosed, a foun-
tain sealed." (iv. 12.)
Eighth Lesson.
'THE Virgin is that stainless lily
whence hath sprung the Rose
that fadeth not, even Christ. O Holy
Mother of God ! Ewe without spot,
that hast borne the Lamb That took
flesh of thee, even Christ ! O
Maiden whose holiness hath dazzled
the heavenly armies! There hath
appeared a great sign in heaven, a
woman clothed with the sun, and
with the Light in her arms ; a great
sign in heaven, the Virgin's womb
the chamber of the Son of God ; a
great sign in heaven, the Lord of
angels made the Virgin's child. The
angels accused Eve, but now they
praise Mary, who hath raised Eve
fallen, and restored to heaven Adam
banished from Paradise. For Mary
is the bridge between heaven and
earth, the ambassadress who hath
reconciled them in her womb.
Ninth Lesson.
VXTE cannot measure the grace be-
stowed upon this holy Virgin.
Hence the salutation addressed to her
by Gabriel, " Hail," thou glorious
heaven, " full of grace." " Hail,"
Virgin adorned with many graces,
yea, "full of grace." "Hail," thou
vessel of gold that holdest the
manna that came down from heaven,
"full of grace." "Hail," thou un-
1 The Martyrology (May 12) says that " he remains a wonder, on account of his eminent
and varied learning and knowledge of the Scriptures, of the holiness of his life, of his zeal
for the Catholic faith, of his bounty toward the poor, and of the mighty miracles which he
wrought." Born about a.d. 310. Elected Bishop about 367. Died, May 12, 405.
stantly. Wherefore if any one, which
God forbid, shall at any time think
in his heart any thing contrary to
this Our definition, let him know
that he is condemned by his own
judgment, that he hath made ship-
wreck of the faith, and that he hath
cut himself off from the body of the
Church.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (i. 26.)
AT that time: The Angel Gabriel
was sent from God, unto a city
of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a Vir-
gin espoused to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David,
and the Virgin's name was Mary.
And so on.
Homily by St Epiphanius, Bishop
[of Salamis-in-Cyprus.] x {Discourse
in praise of the Blessed Virgin.)
I am at a loss what words or
terms I ought to employ in speak-
ing of this illustrious and holy Vir-
gin. She is raised above all things
except God ; she was made much
higher than the Cherubim and Ser-
aphim, and the whole host of
heaven ; neither the voices of
heaven nor of earth are full enough
to set forth her majesty, no, not the
voices of Angels. O blessed Vir-
gin ! O pure dove and Bride of
heaven ! O Mary ! At once the
heaven, the temple, and the throne
of God ! Mother of the Sun that
shineth both on heaven and on
earth, even Christ ! Bright cloud,
through which the Son of Man hath
come as the lightning, that lighteneth
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
66 1
failing fountain, that satisfiest the
thirsty soul with sweet waters, "full
of grace." Hail, holy, sinless Mother
of Him That was before thee, even
Christ. Hail, thou Queenly purple,
mantle of the King of heaven and
earth. Hail, thou Book that no man
can understand, and yet which the
Eternal Word, the Son of the Father,
hath opened for earth to read.
At Lauds a Commemoration is
made of the Week-day.
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy martyr Eusebius, Bishop
of Vercelli, of whom mention is made
also upon the ist day of August,
[when he died between the years 370
and 375,] and yesterday as for this day.
Upon the same 16th day of De-
cember, were born into the better
life—
The three children Ananias, Aza-
rias, and Misael, whose bodies are
laid in a certain cave at Babylon [in
the sixth century before Christ.]
At Ravenna, the holy martyrs
Valentine, a military instructor, Con-
cordius his son, Navalis, and Agri-
cola, who suffered for Christ's sake,
[in the fourth century,] in the persecu-
tion under the Emperor Maximian.
At Nola, in Campania, in the per-
secution under the Emperor Decius,
the holy Virgin and martyr Albina,
[in the year 250.]
In Africa, many holy Virgins and
martyrs, who in the Vandal persecu-
tion under the Arian king Hunneric
suffered hanging, pressing, and red-
hot plates, and happily brought to a
close the conflict of martyrdom, [in
the year 482.]
At Vienne, [in the year 875,] the
blessed Confessor Ado, [monk of the
Order of St Benedict,] Bishop [of
Vienne.]
At Aberdeen, in Scotland,1 [in the
year m,] holy Bean, [called first]
Bishop [of that see.]
At Gaza, in Palestine, [in the year
389,] holy Bishop Irenion.
If the Octave falls on the Third
Stmday in Advent, the Office is of
the Season from the None of Satur-
day exclusive, but with Commemora-
tions of the Octave at both Vespers
and Lauds, and without Common
Commemorations or Preces.
Office of the Immaculate Con-
ception as a Votive Office,
for Saturdays.
Pope Pius IX. permitted that on all
Saturdays, with certain exceptions,
the Office of December 8, with cer-
tain alterations, be said instead of
the Office of the day. The Satur-
days excepted are :
{a) Any Saturday whatsoever upon
which Nine Lessons are read, either
by reason of the Week-day Office, or
of any Festal Office either belonging
to the day or transferred to it.
(b) The Saturdays in Advent, Lent,
and the Octaves of Easter and Pentecost.
(c) All Eves.
(d) Saturdays to which the Sunday
Office may be transferred according to
the Pye, iv. 4, 5.
The alterations in the Office itself
are —
(a) It is semi-double, with the Com-
mon Commemorations at Vespers and
Lauds, and Preces at Compline and
Prime. Its relations to a Simple
Office on Saturday itself, or a Semi-
double or Double on Friday or Sun-
1 In the original, by an extraordinary mistake, Hibernia.
VOL. I.
Y 2
662
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
day, {Sunday is always at least Semi-
double,) are arranged in the same way
as if it were a Semi-double Festival.
(b) The saying or omitting of the
"Alleluia " and one or two other points
are as immediately heretofore given
in the Office itself. In Paschal-time
Prime and Compline are said in the
Paschal manner.
(c) The Lessons of the First Noc-
turn are from Scripture according to
the Season.
(d) The Lessons of the Second and
Third Nocturn are —
Before Ash Wednesday, as on the
Second Day within the Octave.
In Paschal-time, as on the Third day.
From the Feast of the Most Pure
Heart to August, as on the Fifth Day.
From August to Advent, as on the
Seventh Day.
December 16.
§&t Sueefitus, Q&taflop [of QOtv,
ceffi,] QflUrfpr.
Semi-Double.
All from the Common Office for
one Martyr, {p. 482,) except what is
otherwise given here.
Prayer throughout. O God, Who
year by year, &c, {p. 491.)
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season. If this day fall upon one
of the Ember Days they are from Acts
xx. 17, {p. 483.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
TIJ*USEBIUS was a Sardinian by
birth, first a Reader in the
Roman Church, and then Bishop 'of
Vercelli. It seemed specially de-
signed by Providence that he should
be called to govern that Church, for
the electors, who had never before
known him, passed over, with a
strange unanimity, all their own
fellow-citizens, and chose Eusebius,
as soon as they had seen him. He
was the first Bishop in the Western
Church who established an Order of
Regular Clergy, to combine the active
with the contemplative life. At this
time the storm of Arian blasphemy
and sin was sweeping far and wide
over the West, and Eusebius set
himself to fight against it so man-
fully, that his unshaken faith brought
back Liberius again to life and hope.
This Pope, knowing that the Spirit
of God was in him, sent him with
his Legates to the Emperor Con-
stantius, [in the year 354,] to plead
the cause of the Catholic Faith.
His earnestness prevailed with that
Prince, so that he obtained all that
was asked for, and, among other
things, permission for a Council to
be summoned.
Fifth Lesson.
'THE year following, the Council
met at Milan, and Eusebius,
by the invitation of the Emperor,
and the desire and command of the
Papal Legates, attended. Here the
Arians, assembled in a perfect syna-
gogue of Satan, and all furiously rag-
ing together against holy Atha-
nasius, found Eusebius one of the
stoutest enemies of their faction. As
soon as he entered the Council, he
delivered a long harangue, wherein
he remarked that, of those there
gathered together, some were notori-
ously defiled with heresy, and there-
fore he proposed that everyone should
first of all subscribe the Nicene Creed,
before proceeding to any other busi-
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
663
ness. The Arians, in a violent pas-
sion, refused, whereupon he on his
part refused to subscribe any pro-
ceedings against Athanasius, and
even skilfully procured the with-
drawal of the signature of the holy
martyr Denys, then Bishop of Milan,
which they had lyingly procured by
practising on his simplicity. The
Arians were now entirely enraged,
and, after many persecutions, pro-
cured a decree of banishment against
Eusebius. The Saint shook off the
dust of his feet against them, and,
defying alike the threats of Cassar
and the drawn swords of the soldiery,
accepted the sentence as one of the
dignities of his office. He was sent
to Bethshan in the Holy Land, suf-
fering hunger, thirst, stripes, and all
manner of violence, but for the Faith's
sake he despised this life, and feared
not death, but freely delivered his
body to the tormentors.
Sixth Lesson.
TTK wrote a solemn letter from
Bethshan, addressed to the
clergy and people of Vercelli and that
neighbourhood, full of constancy, de-
votion, and piety, describing the
frightful cruelty and brazen impudence
of the Arians. From this letter we
know how completely they failed to
scare him by their threats and their
inhuman brutality, or to seduce him
by their serpent-like cunning into re-
ceiving their communion. In con-
sequence of his unshaken resolution,
he was moved from Bethshan into
Cappadocia, and then again, to the
deserts of Upper Egypt. He suffered
exile until the death of Constantius,
[in 361,] after which he was allowed
to return to his flock. First, how-
ever, he took care to attend the
Council at Alexandria, called to heal
the wounds of the Church, and, after-
wards, like a skilful physician, he
made a progress through all the
provinces of the East, strengthening
those that were weak in the Faith,
and confirming them in Christian
doctrine. Then, with the same
healthful results, he passed through
Illyricum into Italy, who, at his com-
ing, laid aside her garments of mourn-
ing. After his return, he published
an expurgated edition of Origen's
Commentary on the Psalms, and like-
wise of the works of Eusebius of
Caesarea, both which he translated
from Greek into Latin. At length,
distinguished by all these great works,
he passed to that crown of glory
which fadeth not away, promised to
them who suffer for the truth. He
departed this present life at Vercelli,
[in 371,] in the reign of Valentinian
and Valens.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xvi. 24, with
the Homily of St Gregory, (J>. 494.)
Eighth Responsory.
O Lord, Thou hast prevented him,
&c, (p 490.)
If this day be an Ember-Day, the
Ninth Lesson is 0/ that; in which
case the Ninth Lesson from the Homily
is either omitted or read together with
the Eighth.
At Lauds a Commemoration of the
Week-day.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 17th day of December,
were born into the better life —
At Eleutheropolis, in Palestine, the
holy martyrs Florian, Calanicus, and
fifty -and -eight others, their Compan-
ions, who were slain by the Saracens
664
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
for Christ's faith's sake in the time
of the Emperor Heraclius.
At Marseilles, in Gaul, blessed
Lazarus, [called first] Bishop [of that
city,] of whom it is written in the
Gospel that the Lord raised him from
the dead.
At Rome, holy John de la Matha,
founder of the Order of the most Holy
Trinity for the redemption of captives.
[He died in the year 12 13.] His
feast is kept upon the 8th day of
February by order of Innocent XI.
In the monastery of Fulda, [in the
year 779,] the holy Abbat Sturmius,
[of the Order of St Benedict, and first
Abbat of Fulda,] Apostle of Saxony,
whose name Innocent II. enrolled
with those of the saints at the second
Council of Lateran.
At Bigarden, near Brussels, [in the
year n 76,] the holy Virgin Vivina,
whose eminent holiness is oftentimes
attested by miracles. [Foundress of
the Abbey of Bigarden, in the
Diocese of Malines. Of the Order
of St Benedict]
At Constantinople, the holy widow
Olympias, [about the year 410; born
about 368.]
In the Ardennes, the blessed
Widow Begga, sister of holy Ger-
trude. [She married Ansegise, son
of St Arnoult, Bishop of Metz.
She was born about 368, became a
widow in 386, and died about 410.]
Upon the same day is com-
memorated the translation of the body
of the holy martyr Ignatius, Patriarch
of Antioch, who was the third to
govern that church after the blessed
Apostle Peter ; he suffered at Rome
under Trajan, but his body was
brought thence to Antioch and laid
in the cemetery of the church outside
the gate which leadeth unto Daphne,
upon the anniversary of the which
ceremony holy John Chrysostom
preached unto the people. In after-
times the body was again brought
back to Rome, where it is buried, and
highly honoured in the church of St
Clement along with the body of that
most blessed Pope and martyr.
At Vespers a Commemoration is
made of the week-day.
December 17.
^ m art yro logy.
On the morrow we keep the Feast
of the Blessed Virgin Mary looking
shortly to be delivered.1
Upon the same 18th day of
December, were born into the better
life—
At Philippi, in Macedonia, [in the
year 107,] the holy martyrs Rufus and
Zozimus, who were of the number of
the disciples by whom the early
Church was founded among the Jews
and Greeks of whose happy contend-
ing holy Polycarp writeth in his
Epistle unto the Philippians.
At Laodicea, in Syria, the holy
martyrs Theotimus and Basilian.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Quintus
Simplicius and others, who suffered
in the persecution under the Emperors
Decius and Valerian.
There also the holy martyr Moy-
setes.
Likewise in Africa also, the holy
martyrs . Victurus, Victor, Victorinus,
Adjutor, Quartus, and thirty others.
At Mopsuestia, in Cilicia, holy
1 This feast is not contained in the Calendar of the Church of Rome, and is of Spanish
origin. In the Mozarabic Rite the Feast of the Annunciation is kept on December 18, and
is still so kept although another Feast of the Annunciation has been added upon March 25 out
of deference to the custom of the rest of Christendom. It will be observed that this feast
coincides with the beginning of the Great O's, and unless December 18 should be a Sunday,
the Antiphon in the Commemoration of the week-day at First Vespers is " O Wisdom."
feast-days: in December.
665
Auxentius, Bishop [of that see ;] he was
originally a soldier under the Emperor
Licinius, but chose rather to cast away
his military belt than to offer grapes
to Bacchus ; he afterwards became a
Bishop, and fell asleep in peace,
famous for worthy deeds, [fourth
century.] #
At Tours, holy Bishop Gratian, who
was ordained by holy Pope Fabian as
the first Bishop of that city, and fell
asleep in the Lord, famous for many
miracles. [He was a disciple of the
Apostles.]
December 18.
©ffitce in ijonour of tije Blesses
Uirgin jlarp_ looking sfjortlg
to oe oelibereo*
Greater Double.
Whatever is not specially given here
is from the Common Office for Feasts
of the Blessed Virgin, {p. 552,) except
that the last verse of the Hy7nn is not
altered in honour of the Incarnation.
Prayer throughoitt.
r\ GOD, Who didst will that Thy
^-^ Word should, by the message of
an Angel, take flesh in the womb of
the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant unto
us, we beseech Thee, that all we who
do believe her to be in very deed the
Mother of God, may be holpen by her
prayers in Thy sight. Through the
same our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son,
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee,
in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.
man whose name was Joseph ; and
the virgin's name was Mary.
Second Antiphon. Hail Mary, * full
of grace, the Lord is with thee : blessed
art thou among women. [Alleluia.]
Third Antiphon. Fear not, Mary,
* thou hast found grace with the
Lord : behold, thou shalt conceive, and
bring forth a son. [Alleluia.]
Fourth Antiphon. The Lord shall
give unto Him the throne of His father
David, and of His kingdom there shall
be no end.
Fifth Antiphon. Behold the hand-
maid of the Lord : * be it unto me
according to thy word.
Hymn. Creator of the starry pole,
&c, (p. 213.)
Verse. Hail, Mary, full of grace.
Answer. The Lord is with thee.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The Holy Ghost shall come
upon thee, O Mary,— fear not ; thou
shalt bear in thy womb the Son of God.
Alleluia.
A Commemoration is made of the
Week-day. Antiphon, " O," &c, (p.
244.)
MATTINS.
Invitatory. Hail, Mary, full of
grace, * the Lord is with thee.
Hymn. Supernal Word, &c, {p.
214.)
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Behold, our Lord
cometh with power, and He shall
lighten the eyes of His servants. Al-
leluia.
FIRST VESPERS.
First Antiphon. The Angel Gabriel
was sent * to a virgin espoused to a
Ps. viii. O Lord, our Lord, &c,
(A 7.)
Second Antiphon. 1 Drop down, ye
heavens, from above, and let the skies
1 Isa. xlv. 8.
666
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
pour down the Righteous One : let the
earth open, and let her bring forth the
Saviour.
Ps. xviii. The heavens declare, &c.,
(A if.)
Third Antiphon. l Behold, the
Name of the LORD cometh from far,
and His brightness filleth the world.
Ps. xxiii. The earth is the Lord's,
&c, (p. 46.)
Verse. Out of Zion, the Perfection
of beauty,
Answer. Our God shall come
manifestly.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah (vii. 10.)
Moreover the LORD spake again,
&c, {p. 226.)
First Responsory.
The sceptre shall not depart, &c,
(p. 257.)
Second Lesson.
And there shall come forth a rod,
&c, (p. 227,) down to "faithfulness
the girdle of His reins," in the next
Lesson.
Second Responsory.
2 There shall come a Star out of
Jacob, and a Man shall rise out of
Israel, and shall smite through all the
princes of the aliens ; and all the earth
shall be His possession.
Verse. Out of Jacob shall come He
that shall have dominion, and shall
destroy him that remaineth of the city.
Answer. And all the earth shall be
His possession.
Third Lesson.
The wilderness and the solitary
place, &c, {p. 256.)
Third Responsory.
The Lord shall come down like
rain, &c, {p. 241.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. 3 Out of Zion shall
go forth the law, and the word of the
Lord from Jerusalem.
Ps. xliv. My heart is overflowing,
&c, (p. 96.)
Second Antiphon. 4 Lo, this is our
God, we have waited for Him, and He
will save us. Alleluia.
Ps. xlv. God is our refuge, &c, {p.
97-)
Third Antiphon. The Lord com-
eth ! go ye out to meet Him, and say :
How great is His dominion, and of
His kingdom there shall be no end !
He is the Mighty God, the Ruler, the
Prince of Peace ! Alleluia.
Ps. lxxxvi. Her foundation, &c,
(A 1 44-)
Verse. 5 There shall come forth a
rod out of the stem of Jesse.
Answer. And a flower shall grow
out of his roots.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St Alonzo, Archbishop [of Toledo.]
{Book on the Maidenhood of Blessed
Mary.)
r\ MY Suzeraine and my Lady, who
^^^ bearest rule over me, Mother of
my Lord, handmaid of thy Son, who
gavest birth to Him Who made the
1 Isa. xxx. 27.
4 Isa. xxv. 9.
2 Num.
5 Isa. xi
xxiv. 17, 19.
. I.
3 Isa. ii. 3.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
667
world, I beseech thee, I pray thee, I
ask thee, that I may have the spirit of
thy Lord, and the spirit of thy Son,
yea, and the spirit of my Redeemer,
to enable me to think what is true and
worthy concerning thee, to speak what
is true and worthy concerning thee,
and to love whatsoever is true and
worthy concerning thee. Thou hast
been chosen of God, taken of God,
called of God ; thou art very nigh
unto God, thou cleavest unto God,
thou art bound unto God ; thou wast
visited by an Angel, saluted by an
Angel, blessed by an Angel, called
happy by an Angel ; troubled at his
saying, perplexed in thought, con-
founded at the salutation, wonderstruck
at the words of the message.
Fourth Responsory.
Behold, the Virgin shall conceive,
&c, {p. 217.)
Fifth Lesson.
''THOU hearest that thou hast found
grace with God, and thou art
bidden not to fear ; thence thou art
strengthened with confidence, and art
taught to know wonders, and carried
forward to new tidings of unheard-of
glory. The Angel doth thee to wit
that thou shalt be a mother, and, with
offspring in thy womb, thou remainest
untouched and virgin. Then the assur-
ance of thy maidenhood is set forth
before us, and the Angel preacheth
unto thee the glad tidings that that
Holy Thing Which shall be born of
thee shall be called the Son of God,
and anon, the wondrous message of
the power of the King that is to come.
Thou askest how this shall be, thou
wouldest know whence it cometh, thou
enquirest as to the reason, thou seekest
to understand the anomaly, thou art
fain to learn the order of things. Hear
then a mystery unheard hitherto, be-
hold an operation hitherto unknown,
turn thine eyes upon a thing secret,
hitherto unsuspected, learn of a work
hitherto unwrought. "The Holy
Ghost shall come upon thee, and the
power of the Highest shall overshadow
thee."
Fifth Responsory.
Drop down, ye heavens, &c, {p.
253-)
Sixth Lesson.
A LL the Trinity is at work in thee
to make thee conceive, but it is
the Son of God alone Whose Person
taketh Flesh in thee as thy Child.
And "therefore also that Holy Thing
Which shall be" conceived in thee,
brought forth of thee, produced of
thee, sprung of thee, "born of thee,
shall be called the Son of God."
For "He shall be great," He shall
be the God of powers, the King of
all ages, the Maker of all things.
Behold, "blessed art thou among
women," Virgin among mothers, Lady
among damsels, Queen among sisters.
Behold, for this "all generations shall
call thee blessed," all the powers of
heaven know thee to be blessed, all
the Prophets tell that thou art blessed,
all nations proclaim thee blessed.
And, for us, blessed our faith calleth
thee, blessed do our souls call thee,
blessed doth our love call thee, blessed
do our hymns call thee, and blessed
shall my words call thee.
Sixth Responsory.
The Lord will teach us, &c, {p.
242.)
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. The LORD shall
give that which is good, and our Land
shall yield her increase.
668
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Ps. lxxxiv. Lord, Thou hast been
favourable, &c, {p. 143.)
Second Antiphon. He that is both
God and Man shall come of the house
of David, and sit in David's seat.
Alleluia.
Ps. Ixxxvi. Her foundation, &c,
(A M4-)
Third Antiphon. Tell it out among
the people, and say : Behold, God
our Saviour cometh.
Ps. xcv. O sing unto the Lord,
&c, (A 148.) '
Verse. The Lord goeth forth from
His holy place.
Answer. He cometh to save His
people.
If this day be Ember- Wednesday,
the following Lessons are not read,
but, instead, those for Wednesday on
pp. 249, 250, {but the Responsories
are unaltered.)
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (i. 26.)
AT that time: The Angel Gabriel
was sent from God, unto a city
of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a
Virgin espoused to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David :
and the Virgin's name was Mary.
And so on.
Homily by the Venerable Bede,
Priest [at Jarrow.] {On Luke i., and
in the Homilies for the Winter Season.
Ember- Wednesday in December. )
There is sent from God unto the
Virgin Mary the Angel Gabriel, which
name, being interpreted, signifieth
" Strong-man-of-God." For he came
as the messenger of Him, Who was
pleased to appear weak in order that
He might prevail against the prince
of the power of the air, (Eph. ii. 2,)
of Him of Whom it is said by the
Psalmist, "The Lord strong and
mighty, the LORD mighty in battle,"
(xxiii. 8,) and again, "The Lord of
hosts, He is the King of glory," (10.)
Therefore it was assigned to the
Strong-man-of-God to announce that
the Lord of hosts, mighty in battle,
was coming to wage war against the
powers of the air.
" And the Angel came in unto her,
and said : Hail, thou that art full of
grace ; the Lord is with thee ; blessed
art thou among women."
Meetly is she styled "full of grace"
who hath attained a grace gained by
no other, that, namely, of conceiving
and bringing forth the actual Author
of grace.
Seventh Responsory.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, &c, {p.
215.)
Eighth Lesson.
" A ND behold, thou shalt conceive
in thy womb, and bring forth
a Son, and shalt call His Name
Jesus."
The name Jesus is interpreted
" Saviour," or " Saving," to which
meaning the Angel pointed when he
said to Joseph : " Thou shalt call His
name Jesus, for He shall save His
people from their sins." (Matth. i.
21.) He saith not that "He shall
save the people of Israel," but that
" He shall save His people," that is
to say, a people gathered into one
faith from among both the circumcised
and the uncircumcised, who being thus
gathered in, there should be one fold
and one Shepherd. (John x. 16.)
" He shall be great, and shall be
called the Son of the Highest ; and
the Lord God shall give unto Him
the throne of His father David."
He, then, that was conceived in
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
669
that virginal womb, and brought forth
therefrom, was the Son of the Highest.
He that in time was made of His
mother (Gal. iv. 4) is God, begotten
of the P'ather before all worlds. But
if the same Person Who is Man is
God, let Nestorius cease from saying
that it was the Man only Who was
born of the Virgin.
Eighth Responsory.
Receive, O Virgin Mary, &c, {p.
219,) with the following addition,
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And thou shalt be called
blessed among all women.
Ninth Lesson.
"^THEREFORE also that Holy
Thing Which shall be born of
thee shall be called the Son of God."
Jesus alone is said to be born an
Holy Thing, to distinguish such holi-
ness from any holiness of ours. We
may indeed be made holy, but we
are not born holy, for we are hampered
by the corrupt condition of our nature,
so that every one of us may well
groan and say with the Prophet,
" For, behold, I was shapen in
iniquity, and in sin did my mother
conceive me." (Ps. 1. 7.) He alone
is absolutely and essentially Holy,
Who to counteract the corruptible con-
dition in nature, was conceived with-
out fleshly coition.
" That Holy Thing Which shall be
born of thee shall be called the Son
of God." What can be said to this
by a Nestorian, who, by- denying that
the Blessed Mary was Mother of God,
flieth directly in the face of this truth ?
Here is a distinct statement that God
is to come upon her, and therefore
that the Thing to be born is the Son
of God. What escape therefore is
there from one of two conclusions,
viz., either (1) that the Son of God is
not God, or (2) that she who brought
forth God is rightly called Theotokos,
that is, Mother-of-God ?
The Hymn, " We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. The Angel Gabriel
was sent * to a virgin espoused to a
man whose name was Joseph ; and
the virgin's name was Mary.
Second Antiphon. Hail, Mary, *
full of grace, the Lord is with thee :
blessed art thou among women.
Third Antiphon. Fear not, Mary, *
thou hast found grace with the Lord :
behold, thou shalt conceive, and bring
forth a Son.
Fourth Antiphon. The Lord shall
give unto Him the throne of His
father David, and of His kingdom
there shall be no end.
Fifth Antiphon. Behold the hand-
maid of the Lord : * be it unto me
according to thy word.
Chapter. (Isa. xi. 1.)
HTHERE shall come forth a rod out
of the stem of Jesse, and a
Flower shall grow out of his roots.
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest
upon Him.
Hymn. Hark a joyful voice, &c,
(A 218.)
Verse. The Holy Ghost shall come
upon thee.
Answer. And the power of the
Highest shall overshadow thee.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
He shall sit upon the throne of David,
and of his kingdom, for ever.
A Commemoration is made of the
Week-day.
670
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
PRIME.
Antiphon. The Angel Gabriel, &c,
(First Antiphon at Lauds.)
In the Short Responsory is said,
Verse. Thou that art to come into
the world.
MARTYROLOGV.
Upon the 19th day of December,
were born into the better life— ^
At Alexandria, in Egypt, the blessed
martyr Nemesius. He was first
brought before the judge on a false
accusation that he was a thief, and
was acquitted ; but in the persecution
under the Emperor Decius he was
accused of Christianity before the
judge ^Emilian, by whom he was put
to the double punishment and con-
demned to be burnt along with thieves.
In the which thing he was conformed
to the likeness of the Saviour, who
was crucified between thieves.
At Nice, [now Isnik, in Bithynia,]
the holy martyrs Darius, Zosimus,
Paul, and Secundus, [in the fourth
century.]
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs
Cyriacus, Paulillus, Secundus, Anas-
tasius, Syndimius, and their Com-
panions, [in the fourth century.]
In Morocco, [in the fourth century,]
the holy martyr Timothy, the Deacon,
who after a terrible imprisonment was
cast into the fire for Christ's faith's
sake, and so finished his testimony.
At Gaza, in Palestine, [in the third
century,] the holy martyrs Meuris and
Thea.
At Auxerre, the holy Confessor
Gregory, [looked on as 12th] Bishop
[of that see, successor of St Theodore,
in the year 530.]
At Orleans, the holy Abbat Adjutus,
famous for the spirit of prophecy.
At Rome, holy Fausta, the mother
of holy Anastasia, eminent for her
rank and godliness, [at the end of the
third century.]
At Avignon, the blessed Pope
Urban V., who performed the highest
service to the Church : he restored
the Apostolic seat to Rome, he com-
pleted the union of the Greeks and
the Latins, he brought the unbelievers
into subjection. His very ancient
veneration was ratified and confirmed
by Pope Pius IX.
Chapter at the e?id. (Isa. xiv. 8.)
]P\ROP down, ye heavens, from
above, and let the skies pour
down the Righteous One : let the
earth open, and let her bring forth
the Saviour. I the LORD have
created Him.
TERCE.
Antiphon. Hail, Mary, &c, (Second
Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
1 Thou, O Lord, shalt arise and have
mercy upon Zion.
Answer. Thou, O Lord, shalt arise
and have mercy upon Zion.
Verse. For the time to favour her,
yea, the set time, is come.
Answer. Have mercy upon Zion.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Thou, O Lord, shalt arise
and have mercy upon Zion.
Verse. Drop down, ye heavens,
from above, and let the skies pour
down the Righteous One.
Answer. Let the earth open, and
let her bring forth the Saviour.
1 Ps. ci. 14.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
671
SEXT.
Antiphan. Fear not, &c, {Third
Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Isa. vii. 14.)
DEHOLD, the virgin shall conceive
and bear a Son, and His Name
shall be called Emmanuel. Butter
and honey shall He eat, that He may
know to refuse the • evil, and choose
the good.
Short Responsory.
Drop down, ye heavens, from above,
and let the skies pour down the Right-
eous One.
Answer. Drop down, ye heavens,
from above, and let the skies pour
down the Righteous One.
Verse. Let the earth open, and let
her bring forth the Saviour.
Answer. Let the skies pour down
the Righteous One.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Drop down, ye heavens,
from above, and let the skies pour
down the Righteous One.
Verse. 1 Send forth the Lamb, O
Lord, the Ruler of the land.
Answer. From the rock in the
Wilderness unto the mount of the
daughter of Zion.
Answer. Send forth the Lamb, O
Lord, the Ruler of the land.
Verse. From the rock in the
wilderness unto the mount of the
daughter of Zion.
Answer. The Ruler of the land.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Send forth the Lamb, O
Lord, the Ruler of the land.
Verse. The Holy Ghost shall come
upon thee.
Answer. And the power of the
Highest shall overshadow thee.
SECOND VESPERS.
Same as the First, except the follow-
ing.
of
Fifth Antiphon. Of the fruit
thy body will I set upon thy throne.
Ps. cxxxi. Lord, remember David,
&c, {p. 193.)
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. O maiden of maidens, how
shall this be, since neither before nor
henceforth hath there been, nor shall
be such another ? Daughters of
Jerusalem, why look ye curiously upon
me ? What ye see is a mystery of
God.
Co7n7iiemoration of the Week-day,
Antiphon, " O," &c, (p. 244.)
NONE.
Antiphon. Behold the handmaid,
&c, {Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
December 19.
martyrology.
To-morrow is the eve of the holy
Apostle Thomas.
Upon the same 20th day of Decem-
ber, were born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy martyrs Liberatus
Send forth the Lamb, O Lord, the and Bajulus.
Ruler of the land. At Alexandria, the holy soldiers
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
1 Isa. xvi. 1.
672
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Ammon, Zeno, Ptolemy, Ingenes, and
Theophilus, all martyrs. They were
on guard beside the judgment-seat
when a certain Christian who was
under the torture began to waver and
was almost giving way, and they tried
by signs to encourage him to hold
out; for this cause all the people cried
out against them, and they came for-
ward and confessed themselves to be
Christians ; and Christ, who Himself
had given such steadfastness unto His
own, did Himself most gloriously
triumph in their victory, [in the year
249.]
At Geldube, [in Thrace,] the holy
martyr Julius, [fourth century.]
In Arabia, the holy martyrs Eugen-
ius and Macarius, two Priests who
blamed the ungodliness of the Em-
peror Julian the Apostate, and for
that cause were most cruelly flogged
and sent out into the great desert,
where they were slain with the sword,
[in the year 362.]
At Antioch, holy Philogonius, Patri-
arch of the see. He was an advocate
when he was called by the will of
God to govern that church, and first
took up the contending for the
Catholic faith along with holy Bishop
Alexander, and his Companions, against
Arius. He fell asleep in the Lord,
illustrious for good works, [in the
year 322.] Holy John Chrysostom
preached an eloquent sermon on his
feast-day.
At Brescia, the holy Confessor
Dominic, Bishop [of that see, about
the year 612.]
On this day is commemorated the
burial in Spain of holy Dominic, Abbat
of Silos, [in the diocese of Burgos, in
Castille, which abbey he founded,] of
the Order of St Benedict, very famous
for his miracles wrought for the libera-
tion of captives. [He died in his
monastery at Silos, on December 14,
1073.]
December 20.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 21st day of December,
were born into the better life —
Upon the Coromandel coast of
India, not far from Madras, the
blessed Apostle Thomas. He preached
the Gospel to the Parthians, Medes,
Persians, and Hyrcanians, and at
length came into India, and was teach-
ing the Christian religion to those people
when the king commanded him to be
run through with lances, and so he died.
His relics were taken first to the city
of Edessa and afterwards to Ortona.
In Tuscany, the holy martyrs John
and Festus.
In Lycia, the holy martyr Them-
istocles. Under the Emperor Decius
he gave himself up for holy Dioscorus,
when they were seeking after him to
slay him, and was first racked, taken
down and dragged about, and beaten
with cudgels, gained the crown of
martyrdom [in the year 249.]
At Nicomedia, the holy Priest
Glycerius, who suffered many torments
in the persecution under the Emperor
Diocletian, and was at length cast in
the fire, and so finished his testimony.
At Antioch, the holy martyr Anas-
tasius, Bishop [of that see,] who was
cruelly murdered by the Jews in the
time of the Emperor Phocas, [in the
year 609.]
At Treves, the holy Confessor Sever-
inus, Bishop [of that see, fourth
century.]
Vespers are of the following.
December 21.
fk £0omae, &poetk.
Double of the Second Class.
All from the Common Office for
Apostles, {p. 462,) except what is
otherwise given here.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
673
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Thomas, because thou hast
seen Me, thou hast believed ; blessed
are they that have not seen, and yet
have believed. Alleluia.
Prayer throughout the Office.
/^RANT unto us, O Lord, we be-
^^ seech Thee, to glory in the
solemn commemoration of Thy
blessed Apostle Thomas ; and, be-
ing defended by his protection, to
follow always with meet godliness
the pattern of his faith. Through
our Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son,
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee,
in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.
A Commemoration is made of the
Week-day.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from 1 Cor. iv. 1, {p. 466.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
T^HE Apostle Thomas, called Didy-
mus, or the Twin, was a Gali-
lean. After the descent of the Holy
Ghost, he went into many provinces
to preach Christ's Gospel. He gave
knowledge of the rules of Christian
faith and life to the Parthians, Medes,
Persians, Hyrcanians, and Bactrians.
He went last to the East Indies.
Here he provoked the anger of one
of the idolatrous kings, because the
holiness of his life and teaching, and
the number of his miracles, drew
many after him, and brought them
to the love of Christ Jesus. He
was therefore condemned, and slain
with lances. He crowned the dignity
of the Apostleship with the glory of
martyrdom, on the Coromandel coast,
not far from Madras.
Fifth Lesson.
It is written, &c, {from the Com-
mon Office, Fourth Lesson.)
Sixth Lesson.
So much power, &c, {p. 469.)
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (xx. 24.)
A T that time : Thomas, one of the
twelve, called Didymus, was not
with them when Jesus came. And
so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] (26th on the Gospels.)
Dearly beloved brethren, what is
it in this passage which particularly
claimeth our attention ? Think ye
that it was by accident that this
chosen Apostle was not with them
when Jesus came ? or, when he
came, heard ? or, when he heard,
doubted ? or, when he doubted, felt ? or
when he had felt, believed ? All these
things were not accidental, but Pro-
vidential. It was a wonderful pro-
vision of Divine mercy, that this in-
credulous disciple, by thrusting his
fingers into the bodily Wounds of his
Master, should apply a remedy to the
spiritual wounds of unbelief in our
souls. The doubts of Thomas have
done us more good than the faith
of all the disciples that believed.
While he feeleth his way to faith,
our minds are freed from doubt, and
settled in faith.
674
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Eighth Lesson.
"pVEN as the Lord before His
birth willed that Mary should
be espoused, and yet never lose her
virginity, so, after His Resurrection,
He willed that His disciple should
doubt, and yet not lose his faith.
For, even as the espoused husband
was the keeper of the virginity of
the Mother, so was the>- disciple who
doubted and felt, the witness of the
truth of the Resurrection. He felt,
and cried out : " My Lord and my
God. JESUS saith unto him : Thomas,
because thou hast seen Me, thou hast
believed." When the Apostle Paul
saith (Heb. xi. i): "Faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen " — he
plainly meaneth that faith is the evi-
dence of things that cannot be seen.
When they are seen, there remaineth
not faith, but knowledge.
Ninth Lesson.
If this day be an Ember-day this
Lesson is of that, and then the fol-
lowing is either omitted, or read as
one with the preceding.
'"THOMAS, then, seeth, and be-
lieveth. Why is it said to
him : " Because thou hast seen Me,
thou hast believed ? " The truth is,
he saw one thing, and so believed
another. To mortal man it is not
given to see God. He therefore
saw only the Manhood, and yet had
faith in the Godhead : "My Lord
and my God." This he said, see-
ing and believing, seeing Perfect
Man, and yet believing in Perfect
God, Whom he could not see. O
what a comfort are the words which
follow ! " Blessed are they that have
not seen, and yet have believed."
These words are specially meant
for us, who have not seen even the
Flesh, and who yet do believe. They
are specially meant for us if we be-
lieve and do not, by our lives, give
the lie to our belief. He only hath a
saving faith, whose faith beareth fruit.
At Lauds, Antiphon at the Song
of Zacharias, the same as at that at
First Vespers.
A Commemoration is made of the
Week-day.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 22nd day of December,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, between the two Laurels
upon the Lavican Way, thirty holy
martyrs, who were all crowned in
one day in the persecution under the
Emperor Diocletian.
There likewise the holy Flavian,
the ex- Prefect [of Rome], who for
Christ's sake was first branded and
then banished under the Emperor
Julian the Apostate. He was sent
to Bagni di Ferrata,1 [near Civita
Vecchia,] where he gave up his soul
to God in prayer, [in the year 362.]
At Ostia, the holy martyrs Deme-
trius, Honoratus, and Florus.
At Alexandria, the holy martyr Is-
chyrion. Many injuries and reproaches
were cast upon him to make him sacri-
fice to idols, but he despised them, and
was handed over to be slain by the
driving of a sharp stake through the
midst of his bowels, [in the year 250.]
In Egypt, [in the third century,]
holy Chaeremon, Bishop of Nilopolis,
and many other martyrs, of whom
some, scattered in flight to escape
the persecution under the Emperor
Decius, were killed by wild beasts
as they wandered in the desert ; some
were destroyed by hunger, cold, and
sickness ; and some were murdered
by savages and robbers.
1 Formerly called from its discoverer Aqua Tauri.
FEAST-DAYS IN DECEMBER.
675
At Nicomedia, the holy soldier
Zeno, who made a jest upon the
Emperor Diocletian as he was offer-
ing sacrifice to Ceres, and for this
cause had his jaws broken, his teeth
beaten out, and his head cut off.
At Vespers, Afitiphon at the Song
■of the Blessed Virgin, the sa?ne as at
First Vespers.
A Commemoration is made of the
Week-day.
December 22.
martyrology.
Upon the 23d day of December,
were born into the better life—
At Rome, the holy Virgin and
martyr Victoria [de Tivoli.] She
was espoused to one Eugenius, a
heathen, and during the persecu-
tion under the Emperor Decius she
would neither marry Eugenius nor
offer sacrifice unto idols, but worked
many miracles, whereby she gathered
many virgins unto God, and the exe-
cutioner stabbed her to the heart
with his sword at the request of her
espoused husband.
At Nicomedia, twenty holy martyrs
during the persecution under the Em-
peror Diocletian, after they had been
most grievously tormented.
There likewise, in the same per-
secution, the holy martyrs Migdonius
and Mardonius, of whom the one was
burnt and the other cast into a ditch,
and so died. Then also suffered the
Deacon of holy Anthimus, Bishop of
Nicomedia, who was bringing a letter
to the martyrs when he was taken by
the Gentiles and stoned to death, and
so passed hence to be ever with the
Lord.
In Crete, the holy martyrs Theo-
dulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius,
Eunician, Zeticus, Cleomenes, Aga-
thopus, Basilides, and Evaristus, who
suffered great cruelties in the perse-
cution under the Emperor Decius, and
were beheaded. [They are often called
the Ten Martyrs of Crete.]
At Rome, blessed Servulus, con-
cerning whom holy Gregory writeth
that from his childhood even unto
the end of his life he lay paralysed
in a porch hard by the church of
St Clement, and at the end he was
called by songs of angels, and passed
away into the glory of Paradise, [in
the year 57b.] God doth very often
show miracles at his grave.
December 23.
martyrology.
The morrow is the Eve of the
birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Upon the same 24th day of De-
cember, were born into the better
life—
At Antioch, forty holy Virgins and
martyrs, who there finished their testi-
mony by divers torments in the per-
secution under the Emperor Decius.
At Spoleto, the holy Priest Gregory
[of Spoleto], a martyr in the time of
the Emperors Diocletian and Maxi-
mian, he was beaten with knotted cud-
gels, laid upon a grating over fire,
imprisoned, his knees hammered with
iron combs, burning lamps set to his
sides, and at last beheaded.
At Tripoli, the holy martyrs Lucian,
Metrobius, Paul, Zenobius, Theotimus,
and Drusus.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyr
Euthymius, who sent many before
him to martyrdom, in the persecu-
tion under the Emperor Diocletian,
and then was himself pierced through
with the sword, and so followed them
unto their crown.
At Bordeaux, holy Delphinus, Bish-
op [of that see from 380-404, when
he died,] who was a burning and shin-
ing light of holiness in the time of the
Emperor Theodosius.
676
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
In Poland, [in the year 1473,] the
holy Confessor John of Kenty, a secular
Priest, famous for his learning, his
zeal for the spreading of the faith,
his graces, and his miracles, whose
feast we have kept upon the 22nd
day of October.
At Rome, [about the year 550,] the
holy Virgin Tharsilla, father's sister to
holy Pope Gregory, of whom he wit-
nesseth that at the hour of her going
forth she saw Jesus coming unto her.
At Treves, the holy Virgin Irmina,
daughter to King Dagobert [II. She
was Abbess of the monastery of Hor-
rein, and lived from about the year
672 to about the year 71 5.]
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
The earlier Feast-days in January
are given in the Office of the Season.
On the earliest day not occupied by
an Office with Nine Lessons, is said
the Office of the Dead.
January 7.
martyrology.
Upon the 8th day of January, were
born into the better life —
At Beauvais, in Gaul, the holy
martyrs Lucian the Priest [first Bishop
of that see,] Maximian, and Julian.
Maximian and Julian were slain by
the persecutors with the sword, but
the blessed Lucian, who had come
into Gaul with holy Denis, did
not receive the like treatment until
after great suffering, the which not-
withstanding, he feared not to con-
fess aloud the name of Christ. [He
died in the year 312.]
Likewise the holy martyr Eugenian
[Bishop of Autun.]
In Lybia, the holy martyrs Theo-
philus the Deacon, and Helladius, who
were first torn and mangled with sharp
potsherds, and then cast into the fire,
and so gave up their souls to God.
At Venice, [in the year 1455,] the
blessed Confessor Lawrence de' Gius-
tiniani, the first Patriarch of that city ;
he was filled very abundantly with
learning and gifts of divine wisdom
from on high, and Alexander VIII.
enrolled his name among those of
the saints. We keep his festival
upon the fifth day of September.
At Hierapolis, in Asia, holy Apolli-
naris, Bishop [of that see,] who was
eminent for holiness and learning, in
the time of the Emperor Marcus An-
toninus Verus.
At Naples, in Campania, holy Sever-
inus, Bishop [of that see,] brother of the
blessed martyr Victorinus ; he wrought
many good works, and fell asleep full
of holiness, [in the year 540.]
At Pavia, the holy Confessor Maxi-
mus, Bishop [of that see, successor to
St Epiphanius. He took part in the
4th and 6th Councils of Rome, held
by Pope Symmachus against the Anti-
pope Lawrence at the beginning of the
sixth century.]
At Ratisbon, holy Bishop Erhard.
At Metz, holy Patient, Bishop [of
that see, in the second century.]
On the same day, [in the year 482,]
in Bavaria, the holy Abbat Severinus,
who spread the Gospel among that
people, and is called the Apostle of
the [Austrians and] Bavarians. His
body was, by the will of God, brought
to Monte - feltro, near Naples, and
thence it hath been since taken to
the monastery of St Severino.
January 8.
martyrology.
Upon the 9th day of January, were
born into the better life —
At Antioch, in the persecution
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
677
under the Emperors Diocletian and
Maximian, the holy martyr Julian,
along with whom is commemorated
the holy Virgin Basilissa, his wife,
who kept her virginity with her hus-
band and ended her life in peace.
A multitude of priests and ministers
of the Church of Christ had taken
refuge with them because of the
fury of the persecution. They were
burnt with fire, and Julian, by com-
mand of the President Marcian, was
thereafter made to suffer many tor-
ments and was then beheaded.
Along with him there suffered also
the Priest Anthony and Anastasius,
whom Julian had raised from the
dead and made a partaker of the,
grace of Christ, and the lad Celsus,
together with his mother, Marcion-
illa, and seven brethren, and many
others.
In Morocco, [in the fourth century,]
the holy Virgin and martyr Marciana,
who was thrown to wild beasts and
so finished her testimony.
At Smyrna, the holy martyrs
Vitalis (probably a Bishop, and the
others were most likely Deacons), Re-
vocatus, and Fortunatus.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Epic-
tetus, Jucundus, Secundus, Vitalis,
Felix, and seven others, [in the year
205.]
At Sebaste, in Armenia, [in the
year 392,] holy Peter, Bishop [of
that see,] brother of holy Basil the
Great [also of St Gregory of Nyssa.
His father was St Basil the Elder,
his mother St Emmelia, and his
grandmother St Macrina. He was
made head of his convent in the
year 362, when St Basil was made
bishop, St Basil having before been
Abbat thereof.]
At Ancona, holy Marcellinus, Bish-
op of that city, the which, as holy
Gregory writeth, he did through the
power of God deliver from burning.
[He succeeded St Traso in the Bishop-
ric about the year 550, and was fol-
lowed by St Thomas about the year
569. He is secondary Patron of
Ancona.]
January 9.
martyrology.
Upon the 10th day of January, were
born into the better life —
In Cyprus, the blessed Nicanor,
one of the seven first Deacons, who
was wondrous for the grace of faith
and power, and received a most
glorious crown, [in the year 35 or
76.]
At Rome, the holy Pope Agatho,
who was eminent for holiness and
learning, and fell asleep in peace,
[in the year 682.]
At Bourges, in Aquitaine, [in the
year 1209,] the holy Confessor Wil-
liam, Archbishop [of that see,] famous
for signs and works of power, whose
name Honorius III. enrolled with
those of the saints.
At Milan, the holy Confessor John,
surnamed the Good, Archbishop of
that city, [in the year 659.]
In the Theba'id, blessed Paul, the
first Hermit, who from the sixteenth
even unto the hundred and thirteenth
year of his age dwelt alone in the
desert, [in the year 342,] holy An-
thony saw his soul borne heavenward
by angels between the choirs of the
Apostles and of the Prophets. We
keep his feast upon the 15th day
of this present month of January.
At Constantinople, the holy Priest
Marcian, [about the year 489-]
In the monastery of Cusan, [in the
diocese of Perpignan,] the holy Con-
fessor Peter Urseoli, who was some-
time Doge of Venice, and then be-
came a monk of the Order of St
Benedict, and was famous for god-
liness and works of power, [in the
year 997.]
678
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
January io.
martyrology.
Upon the i ith day of January, were
born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy Pope Hyginus,
who achieved martyrdom gloriously
in the persecution/ under the Em-
peror Antonine.
In Africa, [about the year 142,] the
blessed martyr Salvius, upon whose
feast-day holy Austin preached to the
people of Carthage.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs
Peter, Severus, and Leucius.
At Fermo, in Picenum, the holy
martyr Alexander, Bishop [of that
see.]
At Amiens, the holy martyr Sal-
vius, Bishop of that see, [in the be-
ginning of the seventh century.]
At Brindisi, the holy Confessor
Leucius, Bishop of that see, [in the
end of the second century.]
At Marissa, in Cappadocia, the
holy Abbat Theodosius, [head of all
the monasteries of Palestine,] who
suffered many things for the Catholic
faith, but at length fell asleep in
peace, [in the year 529.]
In the Thebai'd, [about the year
330,] the holy Abbat Palaemon, the
teacher of holy Pachom.
At Castel-Saint-Elie, [about the year
577,] hard by Mount Soracte, the
holy monk Anastasius and his Com-
panions, whom the Lord called to
pass away unto Him.
At Pavia, the holy virgin Honorata,
[in the year 500.]
At Vespers is made a Commemora-
tion of St Hyginus?- Pope and
martyr, all from the Common Office,
A 482.
Prayer, " Mercifully consider of our
weakness," &c. {p. 491.)
January ii.
At Lauds is made a Commemora-
tion of St Hyginus, Pope and martyr,
all from the Common Office, p. 491.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 12th day of January, were
born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy martyr Tatiana,
in the persecution under the Emperor
Alexander. She was lacerated with
hooks and combs, thrown to wild
beasts, and cast into the fire, but
as she remained unhurt, was at
length beheaded, and so passed
away to heaven.
In the Peloponnesos, the holy
martyr Satyrus. As he was pass-
ing before a certain idol he breathed
upon it, and signed himself with the
sign of the cross upon his own fore-
head, whereupon the idol straight-
way fell down, and for this cause
Satyrus was beheaded, [in the year
267.]
Upon the same day, [in Morocco,
in the year 259] the holy martyr Ar-
cadius, eminent for his rank and his
miracles.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Zoticus,
Rogatus, Modestus, Castulus, and a
crown of forty soldiers.
At Constantinople, the holy martyrs
Tigrius the Priest and Eutropius the
Reader, who suffered in the time of
the Emperor Arcadius.
At Tivoli, [in the year 126,] the
holy martyr Zoticus.
At Ephesus, forty-two holy monks,
who were most cruelly tortured and
suffered martyrdom under the Em-
peror Constantine Copronymus for
the honouring of holy images.
At Ravenna, the holy Confessor
John, Archbishop of that see, [about
the year 489.]
1 Elected Pope in the year 139. Died 142.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
679
At Verona, holy Probus, Bishop of
that see, [about the year 236.]
In England, [in the year 690,] the
holy Confessor Benedict Biscop,
founder, and Abbat of the monas-
tery of Jarrow - upon - Tyne, whose
feast we keep upon the 12th day
of February.
January 12.
martyrology.
The morrow is the Octave of the
Epiphany of the Lord.
Upon the same 13th day of Janu-
ary, were born into the better life —
At Rome, upon the Lavican Way,
forty holy soldiers who earned crowns
of martyrdom for confessing the true
faith under the Emperor Gallienus.
In Sardinia, the holy martyr Poti-
tus, who suffered many things under
the Emperor Antoninus and the Pre-
sident Gelasius, and at last was mar-
tyred with the sword.
At Semenden, in Upper Mysia, the
holy martyrs Hermylus and Stratoni-
cus, who were cruelly tortured under
the Emperor Licinius, and then
drowned in the Danube.
At Cordova, [in the year 852,] the
holy martyrs Gumesindus the Priest
and Servant-of-God the monk.
At Poitiers, in Gaul, the holy Con-
fessor Hilary, Bishop of that see.
He was a stalwart champion of the
Catholic faith, for the which cause
he was banished for four years into
Phrygia. Among other miracles
which he wrought he raised a dead
man to life, [about the year 369.]
The Supreme Pontiff Pius IX. con-
firmed and published his title of
Doctor of the Universal Church.
We keep his feast upon the morrow.
At Cassarea, in Cappadocia, holy
Leontius, Bishop of that see, who
contended manfully against the Gen-
tiles under the Emperor Licinius,
and against the Arians under the
Emperor Constantine.
At Treves, [in the year 335,] holy
Agritius, Bishop of that see.
In the monastery of Vergy, the
holy Confessor Viventius, [about the
year 400.]
At Amasea, [in the year 324,] in
Pontus, the holy Virgin Glaphyra.
[In the year 1497,] in the monas-
tery of St Martha, at Milan, the
blessed Virgin Veronica of Binasco,
of the Order of St Austin.
January 13.
martyrology.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy Confessor Hilary, Bishop
of Poitiers, and Doctor of the Church,
who passed away to heaven upon this
present day.
Upon the same 1 4th day of January,
were born into the better life —
At Nola, in Campania, the holy
Priest Felix. Holy Paulinus, Bishop
of the same city, writeth that after the
persecutors had put Felix to the
torture they committed him to prison,
where they laid him in chains, upon
shells and potsherds, but in the night
an angel loosed him and led him
forth. In after-times, when the perse-
cution was over and he had turned
many to Christ by his example and
teaching, he fell asleep, famous for
miracles, [about the year 256.]
In Judea, the holy Prophet Malachi,
[415 B.C.]
Upon Mount Sinai, thirty-eight holy
monks, who were massacred by the
Saracens for Christ's faith's sake, [in
the year 373.]
In the country of Rhaithia, in Egypt,
forty-three holy monks who were mas-
sacred by the Blemmyes for the Christ-
ian religion's sake, [in the year 373.]
At Milan, [in the year 552,] the
holy Confessor Datius, Bishop of that
68o
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
see, of whom blessed Pope Gregory
maketh mention.
In Africa, the holy Bishop Euphras-
ius, [in the year 515.]
In Syria, holy Julian of Saba, the
elder, who in the time of the Emperor
Valens, by the power of his miracles,
set up again at Antioch the Catholic
faith, when it was almost quite fallen
away.
At Neo - Caesarea, in Pontus, [in
the fourth century,] holy Macrina,
a disciple of blessed Gregory the won-
der-worker, and grandmother of holy
Basil, whom she trained up in the
faith.
January 14.
&t hilars, 33 isftop [of Poitiers,]
Confessor atto ©octor of tije
Cfjurrf).
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, {f>. 515,) except
what is otherwise given here.
VESPERS.
These Vespers are of the Octave of
the Epiphany as the Second Vespers
of the Feast, viz. : Psalms as on
Sunday, and Antiphons from Lauds,
(P- 337).
Commemoration of St Hilary,
Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. O
right excellent Teacher, &c, (J>.
5I5-)
Prayer throughout the Office. O
God, Who didst give, &c, {p. 524.)
Prayer as on p. 359.
Commemoration of St Felix, Priest
and Martyr, from the Common Office
for one Martyr, {p. 482,) with the
following.
Prayer.
("""RANT, we beseech Thee, O AI-
^^ mighty God, that the example of
Thy Saints may continually stir us up
to amend our sinful lives, that as we do
solemnly commemorate them, we may
also sincerely strive to imitate them.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end. Amen.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
HP HIS Hilary was born of a noble
family in Acquitaine, and is
distinguished as a divine and an
orator. He was married in his earlier
life, but even then lived the life of a
monk : and on account of his remark-
able holiness, was ultimately made
Bishop of Poitiers, [about the year
353,] in which office he did his duty
so as to gain the universal praise of
the faithful. At that time the Em-
peror Constantius was persecuting the
Catholics by threats, by the plundering
of their goods, by exile, and at length,
by every species of cruelty, in order
to force them to yield to the Arian
heresy. Against the Arians Hilary
set himself up as a brazen wall, and
turned upon himself the fierceness of
their anger. They assailed him by
many artifices, and at last Saturnine,
Bishop of Aries, at the Council
of Beziers, [in 356,] procured his
banishment to Phrygia. During this
exile he raised a dead man to life,
and wrote a work in twelve books
on the Trinity, against the Arians.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
68 1
Fifth Lesson.
TN [the year 359,] the fourth of his
exile, took place the Council of
Seleucia in Isauria, at which Hilary
was obliged to be present, but after-
wards withdrew to Constantinople.
Here he realised more sharply the
awful nature of this crisis in the history
of Christianity, published three pam-
phlets in the form of letters to the
Emperor, and demanded from that
Prince leave to hold a public disputa-
tion in his presence. The Arian
Bishops Ursacius and Valens, whom
Hilary had already confuted in writing,
were afraid to meet him in debate,
and therefore induced Constantius,
under pretence of pardon, to send
him back to his Bishoprick, [in 360.]
His mother, the Church of Gaul, to
use the language of Jerome, received
him with open arms on his return
from the battle with the heretics.
He was followed to Poitiers by Mar-
tin, afterwards Bishop of Tours,
whose after holiness was a fruit of
his teaching.
Sixth Lesson.
TTENCEFORTH he ruled the
Church of Poitiers in great
peace. By his exertions the Church
of Gaul was led to denounce the
Arian blasphemy. His wonderful
learning is seen in his numerous works,
of which Jerome write th to Lseta
that he deemeth them quite faultless.
" One can follow Hilary in his books,"
saith he, "without tripping once."
He passed from earth to heaven upon
the thirteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord 369, in the reign of
the Emperors Valentinian and Valens.
He had already been called an illus-
trious Doctor of the Church, by many
Fathers and Councils, and was so
styled in the Liturgy in some Diceceses,
when at length, [in the year 1850,]
Pope Pius IX., at the prayer of the
Synod of Bordeaux, and in accordance
with a resolution of the Sacred Con-
gregation of Rites, proclaimed and
confirmed the title, and commanded
that the Mass and Office of his Feast
should be everywhere said as those
of a Doctor.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Gospel, Matth. v. 13, with the
Homily of St Hilary, (p. 550,) with
the second section thereof beginning,
" This thing, therefore, thus made to
serve, &c," — read together as one.
Eighth Lesson.
Continuation of the same Homily, —
" But the nature of salt, &c."
Eighth Responsory.
In the midst of the congregation,
&c, (p. 539.)
Ninth Lesson.
(For St Felix, Priest and Martyr.)
T^ELIX was a Priest of Nola, who
on account of his fiery zeal
against idolatry, suffered much perse-
cution from the heathens, and was
cast into prison. From thence an
angel delivered him by night, and
bade him go to Maximian, Bishop of
Nola. This Bishop, enfeebled by old
age, had at length despaired of power
to withstand the torments of the perse-
cutors, and had hidden, himself in a
wood. Thither came Felix, by the
will of God, and found the holy bishop
lying half-dead upon the ground. He
succoured him, and carried him upon
his shoulders to the house of an holy
widow. On another occasion, Felix,
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
having again provoked the anger of
the devil-worshippers, became an object
of their pursuit, from which he hid
himself in a narrow place between two
walls. Hardly had he entered, when
some spiders wove their webs across
the entrance, which the enemy per-
ceiving, concluded that no man had
entered, and passed by. After leaving
this hiding-place, Felix lay for three
months in the house of an holy woman.
After the Lord gave peace to His
Church, the Saint returned to Nola,
where he turned many to Christ by
his life, his preaching, and his mir-
acles. He steadily refused to accept
the Bishoprick, fell asleep in the
Lord,1 and was buried at Nola in the
place called "The Pines."
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast of
holy Paul, the first hermit, who was
borne to his place among the blessed
upon the ioth day of this present
month of January.
In the country of Angers, the blessed
Maurus, [founder and] Abbat [of Glan-
feuil,] a disciple of St Benedict, by
whom he was trained from his child-
hood, and made such headway that in
obedience to him he walked upon
water, a thing new and almost unheard
of since the time of the Apostle Peter.
Benedict sent him into Gaul, where he
built a famous monastery, whereof he
was Abbat for forty years, and fell
asleep in peace, illustrious for miracles,
[in the year 584.]
In Judea, the holy prophets Habak-
kuk and Michah, [606 years before
Christ,] whose bodies were found by
revelation from God in the time of the
Emperor Theodosius the elder, [be-
tween the years of Our Lord 346 and
395-]
At Anagni, the holy Virgin and
martyr Secundina, who suffered under
the Emperor Decius.
At Cagliari, in Sardinia, the holy
martyr Ephisius, who under the judge
Flavian, in the persecution under the
Emperor Diocletian, was strengthened
by God to overcome many torments,
but in the end was beheaded, and so
rose to heaven a conqueror.
At Nola, in Campania, [about the
year 252,] holy Maximus, Bishop of
that see.
In Auvergne, in Gaul, [in the year
710,] the holy Confessor Bonitus,
Bishop of that see.
In Egypt, the holy Macarius, [in
the year 391,] Abbat [of Scittir,] a
disciple of blessed Anthony, and very
famous for his life and miracles.
Likewise [in Egypt, in the year 391,]
blessed Isidore, famous for the holi-
ness of his life, his faith, and his
miracles.
At Rome, holy John, called the
hidden, who lived unknown to his
kinsfolk for a while in a corner of his
father's house, and then in a hut upon
an island in the Tiber, where he was
recognised at the time of his death,
and, famous for miracles, was buried
in the same place, where afterward
a church was built in his name, [in
the year 450.]
Vespers of the following, from the
Chapter inclusive.
January 15.
%X Paul, tfje jftrst permit,
Confessor.
Double.
All from the Common Office for
Confessor, {p. 531,) except what
otherwise given here.
Prayer throughout the Office.
1 About the year 256.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
683
God, Who year by year dost gladden
us, &c. (J>. 491.)
The First Vespers, as regards St
Paid, begin with the Chapter.
A Com?nemoration is made of the
preceding :
Antiphon. O right excellent, &c.
Verse. The Lord hath chosen him
for a Priest unto Himself.
Answer. To offer up unto Him the
sacrifice of praise.
Prayer from the Common Office as
during the day.
A Iso a Commemoration of St Maurus,
Abbat. Antiphon. " Well done, thou
good and faithful servant, &c." Verse.
"The Lord guided the just, &c," and
the Answer — all as if from Lauds, and
the Prayer, " O Lord, we beseech Thee
that the prayers, &c."
Note. Even if the Feast of St Paul
be suppressed, these Commemorations,
Antiphons, Verses, Answers, and
Prayers remain as above.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
The Lessons are taken from Scrip-
ture according to the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
TDAUL the first hermit, and model
of all others, was a native of the
lower Theba'id in Egypt. At the age
of fifteen years he lost both his parents.
In order to escape from the persecu-
tion of Decius and Valerian, and to
serve God in quietness, he betook
himself to a cave in the desert. Here
there was a palm-tree, on the fruit of
which he lived, and of whose leaves
he made his raiment until he attained
the age of 1 1 3 years. At that time *
Anthony, being now himself aged 90
years, received a command from God
to go and see him. They met with-
out knowing one another's names, and
saluted one another, after which they
fell straightway into a long discourse
concerning the kingdom of God. Now
it so happened that a raven had of a
long time brought Paul every day
half a loaf, but on this day while
they spake together he brought a
whole one.
Fifth Lesson.
"\17"HEN the raven had flown away
vv _«Well," quoth Paul, "the
Lord hath sent us our dinner. Truly
He is gracious ; truly He is merciful.
It is now sixty years that I have had
half a loaf of bread every day, but
now that thou art come, Christ giveth
His soldiers double rations." Then
they asked a blessing, and ate to-
gether, sitting by a spring. When
they were refreshed, they returned
thanks, as is the custom, and after-
wards spent the whole night praising
God. At break of day Paul felt the
approach of death, and desired
Anthony to bring the cloak which
Athanasius had given him, to use
for his winding-sheet. While Anthony
was on his way back from this journey,
he saw in a vision the soul of Paul
ascending to heaven, surrounded by
choirs of angels, and accompanied by
the Prophets and Apostles.
Sixth Lesson.
"IXT'HEN Anthony reached the cell
of Paul, he found the dead
body of the Saint in a kneeling posture,
with the head thrown up and the
1 In the year 342.
684
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
hands stretched out towards heaven.
He immediately began to chant the
psalms and hymns ordained by
Christian tradition, while he wrapped
the body in the cloak of Athanasius.
He had no spade to dig a grave, but
two lions came raoing from the desert,
as though to attend the burying, and
scratched a hole big enough to hold
a man's body, with their paws, show-
ing meanwhile such signs of grief as
their nature alloweth. When they
were gone away, Anthony put the
holy body in this hole, covered it with
earth, and arranged it like a Christian's
grave. He took away for himself
Paul's tunic, which he had woven out
of the palm-leaves somewhat after the
manner of basket-work, and this tunic
Anthony was in the habit of wearing
on the great days of the Passover and
Pentecost as long as he lived.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xi. 25, with the
Homily of St Austin, (J>. 545.) The
Third is either omitted or read as one
with the Second, in order to make
room for
Ninth Lesson.
{For St Maurus, Abbat.)
A/TAURUS was born of a noble
Roman family, and while he
was yet a child was offered to God
by his father Eutychius, in the order
and under the personal teaching of
St Benedict.1 In a short while he
made such progress in the life of grace
that he became a wonder to his
master, who often held him up to
his other disciples as a pattern of
regular observance and all virtues.
While he was yet very young, Pope
St Gregory telleth a wonderful in-
stance of his obedience. Placid the
monk having fallen into a lake where
he was being swept away by the
current, the holy Patriarch called
Maurus and bade him run to the
rescue, which he did, walking on the
water till he reached Placid, whom he
took by the hair of the head and
dragged to the shore. He was sent
by St Benedict into France, where
he founded the celebrated monastery
[of Glanfeuil, now called St Maur-sur-
Loire,] which he governed for forty
years. He was a zealous and success-
ful propagator of monastic discipline.
He passed to heaven, famous for holi-
ness and miracles, when he was more
than seventy years of age, in the
year of Salvation 565.
LAUDS.
A Commemoration is made of St
Maurus. Antiphon. " I will liken
him, &c." Verse. " The Lord loved
him, &c." Answer. "He clothed
him, &c." Prayer. "O Lord, we
beseech Thee that the prayers, &c."
(A 545) — aH as if. from First
Vespers.
Note. This Cof/imemoration does
not change even if the Feast of S.
Paul be suppressed.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 16th day of January, were
born into the better life —
At Rome, upon the Salarian Way,
the holy martyr Pope Marcellus [I.],
who for his confession of the Catholic
faith was first cudgelled by order of
the tyrant Maxentius and then sent
to take care of the beasts which were
fed at the public cost, in the which
service he died, clad in sack-cloth,
[in the year 309-310.]
At Morocco, in Africa, [in the year
1 This custom of offering little children was permitted by St Benedict, but is now forbidden.
St Maurus was dedicated at twelve years of age, in the year 522.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
685
1220,] the holy martyrs Berard [de
Carbis], Peter, Accursius, Adjutus, and
Otho, of the Order of Friars Minors.
At Aries, [in the year 429,] the holy
Confessor Honoratus, Bishop of that
see, whose life was rendered famous
by his teaching and miracles.
At Moerzo, theholy Confessor Titian,
Bishop of that see.
At Al-Arish, in Egypt, holy Melas,
Bishop of that see, [in the fifth cen-
tury,] who was exiled under the Em-
peror Valens and suffered other hard-
ships for the Catholic faith's sake, but
at length fell asleep in peace.
At Fondi, in Campania, [in the
sixth century,] the holy Abbat Honora-
tus, [who was set over the monastery
of Fondi ;] of whom mention is made
by blessed Pope Gregory.
In the monastery of Perouse, the
holy Confessor Fursey, [Abbat of
Lagny, in the year 650.]
At Rome, holy Priscilla, who gave
up herself and all that she had to the
service of the martyrs.
At Second Vespers the first verse of
the Hymn is -altered.
Co7nmemoration of the following,
frofn the Common Office, with Prayer
from Lauds.
January 16.
&t JHarceliug, $oae an*
JHartttt*
Semi-double.
All from the Common Office for One
Martyr, except what is otherwise given
here.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Seaso?i.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
'"PHIS Marcellus was a Roman, and
held the supreme Pontificate
from [the year of our Lord 304,1 in]
the reign of Constantius and Galerius,
till [310, in] that of Maxentius. It
was through his persuasion that the
Roman lady Lucina left the whole of
her property to the Church of God.
As the believers increased, he insti-
tuted new titles in the City, which he
divided after the manner of dioceses
for their convenience, and for the
baptism and penance of heathens con-
verted to Christianity, and for the
burial of the martyrs. These proceed-
ings excited the wrath of Maxentius,
who threatened Marcellus with the
heaviest punishment, unless he would
lay down the Popedom and sacrifice
to idols.
Fifth Lesson.
'THE servant of God treated with
contempt the mad cries of this
man, who accordingly took him and
sent him to a menagerie, to take care
of the beasts which were fed at the
public cost. Marcellus remained at
this place for nine months, which he
spent in continual fasting and prayer,
and, as he could not visit the parishes
in person, he wrote letters to them.
Some clerks rescued him, and the
blessed Lucina hospitably received him
into her house, in which he dedicated a
Church, which is now called St Marcel-
lus'. Here the Christians met to pray,
and the blessed Marcellus himself
preached.
Sixth Lesson.
T^HESE proceedings came to the
-*■ knowledge of Maxentius, who
thereupon had the wild beasts brought
from the menagerie and located in the
1 Alban Butler says rather 308, as Marcellus did not actually enter into occupation.
VOL. I. Z
686
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
church, where Marcellus was made to
feed them. The noisomeness of the
place and the filthiness of his occupa-
tion broke down a constitution already
enfeebled by many ailments, and he
fell asleep in the Lord. The blessed
Lucina buried his body in the cemetery
of Priscilla, on the Salarian Way, on
the 1 6th of January. He sat on the
throne of Peter for five years, one
month, and twenty-five days. He
wrote an epistle to the Bishops of the
Patriarchate of Antioch on the primacy
of the Roman Church, wherein he
proveth the right of the same Church
to be called the head of all the
Churches. In this letter he likewise
saith that no Council can be lawfully
gathered together except by the
authority of the Roman Pontiff. He
ordained at Rome in the month of
December twenty - five Priests, two
Deacons, and twenty - one Bishops
for divers Sees.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xvi. 24, with
the Homily of St Gregory, (p. 494.)
Eighth Responsory.
O Lord, Thou hast prevented him,
&c, (J>. 490.)
Prayer throughout the Office.
f~~\ LORD, we pray Thee, mercifully
^>^ give ear unto the prayers of
Thy people who rejoice at the memory
of the victory through suffering of Thy
blessed Martyr and Bishop Marcellus,
and for his sake succour us. Through
our Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 17th day of January, were
born into the better life —
In the Thebaid, [in the year 356,]
the holy Abbat Anthony, father of
many monks, very illustrious for his
life and miracles. Holy Athanasius
hath chronicled his acts in a famous
book. His sacred body was found by
the revelation of God in the time of
the Emperor Justinian and brought to
Alexandria, where it is buried in the
Church of St John the Baptist.
At Langres, the holy triplets Speu-
sippus, Eleusippus, and Meleusippus,
who were crowned with martyrdom in
the time of the Emperor Marcus Aurel-
ius, along with their grandmother
Leonilla.
At Rome is commemorated the find-
ing of the bodies of the holy mar-
tyrs Diodorus the Priest, Marian the
Deacon, and their Companions, who
were keeping the feasts of the mar-
tyrs in the Catacombs in the time of
holy Pope Stephen, [in the year 257,]
when the persecutors closed up the
entrance of the Catacomb and buried it
up, so that they also died as martyrs.
On the same day were also born
into the better life —
At Bourges, [in the year 644,] holy
Sulpicius, Bishop of that see, sur-
named the Pious, whose life and
precious death are rendered famous
by glorious miracles.
In the monastery of St Andrew at
Rome, [in the sixth century,] the
blessed monks Anthony, Merulus,
and John, of whom writeth holy Pope
Gregory.
Vespers of the following.
January 17.
Double.
All from the Cojnmon Office for Ab-
bats, (p. 545,) except what is otherwise
given here.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
687
Prayer throughout the Office. O
Lord, we beseech Thee, that the
prayers, &c.
At First Vespers a Commemoration
is made of St Marcellus, with Prayer
as above.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesso?i.
A NTHONY was an Egyptian, the
^^ child of noble and Christian pa-
rents, whom he lost while yet very
young. On one occasion he entered
a Church, and heard these words of
the Gospel, (Matth. xix. 21,) " If thou
wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou
hast, and give to the poor." He took
these words as if they were addressed
to himself personally, for this was the
obedience which he thought every
word of the Lord Christ should meet
with. He therefore sold his whole
possessions, and gave the price to
the poor. Being thus delivered from
worldly entanglements, he set himself
to lead on earth the life of an angel.
Finding himself, as it were, about to
enter the field of battle against Satan,
he thought it wisest to add to the
shield of faith, which he already pos-
sessed, all the rest of the armour of
God, wherefore he observed all those
who were eminent for any grace, and
strove to copy them.
Fifth Lesson.
T T E was excelled by none in watch-
fulness and self-restraint. He
surpassed all in long-suffering, meek-
ness, tenderness, lowliness, persever-
ance, and continual study of the Holy
Scriptures. He had such a loathing
of the company and conversation of
heretics and schismatics, especially
Arians, that he used to say that a
faithful Christian ought as far as pos-
sible never to come near any such.
He took the sleep which was needful
for the body lying on the ground.
Such was his devotion to fasting, that
he took nothing with his bread but
salt, and drank only water ; he never
ate or drank before sunset ; he often
abstained from food altogether for two
days at a time ; and very often passed
whole nights in prayer. Being so
valiant a soldier of God, Anthony was
attacked by the devil with divers
temptations, but he overcame them
all by prayer and fasting. Neverthe-
less, these frequent triumphs over
Satan did not lull Anthony into
security, for he was well aware of the
numberless arts of assault possessed
by the evil one.
Sixth Lesson.
'T'HEN he betook himself into the
vast deserts of Africa that lie
near Egypt. Day by day he advanced
on the path to perfection. Day by
day the attacks of the fiends became
more violent, but day by day his'
strength grew greater to strive against
them. At length he came to mock at
the powerlessness of the devils, against
whom he stirred up his disciples to
fight, teaching them with what arms
to combat. " Believe me, my breth-
ren," he used to say, " Satan is afraid
of good men's watchings, and prayers,
and fasts, and voluntary poverty, and
mercifulness, and lowliness, but above
all, of their warm love for Christ our
Lord, the mere sign of Whose most
holy Cross is enough to undo him and
put him to flight." He became such
an object of dread to the devils, that
many persons throughout Egypt who
688
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
were tormented by them, were deliv-
ered by calling on his name : more-
over the fame of his holiness was so
spread abroad, that Constantine the
Great and his sons wrote to him to
commend themselves to his prayers.
In the hundred and fifth year of his
age, and the fulness of his reputation
for piety and miracles, having roused
up great numbers to follow his example,
he gathered his monks around him,
and when he had exhorted them to
strive after Christian perfection, he
passed to heaven on the 1 7th day of
January, [in the year of our Lord
356.]
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke xii. 35, with the
Homily of St Gregory, {p. 538.)
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the Feast
of the See of the holy Apostle Peter
wherein he first sat at Rome.
Upon the same 18th day of January,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy Virgin and martyr
Prisca, who after suffering many tor-
ments was crowned with martyrdom
under the Emperor Claudius.
In Pontus, the holy soldiers Moseus
and Ammonius, who were first con-
demned to penal servitude in the mines
and then burnt, [under the Emperor
Decius.]
Likewise in Pontus, [probably in
the year 196,] the holy martyr Athe-
nogenes the Old, called the Theo-
logian, who, when he was about to
suffer martyrdom by fire, joyfully sang
an hymn, which also he left unto his
disciples in writing.
At Tours, in Gaul, [in the year
498,] holy Volusian, Bishop of that
see, who was taken prisoner by the
1 Part of the mediaeval hymn Felix per omnes, &c, much altered ; author unknown ; transla-
tion by the Rev. E. Caswall.
Goths, and while still in exile gave
up his soul to God.
There also, [in the year 593,] the
holy hermit [of Tourance,] Leobard,
who was a bright light of self-denial
and lowliness.
In Brittany, holy Deicola, Abbat
[of Lure,] [in the year 625,] a disciple
of blessed Columbanus.
At Como, [in the year 581,] the
holy virgin Liberata.
Vespers of the following.
January 18.
&t Peter's Sec at 2Romc,
Greater Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, {p. 515,) except
what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Hymn. l
thou
shalt bind on
DETER, whatever
earth,
The same is bound above the starry sky ;
What here thy delegated power doth loose,
Is loosed in heaven's supremest court on
high:
To Judgment shalt thou come when the
world's end is nigh.
Praise to the Father through all ages be !
The same to Thee, O Co-eternal Son !
And Holy Ghost, One Glorious Trinity !
To Whom all majesty and might belong :
So sing we now, and such be our eternal
song. Amen.
Verse. Thou art Peter.
Answer. And upon this rock I will
build My Church.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Thou art the shepherd of the
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
689
sheep, and the Prince of the Apostles,
and unto thee are given the keys of
the kingdom of heaven.
Prayer and Commemoration of St
Paul from Lauds ; then a Commemora-
tion of St Anthony, and lastly of St
Prisca, Virgin and Martyr, from the
Common Office for Virgins and Martyrs,
with the following.
Prayer.
(""RANT, we beseech Thee, 0 Al-
mighty God, unto all Thy ser-
vants who do here keep the birthday
of Thy blessed Virgin and Martyr
Prisca, and do year by year rejoice at
her solemn commemoration, that they
may have grace to follow after the
pattern of her great faith. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. Thou art the Shepherd
of the sheep, and the Prince of the
Apostles : * and unto thee hath God
given the keys of the kingdom of
heaven.
Hymn from First Vespers.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the First Epistle of
the l Blessed Apostle Peter (i. 1.)
"DETER, an Apostle of Jesus Christ,
to the strangers scattered through-
out Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia,
and Bithynia, elect, according to the
1 Abp. Kenricksays: "The period when this letter was written cannot be fixed with cer-
tainty. Hug assigns it to the eleventh year of Nero." (If so, three years before the martyrdom
of the Apostle.) "The common opinion is that it was written from Rome, which is understood
to have been designated by the name of Babylon (v. 13) as in the Apocalypse ; but the critic
just mentioned .... supposes that it was written from Babylon in Asia."
foreknowledge of God the Father, unto
the sanctification of the Spirit, unto
obedience, and sprinkling of the Blood
of JESUS Christ: Grace unto you, and
peace, be multiplied. Blessed be God
and the Father of our Lord JESUS
Christ, Which, according to His abun-
dant mercy, hath begotten us again
unto a lively hope by the Resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled,
and that fadeth not away, reserved in
heaven for you, who are kept by the
power of God through faith unto sal-
vation ready to be revealed in the last
time.
First Responsory.
Simon Peter, before I called thee
out of the ship, I knew thee, and
appointed thee for a captain over My
people. And I have given unto thee
the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
Verse. Whatsoever thou shalt bind
on earth, shall be bound in heaven ;
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on
earth, shall be loosed in heaven.
Answer. And I have given unto thee
the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
Second Lesson.
"ViyHEREIN ye greatly rejoice,
though now for a season, if
need be, ye are in heaviness, through
manifold temptations ; that the trial
of your faith, being much more pre-
cious than gold (which is tried with
fire,) may be found unto praise, and
glory, and honour at the appearing of
JESUS Christ : Whom, having not
seen, ye love ; in Whom, though now
ye see Him not, yet ye believe ; and
believing, rejoice, with joy unspeakable
and full of glory ; receiving the end
690
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
of your faith, even the salvation of
your souls.
Answer. And I will give unto thee
the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
Second Responsory.
1 Simon Peter, if thou lovest Me,
feed My sheep. Lord, Thou knowest
that I love Thee : I will lay down my
life for Thy sake.
Verse. 2 If I should die with Thee,
I will not deny Thee.
Answer. I will lay down my life
for Thy sake.
Third Lesson.
(~\F which salvation, the Prophets
^^^ have inquired and searched
diligently, who prophesied of the
grace that should come unto you,
searching what or what time the
Spirit of Christ Which was in them
did signify, when It testified before-
hand the sufferings of Christ, and the
glory that should follow. Unto whom
it was revealed that, not unto them-
selves, but unto you, they did minister
the things which are now reported
unto you by them that have preached
the Gospel unto you, with the Holy
Ghost sent down from heaven, on
Whom the angels desire to look.
Third Responsory.
Thou art Peter, and upon this rock
I will build My Church, and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it.
And I will give unto thee the keys of
the kingdom of heaven.
Verse. Whatsoever thou shalt bind
on earth, shall be bound in heaven ;
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on
earth, shall be loosed in heaven.
Answer. And I will give unto thee
the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
1 John xxi. 16 ; xiii. 37.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of Pope St Leo [the Great.] (First
Sermon on the Holy Apostles Peter
and Paul, before the middle. )
"\17"HEN the twelve holy Apostles
had received from the Holy
Ghost the power to speak all languages,
they divided the whole world into
districts, which they severally allotted
to themselves as fields for their Gospel
labours. Then was Peter, the Prince
of the Apostles, sent to the capital
city of the Roman Empire, that he
might cause the light to shine thence
throughout the whole body of the
civilized nations. At that time what
nation was there that had no rep-
resentative in Rome ? When Rome
had learnt, what people that did not
learn too ?
Fourth Responsory.
Thou art the Shepherd of the sheep,
and the Prince of the Apostles, and
unto thee hath God given all the
kingdoms of the world. Therefore
unto thee hath He given the keys of
the kingdom of heaven.
Verse. Whatsoever thou shalt bind
on earth shall be bound in heaven ;
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Answer. Therefore unto thee hath
He given the keys of the kingdom
of heaven.
Fifth JLesson.
T N Rome were the dreams of an un-
believing philosophy to be de-
stroyed, in Rome were the empty
2 Mark xiv. 31.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
69I
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 com-
rade 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.
Fifth Responsory.
1 Peter, I have prayed for thee,
that thy faith fail not ; and when
thou art converted, strengthen thy
brethren.
Verse. Flesh and blood hath not
revealed it unto thee, but My Father
Which is in heaven.
Answer. And when thou art con-
verted, strengthen thy brethren.
Sixth Lesson.
'T'HOU 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, Cappa-
docia, 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.
Sixth Responsory.
Peter, lovest thou Me ? Lord, Thou
knowest that I love Thee. Feed My
sheep.
Verse. Simon, son of Jonas, lovest
thou Me more than these ? Lord,
Thou knowest that I love Thee.
Answer. Feed My sheep.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Feed My sheep.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (xvi.
130
A T that time : Jesus came into the
coasts of Caesarea Philippi, and
He asked His disciples, saying : Who
do men say that I, the Son of Man,
am ? And so on.
Homily by St Hilary, Bishop [of
Poitiers.] {Commentary on Matthew
xvi.)
The Lord asketh His disciples who
men say that He is, and He addeth,
" He, the Son of Man." Let us ever
remember to hold fast this truth of
our profession, namely, that the Son
of God is the Son of Man also.
Were He one and not the other, then
were He no Saviour for us. The
Lord then, having heard the various
opinions of men, asketh, "But Who
say ye that I am ? And Simon Peter
answered and said : Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God."
Peter had weighed the questions.
The Lord had asked, " Who do men
say that I, the Son of Man, am ? "
That He was Son of Man was suffi-
ciently evident to all who looked upon
His Body. But when He spake of
1 Luke xxii. 32.
692
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
His whole Self, and asked, " Who do
ye say that I am ? " He showed that
the mind had something to grasp be-
yond That Which was seen, for Son
of Man He was manifestly. What
judgment did He wish them to give ?
I think it was not /that which He had
owned concerning Himself. That
something more, which He wished
them to own, was a hidden thing,
whereunto the faith of them that be-
lieved in Him was to reach.
Seventh Responsory.
Jesus asked His disciples, saying :
Who do men say that I, the Son of
Man, am ? Peter answered, and said :
Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God. And I say unto thee,
that thou art Peter, and upon this
rock I will build My Church.
Verse. Blessed art thou, Simon
Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not
revealed it unto thee, but My Father
Which is in heaven.
Answer. And I say unto thee, that
thou art Peter, and upon this rock I
will build My Church.
Sometimes, as, for instance, where
this or St Prisca is the Patronal Feast,
a Ninth Lesson of this Homily is re-
quired, and in that case the Lesson
which follows is divided into two, at
the place marked.
Eighth Lesson.
"DETER'S confession was followed
by a proper reward for having
seen the Son of God in the Son of
Man. Blessed is this holy Apostle,
in whose praise it is said that he saw
with more than human eyes That
Which was unseen, who gazed upon
Flesh and Blood, and by the secret
revelation of the Heavenly Father
recognised the Eternal Son of God ;
who was the first thought worthy to
acknowledge the Divinity of Christ.
{Here, if necessary, the Lesson is
divided.) God bless thee, O Peter,
thou who by uttering for the first time
the title of Divine honour, didst lay
the goodly foundation of the Church !
God bless thee, thou worthy rock
whereon she is built, for ever trium-
phant over the infernal powers, the
gates of hell, and the bands of death !
God bless thee, happy door-keeper of
heaven, to whose keeping are given
the keys of the everlasting mansions,
whose sentences on earth are already
confirmed in heaven — so that what-
soever thou shalt bind on earth shall
be bound in heaven, and whatsoever
thou shalt loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven.
Eighth Responsory.
The Lord hath chosen thee for a
priest unto Himself, to offer up unto
Him the sacrifice of praise.
Verse. l Offer unto God thanks-
giving, and pay thy vows unto the
Most High.
Answer. The sacrifice of praise.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. The sacrifice of praise.
Ninth Lesson.
For St Prisca, Virgin and Martyr.
TJRISCA was a noble Roman
maiden, who at thirteen years
of age was accused of Christianity
before the Emperor Claudius. By
his command she was taken to the
temple of Apollo to sacrifice there,
and when she refused, was buffeted
and sent to prison. She was taken
out from thence again, but as she
still held steadfastly to the faith, they
1 Ps. xlix. 14.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
693
flogged her, poured boiling tallow
upon her, and sent her back a second
time. She was at last thrown to a
lion in the amphitheatre, but it quietly
lay down at her feet. She was starved
for three days in a slaves' prison house,
and then tortured upon the rack.
Pieces of flesh were next torn from
her body with iron hooks, and she
was thrown on a burning pile. She
marvellously still remained alive, and
was accordingly beheaded outside the
city. Thus she added the crown of
martyrdom to the palm of virginity.
The Christians buried her body at the
tenth milestone on the road from Rome
to Ostia on the eighteenth of January.1
LAUDS.
Hymn. 2
DETER, blest Shepherd ! hearken to our
cry,
And with a word unloose our guilty
chain ;
Thou ! who hast power to ope the gates on
high
To men below, and power to shut them
fast again.
Praise, blessing, majesty, through endless
days,
Be to the Trinity immortal given ;
Who in pure Unity profoundly sways
Eternally alike all things in earth and
heaven. Amen.
Verse. 3 Let them exalt Him in
the congregation of the people.
Answer. And praise Him in the
assembly of the elders.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Thus saith the Lord unto Simon
Peter : Whatsoever thou shalt bind
on earth, shall be bound in heaven ;
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Prayer throughout the Office.
f~\ GOD, Who hast given unto Thy
^^^ Blessed Apostle Peter the keys
of the kingdom of heaven, and the
power to bind and to loose, loose us,
we beseech Thee, at his mighty in-
tercession, from all the bands of our
sins. Who livest and reignest with
God the Father, in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, one God, world without
end. Amen.
Then the following Commemoration
of St Paul.
Antiphon. O Holy Apostle Paul,
Preacher of the truth, and Teacher of
the Gentiles, pray for us to God Who
hath chosen thee.
Verse. O Holy Apostle Paul, thou
art a chosen vessel unto God.
Answer. To preach the Gospel
throughout the whole world.
Prayer.
f~\ GOD, Who, through the preach-
^"^ ing of the Blessed Apostle Paul,
hast caused the light of the Gospel to
shine throughout the world, grant, we
beseech Thee, that we, who do keep
his memorial, may continually be
holpen by his intercession with Thee.
Then a Commemoration is made of
St Prisca. (Prayer from Vespers. )
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 1 9th day of January, were
born into the better life —
At Worcester, in England, [in the
year 1095,] the holy Confessor Wol-
stan, Bishop of that see, famous for his
worthy and wondrous works, whose
name was enrolled among those of
the saints by Innocent III.
1 About a.d. 275.
2 A part, much altered, of the hymn Aurea Luce, composed probably near the end of the
fifth century by Elpis, first wife of the learned Bcethius, minister of Theodoric ; translation by
the Rev. E. Caswall. 3 Ps. cvi. 32.
VOL. I. Z 2
694
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
At Rome, [in the year 270,] upon
the Cornelian Way, the holy martyrs
Maris, and Martha, his wife, and their
sons Audifax and Abachum. These
were noble Persians, who came to Rome
for prayer's sake in the time of the
Emperor Claudius. They were cud-
gelled, racked, burnt, torn with iron
hooks, and had their hands cut off.
At length Martha was drowned and
the others beheaded, and their bodies
cast into the fire.
At Smyrna, in the time of the
Emperors Marcus Antoninus and
Lucius Aurelius, the blessed martyr
Germanicus ; he was a very beautiful
youth, but by the power of God's grace
he laid aside all the weakness of bodily
fear, and of his own accord provoked
the beast by which he had been
condemned by the judge to be killed ;
and so being ground through its teeth,
and so dying for the Lord Jesus
Christ, he earned to be made one
body with Him who is Himself the
very Bread which came down from
heaven.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Paul,
Gerontius, Januarius, Saturninus,
Successus, Julius, Catus, Pia, and
Germana, [and others to the number
in all of 600.]
At Spoleto, in the time of the
Emperor Antonine, the holy martyr
Pontian. Fabian, the judge, caused
him to be first most grievously beaten
with rods and then to walk barefoot
upon live coals ; by these he was un-
hurt, and was therefore racked,
lacerated with iron hooks, and cast
into prison, where he was comforted
by a visitation of angels. Lastly he
was thrown to the lions, had molten
lead poured over him, and was then
beheaded.
At Lodi, [about the year 413,] the
holy Confessor Bassian, Bishop of that
see, who fought manfully along with
holy Ambrose against the heretics.
SECOND VESPERS.
Hymn from First Vespers.
Verse. The Lord hath chosen thee
for a Priest unto Himself.
Answer. To offer up unto Him
the sacrifice of praise.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Being made the Chief Bishop,
&c, (A 526.)
Prayer and Commemoration of St
Paul as before; then of the following,
Prayer from his Office ; then of St
Maris and his Companions, Martyrs.
Antiphon and Verse and Answer
from the First Vespers of the Common
Office for Many Martyrs, {p. 498.)
Prayer.
/GRACIOUSLY hear, O Lord, the
prayers of Thy people who draw
near unto Thee under the protection
of Thy blessed Saints, granting us in
this world Thy peace, and in that
which is to come life everlasting.
Through our Lord JESUS Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end. Amen.
January 19.
£t SHolstan, aStsfjop [of m*u
caster,] Confessor,
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, {p. 515,) except
the follow i Jig.
Prayer throughout. ( Taken from the
Salisbury Missal. )
"DOUR into our hearts, O Lord, the
Spirit of Thy love, that we, be-
ing holpen by the prayers of Thy
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
695
blessed Confessor and Bishop Wolstan,
may worthily taste Thy sweetness in
everlasting blessedness. Through
our Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Same Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson. {From the Life by
William of Malmesbury. Anglia
Sacra, ii. 241.)
'T^HIS Wolstan gained a great fame
for holiness while he was a
priest. He afterwards became a monk
at Worcester, and in a short while
was set to govern that Church. As
regarded earthly learning he was al-
most entirely uneducated, and gave
himself up wholly to ghostly lore. As
an English speaker he was deemed
very eloquent, and it is a remarkable
proof of this, that, by constant preach-
ing, he brought the citizens of Bristol
to their right minds, after both the
Royal and the Papal authority had
failed to make them give up their in-
famous slave-trade.
Fifth Lesson.
A S a Bishop, he was unwearied in
"^"^ doing the work of the Good
Shepherd. He made constant visita-
tions throughout his Diocese, held
Ordinations, consecrated Churches,
rebuked sinners, and both by word
and ensample, stirred up the souls
committed to his charge to yearn after
life eternal. It often was so that he
remained without food from sunrise
to dark, confirming the children who
were brought to him from all quarters,
to the number of two or three thousand
at a time. The gentleness and the
tender love of souls which he displayed
in hearing confessions were so great,
that penitents flowed to him from well-
nigh all England, and converted
sinners under his warnings brought
forth fruits meet for repentance.
Sixth Lesson.
T_TIS watchfulness for the salvation
of others did not cause him
to neglect his own. He said Mass
often, was constant in prayer, never
ate meat, and served God in abundant
almsgiving to the poor. The lowlier
he was regarding himself, the more
did others speak of him, and not only
Englishmen and Normans, but foreign
Kings and Princes also, commended
themselves to his prayers. He died
very old, in the year of our Lord
1095, and is buried in his own Church
at Worcester.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lesson from Matth. xxiv. 42, with
the Homily of St Hilary, {p. 527.)
The last is omitted or read with the
Eighth, to make room for that of SS.
Maris, d^c.
At Lauds, Commemoration of the
Holy Martyrs.
Vespers are of SS. Fabian and Se-
bastian, from the Chapter, inclusive,
with a Commemoratio7i of St Wolstan.
Ninth Lesson.
(For St Maris, and his Companions,
Martyrs. )
1V/TARIS was a Persian of high
rank, who came to Rome in
the reign of the Emperor Claudius,
with his wife Martha, who was equally
696
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
noble, and their two sons Audifax and
Abachum, to pray at the graves of the
Martyrs. Here they comforted the
Christians who were in prison, and
whom they relieved by their ministra-
tions and alms, and buried the bodies
of the Saints. Fyor these acts they
were all arrested, but no threats or
terrors could move them to sacrifice
to idols. They were accordingly
mangled with clubs, and drawn with
ropes, after which they were burnt by
applying plates of red-hot metal to
their bodies, and their flesh partly
torn off with metal hooks. Lastly
their hands were all cut off, and they
were fastened together by the neck,
in which state they were driven
through the city to the thirteenth
mile-stone on the Cornelian Way, a
place now called Santa Ninfa, where
they were to die. Martha addressed
a moving exhortation to her husband
and sons to hold out bravely to the
last, for the love of Jesus Christ ;
and was then herself drowned. The
other three martyrs were next be-
headed in the same sand-pit. Their
bodies were thrown into a fire. The
lady Felicity of Rome collected the
half-burnt remains, and caused them
to be buried at her own farm.1
Prayer throughout the Office as at
Vespers.
At Lauds a Commemoration is made
of St Maris and his Companions.
Prayer as before.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 20th day of January, were
born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy Pope Fabian,
who suffered in the time of the Em-
peror Decius, and was buried in the
cemetery of Callistus.
There also, at the Catacombs, the
holy martyr Sebastian, commander of
the first cohort under the Emperor
Diocletian. Being convicted of Christ-
ianity, he was tied up in the midst of
a field and shot at by the soldiers, but
in the end he was beaten to death
with cudgels.
At Nice, in Bithynia, [in the fourth
century,] the holy martyr Neophitus,
who in the fifteenth year of his age
was flogged, cast into a furnace, and
thrown to wild beasts, and for as
much as he remained unhurt and
constantly professed the faith of
Christ, he was at length beheaded.
At Caesena, [in the tenth century,]
holy Maurus, Bishop of that see,
famous for graces and miracles.
In Palestine, [in the year 473,] holy
Euthymius, [surnamed the Great,]
Abbat [near Jerusalem,] who flour-
ished in the Church in the time of
the Emperor Marcian, filled with zeal
for catholic discipline, and marked by
the power of working miracles.
Vespers are the First of the follow-
ing fro?n the Chapter inclusive.
January 20.
&&. jFabtart anti Sefoastian,
Iftartsrs.
Double.
All from the Common Office for
Many Martyrs, except what is other-
wise given here.
Prayer throughout.
TV/I" ERCIFULLY consider our weak-
ness, O Almighty God, and
whereas by the burden of our sins we
are sore let and hindered, grant that
we may be relieved by the prayers
of Thy blessed and glorious Martyrs
1 A.D. 270.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
697
Fabian and Sebastian. Through our
Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. A?nen.
First Vespers, as regards SS. Fabian
and Sebastian, begin with the Chapter.
A Commemoration is made of St
Wolstan. Prayer from his Office.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
The Lessons are taken from Scrip-
ture according to the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
T7ABIAN was a Roman, and sat as
Pope from [the year of our Lord
236, in] the reign of the Emperor
Maximin till [250, in] that of Decius.
He appointed a Deacon to each of
the seven districts of Rome to look
after the poor. He likewise appointed
the same number of Subdeacons to
collect the acts of the Martyrs from
the records kept by the seven district
notaries. It was by him that it was
ordained that every Maundy Thursday
the old Chrism should be burnt and
new consecrated. He was crowned
with martyrdom upon the 20th of
January, in the persecution of Decius,
and buried in the cemetery of St
Kallistus on the Appian Way, having
sat in the throne of Peter fifteen years
and four days. He held five Advent
ordinations, in which he ordained
twenty - two Priests, seven Deacons,
and eleven Bishops for divers Sees.
Fifth Lesson.
r~PHE father of Sebastian was of
Narbonne, and his mother a
Milanese. He was a great favourite
of the Emperor Diocletian, both on
account of his noble birth and his
personal bravery, and was by him
appointed captain of the first company
of the Praetorian Guards. He was in
secret a Christian, and often supported
the others both by good offices and
money. When some showed signs of
yielding under persecution, he so suc-
cessfully exhorted them, that, for
JESUS Christ's sake, many offered
themselves to the tormentors. Among
these were the brothers Mark and
Marcellian who were imprisoned at
Rome in the house of Nicostratus.
The wife of Nicostratus himself, named
Zoe, had lost her voice, but it was
restored to her at the prayer of
Sebastian. These facts becoming
known to Diocletian, he sent for
Sebastian, and after violently rebuking
him, used every means to turn him
from his faith in Christ. But as
neither promises nor threats availed,
he ordered him to be tied to a post
and shot to death with arrows.
Sixth Lesson.
CEBASTIAN was treated accord-
ingly, and left for dead, but in
the night the holy widow Irene sent
for the body in order to bury it, and
then found that he was still alive, and
nursed him in her own house. As
soon as his health was restored, he
went out to meet Diocletian, and
boldly rebuked him for his wicked-
ness. The Emperor was first thunder-
struck at the sight of a man whom he
believed to have been some time dead,
but afterwards, frenzied with rage at
tl\e reproaches of Sebastian, ordered
him to be beaten to death with rods,
under which torment the martyr yielded
his blessed soul to God, [upon the
20th day of January, in the year of
our Lord 288.] His body was thrown
into a sewer, but he appeared in sleep
698
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
to Lucina, and made known to her
where it was, and where he would
have it buried. She accordingly found
it and laid it in those Catacombs,
over which a famous Church hath
since been built, called St Sebastian's-
without-the-Walls. /
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke vi. 17, with the
Homily of St Ambrose, {p. 511.)
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 2 1 st day of January, were
born into the better life —
At Rome, under Symphronius, Pre-
fect of the city, the holy Virgin and
martyr Agnes. She was cast into the
fire, but the fire died out at her prayer,
and then she was smitten with the
sword, [in the year 304.] Blessed
Jerome writeth concerning her. The
life of Agnes hath been praised in the
writings and in the tongues of all
nations, and most chiefly in the
churches. She overcame not only the
tyrant but also the weakness of her
own age, and hallowed by martyrdom
the title of virgin.
At Athens, [in the second century,]
the holy Bishop Publius, who ruled
illustriously over the Church of Athens
in succession to holy Denis the Areo-
pagite ; he was famous for graces and
eminent for teaching, and was glori-
ously crowned with the martyrdom of
Christ.
At Tarragona, in Spain, the holy
martyrs Fructuosus, Bishop of that
see, and the Deacons Augurius and
Eulogius. In [the year 259, in] the
time of the Emperor Gallienus, they
were first imprisoned and then cast
into the fire, and when their bonds
had been burnt they stretched forth
their hands in the form of a cross, and
so in prayer finished their martyrdom.
Holy Augustin preached to the people
upon their feast-day.
At Troyes, [in Champagne,] the holy
martyr Patroclus, who gained the
crown of martyrdom under the Em-
peror Aurelian.
In the Monastery of Eu, in Gaul,
the holy hermit Meinard, who was
murdered by thieves, [in the year 861.
Founder of Notre Dame des Ermites.]
At Pavia, the holy Confessor Epi-
phanius, Bishop of that see.
Second Vespers are of the followingy
from the Chapter inclusive.
January 21.
Uirgut anti JHartgr,
Double.
All from the Office for one Virgin
and Martyr, {p. 567,) except what is
otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Should these Vespers be of St Agnes
from the beginning, the Antiphons are
taken from Lauds, and the Psalms are
those of Sunday Vespers, except the
last, which is Psalm cxvi., " O praise
the LORD, all ye nations, &c," (p.
186.)
Chapter and Prayer from Lauds.
Antiphou at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The blessed Agnes stood in
the midst of the fire, and stretched
forth her hands, and prayed, saying :
O Father ! Who Alone art Almighty !
Who Alone art to be adored ! Who
Alone art to be worshipped ! Who
Alone art to be feared ! I thank
Thee because that through Thy Holy
Son Thou hast delivered me from the
threatenings of the godless tyrant,
and hast made me to walk with clean
FEAST-DAYS IN TANUARY.
699
feet over the filthy slough of fleshly
sin : and now, behold, I come unto
Thee, unto Thee Whom I have
loved, Whom I have sought, Whom
I have ever desired.
A Commemoration is made of
SS. Fabian and Sebastian, Martyrs.
Prayer from their Office.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. I will none of
thee, prey of death, for I am pre-
vented by another Lover.
Ps. i. Blessed is the man, &c,
(A 4-)
Second Antiphon. My right hand
and my neck hath He clasped with
precious stones, and put pearls be-
yond price in mine ears.
Ps. ii. Why do the heathen, &c,
(A 4.)
Third A?itiphon. He hath sealed
me in my forehead that I may let in
no other lover but Him.
Ps. iii. Lord, how are they in-
creased, &c, {p. 5.)
Lessons from Ecclus. Ii. 1, {p.
575-)
First Responsory.
Let us keep with joy and gladness
the feast of this most saintly maiden,
let us call to mind the holy passion
of the blessed Agnes : in her thir-
teenth year she conquered, losing
death and finding life, because she
loved the Only Giver of Life.
Verse. Reckoned but a child in
this world, she understood more than
the ancients.
Answer. Because she loved the
Only Giver of Life.
Second Responsory.
My right hand and my neck hath
He clasped with precious stones, and
put pearls beyond price in mine ears,
and hath crowned me with the bright
blossoms of the eternal spring-time.
Verse. He hath sealed me in my
forehead, that I may let in no other
lover but Him.
Answer. And hath crowned me
with the bright blossoms of the eter-
nal spring-time.
Third Responsory.
Christ is my Lover, and I am en-
tering with Him into the marriage-
chamber. His Mother is a Virgin,
and His Father knoweth not a
woman. The instruments of His
music sound sweetly together in
my ears. If I love Him I shall
be chaste, if I touch Him I shall
be clean, if I embrace Him I shall
be a virgin indeed.
Verse. He hath espoused me
with a betrothal ring, and adorned
me with a necklace of great price.
Answer. If I love Him I shall
be chaste, if I touch Him I shall be
clean, if I embrace Him I shall be
a virgin indeed.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. If I love Him, I shall
be chaste, if I touch Him I shall be
clean, if I embrace Him I shall be
a virgin indeed.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. The Lord hath
clothed me with a vesture of wrought
gold, and adorned me with a necklace
of great price.
Ps. iv. When I called, &c, {p.
206.)
yoo
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Second Antiphon. I have sucked
honey and milk out of His Mouth,
and His Blood is red on my cheeks.
Ps. v. Give ear to my words, O
Lord, &c, (p. 88.)
Third Anti-phot* I keep my troth
to Him alone, and commit me alto-
gether to Him.
Ps. viii. 0 Lord, our Ruler, &c,
{P- 70
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
of St Ambrose, Bishop [of Milan,]
on Virgins. {Bk. i. Chap. 2.)
HP HIS is a virgin's birthday; let us
then follow the example of her
chastity. It is a Martyr's birthday;
let us then offer sacrifices. It is the
birthday of the holy Agnes ; let men
then be filled with wonder, little ones
with hope, married women with awe,
and the unmarried with emulation.
But how shall I set forth the glory
of her whose very name is an utter-
ance of praise ? It seemeth to me
that this being, holy beyond her
years, and strong beyond human
nature, received the name of Agnes,
not as an earthly designation, but as
a revelation from God of what she
was to be. For this name Agnes
is from the Greek, and being inter-
preted, signifieth Pure. So that this
saintly maiden is known by the very
title of Chastity : and when I have
added thereto the word Martyr, I
have said enough. She needeth not
the praise which we could utter, but
do not. None is more praiseworthy
than she for whose praise all mouths
are fitted. As many as name her,
so many praise her, by the noble
title of martyr.
Fourth Responsory.
1 The Lord hath clothed me with
the garments of salvation, and hath
covered me with the robe of joyful-
ness, and hath set on my head a
crown as the crown of a bride.
Verse. He hath put pearls be-
yond price in mine ears, and hath
crowned me with the bright blossoms
of the eternal spring-time.
Answer. And hath set on my
head a crown as the crown of a
bride.
Fifth Lesson.
V\7"E learn by tradition that this
holy martyr testified in the
thirteenth year of her age. We will
pass by the foul cruelty which did
not spare her tender years, to con-
template the great power of her
faith, whereby she overcame the
weakness of childhood, and wit-
nessed a good confession. Her
little body was hardly big enough
to give play to the instruments of
their cruelty, but if they could scarce
sheathe their swords in her slight
frame, they found in her that which
laughed the power of the sword to
scorn. She had no fear when she
found herself grasped by the bloody
hands of the executioners. She was
unmoved when they dragged her
with clanging chains. Hardly en-
tered on life, she stood fully pre-
pared to die. She quailed not
when the weapons of the angry
soldiery were pointed at her breast.
If they forced her against her will
to approach the altars of devils, she
could stretch forth her hands to
Christ amid the very flames which
consumed the idolatrous offerings,
and mark on the heathen shrine
the victorious Cross of the Lord.
She was ready to submit her neck
1 Isa. lxi. io.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
701
and hands to the iron shackles, but
they were too big to clasp her slen-
der limbs. Behold a strange mar-
tyr ! She is not grown of stature
to fight the battle, but she is ripe
for the triumph ; too weak to run
in the race, and yet clearly entitled
to the prize ; unable from her age
to be aught but a learner, she is
found a teacher.
Fifth Responsory.
I have sucked honey and milk out
of His Mouth, and His Blood is red
on my cheeks.
Verse. He hath shown me count-
less treasure, and hath sworn to en-
dow me therewith.
Answer. And His Blood is red on
my cheeks.
Sixth Lesson.
CHE went to the place of execu-
tion a virgin, with more willing
and joyful footsteps than she would
have gone with to the nuptial cham-
ber as a bride. The spectators were
all in tears, and she alone did not
weep. They beheld her with won-
der, laying down that life of which
she had hardly begun to taste the
sweets, as freely as though she had
drained it to the dregs and was
weary of its burden. All men were
amazed when they saw her whose
years had not made her her own
mistress, arise as a witness for the
Deity. Consider how many threats
her murderer used to excite her
fears, how many arguments to shake
her resolution, how many promises
to bribe her to accept his offers of
marriage. But she answered him :
" It is an insult to Him Whom I
have wedded to expect me to comply.
He That first chose me, His will I
be. Headsman, why waitest thou ?
Perish the body which draweth the
admiration of eyes from which I
would turn away." She stood,
prayed, and then bent her neck
for the stroke. Now mightest thou
have seen the murderer trembling
as though he himself were the
criminal, the executioner's hand
shake, and the faces of them that
stood by turn white at the sight of
her position, and all the while her-
self remain without fear. This one
victim brought God a double offer-
ing, that of her purity, and that of
her faith. She preserved virginity
and achieved martyrdom.
Sixth Responsory.
His Body and mine are already
joined together, and His Blood is
red on my cheeks. His Mother is
a virgin, and His Father knoweth
not a woman.
Verse. I am wedded to the Lord
of Angels, at Whose beauty the sun
and the moon do wonder.
Answer. His Mother is a virgin,
and His Father knoweth not a woman.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. His Mother is a virgin,
and His Father knoweth not a woman.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. I keep my troth
to Him Alone, at Whose beauty the
sun and the moon do wonder.
Ps. xiv. LORD, who shall abide,
&c, (p. 10.)
Second Antiphon. Christ hath
crowned me with the bright and
priceless blossoms of the eternal
spring-time.
Ps. xliv. My heart is overflowing,
&c, (A 96.)
Third Antiphon. I am wedded to
702
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
the Lord of Angels, at Whose beauty
the sun and the moon do wonder.
Ps. xlv. God is our refuge, &c,
(/>■ 97-)
Lessons from Matth. xxv. i , with
the Homily of Pope St Gregory {p.
571,) and the following Responsories.
Seventh Responsory.
I am wedded to the Lord of Angels,
at Whose beauty the sun and the moon
do wonder. I keep my troth to Him
alone, and commit me altogether to
Him.
Verse. My right hand and my neck
hath He clasped with precious stones,
and put pearls beyond price in mine
ears.
Answer. I keep my troth to Him
alone, and commit me altogether to
Him.
Eighth Responsory.
O Thou Who Alone art Almighty !
Who Alone art to be adored ! Who
Alone art to be worshipped ! Who
Alone art to be feared ! I bless Thee,
because that through Thine Only-be-
gotten Son Thou hast delivered me
from the threatenings of wicked men,
and hast made me to walk with clean
feet through the filthy haunts of devils.
Verse. My lips praise Thee, my
heart and all that is within me do
long after Thee.
Answer. Because that through
Thine Only-begotten Son Thou hast
delivered me from the threatenings of
wicked men, and hast made me to
walk with clean feet through the filthy
haunts of devils.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Because that through
Thine Only-begotten Son Thou hast
delivered me from the threatenings of
wicked men, and hast made me to
walk with clean feet through the filthy
haunts of devils.
The Hymn, " We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. Agnes entered *
the place of shame, and found the
Angel of the Lord ready.
Second Antiphon. For I have with
me * an Angel of the Lord to keep my
body.
Third Antiphon. My Lord JESUS
Christ hath espoused me with His
ring, * and hath set on my head a
crown as the crown of a bride.
Fourth Antiphon. I bless Thee, O
Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, be-
cause through Thy Son the fire is
quenched around me.
Fifth Antiphon. Rejoice with me *
and make merry, because I also have
received a throne in light among all
these.
Chapter. (Ecclus. li. 1.)
T WILL thank Thee, O Lord and
King, and praise Thee, O God
my Saviour. I will give praise unto
Thy Name, for Thou hast been my
Helper and Defender, and hast pre-
served my body from destruction.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Behold, now I see that which I have
desired ; now I possess that for which
I have hoped : now am I united in
heaven to Him Whom I loved with
my whole heart upon earth.
Prayer throughout.
r\ ALMIGHTY and everlasting
^~^ God, Who hast chosen the weak
things of the world to confound the
things which are mighty, mercifully
grant unto us that we who keep the
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
703
At Embrun, in Gaul, the holy
martyrs Vincent, Orontius, and Victor,
who were crowned with martyrdom in
the persecution under the Emperor
Diocletian.
At Novara, the holy Confessor
Gaudentius, Bishop of that see, [in
the fifth century.]
At Sora, [in the year 1031,] the
holy Abbat Dominic, famous for
miracles.
Chapter at the end. (Ecclus. li. 8.)
IX/T Y soul shall praise the Lord, even
■*■ unto death, for Thou, O Lord
our God, deliverest such as wait for
Thee, and savest them out of trouble.
TERCE.
Antiphon. For I have, &c, {Second
Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at Lauds.
SEXT.
Antiphon. My Lord JESUS Christ,
&c, {Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Ecclus. li. 3.)
'THOU hast delivered me according
to the multitude of the mercies
of Thy Name from them that roared
against me, and that were ready to
devour me, out of the hands of such
as sought after my life, and from the
gates of trouble that were open all
around me.
NONE.
Antiphon. Rejoice with me, * &c,
{Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
1 The Martyrology saith at Rome, at the Aqua Salvia— that is, at the monastery called after
him and St Vincent,— but it is clear from the statement of the Lessons that he suffered among
his own countrymen, and that the word natalis, or birthday, is therefore here only to be under-
stood in the sense of holiday keeping, and the translator has thought it better to preserve it in
its usual meaning by giving the name of the place of death.
2 An icon, or painting
solemn feast of Thy blessed Virgin and
Martyr Agnes, may feel the power of
her intercession with Thee. Through
our Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. Agnes entered, * &c,
{First Antiphon at Lauds. )
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 22nd day of January, were
born into the better life —
At Valentia, in Spain, the holy
Levite and martyr Vincent. Under
the wicked President Dacian he suf-
fered imprisonment, starvation, rack-
ing, twisting of his limbs, red-hot
plates, and bed of red-hot iron, and
other kinds of torments, and passed
away to heaven to receive there a
martyr's reward, [in the year 304.]
The glorious triumph of his passion
hath been set forth by Prudentius in
noble poetry, and the blessed Augustine
and the holy Pope Leo have praised
him in the highest language.
In Persia,1 the holy monk Anastasius,
who, after enduring many torments of
imprisonment, stripes, and bonds at
Csesarea, in Palestine, suffered much
again under Chosroes, King of the
Persians, and was at length beheaded,
when he had sent before him seventy
companions who suffered martyrdom
by drowning, [in the year 628.]
His head and his venerable image 2
were afterwards brought to Rome, and
the acts of the Second Council of Nice
bear witness that at the sight of them
devils fly and diseases are healed.
7o4
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
SECOND VESPERS.
Antipho7is and Chapter from Lauds.
Psalms as on Sundays, except the
last, which is Psalm cxlvii., " Praise
the Lord, O Jerusalem, &c," {p. 203.)
Antiphon at t/fe Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The blessed Agnes stood
in the midst of the fire, and stretched
forth her hands unto the Lord, and
prayed, saying : O Thou Who Alone
art Almighty ! Who Alone art to be
adored ! Who Alone art to be wor-
shipped ! Who Alone art to be feared !
I bless Thee, and glorify Thy Name
for ever and ever !
A Commemoration is made of the
following, by the Antiphon, Verse and
Answer from the First Vespers of the
Common Office for Many Martyrs,
and the following
Prayer.
[" ET Thy merciful ears, O Lord, be
open unto our prayers, and
whereas we do feel ourselves burdened
by the guilt of our sins, do Thou
graciously relieve us at the petition of
Thy blessed Martyrs, Vincent and
Anastasius. Through our Lord JESUS
Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, one God, world without
end. Amen.
January 22.
Cjc $oig Jflartgrs Fmcettt
antj Anastasius.
Semi-double.
All from the Common Office for
Many Martyrs, {p. 498,) except what
is otherwise given here.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
A7"INCENTwas born at Huesca in
Granada in Spain. He was
early turned to study, and learned
sacred letters from Valerius, Bishop
of Saragossa. He was accustomed to
deliver discourses for this Prelate, who,
owing to an impediment in his speech,
was not able to preach himself. This
coming to the ears of Dacian, Prefect
of the province under Diocletian and
Maximian, he caused Vincent to be
arrested at Saragossa, and brought
before him at Valencia in bonds.
The saint was scourged, and after-
wards tormented on the rack, in
presence of numerous spectators, but
neither torture, threats, nor fair words
could bend his resolution. He was
then laid on a grating over hot coals,
his flesh mangled with iron hooks,
and white-hot plates of metal applied
to the wounds. The still breathing
remains were taken back to a prison,
and laid on broken potsherds, that
the agony of his naked body might
prevent his sleeping from exhaustion.
Fifth Lesson.
A She lay in his dark cell, a glorious
"^^ light suddenly filled the prison,
to the astonishment of all who saw it.
The gaoler informed Dacian, who
caused the martyr to be brought out
and cared for in a soft bed, hoping
that though he had failed to move
him by cruelty, he might seduce him
by pretended kindness.1 But the
1 In the following sentence there are in the original three puns upon the name of the Saint
which is derived from the verb vinco, I conquer ;) viz., invictus, vicit, victor.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
705
indomitable soul of Vincent, armed
with faith and hope in Christ Jesus,
remained unconquered even to the
end, and triumphing over the fire,
the steel, and the cruelty of the tor-
mentors, passed away to receive the
victorious crown of martyrdom in
heaven, on the 22nd day of January,
[in the year of our Lord 304.] His
body was thrown out unburied. A
raven perched upon it and kept off
with his beak, claws, and wings both
the other birds and a wolf, which came
to prey on it. Dacian then had it
thrown into the sea, but by the will
of God it was washed up again, and
the Christians took and buried it.
Sixth Lesson.
^NASTASIUS was a Persian monk
who made a pilgrimage to the
Holy Places at Jerusalem in the reign
of the Emperor Heraclius, during
which journey he endured bonds and
stripes on account of his confession of
Christ at [Banias, then called] Cassarea,
in Palestine. Soon after his return,
he was arrested by the Persians for
the same cause, and, after enduring
divers torments, he and seventy other
Christians were beheaded by order
of King Chosroes. [He testified upon
the 22nd day of January in the year
of our Lord 628.] His reliques were
first carried to Jerusalem, to the
monastery in which he had made his
monastic profession, and afterwards
to Rome, where they were laid in the
monastery of Saints Vincent and
Anastasius.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke xxi. 9, "When
ye shall hear of wars, &c," with the
Homily of St Gregory upon the same,
(j>. 505.)
Prayer throughout the day as at the
Commemoration the evening before.
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the Espousal of the Blessed Virgin
Mary to holy Joseph.
The holy Confessor Raymond of
Pehafuerte, of the Order of Friars
Preachers, famous for his holiness and
teaching, of whom mention has been
made upon the 7th day of this present
month of January.
Upon the same 23rd day of January,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy Virgin and
martyr Emerentiana, who while as yet
she was making her ready to be
baptized, was stoned to death by the
Gentiles while she was praying at the
grave of her holy foster-sister Agnes.
At Philippi, in Macedonia, holy
Parmenas, one of the first seven
Deacons. He yielded himself wholly
to the grace of God, discharged in
the fulness of faith the office of
preaching which had been laid upon
him by the brethren, and obtained
the glory of martyrdom under the
Emperor Trajan.
At Caesarea, in Morocco, of the
holy martyrs Severian and Aquila,
his wife, who were burnt.
At Antinoe, in Egypt, [in the fourth
century,] the holy martyr Aselas, who
after suffering divers torments was
cast into the Nile, and rendered up
his precious soul to God.
At Ancyra, in Galatia, [in the fourth
century,] holy Clement, Bishop of that
see, who had often been put to the
torture, but at length achieved martyr-
dom in the persecution under the
Emperor Diocletian.
There likewise, [in the fourth cen-
tury,] upon the same day, and under
the President Lucius, the holy martyr
Agathangelus.
At Alexandria, [in the year 619,]
holy John, surnamed the Almoner,
Pope of that city, very famous for
his pity toward the poor.
706
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
At Toledo, holy Ildefonsus, Arch-
bishop of that city, who on account
of the singular purity of his life, and
the defence of the virginity of the
Mother of God against the heretics
who impugned it which he took up,
was first gifted, by the same most
Blessed Virgin with a chasuble of the
purest white, and afterwards called
away to heaven, famous for holiness,
[in the year 669.]
In the province of Valeria, [in the
sixth century,] the holy monk Mar-
tyrius, of whom the blessed Pope
Gregory maketh mention.
Vespers of the following.
January 23.
Cspougal of tfje Blessed Utr^
gin JHarg to St Sosepij,
Greater Double.
Whatever is not specially given here
is taken from the Common Office for
Feasts of the Blessed Virgin, {p. 552.)
Answer.
substance.
And ruler of all his
Let us pray.
Prayer.
Help us, we beseech Thee O Lord,
for the sake of the Husband of Thy
most holy Mother, that what we
cannot for ourselves obtain, Thou
mayest grant us at his petition : Who
livest and reignest with God the
Father, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Amen.
Then are made Commemorations of
[the Second Vespers of] SS. Vincent
and Anastasius, Prayer from the even-
ing of fan. 21, and of [the First
Vespers of] St Fmerentiana, all from
the Common Office for a Virgin and
Martyr, {p. 567.)
Prayer, " Lord, we pray Thee, &c,"
(A 574-)
At Compline the last verse of the
Hymn is altered in honour of the In-
carnation.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Verse and Answer, and
Prayer from Lauds.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Let us tell again of the right
worthy espousal of the glorious Virgin
Mary, who gained the honour of
Motherhood without losing the guile-
lessness of a Maid.
The following Commemoration of
St Joseph, where permitted, is made,
before any other.
Antiphon. Joseph, being raised
from sleep, did as the Angel of the
Lord had bidden him, and took unto
him his wife.
Verse. He made him lord of his
house.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. Let us keep the Bridal-
Feast of the Virgin Mary. * Let us
worship Christ, her Son, and her Lord
and ours.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
Here beginneth the Song of Songs,
(i. 1.)
\rTyHE Bride.] Let him kiss me with
kisses of his mouth — for better
than wine are thine embraces, redolent
of the best perfumes ! Thy name is
as ointment poured forth, therefore do
the virgins love thee. Draw me ! We
will run after thee on the scent of
thy perfume. The king hath brought
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
707
me into his chambers. We will be
glad and rejoice in thee. We will
think of thine embraces more than of
wine. The upright love thee. I am
black, but comely, O ye daughters of
Jerusalem, — as the tents of Kedar, as
the curtains of Solomon.
First Respotisory.
This day was the Blessed Virgin
Mary betrothed of the lineage of David.
The same is she through whom the
salvation of the world hath been mani-
fested before the eyes of all believers.
This is she whose glorious life hath
given light to the world.
Verse. Let us keep with rejoicing
the Bridal-Feast of the Blessed Virgin
Mary.
Answer. The same is she through
whom the salvation of the world hath
been manifested before the eyes of all
believers. This is she whose glorious
life hath given light to the world.
Second Lesson.
[ n~^HE Bride. ~\ Look not upon me
because I am black, because the
sun hath tanned me. My mother's
children were angry with me ; they
made me the keeper of the vineyards ;
mine own vineyard have I not kept.
Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth,
where thou feedest thy flock, where
thou layest thee down at noon, lest
I begin to turn aside after the flocks
of thy companions.
[The Bridegroom.'] If thou know
not, O thou fairest among women, go
thy way forth by the footsteps of the
flock, and feed thy kids beside the
shepherd's tents. I have compared
thee, O my love, to my horses in
Pharaoh's chariot. Thy cheeks are
comely like a dove's, thy neck like
strings of jewels.1
Second Responsory.
Let us keep right heartily the Bridal-
Feast of the Most Blessed Virgin
Mary, that she may pray for us to our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse. Let us keep with right
hearty rejoicing the betrothal of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
Answer. That she may pray for
us to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Third Lesson.
"XT ECKLACES of gold will we make
for thee, with inlaid work of
silver.
[The Bride.] While the king sat
on his couch, my spikenard sent forth
the smell thereof. A bundle of myrrh
is my well-beloved unto me. He shall
lie betwixt my breasts. My beloved
is unto me as a bunch of cypress in
the vineyards of Engaddi.
[The Bridegroom.] Behold, thou
art fair, my love, behold, thou art
fair ; thou hast doves' eyes.
[The Bride.] Behold, thou art fair,
my beloved, yea, comely.
[Both.] Our bed is of flowers, the
beams of our house are of cedar, our
rafters of cypress.
Third Responsory.
Let us tell again of the right worthy
espousal of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The same is she whose lowliness the
Lord regarded, she who by the
message of an Angel conceived the
Saviour of the world.
Verse. Let us keep right earnestly
the Bridal-Feast of the most Blessed
Virgin Mary.
Answer. The same is she whose
lowliness the Lord regarded, she who
by the message of an Angel conceived
the Saviour of the world.
1 Or "Thy cheeks are comely with strings, or plaits, and thy neck with rows of jewels."
708
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. The same is she whose
lowliness the Lord regarded, she who
by the message of an Angel conceived
the Saviour of the world.
/
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St Bernard, Abbat [of Clairvaux.]
{2nd on Luke'x. 26.)
T^HE secret course of the counsel of
God was for awhile to be hidden
from the prince of this world. Not
that God had any need to fear hin-
drance from him, if He had chosen to
work openly, but because He Who
doth all things wisely as well as
mightily, is wont to observe in all His
works certain meetnesses both of things
and of times : and so in this, the
glorious work of our redemption, He
was pleased to show His wisdom as
well as His power.
Fourth Responsory.
This day was betrothed the glorious
Virgin Mary, a child of the seed of
Abraham, a daughter of the tribe of
Judah, a Princess of the lineage of
David. This is she whose famous life
still sheddeth lustre upon all the
Churches.
Verse. This day was the Blessed
Virgin Mary betrothed of the lineage
of David.
Answer. This is she whose famous
life still sheddeth lustre upon all the
Churches.
Fifth Lesson.
T T was meet therefore, that He Who
was about to cast down the
troubler, should sweetly order all
things in heaven and in earth, to es-
tablish the reign of peace ; and that
He Who was about to prevail against
the envier, should first give us the
sorely-needed example of His Own
lowliness and meekness ; that so, by
the marvellous disposition of His wis-
dom He might appear at once gentle
to His own, and awful to His foe.
Fifth Responsory .
Let us keep with rejoicing the
Bridal-Feast of the Blessed Mary, that
she may pray for us to our Lord JESUS
Christ.
Verse. With all our heart and with
all our soul let us sing praise to Christ
on this the solemn Feast-day of Mary
the mighty Mother of God.
Answer. That she may pray for
us to our Lord JESUS Christ.
Sixth Lesson.
T7OR what would it have profited for
God to crush the devil, if we
were to remain proud ? For this end
therefore did it behove that Mary
should be espoused to Joseph, namely,
that the holy thing might be kept from
the dogs, that an husband might attest
her maidenhood, that the modesty of
the virgin might be spared, and her
good fame saved. Than this, what
could be wiser, what more worthy of
God's counsels ? By this device the
heavenly secret was at the same time
provided with its witness and pro-
tected from its foeman ; and the good
name of the Maiden Mother preserved.
Sixth Responsory.
Thy betrothal, O Virgin Mother of
God, was a message of joy to the
whole world, for out of thee rose the
Sun of righteousness, even Christ our
God, Who hath taken away the curse
and brought a blessing, confounded
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
709
death, and given unto us everlasting
life.
Verse. Blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the Fruit of
thy womb.
Answer. For out of thee rose the
Sun of righteousness, even Christ our
God.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Who hath taken away
the curse and brought a blessing,
confounded death, and given unto us
everlasting life.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons the same as on Christmas-
Eve, {p. 267.) The Third is read
as one with the Second, to leave room
for the Ninth Lesson, which is of St
Emerentiana.
Seventh Responsory.
All generations shall call me blessed,
for the Lord That is Mighty hath done
to me great things, and holy is His
name.
Verse. And His mercy is on them
that fear Him from generation to
generation.
Answer. For the Lord That is
Mighty hath done to me great things,
and holy is His name.
Eighth Responsory.
O holy Virgin Mary, happy indeed
art thou, and right worthy of all praise,
for out of thee rose the Sun of righte-
ousness, even Christ our God.
Verse. Pray for the people, plead
for the clergy, make intercession for
all women vowed to God. May all
that keep thine holy Bridal-Feast feel
the might of thine assistance.
Answer. For out of thee rose the
Sun of righteousness.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Even Christ our God.
Cotnmemoration of St foseph.
Antiphon. Jesus Himself began to
be about thirty years of age, being
(as was supposed) the son of Joseph.
Verse. The mouth of the virtuous
speaketh wisdom.
Answer. And his tongue talketh
judgment.
Prayer as at First Vespers, then of
St Emerentiana. All from the Com-
mon Office.
Ninth Lesson.
For St Emerentiana.
"PMERENTIANA was a Roman
maiden, and the foster-sister of
the blessed Agnes. While she was
still a Catechumen she was inspired
by her faith and love to rebuke the
fury of the idol-worshippers against
the Christians, whereupon a mob
assembled, and stoned her so severely
that she was only able to drag herself
to the grave of holy Agnes, where,
while she prayed, she gave up her
soul to God, being baptized, not in
water, but in her own blood, so freely
shed for Christ.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. This day was be-
trothed the glorious Virgin Mary, *
a child of the seed of Abraham, a
daughter of the tribe of Judah, a
Princess of the lineage of David.
Second Antiphon. This day is the
Bridal-Feast of the holy Virgin Mary,
* whose famous life still sheddeth
lustre upon all the Churches.
Third Antiphon. Mary was a
maiden of illustrious birth, * the
daughter of a Kingly race. We
yio
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
earnestly intreat her to help our minds
and souls by her prayers.
Fourth Antiphon. With all our
heart and with all our soul let us sing
praise to Christ * on this the solemn
Feast-day of Mary, the mighty Mother
of God. /
Fifth Antiphon. Let us keep with
rejoicing the Bridal - Feast of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, * that she may
pray for us to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse. This day is the Bridal-Feast
of the holy Virgin Mary.
Answer. Whose famous life still
sheddeth lustre upon all the Churches.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Let us this day keep solemnly the
Bridal-Feast of Mary, Mother but still
Maiden, her Bridal, a step toward the
loftiness of her throne. Alleluia.
Prayer throughout the Office.
/^RANT unto us Thy servants, we
beseech Thee, O Lord, the gift
of Thy heavenly grace, unto whom
Thou didst give the first sight of a
Saviour as the offspring of a Blessed
Virgin, and grant that this Feast,
which they keep in honour of the same
Virgin, may avail them unto the in-
crease of peace. Through our Lord
JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
If permitted, Commemoration of St
Joseph, from his Office, as given below.
Theft of St Emerentiana, Virgin and
Martyr, from the Common Office {p.
573-)
Commemoration of St Joseph.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
1 Jesus Himself began to be about
thirty years of age, being, (as was
supposed,) the son of Joseph.
Verse. The mouth of the righteous
speaketh wisdom.
Answer. And his tongue talketh
judgment.
Prayer.
Let us pray.
TUT ELP us, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
for the sake of the Husband of
Thy most Holy Mother, that what we
cannot for ourselves obtain, Thou may-
est grant us at his petition ; Who livest
and reignest with God the Father, in
the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
The Antiphons at Prime, Terce,
Sext, and None, are the First, Second,
Third, and Fifth from Lauds respec-
tively.
The last verses of all the Hymns
are altered in honour of the Incar-
nation.
Verse at Prime. " Thou that wast
born of the Virgin Mary."
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 24th day of January, were
born into the better life —
Holy Timothy, the disciple of the
blessed Apostle Paul, by whom he
was ordained Bishop of Ephesus.
After many contendings for Christ,
because he rebuked them that were
offering sacrifice to Diana, they stoned
him, and a short while thereafter he
fell asleep in the Lord, [in the year
97-]
At Antioch, [in the year 250,] holy
Babilas, Patriarch of that city. After
he had oftentimes glorified God by
the sufferings and torments which he
bore, and in the persecution under
the Emperor Decius, he ended his
1 Luke iii. 23.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
711
glorious life in iron fetters, which he
commanded should be buVied with him.
It is recorded also that there suffered
with him three children — Urban, Prili-
dian, and Epolonius — whom he had
instructed in the faith of Christ.
At Neo-Caesarea, the holy martyrs
Mardonius, Musonius, Eugenius, and
Metellus, these all were burnt and
their ashes thrown into the river.
At Foligno, holy Felician, who was
ordained by Pope Victor Bishop of
that city, and after many labours was
crowned with martyrdom in extreme
old age, in the persecution under the
Emperor Decius.
Likewise the holy martyrs Thyrsus,
[third century,] and Projectus, [Bishop
of Clermont, in the year 674.]
At Bologna, [in the third century,]
holy Zama, the first Bishop of that
city, who was ordained by the holy
Roman Pontiff Denis, and there won-
derfully spread the Christian faith.
Likewise [in the sixth century,] the
blessed Abbat Suran, who flourished
in holiness in the time of the Lom-
bards.
SECOND VESPERS.
All as the First, except the following.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Thy betrothal, O Virgin
Mother of God, was a message of joy
to the whole world, for out of thee rose
the Sun of righteousness, even Christ
our God, Who hath taken away the
curse and brought a blessing, con-
founded death, and given unto us
everlasting life.
Commemoration of St foseph.
Antiphon. Behold a faithful and
wise servant, whom his Lord hath made
ruler over his household.
Verse. Glory and' riches shall be
in his house.
Answer. And his righteousness
endureth for ever.
Prayer as at First Vespers; then of
St Timothy from the Common Office,
{p. 482,) with the Prayer, " Mercifully
consider, &c," (p. 491.)
Where permitted, Commemoration
of St Joseph, from his Office., {p. 710.)
Then of [the First Vespers of] St
Timothy.
At Compline the last Verse of the
Hytrin is altered in honour of the
Incarnation.
January 24.
St Ctmotfjg, 23ts|)op [of
(fHpijesus,] Jflartgr.
Double.
MATTINS.
All from the Common Office for One
Martyr, (p. 482,) except what is other-
wise given here.
Prayer throughout the Office, "Mer-
cifully consider our weakness, &c,"
{p. 491.)
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture accorditig to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
'"TIMOTHY was a native of Lystra
in Lycaonia, born of a Gentile
father and a Jewish mother. He em-
braced the Christian religion when the
Apostle Paul came into those parts.
The holy Apostle was so struck with
the fame of Timothy's sanctity, that
712
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
he chose him to be the companion of
his journeys, and caused him to be
circumcised, in order to remove a
stumbling-block from the way of those
Jews who felt drawn to Christianity.
When they came together to Ephesus,
the Apostle consecrated him Bishop
of that Church.
Fifth Less 07i.
'pWO of the Apostle Paul's Epistles
are addressed to this Saint, of
which one was written from Laodicea,
and the other from Rome. These
sacred writings so stirred him up to
the zealous discharge of his duties as
a spiritual shepherd, that he strove
to prevent the people of Ephesus from
sacrificing to Artemis on her feast-
day, knowing that sacrifice is due to
God alone. The heathens thereupon
stoned him till he was well-nigh dead,
and although he was rescued by the
Christians, and carried to a mountain
near the city, he then fell asleep in
the Lord, on the 24th day of January.
Sixth Lesson.
The illustrious day, &c, {p. 486.)
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke xiv. 26, with the
Homily of St Gregory {p. 489.)
MARTVROLOGY.
On the morrow we commemorate
the conversion of the holy Apostle
Paul, which took place in the second
year after our Lord's ascension.
Upon the same 25 th day of January,
were born into the better life —
At Damascus, holy Ananias, who
baptized the aforesaid apostle. He
preached the Gospel at Damascus
and at other places, and was first
scourged and* rent with thongs, and
then stoned to death under the judge
Licinius.
At Antioch, the holy martyrs
Juventinus and Maximus, who were
crowned with martyrdom under the
Emperor Julian the Apostate, and on
whose feast-day holy John Chrysostom
preached unto the people.
At Auvergne, [in the year 674,] the
holy martyrs Projectus, Bishop of that
see, and Marinus the man of God,
who suffered under the chief men of
that city.
Likewise the holy martyrs Donatus,
Sabinus, and Agapis.
At Tomis, in Scythia, holy Bretan-
nion, Bishop [of that see], who flour-
ished in the Church in wonderful holi-
ness and zeal for the Catholic faith
under the Arian Emperor Valens,
whom he withstood stoutly.
At Arras, in Gaul, holy Poppo,
Abbat [of Stavelotz,] famous for
miracles, [in the year 1048 ; also his
mother, blessed Adelviva.]
Vespers of the following.
January 25.
Conversion of £t $aul tije
apostle.
Greater Double.
All from the Common Office for
Apostles, (p. 462,) except what is
otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, Verse and An-
swer, and Prayer from Lauds.
Psalms as on Sunday, except the last,
which is Psalm cxvi., " O praise the
Lord, all ye nations, &c," (p. 186.)
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
713
Hymn J1
T EAD us, great teacher Paul, in wisdom's
ways,
And lift our hearts with thine to Heaven's
high throne ;
Till Faith beholds the clear meridian blaze,
And, sun-like, in the soul reigns Charity
alone.
Praise, blessing, majesty, through endless
days,
Be to the Trinity Eternal given ;
Who in Pure Unity profoundly sways
Eternally all things alike in earth and
heaven. Amen.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Ananias, go thy way, and
seek Saul : for, behold, he prayeth :
for he is a chosen vessel unto Me,
to bear My name before the Gentiles,
and kings, and the children of Israel.
A Commemoration is made of St
Peter, which is taken from Lauds.
Then a Commemoration of St Timo-
thy.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. For the conversion of
the Teacher of the Gentiles, * let us
praise our God.
Hymn. " Lead us, &c," as at
First Vespers.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. 2 He That wrought
effectually in Peter to the Apostleship,
the Same was mighty in me toward
the Gentiles, and they perceived the
grace that was given unto me of the
Lord Christ.
Second Antiphon. 3 I know Whom
I have believed, and am persuaded
that He is able to keep that which I
have committed unto Him against
that day, as a righteous Judge.
Third Antiphon. 4 To me to live
is Christ, and to die is gain : God for-
bid that I should glory, save in the
cross of our Lord JESUS Christ.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Acts of
the Apostles (ix. 1.)
CAUL, yet breathing out threaten-
ings and slaughter against the
disciples of the Lord, went unto the
high priest, and desired of him letters
to Damascus to the synagogues ; that,
if he found any of this way, whether
they were men or women, he might
bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
And as he journeyed, he came near
Damascus, and suddenly there shined
round about him a light from heaven.
And he fell to the earth, and heard
a voice saying unto him : Saul, Saul,
why persecutest thou Me ? And he
said : Who art Thou, Lord ? And
the Lord said : I am Jesus, Whom
thou persecutest ; it is hard for thee
to kick against the pricks.
First Responsory.
He That wrought effectually in
Peter to the Apostleship, the Same
was mighty in me toward the Gentiles,
and they perceived the grace that
was given unto me of the Lord Christ.
Verse. 5 The grace of God which
was bestowed upon me was not in
vain, but His grace abideth ever in
me.
Answer. And they perceived the
grace that was given unto me of the
Lord Christ.
Second Lesson.
A NDhe trembling and astonished,
said : Lord, what wilt Thou have
me to do ? And the Lord said unto
1 Another portion of the hymn Aurea luce, largely altered.
3 2 Tim. i. 12; iv. 8. 4 Phil. i. 21 ; Gal. vi. 14.
2 Gal. ii. 8, 9.
5 1 Cor. xv. 10.
7H
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
him : Arise, and go into the city, and
it shall there be told thee what thou
must do. And the men which journeyed
with him stood speechless, hearing a
voice but seeing no man. And Saul
arose from the earth, and when his
eyes were opened, he saw nothing.
But they led him by the hand and
brought him into Damascus. And he
was there three days without sight,
and neither did eat nor drink.
Second Responsory.
1 I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the
faith ; henceforth there is laid up for
me a crown of righteousness.
Verse. I know Whom I have be-
lieved, and am persuaded that He is
able to keep that which I have com-
mitted unto Him against that day.
Answer. Henceforth there is laid
up for me a crown of righteousness.
Third Lesson.
A ND there was a certain disciple
at Damascus, named Ananias ;
and to him said the Lord in a vision :
Ananias. And he said : Behold, I am
here, Lord. And the Lord said unto
him : Arise, and go into the street
which is called Straight, and inquire
in the house of Judas for one called
Saul, of Tarsus ; for, behold, he
prayeth ; and hath seen a man named
Ananias coming in, and putting his
hand on him, that he might receive
his sight. Then Ananias answered :
Lord, I have heard by many of this
man, how much evil he hath done to
Thy saints at Jerusalem : and here he
hath authority from the chief priests
to bind all that call on Thy name.
But the Lord said unto him : Go thy
way, for he is a chosen vessel unto
Me, to bear My name before the
1 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8 ; i. 12.
Gentiles, and kings, and the children
of Israel. For I will show him how
great things he must suffer for My
name's sake.
Third Responsory.
2 There is laid up for me a crown
of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, shall give me at that
day.
Verse. I know Whom I have be-
lieved, and am persuaded that He is
able to keep that which I have com-
mitted unto Him against that day.
Answer. Which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, shall give me at
that day.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, shall give me at
■ that day.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. O Holy Apostle
Paul, thou art a chosen vessel unto
God, to preach the Gospel throughout
the whole world.
Second Antiphon. Paul is made
one of the chiefest among the Saints,
and a chosen vessel ; verily he is
worthy to be glorified, for he was
made worthy to sit upon one of the
twelve thrones.
Third Antiphon. I have fought a
good fight, I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo.]
(24th on the Saints, 279.)
V\/"E have this day heard read out
of the Acts of the Apostles how
that the Apostle Paul, from being a
2 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8 ; i. 12.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
715
persecutor of the Christians, was
changed into a preacher of Christ.
Christ laid low the persecutor, that He
might raise him up a teacher of His
Church. He smote and healed him,
slew him and made him alive again.
For the Lord Christ is that Lamb
That was Himself slain by the wolves,
and That now turneth the wolves into
lambs. Now was fulfilled in Paul
that which was clearly spoken in pro-
phecy by the Patriarch Jacob, when
he blessed his children, laying hands
indeed on them which then were, but
looking forward to the things which
were yet for to come. Paul beareth
witness of himself that he was of the
tribe of Benjamin, (Rom. xi. 1,) and
when Jacob blessed his sons, and came
to bless Benjamin, he said : " Ben-
jamin shall ravin as a wolf." (Gen.
xlix. 27.)
Fourth Responsory.
O Holy Apostle Paul, thou art a
chosen vessel unto God, to preach the
Gospel throughout the whole world ;
through whom all nations have known
the grace of God.
Verse. Pray for us to God Who
hath chosen thee.
Answer. Through whom all nations
have known the grace of God.
Fifth Lesson.
"\17'HAT then ? Is Benjamin a wolf
that shall ravin for ever ? God
forbid. " In the morning he shall
devour the prey, and at night he shall
divide the spoil." This is exactly
what was fulfilled in the Apostle Paul.
If it please you, we will now consider
how in the morning he devoured the
prey, and at night divided the spoil.
Here morning and evening are put
for the beginning and the end. So we
1 1 Cor. xv. 10 ; Gal. ii. 8.
may read, " In the beginning he shall
devour the prey, and at the end he
shall divide the spoil." First, then,
in the beginning, he devoured the
prey. So it is written that he received
letters from the chief priests and went
forth, that wheresoever he should find
any Christians, he might bring them
bound unto the priests, that they
might be punished.
Fifth Responsory.
1 By the grace of God I am what I
am. And His grace which was be-
stowed upon me was not in vain, but
abideth ever in me.
Verse. He That wrought effectually
in Peter to the Apostleship, the Same
was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.
Answer. And His grace which was
bestowed upon me was not in vain,
but abideth ever in me.
Sixth Lesson.
TUT E went breathing out threatenings
and slaughter, yea, truly, de-
vouring the prey. When also they
stoned Stephen, the first Martyr that
laid down his life for Christ's name's
sake, Saul was consenting unto his
death, and, as though it contented
him not to stone him, he kept the
clothes of all them that did it, urging
them on more than if he had joined
them. So in the morning he devoured
the prey. How in the evening did he
divide the spoil ? Struck down by the
voice of Christ from heaven, ravining
no more, he falleth upon his face, cast
down to be raised up, smitten to be
healed.
Sixth Responsory.
2 Saul, who also is called Paul, was
made a great preacher ; and being of
God increased the more in strength he
confounded the Jews.
2 Acts ix. 22, 20.
y\6
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Verse. Proving that This is very
Christ, the Son of God.
Answer. And being of God in-
creased the more in strength he con-
founded the Jews.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, ari*d to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And being of God in-
creased the more in strength he con-
founded the Jews.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Saul, who also is
called Paul, was made a great preacher ;
and being of God increased the more
in strength he confounded the Jews.
Second Antiphon. 1 Lest I should
be exalted above measure through the
greatness of the revelations, there was
given to me a thorn in the flesh, the
messenger of Satan, to buffet me : for
this thing I besought the Lord thrice,
that it might depart from me ; and the
Lord said unto me : Paul, My grace
is sufficient for thee.
Third Antiphon. There is laid up
for me a crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall
give me at that day.
Lessons from Matth. xix. 27, with
the Ho7tiily of the Venerable Bede {p.
478.)
Seventh Rcsponsory.
O Holy Apostle Paul, Preacher of
the truth, and teacher of the Gentiles,
pray for us to God, Who hath chosen
thee, that we may be made worthy of
the grace of God.
Verse. O Holy Apostle Paul, thou
art a chosen vessel unto God, and a
Preacher of the truth.
Answer. Pray for us to God Who
hath chosen thee, that we may be
made worthy of the grace of God.
Eighth Responsory.
2 In Damascus the governor under
Aretas the king was desirous to appre-
hend me, and by the brethren in a
basket was I let down by the wall, and
so escaped I his hands, in the name of
the Lord.
Verse. The God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ knoweth that I lie
not.
Answer. And by the brethren in a
basket was I let down by the wall.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Anszuer. And so escaped I his
hands, in the name of the Lord.
LAUDS.
First Antiphofi. s I have planted,
* Apollos watered, but God gave the
increase. Alleluia.
After Septuagesima omit Alleluia.
Second Antiphon. 4 Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory * in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ
may rest upon me.
Third Antiphon. The grace of God
which was bestowed upon me was not
in vain, * but His grace abideth ever
in me.
Fourth Antiphon. In Damascus the
governor under Aretas the king was
desirous to apprehend me ; by the
brethren in a basket was I let down
by the wall, and so escaped I his
hands, in the name of the Lord.
Fifth Antiphon. 6 Thrice was I
beaten with rods, * once was I stoned,
thrice I suffered shipwreck, for Christ's
name's sake.
Chapter. (Acts ix. 1.)
CAUL, yet breathing out threaten-
ings and slaughter against the
disciples of the Lord, went unto the
1 2 Cor. xii. 7-9.
4 2 Cor. xii. 9.
- 2 Cor. xi. 32, 33, 31.
8 2 Cor. xi. 25.
3 1 Cor. iii. 6.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
717
high priest, and desired of him letters
to Damascus, to the synagogues, that,
if he found any of this way, whether
they were men or women, he might
bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Verse. O Holy Apostle Paul, thou
art a chosen vessel unto God.
Answer. To preach the Gospel
throughout the whole world.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Thus saith the Lord : Ye, which have
followed Me, shall sit upon twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of
Israel.
Prayer throughout the Office.
r\ GOD, Who, through the teaching
of the Blessed Apostle Paul, hast
caused the light of the Gospel to shine
throughout the world, grant, we be-
seech Thee, that we, having his
wonderful conversion (as on this day)
in remembrance, may show forth our
thankfulness unto Thee for the same,
by following the holy example which
he hath set. Through our Lord JESUS
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
Then the following Commemoration
of St Peter.
Antiphon. Thou art the Shepherd
of the sheep, and the Prince of the
Apostles, and unto thee hath God
given the keys of the kingdom of
heaven.
Verse. Thou art Peter.
Answer. And upon this rock I
will build My Church.
Prayer.
C\ GOD, Who hast given unto Thy
Blessed Apostle Peter the keys
of the kingdom of heaven, and the
power to bind and to loose, loose us,
VOL. I.
we beseech Thee, at his mighty in-
tercession, from all the bands of our
sins. Who liveth and reigneth with
God the Father, in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, one God, world without
end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. I have planted, &c,
{First Antiphon at Lauds.)
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 26th day of January, were
born into the better life —
At Smyrna, holy Polycarp, a dis-
ciple of the blessed Apostle John, and
by him ordained Bishop of that city,
having the charge of all Asia. In the
reign of Mark Antony, and Lucius
Aurelius Commodus, as the Pro-consul
was sitting in the amphitheatre all the
people cried out against Polycarp, and
to please them he was cast into the
fire, but forasmuch as it burned
him not he was pierced with the
sword, and so received the crown
of martyrdom, [in the year 166.]
With him there suffered also twelve
others that were come from Phila-
delphia unto the city aforesaid.
At Hippo, in Africa, the holy
martyrs Theogenes, Bishop of that
city, and thirty-six others, who in the
persecution under the Emperor
Valerian reckoned cheaply death here
in time, and received the crown of
life eternal, [about the year 260.]
At Bethlehem of Judah, the holy
widow Paula, mother of Eustochium,
the virgin of Christ. She was of a
very noble senatorial family, that gave
up the world and distributed all her
goods to feed the poor and betook
herself to the manger of the Lord,
and thence passed away into the
kingdom of heaven endowed with
many graces and crowned with a long
martyrdom, [in the year 404.] Jerome
hath written of her life, full of graces.
2 A
7i8
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
In the country of Paris, [in the
year 685,] holy Bathildes, Queen [of
France,] illustrious for her holiness
and the glory of her miracles.
1
Chapter at the end. (Acts ix. 22.)
DUT Saul increased the more in
strength, and confounded the
Jews which dwelt at Damascus, prov-
ing that this is very Christ.
TERCE.
Antiphon. Most gladly therefore,
&c, (Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
SEXT.
Antiphon. The grace of God, &c,
( Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Acts ix. 8.)
A ND Saul arose from the earth,
and, when his eyes were opened,
he saw nothing. But they led him
by the hand, and brought him into
Damascus. And he was there three
days without sight, and neither did eat
nor drink.
NONE.
Antiphon. Thrice was I beaten,
&c, (Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
SECOND VESPERS.
Antiphons and Chapter from Lauds.
Hymn, Verse and Answer from First
Vespers.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. O Holy Apostle Paul,
Preacher of the truth, and Teacher
of the Gentiles, pray for us to God,
Who hath chosen thee.
Prayer and Commemoration of St
Peter from Lauds.
Then a Commemoration of the fol-
lowing. Antiphon, Verse and Answer
from the First Vespers of the Common
Office for One Martyr, (p. 482,) and
the Prayer, " O God, Who year by
year, &c," (^.491.)
January 26.
&t ^olgcarp, Bisijop [of
Smyrna,] JEartgr,
Double.
All from the Common Office for One
Martyr, (p. 482,) except the following.
Prayer throughout the Office, "O
God, Who year by year, Sec," (J>. 491.)
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book on
Ecclesiastical Writers, composed by
St Jerome, Priest [at Bethlehem.]
pOLYCARP was a disciple of the
Apostle John, and was conse-
crated by him Bishop of Smyrna. He
was reckoned the chief of all the
Christians of Asia, because he had
been taught by several of the Apostles,
and other persons who had seen the
Lord. During the reign of the
Emperor Antoninus Pius, and while
Anicetus presided over the Church of
Rome, Polycarp came thither to dis-
cuss some questions regarding the
time for observing Easter. He found
some heretics at Rome, who had been
led astray by the doctrine of Marcion
and Valentine, and brought back many
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
719
of them to the faith. One day
Marcion met him by accident, and
said to him : Do you recognise me ?
whereto he replied : I recognise the
devil's eldest son. Some time after,
in the reign of Mark Antonine and
Lucius Aurelius Commodus, during the
fourth persecution since Nero, when
the Pro-consul was ruling in Smyrna,
the whole population being assembled
in the theatre, clamoured against Poly-
carp, and to please them he was
burnt. He wrote an extremely useful
Epistle to the Philippians, which is
publicly read in the Churches of Asia
even to this day.
Fifth and Sixth Lessons from the
Exposition of Ps. cxviii. by St A?n-
brose, (p. 493,) the Fifth Lesson being
the First, ("Princes have persecuted
me, &c.,") and the Sixth the Second
and Third read as one, ("They fight
against him, &c," and " Think then
how the martyr, &c.,") or else the
Second only.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. x. 26, with the
Homily of St Hilary, (p. 495.)
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast of
holy John, Patriarch of Constantinople,
[in the years 398-407,] surnamed
Chrysostom — that is to say, golden
mouth — on account of the golden
stream of his eloquence, whose word
and example much profited the Church,
but after many toils he ended his
life in exile. Mention is made of him
upon the 14th day of September, but
the 27th of January is the day where-
on his sacred body was brought to
Constantinople under the Emperor
Theodosius the younger, whence it was
afterward brought to Rome, and
lyeth buried in the Basilica of the
Prince of the Apostles.
At Sora, the holy martyr Julian.
He was arrested in the persecution
under the Emperor Antonine, and
while he was being tortured, the
temple of the idols fell down, where-
upon he was beheaded, and so received
the crown of martyrdom.
In Africa, [in the third century,]
the holy martyr Avitus.
Likewise in Africa, the holy martyrs
Datius, Reater, and their companions,
who suffered in the persecution under
the Vandals.
Likewise in Africa, the holy martyrs
Dativus, Julian, Vincent, and twenty-
seven others.
At Rome, [in the year 671,] holy
Pope Vitalian.
At Mans, [in the year 117,] holy
Julian, the first Bishop of that city,
whom holy Peter sent thither to
preach the Gospel.
At the monastery of La Val-Benois,
the holy Maurus, Abbat of Val-
Benois.
At Brescia, [in the year 1540,] the
holy Virgin Angela Merici, Foundress
of the Society of Nuns of St Ursula,
whose first duty is to lead young
maidens into the paths of the Lord.
We keep her festival upon the last
day of May, in accordance with an
ordinance of Pius VII.
Vespers of the following, from the
Chapter inclusive.
January 27.
St Sojjn Cfjrgsostom, $atrt=
arrfj of [Constantinople,]
Confessor, ano ©octor of
tje Cfjurrij*
Double.
All fro?n the Common Office for one
Bishop and Confessor, (p. 515,) except
what is otherwise given here.
720
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
FIRST VESPERS.
The first verse of the Hymn is
altered.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. O right excellent Teacher,
&c, (A 515-)
Prayer throughout the Office.
TV/T ERC I F U L Lord, we beseech Thee
*■ continually to increase by Thy
heavenly grace, Thy holy Church,
which Thou hast vouchsafed to en-
lighten by the glorious labours and
teaching of Thy blessed Confessor
and Bishop John Chrysostom.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Amen.
A Commemoration is made of St
Polycarp. Prayer as in his Office.
MATTINS.
The first verse of the hymn is altered.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
JOHN of Antioch, who, on account
of the golden stream of his elo-
quence, is called by the Greeks Chry-
sostomos, or, " the golden-mouthed,"
was a lawyer and man of the world of
much eminence, before he turned his
great intellect and wonderful industry
to the study of things sacred. He
took orders, and was ordained a priest
of the Church of Antioch, [in the year
of our Lord 386,] and after the death
of Nectarius, was forced by the
Emperor Arcadius to accept, though
sorely against his own will, the Arch-
bishopric of Constantinople. Having
received the burden of a shepherd's
office, [upon the 26th day of February,]
in the year 398, he set himself
zealously to do his duty, struggling
against the degradation of public
morality and the loose lives of the
nobility, and thereby drew upon him-
self the ill-will of many enemies, es-
pecially the Empress Eudoxia, whom
he had rebuked on account of the
money of the widow Callitropa, and
the land of another widow.
Fifth Lesson,
COME Bishops being assembled in
a Council at Chalcedon, [in 4°3>]
which Council the Saint held to be
neither lawful, nor public, although he
was commanded to go there, he re-
fused. Whereupon Eudoxia, striving
earnestly against him, caused him to
be sent into exile. Soon after, how-
ever, the people of the city rose, and
demanded his recall, and he was then
brought back again amid great public
rejoicings. Nevertheless he ceased
not to war against vice, and absolutely
forbade the celebration of public games
round the silver statue of Eudoxia in
the square outside the Church of the
Eternal Wisdom. Upon this, a party
of Bishops, who were enemies to him,
banded together, and obtained that he
should be banished again, which was
done accordingly, [on the 20th day of
June, 404,] amid the lamentations of
widows and the poor, who felt as if
they were being deprived of a common
father. During this exile, it almost
passeth belief how much Chrysostom
suffered, and how many souls he
turned to the faith which is in Christ
JESUS.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
721
Sixth Lesson.
A T this time a Council was assembled
at Rome, wherein Chrysostom's
restoration to his See was decreed by
Pope Innocent I., but meanwhile, he
was suffering great hardships and
cruelties on his journey at the hands
of the soldiers who had him in charge.
As he passed through Armenia he
prayed in the Church of the holy
martyr Basiliscus, and the same night
that blessed conqueror appeared to
him in a vision and said : " Brother
John, to-morrow thou shalt be with
me." On the next day, therefore, he
received the Sacrament of the
Eucharist, and, arming himself with
the sign of the cross, resigned his
soul to God, it being the 14th of
September, [in the year of salvation,
407.] As soon as he was dead a
furious hailstorm took place at Con-
stantinople, and after four days the
Empress died. The Emperor Theo-
dosius, the son of Arcadius, brought
the body of John Chrysostom to
Constantinople with great state, and
numerously attended, and on the 27th
of January, [438,] laid it with magni-
ficent honours in the grave, beside
which he prayed for the forgiveness of
his own father and mother. The holy
body was afterwards taken to Rome,
and is now buried in the Vatican
Basilica. The number, devoutness,
and brilliance of St John Chrysostom's
sermons and other writings, his acute-
ness in exposition, and the close apt-
ness of his explanations of Holy Scrip-
ture, have been and are the object of
universal wonder and admiration, and
often seem not unworthy to have been
dictated to him by the Apostle Paul,
for whom he entertained a wonderful
devotion.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. v. 1 3, with the
Homily of St John Chrysostom, (p. 551.)
Eighth Responsory.
In the midst of the congregation,
&c., {p. 539.)
MARTYROLOGY.
At Rome, the second Feast of holy
Agnes.
Upon the same 28th day of Jan-
uary, were born into the better life —
At Rome likewise, the holy martyr
Flavian, who suffered in the persecu-
tion under the Emperor Diocletian.
At Apollonia, the holy martyrs
Thyrsus, Leucius, Callinicus. In the
time of the Emperor Decius they
were tortured in divers ways. Where-
after, Thyrsus and Callinicus were
beheaded, and a voice from heaven
called away Leucius, and he gave up
the ghost, [in the year 250.]
In the Thebaid, the holy martyrs
Leonides and his companions, who
secured the palm of martyrdom in the
time of the Emperor Diocletian.
At Alexandria, a multitude of holy
martyrs, who upon this day were
gathered together in a church at
Communion, when they were massacred
in divers ways by the followers of the
Arian Duke Syrianus, [in the year
376.]
Likewise at Alexandria, the holy
Confessor Cyril, Pope of that city ; a
most eminent champion of the Catholic
faith, and illustrious for his teaching
and holiness, who fell asleep in peace,
[in the year 444.] Whose feast we
keep upon the 9th day of February.
At Zaragoza, [in the year 31 5,] holy
Valerius, Bishop of that city.
At Cuenca, in Spain, holy Julian,
Bishop of that city, who gave the
goods of his Church to the poor, and
sought his food by working with his
own hands after the manner of the
Apostles, and fell asleep in peace,
famous for miracles, [in the year 1207.]
In the monastery of Rheims, [in
722
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
the year 545,] the holy Priest John,
a man of God.
In Palestine, [in the sixth century,]
the holy Hermit James, who having
fallen away hid himself for a long
time in a sepulchre to do penance,
and passed away hence to be ever
with the Lord, famous for miracles.
SECOND VESPERS.
The first verse of the Hymn is altered.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. O right excellent Teacher,
&c, (f>. 542.)
A Commemoration is made of the
following, viz. : St 'Raymond of Pena-
fuerte from the Common Office, (f>.
531,) and Prayer from his own Office.
Then the following Commemoration
of St Agnes.
Antiphon. Christ hath hallowed
His Bride and Witness unto Him-
self, standing at her right hand in
the shape of a Lamb x whiter than
snow.
Verse. In thy comeliness and thy
beauty.
Answer. Go forward, fare prosper-
ously, and reign.
Prayer.
f~\ GOD, Who year by year dost
gladden Thy people by the
solemn feast of Thy blessed Virgin
and Martyr Agnes, grant unto us, we
beseech Thee, not only devoutly to ob-
serve the same, but also to follow after
the pattern of her godly conversation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end. Amen.
January 28.
Note. When on account of the early
incidence of Easter, Septuagesima Sun-
day falls on the Second Sunday after
Epiphany, fanuary 28 is set apart for
the Feast of the Most Holy Name of
fesus, which else is kept on the Second
Sunday after Epiphany. In this case
the Office of the Most Holy Name is
precisely the same as that given at
the Second Sunday after Epiphany, {p.
204,) omitting only "Alleluia," wher-
ever it occurs, the Commemoration of
the Octave of Epiphany at First
Vespers, and of the Sunday at both
Vespers and Lauds. With these ex-
ceptions, First Vespers of the trans-
ferred Feast will be as on the Satur-
day evening preceding the Second
Sunday after Epipha?ty. The Ninth
Lesson will be that of St Agnes's
Second Feast which is commemorated
at Lauds only. The Short Respon-
sories at Terce, Sext, and None will
be as follows :
AT TERCE.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Answer. Blessed be the name of
the Lord.
Verse. From henceforth, now, and
for ever.
Answer. The name of the Lord.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Blessed be the name of
the Lord.
Verse. Give unto the Lord glory
and honour.
Answer. Give unto the Lord the
glory due unto His Name.
AT SEXT.
Give unto the Lord glory and
honour.
1 Probably some play on the Latin word " Agnus."
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
723
Answer. Give unto the Lord glory
and honour.
Verse. Give unto the LORD the
glory due unto His Name.
Answer. Glory and honour.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Give unto the Lord glory
and honour.
Verse. O magnify the LORD with
me.
Answer. And let us exalt His
Name together.
AT NONE.
O magnify the LORD with me.
Answer. O magnify the LORD with
me.
Verse. And let us exalt His Name
together.
Answer. With me.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. O magnify the LORD with
me.
Verse. Our help is in the Name of
the Lord.
Answer. Who made heaven and
earth.
At Second Vespers of the Holy
Name there will be Commemorations of
St Francis de Sales, and of St Ray-
mond.
The Feast of St Raymond of Pena-
fuerte — now ousted from his original
day, 2 3rd fanuary — is, for conve?iience,
printed here.
<St Eapmono of $tfiafuerte,
Confessor.
Semi-doudle.
All from the Common Office for a
Confessor, {p. 855,) except what is
otherwise given here.
Prayer throughout the Office.
r\ GOD, Who didst choose the
^^^ blessed Raymond to be an
eminent minister of the Sacrament of
Penance, and in a wonderful manner
didst make him to pass over the
waves of the sea, grant unto us, at
his petition, the grace to bring forth
fruits worthy of repentance, and in
the end to attain unto the harbour of
eternal salvation. Through our Lord
JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
HP HE blessed Raymond was born at
Barcelona, [in the year of our
Lord 1 1 75,] and was of the noble
family of the De PeKafuerte. He was
early instructed in the Christian re-
ligion, and even while he was still
a little child, he showed such ex-
cellence of mind and body, as filled
his friends with strong hopes of his
future greatness. As a young man he
taught letters in his native place. He
afterwards went to Bologna, where he
applied himself to works of godliness,
and to the study of the Ecclesiastical
and Civil Law. He took the degree
of Doctor, and lectured with great
applause upon the Canon Law. He
attained so much celebrity that
Berengar, Bishop of Barcelona, on
his way from Rome to his own See,
turned aside to visit the Saint at
Bologna, and at length persuaded him
after many entreaties to return with
him to Spain. He was appointed to
724
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
a Canonry and the Archdeaconry in
the Church of Barcelona, in which
offices he set both clergy and people
a brilliant example of uprightness,
modesty, learning, and meekness, and
more especially strove, as far as in
him lay, to increase the honour and
reverence paid to the Virgin Mother
of God, whom he venerated with an
affection singularly devoted.
Fifth Lesson.
V\7"HEN he was about forty-five
years of age he solemnly pro-
fessed in the Order of Friars Preachers,
and strove, as a new recruit, to per-
fect himself in all the duties of his
calling, particularly in charity to the
poor, and above all to those unhappy
Christians who were slaves to the
unbelievers. He was the Confessor
of St Peter Nolasco and of James I.,
King of Aragon, and by his advice
St Peter Nolasco gave up his whole
worldly possessions to ransom as
many as possihle of the wretched
captives. At this moment the most
blessed Virgin appeared simultane-
ously to St Raymond, St Peter
Nolasco, and King James, and re-
vealed to them the pleasure of her
Only-begotten Son and herself, that
they should establish in her honour
an order of Religious persons whose
work should be the redemption of
Christian slaves from bondage among
unbelievers. The three took counsel
together, and then founded the Order
of the Blessed Mary of Ransom, for
the Redemption of Captives. The
blessed Raymond himself composed
a most appropriate code of rules for
the new institution, for which he after
some years obtained the express sanc-
tion of Pope Gregory IX., and him-
self [on the ioth day of August, in
the year 1223,] with his own hands
clothed St Peter Nolasco in the
habit, and constituted him the first
Master General of the Order.
Sixth Lesson.
T T E was summoned to Rome by
Gregory IX., [in the year 1 230,]
and appointed by him his Chaplain,
Penitentiary, and Confessor, and by
his orders collected into one volume
of the Decretals the ordinances of the
Roman Pontiffs, which up to that
time were only to be found scattered
among the records of divers Councils
and Churches. He firmly refused the
Archbishopric of Tarascon, which was
offered him by the Pope himself, and,
having been chosen Master General
of the whole order of Friars Preachers,
he discharged the duties of that office
in holiness for two years, and then
resigned it. It was by his advice
that James, King of Aragon, es-
tablished the Office of the Holy In-
quisition in his dominions. He was
distinguished by many miracles, of
which the chief which is narrated of
him is that on one occasion being in
the island of Majorca and wishing to
go to Barcelona, he spread his cloak
upon the sea, and passed over the
waters on it, accomplishing the whole
distance of sixty leagues in six hours,
and finally entering his convent through
the closed doors.1 He attained the
age of nearly an hundred years, and
fell asleep in the Lord [on the
6th day of January,] in the year of
salvation 1275. His name was en-
rolled by Clement VIII. among those
of the Saints.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke xii. 35, with the
Homily of St Gregory, (p. 538.) The
Ninth Lesson ("And ye yourselves,
1 See Alban Butler. Jan. 23.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
725
&c") is either omitted or read as one
with the Eighth in order to leave room
for
Ninth Lesson. {For St Agnes.)
(~)NE 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, be-
took 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 bap-
tized, 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.
At Lauds is made a Commemoration
of St Agnes.
Antiphon. Behold, now I see that
which I have desired ; now I possess
that for which I have hoped ; now am I
united in Heaven to Him Whom I loved
with my whole heart upon earth.
Verse. Grace is poured into thy
lips.
Answer. Therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever.
Prayer as at First Vespers.
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy Confessor Francis de
VOL. 1.
Sales, Bishop of Geneva, [in the year
1622,] of whom mention is made upon
the 28th day of December.
Upon the same 29th day of January,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, upon the Nomentan Way,
the holy soldiers Papias and Maurus,
martyrs in the time of the Emperor
Diocletian, [fourth century.] At their
first confession of Christ, Laodicius,
the Prefect of the city, ordered their
mouths to be bruised with stones and
committed them to prison ; where they
were afterwards cudgelled and then
lashed to death with scourges loaded
with lead.
At Perugia, the holy martyrs Con-
stantius, Bishop of that see, and his
companions, who were crowned [about
the year 178] for defending the faith
in the persecution under the Emperor
Marcus Aurelius.
At Edessa, in Syria, the holy martyrs
Sarbelius and his sister, Barbea, who
were baptized by blessed Barsimceus,
Bishop of that city ; and were crowned
with martyrdom under the President
Lysias, in the persecution under the
Emperor Trajan, [in the second
century.]
In the country of Trois, the holy
martyr Sabinian, who was beheaded
for Christ's faith's sake, [in the
year 275,] by order of the Emperor
Aurelian.
At Milan, the holy Priest Aquilinus,
who was crowned with martyrdom,
[in the eighth century,] by being run
through the neck with a sword by the
Arians.
At Treves, holy Valerius, Bishop of
that see, [in the first century,] a dis-
ciple of the holy Apostle Peter.
At Bourges, holy Sulpicius Severus,
[in the year 591,] Bishop of that
see, famous for his graces and
learning.
Vespers of the following.
2 A 2
726
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
January 29.
£t jFrancis tie Sales, Bisijop
[of ffieneba,] Confessor, ano
©octor of tfje CljurcJ).
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, (p. 515,) except
what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
The first verse of the Hymn is
altered.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. O right excellent, &c, (p.
5I5-)
Prayer throughout the Office.
r\ GOD, Who didst will that Thy
^->^ Blessed Confessor and Bishop
Francis should become all things to
all men, mercifully grant unto us,
that we being filled with the sweetness
of Thy heavenly love, may so take
to ourselves his admonitions and be
succoured by his prayers, that in the
end we may with him attain unto
Thine everlasting joy. Through our
Lord JESUS Christ, Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
A Commemoration is made of St
Raymond.
Prayer from his Office.
The first verse of the Hymn is
altered.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
T^RANCIS was born of godly and
noble parents, in the town of
Sales, from which his family take
their name of "de Sales," [upon the
2 1st day of August, in the year of
our Lord 1 567.] In his childish years
his staid and godly demeanour gave
promise of his future sanctity. He
received a liberal education as he
grew up, and afterwards studied Philo-
sophy and Theology at Paris. In
order to the complete furnishing of
his mind, he took the degree of
Doctor of Laws, both Civil and Ecclesi-
astical, at Padua, with much dis-
tinction. He had already bound him-
self with a vow of perpetual virginity
at Paris, and he renewed the same in
the Holy House of Loreto. From
this path of virtue, neither the tempta-
tions of the devil nor the allurements
of the world ever induced him to
Fifth Lesson.
LI E refused to be made Counsellor
of the Parliament of Chambery,
for which his family had obtained for
him patents from the Duke of Savoy,
and determined to become a clergy-
man. He was appointed to the
Provostship of the Church of Geneva,
and, being shortly afterwards ordained
Priest, discharged so admirably the
duties of his position, that he was sent
by Granier, his Bishop, to preach the
word of God in Chablais, and other
places in the outskirts of the diocese,
where the inhabitants had embraced
the heresy of Calvin. He joyfully
undertook this mission, in which he
suffered much, being often hunted by
the Protestants to murder him, and
assailed by many calumnies and plots.
Amid all these dangers and struggles
his constancy remained invincible, and
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
727
under the blessing and care of God he
is said to have recalled seventy-two
thousand of these heretics to the
Faith of Christ's Universal Church,
among whom were many distinguished
by rank and learning.
Sixth Lesson.
A FTER the death of Bishop Granier,
who had procured his appoint-
ment as Coadjutor, he was conse-
crated Bishop, [upon the 3rd day of
December, 1602.] In that office he
was truly a burning and a shining
light, showing all around a bright
example of godliness, zeal for the
discipline of the Church, ardent love
of peace, tenderness to the poor, and,
indeed, of all graces. For the greater
ornament of God's worship he estab-
lished a new Order of Nuns, which is
named from the Visitation of the
Blessed Virgin. These nuns follow
the Rule of St Austin, but Francis
added thereto several additional con-
stitutions distinguished by wisdom,
prudence, and tenderness. He en-
lightened the Church' by writings full
of heavenly teaching, and pointing out
a safe and simple road to Christian
perfection. In the 55th year of his
age, while on his way from France
to Annecy, after saying mass at Lyons
on the Feast of St John the Evangelist,
he was seized with fatal illness, and
on the next day passed from earth
to heaven, in the year of our Lord
1622. His body was carried to
Annecy and honourably buried in the
Church of the nuns of the Visitation,
where it soon began to be distin-
guished for miracles. The truth of
these having been proved, the Supreme
Pontiff, Alexander VI L, enrolled his
name among those of the Saints, and
appointed for his Feast-day the 29th
of January. And the Supreme Pontiff,
Pius IX., on the advice of the Congre-
gation of Sacred Rites, declared him
a Doctor of the Universal Church.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. v. 13, with the
Homily of St Hilary {p. 550.)
Eighth Responsory.
In the midst of the congregation,
&c, {p. 523.)
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy virgin and Martyr Martina,
[third century,] of whom mention is
made upon the 1st day of January.
Upon the same 30th day of January,
were born into a better life —
At Antioch, the blessed martyr
Hippolytus, [third century.] He was
a Priest who had been led astray
into the Novatian schism, but by the
operation of the grace of Christ had
corrected himself, and had returned
into the unity of the Church, for which
and within which he afterwards
achieved a noble martyrdom. When
he was asked by his people which
were the true Body, he denied the
doctrine of Novatus, and declared
that the faith which men ought to
keep is» the faith which the See of
Peter keepeth, and so offered his
neck to the executioner.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Felician,
Philappian, and 124 others.
At Edessa, in Syria, the holy
martyr Barsimceus, Bishop of that
city, who converted many Gentiles to
the faith, and sent them before him
to the crown, but himself followed
them with the palm of martyrdom
under the Emperor Trajan, [second
century.]
Likewise, at Edessa, holy Barsen,
Bishop of that See, who was famous
728
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
for the grace of healing, but who on
account of his Catholic belief was
banished to the uttermost parts of
that country by the Arian Emperor
Valens, and there finished his earthly
life, [in the year 379-]
Likewise the blessed Alexander.
He was arrested in the persecution
under the Emperor Decius, and died
under the torture, [in the year 251,]
venerable for his grey hairs and
illustrious for his repeated confession.
At Jerusalem, holy Matthias,
Patriarch of that place, [in the second
century,] of whom are narrated won-
drous acts of faith. He suffered much
for Christ's sake under the Emperor
Hadrian, but at length fell asleep in
peace.
At Rome, holy Pope Felix [IV.,
Pope in 526, died in 530,] who lab-
oured much for the Catholic faith.
At Pavia, the holy Confessor
Armentarius, Bishop of that See, [in
the year 730.]
In the monastery of Maubeuge, in
Hainault, in the time of King
Dagobert, the holy Virgin Aldegundis,
[about the year 689.]
At Milan, holy Savina, a devout
woman, who fell asleep in the Lord,
[in the year 311,] while she was pray-
ing at the graves of the holy martyrs
Nabor and Felix.
At Viterbo, the holy Virgin Hyacinth
de' Mariscotti, [in the year 1640,] a
nun of the Third Order of St Francis,
eminent for penitence and for love.
Whose name Pope Pius VII. enrolled
with those of the saints.
At Second Vespers ; Antiphon, " O
right excellent, &c." ; a Commemora-
tion is made of the following, from
the Common Office for one Virgin and
Martyr, (p. 567.) Prayer, " O God,
Who amidst the wondrous, &c," {p.
5730
1 Translation by the late Rev. E. Caswall.
1878. R.I. P.)
January 30.
&t j&artina, Firgtn
Jttartjjr,
Semi-double.
anU
All from the Common Office for one
Virgin and Martyr, {p. 567,) except
what is otherwise given here. Prayer
throughout the Office, " O God, Who
amidst the wondrous, &c."
Note. Should this Feast be ob-
served as a Double, or otherwise have
First Vespers, the Hymn at that Ser-
vice is composed of the 1st, 2nd, ^rd,
and 7th verses of the Hymn hereafter
given for Mattins, and in this case
the Hymn at Mattins begins at the
4th verse, (the 7th being used at both
Vespers and Mattins.)
MATTINS.
Hymn. x
1.
Hear thou with joy, O Rome, Martina's
name,
Her praises celebrate with glad accord ;
Martina, high in merit, virgin blest,
And martyr of the Lord.
2.
Beauty and youth, the joys of happy home,
Ancestral palaces, and noble birth ;
All these were hers, all these for Jksu's sake
She counted nothing worth.
Her wealth she shared among the poor of
Christ,
Content with seeking better wealth above :
Herself she gave to her immortal King,
Too happy in His love.
4-
The agonising hooks, the rending scourge,
Shook not the dauntless spirit in her breast;
With torments rack'd, Angels her fainting
flesh
Recruit with heavenly feast.
(Died while the above was in proof, Jan. 2,
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
729
In vain they cast her to the ravening
beasts ;
Calm at her feet the lion crouches down :
Till smitten by the sword at length she goes
To her immortal crown.
Now with the Saints Martina reigns in
bliss ;
And, where Idolatry sate throned of yore,
From her victorious altar praise and prayer
With odorous incense soar.
Expel false worldly joys ; and fill us, Lord,
With thine enlightening beam divine ;
Who with Thy suffering martyrs present art,
The Godhead, One and Trine. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
"TV/TARTINA was a maiden of a
most illustrious Roman family,
daughter of a Consul. She lost her
parents while still very young, and,
being inflamed with Christian zeal,
she distributed her wealth, whereof
she had abundance, with great pro-
fusion among the poor. Under the
Emperor Alexander, she was com-
manded to sacrifice to the imaginary
gods, and refused with much boldness
to commit this great wickedness.
Upon this she was again and again
scourged, and mangled with iron
prongs and hooks, and pieces of
broken pottery. Her limbs were cut
off piece by piece with sharp swords,
and boiling tallow poured upon the
living trunk. Lastly she was sent to
be eaten publicly by the wild beasts
in the amphitheatre, but by the will
of God they would not touch her, and
she was then thrown upon a burning
pile, but still remained alive.
Fifth Lesson.
COME of her tormentors were so
moved by the spectacle, that
they repented, and, by the grace of
God confessing the faith of Christ,
through which she remained constant,
were themselves tortured and behead-
ed. Martina herself lay praying, with
a brightness on her face, while a
matter like milk oozed from her body
along with the blood, emitting a soft,
sweet smell. She was as it were
unconscious of an earthquake and
most violent thunderstorm which arose
and was raging, and while the light-
ning struck temples, and melted statues,
she seemed in spirit rather to be
seated above on a queenly throne,
praising God in heaven among the
Blessed.
Sixth Lesson.
/~PHE judge being infuriated at what
had taken place, and chiefly at
her unbending firmness, ordered the
head of the martyr to be cut off. At
the moment this was done, a peal
which shook the city was heard, like
a voice calling her home, and so great
was the consternation, that it was
made the means of conversion to
many idolaters. The holy body of
Martina wherein she had suffered in
the Pontificate of Urban I. was dis-
covered in the time of Urban VIII.,1
in the very old Church called after
her, situated at the foot of the Cap-
itoline Hill, near the Mamertine
Prison, along with the bodies of the
holy martyrs Concordius, Epiphanius,
and others. The Church was then
altered and restored and handsomely
decorated, and then the body was
1 Both the hymns in this Office are by him.
73Q
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
replaced in it, amid public rejoic-
ings, with a solemn ceremony and
procession.
tiArd nocturn.
Lessons from Matth. xxv. I, with
the Hojnily of Pope St Gregory, {p.
57i.)
LAUDS.
Hymn.
T3LEAD, maiden, for thy native land,
Plead for thy Mother Church of Rome,
Plead for each Christian State that shields
The brightness of the Christian home.
From them let warfare roll to where
Justice and vengeance have a work —
Let war, with all its horrors rife,
Crush the foul empire of the Turk.
Their fellow-Christians to set free
Let all men Christian draw the sword —
However divers, one in this,
The love of Christ, their common Lord.
Rome calls upon thee that the prayers,
Not rising from one shore alone,
May from thine odour -phial float
Toward the Everlasting Throne.
Borne on the eternal breeze of praise
That from the Blessed myriads swells
To Him Who, circled by the Saints,
In holiness unuttered dwells. Amen.
Prayer throughout the day. O God,
Who amidst the wondrous, &c, (p.
573.)
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy Confessor Peter Nolasco,
founder of the Order of Blessed Mary
of Ransom, for the redemption of cap-
tives, who fell asleep in the Lord upon
Christmas Eve.
Upon the same 3 1st day of January,
were born into a better life —
At Rome, upon the way to Porto,
the holy martyrs Cyrus and John, who
suffered many torments for confessing
Christ, and were beheaded, [in the
fourth century.]
At Alexandria, the holy martyr
Metranus. In the time of the Em-
peror Decius he refused to utter un-
lawful words at the command of the
Pagans. Wherefore they bruised his
whole body with cudgels, pierced his
face and eyes with sharp reeds, and
continued to torture him while they
cast him out of the city, where they
stoned him to death, [in the year
249.]
There, likewise, the holy martyrs
Saturninus, Thyrsus, and Victor.
In the same city, the holy martyrs
Tharsicius, Zoticus, Cyriacus, and their
Companions.
At Cyzicus, on the Hellespont, the
holy martyr Triphenes, who overcame
divers torments, and then gained the
palm of martyrdom by being killed by
a bull.
At Modena, holy Geminian, [after
the year 390,] Bishop of that see,
famous for miracles.
In the province of Milan, in the
time of the Emperor Theodosius,
[fifth century,] the holy Confessor
Julius the Priest.
At Rome, [in the year 410,] the
holy widow Marcella, whose excel-
lences have been written by blessed
Jerome.
At Rome, likewise, the blessed
widow Louisa Albertoni, [in the year
1 530,] of the 3rd Order of St Francis,
illustrious for her graces.
Upon the same day is commemor-
ated the translation of the holy Evan-
gelist Mark, when [in the year 831]
his sacred body was taken from
Alexandria, in Egypt, already occu-
pied by the Mohammedans, and
brought to Venice, where it is honour-
ably buried in the great cathedral
church consecrated in his name.
Vespers are of the following from
the Chapter inclusive.
FEAST-DAYS IN JANUARY.
731
January 31.
<&t $eter Nolasco, Confessor.
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Confessor not a Bishop, (J>. 531,) except
what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Prayer throughout the Office.
f~\ GOD, Who hast commended Thy
^~^ love toward us, in that while we
were yet sinners, Thou didst die for
us, that Thou mightest redeem us
from the hand of the enemy ; and
Who didst raise up Thy holy servant
Peter (in imitation of that Thy so
great love for their souls) to redeem
the bodies also of Thy servants from
the hand of the enemies of Thy Cross,
and to that end, didst choose him for
a mean whereby Thou hast given unto
Thy Church a new family of sons ;
mercifully grant unto us, at his peti-
tion, that we may be delivered from
the bondage of our sins, and may
one day together with him rejoice in
perfect liberty in our very Fatherland,
which is in heaven : Who livest and
reignest with God the Father, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
A Commemoration is made of St
Martina. Prayer as in her Office.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
"DETER Nolasco was born of noble
parents at Recaudun near Car-
cassonne in France [about the year
1 189,] and is chiefly distinguished for
his great love toward his neighbour.
It was considered a foreshadowing of
this virtue, that when he was a little
child in his cradle, a swarm of bees
settled on his right hand, and began
to make an honey-comb there. He
lost his parents while still young, and
in consequence of his horror of the
Albigensian heresy, with which France
was then plagued, he sold his property
there and emigrated to Spain. Here
he first discharged a vow which he
had made at the sanctuary of the
Blessed Virgin of Monserrat, and
afterwards went to Barcelona. Here
he was so affected by the miserable
state of the Christians who were in
slavery to the Moors, that he expended
his whole fortune in ransoming as
many of them as possible, and used
to say that he wished he could be
sold himself to ransom more, or could
himself change places with them.
Fifth Lesson.
TT came to pass that God showed
how agreeable to Him was the
charitable zeal of Peter. One night
when he was praying, and his mind
was much exercised on the means
of succouring the enslaved Christians,
the Blessed Virgin appeared to him
in a vision, and gave him to under-
stand that it would be most pleasing
to her Son and herself, if he would
found in her honour an order of re-
ligious men, whose chief duty it should
be to effect the redemption of Christ-
ian bondsmen out of the hand of the
unbelievers. In conformity to this
revelation, which had likewise on the
same night been made to St Ray-
mond de Pegnafort and King James
I. of Aragon, he founded the Re-
ligious Order of the Blessed Mary
of Ransom, for the redemption of
captives. The members of this order
732
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
add a fourth vow to the three essen-
tial ones of Poverty, Chastity, and
Obedience, namely, that they will
be ready if need be to remain as
hostages in 'the hand of the unbe-
lievers for the liberation of others.
Sixth Lesson.
A FTER he took the vow of vir-
^~^ ginity he remained with his
purity quite unsullied all his life,
and was at the same time a bright
pattern of long-suffering, lowliness,
temperance, and other virtues. God
was pleased to adorn him with the
gift of Prophecy, whereby he fore-
told things to come. Among others,
he prophesied to King James that
he would take the city of Valencia
from the Moors, which he after-
wards did. He was refreshed by
frequent apparitions of his Guardian
Angel and of the Virgin Mother of
God. He had lived to a great age,
when being quite worn out, and fall-
ing into a grievous sickness, he per-
ceived that his end was at hand.
He then received the holy Sacra-
ments, and, gathering his brethren
around him, exhorted them for the
last time to show pity to slaves.
After this he began to repeat with
great emotion the ex. Psalm, " I will
praise Thee, O LORD, with my whole
heart," and when he had uttered the
words " He sent redemption unto
His people," he resigned his soul
to God. This happened at mid-
night between the 23rd and 24th
of December, 1256. Alexander VII.
ordered that his feast should be
celebrated on the 31st of January.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke xii. 32, with
the Homily of the Venerable Bede,
(A 544-)
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 1st day of February,
were born into the better life —
The holy martyr Ignatius, who
ruled the church of Antioch as the
third Bishop of that See in succes-
sion to the blessed Apostle Peter.
In the persecution under the Em-
peror Trajan he was condemned to
be killed by wild beasts, and was
sent to Rome in chains by command
of the emperor. There, in the pres-
ence of the Senate, he was first put
to most grievous torments and then
thrown to lions, the which throttled
him with their teeth, and so he was
made Christ's offering, [in the year
107.]
At Smyrna, the holy martyr Pion-
ius. He was a Priest who had writ-
ten much controversial matter on
behalf of the Christian faith. After
suffering a foul imprisonment, dur-
ing the which he strengthened many
brethren by his exhortations to the
enduring of martyrdom, he was put
to many tortures and nailed upon a
pyre, where he obtained a blessed
end by being burnt for Christ's
sake. And with him suffered fifteen
others, [in the year 251.]
At Ravenna, holy Severus, [in the
year 389,] Bishop of that city, to
the which place he was chosen, on
account of his extraordinary merits,
through a miraculous sign in the
form of a dove.
At Tron, in Gaul, [in the fifth cen-
tury,] holy Paul, Bishop of that see,
whose life shone with grace, and the
preciousness of whose death is attested
by miracles.
Upon the same day, holy Ephrem,
Deacon of the church of Edessa, who
after much work for the faith of
Christ fell asleep in the Lord, emi-
nent for holiness and teaching, in
the time of the Emperor Valens,
[in the year 378.]
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
733
In Ireland, [in the year 523,] the
holy Virgin Brigid. At the moment
that she bowed down her head to re-
ceive the hallowed veil, she chanced
to touch the wooden steps of the
altar with her hand, and in witness
to her virginity the dry wood at
once became green.
At Florence, in Tuscany, the blessed
Virgin Veridiana, recluse, of the Order
of Vallombrosa, [Castel Florentin,
1242.]
Second Vespers are of the following,
from the Chapter, inclusive. Prayer,
" Mercifully consider our weakness,"
&c, {p. 491.) A Commemoration is
made of the preceding.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
FEAST DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
Upon the first day not occupied by
an Office of Nine Lessons, is said the
Office of the Dead.
February i.
&t Ignatius, Bisfjop lot %Ln-
ttocl),] JHartgr*
Double.
All from the Common Office for one
Martyr, {p. 482,) except what is other-
wise given here.
Prayer throughout the Office, " Mer-
cifully consider our weakness," &c,
{p. 491.)
First Vespers as regards St Igna-
tius begin with the Chapter. A
Commemoration is made of the pre-
ceding Prayer from his Office.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according
to the Season.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
on Ecclesiastical Writers, com-
posed by St Jerome, Priest [at
Bethlehem.]
TGNATIUS was the third Bishop
of Antioch after the Apostle
Peter. When Trajan stirred up his
persecution, he was condemned to
be devoured by wild beasts, and
sent to Rome in chains. When
on his journey thither he arrived
at Smyrna, where Polycarp, the
disciple of John, was Bishop, he
wrote an Epistle to the Ephesians,
another to the Magnesians, a third
to the Trallians, and a fourth to
the Romans : and after leaving
Smyrna, he addressed a further
Epistle to the Philadelphians, and
another to the Smyrnians, along
with a private Epistle to Polycarp,
to whose care he commended the
Church of Antioch. In this last
he quoteth a passage regarding the
Person of Christ from the Gospel,
which I have recently translated.
Fifth Lesson.
TT is fitting that, as we have
made mention of a man of
so much importance, we should
also note briefly the Epistle which
he addressed to the Romans. " I
am on my way," saith he, "from
Syria to Rome, and am already
fighting with beasts on sea and on
land all the way. I may say I
am chained day and night to ten
leopards, for indeed the soldiers,
who have charge of me, are no
better. The more courteous I am
to them, the worse they use me.
But still their wickedness is good
schooling for me, though I know
that my mere sufferings cannot in
734
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
themselves gain me justification. I
earnestly wish for the beasts which
are to devour me ; at any rate, I
pray they may put me out of pain
quickly, and (fly on me willingly, that
I be not like some other Martyrs,
whose bodies the animals have refused
to touch. If I find that they will not
come on, I will run at them as quick
as I can, to make them devour me.
Let me be, my little children : I
know what is good for me."
Sixth Lesson.
" T FEEL now that I am begin-
ning to be Christ's disciple ;
I desire none of those things which
are seen, if so be I may find Christ
Jesus. I care not that there come
upon me fire, or cross, or wild
beasts, or breaking of my bones,
or sundering of my members, or
destruction of my whole body, yea,
or all the torments of the devil,
if only so be I may win Christ."
When he was brought condemned
to the theatre, and heard the roar-
ing of the beasts which were to
devour him, he felt so strong an
eagerness to suffer, that he cried
out : "I am Christ's wheat, and so
let the beasts' teeth be my mill,
that I may be ground, and be
found to make good bread." He
suffered in the eleventh year of
Trajan. What was left of his
body lieth at Antioch, in the grave-
yard outside the gate which leadeth
toward Daphne.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (xii. 24.)
AT that time : Jesus said unto
His disciples: Amen, Amen,
I say unto you, Except a corn of
wheat fall into the ground and die,
it abideth alone. And so on.
Homily by St Austin, Bishop [of
Hippo.] {Tract 51 on John.)
The Lord Jesus was Himself a
corn of wheat that was to die and
bring forth much fruit ; to die by
the unbelief of the Jews, and to
bring forth much fruit in the faith
of the Gentiles. He, exhorting men
to follow His steps, saith : " He
that loveth his life shall lose it."
Now, these words may be under-
stood in two ways. First: "he
that loveth his life shall lose it,"
that is, "If thou love life, thou wilt
lose it ; if thou wilt live for ever
ill Christ, refuse not to die for
Christ." Or secondly: "he that
loveth his life shall lose it ; love
not then that which thou shalt lose ;
love not this present life, so that
thou be thereby in jeopardy of losing
life eternal."
Eighth Lesson
'"PHAT this second interpretation
is the meaning of the Gospel,
appeareth most probably from the
words which follow : " And he that
hateth his life in this world, shall
keep it unto life eternal." From
which we may suppose the sense
of the first words to be : " He that
loveth his life in this world shall
lose it unto life eternal." This is
a great and marvellous saying, show-
ing how a man may so love life
as to lose life, and so hate life as
to keep life. If thou love it too
well, then dost thou hate it : if thou
hate it with an holy hatred, then
dost thou love it. Blessed are they
that, lest they should so love it
as to lose it, so hate it as to
keep it.
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
735
Ninth Lesson.
"D EWARE lest thou take these words
— "He that hateth his life in
this world shall keep it unto life
eternal " — as some do, for an approval
of suicide. Some evil and perverse
men, bloody and guilty murderers of
themselves, do indeed throw them-
selves into the fire, drown themselves
in water, and cast themselves down
precipices, and so perish. This is
not the teaching of Christ, Who, when
the devil would have Him cast Him-
self down from an high place, an-
swered : " Get thee behind Me, Satan.
It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the
Lord thy God." (Matth. iv. 5-7.)
Who also said to Peter, signifying by
what death he should glorify God :
"When thou wast young thougirdedst
thyself and walkedst whither thou
wouldest ; but when thou shalt be old,
another shall gird thee, and carry
thee whither thou wouldest not." (John
xxi. 18.) From which it is evident
that he that would follow Christ's foot-
steps, must be slain, not by himself,
but by another.
Prayer throughout the day as at
First Vespers.
My Father, inherit the kingdom which
is prepared for you from the founda-
tion of the world," whereupon he be-
lieved, and was baptized, and was
afterwards put to death confessing the
Lord.
Likewise at Rome, the holy martyrs
Fortunatus, Felician, Firmus, and
Candidus.
At Caesarea, in Palestine, [in the
first century,] the holy centurion Cor-
nelius, who was baptized by the holy
Apostle St Peter, and by him also
raised to be Bishop in that city.
At Orleans, holy Flosculus, [about
the year 500], Bishop of that see.
At Canterbury, in England, holy
Laurence, [in the year 619,] Arch-
bishop of that see, which he governed
in succession to holy Augustin, and
converted king Ethelbert himself to
the faith. We keep his feast upon the
morrow after.
At Prato, in Tuscany, the holy
Florentine Virgin Katherine di Ricci,
of the Order of Friars Preachers,
eminent for the abundance of her
gifts from heaven, whose name the
Supreme Pontiff Bendict XIV. enrolled
among those of holy virgins.
Vespers of the following.
MARTYROLOGY.
The morrow is the feast of the Puri-
fication of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
which by the Greeks is called the
Hypapante — that is, the Presentation
of the Lord.
Upon the same 2nd day of February,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, upon the Salarian Way,
[in the fourth century,] the holy martyr
Apronian. He was a notary, who,
while he was a Gentile, was leading
the holy Licinius out of prison to
present him before the Prefect Laodi-
cius, when he heard a voice from
heaven saying, " Come, ye blessed of
February 2.
Canolemag ©a|L
purification of tije Blesseo
Firgin JHar|L
Double of the Second Class.
Note. Should the 7.nd February be
a privileged Sunday, the Office for
Candlemas Day is transferred to the
Monday, any other Feast of less or
equal rank being transferred. Should
there be a double of the First Class on
the Monday, the Candlemas Office is
transferred on.
736
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
All from the Common Office for
Feasts of the Blessed Virgin, {p. 552,)
except what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons from the Lauds of New
Year's Day, (p. 315.)
Chapter and Prayer from Lauds.
Verse. It was revealed unto Simeon
by the Holy Ghost.
Answer. That he should not see
death before he had seen the Lord's
Christ.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The old man held his Lord
in his arms in the form of a little
child, but the Child was the old man's
King : even that Child whom a virgin
bore, and remained a virgin as before :
the fruit of her womb, and the God of
her soul.
A Commemoratioit is made of the
preceding.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. Behold, the Lord the
Ruler cometh unto His holy temple : *
Rejoice and be glad, O Zion ! go forth
to meet thy God !
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Exodus (xiii. 1.)
THE LORD spake unto Moses, say-
ing, Sanctify unto Me all the
first-born ; whatsoever openeth the
womb among the children of Israel,
both of man and of beast : it is Mine.
And Moses said unto the people : (11)
It shall be when the Lord shall bring
thee into the land of the Chanaanites,
as He sware unto thee and to thy
fathers and shall give it thee, that
thou shalt set apart unto the LORD
all that openeth the matrix, and every
firstling that cometh of a beast which
thou hast ; the males shall be the
Lord's. The firstling of an ass thou
shalt redeem with a lamb : and if thou
wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt
break his neck. And all the first-
born of man among thy children shalt
thou redeem.
First Responsory.
Make ready thy chamber, O Zion,
to receive Christ thy King, even that
Child Whom a Virgin bore, and re-
mained a Virgin as before : the fruit
of her womb and the God of her
soul.
Verse. Simeon took the Child up
in his arms, and blessed God.
Answer. Even that Child Whom
a Virgin bore, and remained a Virgin
as before : the fruit of her womb and
the God of her soul.
Second Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Leviticus (xii. 1.)
XHE LORD spake unto Moses, say-
ing : Speak unto the children of
Israel, saying : If a woman hath con-
ceived seed and borne a man child,
then she shall be unclean seven days,
according to the days of the separation
for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
And the eighth day shall the child
be circumcised : and she shall then
continue in the blood of her purifying
three and thirty days. She shall
touch no hallowed thing, nor come
into the Sanctuary, until the days of
her purifying be fulfilled. But if she
bear a maid child, then she shall be
unclean two weeks, as in her separa-
tion, and she shall continue in the
blood of her purifying three score and
six days.
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
737
Second Responsory.
When the days of Mary's purification
according to the law of Moses were
accomplished, they brought Jesus to
Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord ;
as it is written in the law of the Lord :
Every male that openeth the womb
shall be called holy unto the Lord.
Verse. They offered for Him unto
the Lord a pair of turtle-doves or two
young pigeons.
Answer. As it is written in the law
of the Lord : Every male that openeth
the womb shall be called holy unto
the Lord.
Third Lesson.
A ND when the days of her purifica-
"*^ tion are fulfilled, for a son or
for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb
of the first year for a burnt-offering,
and a young pigeon or a turtle-dove
for a sin-offering, unto the door of the
tabernacle of the testimony, unto the
priest, who shall offer it before the
Lord, and make an atonement for
her, and she shall be cleansed from the
issue of her blood. This is the law
for her that hath borne a male or a
female. And if her hand find it not,
or she be not able to bring a lamb,
she shall take two turtles, or two
young pigeons, the one for the burnt-
offering, and the other for a sin-offer-
ing ; and the priest shall make an
atonement for her, and she shall be
clean.
Third Responsory.
They offered for Him unto the Lord
a pair of turtle-doves, or two young
pigeons ; as it is written in the law of
the Lord.
Verse. And when the days of
Mary's purification according to the
law of Moses were accomplished, they
brought Him to Jerusalem, to present
Him to the Lord.
Answer. As it is written in the law
of the Lord.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. As it is written in the
law of the Lord^
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo.]
(13th on the Season.)
(~\F old time it was written: "And
^^^ of Zion shall it not be said :
This and that man was bom in her,
and the Highest Himself shall establish
her ? " Blessed be the omnipotence
of Him That was born ! Blessed the
glory of Him That came from heaven
to earth ! While yet He was borne
in His Mother's womb, He was saluted
by John the Baptist ; He was
presented in the temple, and re-
cognised by that famous, antient, and
glorious worthy, the old man Simeon.
As soon as he knew Him he wor-
shipped Him, and said : " Lord, now
lettest Thou Thy servant depart in
peace — for mine eyes have seen Thy
Salvation."
Fourth Responsory.
Simeon was just and devout, wait-
ing for the redemption of Israel ; and
the Holy Ghost was upon him.
Verse. It was revealed unto him
by the Holy Ghost, that he should not
see death, before he had seen the
Lord's Christ.
A?tswer. And the Holy Ghost was
upon him.
Fifth Lesson.
T T E lingered in the world to see
the birth of Him Who made
the world. The old man knew the
738
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Child, and in that Child became a
child himself, for in the love where-
with he regarded the Father of all,
he felt his own years to be but as
of yesterday. The old man Simeon
bore the new-born Christ, and all the
while, Christ was the old man's Lord.
It had been told him by the Lord
that he should not taste of death be-
fore he had seen the birth of the
Lord's Christ. Now Christ is born,
and all the old man's wishes on earth
are fulfilled. He That came to a
decrepit world came to an old man.
Fifth Responsory.
It was revealed unto Simeon by the
Holy Ghost that he should not see
death before he had seen the Lord's
Christ ; and he blessed God, and
said : Lord, now lettest Thou Thy
servant depart in peace, for mine eyes
have seen Thy salvation.
Verse. When His parents brought
in the Child Jesus, to do for Him
after the custom of the law : then
took he Him up in his arms.
Answer. And blessed God, and
said : Lord, now lettest Thou Thy
servant depart in peace, for mine eyes
have seen Thy salvation.
Sixth Lesson.
TTE wished not to remain long in
the world, but he longed to
see Christ in the world, singing with
the Prophet, and saying : " Shew us
Thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us
Thy salvation." (Ps. lxxxiv. 8.) And
now at last, that ye may know that
the cause of his joy was that this
prayer was granted, he saith : " Now
lettest Thou Thy servant depart in
peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy
salvation." The Prophets have sung
that the Maker of heaven and earth
would converse on earth with men :
an angel hath declared that the
Creator of flesh and spirit would come
in the flesh : the unborn John, yet in
the womb, hath saluted the unborn
Saviour yet in the womb. The old
man Simeon hath seen God a little
Child.
Sixth Responsory.
When His parents brought the
Child Jesus into the temple, to do
for Him after the custom of the law,
Simeon took Him up in his arms,
and blessed God, and said : Lord,
now lettest Thou Thy servant depart
in peace.
Verse. Simeon took up the Child
in his arms, and cried out, and said :
Answer. Lord, now lettest Thou
Thy servant depart in peace.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Lord, now lettest Thou
Thy servant depart in peace.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy Gos-
pel according to Luke (ii. 22.)
A T that time : When the days of
Mary's purification, according to
the law of Moses, were accomplished,
they brought Jesus to Jerusalem, to
present Him to the Lord, as it is
written in the law of the Lord. And
Homily on this passage by St Am-
brose, Bis-hop [of Milan.] {Bk. 2,
Co mm. on Luke ii.)
" And, behold, there was a man in
Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon,
and the same man was just and
devout, waiting for the consolation of
Israel." The birth of the Lord is
attested not only by Angels and
Prophets, and shepherds, but also by
elders and just men. Every age, and
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
739
both sexes, as well as the miracles
of the events themselves, are here to
strengthen our faith. A virgin con-
ceiveth, a barren woman beareth, a
dumb man speaketh, Elizabeth pro-,
phesieth, the wise man worshippeth,
the unborn child leapeth, the widow
praiseth, and the just man waiteth.
Seventh Responsory.
Simeon took Jesus up in his arms,
and cried out, and said : Verily Thou
art a light to lighten the Gentiles, and
the Glory of Thy people Israel.
Verse. When His parents brought
in the Child Jesus, then took he Him
up in his arms, and blessed God, and
said :
Answer. Verily Thou art a light
to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory
of Thy people Israel.
, Eighth Lesson.
\ \ 7"ELL is he called just, who looked
not for favour for himself, but
for consolation for his people. He
desired to be set free from the bond-
age of this frail body, but he waited
to see the Promised One — for he knew
that blessed are the eyes that see
Him. " Then took he Him up in
his arms, and blessed God, and said :
Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant
depart in peace, according to Thy
word." Behold a just man, confined
in the weary prison of the body, de-
siring to be dissolved and to begin
to be with Christ. For to be dissolved
and to be with Christ is much better.
(Phil. i. 23.)
Eighth Responsory.
The old man bore the Child, but
the Child was the old man's King ;
even that Child Whom a virgin bore,
and remained a virgin as before ; and
when that virgin had brought Him
into the world, she fell down and
worshipped Him.
Verse. Simeon took the Child up
in his arms, and gave thanks, and
blessed the Lord.
Answer. Even that Child Whom a
virgin bore, and remained a virgin as
before ; and when that virgin had
brought Him into the world, she fell
down and worshipped Him.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Even that Child Whom a
virgin bore, and remained a virgin as
before ; and when that virgin had
brought Him into the world, she fell
down and worshipped Him.
Ninth Lesson.
VyHOSOEVER will be dissolved
and be with Christ, let him
come into the Temple, let him come
to Jerusalem, let him wait for the
Lord's Christ, let him take hold on
the Word of God, let him embrace
it with good works, as it were with
arms of faith : and then let him depart
in peace, for he shall not see death,
who hath seen life. Behold how
the Lord's Birth doth overflow with
abounding grace for all, and prophecy
is not denied to the just, but to the
unbelieving. Behold, Simeon prophesi-
eth that the Lord JESUS Christ is
come for the fall and rising again of
many : yea, He shall separate the just
from the unjust by their deserts, and
according as our work shall be, so
shall the true and righteous Judge
command us to be punished or
rewarded.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. Simeon was just *
and devout, waiting for the consol-
740
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
ation of Israel, and the Holy Ghost
was upon him.
Second Antiphon. It was revealed
unto Simeon * by the Holy Ghost that
he should woi see death before he had
seen the Lord.
Third Antiphon. Simeon took *
the Child up in his arms, and gave
thanks, and blessed the Lord.
Fourth Antiphon. A light to lighten
the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy
people Israel.
Fifth Antiphon. They offered for
Him * unto the Lord, a pair of turtle
doves, or two young pigeons.
Chapter. (Mai. iii. i.)
DEHOLD, I send My Angel, and
he shall prepare the way before
Me. And the Lord, Whom ye seek,
shall suddenly come to His holy
temple, even the Angel of the Cove-
nant Whom ye delight in.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
When His parents brought in the
Child Jesus, then took Simeon Him
up in his arms, and blessed God, and
said : Now lettest Thou Thy servant
depart in peace.
Prayer throughout the Office.
ALMIGHTY and everliving God,
we humbly beseech Thy Majesty,
that as Thy Only-begotten Son was
this day presented in the temple in
substance of our flesh, so we may be
presented unto Thee with pure and
clean hearts. Through the same our
Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. Simeon was just, * &c,
{First Antiphon at Lauds.)
In the Short Responsory, " Thou
That wast born of the Virgin Mary."
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep in England
the feast of the holy Confessor Laurence,
Archbishop of Canterbury, who
governed that church in succession
to holy Augustin, and who converted
King Ethelbert himself to the faith,
of whom mention is made as upon this
day.
Upon the same 3rd day of February,
were born into the better life —
At Sebaste, in Armenia, the holy
martyr Blase, [about the year 316,]
Bishop of that city, and the worker
of many miracles. Under the
President Agricolaus he was long
flogged, then hung to a beam, where
his flesh was rent with iron combs,
then he suffered a foul imprisonment,
after which he was cast into the lake,
and, forasmuch as he came out thence
unhurt, he was beheaded, by order of
the same judge, along with two lads.
Before him seven women, who were
collecting the drops of his blood as
they fell during the torture, were ar-
rested for being Christians, and after
being grievously tormented were put
to the sword.
In Africa, the holy Deacon Celerinus,
who was kept nineteen days in prison,
and was a glorious confessor of Christ
under the lash, and in iron chains and
other sufferings, and while he over-
came the adversary of his contending
by his invincible firmness, he led the
way for victories for others, [in the
year 280.]
Likewise the holy martyrs Lauren-
tinus, [these martyrs mentioned by
Cyprian, Letter 34,] and Ignatius, his
father's and mother's brothers, and
Celerina his grandmother, who had
before him been crowned with martyr-
dom, to the glorious praises of all whom
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
741
there remaineth to witness an epistle
of blessed Cyprian.
Likewise in Africa, the holy martyrs
Felix, Symphronius, Hippolytus, and
their Companions, [in the year 270.]
In the town of Gap, [in the second
century,] the holy Bishops Tigides and
Remedius.
At Lyons, [about the year 486,]
holy Lupicinus and Felix, Bishops of
that see.
On the same day, [in the year 865,]
holy Anschar, Bishop of Bremen, who
brought the Swedes and the Danes to
believe in Christ.
Chapter at the end. (Mai. iii. 4.)
HTHEN shall the offering of Judah
and Jerusalem be pleasant unto
the Lord, as in the days of old, and
as in former years, saith the Lord
Almighty.
TERCE.
Antiphon. It was revealed, &c,
{Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
SEXT.
Antiphon. Simeon took,
{Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
&c.
Chapter. (Mai. iii. 2.)
"DEHOLD, He shall come, saith the
Lord of hosts : but who shall
be able to abide the day of His
coming ? and who shall stand to see
Him ? For He is like the fiery blast
of a furnace, and like fuller's soap.
NONE.
Antiphon. They offered for Him, *
&c, {Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
SECOND VESPERS.
Antiphons from Lauds.
All the rest as at First Vespers, ex-
cept the
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. This day did the Blessed
Virgin Mary present the Child Jesus
in the temple ; and Simeon, filled
with the Holy Ghost, took Him up
in his arms, and blessed God for
A Commemoration is made of the
following from the Common Office for
a Bishop and Confessor, {p. 515,) with
the Prayer, " Hear, O Lord, &c," {p.
524 ;) then of St Blase, from the
Common Office of One Martyr, {p. 594,)
with the Prayer, " O God, Who year
by year, &c," {p. 491.)
February 3.
&t iLaurence, ^rcpisfton of
Canterbury, Confessor*
Double.
All from the Common Office for One
Bishop and Confessor, {p. 515,) except
what is otherwise given here. Prayer
throughout, " Hear, O Lord, we be-
seech Thee, &c," (p. 524.)
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lesson from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
HTHIS Laurence was a Roman, and
■*• a disciple of St Gregory the
Great, by whom he was sent into
England, along with blessed Augustin,
742
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
to preach the Gospel. Along with
Augustin he gave himself to prayer
and preaching, and by the holiness
of his life and manner, and by his
miracles, he 'converted to Christ King
Ethelbert and a great part of his
people. After Augustin was made
Archbishop of Canterbury he sent
Laurence to Rome to give blessed
Gregory news as to the state of the
new-born Church of England, and to
obtain fresh supplies from him. He
returned in a short space, bringing
with him the answers of the Supreme
Pontiff to the questions of Blessed
Augustin, holy vessels, books, vest-
ments, relics of the holy Apostles
and martyrs, and divers fellow-workers
and ministers of the Word, among
whom the first and chief were those
men of eminent holiness, Mellitus,
Justus, Paulinus, and Rufinian, of
whom Mellitus was afterwards made
first Bishop of London, Justus of
Rochester, Paulinus of York, and
Rufinian Abbot of the Monastery of
the holy Apostles Peter and Paul out-
side the walls of Canterbury.
Fifth Lesson.
V\7"HEN the blessed Augustine
found himself drawing nigh to
the kingdom of Heaven he ordained
Laurence as his successor, lest upon
his death the church in her tender
state should suffer if she were left
without the care of a shepherd. As
soon as Laurence entered upon the
Archbishoprick he made it his care
to strengthen with all his power the
foundations of the church which he
saw so nobly laid, and by frequent ex-
hortation and constant ensample of
godly labour to carry on the structure
to the height behoven. He bore not
the care only of the new church which
had been formed out of the English,
but was heedful to extend his watch-
fulness as a shepherd to the nations
of the old inhabitants of Britain
and of the Scots who dwelt in Ire-
land, to bring them to the due and
canonical observance of the feast of
Easter, and to conformity of life and
manners with the church rules in all
other matters.
Sixth Lesson.
AFTER the death of holy king
Ethelbert, his son and successor,
Eadbald, not only refused to embrace
the Christian faith, but also contracted
an incestuous marriage with his own
stepmother, and many thence took
occasion either to renounce the
faith which they had already re-
ceived or to become unstable therein.
Laurence took council with his fellow-
bishops and thought to abandon Eng-
land, but the blessed Prince of the
Apostles appeared to him in a dream
and corrected him ; and he so took
to heart his words and stripes that he
not only remained at his own church,
but also brought the king to the faith,
and to a life meet for the faith. From
that time forward Laurence enjoyed
great peace, and after he had
ministered to the church of Canter-
bury for about fifteen years, he entered
the kingdom of heaven in the year
619, upon the 2nd day of February,
upon the which day mention is made
of him in the Roman Martyrology.
He was buried beside his predecessor,
in the porch of the church of the
Monastery of the holy Apostles Peter
and Paul, and Mellitus succeeded to
him.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xxiv. 42, with
the Homily of St Hilary, (j>. 527.)
The last lesson is read along with
the Eighth in order to make room
for the
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
743
Ninth Lesson. {For St Blase. )
'""THIS Blase was chosen Bishop of
the city of Sebaste in Armenia,
in which place he enjoyed a great re-
putation for virtue. When Diocletian
began to make the Christians the ob-
jects of his insatiable cruelty, the
Saint hid himself in a cave on Mount
Argasus, where he lay till he was
found by some of the soldiers of
Agricolaus the President, who were
out hunting. He was brought before
the President, who commanded him
to be thrown into irons. While he
was in prison, Blase healed many of
the sick, who were brought to him
on account of his reputation of saint-
liness, and among others a boy who
had been despaired of by the
physicians, and who was at the point
of death, from a thorn which had be-
come fixed in his throat. Blase ap-
peared twice before the President, but
neither cajolements nor threats could
induce him to sacrifice to the gods.
He was first beaten with rods, and
afterwards put on the rack, where his
flesh was mangled with iron combs.
At last his head was cut off, whereby
he finished a noble testimony to the
faith which is in Christ our Lord.
He bore witness on the 3rd day of
February, [in the year of salvation
3i6.]
At Lauds a Commemoration is made
of St Blase from the Common Office,
{p. 490,) with the Prayer, " O God,
Who year by year, &c," {p. 491.)
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy Confessor Andrew Corsini,
[from 1 360 to 1 373,] Bishop of Fiesole,
of whom mention is made upon the
6th day of January.
Upon the same 4th day of February,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy martyr Eutych-
ius, who gained an illustrious martyr-
dom and is buried in the cemetery
of Callistus. Holy Pope Damasus
adorned his grave with some verses.
At Fossambrono, the holy martyrs
Aquilinus, Geminus, Gelasius, Magnus,
and Donatus.
At Thmuis, in Egypt, [about the
year 308,] the blessed martyr Philaeas,
Bishop of that city, and Philoromus,
Tribune of the troops, who in the
persecution under the Emperor
Diocletian could not be persuaded by
their kinsfolk and friends to have pity
on themselves, but stretched forth
their necks and won palm branches of
victory from the Lord's hand ; and a
countless multitude of the faithful of
the same city, following after the en-
sample of their shepherd, were like-
wise crowned with martyrdom.
On the same day, [in the year 888,]
holy Rembert, Bishop of Bremen.
At Troyes, the holy Confessor Aven-
tinus, [about the year 538.]
At Pelusium, in Egypt, the holy
monk Isidore, [monk in desert of
Lychnos, about the year 449,] eminent
for his merits and teaching.
On the same day, the holy Con-
fessor Gilbert, [in the year 1190,]
founder of the Order of Sempringham,
whose feast we keep upon the 1 1 th
day of this present month of Feb-
ruary.
In the town of Amatrice, in the
diocese of Reate, [in the year 161 2,]
the holy Confessor Joseph of Leon-
issa, of the Order of Friars Minors
Capuchins, who suffered much from
the Mohammedans for his preaching
of the faith, and was famous for his
apostolic labours and his miracles ;
whose name the Supreme Pontiff
Benedict XIV. enrolled among those
of the holy confessors.
Vespers are of the following, from
the Chapter inclusive.
744
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
February 4.
■St ^norefo Corstnt, 2Stsf)op
[of jtysole,] Confessor.
Double.
All from the Common Office for one
Bishop and Confessor, {p. 515,) except
what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Prayer throughout.
C\ GOD, Who dost continually
^^^ raise up in Thy Church new
ensamples of godly living, grant
unto Thy people so to follow in
the steps of Thy blessed Bishop
and Confessor Andrew, that at the
last they may together with him
attain unto Thine eternal reward.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ
Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth
with thee, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Amen.
First Vespers as regards St An-
drew begin with the Chapter. A
Commemoration is tnade of St Law-
rence from the Common Office, {p.
526), with the Prayer, "Hear, O
Lord, &c." If it be Lent a Com-
memoration must be made of the
Week-day, which rule is to be
invariably observed throughout that
Season.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according
to the Season. If it be in Lent,
then they are from the Common
Office, ("This is a true saying, &c,"
p. 516,) which rule is to be invari-
ably observed when neither the Week-
day nor the Feast has proper Lessons
from Scripture.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
/T>HIS Andrew was born at Flor-
ence, of the noble family of
Corsini, [upon the 30th day of No-
vember, in the year 1302.] His
birth was a special answer to prayer,
and his parents vowed him to the
Blessed Virgin.1 God fore-showed
even before his birth what he was
to be. While his mother was great
with child she dreamt that she
brought forth a wolf, which ran to
the Carmelite Church and was
changed into a lamb as soon as
it reached the porch. The lad was
brought up in godliness and learn-
ing becoming his rank, but turned
to bad courses ; wherefore his mother
often rebuked him. Nevertheless,
when he knew how his parents had
vowed him to the Maiden Mother
of God, the love of God touched
his heart, and the vision of his
mother moving him, he betook him-
self to the Institute of the Carme-
lites. In that place the devil ex-
ercised him with many and divers
temptations, but could not break
him off from his determination to
profess as a friar. He was soon
after sent to Paris, where he finished
his studies at the University, and
took his degree ; after which he
returned to his own country, and
was set over the houses of his
order in Tuscany.
Fifth Lesson.
rTHE Bishop of Fiesole being
dead, the Church in that place
chose Andrew Corsini for his suc-
1 Perhaps to wear white for his first seven years, in honour of her purity. Such is not an
uncommon vow in some Catholic countries.
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
745
cessor. He held himself altogether
unworthy of that office, and for a
long time lay hidden and unknown,
till he was betrayed by the voice
of a child marvellously speaking,
and found outside the city. Then,
lest he should seem to resist the
Will of God, he took the Bishoprick,
[in the year 1360.] Being dignified
with this office, he set himself to a
more perfect exercise of the. virtue
of lowliness, whereof he was already
a diligent practiser. He was emi-
nent in watchfulness over the flock
committed to his charge, joining
thereto great tenderness and liber-
ality towards the poor. He con-
tinued instant in prayer and watch-
ing. Thus was he so adorned with
these and many other virtues, and
even with the gift of prophecy, that
the fame of his holy life was in the
mouths of all men.
Sixth Lesson.
TRBAN V., moved by the fame
of his godly conversation, sent
him as his Legate to quiet disturb-
ances at Bologna. He endured
much in the discharge of this duty,
calming with great wisdom the
angry passions of the citizens, who
had broken out into civil war, and
when peace was restored, he re-
turned home. Shortly after, he re-
ceived from the Blessed Virgin a
warning of his approaching death,
and being worn out with his un-
ceasing toil, and the rigour of his
voluntary mortifications, he passed
to the kingdom of heaven, [upon
the 6th day of January,] in the
year of our Lord 1373, and the
71st of his own age. His name
became illustrious for many and
great miracles, and Urban VIII.
enrolled him in the number of the
Saints. His body resteth at Flor-
ence in the Church of his Order,
and is looked on with great rever-
ence by the citizens, to whom, even
in these days, he hath more than
once shown himself a protector.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xxv. 14, "A
man travelling, &c," with the Homily
of St Gregory, {p. 522.)
If it is in Lent the Ninth Lesson
("And so he that had received five
talents, &c.,") is either omitted or read
as one with the Eighth, and the Ninth
Lesson is of the Gospel of the Week-
day, with the Commentary upon the
same, being either the first of the three
Lessons of the Week-day, or the whole
three read as one. This rule is inva-
riably to be observed when the Week-
day has a proper Gospel.
Prayer throughout the day as at
First Vespers, and at Lauds a Com-
memoration is made of the Week-day if
it be in Lent, which rule is invariably
to be observed.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 5th day of February, were
born into the better life —
At Catania, in Sicily, [in the year
251,] the holy Virgin and martyr
Agatha. In the time of the Emperor
Decius, under the Judge Quinctian, she
endured buffeting and imprisonment,
racking and torments. Her breasts
were cut off, and she was rolled upon
potsherds and coals, and at last died
in prison, in prayer to God.
In Pontus, are commemorated very
many holy martyrs in the persecution
under the Emperor Maximian, [fourth
century.] Some had molten lead
poured upon them, some were tor-
tured by having sharp reeds thrust
under their nails, and were tormented
with many most grievous sufferings,
746
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
which were renewed again and again,
and so by their illustrious passion
earned palms and crowns from the
Lord.
At Alexandria, the holy martyr
Isidore, who in the persecution under
the Emperor Decius was beheaded by
Numerian, chief of the army, for
Christ's faith's sake.
In the empire of Japan, [in the year
1597,] twenty-six holy martyrs, [some
Franciscans, some their pupils, and
three Jesuits — killed at Naugazaki,]
who were crucified, and then died
gloriously, transfixed with spears, while
they were praising God and proclaim-
ing His Gospel, whose names were en-
rolled among those of the saints by
the supreme Pontiff Pius IX.
At Vienne, [in Dauphiny,] the
blessed Confessor Avitus, [in the year
525,] Bishop of that see, by whose faith,
labour, and wonderful teaching Gaul
was shielded against the Arian heresy.
At Brixen, holy Genuinus, [or In-
genuinus, in the year 640,] Bishop [of
Siben, in the Tyrol,] and Albinus, [in
the year 10 15,] Bishop [of Brixen,]
whose lives were rendered glorious by
miracles.
Vespers are from the Chapter {in-
clusive) of the following.
February 5.
&t ^satija, Virgin anti
fKartjjr.
Double.
All from the Co?nmon Office for a
Virgin and Martyr, {p. 567,) except
what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
These Vespers are of St Andrew
Corsini, up to the Chapter exclusive,
but if they should be all of St Agatha
(as for instance, in her own Church,)
the Antiphons are taken from Lauds,
and the Psalms are as on Sundays,
except the last, which is Ps. cxvi., " O
praise the Lord, &c," {p. 186.)
Chapter and Prayer from Lauds.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The blessed Agatha stood in
the midst of the prison, and stretched
forth her hands, and prayed unto the
Lord, saying: O Lord JESUS Christ,
my Good Master, I thank Thee be-
cause Thou hast made me to over-
come the cruelty of the executioners :
and now, O Lord, may it please Thee
that I should happily attain unto Thy
glory, which fadeth not away.
A Cotnmemoration is made of St
Andrew Corsini. Prayer as at his
First Vespers.
MATTINS.
Psalms as in the Common Office for
one Martyr {p. 482.)
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. I am well born,
and of a respectable family, as all my
relations testify.
Second Antiphon. The best of my
birth is, that I was born the slave of
Christ.
Third Antiphon. I look like a
slave, because I am one — the slave of
Christ.
Lessons from Ecclus. li. 1, {p. 575.)
First Responsory.
While the blessed Agatha was being
grievously tortured in the breasts, she
said to the judge : Thou foul, cruel,
and bloody tyrant, art thou not
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
747
ashamed to do this to me, having
thyself sucked at a mother's breast ?
Verse. I have breasts within,
which have been the Lord's from my
childhood, and them thou canst not
mangle.
Answer. Thou foul, cruel, and
bloody tyrant, art thou not ashamed
to do this to me, having thyself sucked
at a mother's breast ?
Second Responsory.
Agatha went to prison with great
joy and exultation, like a guest to a
banquet, and recommended her struggle
to the Lord in prayer.
Verse. She, the daughter of a most
noble race, rejoiced when a vile person
haled her to prison.
Answer. She went like a guest
to a banquet, and recommended her
struggle to the Lord in prayer.
Third Responsory.
Who art thou, who comest to heal
my wounds ? I am an Apostle of
Christ : have no fear of me, my
daughter : He hath sent me to thee
Whom thy soul and thy pure heart
love.
Verse. For I am His Apostle, and
I bid thee know that thou art healed
in the Name of Him.
Answer. Whom thy soul and thy
pure heart love.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Whom thy soul and thy
pure heart love.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. The holy Agatha
said : Dost thou promise me beasts ?
When they hear Christ's name they
grow tame.
Second Antiphon. If thou put the
fire to me, Angels will bring me a
saving dew from heaven.
Third Antiphon. Agatha went to
prison with great joy and exultation,
like a guest to a banquet, and recom-
mended her struggle to the Lord in
prayer.
Fourth Lesson.
T^HE Maiden Agatha was a Sicilian
of noble birth. The citizens of
Palermo and Catania dispute as to
which city had the honour of being
her birthplace. It was at Catania
that, during the persecution under the
Emperor Decius, she won the crown
of a glorious martyrdom. She was
equally celebrated for her beauty and
her chastity, and Quintianus, Praetor
of Sicily, conceived a passion for her.
He tried every sort of device to over-
come her modesty, and when he found
it impossible to make her consent to
his wishes, he caused her to be ar-
rested on a charge of Christian super-
stition, and handed over to a woman
named Aphrodisia to be corrupted.
The company, however, of this woman
had no effect in shaking her con-
stancy in the Christian worship, nor
her settled determination to preserve
her purity. Aphrodisia therefore re-
ported to Quintianus that she was
only throwing away her pains on
Agatha. He ordered her to be
brought before him. " Thou," said
he, " art the daughter of a noble
family — dost thou feel no shame in
living the degraded and slavish life
of a Christian ? " Agatha answered
him, " The lowliness and bondage of
a Christian are far nobler than the
estate and pride of a king."
Fourth Responsory.
But by the Lord's help I will con-
tinue to acknowledge Him Who hath
saved me, and strengthened me.
748
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Verse. I thank Thee, O my Lord
Jesus Christ, because Thou hast sent
Thine Apostle unto me to heal my
wounds.
Answer. And strengthened me.
Fifth Lesson.
HTHEN the Praetor, being incensed
against her, gave her the alter-
native of either sacrificing to the gods,
or being submitted to the torture ;
and as she remained firm in the faith,
she was buffeted and sent back to
prison. The next day she was brought
forth, and, because her resolution was
still unshaken, she was stretched on
the rack and tortured with pieces of
white-hot metal. Then her breasts
were cut off. When Agatha received
this injury she cried out to Quintianus,
" Cruel tyrant, art thou not ashamed
to do this to me, having thyself sucked
at a mother's breast ? " She was re-
manded again to prison and put in
irons. That night an old man, who
called himself an Apostle of Christ,
came to her, and healed her wounds.
The following day she was brought
for the last time before the Praetor.
Her constancy was unmoved, and she
was rolled on sharp potsherds and
live embers.
Fifth Responsory.
He hath cured me Who hath sent
His Apostle Peter to the prison to
strengthen me, after I was ordered
to be put on the rack. Because
of my chastity, help me, O Lord
my God, for they are torturing my
breasts.
Verse. He hath vouchsafed to heal
me of all my wounds, and to put new
paps on my breasts.
Answer. Because of my chastity,
help me, O Lord my God, for they
are torturing my breasts.
Sixth Lesson.
A T that time the whole city was
shaken with a great earth-
quake, and two of the Praetor's
dearest friends, Silvinus and Fal-
conius, were killed by falling
walls. The townspeople were in
an uproar, and Quintianus, in fear
of a riot, ordered Agatha, who was
half dead, to be carried back to
prison quietly. Then she made
the following prayer : " O Lord,
Who hast been my Keeper from
my childhood, Who hast taken
from me all love for this present
world, Who hast strengthened me
so that I am more than conqueror
over the cruelty of the executioners,
receive my spirit," and with these
words she passed to heaven. She
finished her testimony on the 5 th
day of February, [in the year of
our Lord 251.] Her body was
buried by the Christians.
Sixth Responsory.
O Lord, Thou hast seen and
known how I have fought, and
how I have run in the race ; but,
because I would not obey the
magistrates, they ordered me to be
tortured in the breasts.
Verse. Because of truth, and
meekness, and righteousness,
Answer. They ordered me to be
tortured in the breasts.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. They ordered me to be
tortured in the breasts.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Unless thou
make the executioners to handle my
body vigorously, my soul will not be
able to enter into the Lord's para-
dise with the palm of martyrdom.
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
749
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. By Whose Word alone
all things are made.
Second Antiphon. O Lord, Thou
hast seen how I have fought, and
how I have run in the race ; but,
because I would not obey the
magistrates, they ordered me to be
tortured in the breasts.
Third Antiphon. Because of my
chastity they ordered me to be
stretched upon the rack : help me,
O Lord my God, for they are tor-
turing my breasts.
Ps. xv. Preserve me, O Lord, &c,
(A 12.)
Lessons from Matth. xix. 3, with
the Homily of St John Chrysostom,
{P- 5770
Seventh Responsory.
When the blessed Agatha came
into the prison, she stretched forth
her hands to God, and said : O
Lord, Who hast made me to over-
come the cruelty of the execu-
tioners, may it please Thee that I
should attain unto Thy mercy.
Verse. O Lord, Who hast made
me, Who hast taken from me all
love for this present world, and Who
hast saved my body from pollution,
Answer. May it please Thee
that I should attain unto Thy
mercy.
Eighth Responsory.
I have used no earthly medicine
for my body, but I have for a
Master, Christ JESUS, by Whose
Word alone all things are made.
Verse. He hath vouchsafed to heal
me of all my wounds, and to put new
paps on my breasts, and upon Him
will I call, even upon the Living God.
Answer. By Whose Word alone
all things are made.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
1 Viz., an eruption of Mount Etna. The same veil is still carried up the mountain on similar
occasions for the same purpose.
VOL. I. 2 B
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. Who art thou*
who comest to heal my wounds?
I am an Apostle of Christ : have
no fear of me, my daughter.
Second Antiphon. I have used
no earthly medicine * for my body,
but I have for a Master Christ
Jesus, by Whose Word alone all
things were made.
Third Antiphon. O my Lord
Jesus Christ, I thank Thee, * be-
cause Thou hast been mindful of
me, and hast sent unto me Thine
Apostle, to heal my wounds.
Fourth Antiphon. I bless Thee,
O Father of my Lord Jesus Christ,
because by Thine Apostle Thou hast
put new paps on my breasts.
Fifth Antiphon. Upon Him Who
hath vouchsafed * to heal me of all
my wounds, and to put new paps
on my breasts, upon Him will I call,
even upon the Living God.
Chapter (Ecclus. li. 1) from the
Common Office for an Holy Woman,
Martyr but not Virgin, {p. 585.)
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
The heathen multitude made haste,
and came to the grave of the virgin,
and took therefrom her veil wherewith
to stem the fire ; 1 that the Lord might
show Himself to be a Deliverer from
the burning, for the sake of Agatha,
His blessed Martyr.
Prayer. O God, Who amidst the
wondrous, &c, {p. 573.)
At Prune, Terce, Sext, and None,
the Antiphons are taken from Lauds ;
7SO
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
viz., at Prime the first, at Terce the
second, at Sext the third, and at None
the fifth. The rest is from the Com-
mon Office for an Holy Woman, Mar-
tyr but not Virgin, {p. 580,) and
the Prayer at Terce, Sext, and None
is — " O God, Who midst wondrous,
&c," as at Lauds.
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy Confessor Titus, Arch-
bishop of Gortyna, in Crete, of whom
mention is made upon the 4th day
of January.
Upon the same 6th day of Febru-
ary, were born into the better life —
At Cassarea, in Cappadocia, the
holy Virgin and martyr Dorothy,
who under Sapricius, President of
that province, was first racked, then
long scourged with palm - branches,
and at length put to death, [in the
year 304.] At the sight of her
sufferings a certain student, named
Theophilus, was converted to Christ,
and forthwith grievously racked, and
at length beheaded.
On the same day the holy martyrs
Saturninus, Theophilus, and Revocata.
At Emessa, in Phoenicia, the holy
Bishop Silvan, who, when he had
been forty years in rule over that
church, was cast to wild beasts
along with two others, under the
Emperor Maximian, and, torn to
pieces, received the palm of martyr-
dom, [in the year 312.]
At [Clermont,] Auvergne, in Gaul,
the holy martyr Antholian, [about the
year 265.]
On the same day, [in the year 540,]
holy Bishop Vedastus, and [in the year
684,] holy Bishop Amandus, the first of
whom ruled over the Church of Arras,
the second the Church of Maestricht,
whose lives and deaths were rendered
glorious by divers miracles.
At Bologna, [in the year 1 1 59,] holy
Guarinus, Cardinal Bishop of Pales-
trina, eminent for the holiness of his
life.
SECOND VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Prayer
from Lauds.
Psalms as on Sundays, except the
last, which is Ps. cxlvii., " Praise the
Lord, O Jerusalem, &c," {p. 203.)
From the Chapter, the Office is of
St Titus, Bishop and Confessor. All
from the Common, {p. 515.) The
first verse of the Hymn is altered.
Prayer, " O God, Who didst glorify,
&c," as below.
A Commemoration is made of St
Agatha. Antiphon, " The blessed
Agatha stood in the midst, &c,"
{p. 746.) Then of the holy Virgin
Martyr Dorothy. Antiphon, Verse
and Afiswer from the Common Office >
{p. 567,) and Prayer, "O Lord, we
pray Thee, &c," {p. 574.)
February 6.
&t &ttus, &rcpisj)op [0! ffior-
tgna in Crete,] Confessor.
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, {p. 515,) ex-
cept the following.
Prayer throughout the Office.
r\ GOD, Who didst glorify Thy
^^^ blessed Confessor and Bishop
Titus with the graces of an Apostle,
grant unto us for his sake and at
his prayers, that we may so live
soberly, righteously, and godly in
this present world, that hereafter we
may worthily attain unto the Father-
land which is in heaven. Through
our Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son,
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
751
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee,
in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.
MATTINS.
The first verse of the Hymn is
altered,
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according
to the Seasons, or, in Lent, from the
Common Office.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
HP HE Apostle Paul had no sooner
by his preaching gathered the
Cretans to the Sacraments and doc-
trines of the Christian Faith, than
he made Titus their Bishop. It is
agreed that the holiness of Titus
shone with so bright a light before
the infant Church, that he earned
fellowship with the disciples of the
Teacher of the Gentiles. Being
taken to share in the work of
preaching, he so endeared himself
to Paul by his faithfulness and zeal
in declaring the Gospel, that the
Apostle saith : "When I came to
Troas to preach Christ's Gospel,
and a door was opened unto me
of the Lord, I had no rest in my
spirit, because I found not Titus
my brother : but taking my leave
of them, I went from thence into
Macedonia." (2 Cor. ii. 12, 13.)
And again he saith: "When we
were come into Macedonia, our
flesh had no rest, but we were
troubled on every side ; without
were fightings, within were fears.
Nevertheless, God, that comforteth
those that are cast down, comforted
us by the coming of Titus." (vii.
5, 6.)
Fifth Lesson.
T T was this affection of Paul toward
Titus, which had induced him to
send him to Corinth upon a Mission
which mainly concerned the collec-
tion of alms from the charity of the
faithful for the relief of the poor
Hebrew Saints at Jerusalem. This
mission Titus discharged with such
wisdom and gentleness, that he not
only strengthened the Corinthians in
the faith, but also stirred up in them
an earnest desire, a mourning, a fer-
vent mind toward Paul, their earliest
teacher. (vii. 7.) Many were the
other journeys by land and sea
which Titus undertook in order to
sow the seed of God's word among
men of divers nations, tongues, and
countries. Filled with bold loyalty
to the banner of the Cross, he went
with Paul to the island of Crete.
Of the Church of Crete the Apostle
himself made him the first Bishop ;
and we may not doubt that, as such,
he was what his Teacher bade him
be, "in all things showing himself a
pattern of good works, in doctrine,
in uncorruptness, in gravity." (Tit.
ii- 7-)
Sixth Lesson.
f" IKE a candle, he gave forth the
light of faith in the midst of
men sitting in the darkness of idolatry
and falsehood, as in the shadow of
death. He is said to have sweated
mightily to unfurl the banner of the
Cross among the Dalmatians. He
was full of days and good works,
when, upon a 4th of January, in the
94th year of his age, he died one of
those deaths which are precious in the
sight of the Lord. He was buried in
the Church of which the Apostle had
made him the minister. His praises
have been mostly written by St John
Chrysostom and St Jerome. The 4th
752
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
of January is the day upon which his
name is read in the Roman Martyrol-
ogy, but Pope Pius IX. assigned for
his Festival, to be kept with an Office
and Mass by the clergy secular and
regular throughout the Catholic world,
the first free day afterwards.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke x. i, with the
Homily of St Gregory, {p. 481.) The
last part is omitted, or read as one
with the Eighth, to make room in Lent
for the Homily of the week-day, and
out of Lent.
Ninth Lesson. {For St Dorothy.)
T'HE maiden Dorothy, of Caesarea
in Cappadocia, was betrayed to
Apricius the President by her two
sisters, Chrysta and Callista, who had
denied the faith, in the hope that he
would induce her to do likewise. She
was arrested, but it came not to pass
as they hoped. On the contrary, she
brought them back to the Christian
worship, and they received martyr-
dom. She was long tormented upon
the rack, and scourged with palm-
branches, and in the end was be-
headed, receiving the double palm of
virginity and martyrdom.
At Lauds a Commemoration is
made of St Dorothy. All from the
Common. Prayer, " O Lord, we pray
Thee, &c," (p. 574.)
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy Abbat Romuald, [buried
at Fabriano in Piceno, in the year
1027,] father of the monks of the
Camaldolese Institute, of whom men-
tion is made upon the 19th day of
June.
Upon the same 7 th day of Febru-
ary, were born into the better life —
In London, [in the fourth century,]
the blessed Augulus, Bishop of that
city, who ended his life by martyr-
dom, and so secured the everlasting
prize.1
In Phrygia, the holy martyr Adau-
cus. He was an Italian of noble
birth, and had been honoured by the
emperors with dignities of almost
every rank, and was still quaestor
when he gained the crown of mar-
tyrdom in defence of the faith, [in the
year 304, at Andandros, a town of
Phrygia.]
Likewise many other holy martyrs,
citizens of the same city, [including
the Prefect of the Treasury, the Mili-
tary Prefect, and the Senate,] who
followed with Adaucus. They were
all Christians and remained stead-
fast in the confession of the faith,
and the Emperor Galerius Maximian
caused them all to be burned with
fire.
At Heraclea, the holy martyr Theo-
dore. He was a trainer of the
soldiery, and in the reign of the
Emperor Licinius was beheaded after
suffering many torments, and so
passed away a conqueror to heaven,
[in the year 319.]
In Egypt, holy Moses, the ven-
erable Bishop of [the Saracens in
Arabia.] He first lived as a hermit
in the desert, but afterwards was
made Bishop at the desire of Mauvia,
Queen of the Saracens, converted
many of that fierce people to the faith,
and at length fell asleep in peace,
glorious for worthy works.
At Lucca, in Tuscany, [in the year
722,] holy Richard, Prince of the
1 The subject is obscure, and Alban Butler inclines to think that he was one of the victims of
the Diocletian persecution ; if so, he was a Roman or Romano-British bishop, and it is to be
remarked that in the text London is called by its Roman name of Augusta.
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
753
West Saxons in England, and father
of holy Winibald, Willibald, and
Walburg.
At Bologna, [in the year 430,] the
holy widow Juliana.
Vespers are of the following, from
the Chapter inclusive.
February 7.
&t Eomualtr, W(&\.
Double.
All ft -07)1 the Common Office for a
Confessor not a Bishop, {p. 531,) ex-
cept what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Prayer. O Lord, we beseech Thee,
&c, (p. 545.)
A Commemoration is made of St
Titus. Prayer as in his Office.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season. If it be in Lent they are
from the Common Office, viz. Ecclus.
xxxi. 8, " Blessed is the man, &c,"
and the two which follow, {p. 542.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
'"THE holy Abbat Romuald was the
son of one Sergius, of a noble
family of Ravenna. While he was
still very young, he went to a neigh-
bouring monastery at Classis to do
penance. While he was there he
heard a discourse by a monk, which
stirred him up strongly to aim at
godliness of living ; and he had after-
wards in the Church by night two
visions in which the blessed servant
of God Apollinaris foretold to him
that he should become a monk him-
self. He accordingly did so ; and
soon afterwards betook himself to one
Marinus, whose holy life and strict
discipline were then much noised
about in all the coasts of the Vene-
tians, that he might by his teaching
and guidance attain towards the hard
and lofty point of perfection.
Fifth Lesson.
T'HE more he was assailed by the
wiles of Satan and the unkind-
ness of men, the more did he exercise
himself in lowliness, with continual
fasting and prayer, and rejoice in
thinking of heavenly things, with
abundance of tears. And all the
while he bore so bright a face as
gladdened all who looked on him.
He was held in great honour by
princes and kings, and his counsel
moved many to leave the blandish-
ments of the world and withdraw to
the desert. He had such a burning
desire to obtain the crown of martyr-
dom that he set out for Pannonia on
purpose to seek it, but, falling into
sickness whenever he went forward
though growing strong again whenever
he drew back, he behoved to return
home.
Sixth Lesson.
POD worked miracles by him both
during his life and after his
death, and likewise gave him the
gift of prophecy. Like the Patriarch
Jacob, he saw a ladder reaching from
earth to heaven, and men in white
garments ascending and descending
upon it, in whom he marvellously
knew were represented the monks of
the Camaldolese Institute, of which he
was the founder. At the age of 120
years, of which he had spent 100 in
754
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
serving God in great hardness, he
passed into His Presence, in the year
of Salvation 1027. Five years after
his death his body was found in-
corrupt, and* laid in a magnificent
grave in the Church of his order at
Fabriano.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xix. 27, with
the Homily of the Ven. Bede, {p. 546.)
Prayer throughout the day as at
First Vespers.
The Second Vespers are of the fol-
lowing, from the Chapter inclusive.
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy Confessor John de la
Mata, founder of the Order of the
Most Holy Trinity for the Redemp-
tion of Captives, of whom mention
is made upon the 17th day of De-
cember, upon the which day he fell
asleep in the Lord, [in the year
1213.]
Upon the same 8th day of Febru-
ary, were born into the better life —
The holy Confessor Jerome Miani,
founder of the Congregation of Som-
ascha, whose name was enrolled
among those of the saints by Clement
XIII., and whose feast we keep upon
the 20th day of July.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Paul,
Lucius, and Cyriacus.
In the Lesser Armenia, the holy
martyrs Denis, ^milian, and Se-
bastian.
At Alexandria, under the Emperor
Decius, the holy martyr Cointhe.
The heathen took her and led her
before the idols to make her worship
them, and when she would not, they
tied her feet with chains and dragged
her through the streets of the city
until she was mangled to death, [in
the year 249.]
At Constantinople, the martyr monks
of the monastery of Dim, who were
slain in defence of the Catholic faith,
[in the year 485,] for that they brought
the letter of holy Pope Felix against
the [Patriarch] Acacius.
In Persia are commemorated those
holy martyrs who were put to death
in divers ways, [in the sixth century,]
for the Christian faith's sake, under
Cabades, King of Persia.
At Pavia, holy Juventius, Bishop of
that see, who laboured earnestly in
the Gospel, [in the second century.]
At Milan, [in the year 620,] the
holy Confessor Honoratus, Bishop of
that see.
At Verdun, in Gaul, [in the year
649,] holy Paul, Bishop of that see,
famous for the glory of his miracles.
At Muret, in the country of Limoges,
[in the year 11 24,] the holy Abbat
Stephen, founder of the Order of
Grandmont, famous for his graces
and miracles.
In the monastery of Vallombrosa,
[in the year 1089,] blessed Peter,
Cardinal - Bishop of Albano, of the
congregation of Vallombrosa, of the
Order of St Benedict. He was sur-
named the Fireproof because he
passed unhurt through fire.
February 8.
St 3o!jn' tie la JEata, Con*
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Confessor not a Bishop, (p. 531,) ex-
cept what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
These Vespers are of St Romuald,
up to the Chapter, exclusive.
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
755
Prayer throughout the Office.
f~~\ GOD, Who by a sign from heaven
^^^ didst choose Thy holy servant
John to be the founder of the Order
of the Most Holy Trinity for the
Ransom of Prisoners held in the
power of the Saracens, mercifully
grant unto us for his sake that we
may be delivered by Thine Almighty
power from all bonds and chains of
sin whether in our bodies or in our
souls. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, One God, world
without end. Amen.
A Commemoration is made of St
Romuald. Prayer as at his First
Vespers.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season. In Lent, the same as
yesterday.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
JOHN de la Mata, the founder of
the Order of the Most Holy
Trinity for the Ransom of Prisoners,
was born at Faucon, in Provence,
[upon Midsummer's Day, in the year
1 1 69,] and was the child of parents
equally distinguished for their rank
and their godly life. He went for
his education first to Aix and then
to Paris. At the University of Paris,
where he went through the course of
Divinity and took the degree of
Doctor, he became eminent for learn-
ing and virtue. For this reason the
Bishop of Paris ordained him Priest,
an honour from which his lowliness
caused him to shrink, in the hope
that he should induce him to remain
at Paris, and be a bright example
of wisdom and manners to the
students who resorted thither. He
offered up the Holy Sacrifice to God
for the first time in the private Chapel
of the Bishop, and in the presence of
that Prelate and divers other persons.
In the midst of the ceremony, a vision
from God appeared to John. There
appeared to him an angel, clad in
raiment white and glistering ; having
sewn on his breast a cross of red and
blue. His arms were crossed before
him, and his hands were upon the
heads of two slaves, one a Christian
and the other a Moor. And im-
mediately the man of God was in
the spirit, and knew that he was
called to the work of ransoming
bondsmen from the power of the
unbelievers.
Fifth Lesson.
THHAT he might set himself with
due forethought to the carrying
out of his work, he withdrew into a
certain desert, and there, by the will
of God, he found Felix de Valois, who
had already spent many years in that
place. With him he joined company,
and they passed three years together
in continual prayer, meditation, and
all spiritual exercises. It came to
pass, one day, when they were sitting
on the bank of a spring, that there
came to them a stag having between
his horns a cross of red and blue.
Felix cried out in wonder at that sight,
and John then told him of the vision
that had appeared to him when he
was saying his first Mass. Thence-
forth they gave themselves with re-
doubled fervour to prayer, and, being
three times warned in sleep, they
determined to go to Rome, and pray
the Pope to institute an Order for
the ransom of prisoners. They arrived
at the time of the election of Innocent
III., who received them courteously,
756
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
and entertained in his mind their
petition. While he was in considera-
tion, he went to the Lateran Cathedral,
on the second Feast of St Agnes, and
there, while Mass was being solemnly-
sung, at the moment of the elevation
of the Sacred Host, there appeared
to him an angel, clad in raiment
white and glistering, having sewn on
his breast a cross of red and blue,
and making as though he would free
prisoners. Thereupon the Pope
founded the Order, commanding that
it should be called the Order of the
Most Holy Trinity for the Ransom
of prisoners, and that they who pro-
fessed in it should be clad in white
raiment, having sewn on their breasts
a cross of red and blue.
Sixth Lesson.
'THE Order being thus established,
the holy Founders returned into
France, and built their first Convent
at Cerfroid, in the diocese of Meaux.
Felix remained in charge of this house,
and John went back to Rome with
several companions. To them In-
nocent gave the house, Church, and
hospital of St Thomas de Formis on
the Ccelian Mount, with great endow-
ments and property. Moreover he
gave them a letter of introduction to
Miramolin, King of Morocco, and they
began with bright hopes the work of
ransoming prisoners. John next be-
took himself to Spain, great part of
which was then in the hands of the
Saracens, and stirred up the hearts of
the kings, princes, and all the faithful
to have pity on slaves and the poor.
He built Convents, founded Hospitals,
and ransomed many bondsmen, to the
great gain of souls. At last he re-
turned to Rome, still busied in good
works, but worn out by unceasing toil,
and weakened by sickness. As he
drew near the end of his earthly
pilgrimage, his burning love for God
and for his neighbour suffered no
diminution. He called together his
brethren, and earnestly exhorted them
to go on with that work of ransom
which had been pointed out to them
from heaven, and then fell asleep in
the Lord, on the 2 1 st day of December,
12 1 3. His body was buried with
due honour in the Church of St
Thomas de Formis.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke xii. 35, with the
Homily of St Gregory, {p. 538.)
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy Confessor Cyril, Pope of
Alexandria, a most eminent champion
of the Catholic faith, and illustrious
for his teaching and holiness, of whom
mention is made upon the 28th day
of January, on the which day he fell
asleep in peace.
Upon the same 9th day of February,
were born into the better life —
At Alexandria, [in the year 249,]
the holy Virgin Apollonia. The per-
secutors under the Emperor Decius
first beat out all her teeth, then they
built and kindled a funeral fire and
threatened to burn her alive upon it
unless she would join them in uttering
sinful words. She thought a little
while within herself, and then the
fire of the Holy Ghost flaming up
within her she tore herself suddenly
out of the hands of those wicked men
and leapt of her own accord into the
fire which they had made ready, so
that the very actors in this cruelty
were awestruck to find a woman more
ready to die than were they to kill
her.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Alexander,
and thirty - eight others who were
crowned at the same time.
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
757
At Solis, in Cyprus, the holy
martyrs Ammonius and Alexander.
At Antioch, [in the year 260,] the
holy martyr Nicephorus, who received
his crown by being beheaded, under
the Emperor Valerian.
In Africa, in the castle of Lemele,
the holy Deacons Primus and Dona-
tus, who suffered martyrdom in de-
fending the altar in the church against
the Donatists, [sixth century.]
In the monastery of Fontanelle,
holy Ausbert, Bishop of Rouen, [in
the year 695.]
At Canosa, in Apulia, the holy
Confessor Sabinus, Bishop of that see,
[in the year 566.]
Vespers of the following from the
Chapter inclusive.
At Vespers a Commemoration is
made of the following: Antiphon,
Verse and Answer, from the Common
Office for a Virgin and Martyr, and
Prayer, " O God, Who amidst the
wondrous, &c," (p. 573.)
February 9.
&t Cjjrtl, Pope of $teanorta,
Confessor anti
tfje Cfjurcfj.
Double.
©octor of
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, {f>. 515,) ex-
cept the following.
Prayer throughout.
r\ GOD, Who didst make Thy
blessed Confessor and Bishop
Cyril to be an unconquered teacher
that the most blessed Virgin Mary is
Mother of God, grant unto us that
through his prayers we who believe
her to be Mother of God in very deed
may find safety under her motherly
VOL. I.
protection. Through the same our
Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
First Vespers as regards St Cyril
begin with the Chapter. Antiphon at
Song of the Blessed Virgin, " O right
excellent, &c." A Commemoration is
made of St John de la Mata, Prayer
from his Office, then in Lent of the
Week-day j and lastly of the holy
Virgin and tnartyr Apollonia. From
the Common Office for a Virgin and
Martyr, (p. 567,) and the Prayer, "O
God, Who amidst the wondrous, &c,"
(A 573-)
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture, according
to the Season. I?i Lent from Ecclus.
xxxix., {p. 547.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
T^HE praises of Cyril of Alexandria
have been celebrated not only
by one writer or another, but have
even been registered in the acts of
the (Ecumenical Councils of Ephesus
and Chalcedon. He was born of dis-
tinguished parents, and was the
nephew of Theophilus, Pope of
Alexandria. While he was still young
he displayed marks of his excellent
understanding. After giving a deep
study to letters and science he betook
himself to John, Bishop of Jerusalem,
to be perfected in the Christian faith.
After his return to Alexandria, and
the death of Theophilus, he was raised
to that see. In this office he kept
ever before his eyes the type of the
Shepherd of souls as it had been laid
down by the Apostle ; and by ever
adhering thereto deservedly earned
the glory of an holy Bishop.
2 B 2
758
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Fifth Lesson.
*y EAL for the salvation of souls was
kindled in him, and he under-
took all careA to keep in the faith and
in soundness of life the flock unto him
committed, and to preserve them from
the poisonous pastures of infidelity and
heresy ; hence, in accordance with the
laws, he caused the followers of
Novatus to be expelled from the city,
and those Jews to be punished who
had been induced by rage to plan a
massacre of the Christians. His
eminent care for the preservation of
the Catholic faith pure and undenled
shone forth especially in his controversy
against Nestorius, Patriarch of Con-
stantinople, who asserted that Jesus
Christ had been born of the Virgin
Mary as man only and not as God,
and that the Godhead had been be-
stowed upon Him because of His
merits. Cyril first attempted to con-
vert Nestorius, but when he found
this hopeless he denounced him to
the Supreme Pontiff the holy Celes-
tine.
Sixth Lesson.
A S delegate of Pope Celestine,
Cyril presided at the Council
of Ephesus where the Nestorian heresy
was condemned ; Nestorius deprived
of his see ; and the Catholic doctrine
as to the unity of Person in Christ and
the divine Motherhood of the glorious
Virgin Mary was laid down amid the
rejoicings of all the people, who
escorted the bishops to their lodgings
with a torch-light procession. For
this reason Nestorius and his followers
made Cyril the object of slanders,
insults, and persecutions which he
bore with profound patience, having
all his care for the purity of the faith,
and taking no heed to what the
heretics might say or try against him.
At length he died a holy death, in
the year of salvation 444 and of his
own papacy the 32nd. After vast
work for the Church of God, and
leaving behind him divers writings
directed either against heathens and
heretics or to the exposition of the
holy Scriptures and of Catholic
doctrine, the Supreme Pontiff Leo
XIII. extended to the Universal
Church the Office and Mass of this
most eminent champion of the
Catholic faith, and light of the
Eastern Church.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lesson from Matth. v. 1 3, with the
Homily of St Austin, {p. 549.) The
last Lesson is omitted to make room
in Lent for t/ie Homily of the Week-
day, or out of Lent for the
Ninth Lesson. {For St Apol-
lonia, &c.)
A POLLONIA was an aged virgin
of Alexandria, who, [in the year
of salvation 249,] in the reign of the
Emperor Decius, was brought before
the idols to worship them, but refused,
declaring that Christ Jesus is True
God, and that to Him worship is due.
The cruel executioners beat and pulled
out all her teeth, and threatened to
burn her alive if she would not deny
Christ. To whom she answered, that
for Christ JESUS' sake she was ready
to die. Being taken to the place of
execution she stood for a few moments
as if in doubt, and then, the fire of
the Holy Ghost burning up in her
heart, she broke from those that held
her, and leapt of her own accord into
the flames.1 Her body was quickly
consumed, and her soul departed pure
to obtain the eternal crown of martyr-
dom.
1 On this see Alban Butler, Feb. 9.
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
759
At Lauds in Lent a Commemor-
ation is made of the Week-day j then
in any case of St Apollonia, from
the Common Office, with the Prayer,
" O God, Who amidst the wondrous,
&c.,» (p. 573.)
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 10th day of February
were born into the better life —
At Monte Cassino, [in the year
543,] the holy Virgin Scholastica,
sister of the holy Abbat Benedict,
who saw her soul leave her body
and soar heavenward in a bodily
shape, like a dove.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Zoticus,
Irenaeus, Hyacinth, and Amantius, [all
in the year 304.]
At Rome likewise, [under Decius,]
upon the Lavican Way, ten holy
martyrs, all soldiers.
Also at Rome, [in the year 304,]
upon the Appian Way, the holy
Virgin and martyr Soteres, who, as
holy Ambrose writeth, was born of a
noble family, but for Christ's sake
despised the consular and prefectural
dignities of her race. When she was
commanded to offer sacrifice and
would not, she was long and heavily
buffeted, and when she had over-
come other punishments also, she
was smitten with the sword and so
departed joyfully hence, to be ever
with Christ the Bridegroom.
In Campania, the holy Confessor
Silvan, Bishop of [Terracine, in the
fourth or fifth century.]
At Mala-Vallis, in the country of
Sienna, [in the year 11 57,] the holy
hermit William.
At Rouen, [in the year 704,] the
holy Virgin Austre-berta, famous for
miracles.
Vespers are of the followiiig from
the Chapter inclusive.
P'EBRUARY I O.
St Srijolastica, Uirgttu1
Double.
All from the Common Office for
Virgins, {p. 567,) except what is other-
wise giveti here.
Prayer throughout the Office.
C\ GOD, Who, to show the way of
the undefiled, wast pleased that
the soul of Thy blessed Virgin
Scholastica should fly to heaven in a
bodily shape, like a dove, mercifully
grant unto us Thy servants, for her
sake, and at her petition, worthily to
attain unto Thine everlasting joy.
Through our Lord JESUS Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end. Amen.
hi Lent a Commemoration is made
of the Week-day.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture, according to
the Season. In Lent from 1 Cor. vii.
25, (p. 568.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Second
Book of the Dialogues of Pope St
Gregory [the Great.] (Ch. 33.)
'THE worshipful Scholastica, the
sister of our Father Benedict,
was hallowed unto the Lord Almighty
from a child. Her custom was to
come to see her brother once every
year. And when she came, the man
of God went down unto her, not far
1 Died circa A.D. 543.
760
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
from the gate, but, as it were, within
the borders of his monastery. And
there was a day when she came, as
her custom was, and her worshipful
brother went down to her, and his
disciples with him. Then they passed
the whole day together, praising God,
and speaking one to the other of spi-
ritual things. And when the night
came, they brake bread together.
And while they were yet at table, and
conversed together on spiritual things,
the hour was late. Then the holy
woman his sister besought him, say-
ing : " Leave me not, I pray thee,
this night, but let us speak even until
morning of the gladness of the eternal
life." He answered her: "What is
it that thou sayest, my sister ? I can
by no means remain out of my cell."
Now the firmament was so clear that
there were no clouds in the sky. Then
the holy nun, when she had heard
the words of her brother, that he
would not abide with her, clasped
her hands on the table, and laid her
face on her hands, and besought the
Lord Almighty. And it came to
pass that when she lifted up her head
from the table, there were great
thunderings and lightnings, and a
flood of rain, insomuch that neither
the worshipful Benedict nor the breth-
ren that were with him could move as
much as a foot over the threshold of
the place where they sat.
Fifth Lesson.
"VT OW when the holy woman laid
her head in her hands upon the
table, she wept bitterly, and as she
wept, the clearness of the sky was
turned to a tempest. As she prayed,
immediately the flood followed. And
the time was so, that she lifted up her
head when it thundered, and when
she had lifted up her head, the rain
came. When the man of God saw
that he could not return to his monas-
tery, because of the lightnings, and
thunderings, and the great rain, he
was sorrowful and grieved, saying :
"Almighty God forgive thee, my
sister ; what is this that thou hast
done ? " She answered him : " Be-
hold, I besought thee, and thou
wouldest not hear ; I besought my
God, and He hath heard me ; if,
therefore, thou wilt, go forth, leave
me alone, and go thy way to thy
monastery." But he could not, and
so he tarried in the same place, not
willingly, but of necessity. And so
it came to pass that they slept not
all that night, but fed one another
with discourse on spiritual things.
Sixth Lesson.
AND when the morning was come,
the worshipful woman arose, and
went unto her own cell, and the man
of God went back to his monastery.
And, behold, after three days he was
sitting in his cell, and he lifted up his
eyes to heaven, and saw the soul of his
sister, delivered from the body, fly to
heaven in a bodily shape like a dove.
Wherefore he rejoiced because of the
glory that was revealed in her, and
gave thanks to Almighty God in
hymns and praises, and made known
to the brethren that she was dead.
He commanded them also to go and
take up her body, and bring it to his
monastery, and lay it in the grave
which he had made ready for himself.
Whereby it came to pass that they
twain who had ever been of one
mind in the Lord, even in death were
not divided.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xxv. 1, with
the Homily of St Gregory, {p. 571.)
In Lent the last is omitted to leave
room for the Homily of the Week-day,
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
76l
of which also a Commemoration is
made at Lauds.
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy Confessor Gilbert, founder
of the Order of Sempringham, of
whom mention hath been made upon
the 4th day of this present month
of February.
Upon the same 1 1 th day of Febru-
ary, were born into the better life —
In Africa, [in the year 304,] the
holy martyrs the Priest Saturninus,
Dativus, Felix, Ampelius, and their
Companions, who were taken by the
soldiers in the persecution under the
Emperor Diocletian when they came
together in one, as the use is, to
hold the Lord's Supper, and suffered
under the proconsul Anolinus.
In Numidia are commemorated
many holy martyrs who were ar-
rested, [in the year 303 or 304,]
in the persecution aforesaid, and for
as much as they would not obey
the edict of the Emperor to give
up the Scriptures of God, they were
put to grievous torments and slain.
At Adrianople, the holy martyrs
Lucius, Bishop [of Adrianople,] and
his Companions. He suffered much
from the Arians under the Emperor
Constantius, and finished his testi-
mony in chains, [in the year 348.]
The others were some of the nobler
of the citizens who were condemned
to death by Count Philagrius be-
cause they refused to receive the
Arians who had been then con-
demned in the Council of Sardica.
At Lyons, [in the year 608,] the
holy martyr Desiderius, Bishop of
Vienne, [in Gaul.]
At Ravenna, [about the year 170,]
the holy Confessor Calocerus, Bishop
of that see.
At Milan, [in the year 449,] the
holy Lazarus, Bishop of that see.
At Capua, [in the year 450,] holy
Castrensis, Bishop of that see.
At the village of Landon, [in the
year 507,] holy Severinus, Abbot of
the monastery of St Maurice, at
whose prayers the servant of God,
King Clovis, was healed of a long
malady.
In Egypt, [about the middle of the
fourth century,] the holy monk Jonah,
renowned for his graces.
At Second Vespers a Commemora-
tion is made of the followmg from
the Common Office, (p. 531,) with
the Prayer, " O Lord, mercifully hear,
&c," {p. 540.) Then in Lent of the
Week-day.
February i i.
&t ffitloert, Confessor.
Semi-double.
All from the Common Office for
a Confessor not a Bishop, (p. 531,)
except the following. Prayer through-
out, " O Lord, mercifully hear, &c,"
(A 54o.)
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season. In Lent from Ecclus.
xxxi. 8, {p. 542.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fotirth Lesson.
^ILBERT was born of a noble
^■^ family at Sempringham, in
Lincolnshire. In his youth he gave
himself to the study of letters, but
afterwards entirely to works of god-
liness, especially under a chaste dis-
cipline, and with great fruit, to the
teaching of little boys and girls in
the faith and in the fear and love
762
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
of God. His father was patron of
the parishes of Sempringham and
Terington, and in the exercise of
that right presented him to them.
By the efficacy of his words and
the power of his example, he so
stirred up his parishioners to seek
after Christian perfection, that many
of them lived in the world the lives
of monks, and their careful exercise
of all virtues made it everywhere
manifest to whose flock they be-
longed. After he was ordained
priest by Alexander, Bishop of Lin-
coln, the light of Gilbert's holiness
shed its rays wider and wider. He
shrank from riches and honours, re-
fused the Archdeaconry of the Church
of Lincoln, and was fain to be a door-
keeper in the house of his Lord.
Fifth Lesson.
AMONG other works of charity,
"^^ that which most chiefly oc-
cupied him was to separate virgins
from the world and to consecrate
them to the love of God, especially
if they were poor and in danger ;
for these he built a dwelling hard
by the church of Sempringham, and
thus laid the first foundations of
his order. Many persons of both
sexes afterwards came to him, and
under the approbation of blessed
Eugene III. and of other Supreme
Pontiffs he spread his order mar-
vellously, and built monasteries
throughout all England. To the
men he gave the rule of St Austin,
and to the women that of St Bene-
dict, with the addition of some con-
stitutions to meet their special voca-
tion. The man of God endured many
calumnies and persecutions, partly
from his own, and partly from out-
siders ; but God gave him the vic-
tory, and he conquered everywhere
and always. His whole order was
in the greatest jeopardy in the reign
of Henry II., when this holy man
was accused of sending subsidies to
holy Thomas of Canterbury while the
said Thomas was in exile. The
judges were willing to let him and
his go free if only they would de-
clare themselves not guilty, but the
man of God was willing to suffer
rather than describe as a crime a
thing which he had indeed not done,
but which to his thinking would have
been rather a duty and a good work ;
but God softened the mind of the
king, and Gilbert was delivered.
Sixth Lesson.
X_T E practised great self-control and
hardness of living. He never
ate meat unless he were seriously
ill, and in Lent he abstained from
fish also. He always wore haircloth.
He never slept in a bed. He gave
a great part of the night to prayer,
and to meditation upon things of
God. He never willingly either
heard or said anything which did
not tend to procure glory for God
and salvation for souls. He was an
hundred years of age when he was
recalled from exile to our father-
land, which is in heaven, upon the
3rd day of February, in the year of
salvation 11 90. At that time the
order which he had instituted counted
seven hundred monks, and fifteen
hundred sacred virgins in the dif-
ferent monasteries. Gilbert worked
many wonders, both in his life and
after his death, upon the due proof of
which the Supreme Pontiff Innocent
III. solemnly enrolled his name among
those of the saints in the year 1202.
Lesson from Luke xii. 32, with the
Homily of the Venerable Bede, {p.
544.) In Lent the Ninth Lesson is
read with the Eighth to make room
for the Ho)>iily of the Week-day, which
is also commemorated at Lauds.
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
763
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep in England
the feast of the holy Confessor Bene-
dict Biscop, founder and Abbat of the
monastery of Jarrow-upon-Tyne, of
whom mention hath been made upon
the 1 2th day of January.
Upon the same 12th day of Feb-
ruary, were born into the better life —
At Barcelona, in Spain, the holy
Virgin Eulalia, who received a glorious
crown in the time of the Emperor
Diocletian. She suffered racking,
tearing with hooks, and scorching
with fire, and was finally crucified,
[in the year 304.]
In Africa, the holy soldier and mar-
tyr Damian.
At Carthage, the holy martyrs
Modestus and Julian.
At Benevento, the holy martyr
Modestus the Levite.
At Alexandria, the holy children
Modestus and Ammonius.
At Constantinople, [in the year
381,] holy Meletius, Patriarch of
Antioch, who passed away to be
ever with the Lord, when he was in
exile, which he oftentimes suffered
for the Catholic faith's sake. Holy
John Chrysostom and Gregory of
Nyssa have greatly praised him.
At Constantinople, [in the year
895,] in the time of the Emperor
Leo VI., holy Anthony, Bishop [of
Constantinople.]
At Verona, the holy Confessor Gau-
dentius, Bishop of that see.
Vespers of the following.
February 12.
S>t Benedict Biscop, &frtat.
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Confessor not a Bishop, {p. 531,) ex-
cept the following.
Prayer throughout.
f~\ GOD, by the gift of Whose grace
^^^ the blessed Abbat Benedict, in
order that he might be perfect, left all
things. Grant unto all them which
enter upon the path of Gospel perfec-
tion that they may neither look behind
them nor stand still by the way, but
may run on unto Thee without
stumbling, and from Thee receive life
eternal. Through our Lord JESUS
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
At First Vespers a Commemoration
is made of the preceding.
All from the Common Office, {p.
542,) with the Prayer, " O Lord,
mercifully hear, &c," {p. 540,) and
in Lent of the Week-day.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season. In Lent from Wisdom
iv. 7, {p> 532.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
HTHE surname of this Benedict was
Biscop ; he was of noble birth,
and was a servant of Osway, King of
the Northumbrians. When he was
about twenty-five years of age he went
to Rome, and visited the shrines of
the blessed Apostles. After his return
home he ceased not to preach, as well
as to love and to honour the models
of the ecclesiastical life. He returned
again to Rome in the time of holy
Pope Vitelian, and after some months
left it again and went to the island of
Lerius. There he received the tonsure
and took the monastic vows, but after
two years the love of the prince of the
764
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Apostles drew him again to visit the
city which is hallowed by his grave.
At that time the Roman Pontiff had
chosen holy Theodore to be sent as
Archbishop vto rule the Church of
Canterbury, and knowing Benedict to
be wise, hard working, and devout, he
ordained him and sent him with him.
Fifth Lesson.
AITHEN they came to Canterbury
Theodore ascended the archi-
episcopal throne, and Benedict received
the government of the monastery of St
Peter. After a while Hadrian was
made Abbat, and in two years Bene-
dict undertook another journey to
Rome, and brought back books of
theology which he had either bought
or received as gifts. On his return
home he betook himself to Egfrid,
King of the Northumbrians, who made
him an ample gift of ground at Wear-
mouth, and desired him there to build
a monastery. After founding this
monastery, Benedict obtained masons
from Gaul to build him a stone church,
and glass-workers such as had been
until then unknown in England to
glaze the windows. Some things
which he could not obtain in Gaul
he again went to Rome and brought
back with him. Pope Agatho com-
manded John, precentor of the Church
of St Peter, to go with him in order
to teach singing after the Roman
manner. Benedict carried with him
countless gifts with which he had been
enriched, a great number of books and
images and relics of the Saints.
Sixth Lesson.
C~\& his return home Benedict, by
^^^ another benefaction of the same
King Egfrid, founded another monas-
tery at Jarrow - upon - Tyne. This
monastery was placed under the in-
vocation of the holy Apostle Paul, and
the monks were fain to have Benedict
for Abbat. Not long afterwards he
lost his health, and suffered for three
years. During this time he oftentimes
impressed upon the brethren who came
to see him the necessity of keeping
the rule which he had laid down. He
commanded that the excellent and
abundant library which he had brought
from Rome as a needful equipment
for his church should be carefully kept
together and not permitted through
carelessness to be either damaged
or scattered. But what he repeated
most often to the monks was that
in electing an Abbat they should
look less to birth than to soundness
of life and teaching. He fell asleep
in the Lord upon the 1 2th day of
January in the year of Christ 690,
and the 16th since the foundation
of his monastery. He was buried
in the church of the blessed Apostle
Peter, that as he had loved him in
life so he might not be parted from
his altar in death. Benedict is men-
tioned in the Roman Martyrology
upon the 12th day of January, being
that of his death.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from the Common of Abbat s,
(p. 545,) with the Homily of St
Jerome on Matt. xix. 27, (J>. 471.) In
Lent the last is omitted or read along
with the Eighth to leave room for
the Homily of the Week-day, which
is also commemorated at Lauds.
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast of
the Seven holy Founders of the Order
of Servants of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, who after great hardship of life,
famous for works and wonders, died
a death precious in the sight of the
Lord, upon Monte Senario, in Tus-
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
765
cany. The same spirit of brotherhood
had made them one in life, the vener-
ation of the people had not divided
them in death, and Leo XIII. enrolled
their names together among those of
the Saints.
Upon the same 1 3th day of Feb-
ruary, were born into the better
life—
At Antioch, the holy prophet Ag-
abus, [first century,] of whom blessed
Luke writeth in the Acts of the
Apostles.
At Ravenna, the holy women the
Virgin Fusca, and Maura * her foster-
mother, who after suffering many
things under the President Quinctian,
by order of the Emperor Decius,
were run through with the sword,
and so finished their testimony, [third
century.]
At Melitina, in Armenia, the holy
martyr Polyeuctus, who suffered many
things in the persecution under the
Emperor Decius, and received the
crown of martyrdom, [in the year
259-]
At Lyons, the holy martyr Julian.
At Todi, [under Diocletian,] the
holy martyr Benignus.
At Rome, [in the year 731,] the
holy Pope Gregory II. ; who sharply
withstood the ungodliness of the
Emperor Leo the I saurian, and who
sent holy Boniface into Germany to
preach the Gospel there.
At Angers, holy Lucinius, Bishop
of that city, a man of reverend
holiness.
At Lyons, [about the year 512,]
the holy Confessor Stephen, Bishop of
that see.
At Riete, [sixth century,] the holy
Abbat Stephen, a man of wonderful
patience, at whose passing away the
presence of the holy angels, as is
stated by blessed Pope Gregory, was
visible.
At Prati, in Tuscany, Catharine de
Ricci, a Virgin of Florence, of the
Order of Preachers, illustrious in the
number of her heavenly gifts, whom
Pope Benedict XIV. added to the
roll of Holy Virgins. She died full
of graces and merit on the 2nd of
February, but her Feast is celebrated
to-day.
Vespers of the following, from the
Chapter inclusive.
February 13.
Eije Seben fjolg jfauntrers of
tfje Sertrite ©rtier.
Double.
All from the Common Office of a
Confessor not a Bishop, {p. 53 !>)
except the following.
Prayer throughout.
[ ORD Jesus Christ, Who, that
Thou mightest recall to mind the
woes of Thy most holy Mother, didst
through the Seven blessed Fathers
make Thy Church herself the mother
of a new household of her servants,
Grant unto us in mercy that we may
so share their tears as to share their
blessedness also. Who livest and
reignest with God the Father, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
FIRST VESPERS.
These, as regards the Seven
Founders, begin with the Chapter
(1 Peter iv. 13), "Dearly beloved
1 These two names, which might be translated mulatta and negress, are so very singular
as to inspire the conjecture that they are not proper names but descriptive epithets of two
sufferers whose names have been lost.
766
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
brethren, rejoice, inasmuch as you
are partakers of Christ's sufferings ;
that, when His glory shall be revealed,
ye may be glad also with exceeding
joy." ' <
Hymn.1
"\A7'HEN war was raging, and the town
Was red with blood of brother bands,
Our Virgin Mother bowed her down
With bounteous hands.
Seven faithful sons she bid to share
Her dolours, all the shame and loss,
Which Jesus suffered and she bare
Beneath His Cross.
Soon as their Lady called, as nought
They deemed their palaces and wealth,
The mountains, desert places, sought
Far off, by stealth.
For others' sins the scourge they plied
As they the way of penance trod,
By prayers and tears they turned aside
The wrath of God.
Token of love the Mother's hand
Gave to her sons their garb of woe,
Sanctioned the pious work they planned
With wondrous show.
The vine to spread their honours wide
Her shoots in winter greenly flung;
"See, those are Mary's servants," cried
The infant tongue.
Now to the Father thanks and praise ;
To Thee, O Son, the same we send ;
To Thee, O Spirit, through all days,
World without end. Amen.
Verse. These were merciful men
whose righteousness hath not been
forgotten.
Answer. Their seed and their glory
shall not be blotted out.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. O Virgin Mary, thy praise
shall not depart from the mouths of
men which shall remember the power
! Translation by Mr C. Kegan Paul, extracted from the Hymnal of the Servite Church in
London.
of the Lord for ever, because thou
hast not spared thy life.
Commemoration of the preceding,
from the Common, Prayer from his
Office, and in Lent of the week-day.
MATTINS.
Hymn.2
HTHE Fathers lived a life in shade,
Yet seemed to Peter's vision seven
White glistening lilies, for the Maid,
The Queen of Heaven.
Through city street, o'er hills and plains,
Upborne by Love Divine, they trod,
To fix in men the Mother's pains,
The swords of God.
This was the power in which they spoke
Till each wild passion owned their sway :
They cheered the sad, from sinners broke
Their chains away.
Till at the last the Virgin Queen
Led them to mansions in the sky,
Mansions where garlands aye are green,
And never die.
May they hear cries of all who pray,
And see how hard our earthly strife ;
Aiding us onward to the day
When all is life.
Now to the Father thanks and praise ;
To Thee, O Son, the same we send ;
To Thee, Great Spirit, through all days,.
World without end. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according ta
the Season. Ln Lent from Ecclus.
xliv. i, {p. 529.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
T N the thirteenth century, when the
more cultured parts of Italy were
rent by the dread dissension of the
- Translation kindly made by Mr C. Kegan Paul.
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
767
Emperor Frederick the Second and
by bloody civil wars, the mercy of
God set forth divers men eminent for
holiness, and among others raised
up seven nobles of Florence, who
were bound one to another in charity
and gave an illustrious example of
brotherly love. Their names were
Bonfiglio Monaldi, Bonajuncta Manetti,
Manetto Antalli, Amadeo de' Amidei,
Uguccio de' Uguccioni, Sosteneo de'
Sostenei, and Alexis de' Falconieri.
Upon the holiday of the Assumption
of the Virgin into heaven in the year
1233 they were praying in the oratory
of a guild called the Guild of Praise,
when the same Mother of God ap-
peared to each one of them, and
bade them embrace a life of greater
holiness and perfection. These seven
men discussed the matter with the
Bishop of Florence, and then, con-
sidering neither the nobility of their
birth nor their wealth, and clad in
haircloth under vile and worn - out
garments, withdrew into a little house
in the country upon the 8 th day of
September, that they might begin
their holier life upon the same day
whereon the Mother of God herself
had by her birth begun her life of
holiness upon earth.
Fifth Lesson.
r^Oiy showed by a miracle how
^^ acceptable in His sight should
be their manner of life, for a short
while after, when these seven men
were begging alms from door to door
through the city of Florence, it came
to pass that some children, among
whom was holy Philip Benizi, who
had then scarcely entered the fifth
month of his age, called them blessed
Mary's servants, by the which name
they were called ever after. To avoid
meeting people, and in the desire to
be alone, they all withdrew together
to the solitude of Monte Senario, and
there began a kind of heavenly life.
They lived in caves and upon herbs
and water only, while they wore out
their bodies with watching and other
hardships, while they contemplated
unweariedly the sufferings of Christ
and the woes of His most sorrowful
Mother. One Good Friday, when
their thoughts were fixed thereon more
than ever, the Blessed Virgin appeared
to them twice, and showed them her
garments of mourning as those wherein
they should clothe themselves. She
bade them know that she would take
it right well that they should raise up
in the Church a new order to recall
the memory of the sorrows which she
bore beneath the Cross of the Lord.
Holy Peter, the illustrious martyr of
the Order of Friars Preachers, learnt
this not only from his familiar converse
with these holy men, but also from a
special vision of the Mother of God,
and it was on his incitement that they
founded the regular Order called that
of the Servites, or servants of the
blessed Virgin, the which Order was
afterward approved by the Supreme
Pontiff Innocent IV. These holy
men, when they had gathered to
themselves some companions, began
to go through the cities and towns
of Italy, and especially of Tuscany,
everywhere preaching Christ crucified,
stilling contests among the citizens,
and calling back almost countless
backsliders into the path of grace.
Neither did they make Italy only the
field of their Gospel labours, but
also France, Germany, and Poland.
They passed away to be ever with
the Lord when they had spread far
and wide a sweet savour of Christ,
and were famous also for the glory
of signs and wonders. As one love
of brotherhood and of the monastic
life had joined them together upon
earth, so one grave held their dead
768
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
bodies, and one honour was paid
them by the people. For this reason
the Supreme Pontiffs Clement XI.
and Benedict XIII. confirmed the
honour whicfl had for centuries been
paid to them individually, and Leo
XIII., after proof of their miracles
which had been wrought by God on
the common invocation of these
saints, after their veneration had
been sanctioned in the jubilee year
of his priesthood, decreed to them
the honours paid to Saints, and
ordered that their memory should
every year be kept throughout the
universal Church with an office and
Mass.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xix. 27, with
the Homily of Stferome, (p. 471.) In
Lent the last is omitted to make room
for the Hotnily of the Week-day.
Lauds, Chapter from First Vespers.
Hymn.
TDY Mary's inspiration led,
A sevenfold offspring comes to light ;
At Mary's call away they sped
To Mount Senario's rugged height.
What fruits of grace the earth shall bear
When they have sown their seed divine !
Christ's vine shall bud with clusters rare,
Empurpled with the ruddy wine.
A holy death to heaven speeds
The souls with virtue's glory crowned ;
When Mary for her servants pleads,
Heaven's blessed portals they have found.
O happy souls who now obtain
The Kingdom, and the sceptre bear,
Look down on us who still remain
Where Satan spreads his subtle snare.
Therefore on bended knee we pray,
For sake of Mary's bitter grief;
Chase darkness from our mind away,
And give our troubled hearts relief.
And Thou, O Trinity Divine !
Confirm us in Thy Holy Grace !
That as we may our hearts incline
To walk in these thy servants' ways. Amen.
Verse. May their memory be
blessed.
Answer. And let their bones
flourish again out of their place.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Behold how good and how pleasant
it is for brethren to dwell together
in unity.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 14th day of February,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, upon the Flaminian Way,
the blessed martyr Valentine, a Priest,
who after much healing and teaching
was cudgelled and beheaded under
Claudius Caesar, [in the year 268.]
Likewise at Rome, the holy martyrs
Vitalis, Felicula, and Zeno.
At Teramo, [in Umbria, in the year
273,] the holy martyr Valentine,
Bishop of that see. He was heavily
flogged and committed to jail, but as
he would not yield he was thrown out
of the prison in the silence of mid-
night and beheaded by command of
Placidus, Prefect of the city.
There likewise, [in the year 273,]
the holy martyrs Proculus, Ephebus,
and Apollonius, who were watching
by the body of holy Valentine when
they were apprehended by order of
Leontius, the consular, and slain with
the sword.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs
Bassus, Anthony, and Protolicus, who
were drowned in the sea.
Likewise at Alexandria, the Priest
Cyrion, Bassian the Reader, Agatho
the Exorcist, and Moses, who were
all burnt with fire and passed away
to heaven.
Also likewise at Alexandria, the
holy martyrs Denis and Ammonius,
who were beheaded.
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
769
At Ravenna, the holy Confessor
Eleuchadius, Bishop of that see.
In Bithynia, [in the year 470,] the
holy Abbat Auxentius.
At Sorrento, the holy Abbat
Antonino. He was in the monastery
of Monte Cassino when it was des-
troyed by the Lombards, and he went
thence to a solitude hard by the city
of Sorrento, and there [in the year
830,] fell asleep in the Lord, famed
for holiness. His body is daily re-
markable for many miracles, most
chiefly in the delivery of them that
are vexed by evil spirits.
Chapter at Terce, as at First
Vespers. Second Vespers the same as
the First, except the
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin, Ecclus. xlvi. 15. Their name
endureth for ever, enduring unto their
sons, the glory of holy men.
In Lent a Cotnmemoration is made
of the Week-day, then in any case a
Commemoration is made of the follow-
ing from the Cofnmon Office, (p. 482,)
with the Prayer from his Office.
February 14.
St Ualeittine, priest antr
JHartgr*
Simple.
In Lent this Office is not observed,
but a Commemoration only is made of
Vespers and Lauds without the last
Lesson at Mattins.
All from the Common Office for Sim-
ple Feasts of One Martyr, {p. 496),
except the following.
Prayer throughout.
f*RANT, we beseech Thee, O Al-
^-J mighty God, that we who keep
the birthday of Thy blessed Martyr
Valentine may be delivered by his
prayers from all the ills that hang over
us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ
Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth
with Thee, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Ame7i.
MATTINS.
The First and Second Lessons are
from Scripture according to the Sea-
son, the Third being omitted, or read
as one with the Second. The Third
Lesson is from the Sermons of St
Austin, "The illustrious day, &c,"
(A 486.)
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 15 th day of February,
were born into the better life —
At Brescia, the holy martyrs
Faustinus and Jovita, who under the
Emperor Hadrian, after many glorious
contendings for Christ's faith, received
by martyrdom a crown of victory,
[about the year 122.]
At Rome, the holy martyr Crato,
[the Orator,] who was baptized by
blessed Valentine, Bishop [of Terni,
in Umbria,] along with his wife and
his whole house ; and no long while
after, he and they together attained
unto martyrdom, [in the year 273.]
At Terni, [in the year 270,] the
holy Virgin and martyr Agapis.
Also the holy martyrs Saturninus,
Castulus, Magnus, and Lucius.
At Vaison, in Gaul, holy Quinidius,
Bishop of that see, whose death, [in
the year 578,] how precious it was in
the sight of the Lord miracles do
oftentimes witness.
At Capua, [in the year 695,] the
holy Confessor Decorosus, Bishop of
that city.
In the province of Valeria, [in the
sixth century,] the holy Priest Severus,
of whom blessed Gregory writeth that
by his tears he recalled a dead man
to life.
7/0
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
At Antioch, the holy Deacon Joseph.
In Auvergne, [in the sixth century,]
the holy Virgin Georgia.
v
February 15.
Cije $?ols Jftartgrs, jFaustmug
anti Sobtta*
Simple.
In Lent this Office is not observed,
but a Commemoration only is made at
Vespers and Lauds without the last
Lesson at Mattins.
All from the Common Office for
Simple Feasts of Many Martyrs, {p.
513,) except what is otherwise given
here.
Prayer throughout the Office. O
God, Who year by year, &c, (p.
508.)
MATTINS.
The First and Second Lessons are
from Scripture according to the Sea-
son, the Third being omitted, or read
as one with the Second.
tormented with fire. Being both still
alive, they were brought to Milan,
without their chains having ever been
taken off". At Milan they were tor-
tured again with every invention of
cruelty that could be devised. Never-
theless the great power of their faith
made them more than conquerors,
shining even as gold tried in the
furnace. From Milan they were
brought to Rome, where they were
confirmed by Pope Evaristus, and
where they were put to the torture
again with extreme barbarity. They
were afterwards shown in public at
Naples, where the tormentors dis-
played their skill in divers ways upon
them. Here they were thrown chained
into the sea, but the angels delivered
them. Their stations of suffering, by
their God-like patience, and the won-
derful Power displayed in them, had
now turned many souls to Jesus. In
the end they were carried back to
Brescia, and, when Hadrian took the
empire, they were put to death by the
axe at that place.1 The crown of mar-
tyrdom which they won is glorious.
Second Responsory.
Theirs is a brotherhood indeed, &c,
(A 506.)
Third Lesson.
pAUSTINUS and Jovita were bro-
thers, born of a noble family at
Brescia. While Trajan's persecution
was raging, they were taken about
in chains from one city of Italy to
another, and exhibited in torture in
each. This cruelty utterly failed to
silence their confession of Christ,
Whom they preached by their suffer-
ings in every place where they were
shown. They were afterwards kept
for a long time at Brescia, where they
were exhibited with wild beasts, and
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 16th day of February,
were born into the better life —
Blessed Onesimus, of whom the
holy Apostle Paul writeth unto
Philemon ; and whom also he or-
dained Bishop of Ephesus after holy
Timothy, and committed unto him
the preaching of the word. In the
end he was brought to Rome in
chains, and there stoned to death for
Christ's faith's sake. His body was
first buried there, but was thence
taken to the place where he had been
ordained bishop.
On the same day is commemorated
at Camae in Campania the translation
of the holy Virgin and martyr Juliana.
3 About A.D. 121.
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
771
At Nicomedia, under the Emperor
Maximian, she was cruelly beaten by
her own father Africanus, then put
to divers torments by the Prefect
Evilasius, whom she refused to marry,
and afterwards cast into prison, where
she fought visibly with the devil : she
overcame fire and boiling water, and
at length finished her martyrdom by
being beheaded, [in the year 299.]
On the same day, were also born
into the better life —
In Egypt, the holy martyr Julian,
and five thousand others, [in the year
3°9-]
At Caesarea, in Palestine, the holy
Egyptian martyrs Elijah, Jeremiah,
Isaiah, Samuel, and Daniel. They
went of their own accord to Cilicia
to minister to the Confessors who had
been condemned to penal servitude
in the mines ; when they were return-
ing thence, they were apprehended,
and most cruelly tortured by the Pre-
sident Firmilian under the Emperor
Galerius Maximian, and in the end
were beheaded, [in the year 309.]
After whom holy Porphyry, the
servant of the martyr Pamphilus, and
holy Seleucus the Cappadocian, who
had oftentimes contended and always
been conquerors, were put to the
torture again, and [in the year 309]
received their crowns — Porphyry by
fire, and Seleucus by the sword.
At Arezzo, in Tuscany, [in the year
1276,] the blessed Pope Gregory X. ;
he was a man of Piacenza, and was
raised to the Supreme Pontificate
from the arch-deaconry [of Liege.]
He held the Second Council of Lyons,
received the Greeks into the unity of
the faith, healed the dissensions of
Christendom, set forward the recovery
of the Holy Land, and governed the
Church in holiness.
At Brescia, [in the year 350,] the
holy Confessor Faustinus, Bishop of
that see.
February 16.
MARTYROLOGY. ■
Upon the 17th day of February,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy martyr Faustinus,
and forty-four others, who followed
him to his crown.
In Persia, [in the year 251,] holy
Polychronius, Bishop of Babylon, who
in the persecution of Decius had his
mouth broken with stones, and then
with his hands stretched out and his
eyes lifted up to heaven, gave up the
ghost.
At Concordia, [in the year 303,]
the holy martyrs Donatus, Secun-
dianus, and Romulus, together with
eighty-six others, who were partakers
in their crown.
At Caesarea, in Palestine, [in the
year 309,] holy Theodulus the Elder,
of the household of the President
Firmilian. He was stirred up by
the example of the martyrs stead-
fastly to confess Christ, and being
himself crucified gained by a noble
victory the palm of martyrdom.
There also the holy martyr Julian
the Cappadocian. He kissed the
bodies of the slaughtered martyrs,
and was therefore accused of Christ-
ianity, brought before the President,
and burnt on a slow fire.
In the country of Tervan, holy
Silvin, Bishop of Toulouse.
In Ireland, [in the middle of the
sixth century,] the holy Priest and
Confessor Fintan, [of the race of
whom was Brigid ; he was Abbat
of Cluain-ed-nech in Leinster, and
was called chief head of the monks
of Ireland.]
At Florence, [at the end of the
thirteenth century,] the blessed Con-
fessor Alexis de' Falconieri, one of
the seven founders of the Order of
Servants of the blessed Virgin Mary.
He died a blessed death in the hun-
772
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
dred and tenth year of his life,
strengthened by the presence of
Christ Jesus and of the angels.
v
FEBRUARY I 7.
Upon the 18th day of February,
were born into the better life —
At Jerusalem, the blessed martyr
Simeon, Bishop of that holy city
[from the year 46 to the year 107.]
This is he of whom it is recorded
that he was the son of Cleophas
and the kinsman of the Saviour accord-
ing to the flesh. He was ordained
Bishop of Jerusalem next after James,
the brother of the Lord. In the per-
secution under Trajan he was put to
many torments and suffered martyr-
dom, and the judge and all men
marvelled to see with how great
boldness and firmness he endured
the grievous torment of the cross at
his great age, for he was an hundred
and twenty years old.
At Ostia, the holy brethren Maxi-
mus and Claudius, and Praeperdigna.
the wife of Claudius, and their two
sons, Alexander and Cutias, all mar-
tyrs, [in the year 295.] They were
a very noble race, and by command
of the Emperor Diocletian they were
arrested and sent into exile, then they
were consumed with fire, and so offered
a sacrifice of sweet savour unto God
himself. Their relics were cast into the
river, but the Christians sought for them
and buried them hard by the city.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Lucius,
Sylvan, Rutulus, Classicus, Secun-
dinus, Fructulus, and Maximus.
At Constantinople, [in the year 449,]
holy Flavian, Bishop of that see, who,
because he defended the Catholic faith
at Ephesus, was assailed by the fol-
lowers of the wicked Dioscorus with
cuffs and kicks, and sent into exile,
where he died after three days.
At Toledo, [in the year 631,] the
holy Confessor Helladius, Bishop of
that see.
February i 8.
St Simeon, Btsfjon [of
Jerusalem,] i&artpr.
Simple.
In Lent this Office is not observed,
but a Commemoration only is made at
Vespers and Lauds without the last
Lesson at Mattins.
All from the Common Office for
Simple Feasts of a Bishop and Martyr,
{p. 496,) except what is otherwise
given here.
Prayer throughout. Mercifully con-
sider our weakness, &c, {p. 491.)
MATTINS.
The First and Second Lessons are
from Scripture according to the Sea-
son, the Third being omitted, or read
as one with the Second.
Third Lesson.
CIMEON, the son of Cleophas,
**-* (Matth. xiii. 55,) was [chosen]
the second Bishop of Jerusalem, [in
the year 62,] being the first after
James. Under the Emperor Trajan
he was accused before the Pro-Consul
Atticus, as being both a Christian,
and a relation of Christ, this being
the time when all were arrested that
were of the lineage of David. He
underwent with great suffering the
same things that were inflicted on our
Saviour, and all men marvelled to
see with how great boldness and firm-
ness he endured the grievous torment
of the cross, at his great age, for he
was an hundred and twenty years old.1
1 a.d. 107 or 116.
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
773
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 19th day of February,
were born into the better life —
At Rome, [in the year 296,] the
holy martyr Gavin, a Priest who was
the brother of the blessed Pope Caius,
and who was long kept in prison and
chains by the Emperor Diocletian,
and gained the gladness of heaven
through a death precious in the sight
of the Lord.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Publius,
Julian, Marcellus, and others.
In Palestine are commemorated the
holy monks and other martyrs who
[about the year 508] were cruelly
slain for Christ's faith's sake by the
Saracens under Al Mundar, their
general.
At Jerusalem, [in the year 304,]
holy Zambdas, [counted thirty-ninth]
Bishop of that holy city.
At Soli, [in Cyprus, in the year
102,] holy Auxibius, Bishop [of that
see.]
At Beneventum, [in the year 682,]
holy Barbatus, Bishop of that see,
famous for his holiness, who brought
the Lombards and their leader to
Christ.
At Milan, [about the year 700,]
the holy Confessor Mansuetus, Bishop
of that see.
February 19.
them, they were savagely tortured
anew with fire and iron and put to
death. This glorious multitude were
cheered on to victory by the Bishops
Tyrannio, Silvan, Peleus, and Nilus,
and the Priest Zenobius, who by a
happy contention, along with them,
gained the same palm of martyrdom
together with them.
On the same 20th day of February,
were also born into the better life —
In the island of Cyprus, the holy
martyrs Pothamius and Nemesius.
At Constantinople, [in the year
490,] the holy martyr Eleutherius,
[eighth] Patriarch of that city. [He
had replaced Acacius, who favoured
the Eutychians.]
In Persia, [in the year 342,] holy
Sadoth, [Arch]bishop [of Seleucia and
Ctesephon, in Persia, successor to St
Simeon,] and an hundred and twenty-
eight others who refused to worship
the sun, under Sapor, King of the
Persians, and by cruel deaths gained
glorious crowns.
At Catania, in Sicily, [in the eighth
century,] holy Leo, Bishop of that see,
who shone with graces and miracles.
On the same day, [in the year 73%>]
holy Eucherius, Bishop of Orleans,
who shone with more miracles the
more he was belied by his enemies.
At Tournay, in Gaul, [in the year
531,] the holy Confessor Eleutherius,
Bishop of that see.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 20th day of February are
commemorated the blessed martyrs
of Tyre, in Phoenicia, whose number
is known only to God. They were
slain by Veturius, military instructor
under the Emperor Diocletian, with
a great number and variety of
torments. They were first lacerated
with stripes, then given to divers
kinds of beasts ; but as these, through
the power of God, would not hurt
February 20.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 21st day of February,
were born into the better life —
In Sicily, under the Emperor Dio-
cletian, [fourth century,] seventy-nine
holy martyrs, who through divers
torments won the crown of their
confession.
At Adrumetum, [Susa ?] in Africa,
[in fourth century,] the holy martyrs
774
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Verulus, Secundinus, Syricius, Felix,
Servulus, Saturninus, Fortunatus, and
sixteen others, who were crowned
with martyrdom for their confession
of the Catholic faith in the persecution
under the Vandals.
At Bethgan, [about 452,] the holy
martyr Severian, Bishop of that see.
At Damascus, [in the year 743,]
holy Peter Mavimeno. Some Arabs
came to see him while he was ill,
and to them he said, " Whoever does
not embrace the Catholic Christian
religion will be damned, as your false
prophet Mohammed is," whereupon
they killed him.
At Ravenna, [in the year 556,] the
holy Confessor Maximian.
At Metz, [about the year 500,] holy
Felix, Bishop of that see.
At Brescia, [in the seventh century,]
holy Paterius, [twenty-third] Bishop of
that see.
February 21.
martyrology.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the See of the holy Apostle Peter,
wherein he first sat at Antioch. In
the which city the disciples were first
called Christians.
At Hierapolis, in Phrygia, holy
Papias, Bishop of that city, who was
the hearer of the holy elder John, and
the companion of Polycarp.
At Salamis, in Cyprus, holy Aristion,
who, as the said Papias doth testify,
was one of the seventy-two disciples
of Christ.
In Arabia are commemorated many
holy martyrs who were cruelly slain
under the Emperor Galerius Max-
imian.
At Alexandria, holy Abilius, Pope
of that see, who was the second who
held it after the blessed Evangelist
Mark, and administered his office
with an eminent manifestation of
grace.
At Vienne, holy Paschasius, Bishop
of that see, very famous for his
learning and the holiness of his
life.
At Cortona, in Tuscany, [in the
year 1297,] holy Margaret, of the third
order of St Francis, whose body hath
marvellously remained incorrupt for
more than four hundred years, breath-
ing a sweet savour, and famous for
many miracles, and is there deeply
honoured.
Vespers are of the following.
February 22.
<St Jeter's &ee at ^nttoc}).
Greater Double.
All the same as on the Feast of St
Peter's Chair at Rome, (p. 688,) except
what is otherwise given here.
MATTINS.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo.]
(i$th on the Saints.)
'T^HE solemn Feast of to-day re-
ceived from our forefathers the
name of that of St Peter's Chair at
Antioch, because there is a tradition
that it was on this day that Peter,
first of the Apostles, was enthroned
in a Bishop's Chair. Rightly, there-
fore, do the Churches observe the first
day of that Chair, the right to which
the Apostle received for the salvation
of the Churches from the Lord of the
Churches Himself, with the words :
" Thou art Peter, and upon this rock
I will build My Church."
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
775
Fifth Lesson.
TT was the Lord Himself Who called
Peter the foundation of the
Church, and therefore it is right that
the Church should reverence this
foundation whereon her mighty struct-
ure riseth. Justly is it written in the
Psalm which we have just heard :
" Let them exalt him in the congre-
gation of the people, and praise him
in the assembly of the elders."
Blessed be God, Who hath command-
ed that the Blessed Apostle Peter
should be exalted in the congrega-
tion ! Worthy to be honoured by the
Church is that foundation from which
her goodly towers rise, pointing to
heaven !
Sixth Lesson.
I
N the honour which is this day paid
to the inauguration of the first
Bishop's throne, an honour is paid
to the office of all Bishops. The
Churches testify one to another, that,
the greater the Church's dignity, the
greater the reverence due to her
priests. While I confess how rightly
godly custom hath exalted this Feast
in the estimation of all the Churches,
the more do I wonder at the growth
of that unhealthy error which at this
day causeth some unbelievers to lay
food and wine upon the graves of the
dead,1 as if souls once rid of the body
had any longer any need of bodily
refreshment.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (xvi.
IS-)
A T that time : Jesus came into the
coasts of Cassarea Philippi, and
He asked His disciples, saying : Who
1 Perhaps alluding to some practice, in celebration of festivals, which had grown out of the
agapae or love-feasts, and had become an abuse.
do men say that I, the Son of Man,
am ? And so on.
Homily by Pope St Leo [the Great.]
(3rd on the Anniversary of his own
election. )
The Lord asked His disciples Who
men said that He was, and their
answers were human as long as they
were the answers of human reason,
unilluminated by Divine light. At
last, when the glimmerings of earthly
conjecture were spoken, he whose
Apostleship is the first in dignity, was
the first to confess his Lord. "And
Simon Peter answered and said : Thou
art the Christ, the Son of the living
God. And JESUS answered and said
unto him : Blessed art thou, Simon
Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not
revealed it unto thee, but My Father
Which is in heaven." That is to
say, " For this cause art thou blessed,
because My Father Himself hath
taught thee ; the opinions of men
have not beguiled thee, the voices of
angels have not taught thee, not flesh
and blood, but He, Whose Only-
begotten Son I am, hath revealed Me
unto thee."
Eighth Lesson.
'T^HUS saith the Lord unto Simon
Peter: "And I say also unto
thee, That thou art Peter." That is
to say, " Even as My Father hath
revealed unto thee concerning Me that
I am God, even so now will I also
reveal unto thee that thou art Peter ;
I am the sure Rock of defence, the
Corner Stone, Who make both one,
(Eph. ii. 20, 15,) I am the Found-
ation, beside Which other can no man
lay, (1 Cor. iii. 11,) and thou also
art a rock, in My Strength made hard,
and those things whereof I by right
776
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
am Lord, into thy hand do I give
them, that thou mayst bear rule over
them, for Me, and with Me." " And
upon this rock I will build My
Church, and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it." " Upon this
strength of thine, whereof I am the
Strength, I will build My eternal
temple, and upon the truth of thy
confession of Me I will make to rise
that My glorious Church whose spires
shall pierce to heaven."
Ninth Lesson.
Note. If this Feast fall on a Satur-
day before Lent, or be transferred to a
Monday, and it be not Leap Year, then
the Ninth Lesson will be the Homily
for St Matthias1 Eve, of which a
Commemoration will also be made at
Lauds, after that of St Paul. If
moreover this Feast fall in Lent, then
the Ninth Lesson will be the Homily
of the Week-day, of which also a Com-
memoration will be made at Lauds.
In Lent no notice of St Matthias'' Eve
is taken in the Office.
A GAINST this confession the gates
of hell shall never prevail,
neither shall the bands of death take
hold upon it. Thus saith He That is
faithful and true. And as this con-
fession hath power to lift up to heaven
them that make it, so is it able to
thrust down to hell them that gainsay
it. Wherefore it is said unto the most
blessed Peter: "And I will give unto
thee the keys of the kingdom of
heaven : and whatsoever thou shalt
bind on earth, shall be bound in
heaven ; and whatsoever thou shalt
loose on earth, shall be loosed in
heaven." This power passed indeed
to the other Apostles also ; this the
Lord's will had effect in them ; but
it is not in vain that it is written
that that was given to one which
passed from him to all. To Peter
alone were the keys given, and Peter
is set as the pattern for all them
that bear rule in the Church to follow.
There remaineth therefore the right
of Peter, wheresoever his judgment
decreeth justice. Neither is there
anything too hard, or too lax, where
there is nothing bound and nothing
loosed, save when Peter bindeth or
looseth.
In Lent a Commemoration of the
Week-day is ynade at First Vespers.
SECOND VESPERS.
A Commemoration is made of the
following. Antiphon, " O right excel-
lent Teacher, &c," {p. 515,) Verse,
"The Lord loved him, &c," and
Answer, {p. 515,) and the following
Prayer.
/^RANT unto us, we beseech Thee,
^-* O Almighty God, so to profit
by the teaching and example of Thy
blessed Confessor and Bishop Peter,
that like him we may lightly esteem
the things which are seen and tem-
poral, and finally attain unto those
good things which are unseen and
eternal. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
MARTYROLOGY.
The morrow is the eve of the holy
Apostle Matthias.
But in Leap year the above words
must be omitted.
Upon the 23rd day of February,
were born into the better life —
At Faenza, the holy Peter Damian,
[988-1072,] Cardinal Bishop of Ostia,
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
777
famous for his teaching and holi-
ness, whom Pope Leo XII. declared
to be a Doctor of the Universal
Church.
At Sirmium, [in the year 307,] the
blessed martyr Sirenus ; a monk who
was apprehended by order of the
Emperor Maximian, and when he con-
fessed himself to be a Christian was
beheaded.
There likewise, seventy-two holy
martyrs, who finished the combat of
martyrdom in that city, and received
kingdoms which fade not away, eternal
in the heavens.
At Rome, [in the fourth century,]
the holy Priest Polycarp, who, along
with the blessed Sebastian, brought
many to believe in Christ, and by his
exhortations led them to the glory of
martyrdom.
In the city of Astorga, [in the year
252,] the holy Virgin Martha, mar-
tyred under the Emperor Decius and
the Proconsul Paternus.
At Constantinople, [about the year
860,] the holy monk Lazarus. Be-
cause he painted holy images, the
Emperor Theophilus, the Iconoclast,
put him to grievous tortures, and
burnt his hands with a white-hot iron ;
but he was healed by the power of
God, restored the painting upon the
holy images that had been defaced,
and at length fell asleep in peace.
At Brescia, [about 652,] holy Felix,
Bishop of that see.
At Seville, in Spain, [in the year
485,] the holy Confessor Florence.
At Todi, [in 324,] the holy Virgin
Romana, who was baptized by holy
Pope Sylvester, led a heavenly life in
dens and caves of the earth, and shone
with the glory of miracles.
In England, [in the seventh cen-
tury,] the holy Virgin Milburga, daugh-
ter of the king of the Mercians, [sister
of St Mildred, and Abbess of Wenlock,
Shropshire.]
February 23.
<£t Peter ©amtatt, [&aromal]
Bisftop [of ©stta,] Confessor
ana ©octor of ttje CfjurcJ}*
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, {p. 515,) except
what is otherwise give?i here.
In Lent a Commemoration of the
Week-day is 7tiade at First Vespers.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season. In Lent from 1 Tim. iii.
I, (J,. 516.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
HP HE holy Doctor Peter Damian
was born of respectable parents
at Ravenna, [about the year of our
Lord 988.] While he was still a
suckling, his mother, overcome with
the care of many children, cast him
out to perish, but one of the women
servants saved him when he was nigh
to death, and fed him until natural
affection appeared again in his mother,
to whom she then gave him back.
After the death of both his parents he
lived with a brother who treated him
like the lowest slave, and in whose
house he underwent a hard bondage.
Even while he was in this condition
he gave a wonderful proof of his faith
toward God, and his dutiful love
toward his father. It chanced that
one day he found a considerable sum
of money, but instead of using it to
relieve his own poverty, he gave it
778
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
all to a priest to offer God's sacrifice
for the forgiveness of his father's sins.
He had happily another brother called
Damian, th^ same from whom he
seemeth afterwards to have taken his
surname. By him he was affection-
ately adopted, and put in the way of
being educated. He made such pro-
gress in learning as astonished his
teachers, and when he had won an
eminent name in letters, he began to
teach on his own accord with general
applause. Meanwhile, lest his body
should get the better of his mind, he
constantly wore a hair-shirt under his
softer clothes, and exercised himself in
fasting, watching, and prayer. In the
spring-time of his age he was griev-
ously tormented by the stings of the
flesh ; and sometimes, when the re-
bellions of lust seemed about to get
the mastery over him at night, he
threw himself into a freezing stream
to check them. After this he would
go about visiting consecrated places,
and repeat the whole book of Psalms.
He was most careful in relieving the
poor, on whom he would wait with
his own hands.
Fifth Lesson.
r\ESIRING to attain to perfection
of life he betook himself to the
convent of Font-Avellano, in the dio-
cese of Gubbio, in Umbria, a house
founded by the blessed Ludolph, the
disciple of St Romuald, for the monks
of the Holy Cross. He dwelt there
not long before he was sent by his
Abbat, first to the Abbey of Pomposia,
and, secondly, to that of St Vincent
at Pietra Pertusa, both which brother-
hoods he greatly profited by his godly
exhortations, discreet rules, and grave
manners. After his return home, and
the death of his Superior, he was
chosen to rule the brethren of Avellano.
Here he founded divers new hermi-
tages, and made the community so
to flourish under his saintly direction,
that he is esteemed the second Father
and chief ornament of that Order.
This healthful care of Peter was made
a blessing to convents of other Rules
than his own, to houses of Canons,
and to the people. He was many
ways profitable to the diocese of
Urbino. He sat with Theuzo the
Bishop of that See to judge of a
most weighty matter, and led him by
his counsel and assistance rightly to
administer his Bishoprick. He was
foremost in contemplation of the
things of God, in severity toward his
own body, and in other things where-
by to set a bright example of godli-
ness. In consideration of these things
the Supreme Pontiff Stephen IX.,
[in the year 1057,] created him, in
spite of his own unwillingness and
objections, a Cardinal of the Holy
Roman Church, and appointed him
Bishop of Ostia. This dignity Peter
bore with the highest reputation for
piety, and adorned with works meet
for a Bishop.
Sixth Lesson.
A T the most anxious times he
greatly sustained the Church of
Rome and the Supreme Pontiffs by
his teaching, by missions which he
discharged, and by divers other
labours which he undertook on their
behalf. He strove manfully even
unto death against the heresies of the
Nicolaitans and the Simoniacs, by
putting down which evils he reconciled
the Church of Milan to that of Rome.
He was one of the stoutest opponents
of the false Popes Benedict and
Cadalous. He deterred Henry IV.,
King of Germany, from his wicked
scheme for putting away his wife.
He recalled the people of Ravenna to
their bounden duty to the Bishop of
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
779
Rome, and restored them to the
communion of the Church. He re-
formed the Canons of Velletri, and
brought them to lead more godly lives.
There were hardly any Cathedral
Churches, especially in the province
of Urbino, of which he did not deserve
well. In Gubbio, of which he had at
one time the management, he abolished
many things unseemly. He brought
about improvements in many and
divers places, as if each were his
special charge. [In 1062] he gave
up his dignities of Cardinal and
Bishop, but he allowed his love toward
his neighbours to know no diminution.
He was particularly zealous in spread-
ing abroad four devout practices : 1st,
To fast every Friday in honour of
the Holy Cross of Jesus Christ ; 2nd,
To recite the Hours of the Blessed
Mother of God, called also her Little
Office ; 3rd, To sanctify Saturday in
her honour ; and 4th, and especially,
to scourge oneself in punishment for
sin committed. At length he de-
parted to be with Christ, at Faenza,
on his way back from his mission to
Ravenna, on the 22 nd of February,
[in the year 1072,] at the height of
his reputation for holiness, learning,
miracles, and good works. His body
is buried in the house of the Cister-
cians at Faenza, where the people
resort often to his grave with great
reverence. The citizens of Faenza,
to whom he hath been found good at
need even to this day, have chosen
him for their Patron in the presence
of God. The supreme Pontiff Leo
XII., finding that an Office and Mass
in memory of him, as a Confessor
and Bishop, was in use in some
dioceses, and in the Camaldolese
Order, by advice of the Sacred Con-
gregation of Rites, added the title of
Doctor, and extended the use of the
said Office and Mass to the whole
Church.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. v. 13, with the
Homily of St Austin, {p. 549.)
Eighth Responsory.
In the midst, &c, (f>. 539.)
If it be neither Lent nor Leap Year
the Ninth Lesson will be the Homily
for St Matthias' Eve. Then the
Third Lesson of the Homily on Matth.
v. 1 3 is omitted, or read as one with
the Second, and the First Lesson only
of the Homily of the Eve is read, or
else the three as one. In Lent no
notice is taken of St Matthias' Eve,
and the Ninth Lesson is the Homily
for the Week-day, either the first part
or all three in one, and the Com-
memoration of the Week-day is made
at Lauds.
Prayer thoughout the day as at the
Commemoration the preceding evening.
In Leap Year St Matthias' Eve is
kept on February 24.
hi Lent it is omitted.
All from the Co7nmon Office for
Apostles' Eves, {p. 461.)
In Leap Year the following is the
MARTYROLOGY.
The morrow is the eve of the holy
Apostle Matthias.
Upon the same 24th day of Feb-
ruary, were born into the better life
many holy martyrs and confessors and
holy virgins.
But the following is the ordinary
Martyrology which is read in Leap
Year upon St Matthias' Eve.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 24th (or 25th) day of Feb-
ruary, were born into the better life —
In Judea, the holy Apostle Matthias,
78o
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
who was chosen by the Apostles right
after the Ascension of the Lord to
take the place of the traitor Judas,
and who suffered martyrdom for
preaching the Gospel.
At Rome, the holy martyr Primitiva.
At Caesarea, in Cappadocia, [in the
year 304,] the holy martyr Sergius,
whose acts are held most famous.
In Africa, [in the year 259,] the
holy martyrs Montanus, Lucius, Julian,
Victoricus, Flavian, and their Com-
panions, who were disciples of holy
Cyprian, and finished their testimony
under the Emperor Valerian.
At Rouen, [in the year 588,] the holy
martyr Pretextatus, Bishop of that see.
At Triere, [about the year 499,] the
holy Confessor Modestus, Bishop of
that see.
In England, [in the year 616,] holy
Ethelbert, King of Kent, whom holy
Augustin, first Archbishop of Canter-
bury, converted to the faith of Christ,
and whose feast we keep upon the
26th (27th) day of this present month
of February.
At Jerusalem is commemorated the
first finding, [in the fourth century,]
of the Head of the Lord's forerunner.
February 24, or in Leap Year
Feb. 25.
«St JEattijtas, Apostle.
Double of the Second Class.
All from the Common Office for the
Feasts of Apostles, (p. 462,) except
what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Prayer throughout.
r\ GOD, Who didst choose Thy
^^^ blessed servant Matthias to be
of the number of the twelve Apostles,
grant, we beseech Thee, that Thy
Church, being upholden by his prayers,
may ever feel about her the arms 1
of Thy most mighty protection.
Through our Lord JESUS Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end. Amen.
In Lent a Commemoration is made
of the Week-day.
If this be the evening of February
23rd, then a Commemoration is made
of St Peter Damian. Antiphon, " O
right excellent Teacher, &c," (p. 515.)
Verse, " The Lord guided, &c," and
Answer, {p. 524,) and the Prayer of
St Peter Damian as throughout the
day.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Acts of
the Apostles (i. 15.)
T N those days Peter stood up in the
midst of the brethren, and said :
(the number of the men together was
about an hundred and twenty) Men
and brethren, this Scripture must
needs be fulfilled, which the Holy
Ghost by the mouth of David spake
before concerning Judas, which was
guide to them that took Jesus : for
he was numbered with us, and had
obtained part of this ministry. Now
this man purchased a field with the
reward of iniquity ; wherein also he
hanged himself, and bursting asunder
in the midst, all his bowels gushed
out.
Second Lesson.
A ND it was known unto all the
"^^ dwellers at Jerusalem, insomuch
as that field is called in their proper
tongue " Haceldama," that is to say,
1 Literally, "about her the bowels of Thy mercy."
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
78l
" The field of blood." For it is
written in the book of Psalms : " Let
his habitation be desolate, and let no
man dwell therein, and his Bishoprick
let another take." (cviii. 8.) Where-
fore, of these men which have com-
panied with us all the time that the
Lord JESUS went in and out among us,
beginning from the baptism of John,
unto that same day that He was taken
up from us, must one be ordained to
be a witness with us of His resurrec-
tion.
Third Lesson.
AND they appointed two, Joseph
"^^ called Barsabas, which was sur-
named the Just, and Matthias. And
they prayed, and said : Thou, Lord,
Which knowest the hearts of all men,
show whether of these two Thou hast
chosen, that he may take part of this
ministry and Apostleship, from which
Judas by transgression fell, that he
might go to his own place. And they
gave forth their lots, and the lot fell
upon Matthias, and he was numbered
with the eleven Apostles.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Lessons from St Austin }s Exposition
of Psalm lxxxvi. (p. 477.)
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xi. 25, with
the Homily of St A ustin, (p. 5 4 5 . ) Ln
Lent the Third Lesson of St Austin's
Homily is omitted or read as one with
the Second, and the Ninth Lesson is
the Homily on the Gospel for the
Week-day.
In Lent a Commemoration is made
of the Week-day at Lauds.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 25th (26th) day of Feb-
ruary, were born into the better life —
vol. 1.
ln Egypt, [in the third century,]
under the Emperor Numerian, the
holy martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Ni-
cephorus, Claudian, Dioscorus, Sera-
pion, and Papias. Victorinus and
Victor steadfastly bore grievous tor-
tures on account of their confession
of the faith, and were beheaded.
Nicephorus was laid upon a hot
iron bed, and when he had over-
come the fire was cut joint from
joint. Claudian and Dioscorus were
burnt. Serapion and Papias were
slain with the sword.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Do-
natus, Justus, Herenas, and their
Companions.
At Rome, [in the year 492,] the
holy Pope Felix III., who was the
great-grandfather of holy Gregory
the Great, who saith of him that
he appeared unto his holy niece
Tharsilla, and called her unto the
kingdom of heaven.
At Constantinople, [in the year
806,] holy Tharasius, Patriarch of
that see, famous for his learning
and godliness. There remaineth an
epistle addressed unto him by Pope
Adrian I. in defence of holy images.
At Nazianzum, [in 369,] holy Caes-
arius, brother of blessed Gregory the
Theologian, whom the said Gregory
doth testify that he saw among the
multitude of the blessed.
February 25 (26).
martyrology.
On the morrow we keep in Eng-
land the feast of holy Ethelbert,
King of Kent, whom holy Augustin,
first Archbishop of Canterbury, con-
verted to the faith of Christ, and
of whom mention hath been made
upon the 24th (25th) day of this
present month of February.
Upon the same 26th (27th) day
2 c
782
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
of February, were born into the
better life —
At Perga, in Pamphylia, [in the
year 251,] v blessed Nestor, Bishop
[of Magydensis.] During the perse-
cution under Decius he was instant
in prayer by day and by night
that Christ's flock might be kept
safe. When he was arrested he
confessed the name of the Lord
with wonderful freedom and readi-
ness. By command of the President
Pollio he was most cruelly racked,
and as he steadfastly declared that
he would alway cleave unto Christ,
he was at last crucified, and from
the cross passed to heaven a
conqueror.
At Perga likewise, [in 251,] the
holy martyrs Papias, Diodorus,
Conon, and Claudian, who suffered
before holy Nestor.
Also the holy martyrs Fortunatus
Felix, and twenty-seven others.
At Alexandria, [in the year 326,]
the glorious Elder, holy Alexander,
Pope of that see, wherein he suc-
ceeded blessed Peter. He it was
who cast his priest Arius out of the
church when he became perverted
with wicked heresy, and reprobate
from the truth of God, and he was
afterward one of the three hundred
and eighteen fathers who condemned
him in the Council of Nice.
At Bologna, [in the fourth cen-
tury,] the holy Bishop [of that see,]
Faustinian, who by the preaching of
the word of God strengthened and
increased that Church when it had
been troubled in the persecution
under the Emperor Diocletian.
At Gaza, in Palestine, [in the year
420,] holy Porphyry, Bishop of that
see, who in the time of the Emperor
Arcadius cast down the idol Marna
and its temple, and after many suf-
ferings fell asleep in the Lord.
At Florence, [in the fifth century,]
the holy Confessor Andrew, Bishop
of that city, [who succeeded St
Zenobius.]
In the country of Arctoi, [Vitre,
in Champaign, in the sixth century,]
the holy Confessor Victor, [Victor
of Plancy, Priest and Hermit,] whose
praises have been written by holy
Bernard.
Vespers of the following.
February 26 (27).
&t etijeifrert, »ing of itent,
Confessor.
Double.
All from the Common Office for
a Confessor not a Bishop, {p. 531,)
except the following.
Prayer throughout.
r\ GOD, Who hast crowned the
^^ blessed King Ethelbert, Thy
Confessor, with a crown of eternal
glory, cause us, we beseech Thee,
so to honour him upon earth that
we may reign with him in heaven.
At First Vespers in Lent a Com-
memoration is made of the Week-day.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according
to the Season. In Lent from Ecclus.,
(p. 542.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
T7THELBERT, King of Kent, was
the most powerful of the princes
in England, and exercised a suzerainty
over them as far north as the Hum-
ber. He was born a heathen, but
took to wife that most earnest Christ-
FEAST-DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
783
ian, Bertha, daughter of the King of
the Franks. By her example and
the example of the holy Lindhard,
who was her chaplain, the King and
many of his chief men were brought
to admire the Christian life. When,
therefore, there came Augustine with
his companions sent by holy Gregory,
and Ethelbert had heard the teach-
ing and had seen the miracles of the
servants of God, he believed and re-
ceived the sacrament of the faith.
After him many began to come to-
gether every day to hear the word
of God, to give up their pagan rites,
and to join in faith the holy Church
of Christ. Their belief and conver-
sion caused the King much joy,
nevertheless he would not force any
to make themselves Christians, but
only embraced with a warmer love
them that believed as being co-heirs
with himself of the kingdom of
heaven.
Fifth Lesson.
T30RN again in baptism, Ethelbert,
as a new man, gave himself
wholly to the spreading of the faith
in his own dominion, and among
the princes who were subject unto
him, but above all to make the
kingdom of Christ come in all its
fulness in his own soul. During the
twenty years which he lived as a
Christian he never wavered in that
holy design. He passed most wise
laws for the good of his people ;
he set up churches, and at the ex-
hortation of holy Gregory he pulled
down the temples of the idols ; among
others he founded the metropolitical
Church of the Saviour at Canterbury,
the monastery of SS. Peter and Paul
hard by the city, the cathedral Church
of St Paul in London, and the cathe-
dral Church of St Andrew at Rochester,
upon all which with a bounty truly royal
he bestowed lands and possessions.
Sixth Lesson.
AT length the holy King, after
gloriously holding an earthly
kingdom for fifty-six years, and after
having held the faith for twenty-one
years, passed to the everlasting joys of
a heavenly kingdom in the year of our
Lord 616, upon the 24 th day of the
month of February, upon the which
day mention is made of him in the
Roman martyrology. He was buried
in the porch of St Martin, within
the Church of the blessed Apostles
Peter and Paul, where also had been
buried the Queen Bertha.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke xii. 35, with the
Homily of St Gregory, {p. 538.) In
Lent the last is read along with the
Eighth in order to leave room for the
Homily of the Week-day, of which a
Commemoration is also made at Lauds.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 27th (28th) day of Feb-
ruary, were born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy martyrs Alex-
ander, Abundius, Antigonus, and
Fortunatus.
At Alexandria, [in the year 250,]
the holy martyr Julian. He was so
crippled by the gout that he could
neither walk nor stand, and was
carried before the judge in a chair
by two servants. Of these two ser-
vants one denied the faith ; the other,
whose name was Eunus, persisted in
confessing Christ along with Julian.
They were both placed upon camels
and led about the whole city, lashed,
and at length publicly burnt upon a
pyre.
There also the holy soldier Besas.
He rebuked some who were jeering
at the martyrs aforenamed, for which
;84
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
cause he was accused before the
judge, and as he stood firm in the
faith he was beheaded.
At Seville, in Spain, [in the year
596,] holy Leander, Bishop of that
city, by whose preaching and labours,
assisted by Reccared, King of the
Visigoths, that nation were converted
from the Arian misbelief to the
Catholic faith.
At Constantinople, [in 750,] the
holy Confessors Basil and Procopius,
who in the time of the Emperor Leo
the Isaurian, contended valiantly for
the honouring of holy images.
At Lyons, [about the year 660,]
holy Baldomer, [locksmith and sub-
deacon,] the man of God whose
grave is famous on account of the
miracles which are oftentimes wrought
there.
February 27 (28).
martyrology.
On the 28th (29th) day of Feb-
ruary, were born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy martyrs Mac-
arius, Rufinus, Justus, and The-
ophilus.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs
Casrealis, Pupulus, Caius, and Ser-
apion.
Likewise at Alexandria are com-
memorated the holy Priests, Deacons,
and many others who cheerfully met
death in ministering to the sick in
the great plague which devastated that
city, [in the third century,] in the time
of the Emperor Valerian, and whom
the godly reverence of the faithful hath
been used to honour as martyrs.
In the Jura mountains, toward Lyons,
[in 460,] the holy Abbat [of Condat,]
Romanus, who was the first to live
there as a hermit, and becoming
famous for many graces and miracles,
became also the father of many
1 This is a purely local addition. The name of St David does not occur in the Roman
Martyrology, nor in that of any religious order with which the writer is acquainted.
monks. [Founder of monasteries in
Switzerland.]
At Pavia is commemorated the
translation of the body of holy Aug-
ustine, Bishop of Hippo, which was
brought [in the year 722] from the
island of Sardinia by the care of
Luitprand, King of the Lombards.
February 28 (29).
martyrology.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy Confessor David, Arch-
bishop of Cierleon upon Usk.1
Upon the same 1st day of March,
were also born into the better life —
At Rome, two hundred and sixty
holy martyrs whom for Christ's name's
sake the Emperor Claudius first con-
demned to dig sand outside the
Salarian Gate, and then to be shot
to death with arrows in the amphi-
theatre.
Likewise the holy martyrs Leo,
Donatus, Abundantius, Nicephorus,
and nine others.
At Marseilles, [in the year 290,] the
holy martyrs Hermes and Hadrian.
At Heliopolis, [in 114,] the holy
martyr Eudocia [of Samaria, now
Balbek in Turkey-in-Asia,] during the
persecution under the Emperor Trajan.
She was baptized by Theodotus, Bishop
of [Heliopolis,] and, armed for the
battle, the President Vincentius
ordered her to be smitten with the
sword, and thus she received the
crown of martyrdom.
Upon the same day, the holy
martyr Antonina. During the per-
secution under the Emperor Dio-
cletian she laughed at the gods of
the Gentiles, for the which cause
she was diversly tortured, shut up
in a barrel, and drowned in the
marsh at the city of Cea.
FEAST-DAYS IN MARCH.
785
At Werdt, [in the year 713,] holy
Swibert, Bishop of that city, [Apostle
of the Frisians,] who in the time of
Pope Sergius preached the gospel to
the Frieslanders, Hollanders, and
other peoples of Lower Germany.
At Angers, [in the year 550,] the
holy Confessor Albinus, Bishop of that
see, a man of eminent graces and
holiness.
At Mans, [in the year 687,] the
holy Siviard, Abbat [of Saint Calais.]
At Perugia is commemorated the
translation [in the year 547] of the
holy martyr Herculanus, Bishop of
that see, of whom mention is made
upon the 7th day of November. He
was beheaded by order of Totila, King
of the Goths, and it is written by holy
Pope Gregory that, forty days after
his head was cut off, head and body
were found united again, as though
the iron had never touched him.
Vespers of the following, with in
Lent a Commemoration of the Week-
day.
FEAST-DAYS IN MARCH.
On the day next before Lent on which
JVine Lessons are not read, is said the
Office of the Dead.
March i.
&t ©abto, &rcpis{jo}j [of
(CaerleonJ Confessor.
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, (J>. 515*) except
the following.
Prayer throughout.
r^RANT, we beseech Thee, O Al-
^ mighty God, that the fatherly
prayers of Thy blessed Confessor and
Bishop David may help us, and that
while we keep his solemn Feast, we
may follow the example of his stead-
fastness in defending the Catholic
Faith. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
Ln Lent, at First Vespers a Commem-
oration is made of the Week-day.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season. Ln Lent from 1 Tim. iii.
i,(p. 516.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson. (From his Life by
Giraldus Cambrensis. Anglia Sa-
cra, ii. 628.)
THIS David was born of a Princely
race in Cardiganshire. After
becoming a Priest he was moved by
the desire of a more perfect life to
betake himself to Paulinus, the disciple
of St Germain, who dwelt in the Isle
of Wight. Under this master he
made great progress, and began, at
his exhortation, to preach to the
people of the neighbourhood. In pro-
gress of time he founded many monas-
teries, wherein his disciples, in quiet
retreat from men, passed their days
in working with their hands, reading,
praying, and succouring the poor.
Fifth Lesson.
THE revival in Britain of the Pela-
gian heresy brought it about
that a Council was got together in
Cardiganshire, wherein David, for his
zealous contending for the Catholic
Faith, was unanimously chosen Arch-
786
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
bishop of Wales, in the place of holy
Dyfrug, who had resigned. The new
Archbishop called together a second
Council, in which all the decrees of
the first were confirmed. From these
decrees, approved by the authority
of the Pope, all the Churches of
Wales received their usage and
rule.
Sixth Lesson.
T N those days the Church of God
flourished exceedingly. Monas-
teries were set up in many places,
and great multitudes of the faithful,
of divers orders, were brought unto
Christ, and unto all of them David
was as a mirror and an ensample.
Not by word alone but by his life
also, he shone as a light to others ;
a great preacher, but a greater prac-
tises In an old age, and full of
good works, he resigned his soul to
God, upon a 1st day of March, about
the year of salvation 544.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xxv. 1 4, with
the Homily of St Gregory, {p. 522.)
In Lent the last Lesson is read
along with the Eighth to make room
for Homily of the Week-day, of which
a Commemoration is also made at
Lauds.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 2nd day of March, were
born into the better life —
In England, [about the year 672,]
holy Chad, Bishop of the Mercians
and of Lindisfarne, whose eminent
graces are recorded by Bede. [His
body was buried at Lichfield, first in
the Church of Our Lady, second in
the Church of St Peter, and thirdly
in the Cathedral dedicated to Our
Lady and St Chad. The town was
named Lichfield on account of the
number martyred and buried there
under Maximian Hercules.]
At Rome, upon the Latin Way,
[about the year 258,] under the Em-
perors Valerian and Gallienus, the
holy martyrs Jovinus and Basileus.
Likewise at Rome, under the Em-
peror Alexander and the Prefect Ul-
pian, many holy martyrs, who were
long tortured, and at length put to
death.
At Porto, the holy martyrs Paul,
Heraclius, Secundilla, and Januaria.
At Caesarea, in Cappadocia, the
holy martyrs Lucius the Bishop,
Absolom, Lorgius.
In Campania are commemorated
eighty holy martyrs, who would not
eat meat sacrificed unto idols, nor
adore a she-goat's head, and there-
fore, [about the year 629,] were
cruelly slain by the Lombards.
At Rome, [about the year 483,] the
holy Confessor Pope Simplicius.
Vespers are of the following, from
the Chapter inclusive.
March 2.
&t CijaV Eisfjop [of fLic^
fteltr,] Confessor .
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, {p. 515,) except
the following.
Prayer throughout. ( Taken from the
Salisbury Missal.)
(~\ ALMIGHTY and everlasting
^^ God, Who dost this day gladden
us by the Feast of Thy blessed Con-
fessor and Bishop Chad, we humbly
beseech Thy mercy that we may be
holpen toward life eternal by his
1 Chad, or Cead, Saxon form of Gaelic Cad, or Cedd.
FEAST-DAYS IN MARCH.
787
fatherly prayers whom we do solemnly
honour. Through our Lord JESUS
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
First Vespers as regards St Chad
begin with the Chapter.
A Conmiemoration is made of St
David. Prayer from his Office, then
in Lent of the Week-day.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season. In Lent, 1 Tim. iii. 1,
(J. 516.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson. {From the Venerable
Bede, iii. 23, 28 ; ix. 2, 3.)
/^HAD was Abbat of the monastery
rrf. called Lestingay, [in the Wolds
of Yorkshire.] He was a man holy
and lowly, well read in the Scriptures,
and a diligent practiser of that which
he learnt therefrom. Wherefore Wini,
Bishop of the West Saxons, at the
desire of King Oswin, ordained him
Bishop of York. Being so conse-
crated, he set himself to look to the
orthodoxy and clean living of the
clergy, to seek after lowliness, self-
control, and learning, and to make a
visitation of the towns, country, cot-
tages, hamlets, and castles, to preach
the Gospel therein, going always not
on horseback, but on foot, after the
fashion of the Apostles.
Fifth Lesson.
rightly consecrated. To whom he
answered : " If thou knowest that I
have not rightly been made a Bishop,
I willingly lay down mine office ;
neither did I ever deem myself fit to
hold it, but when I was commanded,
I took it, for obedience' sake." Theo-
dore marvelled at his lowliness, and
made him Bishop of the Mercians
and of Lindisfarne, in the which office
he strove to do his duty in great per-
fection of life, after the ensample of
the old Fathers.
Sixth Lesson.
AILTHEN the hour of his death
drew near, he exhorted the
brethren who stood by to keep love
and peace with each other and with
all the faithful, and never to relax from
the strict observance of the monastic
life. His sickness increasing, he made
him ready to depart, by receiving the
Body and Blood of the Lord, and on
the seventh day his soul was set free
from the toilsome prison of the body,
and went away to be in gladness for
ever. He died at his own See of
Lichfield, upon the 2nd day of March,
in the year 672.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xxiv. 42, with
the Homily of St Hilary, {p. 527.)
In Lent, the last Lesson is read
along with the Eighth to make room
for Homily of the Week-day, of which
a Commemoration is also made at
Lauds.
MARTYROLOGY.
^pHEODORE, Archbishop of Can-
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy Confessor .Elred, Abbat
terbury, took Bishop Chad to of Rievaux, of the Cistercian 1 Order,
task, as though he had not been famous for his knowledge of sacred
1 The name of St /Elred does not occur in the Roman Martyrology, and the above is accord-
ingly taken from the Martyrology of the Cistercians.
788
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
letters, uprightness of life, self-content,
wondrous long-suffering, spirit of pro-
phecy, heavenly conversation, and
great miracles, who departed this life
upon the iv2th day of January.
Upon the same 3rd day of March,
were born into the better life —
At Caesarea, in Palestine, in the
persecution under the Emperor Val-
erian, the holy martyrs Marinus the
soldier and Asterius the senator.
Marinus was accused by his com-
rades of being a Christian, and when
asked by the judge so declared with
a loud voice, and was beheaded.
Asterius took off his own garment,
wrapt in it the headless body of the
martyr, and took it upon his own
shoulder, and for so doing himself
received the honour of martyrdom.
In Spain, the holy martyrs Hemi-
terius, [or Madir,] and Chelidonius.
They were stationed as soldiers in
camp at Leon in Galicia, when the
storm of persecution broke. On ac-
count of their confession of the
Name of Christ they were taken to
Calaxorra, where they were put to
divers torments and crowned with
martyrdom. [Their bodies rest in
the Cathedral of Calahorra, of which
they are the patrons.]
Upon the same day the holy
martyrs Felix, Luciolus, Fortunatus,
Marcia, and their Companions.
Likewise the holy soldiers Cleonicus,
Eutropius, and Basiliscus, who won a
happy triumph upon the cross under
the President Asclepiades, in the per-
secution under the Emperor Maximian.
At Brescia, [in the year 526,] the
holy Confessor Titian, Bishop of that
see.
At Bamberg, holy Cunegunda,
Empress of the Romans, bride of
the Emperor Henry the First, with
whose consent she remained always
a Virgin. She fell asleep in peace,
richly adorned with good works, and
after her death was famous for mir-
acles, [in the year 1040.]
At Second Vespers a Commemora-
tion of the following, Prayer from
his Office, and in Lent of the Week-
day.
March 3.
Semi-double.
All from the Common Office, {p.
531,) except the following.
Prayer throughout.
Q ALMIGHTY and everlasting
God, Who as Thou never
ceasest to chasten the children of
Thy Church, so also dost never
cease to help them, grant unto Thy
faithful people, at the prayers of
blessed Abbat y£lred, whom Thou
didst give unto them to be a
minister in the things of eternal
Salvation, that through Thy mercy
they should receive not only the
knowledge of the right which they
ought to do, but also the power to do
it. Through our Lord JESUS Christ
Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth
with Thee, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according
to the Season. Ln Lent from Wisd.
iv. 7, (A 532.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
TpLRED was born of the noblest
blood of England and Scot-
land. From his earliest years he
gave bright promise of his future
holiness. While he lay in the cradle
FEAST-DAYS IN MARCH.
789
his face was seen surrounded with
rays of light, and when he was a
little child he knew things at a dis-
tance. He was trained up at the
court of David I., King of Scots,
along with the son of that king,
and was a great favourite of the
king himself. As his godliness and
wisdom grew with his years he de-
termined to bid farewell to the world.
Before he received the Cistercian
habit in the monastery of Reivaux,
in the archdiocese of York, he in-
stantaneously extinguished by a mir-
acle a fire which had got enkindled
in that house. As master of the
novices he kept within the cloister,
by another miracle, a clerk who had
become shaken in his vocation.
Fifth Lesson.
T_T E was made Abbat first of Re-
vesby, and afterwards of Rei-
vaux, and showed himself a perfect
example in that office. He gave
himself up wholly to the contem-
plation of heavenly things, and to
sacred reading, over which he often-
times wept. No branch of know-
ledge escaped him, and in every form
of writing he closely resembled Ber-
nard, that teacher of honeyed-tongue.
How he, like Bernard, received the
anointing of the Holy Ghost as a
teacher from heaven is attested by
his published works. He refused
dignities in the Church — including
a bishoprick which was offered to
him by David, King of Scots — in
order that he might be the more
free to give himself up to contempla-
tion and preaching. He strove man-
fully on behalf of the true Pope,
Alexander III., against the Anti-Pope
and the pretended Council of Pavia.
With insults he bore most patiently,
and nothing lay closer to his heart
than to foster peace among all men.
vol. 1.
H
Sixth Lesson.
E trained up at his monastery
one hundred and forty monks
and five hundred brethren. To them
he was accustomed to say, My child-
ren, speak what ye will as long as
there come not out of your mouth any
base word, any evil against a brother,
or any blasphemy against God. He
worked many miracles during his life.
He was ill for ten years before his
death, and bore great suffering with
wonderful patience. From his excess-
ive leanness his bones were hardly
covered with skin, but he set at naught
the advice of the physicians and cared
for no health except that of his soul.
He foretold the day of his own death,
in the year of salvation 1166, and of
his own life the fifty-seventh. He was
famous for miracles, and his name was
enrolled among those of the Saints.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lesson from the Common of Abbats,
with the Homily of St Jerome on
Matth. xix. 27, {p. 471.) In Lent
the last is read as one with the
Eighth to leave roofti for the Homily
of the Week-day, of which also a
Coinmemoration is made at Lauds.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 4th day of March, were
born into the better life —
At Wilna, in Lithuania, the blessed
Casimir, [Duke of Lithuania,] son of
Casimir III., King of Poland, whose
name the Roman Pontiff, Leo X.,
numbered with those of the Saints,
[in the year 1458-83.]
At Rome, upon the Appian Way,
the holy martyr Pope Lucius. He was
first banished in the persecution under
the Emperor Valerian, but was after-
wards permitted by the will of God to
return to his church, and after toiling
2 c 2
79o
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
much against the Novatians, finished
his testimony by being beheaded. He
is highly praised by holy Cyprian.
Likewise ^at Rome, upon the Appian
Way, nine hundred holy martyrs, [led
by Aristion and Licinius, both Bis-
hops,] who are laid in the cemetery
called that of St Cecilia.
Upon the same day, the holy
martyr Caius, [an officer of the Im-
perial Palace,] who was drowned in
the sea, and twenty-seven others.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyr
Hadrian, and twenty - three others,
who, under the Emperor Diocletian,
all had their legs broken, and were
so left to die. The principal feast in
memory of Hadrian is kept upon the
8th day of September, when his body
was brought to Rome.
Likewise the holy martyrs Arch-
elaus, Cyril, and Photius.
In the Crimea, the holy Bishops
Basil, Eugenius, Agathodormus, El-
pidius, Aetherius, Capito, Ephrem,
Nestor, and Arcadius.
Vespers are of the following, from
the Chapter, inclusive.
March 4.
• <St Casimir, 0onfeg0or.
Semi-double.
All from the Common Office for a
Confessor not a Bishop, {p. 531,) ex-
cept what is otherwise given here.
Prayer throughout.
r\ GOD, in the strength of Whose
^^^ grace Thine holy servant Cas-
imir did Thee leal and brave service
amidst the softness of kings' palaces
and the temptations of the world,
1 The Martyrology says that "at Rome, on the Appian Way, was born into the higher
life, the holy Martyr Pope Lucius. He was first banished in the persecution under Valerian,
but was afterwards permitted by the will of God to return to his Church, and, after toil-
ing much against the Novatians, finished his testimony by being beheaded. He is highly
praised by St Cyprian." Succeeded Cornelius a.d. 252. Testified next year.
grant that Thy people, being holpen
by his intercession, may ever despise
earthly things, and breathe after those
that are heavenly. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
First Vespers as regards St Casimir
begin with the Chapter.
A Commemoration is made of St
AZlred. Prayer from his Office.
In Lent a Commemoration is made
of the Week-day.
Then of St Lucius, Pope and Mar-
tyr.x All from the Common Office for
one Martyr, {p. 482.) Prayer, "O
God, Who year by year, &c," {p.
49I-)
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons fro?n Scripture according to
the Season. I?i Lent from Wisd. iv. 7
and v. 1, (p. 532.)
SECOND NOCTURN. >
Fourth Lesson.
'"THIS Casimir was the son of Cas-
imir III., King of Poland, by
Elizabeth of Austria, his wife, [and
was born upon the 5 th day of October,
in the year 1458.] From his child-
hood he was taught by the best
masters, and was trained in all godli-
ness and good learning. While he
was still a boy he wore rough hair-
cloth, and chastened himself with
much fasting. He forsook the soft-
ness of his princely bed, and lay
upon the hard ground, and on stormy
nights he would go out secretly and
prostrate himself before the doors of
FEAST-DAYS IN MARCH.
791
the churches, crying to God for mercy.
He was unwearied in contemplating
the Passion of Christ, and when he
was present at Mass, so profound was
his recollection, that he seemed to be
altogether beside himself.
Fifth Lesson.
I_T E made the propagation of the
Catholic faith one of the chief
works of his life, and strove hard
against the schism in Ruthenia. He
persuaded his father to forbid by law
that the schismatics should build any
new churches, or repair the existing
ones when they fell into decay. So
great was his liberality and tenderness
toward the needy and the afflicted,
that he came to be called the father
and guardian of the poor. From his
infancy . he never soiled his purity,
and in his last illness, when his phy-
sicians advised him to seek for relief
from his grievous sufferings by the
sacrifice of his chastity, he cheerfully
determined rather to die.
Sixth Lesson.
"DEING made perfect in a short
space, and full of piety and
good works, he foretold the day of
his own death, and, gathering round
him a choir of priests and monks, he
rendered his soul into the hands of
God Whom they were praising, [upon
the 4th day of March, in the year
of our Lord 1482, and] the 25th of
his own age. His body was carried
to Wilna, where many miracles are
reputed to have been wrought around
it. At his grave a dead girl is said
to have received her life again, blind
men their sight, cripples the power of
walking, and many sick folk health.
Moreover, on an occasion when the
Lithuanians in scanty numbers were
exposed to the shock of a powerful
enemy, they believed that he appeared
in the air, and gave them the signal
victory which they won. On the
assurance of these things, Leo X. was
moved to add his name to those of the
Saints.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke xii. 35, with the
Homily of St Gregory, {p. 538.) In
Lent the Ninth Lesson is the Homily
on the Gospel for the Week-day, in
which case the Third Lesson on Luke
xii. 35 is omitted or read as one with
the Second, and the three Lessons for
the Week-day read as one, or else the
first only.
LAUDS.
A Commemoration is made of St
Lucius. All from the Common Office
for o?ie Martyr, {p. 482.) Prayer, " O
God, Who year by year, &c," {p. 49 1 . )
In Lent a Commemoration of the
Week-day is made before that of St
Lucius.
Prayer throughout the day as at First
Vespers.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 5th day of March, were
born into the better life —
At Antioch, [about the year 320,]
the holy martyr Phocas. For the
Redeemer's name's sake he gained
the victory over many an assault of
the old serpent, and that victory is
still held forth before the people,
with this miracle, that if any be
bitten of a serpent and touch in faith
the door of this martyr's church, he is
forthwith healed of the poison.
At Caesarea, in Palestine, [in the
year 308,] the holy martyr Hadrian,
who was crowned by command of the
President Firmilian, in the persecution
under the Emperor Diocletian. He
was first thrown to a lion, but after-
ward slain with the sword.
On the same day, the holy martyr
Eusebius, and nine others.
792
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
At Qesarea, in Palestine, [in the
year 200,] holy Theophilus, Bishop of
that see, who was a great light for
wisdom anc\ good living in the time of
the Emperor Severus.
Likewise in Palestine, on the bank
of the Jordan, [in the year 475,] the
holy hermit Gerasimus, who flourished
in the time of the Emperor Zeno.
At Naples, [in the year 1734,] holy
John Joseph of the Cross, barefooted
Friar Minor, first Provincial of the
Italian followers of holy Peter of
Alcantara. He strove to tread in
the footsteps of holy Francis of Assisi
and Peter of Alcantara, was a bright
ornament of the Seraphic Order, and
was numbered among the saints by
Pope Gregory XVI.
At Second Vespers in Lent a Com-
memoration is made of the Week-day.
March 5.
martyrology.
Upon the 6th day of March, were
born into the better life —
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs
Victor and Victorinus, who were im-
prisoned for three years, and many
ways tormented, along with Claudian
and Bassa his wife, and being still
recommitted to prison, died therein,
[third century.]
At Tortona, the holy martyr Marcian,
Bishop of that see, who was crowned
under the Emperor Trajan, being slain
for Christ's greater glory.
At Constantinople, holy Evagrius,
who was elected Patriarch of that
see by the Catholics in the time of
the Emperor Valens, but was sent
by the Emperor into exile, and there
passed away to be ever with the Lord.
In Cyprus, the holy martyr Conon,
who under the Emperor Decius had
nails driven through his feet, and was
then made to run in front of a chariot,
under the which torment he fell upon
his knees and gave up his soul in
prayer to God.
Likewise, forty-two holy martyrs,
who were apprehended in Amorium
and brought to Syria, where they
passed through a noble conflict and
triumphantly grasped the palm of
martyrdom, [in the year 845.]
At Bologna, holy Basil, Bishop of
that city, who was ordained by holy
Pope Sylvester, and both by his word
and example governed in holiness the
church committed unto his care, [fourth
century.]
At Barcelona, in Spain, [in the year
1 137,] blessed Oligarius, who was first
Canon and afterward Bishop of Barce-
lona, and Archbishop of Taragona.
At Ghent, in Flanders, the holy
Virgin Coletta, [in the year 1447,]
who first professed in the Third Order
of Friars Minors, and then being
filled with the Holy Ghost, set up
many monasteries of sisters of the
Second Order under the primitive dis-
cipline. She was ennobled by the
grace of God, and famous for countless
miracles, and the Supreme Pontiff
Pius VII. enrolled her name among
those of the saints.
March 6.
martyrology.
Upon the 7th day of March, were
born into the better life —
In the monastery of Fossa Nuova,
near Terracina, the holy Confessor
Thomas of Aquino, [in the year
1274,] of the Order of Friars
Preachers, Doctor of the Church, il-
lustrious for the nobility of his birth,
the holiness of his life, and the depth
of his knowledge of theology. Leo
XIII. declared him the patron in
heaven of all Catholic schools.
At Tuburbe, in Morocco, under the
Emperor Severus, the holy martyrs
Perpetua and Felicitas. Felicitas
FEAST-DAYS IN MARCH.
793
was with child, and therefore was
respited, in accordance with the law,
until after she was delivered. Holy
Augustine saith that when she was in
travail she had sorrow, but when she
was set before the wild beasts she re-
joiced. There suffered along with them
Revocatus, Saturninus, and Secundol-
us, of whom the last died in prison,
but the others were all killed by beasts.
At Caesarea, in Palestine, the holy
martyr Eubulus. He was a Com-
panion of holy Hadrian, and two
days after him was mangled by the
lions and then despatched with the
sword, being the last of all those who
received the crown of martyrdom in
that city, [in the year 308.]
At Nicomedia, holy Theophilus,
Bishop of that see, who for his hon-
ouring of holy images was sent into
exile and there died, [in the year 845.]
At Pelusium, in Egypt, holy Paul,
Bishop of that see, who likewise died
in exile for the same cause.
At Brescia, [in the year 445,] the
holy Confessor Gaudiosus, Bishop of
that see.
In the Thebaid, [in the fourth
century,] holy Paul, surnamed the
Simple.
March 7.
&t Eijomag of Aquino, Con;
fesgor anti ©octor of tfje
CfjurriL
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Confessor not a Bishop, {p. 531,) except
what is otherwise given here.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. O right excellent Teacher,
&c, (p. 531.)
1 These two holy women, along with three men named Revocatus, Saturninus, and Se-
cundolus, suffered in the amphitheatre at Carthage, with circumstances of great cruelty, in
A.D. 203. See the article of Alban Butler, which is very interesting.
Prayer throughout.
r\ GOD, Who dost enlighten Thy
Church by the wonderful learn-
ing of Thy blessed Confessor Thomas,
and quickenest her through his godly
labours, grant unto Thy people, we
humbly beseech Thee, ever to appre-
hend by their understanding what he
teacheth, and in their life faithfully to
practise the same. Through our
Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
In Lent a Commemoration is made
of the Week-day.
Then of the Martyrs Perpetua and
Pelicilas,1 which is done whether it be
Lent or not.
Antiphon. For their's is the king-
dom of heaven, who loved not their
life in this world, and have attained
unto the reward of the kingdom, and
have washed their robes in the Blood
of the Lamb.
Verse. Thou hast crowned them
with glory and honour, O Lord.
Answer. And madest them to have
dominion over the works of Thy hands.
Prayer.
/^RANT unto us, we beseech Thee,
^■^ O Lord our God, that we may
ever call to mind, with all worship
and thanksgiving, the victory of Thy
holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicitas,
and although we know that our mind
cannot comprehend Thee Who art
this day their exceeding great reward,
give us always the grace humbly to
worship Thee. Through our Lord
JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
794
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Ecclus. xxxix. I, {p.
5470
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
''"PHAT splendid adornment of the
Christian world and light of the
Church, blessed Thomas of Aquino, was
the son of Landulph, Earl of Aquino,
and Theodora of Naples, his wife, being
nobly descended on both sides. [He
was born in the year of salvation
1226,] and even as an infant gave
token of the love which he afterwards
bore to the Mother of God. He
found a little bit of paper upon which
was written the Angelic Salutation,
and held it firm in his hand in spite
of the efforts of his wet-nurse ; his
mother took it away by force, but he
cried and stretched out for it, and when
she gave it back to him, he swallowed
it. When he was only four years
old, he was given into the keeping
of the Benedictine monks of Monte
Cassino. He was thence sent to
Naples to study, and there, while
very young, entered the Order of
Friars Preachers. This displeased
his mother and brothers, and he left
Naples for Paris. When he was on
his journey his brothers met him, and
carried him off by force to the castle
of Monte San Giovanni, where they
imprisoned him in the keep. Here
they used every means to break him
of his intention, and at last brought
a woman into his room to try to over-
come his purity. The lad drove her
out with a fire-brand. When he was
alone he knelt down before the figure
of the Cross, and there he fell asleep.
As he slept, it seemed to him that
angels came and girded his loins : and
from this time he never felt the least
sexual inclination. His sisters came
to the castle to beseech him to give up
his purpose of leaving the world, but
he so worked on them by his godly
exhortations, that both of them ever
after set no value on earthly things,
and busied themselves rather with
heavenly.
Fifth Lesson.
"DEING let down from a window,
Thomas escaped out of the castle
of Monte San Giovanni, and returned
to Naples. Thence he went first to
Rome, and then to Paris, in company
of Brother John the German, then
Master-General of the Friars Preachers.
At Paris he studied Philosophy and
Theology under Albert the Great
Doctor. At the age of twenty-five
years he took the degree of Master,
and gave public disquisitions on the
Philosophers and Theologians with
great distinction. He never set him-
self to read or write till he had first
prayed, and when he was about to
take in hand a hard passage of the
Holy Scriptures, he fasted also.
Hence he was wont to say to Brother
Reginald his comrade, that whatever
he knew, he had learnt, not so much
from his own labour and study, as
from the inspiration of God. At
Naples he was once kneeling in very
earnest prayer before an image of
Christ Crucified, when he heard a
voice which said : " Thomas, thou
hast written well of Me — what reward
wilt thou that I give thee?" He
answered: "Lord, — Thyself." He
studied most carefully the works of the
Fathers, and there was no kind of
author in which he was not well read.
His own writings are so wonderful,
both because of their number, their
variety, and the clearness of his ex-
planations of hard things, that his rich
and pure teaching, marvellously con-
sonant with revealed truth, is an admir-
able antidote for the errors of all times.
FEAST-DAYS IN MARCH.
795
Sixth Lesson.
THE Supreme Pontiff Urban IV.
sent for him to Rome, and at
his command he composed the Church
Office for the feast of Corpus Christi.
The Pope could not persuade him to
accept any dignity. Pope Clement
IV. also offered him the Arch-
bishoprick of Naples, but he refused
it. He did not neglect the preaching
of the Word of God. Once while he
was giving a course of sermons in
the Basilica of St Peter, during the
octave of Easter, a woman who had
an issue of blood was healed by touch-
ing the hem of his garment. He was
sent by blessed Gregory X. to the
Council of Lyons, but fell sick on his
way to the Abbey of Fossa Nuovo,
and there during his illness he made
an exposition of the Song of Songs.
There he died on the 7th day of
March, in the year of salvation 1274,
aged fifty years. He was distinguished
for miracles even after his death, and
on proof of these Pope John XXII.
added his name to those of the Saints
in the year 1323. His body was
afterwards carried to Toulouse by
command of blessed Urban V. He
has been compared to an angel, both
on account of his innocency and of
his intellectual power, and has hence
been deservedly termed the Angelic
Doctor. The use of which title as
applied to him was approved by the
authority of holy Pius V. Leo XIII.
cheerfully agreeing to the prayers and
wishes of nearly all the bishops of
the Catholic world, and in conformity
with a vote of the Congregation of
Sacred Rites, by his Apostolic letters
declared and recognised Thomas of
Aquino as the patron in heaven of
all Catholic schools, as an antidote
to the plague of so many false systems,
especially of philosophy, for the in-
crease of scientific knowledge, and for
the common good of all mankind.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. v. 1 3, with the
Homily of St Austin, if. 549.)
Eighth Responsory, " In the midst,
&c." In Lent the Ninth Lesson is the
Homily on the Gospel for the Week-day,
in which case the Third Lesson of the
Homily on Matth. v. 13 is omitted, or
read as one with the Second, and the
First Lesson only of the Week-day is
used, or else all three as one.
At Lauds a Coimnemoration is made
of SS. Perpetua and Felicitas, the
same as at the last Vespers, before
which, in Lent, is made a Commemora-
tion of the Week-day.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 8th day of March, were
born into the better life —
In England, [in the year 646,] the
holy Confessor Felix, Bishop of Dun-
wich, who converted the East Angles
to the faith.
At Granada, in Spain, [in the year
1550,] holy John of God, founder of
the Order of brethren Hospitallers of
the Sick. Famous for his pity toward
the poor, and for his lowly esteem
of himself, whom the Supreme Pontiff
Leo XIII. declared the patron in
heaven of all the sick and those who
nurse them, whose feast we keep upon
the 1 1 th day of this present month of
March.
At Antinoe, in Egypt, the holy
martyrs Philemon and Apolonius the
Deacon. They were arrested, and
brought before the judge, but as they
steadfastly refused to sacrifice to idols
their heels were bored through, and
they were cruelly dragged about the
city until at last they were dispatched
with the sword.
There also the holy martyrs the
President Arian, [governor of Thebes,]
Theoticus, and three others whom the
judge caused to be drowned in the sea,
796
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
but their bodies were brought to the
shore by dolphins, [in the year 287.]
At Nicomedia, the holy martyr
Quinctilis, Bishop of that city.
At Carthage, holy Pontius, Deacon
to blessed Bishop Cyprian, with whom
he remained in exile even unto the day
of his death, and hath left unto us an
excellent book of his life and passion.
In his own sufferings he glorified the
Lord always, and hath earned the
crown of life, [about the year 262.]
In Africa likewise, the holy Bishop
Cyril, Rogatus, Felix, another Rogatus,
Beata, Herenia, Felicitas, Urban,
Silvan, and Mamillus.
At Toledo, in Spain, the blessed
Confessor Julian, Bishop of that see,
[and also native of the same place.]
Very famous for his holiness and
teaching, [in the year 690.]
Vespers of the following from the
Chapter inclusive.
March 8.
&t tfeltx, Bisfjop [of ©un-
fotrf},] Confessor,
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, (p. 515,) ex-
cept the following.
Prayer throughout, " Grant, we be-
seech Thee, &c."
The Vespers of March 7 are of St
Thomas of Aquino till the Chapter,
exclusive.
The Chapter and the rest are of
St Felix, with a Commemoration of
St Thomas. (Antiphon, " O right
excellent, &c")
And in Lent of the Week-day.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth lesson {From Bede, xi. 15.)
ABOUT the year of Christ 631
came from Burgundy, where
he had been born and ordained, to
Honorius, Archbishop of Canterbury,
the Bishop Felix, and, when he had
shown him all his desire, he com-
missioned him to preach to the
East Angles. And he was not dis-
appointed of his hope. He de-
livered the whole of that land from
their long-standing sin and sorrow,
and taught them to believe rightly
and to do rightly, and how to be
happy for ever. He established his
See in the town of Dunwich, and
there, after ruling his Diocese for
seventeen years, he brought his life
to a peaceful end.
Fifth Lesson.
" It is idle, &c," {p. 519,) to which
may be added, "Whatsoever, there-
fore, &c," {p. 519.)
Sixth Lesson.
" Whatsoever, therefore, &c," or
"It is very meet, &c," {p. 520.)
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xxv. 1 4, with
the Homily of St Gregory, {p. 522.)
Ln Lent the last is read along with
the Eighth to make room for the Homily
of the Week-day, of which also a Com-
memoration is made at Lauds.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 9th day of March, were
born into the better life —
At Rome, the holy widow Frances,
famous for her nobleness of birth, the
holiness of her life, and the grace of
FEAST-DAYS IN MARCH.
797
working miracles, [in the year 1440.
Foundress of the Oblates.]
At Sebaste, in Armenia, the forty
holy Cappadocian soldiers. Under
the President Agricolaus, in the time
of the Emperor Licinius, after under-
going bonds and a foul imprisonment,
and after their faces had been bruised
with stones, they were stripped naked,
and exposed all night upon the sur-
face of a frozen pool during the bitter-
est cold of winter, where their bodies
perished by the frost, and at length
by the breaking of their legs. The
illustrious glory of them all hath been
celebrated by holy Basil, and the other
Fathers in their writings, the chief
among them were named Cyrion and
Candidus. We keep their feast upon
the morrow after.
At Nyssa, holy Gregory, [in- the
year 396,] Bishop of that see, brother
of blessed Basil the Great. He is
very famous for his life and learn-
ing ; for defending the Catholic faith
he was driven out of his own city
by the Arian Emperor Valens.
At Barcelona, in Spain, holy Pa-
cian, Bishop of that see, famous not
only for his life but also for his
words, who died in a good old age
in the time of the Emperor Theo-
dosius.
In Moravia, [in the ninth century,]
the holy Cyril, Bishop [of Moravia,]
and Methodius, Bishop [of Kief,] who
brought to believe in Christ many of
the peoples of those countries and
their kings, [and whose feast we keep
upon the 5th day of July.]
At Bologna, [in the year 1463,] the
holy Virgin Katherine, of the Order
of St Clare, famous for the holiness
of her life, whose body is there rev-
erenced with great honour.
Vespers are of St Frances, from the
Chapter, inclusive, with a Commemo-
ration of St Felix, and in Lent of the
Week-day.
March 9.
&t Frances of Eome,
Double.
All from the Common Office for an
Holy Woman who is neither Virgin
nor Martyr, {p. 580,) except the fol-
lowing.
Prayer throughout.
C\ GOD, Who didst give unto
Thy blessed hand-maid Frances
many gifts of Thy heavenly grace,
and, among them, to have an angel
for her familiar friend ; mercifully
grant that we, being continually holpen
through her prayers, may worthily
attain unto the fellowship of angels
hereafter. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
At First Vespers a Commemoration
is made of the preceding, (Prayer as at
his First Vespers, ) and if it be Lent of
the Week-day.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season. If it be Lent, from Prov.
xxxi. 10, (p. 580.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
T^HE noble Roman matron Frances
[was born in the year 1384,
and] was a pattern of godliness from
her earliest years. As a child she
shrank from games, and set no store
by the amusements of the world, but
delighted to be continually alone and
798
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
engaged in prayer. At the age of
eleven years she desired to consecrate
her virginity to God, and to enter a
convent, but (humbly yielded obedience
to the wishes of her parents, and was
married to Lawrence de' Pontiani, a
young man whose rank was equal to
his wealth. As a wife she persevered,
as far as she lawfully could, in her
determination to lead an austere life ;
she abstained as much as possible
from going to shows, feasts, and such
like amusements, dressed plainly in
woollen stuffs, and spent in prayer
or the service of her neighbour what-
ever time she did not occupy with her
duties as mistress of her husband's
house. She strove earnestly to wean
the married women of Rome from
the vanities of the world and the
frivolities of dress. To this end she
founded during her husband's lifetime
the Sisterhood of the Oblates, under the
rule of the Benedictine congregation
called "of the Mount of Olives."
When it pleased God, [in the year
1 41 3,] that her husband should be
banished, all her goods taken away,
and her home ruined, she meekly
bowed down before His holy will,
often repeating the words of the
blessed Job : " The LORD gave, and
the Lord hath taken away ; blessed
be the name of the Lord." (i. 21.)
Fifth Lesson.
C\N her husband's death she [in
^"^ M37] betook herself immed-
iately to the house of the Oblates,
and, with her feet bare and a rope
round her neck, threw herself down
on the threshold, entreating the sisters
with tears to receive her into their
number. When she obtained her
wish, although she was the mother
of them all, she would be among
them only as one that served, glory-
ing rather to be called the most de-
graded of women and a vessel of
uncleanness. Her lowly esteem of
herself was shown both by her word
and example. She passed often
through the city from a vineyard
in the country carrying a bundle of
sticks on her head, or driving an ass
laden with faggots ; she succoured the
needy, for whom she collected large
alms, and visited the sick in the
hospitals, ministering to them both
food for the body and exhortations
healthful for their souls. She strove
continually to bring her body into
subjection by watchings, fastings,
haircloth, the wearing of an iron
girdle, and the often use of a scourge.
She never ate but once a day, and
then only vegetables, and she took no
drink but water. These severities
she however sometimes relaxed, in
obedience to her confessor, on whose
word and wishes she framed her
customs.
Sixth Lesson.
CO great was her mental realisation
of the things of God, and chiefly
of the sufferings of the Lord Christ,
and so abundant her tears in con-
templating them, that she seemed
sometimes about to sink under her
grief. Often when she was engaged
in prayer, and principally after she
had received the Most Holy Sacra-
ment of the Eucharist, her spirit
became altogether lifted up to God,
and she remained motionless, carried
away by the thought of heavenly
things. The enemy of man assailed
her with divers reproaches and buffet-
ings to break her off her intent, but
she feared him not, and with the help
of an Angel whom God gave her to
be her familiar friend, she won a
noble victory over the tempter. God
glorified her with the gifts of healing
and of prophecy, whereby she fore-
told things to come, and saw the
FEAST-DAYS IN MARCH.
799
secrets of the hearts of men. More
than once while her thoughts were
busy in God she remained unwet by
streams or rain. When there was
left only bread enough for three
sisters, the Lord at her prayers was
pleased so to multiply it, that fifteen
had enough, and the basket was filled
again with the fragments. In the
month of January also, when the
sisters were gathering sticks in the
country, and were thirsty, she sat-
isfied them abundantly with bunches
of fresh grapes from a tree. She
departed to be with the Lord, famous
for good works and miracles, in the
fifty-sixth year of her age, [upon the
9th day of March, in the year of our
Lord 1440.] The Supreme Pontiff
Paul V. caused her to be numbered
among the saints.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xiii. 44, with
the Homily of Pope St Gregory, {p.
583.) In Lent the Ninth Lesson is
the Homily on the Gospel for the
Week- day , in which case the Third
Lesson of the Homily on Matth. xii.
44 is omitted, or read as one with the
Second, and the First Lesson only of
the Week-day is read, or else all three
as one.
In Lent a Commemoration of the
Week-day is made at Lauds.
Lucius Verus, as is written by Ap-
polinaris, Bishop of Hierapolis, in
his book against the heretics called
Cataphrygians.
In Persia, forty-two holy martyrs,
[about the year 375.]
At Corinth, the holy martyrs Cod-
ratus, Denis, Cyprian, Anectus, Paul,
and Crescens, who were slain with
the sword under the President Jason,
in the persecution under the Em-
perors Decius and Valerian.
In Africa, the holy martyr Victor,
on whose feast day holy Augustine
addressed a discourse to the people.
At Jerusalem, the holy Confessor
Macarius, Patriarch of that see, at
whose exhortation Constantine and
Helen cleansed the holy places, and
adorned them with hallowed churches
[about the year 334. There is a
letter to him from Constantine pre-
served by Socrates.]
At Paris, [in the year 580,] holy
Drostovaeus, Abbat [of the monastery
of St German de Pres,] the disciple
of blessed German, Bishop [of Paris.]
In the monastery of Bobbio, holy
Attala, Abbat [of that monastery,]
famous for miracles, [in the year
627.]
At Second Vespers a Commemora-
tion is made of the following; Anti-
phon and Verse and Answer from the
Common Office for Many Martyrs, (p.
603,) and the following.
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the forty holy martyrs who suffered
at Sebaste, in Armenia.
Upon the same 1 oth day of March,
were born into a better life —
At Apamea, in Phrygia, the holy
martyrs Caius and Alexander, who
were crowned with a glorious martyr-
dom in the persecution under the
Emperors Marcus Antoninus and
Prayer.
/^RANT, we beseech Thee, O Al-
^^ mighty God, that we who know
Thy glorious Martyrs to have been in
their testimony leal and true towards
Thee, may, now that they are with
Thee, feel them to be in their petitions
pitiful towards us.
Then the Week-day is commemorated.
8oo
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
March io.
Eje jFortp i^olg Jftartgrg at
Sebaiste*
Semi-double.
All from the Common Office for
. Many Martyrs, (p. 498,) except the
following.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons (in Lent) from Rom. viii.
12, (p. 499.) -#r 0«^ <?/" Lent, accord-
ing to the Season,
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
~\\ 7"HILE Licinius was Emperor and
Agricolaus President, [in the
year of our Lord 320,] forty soldiers
at Sebaste, a city of Armenia, gave
a singular instance of faith in JESUS
Christ, and bravery under suffering.
After being often remanded to an
horrid prison-house, bound in fetters,
and their mouths bruised with stones,
they were ordered out in the depth of
winter, stripped naked, and put upon
a frozen pool, to die of cold during the
night. The prayer of them all was the
same : " O Lord, forty of us have begun
to run in the race, grant that all forty
may receive the crown, let not one be
wanting at the last. Behold, is it not an
honourable number in Thy sight, Who
didst bless the fast of forty days, and at
the end Thy Divine Law came forth
to the earth ? When also Elias sought
Thee, Thou, O God, didst reveal
Thyself unto him when he had fasted
for forty days." Even so was their
petition.
Fifth Lesson.
"VXTHEN the keepers were all asleep
and the watchman only was
awake, he heard them praying and
saw a light shining round about them,
and Angels coming down from heaven,
as the messengers of the King, bearing
nine-and-thirty crowns, and distributing
them to the soldiers. Then he said
within himself: "Are not forty here ?
Where is the crown of the fortieth ? "
And as he looked he saw one of them
whose courage could not bear the cold,
come and leap into a warm bath that
stood by ; and the Saints were griev-
ously afflicted. Nevertheless God
suffered not that their prayer should
return unto them void ; for the
watchman wondered, and called the
keepers, and stripped himself of his
clothes ; and, when with a loud voice
he had confessed himself a Christian,
he joined the Martyrs. When the
servants of the President knew that
the watchman also was a Christian,
they brake the legs of them all with
staves.
Sixth Lesson.
T T NDER this torment died they all,
saving Melithon, who was the
youngest. Now, his mother stood by,
and when she saw that his legs were
broken, but that he was yet alive,
she cried, and said : " My son, have
patience but a little longer. Behold
how Christ standeth at the door to
help thee." When she saw the bodies
of all the others put upon carts and
taken away to be burned, and that
her son was left behind, because the
multitude wickedly hoped that being
but a lad, if he lived, he might yet
be drawn to commit idolatry, the holy
mother took him on her own shoulders
and bravely followed behind the carts
laden with the bodies of the Martyrs.
In her arms Melithon gave up his
soul to God, and the mother who
loved him so well laid his body with
her own hands upon the pile, with
those of the other Martyrs, that, as
they had all been one in faith and
FEAST-DAYS IN MARCH.
8oi
strength, in death they might not
be divided, and might enter heaven
together. After the burning, what
remained of them was thrown into a
running stream, but the ashes were
all washed together into one place,
and being found and rescued, they
were laid in an honourable sepulchre.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke vi. 17, with the
Homily of St Ambrose, {p. 511.) The
Ninth Lesson is the Homily on the
Gospel for the Week-day, and the
Third Lesson of the Homily on Luke
vi. 17 is omitted or read as one with
the Second, and the First Lesson only
of the Week-day is read, or else all
three as one.
Prayer throughout the day as at the
Commemoration last evening.
At Lauds a Commemoration is made
of the Week-day.
MARTYROLOGY.
On the morrow we keep the feast
of the holy Confessor John of God,
founder of the Order of Brethren Hos-
pitallers of the Sick. Famous for his
pity toward the poor, and for his
lowly esteem of himself, whom the
Supreme Pontiff Leo XIII. declared
the Patron in heaven of all the sick
and those who nurse them, and of
whom mention hath been made upon
the 8th day of this present month of
March.
Upon the same 1 ith day of March,
were born into the better life —
At Carthage, the holy martyrs
Heraclius and Zosimus.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs
Candidus, Piperion, and twenty others.
At Laodicea, in Syria, in the perse-
cution under the Emperor Diocletian,
the holy martyrs Trophimus and
Thalus, who after many cruel torments
gained crowns of glory.
At Antioch, are commemorated
many holy martyrs, of whom some
were laid upon beds of red-hot iron
by command of the Emperor Max-
imian, not until they died, but until
their flesh was cooked, so as to ensure
their prolonged suffering ; and others
were put to other most cruel torments,
before they received the crown of
martyrdom.
Likewise the holy martyrs Gorgonius
and Firmus.
At Cordova, the holy Priest Eulog-
ius, who deserved a place among the
martyrs of the said city, in the perse-
cution under the Saracens, by striving
by his writings to rival their con-
tendings for the faith, [in the year
859.]
At Sardis, holy Euthymius, Bishop
of that see, who for his honouring of
holy images was banished by the
Iconoclast Emperor Michael, and mar-
tyred under Theophilus.
At Jerusalem, holy Sophronius,
Bishop of that see, [about the year
638.]
At Milan, holy Benedict, Bishop of
that see, [about the year 725.]
In the neighbourhood of Amiens,
the holy Abbat Firmin."
At Carthage, the holy Confessor
Constantine.
At Bauco, the holy Confessor Peter,
eminent for the fame of his miracles.
[A Spanish soldier who lived as a
hermit in Italy.]
Vespers are of the following from
the Chapter inclusive.
March ii.
&t Sojjn of ffiotr, Confessor.
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Confessor not a Bishop, (p. 531,) except
the following.
802
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Prayer throughout.
f~\ GOD, Who didst so enkindle in
^^ Thy servant John the fire of
Thy Divine love, that when he walked
in the midst of earthly fire the flame
thereof had on his body no power,
and Who didst choose him for a mean
whereby Thou hast given unto Thy
Church a new family of sons, merci-
fully grant unto us, for his sake, that
the fire of Thy love may burn up in
us all things that displease Thee, and
make us meet for Thy heavenly king-
dom. Through our- Lord JESUS
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
First Vespers are of St John.
A Commemoration is made of the
Forty Martyrs. Prayer as in their
Office, and then of the Week-day.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Ecclus. xxxi. 8, (J>.
542.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
JOHN of God was born of Catholic
and godly parents in the town
of Montemor in Portugal, [in the year
1495.] The lot to which God had
elected him was foreshown at his birth
by a light shining over the house,
and by the ringing of a bell untouched
by human hands. He fell at one
time into a loose habit of life, but was
recalled by the grace of God, and
began to show tokens of true re-
formation. By hearing the Word of
God, he so felt himself stirred up to
strive after nobler things, that he con-
sidered not that to which he had al-
ready attained, and yearned to be
perfect, as our Father in heaven is
perfect. He gave away all his pro-
perty to the poor and prisoners, and
became a gazing - stock to all that
knew him, by the strength of his re-
pentance, and the depth of his self-
contempt. On this account he was
commonly supposed to be mad, and
was once shut up in a lunatic asylum.
He was only the more filled with
schemes of charity, and collected, by
begging, funds sufficient to build a
large double Hospital in the town of
Granada. Here he founded the new
Order of Hospital Brethren with
which he enriched the Church. These
Brethren are now spread throughout
all parts of the world, and engaged
in ministering to the souls and bodies
of the sick.
Fifth Lesson.
T T E strove to get for the sick poor,
whom he sometimes brought to
the Hospital on his own shoulders,
whatever was needful for their souls
or bodies. His charity was extended
to the poor outside of his institution,
and he used to supply food privately
to necessitous widows, and more so
to young women whose virtue was
tempted on account of their poverty.
He was most careful in encouraging
the virtue of purity in all whom he
knew. On one occasion when there
was a great fire in the hospital at
Granada, John bravely entered the
burning house, ran from one part of
it to another, carried out the sick on
his shoulders, and threw the beds out
of the windows, and finally, after pass-
ing half-an-hour in the midst of the
flames, which were now raging with
great violence, by the mercy of God
left the building uninjured, to the
great wonder of all the citizens ; there-
by to teach all them that love God
that the fire which burnt in his heart
gave him strength to risk the fire
which threatened him from without.
FEAST-DAYS IN MARCH.
8o3
Sixth Lesson.
I-JE was a marked example of every
kind of austerity, of the most
lowly obedience, of the deepest volun-
tary poverty, of the most constant
prayer, of ghostly contemplation, and
of love towards the blessed Virgin.
He was distinguished for the gift of
tears. Being at last seized by deadly
sickness, he duly received, with saintly
affection, all the Sacraments of the
Church. After all strength seemed to
have left him, he got out of his bed,
put on his own clothes, and knelt
down before an image of the Lord
Christ hanging on the Cross. Round
it he threw his arms and pressed it
against his heart, and in this position,
as it were in the kiss of the Lord, he
died, on the 8th day of March 1550.
After his death his body did not leave
its grip of the crucifix until it was for-
cibly taken away, six hours after.
During these six hours all the in-
habitants of the city came to see it,
and noticed a savour of strange sweet-
ness proceeding from it. His name
was illustrious as a worker of miracles
both before and after his death, and
the Supreme Pontiff Alexander VIII.
added it to those of the Saints, and
Leo XIII., at the desire of the Bishops
of the Catholic world, and in accord-
ance with a vote of the Congregation
of Rites, declared him the patron in
heaven of all the sick and those who
nurse them, wheresoever dwelling, and
ordered that his name should be
called upon in the Litany for the
dying.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy Gos-
pel according to Matthew (xxii. 35.)
A T that time : The Pharisees came
unto Jesus, and one of them,
which was a lawyer, asked Him a
question, tempting Him, saying : Mas-
ter, which is the great commandment
in the Law ? And so on.
Homily by St John Chrysostom, Pa-
triarch [of Constantinople.] 72?id on
Matthew.
When the Pharisees had heard that
Christ had put the Sadducees to
silence, they gathered themselves to-
gether for a fresh attack ; just when
it behoved them to be quiet, they
willed to contend ; and so they put
forward one of themselves, who pro-
fessed skill in the law, not wishing
to learn, but to lay a snare. This
person therefore proposed the ques-
tion : " Which is the great command-
ment in the law?" The first and
great commandment is : "Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God," but they
expected that He would make some
exception or addition to this in His
Own case, since He made Himself
God. (John x. 33.) With this ex-
pectation they asked Him the question :
But what said Christ ? To show that
they had adopted this course, because
they were loveless, and sick with envy,
He answered : " Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind. This is the first and great
commandment. And the second is
like unto it : Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself."
Eighth Lesson.
VX7"HY is this second commandment
like unto the first ? Because
the first is the second's source and
sanction. " For every one that doeth
evil hateth the light, neither cometh
to the light." (John. iii. 20.) And
again: "The fool hath said in his
heart : There is no God " — and there
followeth : "They are corrupt, and
804
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
become abominable in their works."
(Ps. xiii. i.) And yet again: "The
love of money is the root of all
evil ; whicfy while some coveted after,
they have erred from the faith." (i
Tim. vi. 10.) And yet once more:
" If ye love Me, keep My command-
ments." (John xiv. 15,) — of which
commandments the head and root is :
" Thou shalt love the Lord thy God ;
and thy neighbour as thyself."
Ninth Lesson.
T F, therefore, to love God is to love
our neighbour also, (as it appear-
eth where it is written : " Simon, son
of Jonas, lovest thou Me ? And he
said unto Him : Lord, Thou knowest
all things ; Thou knowest that I love
Thee. Jesus saith unto him ; Feed
My sheep," John xxi. 17,) — and if
" love is the fulfilling of the law,"
(Rom. xiii. 10,) justly doth the Lord
say that "on these two command-
ments hang all the law and the
Prophets." And even as when,
before this, (23-32,) being interrog-
ated about the Resurrection, He
answered them more than they asked,
so, now, being interrogated concern-
ing the first and great commandment,
He answereth them, of His own
accord, touching that second one also,
which is little lower than the first,
for "the second is like unto it."
Herein He would have them under-
stand that it was hatred stirred them
up to question Him. " For Charity,"
saith the Apostle, "envieth not." (1
Cor. xiii. 4.)
The Ninth Lesson is the Homily on
the Gospel for the Week-day. The
Third Lesson of the Homily on Matth.
xxii. 35, is omitted or read as one with
the Second, and the First Lesson only
of the Week-day is read, or else all
three as one.
In Lent a Commemoration of the
Week-day is made at Lauds.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 12th day of March, were
born into the better life —
At Rome, holy Pope Gregory [I.,]
an eminent Doctor of the Church,
who, on account of his illustrious acts
and his doings to bring the English
to believe in Christ, is surnamed
the Great, and called the Apostle of
England, [in the year 604.]
Likewise at Rome, the holy martyr
Mamilian, [in the year 295.]
At Nicomedia, the blessed martyr
Peter. He was a chamberlain to the
Emperor Diocletian, and because he
bewailed the fearful slaughter of mar-
tyrs, the Emperor commanded him to
be brought forth, hung up, and lashed
for a long time. After which he was
covered with vinegar and salt, and at
length roasted upon a grating upon a
slow fire, and thus is he worthy to be
reckoned a true inheritor of Peter's
faith, as well as Peter's name.
There likewise the holy martyrs
Egdunus the Priest, and seven others,
of whom one was strangled every day
in order to terrify the others, [about
the year 303.]
At Constantinople, holy Theophanes.
He was originally a very rich man,
but became a monk. The wicked
Emperor Leo, the Armenian, kept him
for two years in prison for honouring
holy images, and then banished him
to Samo-Thrace, where he sank under
his sufferings and gave up the ghost,
[about the year 818.] He is famous
for many miracles.
At Capua, the holy Confessor Ber-
nard, Bishop of Calenum, [in the year
1 109.]
Vespers of the following.
The Second Vespers are of the fol-
lowing, from the Chapter, inclusive.
FEAST-DAYS IN MARCH.
805
MARCH 12.
&t 0regor|j [tije ©rear,] Pope
of Eome, Confessor, doc-
tor of tije $j)itrci), ano Ap-
ostle of ^Hnglano.
Double of the Second Class.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, {p. 515,) ex-
cept the following.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. O right excellent Teacher,
&c, (A 515.)
Prayer throughout.
f~\ GOD, who hast blessed the
^~"^ soul of Thy servant Gregory
with an everlasting blessing, merci-
fully grant that we, who groan under
the burden of our sins, may by his
prayers be relieved. Through our
Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in
the unity of the Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.
A Coimnemoration is made of St
John of God, with Prayer from his
Office.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Ecclus. xxxix. 1, as
in the Common Office, {p. 547.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
/GREGORY the Great was a
^ Roman, the son of Gordian
the Senator, [and was born about
the year of our Lord 54°-] As a
young man he studied philosophy,
and afterwards discharged the office
of Praetor. After his father's death
he built six monasteries in Sicily,
and a seventh in honour of St An-
drew, in his own house at Rome,
hard by the Church of Saints John
and Paul at the ascent of the hill
Scaurus. In this monastery of St
Andrew, he and his masters, Hila-
rion and Maximian, professed them-
selves monks, and Gregory was
afterwards Abbat. Later on, he was
created a Cardinal Deacon, and sent
to Constantinople as legate from
Pope Pelagius to the Emperor
Tiberius Constantine. Before the
Emperor he so successfully disputed
against the Patriarch Eutychius, who
had denied that our bodies shall
verily and indeed rise again, that
the Prince threw the book of the
said Patriarch into the fire. Euty-
chius himself also soon after fell
sick, and when he felt death coming
on him, he took hold of the skin
of his own hand and said in the
hearing of many that stood by: "I
acknowledge that we shall all rise
again in this flesh."
Fifth Lesson.
/"GREGORY returned to Rome,
^-^ and, Pelagius being dead of a
plague, he was unanimously chosen
Pope. This honour he refused as
long as he could. He disguised
himself and took refuge in a cave,
but was betrayed by a fiery pillar.
Being discovered and overruled, he
was consecrated at the grave of St
Peter, [upon the 3rd day of Septem-
ber, in the year 590.] He left be-
hind him many ensamples of doc-
trine and holiness to them that
have followed him in the Popedom.
Every day he brought pilgrims to
his table, and among them he en-
tertained not an Angel only, but
the very Lord of Angels in the
guise of a pilgrim. He tenderly
8o6
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
cared for the poor, of whom he
kept a list, as well without as
within the city. He restored the
Catholic fdith in many places where
it had been overthrown. He fought
successfully against the Donatists in
Africa and the Arians in Spain.
He cleansed Alexandria of the Ag-
noites. He refused to give the Pall
to Syagrius, Bishop of Autun, un-
less he would expel the Neophyte
heretics from Gaul. He caused the
Goths to abandon the Arian heresy.
He sent into Britain Augustine and
divers other learned and holy monks,
who brought the inhabitants of that
island to believe in Jesus Christ.
Hence Gregory is justly called by
Bede, the Priest of Jarrow, " the
Apostle of England." He rebuked
the presumption of John, Patriarch
of Constantinople, who had taken to
himself the title of Bishop of the
Universal Church, and he dissuaded
the Emperor Maurice from forbid-
ding soldiers to become monks.
Sixth Lesson.
/GREGORY adorned the Church
^■^ with holy customs and laws.
He called together a Synod in the
Church of St Peter, and therein or-
dained many things ; among others,
the ninefold repetition of the words
■" Kyrie eleison " in the Mass, the
saying of the word " Alleluia " in
the Church service except between
Septuagesima inclusive and Easter
exclusive, and the addition to the
Canon of the Mass of the words
** Do Thou order all our days in
Thy peace." He increased the Lit-
anies, the number of the Churches
where is held the observance called
a Station, and the length of the
Church Service. He would that
the four Councils of Nice, Constan-
tinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon
should be honoured like four Gos-
pels. He released the Sicilian Bish-
ops from visiting Rome every three
years, willing them to come instead
once every five years. He was the
author of many books, and Peter
the Deacon declareth that he often
saw the Holy Ghost on his head in
the form of a dove when he was
dictating them. It is a marvel how
much he spoke, did, wrote, and
legislated, suffering all the while
from a weak and sickly body. He
worked many miracles. At last God
called him away to be blessed for
ever in heaven, in the thirteenth
year, sixth month, and tenth day of
his Pontificate, being the 12th day
of March, [in the year of salvation
604.] This day is observed by the
Greeks, as well as by us, as a festi-
val, on account of the eminent wis-
dom and holiness of this Pope. His
body was buried in the Church of
St Peter, hard by the Private Chapel.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy Gos-
pel according to Matthew (v. 12.)
A T that time : Jesus said unto
His disciples : Ye are the salt
of the earth. But if the salt have
lost his savour, wherewith shall it be
salted ? And so on.
Homily by Pope St Gregory [the
Great.] {Horn. 17 on Luke x.)
We have to consider that he who
is not able by one exhortation to
exhort all at once, must strive ac-
cording to his ability to instruct
each in private and edify each by
personal conversation. We must al-
ways hold in mind that which was
said to the holy Apostles, and,
through the Apostles, to us: "Ye
are the salt of the earth. If we
FEAST-DAYS IN MARCH.
807
are therefore salt, we ought to
season the minds of the faithful.
Ye then that are shepherds, remem-
ber that ye feed the flock of God,
even that flock of which the Psalmist
saith to God : " Thy creatures shall
dwell therein" (Ps. lxvii. 11.) We
often see pieces of rock-salt given
to animals, which they lick, and the
seasoning of the salt is good for
them. As these pieces of rock-salt
to cattle, so ought Priests to be to
their people. A Priest should be
prudent in what he saith, and what
warning he giveth to each ; and each
one when he meeteth his Priest,
should draw from him a savour unto
life eternal.
Eighth Lesson.
\\T~E are not the salt of the earth,
if we season not the hearts of
them that hear us. He that faileth
not in preaching, imparteth this season-
ing to his neighbour. And we do not
truly preach to others unless by our own
works and example we show them what
we preach. Dearly beloved brethren,
I think that God is not so much
wronged by any as He is by Priests,
whom He hath ordained to keep
others straight, and then seeth set-
ting an ill example ; when we, who
ought to be the enemies of sin,
work sin, seek not the good of
souls, take leisure to enjoy our own
pursuits, seek worldly things, and
set our minds to gain human re-
spect. And, above all, when we
who, as Prelates, are raised above
the others, and are so far freer to
do what we like, prostitute our
ministry of blessing, wherewith we
are blessed, to compass the ends
of worldly vanity, abandon God's
work, occupy ourselves with earthly
affairs, take in sooth an holy place,
and then involve ourselves in deeds
and thoughts of the world.
Eighth Responsory.
In the midst, &c, {p. 539.)
The Ninth Lesson is the Homily
for the Week-day, either the first
part or all three as one.
At Lauds and Vespers a Com-
memoration is made of the Week-
day.
MARTYROLOGY.
Upon the 1 3th day of March, were
born into the better life —
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs
Macedonius, Patricia his wife, and
Modesta their daughter, [in the year
303-]
At Nice, the holy martyrs Theusetas
and Horres his son, Theodora, Nym-
phodora, Mark, and Arabia, who were
all delivered over to the flames for
Christ's sake.
At Eshman, in Egypt, the holy
martyr Sabinus, who after suffering
many things, was at length drowned
in the Nile, [in the year 287. He is
said to have been denounced by a
beggar he maintained by his alms.]
In Persia, the holy Virgin and
martyr Christina.
At Cordova, the holy martyrs
Roderick the Priest and Salomon, [in
the year 857.]
At Constantinople, holy Nicephorus,
Bishop of that see. He was a zealous
upholder of the traditions of the
Fathers, and for the honouring of
holy images constantly withstood the
Iconoclast Emperor Leo the Armenian,
by whom he was sent into exile, where
he suffered a lingering martyrdom for
fourteen years, and then passed away
to be ever with the Lord, [in the year
828.]
At Camerino, the holy Confessor
Ansovinus, Bishop of that see, [in the
year 840.]
In the Thebaid, the holy Virgin
Euphrasia, [in the year 412.]
8o8
THE PROPER OFFICE OF THE SAINTS.
Note. If any of the Feasts which
follow fall in Holy Week or Easter
Week, they are transferred till after
Low Sunday, with the changes in that
case necessary, if they are capable of
being transferred according to the
general rubrics; but if not, they are
simply commemorated at both Vespers
and Lauds without having the Ninth
Lesson at Mattins.
March 13.
martyrology.
Upon the 1 4th day of March, were
born into the better life —
At Rome, in the Veranian field, the
holy martyr Leo, Bishop.
Likewise at Rome, forty-seven holy
martyrs, who were all baptised by the
blessed Apostle Peter during the nine
months during which he and his
fellow-Apostle Paul were imprisoned
in the Mamertine prison, and who,
all for the loyal confession of their
faith, were slain by the sword, under
the Emperor Nero.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Peter
and Aphrodisius, who received their
crown in the persecution under the
Vandals.
At Haran, in Mesopotamia, the
holy martyrs Eutychius the Patrician
and his Companions, who were slain
by Evelid, King of the Arabs, for con-
fessing their faith, [in the year 741.]
In the province of Valeria, two
holy monks, whom the Lombards
hung upon a tree, whereon after they
were dead their very enemies heard
them singing. In the same persecu-
tion, a Deacon of the church of
Maruvium, [now called that of
Pescina,] was beheaded for confess-
ing the faith.
At Halberstadt, in Germany, the
blessed Matilda, Queen of the Romans,
Mother of the Emperor Otho I., who
fell asleep in peace, illustrious for
her lowliness and long suffering, [in
the year 968.]
March 14.
martyrology.
Upon the 1 5th day of March, were
born into the better life —
At Caesarea, in Cappadocia, the holy
martyr Longinus, who is said to have
been the soldier who pierced the
Lord's side with a spear.
Upon the same day, holy Aristo-
bulus, the disciple of the Apostles,
who when the work of his preaching
was done suffered martyrdom.
At Thessalonica, holy Matrona.
She was a slave, belonging to a cer-
tain Jewess. She was a Christian
in secret, and went to the church every
day for private prayer. Her mistress
found this. She afflicted her in many
ways, and at last caused her to be
cudgelled, until, still confessing Christ,
she gave up her pure spirit to God,
[probably about the year 800.]
On the same day, the holy martyr
Menignus, a fuller, who suffered under
the Emperor Decius.
In Egypt, the holy martyr Nicander,
who would make careful search for the
relics of holy martyrs, and earned to
become a martyr himself under the
Emperor Diocletian.
At Cordova, the holy Virgin and
martyr Leocritia, [in the year 880.]
At Rome, holy Pope Zachary, who
governed the Church of God with all
watchfulness, and fell asleep in peace,
famous for good works, [in the year
752.]
At Riete, holy Probus, Bishop of
that see, at whose death, [in the year
570,] the martyrs Juvenal and Eleu-
therius were present.
At Rome, [in the sixth century,]
the holy [Benedictine] monk, [at Ter-
racina,] Speciosus, whose soul his
brother saw being borne heavenward.
Bty 2UfflttionaI £>ertnces*
Note. — None of these Services are ever binding upon persons bound to recite
the Office, except that for the Dead on All Souls' Day, and the Litany {without
the Penitential Psalms) on St Mark's Day, and the three Rogation Days.1
€t)t Utttle ©ffic* of tf>t mmttt Virgin Jttarg*
This Office is added to the Church
Office every day, except ( i ) those on
which Nine Lessons are read, (2) Sat-
urdays upon which her Office is said
as a Simple; upon all which days
it is omitted from the First Vespers
inclusive. Upon Christmas Eve it is
omitted from Mattins inclusive. When
it is said in Choir, Mattins and Lauds
are said before the Mattins and Lauds
of the Day, and the Vespers before
Vespers. Prime is said just before the
Martyrology is read. Terce, Sext,
None, and Compline are said after
the Terce, Sext, None, and Compline
of the day, respectively. Out of
Choir it is said whenever the reciter
chooses.
If it is said apart from the Church
Office, the Angelic Salutation is said
inaudibly before each Office, except
Lauds. None of the Antiphons are
ever doubled.
The Office varies according as it be
(1) Ordinary, (2) In Advent, (3) Be-
tween Christmas and Candlemas.
1. Ordinary.
vespers.
Make haste, &c, as usual, continu-
ing the same as on a Semi-double Feast
of the Blessed Virgin, till the end of
the Hymn.
Verse. Grace is poured into thy
lips.
Answer. Therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever.
Afitiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Blessed Mother and in-
violate Maiden ! * glorious Queen of
the world ! Plead for us with the
Lord!
Then :
Kyrie eleison.
Answer. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Verse. O Lord, hear my prayer.
Answer. And let my cry come unto
Thee.
1 Nevertheless, in some Churches the custom exists, and in some there are foundations for
saying the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin, or the Office of the Dead every day or on
certain days, irrespective of what the Church Office may be, and such has also been the
practice of some Saints.
VOL. I. 2D
8io
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech Thee, &c, (as
in the ful{ Office, p. 565, with the
short ending, Through Christ our
Lord.)
Then the following Commemoration
of the Saints.
Antiphon. O all ye holy children
of God, be pleased to pray for our
salvation and the salvation of all men.
Verse. Be glad in the LORD, and
rejoice, ye righteous.
Answer. And shout for joy, all ye
that are upright in heart.
Let us pray.
T3E Thou, O Lord, the Shield of
Thy people, and cover with
Thine everlasting Arm those who
trust in the help of Thine Apostles
Peter and Paul, and the others Thine
Apostles.
We pray Thee, O Lord, that all
Thine holy children may in all places
succour us, and that as we call to
mind their worthy acts, so we may
feel the comfort of their friendship.
Grant Thou also peace in our days,
and keep Thy Church ever clean
purged of all iniquity.
Order Thou also our footsteps, our
deeds, and our wills, and the foot-
steps, the deeds, and the wills of all
Thy servants, in the straight path
that leadeth unto salvation in Thee.
Reward with eternal life all them
who do us good.
And grant eternal rest unto all the
faithful departed.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ
Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth
with Thee, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Amen.
COMPLINE.
Turn us, &c, as in the Church
Office, but the Psalms, (which are said
without any Antiphon,) are
Psalm CXXVIII.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees."]
TV/I" ANY a time have they warred
against me from my youth —
* may Israel now say: —
Many a time have they warred
against me from my youth : * yet
they have not prevailed against me.
1 The ploughers ploughed upon my
back : * they made long their furrows.
The Lord is righteous, He hath
broken the necks of the wicked. *
Let them all be confounded and
turned back that hate Zion.
Let them be as the grass upon the
house-tops, * which withereth before
it is plucked up :
Wherewith the mower filleth not his
hand, * nor he that bindeth sheaves
his bosom.
Neither do they that go by say :
The blessing of the LORD be upon
you ! * we bless you in the name of
the Lord !
Psalm CXXIX.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees." The
meaning of this title is not certain. The
Psalms so called may perhaps, like the
" Graduals " of the Roman Liturgy, be "step-
songs," intended to be sung during proces-
sions, Liturgical or of pilgrims.]
/"~\UT of the depths have I cried
^ unto Thee, O Lord! * Lord,
hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive * to the
voice of my supplication.
If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark in-
iquities, * O Lord, who shall stand ?
But there is forgiveness with Thee :
1 I.e., "They furrowed my back with stripes as the ground is furrowed with the
plough." Gesenius.
THE LITTLE OFFICE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 81 1
* because of Thy law, I wait for Thee,
0 Lord !
My soul waiteth on His word : *
my soul hopeth in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until
night * let Israel hope in the Lord :
For with the Lord there is mercy,
* and with Him is plenteous redemp-
tion.
And He shall redeem Israel, * from
all his iniquities.
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Psalm CXXX.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees," to which
the Hebrew and the Vulgate, but not the
Targum or the LXX., add "of David."]
T ORD, mine heart is not haughty, *
nor mine eyes lofty :
Neither do I exercise myself in
great matters, * or in wonderful
things that are above me.
If I have not thought lowly of my-
self— * (but lifted up my soul) —
Even as a child that is weaned
from his mother : * so be my soul
rewarded.
Let Israel hope in the Lord, *
from henceforth and for ever.
Hymn}
REMEMBER, O Creator Lord,
That in the Virgin's sacred womb
Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh
Didst our mortality assume.
Mother of grace, O Mary blest,
To thee, sweet fount pf love, we fly ;
Shield us through life, and take us hence
To thy dear bosom when we die.
O Jesu, born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee ;
Praise to the Father infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.
Chapter. (Ecclus. xxiv. 24.)
I" AM the mother of fair love, and
fear, and knowledge, and holy
hope.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Verse. Pray for us, O holy Mother
of God.
Answer. That we may be made
worthy of the promises of Christ.
Antiphon. We take refuge under
Thy protection.
Song of Simeon. Lord, now lettest
Thou Thy servant, &c, {p. 209.)
Antiphon. We take refuge under
Thy protection, O holy Mother of
God! Despise not our supplications
in our need, but deliver us alway from
all dangers, O Virgin, glorious and
blessed !
Kyrie eleison.
Answer. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
T ORD, we pray Thee, that the
glorious intercession of Mary,
blessed, and glorious, and everlast-
ingly Virgin, may shield us and bring
us on toward eternal life. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
MATTINS.
O Lord, open Thou my lips, &c,
as in the full Office, only with this
Invitatory. Hail, Mary, full of
grace. * The Lord is with Thee!
1 Translation by the late Rev. E. Caswall.
812
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
Only one Nocturn is said. On
Mondays and Thursdays, it is the
First from the full Office; on Tuesdays
and Fridays, the Second; and, on
Wednesdays and Saturdays, the Third.
Then :
Verse. Grace is poured into thy
lips.
Answer. Therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever.
Our Father, &c. And lead us not
into temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from evil.
Absolution.
By the prayers of the Blessed Mary,
always a Virgin, and by the prayers
of all His Saints, and for her sake
and for their sakes, may the Lord
lead us unto the kingdom of heaven.
Answer. Amen.
First Blessing.
Bless us, Mary, Maiden mild,
Bless us, Jesus, Mary's Child.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
of Ecclesiasticus (xxiv. 11.)
\X7TTH all these I sought rest, but
I shall abide in the inheritance
of the Lord. So the Creator of all
things gave me a commandment, and
said unto me, even He that made me
rested in my tabernacle, and said
unto me, Let thy dwelling be in Jacob,
and thine inheritance in Israel, and
strike thou thy roots amid My chosen
people.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
breast Him Whom the heavens can-
not contain.
Verse. Blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb.
Answer. For thou hast borne in
thy breast Him Whom the heavens
cannot contain.
Second Blessing.
With the Lord Who sprang of thee,
Maid of maidens, plead for me.
Second Lesson.
A ND so was I established in Zion,
■^^ and likewise in the Holy City
was I given to rest, and in Jerusalem
was my power. And I took root
among the honourable people, even
in the portion of my God, as His own
inheritance, and mine abiding was in
the full assembly of the Saints.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Second Responsory.
Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary,
who hast carried the Lord, the Maker
of the world. Thou hast borne Him
Who created thee, and thou abidest a
virgin for ever.
Verse. Hail, Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Answer. Thou hast borne Him
Who created thee, and thou abidest a
virgin for ever.
Third Blessing.
He to Whom His mother prays,
Grant us blessing all our days.
First Responsory.
O how holy and how spotless is thy
virginity ! I am too dull to praise
thee ; for thou hast
dull to
borne i
thy
Third Lesson.
WAS exalted like a cedar in
Lebanon, and as a cypress-tree
upon Mount Zion. I was exalted like
THE LITTLE OFFICE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 813
a palm-tree in Kadesh, and as a rose-
plant in Jericho, as a fair olive-tree in
the plains, and grew up as a plane-
tree beside the water in the broad
ways. I gave a sweet smell like
cinnamon and aromatic balm ; I
yielded a pleasant odour like the best
myrrh.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Third Responsory.
O holy Virgin Mary, happy indeed
art thou, and right worthy of all
praise, for out of thee rose the Sun of
righteousness, even Christ our God.
Verse. Pray for the people, plead
for the clergy, make intercession for
all women vowed to God. Let all
that are making this holy memorial
of thee feel the might of thine assist-
ance.
Answer. For out of thee rose the
Sun of righteousness, even Christ our
God.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Even Christ our God.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. Mary hath been
taken to heaven ; * the Angels rejoice ;
they praise and bless the Lord.
Second Antiphon. The Virgin Mary
hath been taken into the chamber on
high, * where the King of kings sit-
teth on a throne amid the stars.
Third Antiphon. We run after
thee, on the scent of thy perfumes —
* the virgins love thee heartily.
Fourth Antiphon. Blessed of the
Lord art thou, O daughter, * for by
thee we have been given to eat of the
fruit [of the tree] of Life.
Fifth Antiphon. Fair and comely
art thou, O daughter of Jerusalem, *
terrible as a fenced camp set in battle
array.
Chapter. (Cant. vi. 8.)
HP HE daughters of Zion saw her,
and called her blessed ; the
queens also, and they praised her.
Hymn. O glorious Virgin, &c, {p.
564.)
Verse. Blessed art thou among
women.
Answer. And blessed is the Fruit
of thy womb.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias,
except between Christmas and Candle-
mas. O Blessed Mary, * Mother of
God, Virgin for ever, temple of the
Lord, sanctuary of the Holy Ghost,
thou, without any ensample before
thee, didst make thyself well-pleasing
in the sight of our Lord Jesus Christ
— pray for the people, plead for the
clergy, make intercession for all
women vowed to God.
Then :
Kyrie eleison.
Answer. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O LORD.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
r\ GOD, Who didst will that Thy
^-^ Word should, by the message
of an Angel, take flesh in the womb
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant
unto us, we beseech Thee, that all we
who do believe her to be in very deed
the Mother of God, may be holpen by
her prayers in Thy sight. Through
the same Christ our Lord.
Then the Commemoration of the
Saints, as at Vespers.
i4
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
PRIME.
Make haste, &c, as in the Church
Office.
Hymn as at Compline.
Antiphon. Mary is taken, &c,
{First Antiphon at Lauds.)
Psalm LI 1 1.
[The superscription of this Psalm, after
some words which are probably a musical
direction, proceeds "[A Psalm] of David,
when the Ziphim came and said to Saul, Doth
not David hide himself with us '{ " This was
during the same period of his life in the South
in which he composed Ps. lxii. The Ziphim,
or peasantry of the neighbourhood of Ziph,
betrayed him twice to Saul, and both times,
especially the first, he was in imminent peril,
i Kings (Sam.) xxiii. 19-29, xxvi.]
CAVE me, 0 God, in Thy Name,
* and judge me in Thy
power.
Hear my prayer, 0 God : * give
ear to the words of my mouth.
For strangers are risen up against
me, and oppressors seek after my
soul : * and have not set God before
them.1
Behold God is mine Helper : * and
the Lord upholdeth my soul.
Reward Thou evil unto mine en-
emies : * and cut them off in Thy
truth.
I will freely sacrifice unto Thee :
* and praise Thy Name, O Lord, for
it is good.
For Thou hast delivered me out of
all trouble : * and mine eye hath seen
[his desire upon] mine enemies.
Psalm LXXXIV.
[Intituled "A Psalm of the sons of Korah,"
with the usual (now uncertain) superscription.]
[" ORD, Thou hast been favourable
unto Thy land : * Thou hast
brought back the captivity of Jacob.
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of
Thy people : * Thou hast covered all
their sins.1
Thou hast taken away all Thy
wrath : * Thou hast turned Thyself
from the fierceness of Thine anger.
Turn us, O God of our salvation,
* and cause Thine anger towards us
to cease.
Wilt Thou be angry with us for
ever ? * wilt Thou draw out Thine
anger to all generations ?
0 God, Thou shalt again quicken
us : * and Thy people shall rejoice
in Thee.
Show us Thy mercy, O LORD ! *
and grant us Thy salvation.
1 will hear what the LORD God will
speak in me : * for He will speak
peace unto His people,
And to His saints, * and unto them
that are changed in heart.
Surely His salvation is nigh them
that fear Him, * that glory may dwell
in our land.
Mercy and truth have met together :
* righteousness and peace have kissed
each other.
Truth hath sprung out of the earth :
* and righteousness hath looked down
from heaven.
Yea, the Lord shall give that which
is good : * and our land shall yield
her increase.
Righteousness shall go before Him:
* and shall set His footsteps in the
way.
Psalm CXVI.
(~\ PRAISE the Lord, all ye
^>^ nations: * praise Him, all ye
people.
For His merciful kindness is great
toward us : * and the truth of the
Lord endureth for ever.
[Here the Hebrew appends "Alleluia,"
which the Vulgate and the LXX. prefix to
the next Psalm.]
1 SLH.
THE LITTLE OFFICE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 815
After the repetition of the Antiphon
the Office proceeds thus :
Chapter. (Cant. vi. 9.)
V\7"HO is she that cometh forth like
the rising dawn, fair as the
moon, clear as the sun, terrible as a
fenced camp set in battle array ?
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Verse. Holy Virgin, my praise by
thee accepted be.
Answer. Give me strength against
thine enemies.
Kyrie eleison.
And so on, as at Compline, but with
the
Prayer.
What shall be given unto thee, or
what shall be done unto thee, * thou
false tongue ?
Sharp arrows of the mighty, * with
hot burning coals.
Woe is me ! that my sojourn is
long : I dwell with the dwellers of
Kedar.1 * My soul hath long dwelt
as an exile
With them that hate peace. I was
peaceable : * when I spoke unto
them, they fought against me without
a cause.
Psalm CXX.
[Also a Song of Degrees.]
T WILL lift up mine eyes unto the
hills, * from whence cometh mine
help.
Mine help cometh from the Lord,
* Who made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy feet to be
moved : * He That keepeth thee will
not slumber.
Behold, He That keepeth Israel
shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper : the
LORD is thy shade * upon thy
right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by
day, * nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall keep thee from
all evil : * the Lord shall keep thy
soul.
The Lord shall keep thy coming in
and thy going out, * from this time
forth and for evermore.
Psalm CXXI.
[Intituled " A Song of Degrees, of David."]
T WAS glad when they said unto
me : * Let us go into the house
of the Lord.
Our feet have been wont to stand *
within thy gates, O Jerusalem !
1 Properly " Black-skin." This was the name of a son of Ishmael, and of an Arabian tribe
sprung from him.
f~\ GOD, Who wast pleased to
^^^ choose for Thy dwelling-place
the maiden palace of Blessed Mary,
grant, we beseech Thee, that her pro-
tection may shield us, and make us
glad in her commemoration. Who
livest and reignest with God the
Father, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Amen.
TERCE.
Make haste, &c, as in the Church
Office.
Hymn as at Compline.
Antiphon. The Virgin Mary, &c,
{Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Psalm CXIX.
[This is the first of the "Songs of Degrees,"
or " Gradual Psalms." See note to Ps. cxxix.,
p. 91.]
T N my distress I cried unto the
A Lord, * and He heard me.
Deliver my soul, O LORD, from
lying lips, * and from a deceitful
tongue.
8i6
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
Jerusalem is builded as a city *
that is compact together :
Whither the tribes go up, the tribes
of the LOR£>, * the testimony of Is-
rael, to give thanks unto the name of
the Lord.
For there are set thrones for judg-
ment, * the thrones for the house of
David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : *
they shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls, * and
prosperity within thy palaces.
For my brethren and companions'
sakes, * I will now say — Peace be
within thee !
Because of the house of the
Lord our God, * I will seek
thy good.
Chapter. (Ecclus. xxiv. 15.)
A ND so I was established in Zion,
and likewise in the holy city
was I given to rest, and in Jerusalem
was my power.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Verse. Grace is poured into thy
lips.
Answer. Therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever.
Kyrie eleison.
And so on.
Prayer.
Q GOD, Who, by the fruitful vir-
ginity of the Blessed Mary,
hast given unto mankind the re-
wards of everlasting life ; grant,
we beseech Thee, that we may
continually feel the might of her
intercession through whom we have
worthily received the Author of our
life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Amen.
SEXT.
Make haste, &c, as in the Church
Office.
Hymn as at Compline.
Antiphon. We run after thee, &c,
( Third Antiphon at Lauds. )
Psalm CXXII.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees."]
T NTO Thee lift I up mine eyes,
* O Thou That dwellest in the
heavens !
Behold, as the eyes of servants *
look unto the hand of their masters,
As the eyes of a maiden unto the
hand of her mistress : * so our eyes
look unto the Lord our God, until
that He have mercy on us.
Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have
mercy upon us : * for we are exceed-
ingly filled with contempt.
Our soul is exceedingly filled * with
the scorning of those that are at ease,
and with the contempt of the proud.
Psalm CXXIII.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees," to which
the Hebrew and the Targum add "of David,"
but this ascription of authorship does not
occur in the Vulgate or the LXX.]
T F it had not been the Lord Who
was on our side — now may Israel
say — * if it had not been the Lord
Who was on our side,
When men rose up against us : *
then they had swallowed us up quick,
When their wrath was kindled
against us : * then the waters had
overwhelmed us,
The stream had gone over our soul :
* then the overwhelming waters had
gone over our soul.
Blessed be the Lord, * Who hath
not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Our soul is escaped as a bird * out
of the snare of the fowlers :
THE LITTLE OFFICE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 817
The snare is broken, * and we are
escaped.
Our help is in the name of the
Lord, * Who made heaven and earth.
Psalm CXXIV.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees."]
'"THEY that trust in the Lord shall
be as Mount Zion : * he that
dwelleth in Jerusalem shall never be
moved.
The mountains are round about
Jerusalem, * and the Lord is round
about His people, from henceforth,
and for ever.
For the Lord will not suffer the
rod of the wicked to rest upon the lot
of the righteous : * lest the righteous
put forth their hands into iniquity.
Do good, O Lord, to the good, *
and to them that are upright in their
hearts.
As for such as turn aside unto their
crooked ways, the LORD shall lead
them forth with the workers of iniquity :
* peace be upon Israel !
Chapter. (Ecclus. xxiv. 16.)
A ND I took root among the honour-
able people, even in the portion
of my God, as His own inheritance,
and mine abiding was in the full
assembly of the Saints.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Verse. Blessed art thou among
women.
Answer. And blessed is the Fruit
of thy womb.
Kyrie eleison.
And so on as at the other Hours.
Prayer.
]\/r OST merciful God, grant, we
beseech Thee, a succour unto
the frailty of our nature, that as
we keep ever alive the memory of
the holy Mother of God, so by the
vol. 1.
help of her intercession we may be
raised up from the bondage of our
sins. Through the Same our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
NONE.
Make haste, &c, as in the Church
Office.
Hymn as at Compline.
Antiphon. Fair and comely, &c,
{Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Psalm CXXV.
[Intituled " A Song of Degrees."]
VyHEN the Lord turned again the
captivity of Zion, * we were like
them that come again from sickness.
Then was our mouth filled with
laughter, * and our tongue with
singing.
Then said they among the heathen :
* The Lord hath done great things
for them.
The Lord hath done great things
for us : * whereof we are glad.
Turn again our captivity, O Lord,
* as the streams in the south.
They that sow in tears * shall reap
in joy.
They go forth weeping, * sowing
their seed ;
They shall doubtless come again
with rejoicing, * bringing their sheaves
with them.
Psalm CXXVI.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees, of Solo-
mon." The LXX. omits the ascription to
Solomon.]
"pXCEPT the Lord build the
house, * they labour in vain
that build it:
Except the Lord keep the city, *
the watchman waketh but in vain.
2 D 2
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
It is vain for you to rise up early, *
rise up when ye are rested, ye that eat
the bread of sorrow :
For He giveth His beloved sleep.
Lo, children are an heritage of the
Lord, * the fruit of the womb is His
reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a
mighty man, * so are the children of
the out-cast.
Happy is the man that hath his
desire satisfied with them : * he shall
not be ashamed when he speaketh with
his enemies in the gate.
Psalm CXXVII.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees."]
"DLESSED is every one that feareth
■*-* the Lord, * that walketh in His
ways.
For thou shalt eat the labour of
thine hands : * happy shalt thou be
and it shall be well with thee.
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine
* on the sides of thine house :
Thy children like olive plants *
round about thy table.
Behold, that thus shall the man be
blessed * that feareth the Lord.
The Lord bless thee out of Zion :
* and mayest thou see the good of
Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
Yea, mayest thou see thy children's
children, * and peace upon Israel.
Chapter. (Ecclus. xxiv. 19.)
T N the broad ways I gave a sweet
smell like cinnamon and aromatic
balm ; I yielded a pleasant odour like
the best myrrh.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Verse. After thy delivery thou still
remainest a Virgin undefiled.
Answer. Mother of God, pray
for us.
Kyrie eleison.
And so on as at the other Hours,
Prayer.
f~\ LORD, we beseech Thee, for-
give the transgressions of Thy
servants, and, forasmuch as by our
own deeds we cannot please Thee,
may we find safety through the prayers
of the Mother of Thy Son and our
Lord. Through the Same our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
2. In Advent.
The Office is the same as the Ordin-
ary one, except the following.
The Prayer at every Hour is, "O
God, Who didst will, &c," (as at
Lauds in the Ordinary Office, and save
at Vespers, with the longer ending. )
At Vespers the Antiphons and Chap-
ter are taken from Lauds.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin as at that of Zacharias.
Commemoration of the Saints as at
Lauds.
At Compline :
Chapter. (Isa. vii. 14.)
DEHOLD, the Virgin shall conceive
and bear a Son, and His Name
shall be called Emmanuel. Butter
and honey shall He eat, that He may
know to refuse the evil, and choose
the good.
Verse. The Angel of the Lord
announced unto Mary.
Answer. And she conceived of
the Holy Ghost.
Antiphon at the Song of Simeon as
at that of Zacharias.
At Mat tins note the difference in the
Third Antiphon on Wednesdays and
Saturdays.
THE LITTLE OFFICE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 819
First Lesson, (Luke i. 26.)
'""THE Angel Gabriel was sent from
God unto a city of Galilee named
Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused to a
man whose name was Joseph, of the
house of David, and the Virgin's name
was Mary. And the Angel came in
unto her, and said : Hail, thou that art
full of grace : the Lord is with thee :
blessed art thou among women.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
First Responsory.
The Angel Gabriel was sent, &c,
{p. 215,) omitting the last Verse and
Answer.
Second Lesson.
A ND when she heard it, she was
"^^ troubled at his saying, and cast
in her mind what manner of salutation
this should be. And the Angel said
unto her : Fear not, Mary ; for thou
hast found grace with God : behold,
thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and
bring forth a Son, and shalt call His
Name Jesus. He shall be great, and
shall be called the Son of the Highest ;
and the Lord God shall give unto Him
the throne of His father David ; and
He shall reign over the house of Jacob
for ever, and of His kingdom there
shall be no end.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Second Responsory.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, &c, {p.
215.)
Third Lesson.
y HEN said Mary unto the Angel :
How shall this be, seeing I know
not a man ? And the Angel answered
and said unto her : The Holy Ghost
shall come upon thee, and the power
of the Highest shall overshadow thee ;
therefore also that Holy Thing Which
shall be born of thee shall be called
the Son of God. And, behold, thy
cousin Elizabeth, she hath also con-
ceived a son in her old age, and this
is the sixth month with her who was
called barren ; for with God nothing
shall be impossible. And Mary said :
Behold the handmaid of the Lord ; be
it unto me according to thy word.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Third Responsory.
Receive, O Virgin Mary, &c, (p.
219,) with this addition :
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And thou shalt be called
blessed among all women.
At Lauds the Antiphons are the
same as on Dec. 18, {p. 669,) with
the Alleluia at the end of the Second
and Third. These satne Antiphons
are likewise used at Vespers, and
the First, Second, Third, and Fifth,
at Prime, Terce, Sext, and None,
respectively.
Chapter. (Isa. xi. 1.)
y HERE shall come forth a rod out
of the stem of Jesse, and a
Flower shall grow out of his roots.
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest
upon Him.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias
{used also at those of the Blessed Virgin
and of Simeon.) The Holy Ghost
shall come upon thee, O Mary, * fear
not ; thou shalt bear in thy womb the
Son of God. Alleluia.
820
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
Commemoration of the Saints.
Antiphon. Behold, the Lord shall
come, and all His Saints with Him ;
and it shall come to pass in that day
that the light shall be great. Alleluia.
Verse. Behold, the Lord shall
appear upon a white cloud.
Answer. And ten thousand of His
Saints with Him.
Jacob for ever ; and of His kingdom
there shall be no end.
At None, Chapter from Compline.
Verse. The Angel of the Lord an-
nounced unto Mary.
Answer. And she conceived of the
Holy Ghost.
Let us pray.
T3URIFY our minds, O Lord, we
beseech Thee, by the grace of
Thy visitation, that when Thy Son
our Lord Jesus Christ shall come
with all His Saints with Him, He
may find in us a people made ready
that He may dwell amongst us. Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
At Prime, Chapter from Compline.
At Terce, Chapter from Lauds.
At Sext :
Chapter. (Luke i. 32.)
'T>HE Lord God shall give unto Him
the throne of His father David ;
and He shall reign over the house of
3. Between Christmas and
Candlemas.
The Office is the same as the Ordin-
ary one, except the following.
The Prayer at every Hour is, " O
God, Who by the fruitful virginity,
&c," (p. 315,) save at Vespers with
the longer ending.
The Antiphons at Vespers and
Lauds are as on New Year's Day (pp.
315,316,) and the First, Second, Third,
and Fifth, are used at Prime, Terce,
Sext, and None, respectively.
Antiphon at the Songs of the Blessed
Virgin and of Simeon. " Herein is
a great mystery, &c," (p. 316.)
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
"This day is set forth, &c," (p. 315.)
€j)e (Bftitt for tf)t BtaH.
This Office is said upon the first
day of the Month upon which Nine
Lessons are not read, and, in Ad-
vent, upon the first week-day of
every Week not so occupied. When
it is said in Choir, Vespers are said
after the Vespers of the day, and the
Dirge after Lauds the next morn-
ing, unless the custom of the par-
ticular Church be otherwise. Out of
Choir it is said whenever the reciter
chooses.
VESPERS.
The Atitiphons are doubled if three
Noctums are to be said in the Dirge.
The Service begins absolutely with
the First Antiphon, as follows.
First Antiphon. I will walk before
the Lord * in the land of the living.
THE OFFICE FOR THE DEAD.
821
Psalm CXIV.
The Vulgate and the LXX. prefix "Alleluia."]
AM well pleased, because the
Lord hath heard * the voice of
my supplication :
Because He hath inclined His ear
unto me, * therefore will I call upon
Him all my days.
The sorrows of death compassed me :
* and the straits of hell found me :
Sorrow and trouble did I find. * Then
called I upon the name of the Lord :
0 Lord, deliver my soul. * Gra-
cious is the Lord, and righteous : yea,
our God is merciful.
The Lord preserveth the simple : *
I was brought low and He helped me.
Return unto thy rest, O my soul :
* for the Lord hath dealt bountifully
with thee.
For He hath delivered my soul from
death, * mine eyes from tears, and
my feet from falling.
1 will walk before the Lord * in
the land of the living.
At the end of this and all the other
Psalms and Canticles throughout the
whole Office of the Dead, " Glory be to
the Father, &c," is not said, but in-
stead,
O Lord, grant them eternal rest,
and let the everlasting light shine
upon them !
Second Antiphon. Woe is me ! O
Lord, * that my sojourn is long.
Psalm CXIX.
[This is the first of the " Songs of Degrees,"
or " Gradual Psalms." See note to Ps. cxxix.,
p. 91.]
T N my distress I cried unto the
Lord, * and He heard me.
Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying
lips, * and from a deceitful tongue.
What shall be given unto thee, or
what shall be done unto thee, * thou
false tongue ?
Sharp arrows of the mighty, * with
hot burning coals.
Woe is me ! that my sojourn is
long : I dwell with the dwellers of
Kedar. * My soul hath long dwelt
as an exile
With them that hate peace. I was
peaceable : * when I spoke unto them,
they fought against me without a cause.
Third Antiphon. The Lord shall
keep thee from all evil, * the Lord
shall keep thy soul.
Psalm CXX.
[Also a Song of Degrees. ]
WILL lift up mine eyes unto the
hills, * from whence cometh mine
help.
Mine help cometh from the Lord,
* Who made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy feet to be
moved : * He That keepeth thee
will not slumber.
Behold, He That keepeth Israel
shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper : the Lord
is thy shade * upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by
day, * nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall keep thee from all
evil : * the Lord shall keep thy soul.
The Lord shall keep thy coming
in and thy going out, * from this
time forth and for evermore.
Fourth Antiphon. If Thou, Lord,
shouldest mark iniquities, * O Lord,
who shall stand !
Psalm CXXIX.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees." The
meaning of this title is not certain. The
Psalms so called may perhaps, like the
" Graduals" of the Roman Liturgy, be " step-
songs," intended to be sung during proces-
sions, Liturgical or of pilgrims.]
/^\UT of the depths have I cried
^ unto Thee, O Lord ! * Lord,
hear my voice.
822
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
Let Thine ears be attentive * to
the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark
iniquities, f O Lord, who shall stand ?
But there is forgiveness with Thee :
* because of Thy Law, I wait for
Thee, O Lord!
My soul waiteth on His word : *
my soul hopeth in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until
night * let Israel hope in the LORD :
For with the Lord there is mercy.
* and with Him is plenteous re-
demption.
And He shall redeem Israel, *
from all his iniquities.
Fifth Antiphon. O Lord, forsake
not * the works of Thine own hands.
Psalm CXXXVII.
[Intituled " Of David," to which the LXX.
adds "of Haggai and Zechariah," the mean-
ing apparently being that it was his com-
position, but that they made some special
regulation as to its use.]
T WILL praise Thee, O Lord, with
my whole heart : * because Thou
hast heard the words of my mouth.
Before the Angels will I sing praise
unto Thee. * I will worship toward
Thine holy temple, and praise Thy
Name.
For Thy loving-kindness, and for
Thy truth : * for Thou hast magnified
Thine holy Name above every name.
In whatsoever day I call upon Thee,
answer me : * Thou wilt strengthen
my soul exceedingly.
Let all the kings of the earth praise
Thee, O Lord, * for they have heard
all the words of Thy mouth.
Yea, let them sing of the ways of
the Lord : * that great is the glory
of the Lord.
For the Lord is high, yet hath
He respect unto the lowly : * but the
proud He knoweth from afar.
1 Apoc. xiv. 13.
Though I walk in the midst of
trouble Thou wilt revive me : * Thou
shalt stretch forth Thine hand against
the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy
right hand shall save me.
The Lord will give recompense
on my behalf: * Thy mercy, O Lord,
endureth for ever : forsake not the
works of Thine own hands.
After the Fifth Antiphon, the Ser-
vice proceeds directly, thus : —
Verse. l I heard a voice from
heaven, saying unto me :
Answer. Blessed are the dead
which die in the Lord.
Antiphon. All that the Father
giveth Me shall come to Me ; * and
him that cometh to Me I will in no
wise cast out.2
The Song of the Blessed Virgin.
After the Antiphon, all kneel down,
and the Lord's Prayer is said silently,
except the words " Our Father," and
the termination,
And lead us not into temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from
evil.
Then is said, except on the day
of death or burial of the person
or persons for whom the Office is
being said,
Psalm CXLV.
[To this Psalm is prefixed "Alleluia."
The Vulgate and the LXX. connect it with
the names of Haggai and Zechariah.]
TDRAISE the Lord, O my soul ;
while I live will I praise the
Lord : * I will sing praises unto my
God while I have being.
Put not your trust in princes, *
in the son of man, in whom is no
help.
His breath goeth forth, and he re-
2 John vi. 37.
THE OFFICE FOR THE DEAD.
823
turneth to his earth : * in that very
day their thoughts perish.
Happy is he that hath the God
of Jacob for his help, his hope is
in the Lord his God : * Who made
heaven and earth, the sea, and all
that therein is :
Who keepeth truth for ever.
Who executeth judgment for the
oppressed : * Who giveth food to
the hungry.
The Lord looseth the prisoners : *
the Lord openeth the eyes of the
blind :
The Lord raiseth them that are
bowed down : * the LORD loveth the
righteous :
The Lord preserveth the strangers ;
He defendeth the fatherless and
widow : * but the way of the wicked
He will turn aside.
The Lord shall reign for ever !
even thy God, O Zion, * unto all
generations !
At the end is said, O Lord, grant
them eternal rest, and let the ever-
lasting light shine upon them !
Verse. From the gates of the
grave.
Answer. Deliver their souls, O
Lord!
Verse. May they rest in peace.
Answer. Amen.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O LORD.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
Then follow one or more of the
Prayers hereafter given, and then :
Verse. O Lord, grant them eternal
rest.
Answer. And let the everlasting
light shine upon them.
Verse. May they rest in peace.
Answer. Amen.
Thus absolutely ends the Office.
Different Prayers for the Dead.
1. For all the Faithful Departed.
r\ GOD, Who in the ranks of the
^^ Apostolic Priesthood hast caused
some of Thy servants to stand in
high places, some as Bishops, and
some as Priests, grant, we beseech
Thee, that they may be joined unto
such company in everlasting blessed-
ness.
r\ GOD, Who forgivest iniquity,
^ and wouldest that all men
should be saved, we beseech Thee to
grant in the tenderness of Thy mercy
that all the members of our congre-
gation, all our kinsfolk, and all who
have done us good, who have departed
from this world, and for whom the
Blessed Mary and all Thine holy ones
do plead with Thee, may be joined
unto the company of the same in
everlasting blessedness.
r\ GOD, Who art Thyself at once
^ the Maker and the Redeemer of
all Thy faithful ones, grant unto the
souls of Thy servants and handmaids
remission of all their sins, making of
our entreaties unto our Great Father
a mean whereby they may have that
forgiveness which they have ever
hoped for. Who livest and reignest
for ever and ever. Amen.
2. On the Day of Burial.
IORD, we pray Thee to absolve the
J soul of Thy servant (or, Thine
handmaid) N. (here express the name)
who hath died unto the world, that
he (or, she) may live unto Thee.
And whereinsoever while he (or, she)
walked among men he (or, she)
hath transgressed through the weak-
ness of the flesh, do Thou in the ex-
ceeding tenderness of Thy mercy for-
give and put away. Through our
824
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
3. At the Year's-Mind.
r\ LORD God, Who art the Great
^-'^ Pardoner, grant rest and re-
freshment, peace and blessing, light
and glory, unto the souls of Thy
men-servants and Thy maid-servants,
(or, the soul of Thy servant, or, of
Thine handmaid,) whose Year's-Mind
we are keeping. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
4. For a deceased Pope.
f~\ GOD, by Whose inscrutable ap-
^-^ pointment Thy servant N.
(here express his name) was called to
a place in the line of the Chief
Bishops ; O God, Who didst thereby
lay upon him the duty of being Lieut-
enant on earth for Thine Only-be-
gotten Son ; O God, grant unto him
now, we beseech Thee, a place
among Thine holy Bishops, who are
entered into everlasting blessedness.
Through the Same our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
liveth and reigneth with Thee in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
If the deceased were a Cardinal, his
dignity is expressed in the Prayer,
thus : " the high place of a Cardinal
Bishop," or " of a Cardinal Priest."
6. For deceased Parents.
f~\ GOD, Who hast commanded us
^^^ to honour our father and mother,
look in the pitifulness of Thy mercy
upon the souls of my father and
mother, (or, the soul of my father, or,
the soul of my mother,) and forgive
them their trespasses, (or, him his
trespasses, or, her her trespasses,)
and grant unto me the joy of seeing
them (or, him, or, her,) again in the
glorious light of everlasting life.
Through our Lord JESUS Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
One God, world without end. Amen.
T/ie above Prayer is altered to suit
circumstances, as where several child-
ren join in prayer for a parent, or a
company of persons for the parents of
all, " our " and " us," instead of " my "
and "me."
7. For deceased Brethren, Comrades,
Friends, Kinsfolk, or Benefactors, is
said the Prayer, " O God, Who for-
givest iniquity, &c," (under 1,) with
the necessary alterations.
5. For a deceased Priest or Bishop.
f~\ GOD, Who in the ranks of the
^>^ Apostolic Priesthood hast caused
Thy servant N. (here express his
name) to stand before Thee in the
high place of a Bishop (or Priest),
grant, we beseech Thee, that he may
be joined unto the company of such
in everlasting blessedness. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who
8. For a Man.
f~\ LORD, incline Thine ear unto
^-"^ the prayers whereby we humbly
call upon Thee to show mercy unto
the soul of Thy servant N. (here ex-
press the name) which it hath pleased
Thee to call out of this world, that it
may please Thee also to set him in a
place of peace and light, and give
him a part with Thy Saints. Through
THE OFFICE FOR THE DEAD.
825
our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
If the deceased were a Cardinal
Deacon, is said " Thy servant the Car-
dinal Deacon N."
10. For a Woman.
T ORD, we beseech Thee in the
tenderness of Thy great mercy,
to have pity upon the soul of Thine
handmaid N. {here express her name),
purge her from all defilements whereby
in this dying body she hath been be-
fouled, and give her inheritance in
everlasting salvation. Through our
Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
The Dirge.
When three Nocturns are said
the Antiphons throughout the Office
are doubled, and the Office commences
with Ps. xciv., and an Invitatory.
Otherwise it begins with the First
Antiphon. If one Nocturn be said,
the First is said on Mondays and
Thursdays, the Second on Tuesdays
and Fridays, and the Third on Wed-
nesdays and Saturdays.
Invitatory. Unto the [Eternal]
King all live.1 * O come, let us
worship Him !
O Lord, grant them eternal rest,
and let the everlasting light shine
upon them !
first nocturn.
First Antiphon. Make my way
straight before Thy face, * O Lord
my God.
Psalm V.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with a
musical (?) superscription.]
(""MVE ear unto my words, O
Lord, * consider my sup-
plication.
Hearken unto the voice of my cry,
* my King and my God !
For unto Thee will I pray. * O
Lord, in the morning Thou shalt
hear my voice :
In the morning will I stand before
Thee and look up. * For Thou art
not a God that hath pleasure in
wickedness :
Neither shall the evil dwell with
Thee, * nor the unrighteous stand in
Thy sight :
Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
* Thou shalt destroy all them that
speak leasing :
The Lord abhorreth the bloody
and deceitful man. * But as for me,
in the multitude of Thy mercy
I will come into Thine house : * I
will worship toward Thine holy temple
in Thy fear.
Lead me, O Lord, in Thy right-
eousness, * because of mine enemies ;
make my way straight before Thy
face.
For there is no faithfulness in their
mouth : * their inward part is very
wickedness.
Their throat is an open sepulchre ;
they flatter with their tongue. * Judge
Thou them, O God !
Let them fall by their own coun-
sels ; cast them out in the multi-
tude of their transgressions, * for
they have rebelled against Thee, O
Lord!
And let all those that put their
trust in Thee, rejoice : * let them
ever shout for joy, because Thou
dwellest in them :
Let them also that love Thy Name
1 Luke xx. 38.
826
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
be joyful in Thee. * For Thou wilt
bless the righteous.
0 Lord, Thou hast compassed
us * with* Thy favour as with a
shield.
Second Antiphon. Return, O LORD,
deliver my soul : * O save me for Thy
mercy's sake !
Psalm VI.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David." The title
also contains directions, probably musical,
the meaning of which is now uncertain.]
f~\ LORD, rebuke me not in Thine
^>^ anger : * neither chasten me in
Thine hot displeasure.
Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for
I am weak : * O Lord, heal me, for
my bones are shaken.
My soul also is sore vexed : * but
Thou, O Lord, how long ?
Return, O Lord, deliver my
soul : * O save me for Thy mercy's
sake.
For in death there is no one
that remembereth Thee : * and in
the grave who shall give Thee
thanks ?
1 am weary with my groaning,
every night I wash my bed : * I water
my couch with my tears.
Mine eye is grown dim because of
grief: * I am waxen old because of
all mine enemies.
Depart from me, all ye workers of
iniquity : * for the Lord hath heard
the voice of my weeping.
The Lord hath heard my supplica-
tion : * the Lord hath received my
prayer.
Let all mine enemies be ashamed
and sore vexed : * let them return
and be ashamed suddenly.
Third Antiphon. Lest he tear my
soul like a lion, * while there is none
to deliver, or to save.
Psalm VII.
[Intituled " An Hymn of David, which he
sang unto the Lord concerning the words of
Cush the Benjamite. " This Cush is supposed
to be the same as Shimei, whose cursing of
David is narrated in 2 Kings (Sam.) xvi. 7, 8,
or else a nickname for Saul.]
r\ LORD my God, in Thee do I
take refuge : * save me from
all them that persecute me, and de-
liver me.
Lest he tear my soul like a lion,
* while there is none to deliver, or to
save.
O Lord my God, if I have done
this, * if there be iniquity in mine
hands ;
If I have requited with evil them
that requited me [with good], * may
I then flee empty before mine
enemies.
Let the enemy persecute my soul,
and take it, yea, let him tread down
my life upon the earth, * and lay mine
honour in the dust.1
Arise, O Lord, in Thine anger : *
and lift up Thyself against the borders
of mine enemies.
And awake for me, O Lord my
God, according to the decree that
Thou hast made : * so shall the con-
gregation of the people compass Thee
about.
For their sakes, therefore, return
Thou on high : * the Lord judge th
the peoples.
Judge me, O Lord, according to
my righteousness, * and according to
mine integrity that is in me.
O let the wickedness of the wicked
come to an end, and establish the just ;
* God trieth the hearts and reins.
Mine help is righteous, coming
from the Lord, * Who saveth the
upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge, strong
and patient : * is He not provoked
every day ?
1 SLH.
THE OFFICE FOR THE DEAD.
827
If ye turn not, He will whet His
sword : * He hath bent His bow and
made it ready.
And hath fitted thereon the instru-
ments of death, * He hath ordained
His arrows against the persecutors.
Behold, he travaileth with iniquity :
* he hath conceived mischief, and
brought forth falsehood.
He made a pit and digged it : *
and is fallen into the ditch which he
made.
His mischief shall return upon his
own head : * and his iniquity shall
come down upon his own pate.
I will praise the Lord according
to His righteousness : * and will sing
praise to the name of the Lord Most
High.
Verse. From the gates of the grave
Answer. Deliver their souls, O
Lord.
The Lord's Prayer is then said si-
lently, and then is begun immediately
the
First Lesson?
I" ORD ! let me alone ; for my days
are vanity. What is man, that
Thou shouldest magnify him ? or that
Thou shouldest set Thine heart upon
him ? Thou visitest him very early,
and triest him suddenly. How long
wilt Thou not depart from me, nor let
me alone, till I swallow down my
spittle ? I have sinned ; what shall I
do unto Thee, O Thou Preserver of
men ? Why hast Thou set me as a
mark against Thee, so that I am a
burden to myself? Why dost Thou
not pardon my transgression, and take
away mine iniquity ? Behold ! now
shall I sleep in the dust, and if Thou
shalt seek me in the morning, I shall
not be.
The Responsory is begun directly.
1 Job vii. 16.
First Responsory.
I believe that my Redeemer liv-
eth, and that I shall stand up from
the earth at the latter day, and
in my flesh shall I see God my
Saviour.
Verse. Whom I shall see for my-
self, and mine eyes shall behold, and
not another.
Answer. And in my flesh shall I
see God my Saviour.
Second Lesson?
"JV/T Y soul is weary of my life ; I will
leave my complaint upon my-
self; I will speak in the bitterness of
my soul. I will say unto God : Do
not condemn me ; show me wherefore
Thou judgest me thus. Doth it seem
good unto Thee that Thou shouldest
maltreat me, that Thou shouldest op-
press the work of Thine hands, and
help the counsel of the wicked ? Hast
Thou eyes of flesh ? or seest Thou as
man seeth ? Are Thy days as the
days of man ? Are Thy years as the
times of men, that Thou inquirest
after mine iniquity, and searchest
after my sin ? Yet Thou knowest
that I have done no wrong, but
that there is none that can deliver
out of Thine hand.
Second Responsory.
Thou Who didst call up Lazarus
from the grave after that he had
begun to stink ! — do Thou, O Lord,
grant them rest and a place of for-
giveness.
Verse. Thou Who shalt come to
judge the quick and dead, and the
world by fire —
Answer. Do Thou, O Lord,
grant them rest and a place of
forgiveness.
2 Job. x. 1.
828
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
Third Lesson.
*T*HINE hands have made me and
fashioned me together round
about ; and dost Thou so suddenly
destroy me ? Remember, I beseech
Thee, that Thou hast made me as the
clay, and that Thou wilt bring me
into the dust again. Hast Thou not
poured me out as milk, and curdled
me like cheese ? Thou hast clothed
me with skin and flesh ; and hast
fenced me with bones and sinews.
Thou hast granted me life and favour,
and Thy visitation hath preserved my
spirit.
Third Responsory.
Lord, when Thou comest to judge
the earth, where shall I hide myself
from the face of Thy wrath ? For I
have sinned greatly in my life.
Verse. I dread my sins, I blush
before Thee —
I see the Great Tribunal set !
In fear and terror I implore Thee,
Forgive when soul and Judge are
met !
Answer. For I have sinned greatly
in my life.
Verse. O Lord, grant them eternal
rest, and let the everlasting light shine
upon them.
Answer. For I have sinned greatly
in my life.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. He maketh me to
lie down * in green pastures.
Psalm XXII.
[Intituled a " Psalm of David."]
'"THE Lord is my Shepherd, I shall
not want. * He maketh me to
lie down in green pastures :
He leadeth me beside the still
waters. * He restoreth my soul :
He leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness, * for His Name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil : * for Thou art with me :
Thy rod and Thy staff * they com-
fort me.
Thou preparest a table before me,
* in the presence of mine enemies :
Thou anointest mine head with oil :
* and mine overflowing cup, O how
goodly is it !
Surely Thy mercy shall follow me
* all the days of my life :
And I will dwell in the house of the
Lord * for ever.
Second Antiphon. Lord, remember
not the sins of my youth, * nor my
transgressions.
Psalm XXIV.
[Intituled "Of David." This Psalm is
ABC Darian.]
T T NTO Thee, O Lord, do I lift up
my soul : * O my God, I trust in
Thee, let me not be ashamed.
Neither let mine enemies triumph
over me : * for none that wait on Thee
shall be ashamed :
Let them be ashamed that trans-
gress * without cause.
Show me Thy ways, O LORD, * and
teach me Thy paths.
Lead me in Thy truth and teach
me ; * for Thou art the God of my
salvation : and on Thee do I wait all
the day.
Remember, O LORD, Thy tender
mercies, * and Thy loving-kindnesses,
which have been ever of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth,
* nor my transgressions :
According to Thy mercy remember
Thou me, * for Thy goodness' sake,
O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD ;
* therefore will He teach sinners in
the way.
THE OFFICE FOR THE DEAD.
829
The meek will He guide in judg-
ment : * the meek will He teach His
way.
All the paths of the Lord are
mercy and truth, * unto such as keep
His covenant and His testimonies.
For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, par-
don mine iniquity ; * for it is great.
What man is he that feareth the
Lord ? * him shall He teach in the
way that He shall choose.
His soul shall dwell at ease : * and
his seed shall inherit the earth.
The Lord is a strong rock unto
them that fear Him : * and His cove-
nant shall be made known to them.
Mine eyes are ever toward the
Lord : * for He shall pluck my feet
out of the net.
Turn Thee unto me, and have
mercy upon me, * for I am desolate
and afflicted.
The troubles of mine heart are en-
larged : * O bring me out of my
distresses.
Look upon mine affliction and my
pain : * and forgive all my sins.
Consider mine enemies, for they are
many : * and they hate me with cruel
hatred.
O keep my soul, and deliver me :
* let me not be ashamed, for I put my
trust in Thee.
The undefiled and the upright cleave
to me : * for I wait on Thee.
Redeem Israel, O God, * out of all
his troubles !
Third Antiphon. I believe that I
shall yet see the goodness of the
Lord * in the land of the living.
Psalm XXVI.
[Intituled "Of David." The Vulgate and
the LXX. add "before his anointing." See
2 Kings (Sam.) ii. 4. Monday, fifth week
after Pentecost.]
'T'HE Lord is my light and my
* salvation : * whom shall I
fear ?
The Lord is the defence of my life :
* of whom shall I be afraid ?
When the evil-doers come upon me,
* to eat up my flesh,
Mine enemies that trouble me, *
they stumble and fall.
Though an host should encamp
against me, * mine heart shall not
fear.
Though war should rise against me,
* in this will I be confident.
One thing have I desired of the
Lord, that will I seek after, * that I
may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
* and to visit His temple.
For He hath hidden me in His
pavilion : * in the secret of His taber-
nacle hath He hidden me in the day
of trouble.
He hath set me up upon a rock : *
and now hath He lifted up mine head
above mine enemies.
I will offer in His tabernacle the
sacrifice of joy : * I will sing, yea, I
will sing praises unto the LORD.
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with
my voice : * have mercy on me and
answer me.
My heart said unto Thee, My face
hath sought Thee : * Thy face, Lord,
will I seek.
Hide not Thy face far from me : *
turn not away in anger from Thy
servant.
Be Thou mine Helper, * neither
leave me, nor forsake me, O God of
my salvation.
When my father and my mother
forsake me, * then the Lord taketh
me up.
Teach me Thy way, O Lord: *
and lead me in a plain path, because
of mine enemies.
Deliver me not over unto the will of
mine enemies : * for false witnesses
are risen up against me, and iniquity
hath belied itself.
83o
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
I believe that I shall yet see the
goodness of the Lord * in the land
of the living.
Wait on \the Lord, be of good
courage : * and thine heart shall be
strengthened, wait, I say, on the
Lord.
Verse. May the LORD set them
with princes.
Answer. Even with the princes of
His people.
Fourth Lesson.1
ANSWER Thou me: how many
"^^ are mine iniquities and sins ?
Make me to know my transgressions
and offences. Wherefore hidest Thou
Thy face, and holdest me for Thine
enemy ? Dost Thou show forth Thy
power against a leaf driven to and fro
by the wind ? And wilt Thou pursue
the dry stubble ? For Thou writest
bitter things against me, and art fain
to consume me with the iniquities of
my youth. Thou puttest my feet in
the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto
all my paths, and observest my foot-
steps, and as a rotten thing I am to
be consumed, and as a garment that
is moth-eaten.
Fourth Responsory.
Remember, O God, that my life is
wind. The eye of him that hath seen
me shall see me no more.
Verse. Out of the depths have I
cried unto Thee, O Lord ! Lord,
hear my voice.
Answer. The eye of him that hath
seen me shall see me no more.
cut down : he fleeth also as a shadow,
and continueth not. And dost Thou
think it worthy to open Thine eyes
upon such an one, and to bring him
into judgment with Thee ? Who can
bring a clean thing out of unclean
seed ? Is it not Thou Who alone
art ? The days of man are short, the
number of his months is with Thee :
Thou hast appointed his bounds that
he cannot pass. Turn from him for a
little while, that he may rest, till he
shall accomplish, as an hireling, his
day.
Fifth Responsory.
Woe is me, O Lord ! for I have
sinned greatly in my life. I am
smitten : what shall I do ? Whither
shall I flee but unto Thee, O my God ?
Have mercy upon me, when Thou
comest at the latter day.
Verse. My soul is sore vexed, but
Thou, O Lord, help me.
Answer. Have mercy upon me,
when Thou comest at the latter day.
Sixth Lesson.
f~\ THAT Thou wouldest hide me
^^^ in the grave, that Thou wouldest
keep me secret, until Thy wrath be
past ; that Thou wouldest appoint me
a set time, and remember me. If a
man die, shall he live again ? All the
days wherein I now toil, I am waiting
till my change come. Thou shalt call,
and I will answer Thee. Thou wilt
stretch forth Thy right hand unto the
work of Thine hands. Thou dost in-
deed number my steps, but be Thou
merciful unto my sins.
Fifth Lesson.2
A/TAN that is born of a woman is
of few days and full of trouble.
He cometh forth like a flower, and is
1 Job xiii. 22.
Sixth Responsory.
Hold not my sins in remembrance,
O Lord, when Thou comest to judge
the world by fire.
2 Job xiv. i.
THE OFFICE FOR THE DEAD.
831
Verse. Make my way straight be-
fore Thy face, O Lord my God.
Answer. When Thou comest to
judge the world by fire.
Verse. O Lord, grant them eternal
rest, and let the everlasting light shine
upon them.
Answer. When Thou comest to
judge the world by fire.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Be pleased, O
Lord, to deliver me : * O Lord,
look upon me to help me.
Psalm XXXIX.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David" and with
the same (now) uncertain superscription as
Ps. xii.]
WAITED patiently for the Lord,
* and He inclined unto me,
And heard my cry : * He brought
me up also out of an horrible pit, and
out of the miry clay.
And set my feet upon a rock ; *
and ordered my goings.
And He hath put a new song in
my mouth, * even praise unto our
God.
Many shall see it, and fear, * and
shall trust in the LORD.
Blessed is that man whose trust
is the Name of the Lord : * and
who respecteth not pride and lying
vanities.
Many, O Lord my God, are Thy
wonderful works which Thou hast
done : * and in Thy thoughts there
is none like unto Thee.
If I would declare and speak of
them, * they are more than can be
numbered.
Sacrifice and offering Thou hast not
desired ; * but mine ears hast Thou
opened.
Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast
Thou not required : * then said I : Lo,
I come.
In the beginning of the book it
is written of me that I should fulfil
Thy will : * O my God, I delight
to do it, yea, Thy law is within
mine heart.
I have preached Thy righteousness
in the great congregation : * lo, I
have not refrained my lips : O Lord,
Thou knowest.
I have not hidden Thy righteous-
ness within my heart : * I have
declared Thy faithfulness and Thy
salvation.
I have not concealed Thy loving-
kindness, and Thy truth * from the
great congregation.
Withhold not Thou Thy tender
mercies from me, O LORD : * let Thy
loving-kindness and Thy truth con-
tinually preserve me.
For countless evils have compassed
me about : * mine iniquities have
taken hold upon me, and I am not
able to look up.
They are more in number than the
hairs of mine head : * and mine heart
faileth me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver
me : * O Lord, look upon me to
help me.
Let them be ashamed and con-
founded together that seek after my
soul, * to destroy it.
Let them be driven backward,
and put to shame, * that wish me
evil.
Let them quickly bear their shame,
* that say unto me : Aha, Aha.
Let all those that seek Thee rejoice
and be glad in Thee : * and let such
as love Thy salvation say continually :
The Lord be magnified.
But I am poor and needy : * the
Lord thinketh upon me.
Thou art my help and my deliverer :
* make no tarrying, O God.
Second Antiphon. Lord, heal my
soul ; * for I have sinned against
Thee.
832
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
Psalm XL.
[Intituled "A Psalm of David," with some
other words, of meaning now uncertain, as in
some other Psalms.]
"DLESSED is he that considereth
the poor and needy : * the Lord
will deliver him in time of trouble.
The Lord preserve him, and
quicken him, and make him to be
blessed upon the earth : * and de-
liver him not unto the will of his
enemies !
The Lord strengthen him upon his
bed of suffering ! * Thou hast made
all his bed in his sickness.
As for me, I said : Lord, be merci-
ful unto me : * heal my soul, for I
have sinned against Thee.
Mine enemies speak evil of me : *
When shall he die, and his name
perish ?
If he came to see me he spake
vanity : * his heart gathereth iniquity
to itself.
He went out, * and told it.
All they that hate me whispered
together against me
against me
did they devise mine hurt.
They plotted together to do me
evil : * Now that he lieth, surely he
will rise up no more.
Yea, mine own familiar friend in
whom I trusted, * who did eat of
my bread, hath lifted up his heel
against me.1
But Thou, O Lord, be merciful
unto me, and raise me up : * and I
will requite them.
By this I know that Thou delightest
in me : * because mine enemy cannot
triumph over me.
But as for me, Thou upholdest me,
because of mine innocence : * and
settest me before Thy face for ever.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
from everlasting, and to everlasting. *
Amen, Amen.
Third Antiphon. My soul thirsteth
for the living God ; * when shall I
come and appear before God ?
Psalm XLI.
[This Psalm has a superscription, the
meaning of which is not now certain, but
which seems in part to imply that it was a
didactic poem written to be sung by the choir
of the Korahites, a family of Levites and
singers in the time of David.]
A S the hart panteth after the water-
brooks : * so panteth my soul
after Thee, O God !
My soul is athirst for God, for the
mighty God, for the living God : *
when shall I come and appear before
God?
My tears have been my meat day
and night, * while they daily say unto
me : Where is thy God ?
When I remember these things, I
pour out my soul in me : * for I will
go unto the place of the wondrous
Tabernacle, even unto the house of
God.
With the voice of joy and praise, *
the noise of a multitude that keep
holiday.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul,
* and why art thou disquieted in me ?
Hope thou in God, for I shall yet
praise Him, * the Health of my count-
enance and my God.
My soul is cast down within me : *
therefore will I remember Thee from
the land of Jordan, and from the
mountains of Hermon,2 from the Little
Hill.3
Deep calleth unto deep, * at the
noise of Thy waterspouts.
1 Quoted by our Lord. John xiii. 18.
2 A chain of mountains in the north-east of Palestine, stretching down on the eastern side of
Jordan.
:i Or rather, the hill Mizar (viz. the Little), proper name of a mountain on the eastern ridge
of Lebanon. May it not be that the Korahites were among the Levitical families which had
cities in the north and north-east districts?
THE OFFICE FOR THE DEAD.
833
All Thy waves and Thy billows *
are gone over me.
The Lord hath commanded [the
praise of] His loving-kindness in the
day-time, * and in the night His song.
Mine shall it be to pray unto the
God of my life. * I will say unto God :
Thou art my refuge.
Why hast Thou forgotten me ? *
and why go I mourning, while the
enemy oppresseth me ?
While my bones are broken, * they
that trouble me, even mine enemies,
reproach me ;
While they say daily unto me :
Where is thy God ? * Why art thou
cast down, O my soul, and why art
thou disquieted within me ?
Hope thou in God, for I shall yet
praise Him : * the health of my count-
enance and my God.
Verse. O deliver not unto beasts
the souls of them that praise Thee !
Answer. And forget not the souls
of Thy poor for ever.
Seventh Lesson.^
1\/TY breath will wax feebler, and
my days fewer, and there is
nothing before me but the grave. I
have not sinned ; yet my mind re-
maineth in affliction. Deliver me, O
Lord, and set me beside Thee ; and
let any man's hand fight against me.
My days are past, my purposes are
broken off, and are but vexation to
my spirit. They change the night
into day, and again, after the darkness
I hope for light. If I wait, the grave
is mine house ; I have made my bed
in the darkness. I have said to cor-
ruption : Thou art my father — to the
worm : Thou art my mother, and my
sister. Where therefore is now my
hope ? As for my patience, who shall
consider it ?
Seventh Responsory.
Forasmuch as I sin daily, and re-
pent not, the fear of death troubleth
me. O God, have mercy upon me,
and save me, for in hell there is no
redemption.
Verse. Save me, O God, by Thy
Name, and judge me in Thy strength.
Answer. 0 God, have mercy upon
me, and save me, for in hell there is
no redemption.
Eighth Lesson.2
TV/TY flesh is consumed, my bone
cleaveth unto my skin, and
there remaineth not round my teeth
save the skin of my lips. Have pity
upon me, have pity upon me, at least
ye that are my friends, for the hand
of the Lord hath touched me. Why
do ye persecute me as God, and glut
yourselves upon my flesh ? O that
my words were now written ! O that
they were inscribed in a book with an
iron pen, or cut in lead, or graven
with a chisel upon the flinty rock !
For I know that my Redeemer liveth,
and that I shall stand up from the
earth at the latter day, and in my
flesh shall I see God ; Whom I shall
see for myself, and mine eyes shall be-
hold, and not another. This is mine
hope that is laid up in my bosom.
Eighth Responsory.
O Lord, judge me not according to
my works ; for I have done nothing
that can be counted in respect of
Thee. I beseech Thy Majesty there-
fore, that Thou wouldest blot out my
transgressions, O God.
Verse. Lord, wash me thoroughly
from mine iniquity and cleanse me
from my sin.
Answer. Blot out my transgres-
sions, O God.
1 Job xvii. 1.
2 Job xix. 20.
834
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
Ninth Lesson.1
V\7"HEREFORE hast Thou brought
me forth out of the womb ? O
that I had perished, and no eye had
seen me ! I should have been as
though I had not been — I should
have been carried from the womb to
the grave. Are not my days few ?
Let me alone then, that I may com-
fort myself a little in my sorrow,
before I go whence I shall not re-
turn, even to the land of darkness
and the shadow of death, a land of
cheerlessness and darkness, where the
night of death dwelleth, without any
order, but shapelessness and dreadful-
ness of darkness for ever.
Ninth Responsory when three Nocturns
have been said.
Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal
death in that awful day when the
heavens and the earth shall be
shaken,2 and Thou shalt come to judge
the world by fire.
Verse. Quaking and dread take
hold upon me, when I look for the
coming of the trial and the wrath to
come.
Answer. When the heavens and
the earth shall be shaken.
Verse. That day is a day of
wrath, of wasteness and desola-
tion, a great day and exceeding
bitter.3
Answer. When Thou shalt come
to judge the world by fire.
Verse. O Lord, grant them eternal
rest, and let the everlasting light
shine upon them !
Answer. Deliver me, O Lord,
from eternal death in that awful
day, when the heavens and the
earth shall be shaken, and Thou
shalt come to judge the world
by fire.
Ninth Responsory when only one
Nocturn has been said.
Deliver me from the ways of hell,
O Lord, Who didst break the gates
of brass in sunder, and didst descend
into hell, and give them light, that
they that sat in affliction and dark-
ness might behold Thee.
Verse. Crying and saying, Thou
hast come, O our Redeemer —
Ansiver. That they that sat in
affliction and darkness might behold
Thee.
Verse. O Lord, grant them eternal
rest, and let the everlasting light shine
upon them !
Answer. That they that sat in
affliction and darkness might behold
Thee.
Lauds begin at once with the
First Antiphon. The bones which
Thou hast broken * may rejoice.
Psalm L.
[This Psalm has a musical (?) superscrip-
tion, and the title then proceeds, "A Psalm
of David, when Nathan the Prophet came
unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba."
The whole history is in 2 Kings (Sam.) xi.
xii. (Saturday, 5th week after Pentecost, and
6th Sunday.)]
T_J AVE mercy upon me, O God, *
after Thy great mercy :
And according to the multitude of
Thy tender mercies * blot out my
transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine
iniquity : * and cleanse me from my
sin.
For I acknowledge my trans-
gression : * and my sin is ever
before me.
Against Thee, Thee only, have I
sinned, and done evil in Thy sight :
* that Thou mightest be justified when
Thou speakest, and be clear when
Thou art judged.
1 Job x. 18.
2 Haggai ii. 6.
3 Zeph. i. 15.
THE OFFICE FOR THE DEAD.
835
For behold, I was shapen in in-
iquity: * and in sin did my mother
conceive me.
For behold Thou desirest truth : *
the hidden secrets of Thy wisdom
Thou hast made manifest unto me.
Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I
shall be clean : * wash me, and I
shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and glad-
ness : * that the bones which Thou
hast broken may rejoice.
Hide Thy face from my sins : *
and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O
God : * and renew a right spirit with-
in me.
Cast me not away from Thy pres-
ence : * and take not Thine holy Spirit
from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy
salvation : * and uphold me with
Thy free spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors
Thy ways : * and sinners shall be
converted unto Thee.
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness,
O God, Thou God of my salvation :
* and my tongue shall sing aloud 1 of
Thy righteousness.
O Lord open Thou my lips, *
and my mouth shall show forth Thy
praise.
For Thou desirest not sacrifice,
else would I give it : * Thou de-
lightest not in burnt-offering.
The sacrifice of God is a broken
spirit : * a broken and a contrite
heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
Do good in Thy good pleasure
unto Zion : * to build the walls of
Jerusalem.
Then shalt Thou be pleased with
the sacrifices of righteousness, with
burnt-offering and whole burnt-offer-
ing : * then shall they offer bullocks
upon Thine altar. ,
Second Antiphon. Lord, hear *
my prayer ; unto Thee shall all flesh
come.
Psalm LXIV.
[Intituled "A Psalm. A Song of David,"
with a musical (?) superscription. The Vul-
gate adds that its use was prescribed by
Jeremiah and Ezekiel to the exiles when they
began to return from the Captivity.]
p RAISE becometh Thee, O God,
in Zion : * and unto Thee shall
the vow be performed in Jerusalem.
Hear my prayer : * unto Thee shall
all flesh come.
Iniquities prevail against us : * but
as for our transgressions, Thou shalt
purge them away.
Blessed is the man whom Thou
choosest, and causest to come near
unto Thee : * he shall dwell in Thy
courts :
We shall be satisfied with the good-
ness of Thine house : * Thy temple
is holy, terrible in righteousness.
Answer us, O God of our salvation :
* Thou that art the confidence of
all the ends of the earth, and of the
uttermost parts of the sea !
Thou that by Thy strength settest
fast the mountains, being girded with
power : * Thou that stirrest up the
depth of the sea, and the noise of
his waves !
The heathen shall be troubled.
They that dwell in the uttermost parts
shall be afraid at Thy tokens : * Thou
makest the outgoings of the morning
and evening to rejoice.
Thou visitest the earth and waterest
it : * Thou greatly enrichest it :
The river of God is full of water :
Thou makest ready their corn, * for
Thou hast so prepared it.
Drench her furrows, increase the
fruits thereof: * the springing there-
of shall rejoice at her showers.
Thou crownest the year with Thy
1 So the Hebrew, the LXX. , and all the versions, including Doway, but the Latin text has
the curious mistake of exultabit for exaltabit.
836
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
goodness : * and Thy fields teem
with fruitfulness.
The green places of the wilderness
wax fruitfiM:.* and the little hills are
girded with joy.
The pastures are clothed with
flocks ; the valleys also overflow with
corn : * they shout for joy, yea, they
sing.
Third Antiphon. Thy right hand
* upholdeth me.
Psalm LXII.
[Intituled " A Psalm of David, when he
was in the wilderness of Judah." This was
one of the most perilous periods of David's
life, when he was flying from the pursuit of
Saul, and hiding in different forests and wilder-
nesses in the south of Palestine. He was
betrayed again and again, and had the most
hairbreadth escapes. The history will be
found in i Kings (Sam.) xxii. and xxiii.]
f~\ GOD, Thou art my God, * early
will I seek Thee :
My soul thirsteth for Thee, * my
flesh longeth for Thee,
In a dry and desert land, without
water. * So have I appeared before
Thee in the Sanctuary, to see Thy
power and Thy glory.
Because Thy loving - kindness is
better than life, * my lips shall praise
Thee.
Thus will I bless Thee while I live :
* and will lift up mine hands in Thy
name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with
marrow and fatness ; * and my mouth
shall praise Thee with joyful lips.
When I remember Thee upon my
bed, I meditate upon Thee in the
night watches : * because Thou hast
been mine help :
And in the shadow of Thy wings
will I rejoice. My soul followeth
hard after Thee : * Thy right hand
upholdeth me.
But those that seek my soul to
destroy it, shall go into the lower parts
of the earth : * they shall fall by the
sword, they shall be a portion for foxes.
But the King shall rejoice in God :
every one that sweareth by him shall
glory : * for the mouth of them that
speak lies shall be stopped.
Psalm LXVI.
[Besides a musical superscription, the
Hebrew and the Targum give no title, ex-
cept " A Psalm, a Psalm." But the Vulgate
and the LXX. ascribe the authorship to
David.]
/^*OD be merciful unto us, and bless
^■^ us : * cause His face to shine
upon us, and be merciful unto us.1
That Thy way may be known upon
earth : * Thy saving health among
all nations.
Let the people praise Thee, O God :
* let all the people praise Thee.
0 let the nations be glad and sing
for joy : * for Thou judgest the
people righteously, and governest the
nations upon earth.2
Let the people praise Thee, O God,
let all the people praise Thee. * The
earth hath yielded her increase ;
Let God, even our own God, bless
us ; let God bless us : * and let all
the ends of the earth fear Him.
Fourth Antiphon. From the gates
of the grave * deliver my soul, O
Lord.
The Song of Hezekiah, King of
Judah. (Isa. xxxviii. 10.)
[Intituled " The writing of Hezekiah, King
of Judah, when he had been sick, and was
recovered of his sickness." The history will
be found in 4 (2) Kings xx. (nth Sunday
after Pentecost.)]
[ SAID, In the midst of my days,
* I shall go to the gates of the
grave :
1 looked for the rest of my years. *
1 SLH. The repetition of the words "be merciful unto us," is peculiar to the Latin,
a SLH.
THE OFFICE FOR THE DEAD.
837
I said, I shall not see the Lord my
God x in the land of the living :
I shall behold man no more, * with
the dwellers in the land of rest.
Mine age is departed, and is rolled
up from me, * as a shepherd's tent :
My life is cut off as by a weaver :
my web was scarce begun when He
cut me off: * from day even to night
wilt Thou make an end of me.
I thought I might live till morning :
* as a lion, so doth He break all my
bones :
From day even to night wilt Thou
make an end of me. * Like a swal-
low's fledgling so did I twitter, I did
coo as a dove :
Mine eyes fail, * with looking up-
ward.
0 Lord, I am seized, undertake
for me. * What shall I say, or what
will He answer me, seeing that He
Himself hath done it ?
1 will call to remembrance before
Thee all my years * in the bitterness
of my soul.
O Lord, if by these things men
live, and in such things is the life of
my spirit, so mayest Thou chasten me,
and make me to live. * Behold,
mine anguish is [turned] into peace :
But Thou hast delivered my soul
from destruction : * Thou hast cast
all my sins behind Thy back.
For the grave cannot praise Thee,
death cannot celebrate Thee : * they
that go down into the pit cannot hope
for Thy truth.
The living, the living, he shall
praise Thee, as I do this day : * the
father to the children shall make
known Thy truth.
O Lord, save me : * and we will
sing our songs all the days of our life
in the house of the Lord.
Fifth Antiphon. Let everything
that hath breath * praise the Lord.
Psalm CXLVIII.
[To this Psalm is prefixed "Alleluia." The
LXX. connects it with the Prophets Haggai
and Zechariah. See Thursday and Friday in
the fifth week of November.]
the
the
Lord from
praise Him in
pRAISE ye the
heavens : *
heights.
Praise ye Him, all His Angels :
* praise ye Him, all His hosts.
Praise ye Him, sun and moon : *
praise Him, all ye stars and light.
Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens :
* and all the waters that be above
the heavens. Let them praise the
Name of the Lord !
For He spake, and they were
made 2 : * He commanded and they
were created.
He hath established them for ever
and ever : * He hath made a decree
which shall not pass.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
* ye dragons, and all deeps : —
Fire, hail, snow, ice, stormy wind,
* fulfilling His word : —
Mountains, and all hills, * fruitful
trees, and all cedars : —
Beasts, and all cattle, * creeping
things, and flying fowl : —
Kings of the earth, and all people ; *
princes, and all judges of the earth : —
Young men, and maidens, old men,
and children : let them praise the
Name of the Lord — * for His Name
alone is exalted !
His glory is above heaven and
earth. * He also exalteth the horn
of His people,
The praise of all His Saints, * even
of the children of Israel, a people near
unto Him.
Psalm CXLIX.
OING unto the Lord a new song:
* His praise in the congregation
of Saints.
1 " My God " is not in the Hebrew, but the Divine Name is repeated.
2 Taken from Ps. xxxii. 9.
838
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
Let Israel rejoice in Him That
made him : * and let the children of
Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise His Name in
the dance : * let them sing praises
unto Him with the timbrel and
harp.
For the Lord taketh pleasure in
His people : * He also will exalt
the meek unto salvation.
Let the Saints be joyful in glory :
* let them sing aloud upon their
beds :
Let the high praises of God be in
their mouth ; * and a two - edged
sword in their hands ;
To execute vengeance upon the
heathen, * and punishments upon the
people ;
To bind their kings with chains,
* and their nobles with fetters of
iron ;
To execute upon them the judg-
ment written : * this honour have
all His Saints.
Psalm CL.
TD RAISE the Lord in His sanctuary !
* praise Him in the firmament
of His power !
Praise Him in His mighty acts !
* praise Him according to His ex-
cellent greatness !
Praise Him with the sound of the
trumpet ! * praise Him with the
psaltery and harp !
Praise Him with the timbrel and
dance ! * praise Him with stringed
instruments and organs !
Praise Him upon the loud cymbals,
praise Him upon the high-sounding
cymbals ! * Let everything that hath
breath praise the LORD !
After the Fifth Antiphon the ser-
vice proceeds directly thus :
Answer. I heard a voice from
heaven saying unto me :
Verse. Blessed are the dead which
die in the Lord.
Antiphofi. l I am the resurrection
and the life : * he that believeth in
Me though he were dead, yet shall he
live : and whosoever liveth and be-
lieveth in Me shall never die.
The Song of Zacharias.
After the repetition of the Antiphon,
all kneel down, and the service ends
as at Vespers, except that, if Ps. cxlv.
have been said at Vespers, now is said
instead,
Psalm CXXIX.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees." The
meaning of this title is not certain. The
Psalms so called may perhaps, like the
" Graduals " of the Roman Liturgy, be " step-
songs," intended to be sung during proces-
sions, Liturgical or of pilgrims.]
f~^\UT of the depths have I cried
^ unto Thee, O Lord ! * Lord,
hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive * to
the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark in-
iquities, * O Lord, who shall stand ?
But there is forgiveness with Thee :
* because of Thy law, I wait for
Thee, O Lord!
My soul waiteth on His word :
* my soul hopeth in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until
night * let Israel hope in the Lord :
For with the LORD there is mercy,
* and with Him is plenteous re-
demption.
And He shall redeem Israel, * from
all his iniquities.
1 John xi. 25, 26.
THE GRADUAL PSALMS.
839
Cj&* ©ratotal Psalms,
The Gradual Psalms are said every
Wednesday in Lent, unless a Feast of
Nine Lessons is being kept. They are
not said in Holy Week. Ln Choir
they are said before the Mattins of
the day ; out of Choir, whenever
convenient.
No Antiphon is said with these
Psalms.
At the end of the first five, the
Hymn " Glory be to the Father, &c,"
is not said.
Ps. cxix. In my distress, &c, (p.
186.)
Ps. cxx. I will lift up mine eyes,
&c, {p. 186.)
Ps. cxxi. I was glad, &c, (p.
188.)
Ps. cxxii. Unto Thee lift I up, &c,
{p. 189.)
Ps. cxxiii. If it had not been the
Lord, &c, {p. 189.)
O Lord, grant them eternal rest,
and let the everlasting light shine upon
them.
Then all kneel, arid the Lord's
Prayer is said inaudibly, except the
words " Our Father " and the ter-
mination—
And lead us not into temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from
evil.
Verse. From the gates of the
grave.
Answer. Deliver their souls, O
Lord!
Verse. May they rest in peace.
Answer. Amen.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
TORD, we beseech Thee to loosen
the souls of Thy men-servants
and of Thy maid-servants, even the
souls of all Thy faithful children from
all bonds soever wherewith their trans-
gressions have bound them, and grant
unto them to live and breathe again
among all Thy Saints and elect, in
a glorious resurrection. Through
Christ our Lord.
Answer. Amen.
Then are said the next five, and at
the end of each the Hymn, " Glory be
to the Father, &c."
Ps. cxxiv. They that trust in the
Lord, &c, {p. 189.)
Ps. cxxv. When the Lord turned,
&c, {p. 190.)
Ps. cxxvi. Except the Lord build,
&c, {p. 190.)
Ps. cxxvii. Blessed is every one,
&c, {p. 191.)
Ps. cxxviii. Many a time, &c, {p.
191.)
Then all kneel.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Our Father (the Lords Prayer is
continued inaudibly till the termina-
tion) And lead us not into tempta-
tion.
Answer. But deliver us from
evil.
Verse. Remember Thy congrega-
tion.
Answer. Which Thou hast pur-
chased of old.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
840
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
Let us pray.
t~\ GOD, Whose property is ever to
^^^ have mercy and to forgive, re-
ceive our humble petitions, and grant
that we and all Thy servants who are
bound by the chain of sin, may, by
the tenderness of Thy pity, mercifully
be absolved. Through Christ our
Lord.
Answer. Amen.
Then are said the next five, and at
the end of each the Hymn, " Glory be
to the Father, &c."
Ps. cxxix. Out of the depths, &c,
(A 192.)
Ps. cxxx. Lord, my heart is not
haughty, &c, {p. 192.)
Ps. cxxxi. Lord, remember David,
&c, (p. 193.)
Ps. cxxxii. Behold, how good, &c,
{p. 194.)
Ps. cxxxiii. Behold, now, bless ye,
&c, (p. 207.)
Then all kneel.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Our Father {the Lords Prayer is
continued inaudibly till the termina-
tion) And lead us not into tempation.
Answer. But deliver us from
evil.
Verse. O Thou my God, save Thy
servants.
Answer. That trust in Thee.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O LORD.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
CTRETCH forth, O Lord, over all
Thy men-servants and Thy maid-
servants the right arm of Thy help
from heaven, that they may seek Thee
with all their heart, and what they
ask worthily may obtain effectually.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
€t)t &eben penitential jpgalmg an& tfte Eitang*
These are said kneeling every Fri-
day in Lent when the Office is of the
Week-day, except Good Friday, and
the Litany alone {without the Seven
Psalms) on St Mark's Day, April 25
— and on the three Rogation Days.
Ln Lent they are said in Choir after
Lauds {immediately after V. Bless we
the Lord. R. Thanks be to God.)
Out of Choir, when convenient.
Glory be to the Father, &c, is said
after each Psalm.
Antiphon. Remember not.
Ps. vi. O Lord, rebuke me not,
&c, (A 5.)
Ps. xxxi. Blessed are they, &c,
(A 77.)
Ps. xxxvii. O Lord, rebuke me
not, &c, {p. 83.)
Ps. 1. Have mercy upon me, &c,
(A 87.)
Ps. ci. Hear my prayer, &c, {p.
I59-)
Ps. cxxix. Out of the depths, &c,
(A 192.)
Ps. cxlii. Hear my prayer, &c,
(A 1 53-)
Antiphon. 1 Remember not, Lord,
our offences, nor the offences of our
forefathers ; neither take Thou venge-
ance of our sins.
1 Tobias iii. 3.
THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS AND THE LITANY. 841
The Litany.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
O Christ, hear us.
Graciously hear us, O Christ,
O God the Father, of\
heaven,
O God the Son, Redeemer
of the world,
O God the Holy Ghost,
O Holy Trinity, One God,
Holy Mary,
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Holy Michael,
Holy Gabriel,
Holy Raphael,
O all ye holy Angels and Arch-
angels,
O all ye holy Orders of blessed
spirits,
Holy John the Baptist,
Holy Joseph,
O all ye holy Patriarchs and
Prophets,
Holy Peter,
Holy Paul,
Holy Andrew,
Holy James,
Holy John,
Holy Thomas,
Holy James,
Holy Philip,
Holy Bartholomew,
Holy Matthew,
Holy Simon,
Holy Thaddeus,
Holy Matthias,
Holy Barnabas,
Holy Luke,
Holy Mark,
O all ye holy Apostles and
Evangelists,
O all ye holy Disciples of the
Lord,
O all ye holy Innocents,
Holy Stephen, J
Holy Lawrence,
vol. I.
si
I
Holy Vincent,
Holy Fabian and Sebastian,
Holy John and Paul,
Holy Cosmas and Damian,
Holy Gervase and Protase,
O all ye holy Martyrs,
Holy Silvester,
Holy Gregory,
Holy Ambrose,
Holy Austin,
Holy Jerome,
Holy Martin,
Holy Nicholas,
O all ye holy Bishops and
Confessors,
O all ye holy Teachers,
Holy Anthony,
Holy Benedict,
Holy Bernard,
Holy Dominick,
Holy Francis,
O all ye holy Priests and
Levites,
O all ye holy Monks and
Hermits,
Holy Mary Magdalen,
Holy Agatha,
Holy Lucy,
Holy Agnes,
Holy Cecily,
Holy Katharine,
Holy Anastasia,
O all ye holy Virgins and Wi-
dows,
O all ye holy men and women
children of God,
Make intercession for us.
Be merciful,
Spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
From all evil,
From all sin,
From Thy wrath,
From sudden and unprovided
death,
From the snares of the devil,
From the spirit of unclean-
ness,
2 E
842
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
From lightning and tempest,
From the scourge of earth-
quake,
From pestilence, famine, and
war,
From everlasting death,
Through the mystery of Thine
holy Incarnation,
Through Thy coming,
Through Thy Birth,
Through Thy Baptism and
holy Fasting,
Through Thy Cross and Suffer-
ing,
Through Thy Death and
Burial,
Through
again,
Through
cension,
Through
.&
/•a
Thine holy Rising
Thy wonderful As-
the
the coming of
Holy Ghost, the Comforter,
In the day of judgment, /
We sinners,
Do beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou wouldest spare us,
That Thou wouldest pardon us,
That it may please Thee to
bring us unto true repentance,
That it may please Thee to rule
and preserve Thy holy Church,
That it may please Thee to
preserve our Apostolic Lord, and
all orders of the Church in holy
religion,
That it may please Thee to
bring down the enemies of Thy
holy Church,
That it may please Thee to
give peace and true concord unto
all Christian Kings and Princes,
That it may please Thee to
give peace and unity to all
Christian nations,
That it may please Thee to
strengthen and preserve us in
Thy holy Service,
That Thou wouldest raise up
our minds to heavenly desires, /
§
That Thou wouldest reward >
with eternal good all them who
do good to us,
That Thou wouldest deliver our
souls, and the souls of our breth-
ren, kinsfolk, and benefactors,
from eternal damnation,
That it may please Thee to
give and preserve to our use the
fruits of the earth,
That it may please Thee to
grant eternal rest unto all the
faithful departed,
That it may please Thee gra-
ciously to hear us,
Son of God,
O Lamb of God, That takest away
the sins of the world.
Spare us, 0 Lord.
O Lamb of God, That takest away
the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
O Lamb of God, That takest away
the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O Christ, hear us,
Graciously hear us, O Christ.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Our Father, {the Lord's Prayer is con-
tinued inaudibly till the termination. )
And lead us not into temptation.
But deliver us from evil.
Psalm LXIX.
TV/TAKE haste, O God, to deliver
me : * make haste to help me
O Lord.
Let them be ashamed and con-
founded, * that seek after my soul.
Let them be turned backward and
put to confusion, * that desire my hurt.
Let them be turned back with
shame, * that say unto me : Aha, aha.
Let all those that seek Thee be joy-
ful and glad in Thee, * and let such
THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS AND THE LITANY. 843
as love Thy salvation say continually :
Let the Lord be magnified.
But I am poor and needy : * help
me, O God.
Thou art my help and deliverer : *
O Lord, make no tarrying.
Glory be to the Father, &c.
As it was in the beginning, &c.
Verse. * O Thou, my God, save
Thy servants,
Answer. That trust in Thee.
Verse. 2 Lord, be Thou unto us a
strong tower
Answer. From the enemy.
Verse. 3 Let the enemy prevail no-
thing against us.
Answer. Nor the son of wicked-
ness afflict us.
Verse. 4 Deal not Thou with us
after our sins.
Answer. Nor reward us according
to our iniquities.
Verse. Let us pray for our Bishop.
{Here the name of the reigning Pope
is inserted. ) 5
Answer. 6 The Lord preserve him,
and quicken him, and make him to
be blessed upon the earth, and deliver
him not unto the will of his enemies.
Verse. Let us pray for them who
have done good to us.
Answer. May it please Thee, O
Lord, to reward with eternal life all
them who do good to us for Thy
Name's sake. Amen.
Verse. Let us pray for the faithful
departed.
Answer. O Lord, grant them eter-
nal rest, and let the everlasting light
shine upon them.
Verse. May they rest in peace.
Answer. Amen.
Verse. Let us pray for our absent
brethren.
Answer. O Thou my God, save
Thy servants that trust in Thee.
1 PS. 1XXXV. 2. 2 PS. lx. 4.
5 Pontifex. This being the Roman Breviary.
Verse. 7 O Lord, send them help
from the sanctuary.
Answer. And strengthen them out
of Zion.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come unto
Thee.
Let us pray.
f~\ GOD, Whose property is ever to
have mercy and to forgive, re-
ceive our humble petitions, and grant
that we and all Thy servants who are
bound by the chain of sin may, by the
tenderness of Thy pity, mercifully be
absolved.
f~\ LORD, we beseech Thee graci-
ously to hear our humble peti-
tions, and spare all those who confess
their sins unto Thee, granting us in
Thy goodness pardon and peace.
DE graciously pleased, O Lord, to
show forth upon us Thine un-
speakable mercy, ridding us from all
sin, and therewithal delivering us from
all pains which for the same we do
justly deserve.
r~\ GOD, Whom sin doth justly move
^-^ to anger, and repentance turn
again mercifully to forgive the same,
look down now graciously upon the
supplications of Thy people praying
before Thee, and turn away the
scourges of Thy wrath, which for our
sins we do most rightfully deserve.
r\ ALMIGHTY and everlasting
^^^ God, have pity upon Thy servant
our Bishop N., {here name the Pope,)
and order his goings according to
Thy mercy in the paths of eternal sal-
vation, that by the gift of Thy grace
he may ever seek such things as
please Thee, and with all his strength
fulfil the same.
3 Ps. lxxxviii. 23.
6 Ps. xl. 3.
4 Ps. cii. ro.
7 Ps. xix. 3.
844
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
f~~\ GOD, from Whom all holy desires,
^^^ all good counsels, and all just
works do proceed ; give unto Thy
servants that peace which the world
cannot give, that both our hearts may
be set to obey Thy commandments,
and also that by Thee we being de-
fended from the fear of our enemies,
may pass our time in rest and quiet-
ness.
[ ORD, burn our reins and our
hearts with the fire of Thy Holy
Spirit, that we may serve Thee with
chaste bodies and pure minds.
(~\ GOD, Who art Thyself at once
^^^ the Maker and the Redeemer
of all Thy faithful ones, grant unto
the souls of Thy servants and hand-
maids remission of all their sins, mak-
ing of our entreaties unto our Great
Father a mean whereby they may
have that forgiveness which they have
ever longed for.
pREVENT us, O Lord, we beseech
Thee, in all our doings, with Thy
gracious inspiration, and further us
with Thy continual help, that every
prayer and work of ours may begin
from Thee, and by Thee be duly ended.
(~\ ALMIGHTY and everlasting
^ God, Who art Lord both of the
living and of the dead, and hast
mercy upon all whom Thou fore-know-
est shall by faith and work be Thine,
we most humbly beseech on behalf of
all for whom we have a mind to pray,
whether they be yet entangled in the
flesh in this present world, or whether
they be already rid of the body, and
entered into that world which for us
is still to come, that all Thy holy
children may pray for them, and that
the pitifulness of Thy mercy may grant
unto them the forgiveness of all their
trespasses. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reign-
eth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Answer. Amen.
Verse. May the almighty and mer-
ciful Lord graciously hear us.
Answer. Amen.
Verse. And may the souls of the
faithful, through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
Answer. Amen.
<£race More an& after Jfteat
Before dinner, he who blesses the
meal says :
Verse. Bless ye —
Answer. Bless ye.
Then he says :
1 The eyes of all —
And the rest continue :
Wait upon Thee, O Lord, and Thou
givest them their meat in due season.
Thou openest Thine hand, and fillest
all things living with plenteousness.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, &c.
Answer. As it was, &c.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Our Father, {inaudibly till the last
words,)
And lead us not into temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from evil.
1 Ps. cxliv. 15, 16.
GRACE BEFORE AND AFTER MEAT.
845
Let us pray.
"DLESS us, O Lord, and these Thy
gifts, which we are about to
receive from Thy bounty. Through
Christ our Lord.
Answer. Amen.
Reader. Sir, be pleased to give the
blessing.
The Blessing.
May the King of eternal glory make
us to be partakers at His table in
heaven.
Answer. Amen.
At the end of dinner, the Reader
concludes, saying :
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy
upon us.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Verse. 1 May all Thy works praise
Thee, O Lord !
Answer. And let Thy Saints bless
Thee!
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
&c.
Answer. As it was, &c.
We give Thee thanks, O Almighty
God, for all Thy mercies. Who livest
and reignest for ever and ever.
Answer. Amen.
Then is said alternately either Ps.
1., " Have mercy upon me, &c," {p.
87,) or Ps. cxvi., " O praise the Lord,
&c," (p. 186.) Then:
Verse. Glory be to the Father, &c.
Answer. As it was, &c.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Our Father, (inaudibly till the last
words,)
And lead us not into temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from evil.
Verse. 2 He hath dispersed, he
hath given to the poor —
Answer. His righteousness en-
dureth for ever.
Verse. 3 I will bless the Lord at
all times —
Answer. His praise shall continu-
ally be in my mouth.
Verse. My soul shall make her
boast in the Lord —
Answer. The humble shall hear
thereof and be glad.
Verse. O magnify the Lord with
me —
Answer. And let us exalt His
Name together.
Verse. 4 Blessed be the Name of
the Lord ! —
Answer. From this time forth and
for evermore !
May it please Thee, O Lord, to
reward with eternal life all them
who do good to us for Thy Name's
sake.
Answer. Amen.
Verse. Bless we the Lord.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Verse. May the souls of the faith-
ful, through the mercy of God, rest in
peace.
Answer. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer is again said,
inaudibly throughout, and then :
God grant us His peace.
Answer. Amen.
At supper the form is the same, ex-
cept the following :
Text at the beginning (Ps. xxi.
27.)
The poor shall eat —
And be satisfied, and they shall
praise the Lord that seek Him : their
heart shall live for ever.
1 Ps. cxliv. 10.
2 Ps. cxi. 9.
3 Ps. xxxiii. 2-4.
4 Ps. cxii. 2.
846
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
Blessing.
May the King of eternal glory
bring us y to sup with Him in
eternal life.
At the end :
Verse. 1 He hath made a memorial
of His wonderful works.
Answer. The Lord is gracious
and full of compassion : He hath
given meat unto them that fear
Him.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, &c.
Answer. As it was, &c.
2 God is blessed in all His gifts, and
holy in all His works.
Answer. Amen.
And Ps. cxvi. is always said.
On some days the form is special, as
follows :
Note 1. These special passages are
used both at dinner and supper.
Note 2. On a Fast-Day, the single
meal allowed is supper.
Note 3. // is always allowed to
substitute Psalm cxvi. for the special
Psalm appointed, except on Maundy
Thursday and Good Friday.
1. On Christmas Day to dinner on
fan. 5, and inclusive.
Text at the beginning (John i. 14.)
The Word was made Flesh, Alle-
luia,—
And dwelt among us. Alleluia.
At the end :
Verse. The Lord hath made
known. Alleluia, —
Answer. His salvation. Alleluia.
Ps. xcvii. O sing unto the LORD,
&c.,(p. 157.)
2. On the Epiphany and throughout
the Octave.
Text at the beginning (Ps. lxxi. 10.)
The kings of Tarshish and of the
isles shall bring presents. Alleluia —
The kings of Arabia and Saba shall
offer gifts. Alleluia.
At the end :
Verse. 3A11 they from Saba shall
come. Alleluia —
Answer. They shall bring gold
and incense. Alleluia.
Ps. lxxi. Give the King, &c, {p.
126.)
JPragcrs for a Siouweg*
These Prayers are said immediately
after starting. If one person say them by
himself, the Singular Number is used.
Antiphon. May the Lord, the Al-
mighty and Merciful, lead us —
Song of Zacharias. Blessed be the
Lord, &c, {p. 28.)
Antiphon. May the Lord, the Al-
mighty and Merciful, lead us into the
way of peace and prosperity, and
may the angel Raphael be with us
in the way, that we may come to
our home again in peace, and health,
and gladness.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Our Father (inaudibly till the last
words)
And lead us not into temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from evil.
Verse. 4 O Thou my God, save
Thy servants,
Answer. That trust in Thee.
Ps. ex. 4.
J Cf. Ps. cxliv. 17.
s Isa. lx. 6.
4 Ps. lxxxv. 2.
PRAYERS FOR A JOURNEY.
847
Verse. l O Lord, send us help from
the sanctuary.
Answer. And strengthen us out of
Zion.
Verse. 2 Lord, be Thou unto us a
strong tower,
Answer. From the enemy.
Verse. 3 Let the enemy prevail no-
thing against us,
Answer. Nor the son of wicked-
ness afflict us.
Verse. 4 Blessed be the Lord
daily.
Answer. The God of our salvation
maketh our way prosperous.
Verse. 5 Show us Thy ways, O
Lord.
Answer. And teach us Thy paths.
Verse. 6 O that our ways were
directed,
Answer. To keep Thy statutes.
Verse. 7 The crooked shall be
made straight.
Answer. And the rough places
plain.
Verse. 8 God hath given His
Angels charge over thee.
Answer. To keep thee in all thy
ways.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O LORD.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
f~\ GOD, Who madest the children
^^^ of Israel to walk with dry feet
through the midst of the sea, and Who
didst open unto the three wise men,
by the guiding of a star, the way that
led unto Thee, grant us good speed,
and quietness, that Thine holy Angel
may be with us, and that we may
happily come thither whither we would,
now, and, in the end, unto the haven
of eternal salvation.
r\ GOD, Who didst call Thy ser-
vant Abraham out of Ur of the
Chaldees, and didst keep him from
evil through all the ways of his pil-
grimage, we beseech Thee, that it
may please Thee to keep us Thy
servants. Be Thou unto us, O Lord,
an help when we go forward, a com-
fort by the way, a shadow from the
heat, a covering from the rain and the
cold, a chariot in weariness, a refuge
in trouble, a staff in slippery paths,
an haven in shipwreck. Do Thou
lead us, that we may happily come
thither where we would be, and there-
after come again safe unto our own
home.
(GRACIOUSLY hear our supplica-
tions, O Lord, we beseech Thee,
and order the goings of Thy servants
in the safe path that leadeth unto
salvation in Thee, that amidst all the
manifold changes of this life's pil-
grimage, Thy shield may never cease
from us.
/GRANT, we beseech Thee, O Al-
^ mighty God, that Thy family
may fare onward in the path of sal-
vation, and by giving heed to the
preaching of the blessed Fore-runner
John, may safely attain unto Him
Whom John preached, even our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
Verse. Let us go on in peace.
Answer. In the name of the Lord.
Amen.
1 Ps. xix. 3.
5 Ps. xxiv. 4.
« Ps. lx. 4.
6 Ps. cxviii. 5.
3 Ps. lxxxviii. 23.
7 Isa. xl. 4.
4 Ps. lxvii. 20.
8 Ps. xc. 7.
848
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
preparation for (ftommunton*
Antiphon (to be doubled when the
Office is doubled.) Remember not,
Lord, our offences, * nor the offences
of our forefathers, neither take Thou
vengeance of our sins.
Psalm LXXXIII.
[Intituled "A Psalm of the sons of Koran."
It has the same superscription as Ps. lxx.,
referring possibly to the vintage. It reads as
if it were a pilgrim-song referring to the going
up of all the males of Israel to Jerusalem to
observe the Feast of Tabernacles, when har-
vest and vintage were over.]
T_T OW lovely are Thy tabernacles,
O Lord of Hosts ! * my soul
longeth and fainteth for the courts of
the Lord :
Mine heart and my flesh * rejoice
for the living God.
Yea, the sparrow hath found an
house, * and the dove a nest for her-
self, where she may lay her young,
Even Thine altars, O Lord of hosts,
* my King and my God !
Blessed are they that dwell in Thine
house, O Lord ; * they will be ever
praising Thee.1
Blessed is the man whose strength
is from Thee ; * who hath settled in
his heart to go up [to Thy sanctuary,]
through the vale of tears,2 to the place
which he hath appointed.
He That hath given the Law will
give His blessing ; they shall go from
strength to strength : * they appear
before the God of gods in Zion.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my
prayer : * give ear, O God of Jacob ! 1
Behold, O God, our shield : * and
look upon the face of Thine Anointed.
For a day in Thy courts is better *
than a thousand.
I had rather be a menial in the
house of my God, * than to dwell in
the tents of wickedness.
For God loveth mercy and truth : *
the Lord will give grace and glory.
No good thing will He withhold
from them that walk uprightly. * O
Lord of hosts, blessed is the man
that trusteth in Thee !
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Psalm LXXXIV.
[Intituled "A Psalm of the sons of Korah,"
with the usual (now uncertain) superscription.]
T ORD, Thou hast been favourable
unto Thy land : * Thou hast
brought back the captivity of Jacob.
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of
Thy people : * Thou hast covered all
their sins.1
Thou hast taken away all Thy
wrath : * Thou hast turned Thyself
from the fierceness of Thine anger.
Turn us, O God of our salvation, *
and cause Thine anger towards us to
cease.
Wilt Thou be angry with us for
ever ? * wilt Thou draw out Thine
anger to all generations ?
0 God, Thou shalt again quicken
us : * and Thy people shall rejoice in
Thee.
Show us Thy mercy, O Lord ! *
and grant us Thy salvation.
1 will hear what the LORD God
will speak in me : * for He will
speak peace unto His people,
i SLH.
2 Hebrew, "of Baca," probably the proper name of a place, but, literally, " weeping."
PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION.
849
And to His saints, * and unto them
that are changed in heart.
Surely His salvation is nigh them
that fear Him, * that glory may dwell
in our land.
Mercy and truth have met together:
* righteousness and peace have kissed
each other.
Truth hath sprung out of the earth :
* and righteousness hath looked down
from heaven.
Yea, the Lord shall give that which
is good : * and our land shall yield
her increase.
Righteousness shall go before Him:
* and shall set His footsteps in the
way.
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Psalm LXXXV.
[Intituled " A Prayer of David."]
"DOW down Thine ear, O Lord,
and hear me : * for I am poor
and needy.
Preserve my soul, for I am holy : *
O Thou my God, save Thy servant
that trusteth in Thee.
Be merciful unto me, O Lord, for I
cry unto Thee all the day long : * re-
joice the soul of Thy servant, for unto
Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For Thou, Lord, art good and ready
to forgive, * and plenteous in mercy
to all them that call upon Thee.
Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer :
* and attend to the voice of my sup-
plication.
In the day of my trouble I called
upon Thee, * for Thou hast heard me.
Among the gods there is none like
unto Thee, O Lord : * neither are there
any works like unto Thy works.
All nations whom Thou hast made
shall come and worship before Thee,
VOL. 1.
0 Lord : * and shall glorify Thy
name.
For Thou art great and doest won-
drous things : * Thou art God alone.
Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and
1 will walk in Thy truth : * let mine
heart be glad, that it may fear Thy
name.
I will praise Thee, O Lord my God,
with all mine heart, * and I will glorify
Thy name for evermore.
For great is Thy mercy toward me:
* and Thou hast delivered my soul
from the lowest hell.
O God, the wicked are risen against
me, and the assemblies of violent men
have sought after my soul, * and have
not set Thee before them.
But Thou, O Lord, art a God full
of compassion and gracious, * long-
suffering, and plenteous in mercy and
truth.
0 look upon me, and have mercy
upon me : * give Thy strength unto
Thy servant, and save the son of
Thine handmaid !
Show me a token for good, that
they which hate me may see it and be
ashamed : * because Thou, O Lord,
hast holpen me, and comforted me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Psalm CXV.
[In the Hebrew this Psalm is a continuation
of the last. The Vulgate and the LXX. pre-
fix "Alleluia."]
T BELIEVED, therefore have I
spoken : * but I was greatly
afflicted.
1 said in my haste : * All men are
liars.
What shall I render unto the Lord
* for all His benefits toward me ?
I will take the cup of salvation, *
and call upon the name of the Lord.
2 e 2
850
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
I will pay my vows unto the Lord
in the presence of all His people. *
Precious in the sight of the Lord is
the death of His Saints.
0 Lord, truly I am Thy servant :
* I am Thy servant, and the son of
Thine handmaid :
Thou hast loosed my bonds. * I
will offer to Thee the sacrifice of
thanksgiving, and will call upon the
name of the Lord.
1 will pay my vows unto the LORD,
in the presence of all His people : *
in the courts of the Lord's house, in
the midst of thee, O Jerusalem !
[Here the Hebrew appends "Alleluia,"
which the Vulgate and the LXX. prefix to
the next Psalm.]
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Psalm CXXIX.
[Intituled "A Song of Degrees." The
meaning of this title is not certain. The
Psalms so called may perhaps, like the
" Graduals " of the Roman Liturgy, be "step-
songs," intended to be sung during proces-
sions, Liturgical or of pilgrims.]
/^\UT of the depths have I cried
^ unto Thee, O LORD 1 * Lord,
hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive * to
the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark in-
iquities, * O Lord, who shall stand ?
But there is forgiveness with Thee :
* because of Thy law, I wait for Thee,
O Lord !
My soul waiteth on His word : *
my soul hopeth in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until
night * let Israel hope in the LORD :
For with the Lord there is mercy,
* and with Him is plenteous redemp-
tion.
And He shall redeem Israel, * from
all his iniquities.
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Antiphon. Remember not, Lord,
our offences, nor the offences of our
forefathers, neither take Thou ven-
geance of our sins.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Our Father {the Lord's Prayer is
continued inaudibly till the termina-
tion. )
Verse. And lead us not into
temptation.
Answer. But deliver us from evil.
Verse. As for me, I said : Lord,
be merciful unto me.
Answer. Heal my soul, for I have
sinned against Thee.
Verse. Turn again, O Lord, for a
little,
Answer. And be entreated for Thy
servant's sake.
Verse. O Lord, let Thy mercy
lighten upon us.
Answer. As our trust is in Thee.
Verse. Let Thy priests be clothed
with righteousness.
Answer. And let Thy Saints shout
for joy.
Verse. Lord, cleanse Thou me
from secret faults.
Answer. Keep back Thy servant
also from the sins of others.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
"DOW down Thy Fatherly ears
unto our supplications, O most
merciful God, and enlighten our hearts
by the grace of Thine Holy Spirit,
that we may worthily take part in
PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION.
85I
Thy service, and may love Thee with
an everlasting love. *
O God, unto Whom all hearts lie
open, all desires known, and from
Whom no secrets are hid, cleanse
the thoughts of our hearts by the
inspiration of Thine Holy Spirit, that
we may perfectly love Thee, and
worthily magnify Thine Holy Name.
Lord, burn our reins and our hearts
with the fire of Thine Holy Spirit,
that we may serve Thee with chaste
bodies and pure minds.
Lord, we beseech Thee, that the
Comforter which proceedeth from
Thee may enlighten our minds, and
lead us into all truth, even as Thy
Son hath promised unto us.
Lord, we beseech Thee, that Thine
Holy Spirit may dwell in us in much
power, mercifully cleansing our hearts
and shielding us from all things hurt-
ful.
O God, Who didst teach the hearts
of Thy faithful people by sending to
them the light of Thine Holy Spirit,
grant unto us by the same Spirit to
have a right judgment in all things,
and evermore to rejoice in His holy
comfort.
Lord, we beseech Thee to cleanse
our consciences by the power of Thine
holy visitation, that when our Lord
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, cometh, He
may find in us a dwelling-place made
ready unto Himself. Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
Prayer.1
S~\ GREAT High Priest and true
^ Bishop, Jesus Christ, Who
didst offer Thyself up to God the
Father upon the Altar of the Cross
as a pure and spotless Victim for us
sinful wretches, Who hast given us
Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to
drink, and hast set this mystery in
the power of the Holy Ghost, saying,
" Do this as oft as ye do it, in re-
membrance of Me." I entreat Thee
by the same Thy Blood the great
price of our salvation, I entreat
Thee by that wondrous and unspeak-
able love wherewith it hath pleased
Thee so to love us unworthy wretches
as to wash us from our sins in Thine
Own Blood, teach me, Thine un-
worthy servant, whom for no deserts of
mine, but by the mere goodness of Thy
mercy, Thou hast been pleased among
other gifts even to call unto Thine
Altar, teach me, I beseech Thee, by
Thine Holy Spirit how to deal with
this mystery, with the reverence,
honour, earnestness, and fear which
are behoven and meet. Make me
by Thy grace always to believe,
understand, feel, hold, say, and
think concerning this mystery that
which is pleasing unto Thee and ex-
pedient for mine own soul. Let Thy
good Spirit enter into mine heart to
sound there without noise, and to
speak all truth without words. These
things are very deep, and they are
covered with an holy veil. For Thy
great mercy's sake, grant that I
may take part at Mass with a clean
heart and a pure mind. Free my
heart from unclean, shameful, vain,
and harmful thoughts. Defend me
with the kindly and faithful keeping
of Thy blessed Angels and their
mighty watch, that the enemies of
all good may be confounded and go
away. By the power of this great
mystery, and by the hand of Thine
i In the original this prayer is divided according to the days of the week ; as there are
some passages in it which are suitable only for Priests, and which have therefore been here
necessarily omitted, it is not here so divided, but the intention clearly is that it should not
all be used at one time.
852
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
holy Angel, take away from me and
from all Thy servants the hard spirit
of pride and vain - glory, envy and
blasphemy, ^fornication and unclean-
ness, doubt and suspicion. Con-
founded be they that assail us, and
may they that would fain destroy
us perish.
O King of virgins, lover of chastity
and purity, by the heavenly dew of
Thy blessing quench in my body the
fire of unlawful lusts, that my body
and soul may remain pure. Kill in
my members all unlawful prickings of
the flesh and uprisings of lust, and
grant unto me, along with Thine other
gifts which truly please Thee, true
and everlasting chastity according to
my state, that I may be able to offer
up unto Thee the sacrifice of praise
with a pure body and a clean heart.
O, what searching of heart, what
shedding of tears, what reverence, and
what awe, what purity of body and
soul are called for by God's heavenly
sacrifice when Thy Flesh is eaten
indeed and Thy Blood is drunk in-
deed, where the things of the highest
are brought down to the things of the
lowest, and the things of God to the
things of earth, where the holy Angels
are present, where Thou Thyself art
wondrously and unspeakably set forth,
Thyself at once the sacrifice and the
Priest.
Who can worthily deal with this,
unless Thou, O God Almighty, should
Thyself make him worthy. Lord, I
know, I know indeed, and I confess it
before Thy Fatherly goodness, that
on account of my great sins and my
countless failings I am not worthy
to draw near to this great mystery,
but I also know, I believe indeed
with all my heart, and I confess with
my mouth, that Thou Who alone art
able to bring a clean thing out of an
unclean, and to make sinners right-
eous and holy, art able to make me
worthy. O, my God, I entreat Thee
by' this Thine Almighty power to
grant unto me, a sinner, that I may
receive this Sacrament with fear and
trembling, with purity of heart and
with weeping, with spiritual gladness
and heavenly joy. Let my soul feel
the sweetness of Thy blessed pres-
ence, and that Thine Holy Angels
keep guard round me.
For I, O Lord, sinner though I be,
am going to draw near unto Thine
Altar in memory of Thy worshipful
passion, to receive there the Sacra-
ment which Thou hast instituted
in remembrance of Thyself for our
salvation. O God, most high, do
Thou receive that remembrance on
behalf of Thine holy Church, and on
behalf of Thy people Whom Thou
hast bought with Thine own Blood.
Be pleased, O Lord, to have regard
unto the sorrows of peoples, the
straits of nations, the cries of prison-
ers, the woes of orphans, the needs
of wanderers, the helplessness of the
weak, the hopelessness of the sick, the
failure of the old, the hopes of young
men, the desires of young women, the
grief of widows.
For Thou, O Lord, hast mercy
upon all, and hatest nothing that
Thou hast made — remember of what
we are made. Thou art our Father,
Thou art our God, be not wrathful
exceedingly, neither shut up the multi-
tude of Thy tender mercies from us.
It is not with any hope in any right-
eousness of our own that we lay our
prayers before Thee, but with hope in
the multitude of Thy tender mercies.
Take away our iniquities from us, and
in Thy mercy kindle in us the fire
of Thine Holy Spirit, take away the
stony heart out of our flesh, and give
an heart afresh, an heart to love
Thee, to seek Thee, to rejoice in
Thee, to follow Thee, and to enjoy
Thee. We beseech Thy mercy, O
PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION.
853
Lord, to be pleased to look in favour
upon Thy people when they do ser-
vice unto Thine Holy Name, and in
order that no one may ask in vain,
and no request be refused, do Thou
Thyself inspire us with such prayers
as it may please Thee to hear and to
grant.
Holy Lord and Father, we entreat
Thee also for the spirits of the faith-
ful departed ; unto them may this
great mystery of godliness be health,
wholeness, gladness, and rest. O
Lord, my God, may they have this
day a great and full banquet of Thee
the Living Bread, Who didst come
down from heaven, and givest life
unto the world, of Thine Holy and
Blessed Flesh, the Flesh of Thee, the
Lamb without spot, Who takest away
the sins of the world, which Thou
didst take from the holy and glorious
womb of the blessed Virgin Mary,
and which was conceived by the Holy
Ghost, and of that river of mercy
which the soldier's spear drew out of
Thy Sacred Side, that they may be
thereby strengthened, filled, rested,
and comforted, and may sing unto
Thy praise and glory. I beseech
Thy mercy, O Lord, that the fulness
of Thy blessing, and the sanctification
of Thy Godhead, may come down
upon the bread which is to be offered
unto Thee.
Let there also come down thereon
the invisible and incomprehensible
Majesty of Thine Holy Spirit, as of
old time He came down upon the
offerings of the fathers, and let Him
turn our offerings into Thy Flesh
and Blood, and teach me, un-
worthy communicant that I am, to
deal with this great mystery with
purity of heart, with earnestness
even to tears, with reverence, and
with awe.
I beseech Thee also, O Lord, by
this very mystery itself, this holy
mystery of Thy Body and Thy Blood,
wherein Thy Church is every day
given to eat and to drink, is purified
and sanctified, and is made partaker
of the one Divine Nature of the Most
High, give me Thine Own Holy
might, and endue me therewith, that
I may be able to draw near Thine
Altar with a good conscience, and
so this heavenly Sacrament may be
salvation and life for me. For Thou
hast said with Thine Own Holy and
Blessed mouth, "The bread which I
will give is My Flesh for the life of
the world" ; " I am the Living Bread,
which came down from heaven " ; " If
any man eat of this Bread he shall
live for ever." O Bread of Sweetness,
cure my heart's palate that I may be
able to taste how sweet Thy love is.
Cure it of every disease that I may
not feel anything sweet like Thy
sweetness. O White Bread, that art
able to content every man's delight
and to yield every taste ; Thou that
always feedest us and yet never art
consumed, let my heart feed on Thee,
and let the taste of Thy sweetness fill
the innermost depths of my soul.
The Angels feed on Thee to fulness ;
let him that is a stranger and pilgrim
here feed on Thee to the best of his
little power, that that provision for
his journey may strengthen him, and
so he faint not by the way. O Thou
Holy Bread, Thou Living Bread, Thou
Pure Bread, Who comest down from
Heaven and givest life unto the world,
come into my heart and purify me
from every defilement, whether of
flesh or of spirit ; enter into my soul,
heal me and cleanse me, within and
without ; be Thou the constant shield
and safety both of my soul and of my
body. Drive all my enemies away
from me, let them fade away far
from the presence of Thy power.
So mayest Thou enable me, under
Thy protection, both without and
854
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
within, to go straight forward until
I come to Thy kingdom, where we
shall not see Thee any more in
mysteries as we see Thee now, but
face to face, when Thou shalt have
given up the kingdom unto God,
even the Father, and shalt be God
all in all. For then wilt Thou fill
me with Thyself, with such a won-
drous fulness, that I shall never
hunger nor thirst again for ever.
Who, with the same God the Father
and Holy Ghost, livest and reignest
for ever and ever. Amen.
Cfianftsgtbmg after <&ommunton*
Antiphon. Let us sing the song of
the three holy children, * the song
which the three children sang when
they blessed the Lord in the midst
of the burning fiery furnace.
The Song of the Three Holy
Children. (Daniel iii. 57.)
f~\ ALL ye works of the Lord, bless
ye the Lord : * praise Him, and
exalt Him above all for ever.
O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye
the Lord : * O ye heavens, bless ye
the Lord.
O all ye waters that be above the
heavens, bless ye the Lord : * O all ye
powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Sun and Moon, bless ye the
Lord : * O ye stars of heaven, bless
ye the Lord.
O ye showers and dew, bless ye the
Lord : * O ye winds of God, bless ye
the Lord.
O ye fire and heat, bless ye the
Lord : * O ye winter and summer,
bless ye the Lord.
O ye dews and rime, bless ye the
Lord : * O ye frost and cold, bless ye
the Lord.
O ye ice and snow, bless ye the
Lord : * O ye nights and days, bless
ye the Lord.
O ye light and darkness, bless ye
the Lord : * O ye lightnings and
clouds, bless ye the Lord.
O let the earth bless the Lord :
* let her praise and exalt Him above
all for ever !
O ye mountains and hills, bless ye
the Lord : * O all ye green things
upon the earth, bless ye the Lord.
O ye wells, bless ye the Lord : * O
ye seas and floods, bless ye the Lord.
O ye whales, and all that move in
the waters, bless ye the Lord : * O all
ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord.
O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye
the Lord : * O ye children of men,
bless ye the Lord.
O let Israel bless the Lord : * let
him praise and exalt Him above all
for ever !
O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye
the Lord : * O ye servants of the
Lord, bless ye the Lord.
O ye spirits and souls of the right-
eous, bless ye the Lord : * O ye holy
and humble men of heart, bless ye the
Lord.
0 Ananias, Azarias, and Misael,
bless ye the Lord : * praise and exalt
Him above all for ever.
1 Bless we the Father, and the Son,
and the Holy Ghost : * let us praise
and exalt Him above all for ever.
1 This verse is, of course, a later addition ; more than two . verses are omitted, and the
last given is one of those omitted at the beginning.
THANKSGIVING AFTER COMMUNION.
855
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the
firmament of heaven : * and to be
praised, and glorified, and exalted
above all for ever.
Psalm CL.
"DRAISE the Lord in His sanctuary !
* praise Him in the firmament
of His power !
Praise Him in His mighty acts !
* praise Him according to His ex-
cellent greatness !
Praise Him with the sound of the
trumpet ! * praise Him with the
psaltery and harp !
Praise Him with the timbrel and
dance ! * praise Him with stringed
instruments and organs !
Praise Him upon the loud cymbals,
praise Him upon the high-sounding
cymbals ! * Let everything that hath
breath praise the Lord !
Glory be to the Father, and to
the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Antiphon. Let us sing the song of
the three holy children, the song which
the three children sang when they
blessed the Lord in the midst of the
burning fiery furnace.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Our Father, (inaudibly) Who art in
heaven, hallowed be 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 them that
trespass against us.
Verse. And lead us not into tempt-
ation.
Answer. But deliver us from evil.
Verse. May all Thy works praise
Thee, O Lord.
Answer. And let Thy Saints bless
Thee.
Verse. Let the Saints be joyful in
glory.
Answer. Let them sing aloud upon
their beds.
Verse. Not unto us, O Lord, not
unto us.
Answer. But unto Thy Name give
glory.
Verse. Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Answer. And let my cry come
unto Thee.
Let us pray.
r\ GOD, Who didst lessen the
^^ flames of fire for the three
children, mercifully grant that we
Thy children may not be touched
by any flames of sin.
Grant, O Lord, we beseech Thee,
that Thy grace may forward us in all
our actions by Thine inspiration, and
follow it by Thine help, that this and
every prayer and work of ours may
begin from Thee, and by Thee be
duly ended.
Grant, O Lord, that we may have
the strength to extinguish the flames
of sin, Thou Who didst grant the
blessed Lawrence to be more than
conqueror amid his fiery torments.
Through Christ our Lord.
Answer. Amen.
856
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
lifbottottS after erommtmtom
From St Thomas Aquinas.1
T GIVE Thee thanks, O holy
Lord, Father almighty, eternal
God, that Thou hast vouchsafed,
for no merit of mine own, but
of the mere condescension of Thy
mercy, to satisfy me a sinner and
Thine unworthy servant with the
precious Body and Blood of Thy
Son our Lord Jesus Christ. I
implore Thee, let not this holy
communion be to me an increase
of guilt unto my punishment, but
an availing plea unto pardon and
forgiveness. Let it be to me the
armour of faith and the shield of
good will. Grant that it may work
the extinction of my vices, the
rooting out of concupiscence and
lust, and the increase within me
of charity and patience, of humility
and obedience. Let it be my strong
defence against the snares of all mine
enemies, visible and invisible ; the
stilling and the calm of all mine
impulses, carnal and spiritual ; mine
indissoluble union with Thee the one
and true God, and a blessed con-
summation at my last end. And I
beseech Thee that Thou wouldst
vouchsafe to bring me, sinner as I
am, to that ineffable banquet where
Thou, with the Son and the Holy
Ghost, art to Thy Saints true and
unfailing Light, fulness of content,
joy for evermore, gladness without
alloy, consummate and everlasting
bliss. Through the same our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the same Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.
From St Bonaventura.1
(~\ SWEETEST Lord Jesus Christ,
^^^ pierce, I beseech Thee, the in-
most marrow of my soul with the
tender and life-giving wound of Thy
love, with true, and calm, and holy
apostolical charity, so that my whole
soul may ever languish and faint for
love of Thee, and for desire of Thee
alone. May it long for Thee and
pine for Thee in the courts of Thine
house ; may it desire to be dissolved
and to be with Thee. Grant that my
soul may hunger for Thee, Thou
Bread of angels, Thou refreshment
of holy souls, our daily supersubstan-
tial Bread, having all manner of
sweetness and savour, and all most
thrilling delights. May mine heart
ever hunger for Thee and feed on
Thee, on whom angels long to look ;
and may mine inmost soul be filled
with the sweetness of the taste of
Thee. May it ever thirst for Thee,
Thou Well of life, Thou Fountain of
wisdom and knowledge, Thou Source
of everlasting light, Thou torrent of
pleasures, Thou fatness and abund-
ance of the house of God ; may it
ever yearn towards Thee, seek Thee,
find Thee, tend towards Thee, attain
to Thee, meditate ever on Thee,
speak of Thee, and work all things
to the praise and glory of Thy Name,
with humility and discretion, with love
and delight, with ready care and glad
affection, with perseverance even unto
the end ; and do Thou be alone and
evermore mine hope, my whole trust,
my riches, my delight, my gladness
and my joy, my rest and my calm
repose, my peace and my sweet
1 Translation by Rev. T. A. Pope, adopted by Lord Bute in A Form of Prayers, 1896.
DEVOTIONS AFTER COMMUNION.
857
content, my fragrance and my sweet-
ness, my food and my refreshment,
my refuge and mine help, my wisdom,
my portion, mine own possession and
my treasure, in whom my mind and
mine heart are fixed and rooted firmly
and immovably for evermore. A?nen.
Rhyme of St Thomas Aquinas.1
Q GODHEAD hid, devoutly I adore Thee,
Who truly art within the forms before
me ;
To Thee my heart I bow with bended knee,
As failing quite in contemplating Thee.
Sight, touch, and taste in Thee are each
deceived ;
The ear alone most safely is believed :
I believe all the Son of God has spoken,
Than Truth's own word there is no truer
token.
God only on the Cross lay hid from view ;
But here lies hid at once the manhood too :
And I, in both professing my belief,
Make the same prayer as the repentant
thief.
Thy wounds as Thomas saw, I do not see ;
Yet Thee confess my Lord and God to be:
Make me believe Thee ever more and more ;
In Thee my hope in Thee my love to store.
O Thou Memorial of our Lord's own dying !
O Bread that Living art and vivifying !
Make ever Thou my soul on Thee to live ;
Ever a taste of heavenly sweetness give.
O loving Pelican ! O Jesu, Lord !
Unclean I am, but cleanse me in Thy blood ;
Of which a single drop for sinners spilt,
Is ransom for a world's entire guilt.
Jesu ! Whom for the present veil'd I see,
What I so thirst for, oh, vouchsafe to me :
That I may see Thy countenance unfolding,
And may be blest Thy glory in beholding.
O Shepherd of the Faithful, O Jesu, gracious
be,
Increase the faith of all who put their faith
in Thee.
A Prayer to be recited before
an Image or Representation
of Christ Crucified.
DEHOLD, O kind and most sweet
Jesus, I cast myself on my
knees in Thy sight, and with the
most fervent desire of my soul, I
pray and beseech Thee that Thou
wouldst impress upon my heart lively
sentiments of faith, hope, and charity,
with true repentance for my sins, and
a firm desire of amendment, while
with deep affection and grief of soul
I ponder within myself and mentally
contemplate Thy five most precious
wounds ; having before my eyes that
which David spake in prophecy :
"They pierced My hands and My
feet ; they have numbered all My
bones."
1 Translation by Rev. Edward Caswall.
Cije VotiU Offices.
Pope Leo XIII. permits that upon
all days whatsoever upon which the
Psalms of the Week-day are to be said
at Mattins, either by reason of the
Week-day itself or of a Simple Office,
with certain exceptions, there may be
substituted for the Office of the day
one of the following Votive Offices.
The excepted days are Ash Wed-
nesday, Passion-tide, and the ijth
to the 24th of December, both in-
clusive. Easter and Whitsun weeks
are also excepted, because the Office
is already Semi- double, and of the
Octave of the Feast of the preceding
Sunday.
The Office itself is Semi-double, and
its relations to the Office of a Week-
day, or of a Simple Feast, or a
Semi- double or Double Office on the
preceding or succeeding day, are
arranged in the same way as if it
were a Semi-double Festival; thus, a
Simple Office would be commemorated
at First Vespers and Lauds, and have
the Ninth Lesson, if it had a Lesson
or Lessons of its own; and a Greater
Week-day would be commemorated at
Lauds, and the Ninth Lesson would
be of its Homily, while in Advent and
Lent the Week-day would be com-
memorated at both Vespers and Lauds,
and have its Homily for the Ninth
Lesson. Preces are said at Co tup line
and Prime and the Common Com-
memorations at Vespers and Lauds,
except the Commemoration of thai
which may be the subject of the
Votive Office. That is to say, the
Comtnetnoration of the Blessed Virgin
is omitted if the Office be of the
Immaculate Conception, that of St
foseph if the Office be of him, and
that of SS. Peter and Paul if the
Office be of the Apostles.
In England the use of two of these
Offices — namely, that of the Most Holy
Sacramefit for Thursdays and that of
the Immaculate Conception for Satur-
days, is obligatory upon all persons
bound to the recitation of the Divine
Office, upon all day permitted by the
Pope, except ( 1 ) those in Advent and
Lent; (2) Eves; (3) Ember Satur-
day; and (4) days to which the Sun-
day Office may be transferred according
to the Pie, iv. 5.1 On those days on
which the use of the Votive Office is
permitted by the Pope, but is not made
obligatory in England, its use is
optional, as is that of the other Votive
Offices on other days.
1 When these two Votive Offices were introduced by the late Pope Pius IX., and when
they seem to have been made obligatory in England, these days were excepted from the Papal
permission. The edition of the English Offices now before the writer (Tournay, 1896) excepts
only Advent and Lent, but the Catholic Directory shows that Eves also are excepted, and
the exceptions would therefore seem to have remained the same as before. Owing to the
multiplication of Festal Offices it is very improbable that the contingencies (3) (4) would
ever occur.
ALL HOLY ANGELS.
859
Office in Jjonour of m f^olg
Angels, for Jftontrapg,
Semi-double.
All as on Sundays except the fol-
lowing.
At Vespers on Sunday evening is
inserted the following Commemoration.
Antiphon. l Are they not all min-
istering spirits, sent forth to minister
for them who shall be heirs of salva-
tion.
Verse. 2 Before the Angels will I
sing praise unto Thee, O my God.
Answer. I will worship toward
Thine holy Temple, and praise Thy
Name.
Prayer from Lauds.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. The Lord, He is the
King of the Angels. * O come, let
us worship Him.
Hymn.z
'"THEE, O Christ, the Father's Splendour,
Life and virtue of the heart,
In the presence of the Angels
Sing we now with tuneful art :
Meetly in alternate chorus
Bearing our responsive part.
Thus we praise with veneration
All the armies of the sky :
Chiefly him, the warrior Primate
Of celestial chivalry :
Michael, who in princely virtue
Cast Abaddon from on high.
By whose watchful care, repelling,
King of everlasting grace !
Every ghostly adversary,
All things evil, all things base ;
Grant us of Thine only goodness
In Thy paradise a place.
Laud and honour to the Father ;
Laud and honour to the Son ;
Laud and honour to the Spirit ;
Ever Three, and ever One :
Consubstantial, Co-eternal,
While unending ages run. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Great things are
spoken of Michael * the Archangel,
who waxed valiant in fight, and won
the victory.
Ps. viii. O Lord, our Lord, &c,
(A 7.)
Second Antiphon. The Angel Gabriel
spake unto Mary, * and said : Behold
thou shalt conceive in thy womb and
bring forth a Son, and shall call His
Name Jesus.
Ps. x. In the Lord put I my trust,
&c, (p. 9.)
Third Antiphon. 4 The Angel
Raphael said : Bless ye the God of
Heaven, * and confess Him before all
living, for He hath had mercy upon
you.
Ps. xiv. Lord, who shall abide,
&c, (p. 10.)
Verse. 5An Angel stood at the
Altar of the Temple.
Answer. Having a golden censer in
his hand.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
First Responsory.
A multitude of Angels came with
the Archangel Michael, into whose
wardship God hath permitted the souls
of the Saints, that he may lead them
into the garden of gladness.
Verse. Lord, do Thou send forth
1 Heb. i. 14. 2 Ps. cxxxvii. 2,
3 Hymn by St Rabanus Maurus altered almost beyond recognition ; translated by Dr Neale.
4 Tob. xii. $. 6 Apoc. viii. 3.
86o
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
Thine Holy Spirit from heaven, the
Spirit of wisdom and understanding.
Answer. That he may lead them
into the garden of gladness.
Second Responsory.
Then the Angel of the Lord
answered and said : O Lord of Hosts,
how long wilt Thou not have mercy
on Jerusalem, and on the cities of
Juda, against which Thou hast had
indignation—
Verse. These three score and ten
years ?
Answer. How long wilt Thou not
have mercy on Jerusalem, and on the
cities of Juda, against which Thou
hast had indignation ?
Third Responsory.
1 When ye see the Gentiles, be not
afraid of them, but in your hearts
worship and fear the Lord ; for His
Angel is with you.
Verse. An Angel stood at the Altar
of the Temple, having a golden censer
in his hand.
Answer. For His Angel is with
you.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. For His Angel is with
you.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. The smoke of the
incense ascended up * before the Lord,
out of the Angel's hand.
Ps. xviii. The heavens declare, &c,
{P- 17.)
Second Antiphon. 2 The Angel of the
Lord * encampeth round about them
that fear Him, and delivereth them.
Ps. xxiii. The earth is the Lord's,
&c, (A 46.)
Third Antiphon. Let us praise the
Lord, * Whom the Angels do praise,
unto Whom Cherubim and Seraphim
do cry, " Holy, Holy, Holy."
Verse. The smoke of the incense
ascended up before the Lord.
Answer. Out of the Angel's hand.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of Pope St Gregory the Great.
(34th on the Gospels.)
OINCE we have run over and inter-
preted the names of the different
Orders of Angels, it remaineth that
we should shortly take up the indica-
tion of their different offices. The
term Power is given to those spirits
through whom most often signs and
wonders are worked. The term
Might is applied to those spirits
unto whose order more might hath
been granted than unto the others, so
that it is to their jurisdiction that the
powers of the enemy are brought into
subjection, and by their might that
they are so chained up that they can-
not tempt men's hearts so much as
they fain would.
Fourth Responsory.
3 All the Angels stood round about
the Throne, and about the Elders, and
the four living creatures, and fell be-
fore the Throne on their faces and
worshipped God.
Verse. 4 Worship the Lord, all ye
His Angels !
Answer. And fell before the Throne
on their faces and worshipped God.
Fifth Lesson.
(|rrHE Principalities are so called
because they are appointed as
princes over the other good Angels,
1 Cf. Baruch, vi. 3-6.
2 Ps. xxxiii. 8.
3 Apoc. vii. 11.
4 Ps. xcvi. 7.
ALL HOLY ANGELS.
86 1
command their troops whenever there
is anything to be done, and direct
them how to perform their ministry
for God. The Dominions bear this
name because they are highly exalted,
even above the power of the princi-
palities. To be a prince is to be
exalted among equals, but to dominate
is to rule over subjects as a Lord.
The Thrones are those hosts over
whom the Almighty God presideth to
exercise judgment, whence the Psalmist
saith, (ix. 5,) "Thou satest on the
throne judging right."
Fifth Responsory.
1 An Angel stood at the Altar of the
Temple, having a golden censer in his
hand ; and there was given unto him
much incense, and the smoke of the
incense ascended up before the Lord,
out of the angel's hand.
Verse. Before the Angels will I sing
praise unto Thee ; I will worship
toward Thine holy Temple, and praise
Thy Name, O Lord.
Answer. And the smoke of the in-
cense ascended up before the Lord,
out of the Angel's hand.
Sixth Lesson.
HP HE Cherubim are said to repre-
sent the fulness of knowledge,
and it is for this reason that these
sublime hosts are so called, because
the nearer they gaze upon the glory of
God so much the more perfect is the
knowledge with which they are filled. 2
The word Seraphim is the title
given to those hosts of holy spirits,
who, on account of their peculiar near-
ness to their Maker, burn with a love
beyond all compare. Their name
signifieth burners or kindlers. Their
fire is their love, and the more pene-
trating is their view of the glory of the
Divine Being so much more intense
is their love thereof wherewith they
glow.
Sixth Responsory.
Before the Angels will I sing praise
unto Thee, and will worship before
Thine holy Temple, and will praise
Thy Name, O Lord.
Verse. For Thy loving -kindness,
and for Thy truth ; for Thou hast
glorified Thine holy Name in us.
Answer. And I will praise Thy
Name, O Lord.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And I will praise Thy
Name, O Lord.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. 3 The Lord sent
His Angel, * which cut off all the
mighty men of valour, and the leaders
and captains in the camp of the King
of Assyria.
Ps. xcv. O sing unto the Lord,
&c, (p. 148.)
Second Antiphon. Worship the
Lord, * all ye His Angels ! Zion
heard, and was glad.
Ps. xcvi. The Lord reigneth, &c,
(p. 149.)
Third Antiphon. Bless the Lord,
* all ye His Angels, that excel in
1 Cf. Apoc. viii. 3, 4.
2 St Gregory seems to have accepted the opinion that Chrwb is a variant of spelling for
Qrwb, and therefore means one who draws near. The derivation of the word is now considered
very uncertain, but the traditional belief certainly is that the Cherubim are the representatives
of contemplation, of knowledge as distinguished from love,— that is, of the intellectual as
opposed to the emotional, or the understanding as opposed to the heart, represented by the
Seraphim, whose name is undeniably derived from saraph, to burn.
3 2 Par. Chron. xxxii. 21.
862
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
strength, that do His commandments,
to hearken unto the voice of His word.
Ps. cii. Bless the Lord, &c,
(p. 1 60.)
Verse. Before the Angels will I
sing praise unto Thee, O my God.
Answer. I will worship toward
Thine holy Temple, and praise Thy
Name.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (i. 47.)
A T that time : Jesus saw Nathanael
"^^ coming to Him, and saith of
him : Behold an Israelite indeed, in
whom is no guile. And so on.
Homily by St Bernard, Abbat [of
Clairvaux.] (wth on Ps. xc.)
What are the goings of the holy
Angels ? Surely those goings whereof
the Only-Begotten Son hath told us
when He saith: "Hereafter ye shall
see heaven open, and the Angels of
God ascending and descending upon
the Son of Man." Their goings,
therefore, are by way of ascent and
descent : they ascend for their own
sakes, and they descend, or to speak
more truly, they condescend for our
sakes. Thus do these blessed spirits
ascend upward by gazing upon God,
and they descend downward by pity
for thee, that they may keep thee in
all thy ways. They ascend upward
to the vision of Him, and they descend
downward at the intimation of His
will ; fo,r " He hath given His Angels
charge over thee, to keep thee in all
thy ways " : but when they so descend
downward they do not thereby lose
the beatific vision of His glory, for
we know that in heaven the Angels
do always behold the face of the
Father. (Matth. xviii. 10.)
Seventh Responsory.
The Angel of the Lord came down
into the furnace, together with Azariah
and his fellows, and smote the flame
of the fire out of the furnace, so that
the fire touched them not at all,
neither hurt them.
Verse. Blessed be their God, Who
sent His Angel and delivered His
servants that trusted in Him.
Answer. So that the fire touched
them not at all, neither hurt them.
Eighth Lesson.
"\A/"HEN they ascend upward to
gaze they search into that
truth wherewith they are sated by
longing, and by satiety are made to
long the more ; when they descend
downward they work mercy upon us
by keeping us in all our ways. For
" are they not all ministering spirits
sent forth to minister for them who
shall be heirs of salvation?" (Heb.
i. 14.) Surely they are not our lords
but our ministers, and herein they are
even as the Son of Man, who came
not to be ministered unto but to
minister, (Matth. xx. 28,) and Who
was among His disciples as he that
serveth. (Luke xxii. 27.) The fruit
of the goings of the holy Angels is,
as toucheth themselves, their own
blessedness and the conforming obedi-
ence inspired by their love ; but as
toucheth us, we receive through them
the keeping of all our ways under the
care of God's grace, for He hath given
His Angels charge over thee, to keep
thee in all thy needs.
Eighth Responsory .
1 Lord, Thou didst send Thine
Angel in the time of Hezekiah, King
of Juda, and didst slay in the host
1 2 Mac. xv. 22-24.
ALL HOLY ANGELS.
863
of Sennacherib an hundred fourscore
and five thousand ; wherefore now
also, O Lord of heaven, send Thy
good Angel before us, for a fear and
dread of the might of Thine arm.
Verse. That those be stricken with
terror that come with blasphemy
against Thine holy people.
Answer. Wherefore now also, O
Lord of heaven, send Thy good Angel
before us, for a fear and dread of the
might of Thine arm.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Wherefore now also, O
Lord of heaven, send Thy good Angel
before us for a fear and dread of the
might of Thine arm.
If the Ninth Lesson is not of the
Homily of a Week-day or that of
a Simple, it is as follows.
T N the meantime God hath given
His Angels charge over thee,
not to take thee out of thy ways, but
to keep thee in thy ways, and so by
their ways to make thy ways His
ways ; for, if thou wouldst know how,
He would have thee also descend and
condescend, thine own needs com-
pelling and admonishing thee to that
which the Angel doth from the purer
motive of love, to condescend by show-
ing pity toward thy neighbour, and
again to ascend along with the Angels
by lifting up thy desires and striving
with all thine heart's longing after
the supreme and eternal truth. Thus
are we exhorted to lift up hearts and
hands together; thus do we hear it
said every day, " Lift up your hearts " ;
thus are we rebuked for our slothful-
ness ; and thus is it said unto us : " O
ye sons of men, how long will ye be
dull of heart ? why will ye love vanity
and seek after leasing?" (Ps. iv. 3.)
For when the heart is unburdened and
light, it is easier for it to rise to seek
and love the truth.
The Hytrin, "We praise Thee, O
God," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. O ye Angels of
the Lord, * bless ye the Lord alway.
Second Antiphon. God hath given
His Angels charge over thee, * to keep
thee in all thy ways.
Third Antiphon. In heaven their
Angels do alway behold the face of
My Father * which is in heaven.
Fourth Antiphon. Praise ye God
* all His Angels, — praise ye Him all
His hosts !
Fifth Antiphon. O ye Angels and
Archangels, * O ye Thrones and
Dominions, O ye Principalities and
Powers, O ye Mighty Ones of
heaven, praise ye the Lord from
the heavens !
Chapter. (Exod. xxiii. 20.)
DEHOLD I send Mine Angel before
thee, to keep thee in the way,
and to bring thee into the place which
I have prepared. Beware of him,
and obey his voice.
Hymn.x
/~*HRIST ! of the holy Angels light and
gladness,
Maker and Saviour of the human race,
O may we reach the world unknown to sad-
ness,
The blessed mansions where they see Thy
Face !
Angel of peace, may Michael to our dwelling
Down from high Heaven in mighty calm-
ness come,
Breathing serenest peace, wild war dispelling
With all her sorrows to the infernal gloom.
1 Translation by the Rev. W. J. Copeland.
864
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
Angel of might, may Gabriel swift descend-
ing,
Far from our gates our ancient foes repel,
And his owiMriumphs o'er the world defend-
ing,
In temples dear to Heaven return and
dwell.
Angel of health, may Raphael lighten o'er us,
To every sick-bed speed his healing flight,
In times of doubt direct the way before us,
And through life's mazes guide our steps
aright.
The Virgin, harbinger of peace supernal,
Mother of Light, with all the Angelic train,
Heaven's glittering host, court of the King
Eternal,
All Saints be with us, till that bliss we gain.
Be this by Thy thrice holy Godhead granted,
Father, and Son, and Spirit ever blest ;
Whose glory by the Angel host is chanted,
Whose Name by all the universe confest.
Amen.
Verse. Before the Angels will I
sing praise unto Thee, O my God.
Answer. I will worship toward
Thine holy Temple, and praise Thy
Name.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
1 The Angel that talked with me came
again, and waked me as a man that
is wakened out of his sleep.
Prayer throughout.
f~\ GOD, Who hast ordained and
^-"^ constituted the services of
angels and men in a wonderful order,
mercifully grant that as Thine holy
angels alway do Thee service in
heaven, so, by Thine appointment,
they may suffer and defend us on
earth. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. O ye Angels of the
Lord, &c, {First Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter at the end. (Apoc. xii. 7.)
'X'HERE was a great war in heaven,
Michael and his angels fought
against the dragon, and the dragon
fought and his angels : and prevailed
not ; neither was their place found
any more in heaven.
TERCE.
Antiphon. God hath given, &c,
{Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory .
An Angel stood at the Altar of the
Temple.
Answer. An Angel stood at the
Altar of the Temple.
Verse. Having a golden censer in
his hand.
Answer. At the Altar of the Temple.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. An Angel stood at the
Altar of the Temple.
Verse. And the smoke of the in-
cense ascended up before the Lord —
Answer. Out of the Angel's hand.
SEXT.
Antiphon. In heaven, &c, {Third
Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Apoc. v. 11.)
f HEARD the voice of many Angels
round about the throne, and the
living creatures, and the elders ; and
the number of them was thousands of
thousands, saying with a loud voice :
Salvation unto our God.
1 Zac. iv. 1.
ALL THE HOLY APOSTLES.
865
Short Responsory.
The smoke of the incense ascended
up before the Lord.
Answer. The smoke of the incense
ascended up before the Lord.
Verse. Out of the Angel's hand.
Answer. Before the Lord.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. The smoke of the incense
ascended up before the Lord.
Verse. Before the angels will I
sing praise unto Thee, O my God.
Answer. I will worship toward
Thine holy Temple, and praise Thy
Name.
NONE.
Antiphon. O ye angels and arch-
angels, &c. {Fifth Antiphon at
Lauds. )
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
Before the angels will I sing praise
unto Thee, O my God.
Answer. Before the angels will I
sing praise unto Thee, O my God.
Verse. I will worship toward Thine
holy Temple, and praise Thy Name.
Answer. O my God.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Before the angels will I
sing praise unto Thee, O my God.
Verse. Worship God.
Answer. All ye his angels.
SECOND VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, Verse and An-
swer, and Prayer from Lauds.
Psalms of Sunday, except the last,
which is Ps. cxxxvii., I will praise
Thee, &c, {p. 197.)
Hymn from Mattins.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Holy Angels who stand ever
before God in heaven, shield us in
the battle, that we perish not in the
awful judgment.
©fftce in honour of all
tjje S&oIjj Apostles, for
&ueso ap>
Semi-double.
The Office is the Common Office for
Apostles, {p. 462).
The Common Commemoration of
SS. Peter and Paul is omitted.
Prayer throughout.
r\ GOD, Who didst will that Thy
^-^ blessed Apostles should be the
means whereby Thou hast brought us
to know Thy Name, grant unto us
the grace to celebrate unto our profit
their everlasting glory. Through our
Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
The Lessons of the First No c turn are
from Scripture according to the Season,
but if the day have no Scripture
Lessons, then they are from 1 Cor. iv.
1, as in the Common Office, {p. 466.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St Austin, Bishop [of Hippo.]
(43rd on the Saints.)
'T'HEY are the light of the world,
because they were the means
whereby the Lord was first pleased
to give unto this world the light of
faith and true knowledge, and to
866
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
deliver the nations and peoples from
the darkness of ignorance and sin.
They are the salt of the earth, for
they were^ the means whereby they
that dwell upon the earth have
tasted the savour of life eternal,
that they might be preserved from
the looseness of the flesh and the
corruption of sin and weakness.
They are they of whom John saith
in his revelation (xxi. 14, 19) that
the wall of the heavenly city had
twelve foundations, garnished with
all manner of precious stones, and
in them the names of the twelve
Apostles of the Lamb, for their
preaching was the mean whereby
God was pleased to lay the found-
ations of the Church, whence also
Paul saith (Eph. ii. 19): "Ye are
no more strangers and foreigners,
but fellow - citizens with the Saints,
and of the household of God, and
are built upon the foundation of
the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus
Christ Himself being the chief
corner-stone."
Fifth Lesson.
1H\EARLY beloved brethren, when
we call these things to mind,
let us strive to put in practice what
these great leaders have taught and
commanded us. Let us learn by
their example to esteem lightly the
riches of the world, to love not the
pleasures of this life, to desire the
kingdom of heaven, to put Christ
before all things, and to obey His
commandments in all things, to love
the poverty of things present, to
pile up riches by grace, to choose
the treasure of wisdom, to seek
the gladness of the spirit, to envy
no man, but to love all men,
even our friends in God, and our
enemies for God, for this only is
love in truth.
Sixth Lesson.
HP HEY therefore are our princes,
princes made most perfect in
love for God, and filled with love for
their neighbour. Whence they were
able to overcome the onset of the
world and to conquer that bloody age,
because they loved nothing in any
thing except the will of God. Even
so, brethren, let us love to do the will
of God in all things, to love our
Maker in Himself, and the things
which He has made for their Maker's
sake, and so shall our love be well
ordered. " For God is love " ( 1 John
iv. 8,) and he that loveth with this
love loveth God ; and if we thus love,
God Himself loveth us, and the Holy
Apostles that are to judge us love us,
and pray for us, that at Christ's gen-
eral judgment we may be crowned
along with them for ever.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matth. (xix.
27.)
A T that time : Peter said unto
■^ Jesus : Behold, we have for-
saken all and followed Thee ; what
shall we have, therefore ? And so on.
Homily by St Hilary, Bishop [of
Poitiers.] (Comment, on Matth. xx.)
It is written that Peter answered
and said unto the Lord, " Behold,
we have forsaken all and followed
Thee ; what shall we have, there-
fore ? and Jesus said unto them :
Amen, I say unto you, that ye
which have followed Me, in the
regeneration when the Son of Man
shall sit in the throne of His glory,
ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone that hath forsaken
ST JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 867
houses, or brethren, or sisters, or
father, or mother, or wife, or child-
ren, or land for My Name's sake,
shall receive an hundredfold, and
shall inherit everlasting life ; but many
that are first shall be last, and the
last shall be first." There are many
reasons which forbid us to place upon
these words of the Gospel a literal
interpretation.
Eighth Lesson.
VXTE are admonished by the intro-
duction of some things which,
according to human sense, are self-
contradictory, to seek for an heavenly
sense. The Apostles say that they
have forsaken all things, and yet that,
so far from forsaking Christ, they
have actually followed Him. Christ
had said (i. iv.): "It is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a
needle than for a rich man to enter
into the kingdom of God," and "When
His disciples heard it they were ex-
ceedingly amazed, saying, Who then
can be saved?" Why should they
be exceedingly amazed ? saying, " Who
then can be saved," seeing that they
themselves had forsaken all things ;
and what they had done, others could
do. It is written also, " But Jesus
beheld them, and said unto them :
With men this is impossible, but with
God all things are possible." How
can it be said that with men this is
impossible, when it was the very
thing which the Apostles themselves
boasted of having done, and which
the Lord Himself acknowledged that
they had done ?
Ninth Lesson.
A LL this discourse is to be in-
terpreted spiritually. What is
save by faith, to regenerate by
water, to conquer by the cross, to
make children of adoption by the
Gospel, to quicken the dead by resur-
rection ? When the Apostles heard
these things they believed them forth-
with, and they profess that they
have left all things, and this their
obedience the Lord doth forthwith
reward, while He solveth all the diffi-
culty of the question above by say-
ing, "Ye which have followed Me,
in the regeneration when the Son
of Man shall sit in the throne of
His glory, ye also shall sit upon
twelve thrones, judging the twelve
tribes of Israel." This is that re-
generation which the Apostles have
obtained, which the law could not
give, and which, by seating them
upon twelve thrones to judge the
twelve tribes of Israel, has made
them sharers in the glory of the
twelve patriarchs.
©fGtce in honour of St Sosepfj,
Spouse of tije Blesseti Fir*
gtn JUarp., ano patron of
tije Catijolic ftjjurdj*
Semi-double.
All from the Common Office for a
Feast of a Confessor not a Bishop,
except the following.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Prayer
from Lauds.
Hymn}
JOSEPH ! to thee by hosts on high
And choirs of Christians, laud be
paid ! —
Saintly of life,— by purest tie
Joined unto her, the glorious Maid.
more possible with God than to
1 Hymn of the sixteenth century ; translation by the Rev. Dr Littledale
868
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
When thou didst doubt thy wife's repute,
And mark her great with Sacred Load,
The angel taught thee that her Fruit
Came from -the Holy Ghost of God.
To clasp the Son, thy Lord, was thine, —
To share His flight to Egypt's shore, —
With tears, to seek in Salem's Shrine
Him lost, — with joy, to find once more.
Death brings to other saints their rest ;
Through toil they win the victor's place ; —
Thou happier, like the angels blest,
Alive, hast seen God Face to face.
Spare us, O Trinity Most High !
Grant that, with Joseph, we may gain
Thy starry realm, and ceaselessly
There raise to Thee our thankful strain.
Amen.
Verse. 1 He made him lord of His
house.
Answer. And ruler of all His
substance.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 2 When as Mary, the Mother
of Jesus, was espoused to Joseph,
before they came together, she was
found with child of the Holy Ghost.
The Common Comme7noration of St
Joseph is omitted.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. In worshipful remem-
brance of our blessed Defender Joseph,
* let us praise our God.
Hymn as at First Vespers.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Joseph went up
from Galilee, * out of the city of
Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city
of David, which is called Bethlehem,
to be enrolled with Mary.
Second Antiphon. The shepherds
came with haste, * and found Mary
and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a
manger.
Third Antiphon. Behold, the Angel
of the Lord appeared to Joseph * in
a dream, saying : Arise, and take the
young Child and His Mother, and flee
into Egypt.
Verse. 3 I will give praise unto Thy
Name —
Answer. For Thou hast been mine
Helper and Defender.
The Lessons are taken from Scrip-
ture according to the Season; but if
the day have none such, then the fol-
lowing are read.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (xxxix. i.)
CO Joseph was brought down to
Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer
of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an
Egyptian, bought him of the hands of
the Ishmaelites, which had brought
him down thither. And the Lord
was with him, and he was a pros-
perous man ; and he was in the house
of his master ; and [his master] knew
well that the Lord was with him,
and made all that he did to prosper
in his hand. And Joseph found
grace in his master's sight, and he
served him ; and he made him
overseer over his house, and all that
he had he put into his hand. And
the Lord blessed the Egyptian's
house for Joseph's sake, and made
all his substance to increase, in
the house, and in the field, [and
he left all that he had in Joseph's
hand,] and he knew not aught he
had, save the bread which he did
eat. And Joseph was a goodly per-
son, and well-favoured.
1 Ps. civ. 21.
2 Matth. i. 18.
3 Ecclus. li. i, 2,
ST JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 869
First Responsory.
1 The people cried to Pharaoh 2 for
bread : and he answered them : Go
unto Joseph.
Verse. 3 The saving of our lives is
in thy hand ; only let us find grace
in thy sight, and we will gladly be
Pharaoh's servants.
Answer. And he answered them :
Go unto Joseph.
Second Lesson, (xli. 37.)
'"PHE thing was good in the eyes
of Pharaoh, and in the eyes
of all his servants, and he said
unto them : Can we find such an
one as this is, a man in whom the
Spirit of God is ? Unto Joseph
therefore he said : Forasmuch as
God hath showed thee all this
which thou hast spoken, how shall
I find any man more discreet and
wise than thou art ? Thou shalt be
over my house, and according to
thy word shall all my people be
ruled : only in the throne will I
be greater than thou. And Pharaoh
said moreover unto Joseph : See,
I have set thee over all the land
of Egypt. And he took off his ring
from his hand, and put it upon his
hand ; and arrayed him in a vesture
of fine linen, and put a gold chain
about his neck, and he made him
to ride in the second chariot which
he had, and an herald cried out
that all men should bow the knee
before him, and should know that
he had been made ruler over all
the land of Egypt.
Second Responsory.
4 God hath made me as a father to
Pharaoh, and lord of all his house.
He hath made me great, to save much
people alive.
Verse. 5 Come unto me, and I will
give you all the good of the land of
Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the
land.
Answer. He hath made me great,
to save much people alive.
Third Lesson.
AND Pharaoh said moreover unto
"^^ Joseph : I am Pharaoh : with-
out thee shall no man lift up his hand
or foot in all the land of Egypt. And
he changed his name, and called him
in the Egyptian tongue, " Saviour-of-
the-world." 6And he gave him to
wife Asenath daughter of Potiphar,
Priest of Heliopolis. So Joseph went
out into the land of Egypt, (he was
thirty years old when he stood before
King Pharaoh) and went throughout
all the land of Egypt. And the plen-
teousness of the seven years came to
pass, and the corn was gathered by
handfuls, and laid up in the granaries
of Egypt. The fruit of the field which
was round about every city was laid
up in the same. And so plentiful
was the wheat that it was like unto
the sand of the sea, and exceeded all
reckoning.
Third Responsory.
7 Now shall I die happy, since I
have seen thy face, and do leave thee
1 Gen. xli. 55. , . , , _ . , .
2 Rex, "the king," according to Gesenius, a simple translation of the Egyptian word ; but
the translator has thought it best to give the foreign word, as it stands in the Hebrew and in
the Vulgate. ' _ _,
3 Gen xlvii. 25. 4 Gen. xlv. 8 ; 1. 20. 5 Gen. xlv. 18.
e Tsaphnath Phaneach. LXX. Pson thorn phanech. Egyptian scholars interpret it as above,
recognising in it a corruption of the Egyptian P-sot-m-ph-enech, but the Jews had an inter-
pretation of their own from the Hebrew form— i.e., " Revealer-of-a-secret " (so Gesenius).
7 Cf. Gen. xlvi. 30; xlviii. II.
870
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
behind me. I am not disappointed of
seeing thee. The Lord hath showed
me also thy seed.
Verse. l He That hath fed me
from my youth up, bless the lads, and
let my name be named on them.
Answer. The Lord hath showed
me also thy seed.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. The Lord hath showed
me also thy seed.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Joseph arose, and
took the young Child and His Mother
by night, and departed into Egypt ;
and was there until the death of
Herod.
Second Antiphon. When Herod
was dead, an Angel of the Lord
appeared in a dream to Joseph in
Egypt, saying : Arise, and take the
young Child and His Mother, and
go into the land of Israel : for they
are dead which sought the young
Child's life.
Third Antiphon. Joseph took the
young Child and His Mother, and
came into the land of Israel.
Verse. 2 Look down from heaven,
and behold, and visit this vine —
Answer. And protect that [Thy
right hand hath planted.]
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St Bernard, Abbat [of Clairvaux.]
{2nd upon Luke i. 26.)
TV/T ARY was espoused to Joseph, or,
as it would be better to express
it in the very words of the Evangelist,
to a man whose name was Joseph.
He calleth him a man not because
he was a husband, but by a title
of excellency ; or rather because, as
another Evangelist hath it, he was
not simply a man, but was rightly
called her husband, as he was neces-
sarily supposed so to be. He was
thus called her husband because he
must needs have been so supposed to
be, as also he was deemed meet not
in deed to be, but to be called, the
father of the Saviour, since he was
supposed so to be, as saith this same
Evangelist: "And Jesus Himself be-
gan to be about thirty years of age,
being (as was supposed) the son of
Joseph."
Fourth Responsory.
3 Thou hast given me the shield of
Thy salvation, and Thy right hand
hath holden me up. My buckler,
and the horn of my salvation, and
my refuge.
Verse. 4 1 am thy shield and thy
exceeding great reward.
Answer. My buckler, and the
horn of my salvation, and my re-
fuge.
Fifth Lesson.
"XA/E cannot doubt but that a good
and faithful man was Joseph,
unto whom was espoused the Mother
of the Saviour. He was a faithful
and wise servant whom the Lord
set up for the comfort of His own
Mother, the fosterage of His own
flesh, and then a faithful helper
Whom His own great counsel formed
upon earth. In addition thereto it
is said that he was of the house of
David. He was indeed of the house
of David. This man Joseph was
indeed of kingly race, noble by birth,
but nobler in heart, he was indeed
a son of David, and no unworthy
descendant of David his father. He
was indeed a son of David, not in
1 Gen. xlviii. 15, 16.
2 Ps. lxxix. 15, 16.
3 Ps. xvii. 36, 3.
4 Gen. xv. 1.
ST JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 87 1
the flesh only, but by loyalty and
holiness and earnestness. One of
whom the Lord might have given
testimony, and said, " I have found
David the son of Jesse a man after
mine own heart, which shall fulfil all
My will" (Acts xiii. 22.) A man
who could say, like David, "The
hidden secrets of Thy wisdom Thou
hast made manifest unto me" (Ps.
1. 7.) A man who was made "a
minister according to the dispensa-
tion of God ... to fulfil the word
of God, even the mystery which hath
been hid for ages and for genera-
tions, but now is made manifest to
His saints" (Col. i. 26.)
Fifth Responsory.
1 He shall set his children under
her 2 shelter, and shall lodge under
her branches : by her shall he be
covered from heat, and in her glory
shall he dwell.
Verse. 3 Trust in Him,4 ye con-
gregation of the people, pour out
your heart before Him.
Answer. And in her glory shall
he dwell.
Sixth Lesson.
T NTO Joseph it was given not
only to see and to hear that
which many prophets and kings had
desired to see and had not seen,
and to hear and had not heard, (Luke
x. 24,) but even to carry this, to lead
it, to embrace it, to kiss it, to feed it,
and to keep it. We must, however,
believe that Mary as well as Joseph
was of the house and lineage of
David, since if she had not so been
she would not have been espoused to
one who was so. Both, therefore,
were of the house of David, but in
1 Ecclus. xiv. 26, 27. 2 I.e., Wisdom's.
5 Ps. xxvi. 3. 6 Ps. lxx. 6, 7.
her was fulfilled that which the Lord
had sworn in truth unto David, (Ps.
cxxxi. 11,) saying, "Of the fruit of
thy body will I set upon My throne,"
while Joseph stood by the conscious
witness of the fulfilment of the
promise.
Sixth Responsory.
5 Though an host should encamp
against me, my heart shall not fear.
Though war should rise against me,
in this will I be confident.
Verse. 6 My praise shall be con-
tinually of Thee, for Thou art my
strong refuge.
Answer. Though war should rise
against me, in this will I be con-
fident.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Though war should rise
against me, in this will I be con-
fident.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. When Joseph
heard that Archelaus did reign in
Judea in the room of his father Herod,
he was afraid to go thither.
Second Antiphon. Joseph being
warned of God in a dream turned
aside into the parts of Galilee, and
he came and dwelt in a city called
Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken by the prophets :
He shall be called a Nazarene.
Third Antiphon. The Father and
Mother of Jesus marvelled at those
things which were spoken of Him,
and Simeon blessed them.
Verse. 7 1 called upon the Lord,
the Father of my Lord —
Answer. That He would not leave
me in the days of my trouble.
3 Ps. lxi. 9.
4 I.e., in God — see context.
1 Ecclus. li. 14.
872
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gosper1 according to Luke (iii. 21.)
A T that time : When all the people
"^^ were baptized, it came to pass,
that Jesus also being baptized and
praying, the heaven was opened.
And so on.
Homily by St Augustine, Bishop
[of Hippo.] {Against Faustus, xxiii.
7,8.)
From heaven, over the Jordan,
"The Holy Ghost descended in a
bodily shape like a dove upon Him,
and a voice came from heaven which
said, Thou art My beloved Son, in
Thee I am well pleased." Thus also
upon the high mountain, " Behold a
bright cloud overshadowed Him, and
behold a voice out of the cloud which
said, This is My beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased ; hear ye
Him" (Matth. xvii. 5.) And He
over Whom these voices sounded
from heaven was the Son of God
before ever they were uttered, for
He was He "Who albeit in the
womb of the Virgin He took upon
Him the form of a servant, and
was made in the likeness of men,"
was the same " Who, being in the
form of God, thought it not robbery
to be equal with God" (Phil. ii. 7, 6.)
Whence also the same Apostle Paul
saith plainly in another place, (Gal.
iv. 4, 5,) that, "When the fulness
of the time was come, God sent forth
His Son, made of a woman, made
under the law, to redeem them that
were under the law, that we might
receive the adoption of sons." He
is the Son of God who is the
Lord of David, as touching His
Godhead, and is yet as touching
His flesh the Son of David begotten
of David's seed.
Seventh Responsory.
1 Joseph, thou son of David, fear
not to take unto thee Mary thy wife ;
for That Which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Ghost : and she shall
bring forth a Son ; and thou shalt
call His Name Jesus.
Verse. For He shall save His
people from their sins.
Answer. And thou shalt call His
Name Jesus.
Eighth Lesson.
T_T AD it been useless for us to be-
lieve this, the aforenamed
Apostle would not have been so
careful to remind Timothy to (2 Tim.
ii. 8) " remember that Jesus Christ
of the seed of David was raised from
the dead according to my gospel."
The question now ariseth before the
reader of the Holy Gospel, where-
fore since he doth us to wit that
Christ was born of the Virgin without
any coition with Joseph, this Christ
is, nevertheless, called the Son of
David, although the pedigree for
David given by the Evangelist
Matthew is not that of Mary but
that of Joseph. The first reason is
that in order of sex the husband is
named before the wife, and that he
is not the less called husband because
he knew her not, since this same
Matthew when he saith (i. 20) that
That Which was conceived in her was
of the Holy Ghost, expressly giveth
to Joseph (19) the title of "her
husband."
Eighth Responsory.
2 Arise, and take the young Child,
and His Mother, and flee into Egypt ;
and be thou there until I bring thee
word.
1 Matth. i. 20, ax.
2 Matth. ii. 13, 15.
ST JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 873
Verse. That it might be fulfilled
which was spoken of the Lord by
the Prophets, saying : Out of Egypt
have I called my Son.
Answer. And be thou there until
I bring thee word.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And be thou there until
I bring thee word.
Ninth Lesson.
'T'HIS one and the same Matthew
therefore saith that Joseph was
the husband of Mary, that the Mother
of Christ was a virgin, that Christ
was of the seed of David, and that
Joseph was in the pedigree of Christ
from David. The only conclusion is
that Mary herself was of the lineage
of David, and that she was called
the wife of Joseph in order of enum-
eration of sex, and on account of
their union of soul, and that Joseph
is included in the pedigree as her hus-
band, lest it might otherwise seem as
if he were parted from a wife to whom
he was bound by oneness of heart.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. l And Jacob begat
Joseph, * the husband of Mary, of
whom was born Jesus, Who is called
Christ.
Second Antiphon. 2 The Angel
Gabriel * was sent from God, unto
a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
to a Virgin espoused to a man whose
name was Joseph.
Third Antiphon. 3 And Joseph also
went up * from Galilee, out of the
city of Nazareth, unto Judea, unto
the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem.
Fourth Antiphon. 4 And they came
with haste, * and found Mary and
Joseph, and the Babe lying in a
manger.
Fifth Antiphon. 5 And Jesus Him-
self began to be about thirty years of
age, being (as was supposed) the Son
of Joseph.
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 26.)
'THE blessings of thy father have
been strengthened by the bless-
ings of his progenitors, until the
Desire of the everlasting hills come ;
let them be on the head of Joseph,
and on the crown of him that was a
Nazarite6 from his brethren.
Hymn!1
JOY of the Saints ! who didst uphold
Our life's sure Hope, the world's one
Stay,—
Joseph ! as now thy praise is told,
Hearken to us in love to-day.
The great Creator made it thine
To be the spouse of purest Maid,
And father of the Word Divine
In name — salvation's work to aid.
Thou seest with joy in manger lie
The Saviour sung by seers of yore,
And Him, the Son of God Most High,
In lowliness thou didst adore.
The King of kings, the Lord of all,
The God Whom heaven in awe attends,
Whose nod makes trembling demons fall,
To thee in meek submission bends.
To God Most High, the Three in One,
Be praise, Who gave such grace to thee,
He make us win what thou hast won,
The joys of life eternally. Amen.
1 Matth. i. 16. 2 Luke i. 26, 27. 3 Luke ii. 4. 4 Luke ii. 16. • Luke iii. 23.
6 " Separate," i.e. as sold away from them. Perhaps allusion is also made to the previous
^HvnTohhe sixteenth century or later; translation by the Rev. Dr Littledale.
2 F
VOL. I.
874
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
Verse. 1 Thou hast given me the
shield of Thy salvation.
Answer^ And Thy right hand hath
holden me up.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
2 Joseph, thou son of David, fear not
to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for
That Which is conceived in her is of
the Holy Ghost.
Prayer throughout the Office.
f~\ GOD, Who in Thine unspeak-
^^^ able foreknowledge didst choose
Thy blessed servant Joseph to be the
husband of Thine Own most holy
Mother ; mercifully grant that now
that he is in heaven with Thee, we
who on earth do reverence him for
our defender, may worthily be holpen
by the succour of his prayers to
Thee on our behalf; Who liyest and
reignest with God the Father, in
the unity of the Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.
The Common Commemoration of St
Joseph is omitted.
PRIME.
Antiphon. And Jacob, &c, {First
Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter at the end. (Gen. xlix. 22.)
JOSEPH is a fruitful bough, a
fruitful bough and comely to look
upon, whose branches run over the
wall.
TERCE.
Antiphon. The Angel Gabriel, &c,
{Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
He made him lord of His house.
Answer. He made him lord of
His house.
1 Ps. xvii. 36.
Verse. And ruler of all His sub-
stance.
Answer. Lord of His house.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. He made him lord of
His house.
Verse. I will give praise unto Thy
Name —
Answer. For Thou hast been mine
Helper and Defender.
SEXT.
Antiphon. And Joseph also, &c,
( Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Gen. xlix. 25.)
HTHE God of thy father shall
help thee, and the Almighty
shall bless thee with blessings of
heaven above.
Short Responsory.
I will give praise unto Thy Name.
Answer. I will give praise unto
Thy Name.
Verse. For thou hast been mine
Helper and Defender.
Answer. Praise unto Thy Name.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. I will give praise unto
Thy Name.
Verse. The righteous shall grow as
the lily.
Answer. Yea, he shall flourish for
ever in the presence of the Lord.
NONE.
Antiphon. And Jesus Himself,
&c, {Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
2 Matth. i. 20.
THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR.
875
Short Responsory.
The righteous shall grow as the
lily.
Answer. The righteous shall grow
as the lily.
Verse. Yea, he shall flourish for
ever in the presence of the Lord.
Answer. As the lily.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. The righteous shall grow
as the lily.
Verse. l Planted in the house of
the Lord.
Answer. In the courts of the house
of our God.
SECOND VESPERS.
All as at First Vespers, except the
following :
Verse. 2 I sat under His shadow in
Whom I delighted.
Answer. And His fruit was sweet
to my taste.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 3 Son, why hast Thou thus
dealt with us ? Behold, Thy father
and I have sought Thee sorrowing.
©to in honour of tije Jlost
f^olg Sacrament of tije <ar,
for EijursoarjS-
Semi-double.
All as on Sundays except the fol-
lowing.
FIRST VESPERS.
Chapter and Prayer from Lauds.
First Antiphon. 4 Christ the Lord,
being made an High Priest for ever *
after the order of Melchisedec, hath
offered bread and wine.
Second Antiphon. He hath made
His wonderful works to be re-
membered ; * the Lord is [gracious
and] full of compassion. He hath
given meat unto them that fear Him.
Third Antiphon. I will take the
cup of salvation, * and offer the
sacrifice of thanksgiving.
Ps. cxv. I believed, therefore have
I spoken, &c, {p. 185.)
Fourth Antiphon. Let the child-
ren of the Church be like olive-plants
* round about the table of the Lord.
Ps. cxxvii. Blessed is every one,
&c, (p. 191.)
Fifth Antiphon. The Lord, That
maketh peace in the borders of the
Church, * filleth her with the finest
of the wheat.
Ps. cxlvii. Praise the LORD, O
Jerusalem, &c, {p. 203.)
Hymns*
(~)F the glorious Body telling,
O my tongue, Its mystery sing ;
And the Blood, all price excelling,
Which for this world's ransoming
In a noble womb once dwelling
He shed forth, the Gentiles' King.
Given for us, for us descending
Of a Virgin to proceed,
Man with man in converse blending
Scattered He the Gospel seed :
Till His sojourn drew to ending
Which He closed in wondrous deed.
At the Last Great Supper seated,
Circled by His brethren's band,
All the Law required, completed,
In the Feast its statutes planned,
To the twelve Himself He meted
For their Food, with His own Hand.
1 Ps. xci. 14. - Cant. ii. 3. 3 Luke ii. 48. 4 Heb. vi. 20; Gen. xiv. 18.
5 Hymn by St Thomas Aquinas ; translation by the late Dr Neale, (two words altered,
"noble" for "generous," as a translation of " generosi " in the 1st, and "for" for "in"
in the 4th.)
876
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
Word made Flesh, by word He maketh
Very bread His Flesh to be ;
Man for wine Christ's Blood partaketh ;
And ir senses fail to see,
Faith alone the true heart waketh
To behold the Mystery.
Therefore, we, before It bending,
This great Sacrament adore :
Types and shadows have their ending
In the new rite evermore :
Faith, our outward sense amending,
Maketh good defects before.
Honour, laud, and praise addressing
To the Father and the Son,
Might ascfibe we, virtue, blessing,
And eternal benison :
Holy Ghost, from Both progressing,
Equal laud to Thee be done. Amen.
Verse. l Thou didst send them
from heaven —
Answer. Bread able to content
every man's delight.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 2 O Lord, how kindly is Thy
Spirit ! * even Thine, Whose sus-
tenance declared Thy sweetness unto
Thy children when Thou didst send
them from heaven bread tempering
itself to every man's liking, O Thou,
Who hast filled the hungry with good
things, and the rich, that are proud
in the imagination of their hearts,
Thou hast sent empty away.
At Compline and every other Office
the last verse of the Hymn is altered
in honour of the Incarnation, except-
ing only the three Hymns proper to
the Feast.
Hymn.s
T ET old things pass away ;
Let all be fresh and bright ;
And welcome we with hearts renewed
This Feast of new delight.
Upon this hallowed eve,
Christ with His brethren ate,
Obedient to the olden Law,
The Pasch before Him set.
Which done, — Himself entire,
The True Incarnate God,
Alike on each, alike on all,
His sacred Hands bestowed.
He gave His Flesh ; He gave
His Precious Blood ; and said :
" Receive and drink ye all of This
For your salvation shed."
Thus did the Lord appoint
This Sacrifice sublime,
And made His Priests the ministers
Through all the bounds of time.
Farewell to types ! henceforth
We feed on Angels' Food ;
The slave — O, wonder ! — eats the Flesh
Of his Incarnate God !
O Blessed Three in One !
Visit our hearts, we pray,
And lead us on through Thine own paths
To Thy eternal day. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. The Lord brought
forth His fruit in the season of His
death, * even that fruit whereof if
any man eat, he shall live for ever.4
Ps. i. Blessed is the man, &c,
(A 4.)
Second Antiphon. His faithful ones
which are increased by the fruit of
His corn and His wine * do lay them
down in peace and sleep in Christ.
Ps. iv. When I called, &c, (p. 206.)
1 Wisd. xvi. 20. 2 Wisd. xii. 1 ; xvi. 21.
3 Hymn by St Thomas Aquinas ; translation by the Rev. E. Caswall. 4 John vi. 51.
MATTINS.
and let us
Invitatory. O come,
worship Christ,
Of all the nations Lord, *
Who doth, to them that feed
Him,
The Bread of Life afford.
THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR.
877
Third Antiphon. 1 Us, being many,
hath the Lord made one body, * for
we are all partakers of that one cup,
which is not the communion of the
blood of bulls, but of God Himself.
Ps. xv. Preserve me, O Lord, &c,
(A 12.)
Verse. 2 He gave them of the bread
of heaven —
Answer. Man did eat Angels'
bread.
The Lessons are taken from Scrip-
ture according to the Season, but when
there are none such the following are
used.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the First
Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul
to the Corinthians (xi. 20.)
V\/"HEN ye come together, there-
fore, into one place, this is not
to eat the Lord's Supper. For every
one taketh before his own supper to
eat, and one is hungry, and another
is drunken. What ! have ye not
houses to eat and to drink in ?
or despise ye the Church of God,
and shame them that have not ?
What shall I say to you ? Do I
praise you ? In this I praise you
not.
First Responsory.
3 The whole assembly of the child-
ren of Israel shall kill the lamb
toward the evening of the Passover.
And they shall eat the flesh, and un-
leavened bread.
Verse. 4 Even Christ our Passover
is sacrificed for us ; therefore let us
keep the feast with the unleavened
bread of sincerity and truth.
Answer. And they shall eat the
flesh, and unleavened bread.
Second Lesson.
IpOR I have received of the Lord
that which also I delivered unto
you, That the Lord Jesus, the same
night in which He was betrayed, took
bread ; and, when He had given
thanks, He brake it, and said : Take,
eat: This is My Body, Which shall
be given for you ; this do in remem-
brance of Me. After the same
manner also He took the cup, when
He had supped, saying : This Cup
is the New Testament in My Blood.
This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in
remembrance of Me. For as often as
ye eat this Bread, and drink this Cup,
ye do show the Lord's death till He
come.
Second Responsory.
5 Ye shall eat flesh, and shall be
filled with bread. * This is the bread
which the Lord hath given you to
eat.
Verse. 6 Moses gave you not that
Bread from heaven, but My Father
giveth you the true Bread from
heaven.
Answer. This is the bread which
the Lord hath given you to eat.
Third Lesson.
AfyTHEREFORE, whosoever shall
eat this Bread, or drink the
Cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be
guilty of the Body and Blood of the
Lord. But let a man examine him-
self, and so let him eat of that
Bread, and drink of that Cup. For
he that eateth and drinketh unworthily,
eateth and drinketh damnation to
himself, not discerning the Lord's
Body. For this cause many are weak
and sickly among you, and many
sleep. For if we would judge our-
selves, we should not be judged. But
1 1 Cor. x. 17 ; Heb. ix. 13, 14.
4 1 Cor. v. 7, 8.
2 Ps. lxxvii. 24, 25.
5 Exod. xvi. 12, 15.
3 Exod. xii. 6,
6 John vi. 32.
878
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
when we are judged, we are chastened
of the Lord, that we should not be
condemned with the world.
Third Responsory.
1 Elijah looked, and, behold, there
was a cake baken on the coals at his
head, and he arose, and did eat and
drink ; and went in the strength of
that meat [forty days and forty nights]
unto the mount of God.
Verse. 2 If any man eat of this
Bread, he shall live for ever.
Answer. And went in the strength
of that meat [forty days and forty
nights] unto the mount of God.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And went in the strength
of that meat [forty days and forty
nights] unto the mount of God.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antipho7i. The Lord re-
member our offering, * and accept
our burnt-sacrifice.
Ps. xix. The Lord hear thee, &c,
(A 18.)
Second Antiphon. The Lord pre-
pareth His Table before us * in the
presence of our enemies.
Ps. xxii. The LORD is my Shep-
herd, &c, {p. 47.)
Third Antiphon. Let them that
keep holiday around the table of the
Lord * make the voice of joy and
praise to be heard [in the house of
God.]
Ps. xli. As the hart panteth, &c,
(A 95-)
Verse. 3 He fed them with the
finest of the wheat —
Answer. And with honey out of
the Rock did He satisfy them.
Fourth Lesson.
{In December.')
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of the Blessed Patriarch of
Jerusalem, Cyril.4 {Catechetical
Lectures, 4.)
T'HE teaching of the blessed Paul
seemeth of itself enough in-
struction for you concerning those
Divine Mysteries, whereof, if ye be
made worthy, ye become therein, so
to speak, of one Body and of one
Blood with Christ. Paul saith that
our Lord JESUS Christ, "the same
night in which He was betrayed, took
bread ; and, when He had given
thanks, He brake it, and gave it unto
His disciples, saying : Take, eat ;
this is My Body. . . . After the same
manner also He took the cup," and
gave thanks, "and said:" — Take this
and drink it ; this is My Blood.
Since therefore it is He Who hath
definitely stated and said, touching
that Bread: "This is My Body" —
who will dare any longer to doubt
that It is so? And since it is He
again that hath absolutely affirmed
and said, touching that cup: "This
is My Blood " — who is he that will
doubt any longer, or say that It is
not His Blood.
{In January and February. )
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St John Chrysostom,
[Patriarch of Constantinople. ] {61st
Homily to the people of Antioch.)
T\ EARLY beloved brethren, it be-
hoveth us to learn the miracle
of the Mysteries — what the Gift is,
and why It was given, and what is
the use thereof. "We, being many,
are one body," saith [the Apostle
1 3 (1) Kings xix. 6, 8. 2 John vi. 51. 3 Ps. lxxx. 17.
4 Elected a.d. 350. Suffered much persecution from the Arians, and died March 18, 386.
THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR.
879
Paul, (1 Cor. x. 17,) and again] —
"We are members of His Body, of
His Flesh, and of His Bones." (Eph.
v. 30.) Only the initiated1 will now
understand what I say. That this
union may take place, not by love
only, but verily and indeed, we ought
to mingle our own with His Flesh.
And this is done by eating that Food
Which He hath given unto us, being
fain to manifest that exceeding great
love which He beareth to us -ward.
To this end He hath mingled Him-
self with us, and infused His Body
into our bodies, that we may be one
together, like as the limbs of a man
and his head are all of one body.
Such union do they long for that
love much.
{In March.)
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St John Chrysostom, [Patriarch
of Constantinople.] {both Homily
to the people of Antioch.)
T'HE Word saith : "This is My
Body." This we confess, and
believe, and, with spiritual eyes, do
see. Christ hath not left unto us
Himself in such form as that we can
see, hear, touch, smell, or taste Him ;
and yet hath He left Himself unto
us in things which we can see, hear,
touch, smell, and taste, and which all
men may understand. Thus also is
it in baptism ; by mean of water,
which men perceive outwardly, is
given unto them a gift which they
can grasp only inwardly, that is, a
new birth. If we had no bodies,
then would these things be given us
without any outward and visible signs,
but since we are here made up of
souls and bodies, there are given unto
our souls gifts which they can grasp,
1 I.e., the baptized, the Church's doctrine
catechumens.
2 Matth. xxvi. 26.
in outward signs which our bodies
may perceive. How many there
be which say : I would that I could
see His comely presence, His Face,
His garments, even His shoes ! Be-
hold, thou dost see and touch Him,
yea, thou dost feed upon Him. And
wouldest thou behold His raiment ?
Lo, He hath given unto thee not only
to behold it, but to feed upon it, and
handle it, and take it into thyself.
Fourth Responsory.
2 As they were eating, Jesus took
bread, and blest it, and brake it, and
gave it to the disciples, and said :
Take, eat; this is My Body.
Verse. 3 The men of my tabernacle
said : O that we had of his flesh !
we cannot be satisfied.
Answer. Take, eat ; this is My
Body.
Fifth Lesson.
{In December.)
[The fourth Catechetical Lecture of
the Blessed Cyril — continued.}
A T the beginning of His ministry,
^*- at Cana in Galilee, the Lord
turned water into wine, a thing which
hath some qualities in common with
blood ; and shall we deem Him less
worthy that we should believe Him,
when He turneth wine into Blood ?
When He was bidden to that marriage
wherein twain were made one flesh,
He did the beginning of His miracles
to the amazement of all men ; and
shall we less surely hold that He hath
given us His Body and Blood to be
our meat and drink, or take them
with weaker faith that they are in-
deed His Body and His Blood ?
Under the appearance of bread He
giveth unto us His Body, and, under
on the Eucharist being concealed from the
3 Job xxxi. 31.
88o
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
the appearance of wine, His Blood :
and when thou shalt come to receive,
it is on the Body and Blood of Christ
that thou wilt feed, being made a
partaker of His Body and of His
Blood. Thus indeed it is that we
become Christ -bearers,1 namely, by
carrying about Christ in our bodies,
when we receive His Body and Blood
into our own frames. Thus, as the
blessed Peter hath it, we are " par-
takers of the Divine nature." (2 Pet.
i. 4.)
{In January and February.)
[The 6 1 st Homily of St John Chrys-
ostom — continued.']
"\X7"HEN we come back from that
Table we ought to be like so
many lions breathing fire, dreadful to
the devil. Our thoughts ought to be
concentrated on our Great Head and
the love which He showeth us. Many
fathers and mothers there are who
give their children to others to nurse,
but I, saith the Lord to His children,
I am not so, but I feed you with
Mine Own Flesh, and join Myself to
you, fain that ye all should be sons
of noble blood now, and giving you
a noble hope of that which ye shall
be hereafter. I was content to be-
come your Brother, I for your sakes
have taken unto Me Flesh and Blood,
and that Flesh and Blood wherein I
am become your Brother, the Same
give I in turn unto you.
{In March.)
[The 60th Homily of St John Chrys-
ostom — continued. ]
*X*0 this table of the Lord let none
dare to draw near with squeam-
ishness or carelessness. Let all be
fiery, all hot, all roused. To the
Jews it was commanded touching
the Paschal lamb, (Exod. xii. 11):
"And thus shall ye eat it; with
your loins girded, your shoes on
your feet, and your staff in your
hand ; and ye shall eat it in haste ;
it is the Lord's Passover." But
thou needest to be more watchful
than they. They were just about
to travel from Egypt to Palestine,
and therefore they bore the guise of
travellers ; but the journey that lieth
before thee is from earth to heaven.
And therefore it behoveth thee in
all things to be on thy guard, for
the punishment of him that eateth or
drinketh unworthily is no light one.
(1 Cor. xi. 27.) Bethink thee how
thou art indignant against him which
betrayed, and them that crucified
the Lord ; and look to it well that
thou also be not " Guilty of the
Body and Blood of the Lord." As
for them, they slew His Most Holy
Body ; but thou, after all that He
hath done for thee, dost thrust Him
into thy polluted soul. For His
love, it was not enough to be made
Man, to be buffeted, and to be
crucified ; He hath also mingled
Himself with us, by making us His
Body, and that not by faith only,
but verily and indeed.
Fifth Responsory.
2 Jesus took the cup, after supper,
saying : This cup is the New Testa-
ment in My Blood. This do in re-
membrance of Me.
Verse. My soul hath them 3 still
in remembrance, and is humbled
in me.
Answer. This do in remembrance
of Me.
1 Christiferi. 2 Luke xxii. 20, 19.
3 Viz., the affliction and the misery, the wormwood and the gall. See context in
Lam. iii. 20.
THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR.
Sixth Lesson.
{In December.)
[The fourth Catechetical Lecture, by
the Blessed Cyril — continued.
/"^HRIST once said, in conversing
with the Jews: "Except ye
eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, and
drink His Blood, ye have no life in
you." (John vi. 53.) But they took
not spiritually that which He said,
and "from that time many of His
disciples went back, and walked no
more with Him." (66.) They thought
that He had bidden them to eat flesh.
The Old Testament also had Shew-
bread, but this Old Testament bread
was now to have an end. The bread
of the New Testament is " the Bread
Which cometh down from heaven "
(50), the cup of the New Testament,
the Cup of Salvation, that Bread and
that Cup Which hallow both souls
and bodies. Wherefore I will have
thee to understand that the Bread
and Wine whereunto thou art to come,
are not mere common bread or mere
common wine ; for they are the Body
and the Blood of Christ. Even if thy
senses do indeed deny this fact, yet
let faith make thee right sure of it.
Judge not the Thing by the taste
thereof, but let faith assure thee be-
yond all doubt thou art partaking of
the Body and Blood of Christ.
{In Ja?iuary and February.)
[The 6 1 st Homily of St John Chrys-
ostom — continued. ]
JET us then, dearly beloved breth-
ren, take good heed to our-
selves, as unto the holders of so great
mercies, and when any foul word
springeth to our lips, or we feel anger
taking possession of us, or the sting
of any other sinful passion, let us
call to mind of What we have been
counted worthy, and let that remem-
brance still the unruly motion. As
often as we take that Body, as often
as we taste that Blood, let us think
how that we feed on Him Who is
sitting on high, adored of Angels, at
the right hand of the Eternal Power.
Ah me, how many a way is open to
us whereby we may be saved ! He
hath made us His — He hath given
His Body to us — and we still are not
turned away from evil.
{In March.)
[The 60th Homily of St John Chrys-
ostom — continued. ]
/^AN anything be purer than that
^ man ought to be, who eateth of
this great Sacrifice ? Can sun-beam
be clearer than that hand ought to
be which breaketh this Flesh ? — that
mouth, which is filled with that
spiritual fire ? — that tongue, which is
reddened by that Blood, awful ex-
ceedingly ? That whereon the Angels
quail to look, neither dare to gaze
steadfastly upon It, because of the
blinding glory that shineth therefrom,
upon This we feed, with This we be-
come one, and are made one body of
Christ, and one flesh. " Who can
utter the mighty acts of the Lord ?
who can show forth all His praise?"
(Ps. cv. 2.) Where is the shepherd
which feedeth his flock with his own
blood ? Nay, why should I say,
shepherd ? Many mothers there be,
who after all the pains of travail, give
their own little ones to strangers to
nurse. But so would not He, but feed-
eth us with His Own Blood, and maketh
us to grow up in His Own substance.
Sixth Respo?isory.
1 I am that Bread of life. Your
fathers did eat manna in the wilder-
1 John vi. 48-51.
VOL. I.
2 F 2
882
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
ness, and are dead. This is the
Bread Which cometh down from
heaven, that a man may eat thereof,
and not die.
Verse. I am the living Bread
Which came down from heaven ; if
any man eat of this Bread, he shall
live for ever.
Answer. This is the Bread Which
cometh down from heaven, that a
man may eat thereof, and not die.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. This is the Bread Which
cometh down from heaven, that a
man may eat thereof, and not die.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. I will go unto the
Altar of God ; * I will feed on Christ,
Which is the Renewer of my youth.
Ps. xlii. Judge me, O God, &c,
{p. 105.)
Second Antiphon. The Lord hath
fed us * with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey out of the Rock x hath
He satisfied us.
Ps. lxxx. Sing aloud unto God, &c,
{p. 140.)
Third Antiphon. It is at Thine
Altar, O Lord, * that we do feed on
Christ, for Whom our heart and our
flesh crieth out.
Ps. lxxxiii. How lovely are Thy
tabernacles, &c, (p. 142.)
Verse. 2 Thou bringest forth food
out of the earth !
Answer. And wine that maketh
glad the heart of man.
Seventh Lesson.
{In December.)
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (vi. 56.)
1 1 Cor. x. 4.
A T that time : Jesus said unto the
multitudes of the Jews : My
Flesh is meat indeed, and My Blood
is drink indeed. And so on.
Homily by St Cyril, Pope [of Alex-
andria.] {Book iv. on John, ch. 17.)
" He that eateth My Flesh and
drinketh My Blood," saith the Lord,
"dwelleth in Me, and I in him." If
a man lake two pieces of wax and
melt them, and pour the one into the
other, they necessarily mingle ; so
also, he that receiveth the Body and
Blood of the Lord doth become so
joined with the Lord that he is to
be found in Christ and Christ in him.
Another comparison thou wilt find in
Matthew. The Lord there saith :
" The kingdom of heaven is like unto
leaven which a woman took, and hid
in three measures of meal, [till the
whole was leavened,]" (xiii. 33,) be-
cause, as Paul saith, "a little leaven
leaveneth the whole lump." (Gal. v.
9.) So also doth a little of this
Blessing draw the whole man unto
Itself, and fill him with Its grace :
and thus doth Christ dwell in us, and
we in Christ.
{In January and February.)
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (vi. 56.)
A T that time : Jesus said unto the
multitudes of the Jews : My
Flesh is meat indeed, and My Blood
is drink indeed. And so on.
Homily by St Austin, Bishop [of
Hippo.] {17th Tract on John.)
We have heard from the Gospel
the words of the Lord which follow
[those that formed the subject of
my] earlier discourse. To your ears
and understandings we owe a dis-
2 Ps. ciii. 14, 15,
THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR.
883
course on these also, and to-day it
becometh very well, for it is upon
that Body of the Lord, Which He
professeth Himself that He "will give
for the life of the world," "that a
man may eat thereof and not die."
He hath made manifest how He
giveth, and What is His Gift, where
He saith : "He that eateth My Flesh
and drinketh My Blood, dwelleth in
Me and I in him." The sign to
show whether a man hath or hath
not eaten that Flesh and drunk that
Blood, is whether or not he dwelleth
in Christ and Christ in him, whether
or not he is a guest of Christ and
Christ of his, whether or not he so
cleaveth unto Christ, that Christ be
not parted from him.
{In March.)
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (vi. 56.)
A T that time : Jesus said unto the
- multitudes of the Jews : My
Flesh is meat indeed, and My Blood
is drink indeed. And so on.
Homily by St Austin, Bishop [of
Hippo.] (27th Tract on John.)
I have said, my brethren, that what
the Lord hath set before us, in eating
of His Flesh and drinking of His
Blood, is that we should dwell in
Him, and He in us. We dwell in
Him when we are His members,
and He dwelleth in us when we are
His temple. But the bond whereby
we are made His members is one-
ness ; and what is the cause of one-
ness but love ? And love of God,
whence is it ? Ask the Apostle.
"The love of God," saith he, "is
shed abroad in our hearts by the
Holy Ghost, Which is given unto
us." (Rom. v. 5.)
1 John vi. 57.
A!
Seventh Responsory.
1 He that eateth My Flesh and
drinketh My Blood, dwelleth in Me,
and I in him.
Verse. 2What nation is there so
great, who hath gods so nigh unto
them, as the Lord our God is to us ?
Answer. Dwelleth in Me, and I in
him.
Eighth Lesson.
{In December.)
[The Homily on John, by St Cyril —
continued.}
S for ourselves, if we would win
life everlasting ; if we would that
the Giver of immortality should dwell
in us, let us run freely to receive
this Blessing, and let us beware that
the devil succeed not in laying a
stumbling-block in our way, in the
shape of a mistaken reverence. Thou
rightly sayest, and we know well, how
that it is written : " Whosoever shall
eat this Bread and drink this Cup of
the Lord unworthily . . . eateth and
drinketh damnation to himself." (1
Cor. xi. 27, 29.) I therefore examine
myself and find myself unworthy.
And I ask thee, who citest these
words to me, who shall ever be found
worthy ? When wilt thou be such an
one as may be worthy to be offered
to Christ ? If by sin thou art un-
worthy, and thou ceasest not to sin,
(for, as the Psalmist hath it, — "Who
can understand his errors ?" — Ps. xviii.
13,) then shalt thou for ever lack this
means of life and sanctification.
{In January and February.)
[The 17th Tract on John, by St
Austin — continued.}
'T'HIS hath He taught, and warned
us, by words of deep meaning,
to be in His Body as members whose
2 Deut. iv. 7.
884
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
Head is He, eating His Flesh, and
cleaving alway to His Oneness.
" Many of His disciples when they
had heard this . . . went back, and
walked no more with Him " — for
they understood not by "Flesh" any
flesh other than such as they them-
selves were made of. The Apostle
saith, (and very true it is) : " To be
carnally minded is death." (Rom.
viii. 6.) The Lord giveth us His
Flesh to eat, and to understand it
carnally is death. Where He saith :
"Whoso eateth My Flesh . . . hath
eternal life " — we must not under-
stand this His Flesh carnally, as did
they of whom it is written: "Many
of His disciples " — (not His enemies)
— " when they heard this, said : This
is an hard saying — who can hear it ? "
{In March.)
[The 27 th Tract on John, by St
Austin — continued.}
CO "it is the spirit that quicken-
^ eth." It is the spirit that maketh
lively the limbs, nor is the quicken-
ing power of the spirit shed through
any limbs but such as remain in
union with the body whose the spirit
is. The spirit that thou hast in thee,
O man, and whereby thou art a man,
doth that spirit shed life through
any limb cut off from thy flesh ? By
" spirit," I mean soul. The soul
quickeneth no limb but such as re-
main attached to the body. Cut
one off, and the soul quickeneth it
no more, for it is separate from the
oneness of thy body.
Eighth Responsory.
1 As the living Father hath sent
Me, and I live by the Father, so he
that eateth Me, even he shall live
by Me.
1 John vi. 58.
Verse. 2With the bread of life
and understanding hath the Lord
fed him.
Answer. So he that eateth Me,
even he shall live by Me.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. So he that eateth Me,
even he shall live by Me.
Ninth Lesson.
{In December.)
[The Homily on John, by St Cyril —
— continued. ]
Y\T HE RE FORE, I counsel thee to
betake thee to godly thoughts,
and to live carefully and holily, and so
to receive that Blessing — a Blessing
which, believe me, doth banish, not
death only, but all diseases likewise.
For when Christ dwelleth in us, He
stilleth the law of death in our
members, which warreth against the
law of our mind, (Rom. vii. 23,) He
giveth strength to godliness, He
turneth to calm the turbulent surg-
ing of our mind, He cureth them
which are sick, He raiseth up them
which are fallen, and, like the Good
Shepherd, Which giveth His life for
the sheep, He prevaileth that the
sheep perish not.
{In January and February.)
[The 17th Tract on John, by St
Austin — continued. ]
TF His disciples took His words
for an hard saying, how did His
enemies take them ? And, neverthe-
less, thus it behoved to speak them
if all men were not to understand
them. A Divine mystery ought to
make us thoughtful, not to repel us ;
and yet, when the Lord JESUS Christ
2 Ecclus. xv. 3.
THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR.
885
spoke thus in mystery, many of His
disciples went back and walked no
more with Him. They believed not
that He was speaking of some great
thing, and darkly announcing in these
words a bounty. They understood
but as they pleased, even after the
manner of men, that Jesus was able,
or that Jesus meant, to give that
Flesh wherewith the Word is clothed
on, as it were, in slices, to them that
believe on Him. And they said :
" This is an hard saying — who can
hear it ? "
{In March. )
[The 27th Tract on John, by St
Austin — continued. ]
HTHESE things I say, that we may
love oneness and dread division.
In sooth, there is nothing which a
Christian ought so much to dread, as
to be cut off from the Body of Christ.
If he be cut off from the Body of
Christ, he is no longer a member of
Christ, and the Spirit of Christ no
longer quickeneth him. " Now, if
any man," saith the Apostle, "have
not the Spirit of Christ, he is none
of His." (Rom. viii. 9.)
" It is the Spirit that quickeneth ;
the flesh profiteth nothing : the words
that I speak unto you, they are spirit
and they are life."
" Spirit and life " — what meaneth
this ? It is to be taken spiritually.
Hast thou taken it spiritually ? Then
the words the Lord spake, unto thee
they are spirit and they are life.
Hast thou taken it carnally ? Then
the words of the Lord are still indeed
spirit and life— but not for thee.
The Hymn, " We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. 1 Wisdom hath
builded her house, * she hath mingled
her wine, she hath also furnished her
table.
Second Antiphon. 2Thou feddest
Thine Own people * with Angels'
food, and didst send them bread from
heaven.
Third Antiphon. Out of Christ
His bread shall be fat, * and He
shall yield royal dainties.3
Fourth Antiphon. 4The Priests
shall be holy ; * for the offerings [of
the Lord] made by fire, and the
bread of their God, they do offer,
[therefore they shall be holy.]
Fifth Antiphon. 5To him that
overcometh will I give of the hidden
manna, * and will give him a new name.
Chapter. (1 Cor. xi. 23.)
TJRETHREN, I have received of
the Lord that which also I
delivered unto you, that the Lord
JESUS, the same night in which He
was betrayed, took bread, and, when
He had given thanks, He brake it,
and said : Take, eat ; this is My
Body, Which shall be given for you :
this do in remembrance of Me.
Hymn$
'"jTHE Word of God proceeding forth,
Yet leaving not the Father's side,
And going to His work on earth,
Had reached at length life's eventide.
By a disciple to be given
To rivals for His Blood athirst ;
Himself, the very Bread of heaven,
He gave to His disciples first.
He gave Himself in either kind ;
His Precious Flesh ; His Precious Blood ;
Of flesh and blood is man combined,
And He of man would be the Food.
1 Prov. ix. 1, 2. 2 Wisd. xvi. 30.
* Adapted from Jacob's blessing on Asher. Gen. xlix. 20. 4 Lev. xxi. 6. 5 Apoc. ii. 17.
6 Hymn by St Thomas Aquinas ; translation extracted from the " Hymnal Noted."
886
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
In Birth, man's Fellow-man was He ;
His Meat, while sitting at the Board ;
He died, hte Ransomer to be;
He reigns, to be his Great Reward.
O Saving Victim, slain to bless !
Who openest heaven's bright gates to all
The attacks of many a foe oppress ;
Give strength in strife, and help in fall.
To God, the Three in One, ascend
All thanks and praise for evermore ;
He grant the life that shall not end,
Upon the heavenly country's shore.
Amen.
Verse. He maketh peace in thy
borders.
Answer. And filleth thee with
the finest of the wheat.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
1 1 am the living Bread Which came
down from heaven : * if any man eat
of this Bread he shall live for ever.
Prayer throughout the Office.
f~\ GOD, Who under a wonderful
Sacrament hast left unto us
whereby to show forth thy Suffering
Death, grant unto us, we beseech
Thee, so reverently to handle the
Sacred Mysteries of Thy Body and
Thy Blood that we may alway feel
within ourselves the fruit of Thy
Redeeming Work. Who livest and
reignest with God the Father, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. Wisdom, &c. {First
Antiphon at Lauds.)
The Psalms are as on Feast Days.
In the Short Responsory, instead of
"Thou That sittest, &c," is said,
Verse. Thou That wast born of
the Virgin Mary.
Chapter at the end. (i Cor. xi. 27.)
^/"HOSOEVER shall eat this
Bread, or drink this Cup of
the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty
of the Body and Blood of the Lord.
TERCE.
Antiphon. Thou feddest, &c.
{Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
He gave them of the bread of
heaven —
Answer. He gave them of the
bread of heaven. —
Verse. Man did eat Angels' bread.
Answer. The bread of heaven.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. He gave them of the
bread of heaven.
Verse. He fed them with the finest
of the wheat.
Answer. And with honey out of
the rock did He satisfy them.
SEXT.
Antiphon. Out of Christ, &c.
{Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (1 Cor. xi. 26.)
T7OR as often as ye eat this Bread,
and drink this Cup, ye do show
the Lord's death till He come.
Short Responsory.
He fed them with the finest of the
wheat.
Answer. He fed them with the
finest of the wheat.
1 John vi. 51.
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
887
Verse. And with honey out of the
rock did He satisfy them.
Answer. The finest of the wheat.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. He fed them with the
finest of the wheat.
Verse. Thou bringest forth food
out of the earth.
. Answer. And wine that maketh
glad the heart of man.
NONE.
Antiphon. To him that over-
cometh, &c. {Fifth Antiphon at
Lauds. )
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
Thou bringest forth food out of the
earth.
Answer. Thou bringest forth food
out of the earth.
Verse. And wine that maketh glad
the heart of man.
Answer. Out of the earth.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Thou bringest forth food
out of the earth.
Verse. He maketh peace in thy
borders.
Answer. And filleth thee with the
finest of the wheat.
SECOND VESPERS.
All as the First, except the fol-
lowing.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Holy exceedingly is the
Supper of the Lord, * wherein we
do feed on Christ, do show His
1 1 Cor. xi. 26.
death till He come,1 do get grace
abundantly to our souls, and do take
pledge of the glory which shall here-
after be revealed in us.2
©ffice in honour of tfte
Passion of our 3Loro Sesits
Cijrtst, for jfrtoass.
Semi-double.
All as on Sundays, except the
following.
FIRST VESPERS.
First Antiphon. I will take the
cup of salvation, * and call upon the
Name of the Lord.
Ps. cxv. I believed, &c, {p. 185.)
Second Antiphon. With them that
hate peace * I was peaceable. When
I spoke unto them they fought against
me without a cause.
Ps. cxix. In my distress, &c,
{p. 186.)
Third Antiphon. O Lord, pre-
serve me * from the evil man.
Ps. cxxxix. Deliver me, &c, {p.
198.)
Fourth Antiphon. Keep me from
the snare * which they have laid for
me, and the gins of the workers of
iniquity.
Ps. cxl. Lord, I cry unto Thee,
&c, (p. 199.)
Fifth Antiphon. I looked * on my
right hand and beheld, but there was
no man that would know me.
Ps. cxli. I cried unto the LORD,
&c, {p. 200.)
Chapter from Lauds.
2 Rom. viii. 18.
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
Hymn.1
"DLOOD is the price of heaven ;
All sin that price exceeds ;
O come to be forgiven,
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
Under the olive boughs,
Falling like ruby beads,
The Blood drops from His Brows,
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
While the fierce scourges fall,
The Precious Blood still pleads ;
In front of Pilate's hall
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
Beneath the thorny crown
The crimson fountain speeds ;
See how it trickles down,
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
Bearing the fatal wood
His band of Saints He leads,
Marking the way with Blood,
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
On Calvary His shame
With Blood still intercedes ;
His open Wounds proclaim —
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
He hangs upon the tree,
Hangs there for my misdeeds ;
He sheds His Blood for me ;
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
Ah me ! His Soul is fled ;
Yet still for my great needs
He bleeds when He is dead ;
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
His Blood is flowing still ;
My thirsty soul It feeds;
He lets me drink my fill ;
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
O sweet ! O precious Blood !
What love, what love it breeds !
Ransom, Reward, and Food,
He bleeds,
My Saviour bleeds !
Bleeds !
Verse. 2 He was offered up because
He willed it.
Answer. And with His stripes we
are healed.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 3 O all ye that pass by !
behold, and see if there be any sorrow
like unto my sorrow.
Prayer as at Lauds.
At Compline the last verse of the
Hymn is said thus :
Lord Jesu, slain for us, to Thee
Eternal praise be given,
With Father, Spirit, One and Three,
Here as it is in heaven.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. Christ our King Who
was crucified, * Him — O come ! — let
us worship.
1 The two beautiful and popular Hymns by the late Dr Faber which are here inserted
at Vespers and Mattins are not translations of the Hymns Meerentes oculi and Aspice
in/ami, but, whether the ideas were suggested by the Latin or whether it be an accidental
coincidence, they agree with the sense of the Latin so closely, that they might fairly be
called Paraphrases or imitations, and this consideration induces the Translator to insert
them. Absolute translations have been executed by the late Rev. E. Caswall and the
Rev. Dr Wallace. See Appendix.
2 Isa. liii. 7, 5. ? Lam. i. 12.
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
8 89
Hymn. l
r\ COME and mourn with me awhile !
See, Mary calls us to her side ;
O come, and let us mourn with her ;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
Have we no tears to shed for Him,
While soldiers scoff and Jews deride ?
Ah ! look how patiently He hangs ;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
How fast His Hands, His Feet are nailed ;
His blessed Tongue with thirst is tied ;
His failing Eyes are dim with Blood ;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
His Mother cannot reach His Face ;
She stands in helplessness beside ;
Her heart is martyred with her Son's ;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
Seven times He spoke, seven words of love,
And all three hours His silence cried
For mercy on the souls of men :
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
Death came, and Jesus meekly bowed ;
His failing Eyes He strove to guide
With mindful love to Mary's face ;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
O break, O break, hard heart of mine !
Thy weak self-love and guilty pride
His Pilate and His Judas were ;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!
Come, take thy stand beneath the Cross,
And let the Blood from out that Side
Fall gently on thee, drop by drop :
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
A broken heart, a fount of tears,
Ask, and it will not be denied ;
A broken heart love's cradle is ;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified !
O love of God ! O sin of man !
In this dread act your strength is tried ;
And victory remains with love ;
For He, our Love, is crucified !
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. The kings of the
earth set themselves, * and the rulers
take counsel together against the
Lord and against His Anointed.
Ps. ii. Why do the heathen, &c,
(A 40
Second Antiphon. They be in-
creased * that trouble me ; many are
they that rise up against me.
Ps. iii. Lord, how are they in-
creased, &c, {p. 5.)
Third Antiphon. They part * my
garments among them ; and cast lots
upon my vesture.
Ps. xxi. My God, my God, &c,
(A 48.)
Verse. He was offered up because
He willed it.
Answer. And with His stripes we
are healed.
The Lessons are taken from Scrip-
ture according to the Season; but if
there should be none such, the following
are used.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Romans (v. 8.)
r*OD commendeth His love toward
^■^ us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. Much
more then, being now justified by His
Blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through Him. For if, when we were
enemies, we were reconciled to God
by the death of His Son, much more,
being reconciled, shall we be saved
by His life. And not only so, but
we also joy in God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now
received the atonement. (17.) For
if by one man's offence, death reigned
by one, much more they which receive
1 By Dr Faber as before ; two verses are omitted.
8go
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
abundance of grace, and bounty, and
righteousness, shall reign in life
through Jesus Christ.
Answer. And thou didst betray
Me unto the chief Priests, and lead
Me unto the judgment-hall of Pilate.
First Responsory.
1 I had planted thee a noble vine,
saith the Lord, and thou hast brought
forth unto Me grapes exceeding bitter,
for thou hast made ready a Cross for
thy Saviour.
Verse. 2 O My people, what have
I done unto thee ? and wherein have
I wearied thee ? Testify against Me.
Answer. For thou hast made
ready a Cross for thy Saviour.
Second Lesson.
''THEREFORE, as by the offence
of one judgment came upon all
men to condemnation, even so, by
the righteousness of One, [the gift]
came upon all men unto justification
of life. For as by one man's dis-
obedience many were made sinners,
so by the obedience of One shall
many be made righteous. Then, the
law entered that the offence might
abound ; but where sin abounded
grace did much more abound, that,
as sin hath reigned unto death even
so might grace reign, through righte-
ousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus
Christ our Lord.
Second Responsory.
I brought thee forth out of Egypt ;
behind thee I caused Pharaoh to
drown in the Red Sea, and before
thee I went in the pillar of the cloud.
And thou didst betray Me unto the
chief Priests, and lead Me unto the
judgment-hall of Pilate.
Verse. O My people, what have
I done unto thee ? and wherein have
I wearied thee. Testify against Me.
Third Lesson, (vi. )
Vy HAT shall we say then ? Shall
we continue in sin, that grace
may abound ? God forbid ; how shall
we, that are dead to sin, live any
longer therein ? Know ye not that
so many of us as were baptized into
Jesus Christ were baptized into His
death ? For we are buried with Him
by baptism into death, that, like as
Christ was raised up from the dead
by the glory of the Father, even so
we also may walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together
in the likeness of His death, we shall
be also in the likeness of His resur-
rection ; knowing this, that our old
man is crucified with Him, that the
body of sin might be destroyed, that
henceforth we should not serve sin.
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Now, if we be dead with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live
with Him.
Third Responsory.
I scourged Egypt in her first-born
for thy sake, and thou when thou
hadst scourged Me, didst deliver Me
[to be crucified,] Me Who as a lamb
before his shearer was dumb, and
opened not My Mouth.3
Verse. O My people, what have
I done unto thee ? and wherein have
I wearied thee ? Testify against
Me.
Answer. And thou, when thou
hadst scourged Me, didst deliver Me
[to be crucified]. Me Who as a
lamb before his shearer was dumb,
and opened not My mouth.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
1 Cft Jer. ii. 21,
2 Mi cab vi. 3.
3 Isa. liii. 7.
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
891
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Me Who as a lamb
before his shearer was dumb, and
opened not My Mouth.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Afitifihon. Mine enemies *
speak evil of me : When shall he die,
and his name perish ?
Ps. xl. Blessed is he that con-
sidereth, &c, (p. 94.)
Second Antiphon. Strangers are
risen up * against me, and oppressors
seek after my soul.
Ps. liii. Save me, O God, by Thy
Name, &c, (p. 36.)
Third Antiphon. Mine enemies
tread me down * all the day long ; all
their thoughts are against me for
evil.
Ps. lv. Be merciful unto me, &c,
(A no.)
Verse. l God spared not His Own
Son.
Answer. But delivered Him up
for us all.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St Bernard, Abbat [of
Clairvaux.] {For Wednesday in
Holy Week, on the Passion of the
Lord. )
DRETHREN, it is well to contem-
plate these things, in especial
in the Passion of the Lord, namely,
what He did ? how He did it ? and
why He did it ? In what He did we
see a model of patience, in the way
in which He did it, a model of low-
liness, and in the reason why He did
it, a model of love. His patience was
singular. The ploughers ploughed
upon His back ; they made long their
furrows. (Ps. cxxviii. 3.) He was
stretched upon the Cross in such
wise that one might have told all
His Bones. (Ps. xxi. 18.) That
tower of strength which keepeth
Israel was broken through upon every
side, for they pierced His Hands and
His Feet. He was brought as a
sheep to the slaughter. But as a
lamb before his shearers is dumb, so
He opened not His mouth. (Is. liii.
7.) He uttered no murmur against
the Father, who had sent Him,
against mankind for whom He was
paying what He had never taken, nor
even against His own people who
were repaying Him so much evil for
so much good.
Fourth Responsory.
I smote the kings of Canaan for
thy sake, and gave thee a kingly
sceptre, and thou didst put on My
Head a crown of thorns, and smite
Me upon the Head with a reed.
Verse. O My people, what have I
done unto thee ? and wherein have I
wearied thee ? Testify against Me.
Answer. And thou didst put on
My Head a crown of thorns, and
smite Me upon the Head with a reed.
Fifth Lesson.
AND if thou wilt look well how
*^^ He did it, thou wilt see how
that He is not only meek but even
lowly of heart. " In His humiliation
His judgment was taken away."
(Actsviii. 2)2>.) And He answered never
a word to all the blasphemies, and to
all the false witness that was brought
against Him. " He hath no form
nor comeliness, and when we shall
1 Rom. viii. 32.
892
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
see Him there is no beauty that we
shoulcKdesire Him. He is despised
and rejected of men ; a man of
sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and He hid as it were His face from
us ; He was despised and we esteemed
Him not. Surely He hath borne our
griefs, and carried our sorrows ; yet
we did esteem Him stricken, smitten
of God, and afflicted." (Isa. liii. 3, 4.)
O the depth and the height, O the
lowliness and the loftiness, despised
and rejected of men, but the glory
of Angels, than Him there is none
loftier and none lowlier. He was
smeared with spitting, sodden with
reproaches, condemned to a death
of shame, numbered with the trans-
gressors. And hath this very lowli-
ness carried to such a measure, yea
beyond all measure, no merit in itself?
As His patience was singular so was
His lowliness wonderful. There is
nothing like either of them.
Fifth Responsory.
I led thee through the wilderness
for forty years, and gave thee manna
to eat, and thou didst buffet Me and
scourge Me.
Verse. O My people, what have I
done unto thee ? and wherein have I
wearied thee ? Testify against Me.
Answer. And thou didst buffet
Me and scourge Me.
Sixth Lesson.
T3UT what He did, and how He
did it, are alike gloriously set
forth by the reason why He did it,
namely, His love. God for His great
love wherewith He loved us (Eph.
ii. 4) spared not His Own Son
(Rom. viii. 32.) Neither did the Son
spare Himself, great indeed was that
love, passing all comprehension and
all measure, and rising above all
things. " Greater love," saith He,
(John xv. 13,) "hath no man than
this, that a man lay down his life for
his friends." But Thou Thyself, O
Lord, Thou Thyself hadst greater
love than this, for Thou didst lay
down Thy life for Thine enemies.
When we were enemies we were re-
conciled by Thy death to the Father
and to Thee. (Rom. v. 10.) What
other love then hath there ever been
or can there ever be to be likened
unto this love ? " Scarcely for a
righteous man will one die." But
Thou didst suffer the just for the un-
just. Thou didst die for our sins.
O Thou Who didst come to justify
sinners freely to make slaves into
brethren, bondsmen into co-heirs, and
exiles into kings.
Sixth Responsory.
I lifted thee up with a strong hand,
and thou didst lift Me up upon the
gibbet of the Cross, and thereon I
stretched forth My hands unto an
unbelieving and gainsaying people.1
Vers?. O My people, what have I
done unto thee ? and wherein have I
wearied thee ? Testify against Me.
Answer. And thou didst lift Me
up upon the gibbet of the Cross, and
thereon I stretched forth My hands
unto an unbelieving and gainsaying
people.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And thereon I stretched
forth My hands unto an unbelieving
and gainsaying people.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. As for the sons
of men, * their teeth are spears and
arrows, and their tongue a sharp
sword.
1 Rom. x. 21.
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
893
Ps. Ivi. Be merciful unto me, &c,
{p. no.)
Second Antiphon. They bend their
bow, * even bitter words, that they
may shoot in secret at the perfect.
Ps. Ixiii. Hear my voice, O God,
&c, {p. 114.)
Third Antiphon. I am as a man
that hath no strength, * lying nerve-
less among the dead.
Ps. lxxxvii. O LORD God of my
salvation, &c, {p. 145.)
Verse. He became obedient unto
death.
Answer. Even the death of the
Cross.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to John (xix. 28.)
A T that time : Jesus, knowing that
all things were now accom-
plished, that the Scripture might be
fulfilled, saith : I thirst. And so on.
Homily by St Cyril, Pope of Alex-
andria. (Bk. xii. Comment, on John.)
The brutality of the Jews had
already outraged Christ to the full ;
cruelty had nothing left to desire ;
and now at the last moment the Most
Holy Flesh of Christ suffereth a pain
springing naturally from Itself. That
Flesh, fevered by many and divers
tortures, felt thirst. Great pain hath
the property of producing strong
thirst, since by some natural law
which I cannot explain, it drieth up
as by heat the liquids of the body and
as it were setteth on fire the inward
parts. As therefore Christ had willed
to undergo other sufferings, so was He
pleased to undergo this. He asked
therefore to drink, but they were so
utterly destitute of humanity that in-
stead of giving Him a drink which
should be refreshing and pleasant
they brought Him one which was
harmful and bitter, and so turned into
wickedness what was a seeming act
of kindness ; to give to Him that
asked of them was a seeming act of
kindness, but the Scriptures cannot
lie wherein (Ps. lxviii. 22) Christ is
made to say, "They gave me also
gall for my meat, and in my thirst
they gave me vinegar to drink."
Seventh Responsory.
I gave thee to drink out of the
rock the waters of salvation, and thou
didst give Me gall and vinegar to
drink.
Verse. O My people, what have
I done unto thee ? and wherein have
I wearied thee ? Testify against Me.
Answer. And thou didst give Me
gall and vinegar to drink.
Eighth Lesson (xxxvi.)
"VyHEN JESUS therefore had re-
ceived the vinegar, He said :
It is finished. And He bowed His
Head and gave up the ghost."
" It is finished." Jewish outrage
against God was finished ; the power
to inflict torture was finished. What
had the Jews left unattempted, or
cruelty left undone ? Did any pain
or insult remain uninfected ? Rightly
did He say: "It is finished." But
He was come to be the Lord of the
dead as well as of the quick, and the
hour was now calling Him to go and
preach to the imprisoned spirits in
the netherworld. He accepted even
death for our sakes and bore in His
Own Flesh that suffering common to
all our nature, albeit that as God
He is naturally life in Himself, in
order that He might plunder hell,
and being become as the Scripture
(1 Cor. xv. 20) hath it (Apoc. i. 5),
894
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
"The first fruits of them that slept,
and rhe first begotten of the dead,"
might gift our nature with return to
life.
Eighth Respo?isory.
I opened the Red Sea before thee,
and thou didst open with a spear the
Side of thy Saviour, Who redeemed
the world by His Blood.
Verse. O My people ! what have I
done unto thee ? and wherein have I
wearied thee ? Testify against Me.
Answer. And thou didst open
with a spear the Side of thy Saviour,
Who redeemed the World by His
Blood.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Who redeemed the world
by His Blood.
Ninth Lesson.
"JTE bowed His Head." When
the strength of the body is
gone and the soul which keepeth the
body together is also gone, the heads
of the dying fall, and it is to describe
this that the Evangelist useth these
words ; so also the words gave up
the ghost are an expression which
we often use of them that depart and
die ; nevertheless to me it seemeth
that the Evangelist useth these words
He gave up the ghost in something
more than their ordinary sense of
mere death, because the Lord gave
up His soul into the Hands of God
the Father with a commendation,
saying, " Father, into Thine hands I
commend my Spirit," the which is
the foundation and spring of our
main hope.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
id. Rrc." ix Maid.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. * All the day
long have I been plagued, * and
chastened every morning.
Second Antiphon. 2 I gat me to
the mountain of myrrh, * and to the
hill of frankincense ; I was brought
as a lamb to the slaughter, and I
was dumb, and opened not my
mouth.
Third Antiphon. s They pierced
my hands and my feet ; * they have
told all my bones.
Fourth Antiphon. 4I looked for
comforters and I found none ; * they
gave me also gall for meat, and in
my thirst they gave me vinegar to
drink.
Fifth Antiphon. When Jesus had
received the vinegar, * He said: It is
finished — and He bowed His Head,
and gave up the ghost.
Chapter. (Phil. ii. 5.)
gRETHREN, let this mind be in
you, which was also in Christ
Jesus, Who, being in the form of
God, thought it not robbery to be
equal with God ; but emptied Him-
self, and took upon Him the form
of a servant, and was found in the
likeness of men. He humbled Him-
self and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the Cross.
Hymns'
Q'ERWHELMED in depth of woe,
Upon the tree of scorn
Hangs the Redeemer of mankind
With racking anguish torn.
See how the nails those Hands
And Feet so tender rend ;
See down His Face, and Neck, and Breast
His Sacred Blood descend !
1 Ps. lxxii. 14. 2 Cant. iv. 6 ; Isa. liii. 7. 3 Ps. xxi. 17, 18. * Ps. lxviii. 21, 22.
8 Another hymn from the Proprium of the arch-diocese of Freiburg ; translation by the late
Rev. E. Caswall.
_ — ~.j ,
God, &c," is said.
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
895
Hark ! with what awful cry
His Spirit takes Its flight.
That cry, it pierced His Mother's heart
And whelmed her soul in night.
Earth hears, and to its base
Rocks wildly to and fro ;
Tombs burst ; seas, rivers, mountains
quake ;
The vail is rent in two.
The sun withdraws his light ;
The midday heavens grow pale ;
The moon, the stars, the universe
Their Maker's death bewail.
Shall man alone be mute?
Come, youth and hoary hairs,
Come, rich and poor, come, all mankind,
And bathe those Feet in tears.
Come, fall before His Cross,
Who shed for us His Blood !
Who died, the Victim of pure love,
To make us sons of God.
Jesu, all praise to Thee,
Our joy and endless rest :
Be Thou our Guide while pilgrims here,
Our Crown amid the blest. Amen.
Verse. He was wounded for our
transgressions.
Answer. He was bruised for our
iniquities.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
But when they came to Jesus, and
saw that He was dead already, they
brake not His Legs, but one of the
soldiers with a spear pierced His
Side, and forthwith came thereout
Blood and Water.
Prayer throughout the Office.
A LMIGHTY and everlasting God,
*^^ Who didst send our Saviour to
take upon Him our flesh, and to en-
dure the Cross, that all mankind
should follow the example of His
great humility, mercifully grant that
we who worship in memory of His
Sufferings, may .worthily .both follow
the example of His Patience and also
be made partakers of His resurrec-
tion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth
with Thee, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end.
Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. All the day long, &c,
{First Antiphon at Lauds.)
Psalms as on Feast-Days.
The last verse of the Hymn is said
thus :
Lord Jesus, slain for us, to Thee,
Eternal praise be given,
With Father, Spirit, One and Three,
Here as it is in heaven.
So also at Terce, Sext, and None.
Chapter at the end. (Isa. liii. 8.)
"^^THO shall declare His genera-
tion ? For He was cut off out
of the land of the living : for the
transgression of my people did I
smite Him.
Instead of Verse, " Thou that sit-
test, &c," is said:
Verse. Thou That wast pleased to
suffer for us.
TERCE.
Antiphon. I gat me, &c, (Second
Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
He was offered up because He
willed it.
Answer. He was offered up be-
cause He willed it.
Verse. And with His stripes we
are healed.
Answer. Because He willed it.
896
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. He was offered up be-
cause He willed it.
Verse. God spared not His Own
Son.
Answer. But delivered Him up
for us all.
SEXT.
Antiphon. They pierced,
{Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
&c,
Chapter. (Zech. xiii. 6.)
Al/'HAT are these wounds in thine
hands ? Then he shall answer :
Those with which I was wounded in
the house of my friends.
Short Responsory.
God spared not His Own Son.
Answer. God spared not His Own
Son.
Verse. But delivered Him up for
us all.
Answer. His Own Son.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. God spared not His Own
Son.
Verse. He became obedient unto
death.
Answer. Even the death of the
Cross.
NONE.
Antiphon. When Jesus, &c, {Fifth
Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
He became obedient unto death.
Answer. He became obedient unto
death.
Verse. Even the death of the
Cross.
Answer. Unto death.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. He became obedient unto
death.
Verse. He was wounded for our
transgressions.
Answer. He was bruised for our
iniquities.
SECOND VESPERS.
All as the First, except the follotu-
ing.
Verse. He was wounded for our
transgressions.
Answer. He was bruised for our
iniquities.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 1 Joseph took down the Body
of JESUS, and wrapt It in linen, and
laid It in a sepulchre that was hewn
in stone. In that day there was a
great mourning, and the women sitting
over against the sepulchre, mourned,
as one mourneth for the death of the
firstborn.
©nice in honour of tfje Im*
maculate Conception of tfje
Blesseo Firgin JHarg, for
-Saturoapg.
Semi-double.
All from the Common Office for
Feasts of the Blessed Virgin, {p. 552,)
except the following.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, Verse and An-
swer, and Prayer from Lauds.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. All generations shall call me
blessed, * for He That is mighty hath
done to me great things.
1 Cf. Luke xxiii. 53; Matth. xxvii. 60; Zech. xii. 10, 11,
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 897
COMPLINE.
The last verse of the Hymn is altered
in honour of the Incarnation.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. Let us tell of the stain-
less Conception of the Virgin Mary :
* let us worship Christ, her Son, and
her Lord and ours.
Hymn?
"DLEST Guardian of all virgin souls!
Portal of bliss to man forgiven !
Pure Mother of Almighty God !
Thou hope of earth, and joy of Heaven !
Fair Lily, found among the thorns !
Most beauteous Dove with wings of gold !
Rod from whose tender root upsprang
That healing Flower long since foretold !
Thou Tower, against the dragon proof!
Thou Star, to storm-toss'd voyagers dear !
Our course lies o'er a treacherous deep ;
Thine be the light by which we steer.
Scatter the mists that round us hang,
Keep far the fatal shoals away ;
And while through darkling waves we
sweep,
Open a path to life and day.
O Jesu, born of Virgin bright !
Immortal glory be to Thee ;
Praise to the Father infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. O Lord, how ex-
cellent is Thy Name * in all the
earth, Who hast made Thee a worthy
tabernacle in the Virgin Mary.
Second Antiphon. The Lord hath
set * His tabernacle in the sun.
Third Antiphon. Even in her Con-
ception * did Mary receive a blessing
from the Lord, and mercy from the
God of her salvation.
Verse. 2 It is Almighty God That
girdeth me with strength.
Answer. And maketh my way
perfect.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season j but if there are none such,
the following are read.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Genesis (iii. 1.)
rTHE serpent was more subtle than
any beast of the field which the
Lord God had made. And he said
unto the woman, Why hath God said,
Ye shall not eat of every tree of the
garden ? And the woman said unto
the serpent, We may eat of the fruit
of the trees of the garden ; but of the
fruit of the tree which is in the midst
of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall
not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it,
lest ye die. And the serpent said unto
the woman : Ye shall not surely die.
For God doth know that in the day
ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall
be opened : and ye shall be as gods,
knowing good and evil.
First Responsory.
3 By one man sin entered into the
world, in whom all have sinned. Fear
not, Mary, for thou hast found grace
with God.
Verse. 4 The Lord hath delivered
thy soul from death, yea, the Lord
was thy stay.
Answer. Fear not, Mary, for thou
hast found grace with God.
Second Lesson.
AND the woman saw that the tree
"^^ was good for food, and that it
was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree
1 Translation by the Rev. E. Caswall.
3 Rom. v. 12 ; Luke i. 30.
2 Ps. xvii. 33.
4 Cf. Ps. lv. 13 ; xvii. 21.
898
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
to be* desired : and she took of the
fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave
also unto her husband with her, and
he did eat. And the eyes of them
both were opened ; and they knew
that they were naked, and they sewed
fig-leaves together and made them-
selves aprons. And they heard the
voice of the Lord God walking in
the garden in the cool of the day ;
and Adam and his wife hid themselves
from the presence of the Lord God,
amidst the trees of the garden.
Second Responsory.
x Come unto me, all ye that be
desirous of me, and I will declare
what God hath done for my soul.
Verse. 2 As the Lord liveth, by me
He hath fulfilled His mercy.
Answer. And I will declare what
God hath done for my soul.
Third Lesson.
AND the Lord God called unto
Adam, and said unto him :
Where art thou ? And he said : I
heard Thy voice in the garden : and
I was afraid, because I was naked,
and I hid myself. And He said :
Who told thee that thou wast naked ?
Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof
I commanded thee that thou shouldest
not eat ? And Adam said : The
woman whom Thou gavest me to
be with me, she gave me of the tree,
and I did eat. And the Lord God
said unto the woman : Wherefore hast
thou done this ? And she said : The
serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
And the Lord God said unto the
serpent : Because thou hast done this,
thou art cursed above all cattle, and
above every beast of the field ; upon
thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt
thou eat all the days of thy life : I
1 Ecclus. xxiv. 26 ; Ps. lxv. 16.
8 Cant. v. 10; iv. 11, 8.
will put enmity between thee and the
woman, and between thy seed and her
seed : she shall bruise thy head, and
thou shalt bruise her heel.
Third Responsory.
3 My beloved is white like snow in
Lebanon, her lips drop as the honey-
comb. Honey and milk are under
her tongue.
Verse. Come from Lebanon, My
Spouse, thou shalt be crowned with
a crown of grace.
Answer. Honey and milk are
under her tongue.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Honey and milk are
under her tongue.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Grace is poured
into her Conception, * and she is
fairer than the daughters of men.
Second Antiphon. God hath holpen
her right early, * the Most High hath
hallowed His tabernacle.
Third Antiphon. Glorious things
are spoken of thee, O City of God ;
* the Lord hath laid thy foundation
in the holy mountains.
Verse. 4 By this I know that Thou
favourest me.
Answer. Because mine enemy can-
not triumph over me. '
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Dog-
matic Bull of Pope Pius IX.
/^~*OD is unspeakable. His ways
^"^ are mercy and truth ; His Will
is Almighty Power ; and His Wisdom
reacheth mightily from one end to
another, and sweetly ordereth all
2 Judith xiii. 18.
« Ps. xl. 12.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 899
things. (Wisd. viii. 1.) He from
all eternity foresaw the sorrowful
fall of man by the transgression of
Adam, and, in His mysterious pur-
pose, He decreed, before the worlds
were, that the Word should be made
flesh, to the end that man, who had
been seduced by the fraud of the
devil, might not perish, but that as
in the first Adam all die, in Christ
all might be made alive. (1 Cor.
xv. 22.) And to this end, the Eternal
Creator from the beginning, and be-
fore all ages, chose and ordained a
woman to be the Mother of His Only-
begotten Son, of whom He should
take flesh and be born, in the blessed
fulness of time. (Gal. iv. 4.) And
this woman He loved with so great a
love that He allowed His Will to be
freely wrought in her. ( 1 Thess. iv. 3.)
Fourth Resfro?isory.
1 I came out of the mouth of the
Most High, the first-begotten before
every creature. I made the unfading
light to arise in the heavens. When
there were no depths I was conceived.
Verse. For the Lord hath created
me in righteousness, and hath held
mine hand, and hath kept me.
Answer. When there were no
depths I was conceived.
Fifth Lesson.
Vy HEREFORE, He bestowed upon
her, out of the treasure of the
Divinity, such a wealth of gifts of
grace as He hath bestowed upon
none of the Angels and none of
the Saints. He made her always
free from any the slightest pollution
of sin, so fair and so upright that
no other of His works are like to
her, and only Himself can we under-
stand to excel her. Verily, this was
most fitting, that this most worship-
ful Mother should be made bright
with the brightness of uncontamin-
ated holiness, and should conquer
the old serpent by escaping alto-
gether the stain of original sin, for
she was that Mother to whom the
Eternal Father was willing to give
the Co-Eternal and Co-Equal Only-
begotten Son of His love, to be her
Son also.
Fifth Responsory.
2 No defiled thing can fall into her ;
she is the brightness of the everlast-
ing light, and the unspotted mirror of
the power of God.
Verse. For she is more beautiful
than the sun, and being compared
with the light, she is found before it.
Answer. She is the brightness of
the everlasting light, and the unspotted
mirror of the power of God.
Sixth Lesson.
'T'HE Catholic Church, which,
through the perpetual teaching
of the Holy Ghost, is the pillar and
ground of the truth, (1 Tim. iii. 15,)
hath always held the original inno-
cence of this most exalted Virgin to
be bound up with her wonderful holi-
ness, and her mighty dignity of
Mother of God. This doctrine she
hath felt herself to hold by the gift
of God, and as part of that faith once
delivered from heaven unto the Saints,
(Jude 3,) and as time hath gone on,
she hath continually explained, put
forth, and upheld it. This belief is
found strong in the earliest times,
and rooted as it were in the hearts
of Christ's faithful people ; by the care
and study of holy Bishops it hath
been taught in all parts of the Catholic
world ; and the Church herself pointed
1 I.e., Wisdom. Ecclus. xxiv. 5, 6; Prov. viii. 24.
2 Wisd. vii. 25, 26, 29.
900
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
to it wdien she allowed the Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary to be held
as a feast, for exciting the piety and
devotion of her children. In the case
of the Saints the Church celebrated!
only the day of their being made per-
fect at death, [but of her Divine Lord,
of His Blessed Mother, and of St John
the Baptist she venerated the birth
also, as of those sanctified in the
womb.] When [therefore] she [goeth
further and] maketh the case of the
Blessed Virgin an exception to all
others besides that of Christ, keeping
holiday in honour of her conception
[as well as of her birth,] it is manifest
that she regardeth that Conception
as altogether singular, wonderful, and
different to all other conceptions, ex-
cept only Christ's, namely, as holy.
Sixth Responsory.
1 There appeared a great wonder
in heaven : a Woman clothed with
the sun, and the moon under her
feet, and upon her head a crown of
twelve stars.
Verse. 2 The Lord hath clothed her
with the garments of salvation, and
hath covered her with the robe of
righteousness, yea, as a bride He
hath adorned her with jewels.
Answer. And upon her head a
crown of twelve stars.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And upon her head a
crown of twelve stars.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Holiness and
beauty are in her Conception : * de-
clare her glory among all people.
1 Apoc. xii. i. 2 cf. Isa. lxi. io.
4 An eminent opponent of the Monothelite heretics
A.D. 634. Died March n, 639 or 644.
6 The above sentence is inserted to give meaning to the rest of the Homily, which
was written in Greek.
Second Antiphon. Rejoice ye all in
the Lord : * and give thanks at the
remembrance of His holiness.
Third Antiphon. The Lord hath
made known His salvation : * the
glory of His Mother hath He openly
showed in the sight of the heathen.
Verse. 3 I will extol Thee, O Lord,
for Thou hast lifted me up.
Answer. And hast not made my
foes to rejoice over me.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (i. 26.)
A T that time : The Angel Gabriel
f was sent from God, unto a
city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to
a Virgin espoused to a man whose
name was Joseph, of the house of
David, and the Virgin's name was
Mary. And so on.
Homily by St Sophronius, Patriarch
[of Jerusalem.]4 (On the Annuncia-
tion. )
When this blessed Angel was sent
to the most pure virgin what did he
say? In what words did he break
the happy news of Redemption ?
" Hail, thou that art full of grace,
the Lord is with thee." 5 [Now this
word "Hail" is in the original
"Chaire," which being interpreted
signifieth " Rejoice."] The messenger
of joy in his first word biddeth her
rejoice. He knew well that his
message was a message of good
tidings of great joy to men, (Luke
ii. 10,) yea, to all creatures, — a
message of healing to all sicknesses.
He knew well that his message was
a message of God's light to a dark
3 Ps. xxix. 2.
Elected to the Patriarchal throne,
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 9OI
world. He knew well that it pro-
claimed the end of error. He knew
well that it blunted the sting of death.
He knew well that it broke the power
of corruption. He knew well that it
brought victory over hell. He knew
well that it told of salvation to all
the fallen children of Adam, groaning
under that yoke of malediction which
fell on them when they were thrust
out of Eden, and banished from that
happy home. Therefore, when he
began to speak, he spoke in tones of
rejoicing, and opened his message
with sounds of gladness. Therefore
made he the name of joy to herald
the tidings of good, which were to be
for a joy unto all people, whosoever
should believe.
Seventh Responsory.
1 A garden enclosed is my sister,
my spouse, a garden enclosed, a foun-
tain sealed. O Mary, thy perfumes
are a garden of delights.
Verse. Open to me, my sister, my
love, my dove, my undefiled.
Answer. O Mary, thy perfumes
are a garden of delights.
Eighth Lesson.
A ND, of a truth, it was fitting that
"**- God's proclamation of joy should
open with the accents of gladness.
And this is the reason why the
angel nameth joy first, because he
knew the coming fruits of his mess-
age, and that his converse with
the Virgin was to bring joy to the
whole world. Can we find any joy
or any brightness like the joy and
the brightness of that salutation ad-
dressed to the Blessed Mother of
gladness ? Rejoice, O mother of joy
more than heavenly ! Rejoice, O thou
that nourishest joy in the highest!
Rejoice, O Lady, full of the joy of
salvation ! Rejoice, O thou that
bringest a joy that passeth not away !
Rejoice, O mysterious treasury dis-
pensing unspeakable joy ! Rejoice,
O most blessed fountain overflowing
with unfailing joy ! Rejoice, O store-
house of God, filled with the ever-
lasting joy of eternity ! Rejoice, O
fair tree, bearing fruit of life-giving
joy ! Rejoice, O Maiden Mother of
God ! Rejoice, O thou that after
child-birth remainest a virgin ! Re-
joice, O wonder, who, after all won-
ders, art still the most wonderful !
Eighth Responsory.
My soul doth magnify the Lord ;
for He That is mighty hath done to
me great things, and holy is His
name.
Verse. For, behold, from hence-
forth all generations shall call me
blessed.
Answer. For He That is mighty
hath done to me great things, and
holy is His name.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. For He That is mighty
hath done to me great things, and
holy is His name.
Ninth Lesson.
VyHO shall worthily set forth thy
glory ? Who shall make bold
to say what thou art ? Who will
hold himself able to tell of all thy
splendour ? Thou art the exalta-
tion of humanity ; thou art made
much higher than the Angels ; thy
brightness hath thrown the bright-
ness of the Archangels into shadow ;
thou lookest down upon the lofty
seats of the Thrones ; thou makest
the height of the Lordships to seem
1 Cant. iv. 12, v. 2.
902
THE VOTIVE OFFICES.
low ; thy rank taketh precedence before
the rank of the Principalities ; com-
pared with thee the Powers are weak-
ness ; thou art a Mighty one mightier
than all the Mighty ; thine earthly eyes
see further than the contemplation of
the Cherubim can reach ; the Sera-
phim have six wings, but thy flight
is nobler than their's ; in a word, thou
hast far excelled every other work of
God ; thou wast far purer than any
other creature ; and thou hast con-
ceived the Creator of all creatures,
carried Him in thy womb, and
brought Him forth ; thou hast been
chosen, out of all that He has made,
to be His mother.
The Hymn, " We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. 1 Thou art all fair,
O Mary, * there is no spot of original
sin in thee.
Second Antiphon. 2 Thy raiment *
is white as snow, and thy countenance
as the sun.
Third Antiphon. 3 Thou art the
exaltation of Jerusalem, * thou art
the great glory of Israel, thou art
the great rejoicing of our nation.
Fourth Antiphon. 3 O Virgin Mary,
* blessed art thou of the Most High
God, above all the women upon the
earth.
Fifth Antiphon. 4 Draw us, *
Maiden undefiled, we will run after
thee in the odour of thy perfumes.
Chapter. (Prov. viii. 22.)
rTHE Lord possessed me in the
beginning of His ways, before
His works of old. I was ordained
from everlasting, from the beginning,
or ever the earth was. When there
were no depths I was conceived.
Verse. Maiden Mother of God,
thy stainless conception —
Answer. Was a message of joy to
the whole world.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
The Lord God said unto the serpent :
I will put enmity between thee and
the woman, * and between thy seed
and her seed ; she shall bruise thy
head.
Prayer.
f~\ GOD, Who didst cause that a
^^^ virgin should be conceived with-
out sin, to the end that she might
be made a meet dwelling-place for
Thy dear Son ; O God, Who through
the precious death of the Same Thy
Son foreseen by Thee, didst keep her
clean from all stain, hear us, we
beseech Thee, and grant that by her
prayers, we also who are presently
defiled, may finally be made pure,
and so with her attain unto Thee.
Through the Same our Lord Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. Thou art all fair, &c,
(First Antiphon at Lauds.)
In the Short Responsory, instead of
" Thou That art to come into the
world," is said:
Verse. Thou That wast born of
the Virgin Mary.
Chapter at the end. (Apoc. xii. 1.)
'"PHERE appeared a great wonder
in heaven : a Woman clothed
with the sun, and the moon under
her feet, and upon her head a crown
of twelve stars.
1 Cf. Cant. iv. 7. 2 Cf. Matth. xvii. 2. 3 Judith xv. 10 ; xiii. 23. * Cf. Cant. i. 3, 4.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 903
TERCE.
Antiphon. Thy raiment, &c,
{Second Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
It is Almighty God That girdeth
me with strength.
Answer. It is Almighty God That
girdeth me with strength.
Verse. And maketh my way
perfect.
Answer. That girdeth me with
strength.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. It is Almighty God That
girdeth me with strength.
Verse. By this I know that Thou
favourest me.
Answer. Because mine enemy
shall not triumph over me.
SEXT.
Antiphon. Thou art the exaltation
of Jerusalem, &c, ( Third Antiphon at
Lauds. )
Chapter. (Ezek. xliv. 2.)
T^HIS gate shall be shut, it shall
not be opened, and no man
shall enter in by it ; because the Lord,
the God of Israel, hath entered in by
it, therefore it shall be shut for the
Prince ; the Prince, He shall sit in it.
Short Responsory.
By this I know that Thou favourest
me.
Answer. By this I know that
Thou favourest me.
Verse. Because mine enemy shall
not triumph over me.
Answer. Thou favourest me.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. By this I know that
Thou favourest me.
Verse. I will extol Thee, O Lord,
for Thou hast lifted me up.
Answer. And hast not made my
foes to rejoice over me.
NONE.
Antiphon. Draw us, &c, {Fifth
Antip/wn at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
I will extol Thee, O Lord, for
Thou hast lifted me up.
Answer. I will extol Thee, O
Lord, for Thou hast lifted me up.
Verse. And hast not made my foes
to rejoice over me.
Answer. Thou hast lifted me up.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. I will extol Thee, O
Lord, for Thou hast lifted me up.
Verse. Maiden Mother of God,
thy stainless conception
Answer. Was a message of joy
to the whole world.
SECOND VESPERS.
All as the First, except the fol-
lowing.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. O holy Mary, be thou an
help to the helpless, a strength to the
fearful, a comfort to the sorrowful ;
pray for the people, plead for the
clergy, make intercession for all
women vowed to God ; may all that
keep the memory of thine holy and
stainless conception, feel the might
of thine assistance.
General 3tppenfcijc,
Note. — The Offices contained in this Appendix are said in certain dioceses only;
full directions are given in the diocesan Ordo Recitandi for the year.
November 29.
In the Diocese of Plymouth, &*c.
&fje iSlesseti Cutpert Jftame,
jHartgr.
Double.
All from the Common Office for
Feasts of One Martyr, (p. 482,) except
the following.
Prayer throughout.
r\ GOD, Who didst choose Thy
blessed servant Cuthbert to be
the first among all the students of
our seminaries to run the path of
suffering for the saving of souls,
mercifully grant unto us that we
may be so enkindled with love of
souls even as he was, that like him
we may be ready to lay down our
lives for others. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
At First Vespers Commemoration
of St Satuminus.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the SeasoH..
VOL. I.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
/^UTHBERT Maine was be in
near Barnstaple in Devonshire.
In his youth he was brought up
outside the Church, and became a
heretical minister. After he had
passed several years at St John's
College at Oxford, some friends — who
had before left Oxford in order to
avoid heresy, and among whom was
the Blessed Edmund Campion, that
afterward was a martyr — persuaded
him to yield himself to the Catholic
Church and to pass over to the
seminary at Doway. There he de-
voted himself to the study of theology,
and took the degree of Bachelor ; he
was ordained Priest, and in the year
1576 he was sent into England along
with the Blessed John Payne, who
also was afterward a martyr, by
William Allen, of illustrious memory,
the President of the College. Each
of them prepared himself for the
establishing of souls by the health-
giving exercises of holy Ignatius.
Fifth Lesson.
TUT E went into Cornwall to see to
the salvation of souls left among
the heretics, and took up his abode
in the house of a most godly Catholic,
named Francis Tregian, whose steward
2 G
go6
GENERAL APPENDIX.
he was supposed by outsiders to be.
But he had only worked for one year
when he fell into the hands of the
heretics. The sheriff came with a
body of armed men to the house of
Master Tregian and broke into it.
Blessed Cuthbert was then in the
garden, whence he could easily have
escaped, but he came in and himself
opened to the sheriff the door of his
chamber. The sheriff and his com-
pany seized him and opened the breast
of his clothes, where they found hung
round his neck a waxen image of the
Lamb of God ; this they seized and
called him a traitor and a rebel. He
was brought to Launceston, where
he was confined in a dark and foul
prison, where he was not only most
cruelly loaded with fetters, but even
chained to his bed, and where no
one was allowed to come near him.
But when the adversary offered him
his choice, either to swear that the
Queen was the head of the English
Church, or to undergo execution at
the hands of the common hangman,
he kissed the Holy Bible and said
that the Queen never had been, was
not, and never would be the head of
the English Church.
Sixth Lesson.
A FTER about three months Cuth-
bert was convicted by a jury
and condemned to death, ostensibly
for having in his possession a Papal
Bull, blessed beads, and waxen figures
of the Lamb of God, but in reality
because he was a Catholic priest. He
remained in prison until the arrival
of the royal warrant for his execution.
Three days before his death a servant
warned him to make ready for the
end. He thanked him heartily for
his information, and thenceforth gave
himself up wholly to the consideration
of things heavenly. After midnight
on the second night his cell became
filled with light, so that the prisoners
who were near it marvelled. He was
drawn on an hurdle to the place of
execution ; when he arrived at the
gallows he knelt down and prayed
for the help of God, and thereafter
went up the ladder, and when the
noose was round his neck was fain
to speak to the people, but the justices
hindered him. While he was com-
mending his spirit into the hands of
the Lord after the example of the
Saviour, he was turned off the ladder,
and when he had hung a little while
the rope was cut, his inner parts were
taken out, and he was quartered.
Thus did he give up his soul to the
Chief Shepherd, being the first martyr
among the Papal students. Gregory
the Xlllth first permitted the same
honours to be paid to him as are given
to martyrs, and Leo XIII. confirmed
the same.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (x.
340
A T that time : Jesus said unto
His disciples : Think not that
I am come to send peace on earth :
I came not to send peace, but a
sword. And so on.
Homily by St Hilary, Bishop [of
Poitiers.]
[" For I am come to set a man at
variance against his father."] What
variance is this ? Among the fore-
most commandments of the law we
read, " Honour thy father and thy
mother," (Ex. xx. 12); and the Lord
Himself also saith, " Peace I leave
with you, My peace I give unto you,"
(John xiv. 27) 1 but here it is said,
THE BLESSED EDMUND CAMPION AND HIS COMPANIONS.
907
" I came not to send peace, but a
sword. For I am come to set a
man at variance against his father,
and the daughter against her mother,
and the daughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law. And a man's foes
shall be they of his own house-
hold." Therefore henceforth public
authority will be set before the
failure of natural duty, — every-
where hatred, everywhere war, —
and the sword of the Lord cutting
fiercely between the father and the
son, between the mother and the
daughter.
Eighth Lesson.
A SWORD is the sharpest of all
weapons, it is the symbol of the
power of law, of the sternness of
judgment, and of the punishment
of evil-doers. In the prophets the
preaching of the new gospel is often-
times likened unto the sword. We
remember that the Word of God is
the sword of the Spirit, (Eph. vi. 17,)
and this sword is sent upon earth,
that is to say, the preaching of the
Word of God entereth into the hearts
of men. And there is sore variance
in one house, and a man's foes are
they of his own household, for through
the Word of God he will rejoice in
newness of spirit to remain separate
from others both within and without,
both in soul and in body.
Ninth Lesson.
TUT E proceedeth then in the same
course of commandments and
of understanding ; for after that He
had taught that all the things which
are dearest in this world must be
left, He said, moreover, "And he
that taketh not his cross, and followeth
after Me, is not worthy of Me," for
" they that are Christ's have crucified
the flesh with the affections and lusts,"
(Gal. v. 24,) and he is unworthy of
Christ who taketh not up his Cross
whereon to suffer with Him, to die
with Him, to be buried with Him,
and to rise again with Him, and so
followeth after the Lord, in the
mystery of the faith to live in new-
ness of spirit.
December i.
Cfje Bleggeo eomnno (Cant;
nton, anli tjje priests, jjis
(Companions, JHartgrg of
tfje ioctetji of Kesus.
Double.
All from the Common Office for
Many Martyrs, (p. 498), except the
following.
Prayer throughout.
r\ LORD Jesus Christ, Who hast
honoured Thy blessed servants
Edmund, and Thy Priests, his Com-
panions, with a likeness to Thine own
sufferings by betrayal and a death of
shame, grant unto us for their sakes,
and at their prayers, the grace stead-
fastly to bear Thy Cross, and to attain
unto a crown of everlasting glory. Who
livest and reignestwith God the Father,
in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
UDMUND Campion was born in
London, studied arts at the
University of Oxford, and afterwards
divinity at the English College at
Doway, and lastly joined the Society
908
GENERAL APPENDIX.
of JesCTs at Rome. He was sent back
to his native country by, command of
the Supreme Pontiff Gregory XIII.,
along- with Robert Persons, of the
same Society, and there, by the ex-
ample of his life, the power of his
teaching, and the skill of his acts,
turned all men's minds on him : those
of the Catholics, that they might hear
him and preserve him, and those of
his enemies, that they might destroy
him. He fought the Catholic fight
not by his voice only, but by his
writings also ; and while his famous
pamphlet, entitled Ten Reasons, was
being printed at Stonor, he preached
the Word of God in the country round
about. After he had laboured for one
year in the Lord's vineyard in England,
he was taken, along with the blessed
Thomas Ford and many others, in the
house of a Catholic named Edward
Yates, at Lyford, in the present
diocese of Portsmouth ; they having
all been betrayed by a most wicked
wretch who had that day been present
when the blessed Edmund said Mass
and preached. On his way to Lon-
don he passed a night at Abingdon,
the birthplace of Holy Edmund Rich,
once Archbishop of Canterbury, and
many came from the University of
Oxford, not many miles distant, and
treated him with great reverence, all
chained and guarded as he was.
Fifth Lesson.
HTHOMAS Ford was a native of
Devonshire, and the .companion
of the blessed Edmund Campion, both
at the University of Oxford and at
the English college at Doway. He
had finished more than five years'
ministry, with no small profit to souls
in England, during the very height of
the persecution, when he was arrested
at Lyford, along with the same
blessed father, and taken to London.
While they lay together concealed in
the hiding-hole of the house at Lyford,
before they were revealed by the
traitor, they confessed to one another,
and each laid upon the other the same
penance, that is to say, to call thrice
upon St John the Baptist, and to
repeat thrice the words of the Lord,
Thy will be done. During their
journey, the blessed William Filby,
who had come to see them, was united
to them at Henley for chains and
death. To make a mark of them,
their feet were fastened together under
their horses' bellies, and their hands
tied behind their backs. Upon Ed-
mund's head was fastened a placard
as upon the head of a traitor, the
which insult he bore patiently, after
the example of the Lord. Thus were
they brought, amidst the insults of the
people, to the Tower of London, where
they were most grievously entreated.
Sixth Lesson.
T NTO the same prison there were
cast also other priests, so that
after they had passed some months
under punishment, while they were
interrogated concerning the authority
of the Roman Pontiff, the places where
they had said Mass, and the persons
whom they had reconciled to the
Church, the blessed martyrs were
placed at the bar to the number of
ten, and were unjustly condemned to
death for treason, ostensibly for hav-
ing conspired against the Queen, but
in reality because they were Catholic
priests. These ten were all con-
demned to death together in the
month of November 1 58 1, but they
did not all suffer together. Edmund
Campion and two of his companions
received the crown of a glorious death
upon the 1st day of December, and
Thomas Ford and two others upon
the 28th day of the month of May
THE HOLY HOUSE OF LORETO.
909
following, and the remaining four upon
the 30th day of the same month.
They were drawn to the place of
execution upon an hurdle, and after
they had hung for a little while, the
rope was cut, and they were cast down
in full life and feeling upon the ground,
where their hearts and other inner
parts were torn out, and their heads
and limbs cut off, to be afterwards
set up above the gates of the city.
Nor was even this all, since they were
wronged even in their fame by the
false accusation of treason, whereas
these most innocent martyrs had done
nothing but refused to deny their faith
in the Vicar of Christ upon earth.
Gregory XIII. first sanctioned the
honours paid to them, and Leo XIII.
hath confirmed the same.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke xxi. 9, with the
Homily of St Gregory, {p. 505.)
December 6.
In the Diocese of Liverpool.
$jt flirfjolag of jftgra,
{Seep. 627.)
Double of the First Class with an
Octave.
The Lessons of the First Nocturn
are taken from Timothy iii. 1, &c, {p.
516.)
December 10.
translation of tije $?olp,
f&ouse of iLoreto*
Greater Double.
The Psalms are as upon Feasts of
the Blessed Virgin Mary.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Prayer
from Lauds.
Hymn. Hail, thou Star of Ocean,
(A 5530
Verse. This is the house of God
stoutly builded.
Answer. Well founded upon a sure
rock.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. \ The Most High hath hal-
lowed His tabernacle ; for this is the
house of God, whereon His Name
shall be called, whereof it is written :
My Name shall be there, saith the
Lord.
A Commemoration is made of the
Week-day and of St Melchiades, {p.
643,) but not of the Immaculate Con-
ception.
At Compline the last verse of the
Hymn is altered in honour of the
Incarnation.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. The Saviour of the
world was conceived by the Holy
Ghost in the house of the Virgin. * O
come let us worship Him.
Hymn. Blessed City, Heavenly
Salem, {p. 588.)
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Thou hast set
Thy glory above the heavens.2
. Second Antiphon. In the sun hath
He set His tabernacle, and He Him-
self is as a bridegroom coming out of
his chamber.3
Third Antiphon. Who shall ascend
into the hill of the Lord ? or who shall
stand in His holy place? He that
hath clean hands and a pure heart.4
1 Ps. xlv. 5 ; Jer. vii. 10 ; 3 Kings viii. 29, &c.
3 Cf. ps. xviii. 5. •: *
2 Ps. viii. 2.
4 Ps. xxiij. 3, 4.
9io
GENERAL APPENDIX.
Verve. ^This is none other but the
house of God, and this is the gate of
heaven.
Answer. And it shall be called the
court of the Lord.
smoke, perfumed with myrrh and
frankincense ? 3
Answer. And about her it was as
the flower of roses in the spring of the
year, and lilies of the valleys.
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the 3rd
Book of Kings (viii. 22.)
AND Solomon stood before the altar
of the Lord, in the presence of
all the congregation of Israel, and
spread forth his hand towards heaven,
and he said: But will God indeed
dwell on the earth ? for if the heaven
and heaven of heavens cannot con-
tain Thee, how much less this house
that I have builded ! Yet have Thou
respect unto the prayer of Thy serv-
ant, and to his supplication, O Lord
my God ! Hearken unto the cry and
to the prayer which Thy servant pray-
eth before Thee to-day, that Thine
eyes may be open toward this house
night and day, even toward the house
of which Thou hast said, My Name
shall be there ; that Thou mayest
hearken unto the prayer which Thy
servant maketh unto Thee in this
place ; that Thou mayest hearken to
the supplication of Thy servant and of
Thy people Israel whensoever they
shall pray in this place. Then hear
Thou in heaven Thy dwelling-place,
and when Thou hearest, forgive.
First Responsory.
I saw her when, fair like a dove,
she winged her flight above the rivers
of waters. The priceless savour of
her perfumes hung heavy in her gar-
ments. And about her it was as
the flower of roses in the spring of
the year, and lilies of the valleys.2
Verse. Who is this that cometh
out of the wilderness like a pillar of
1 Gen. xxviii. 17 and cf. 19. - Ecclus. 1. 8.
Second Lesson.
^JHEN Thy people Israel shall
flee before their enemies be-
cause they have sinned against Thee,
and shall repent and confess Thy
Name, and come and pray and make
supplication unto Thee in this house ;
then hear Thou in heaven, and forgive
the sin of Thy people Israel, and
bring them again unto the land which
Thou gavest unto their fathers. If
heaven be shut up, and there be no
rain because they have sinned against
Thee, if they pray in this place, and
repent and confess Thy Name, and
turn from their sins because of their
affliction ; then hear Thou in heaven,
and forgive the sins of Thy servants,
and of Thy people Israel, and teach
them the good way wherein they
should walk, and give rain upon Thy
land which Thou hast given to Thy
people for an inheritance.
Second Responsory.
Who is this that cometh up like the
rising dawn, fair as the moon, clear
as the sun, terrible as a fenced camp
set in battle array ?
Verse. All beautiful and lovely art
thou, O daughter of Sion, fair as the
moon, clear as the sun.
Answer. Terrible as a fenced camp
set in battle array.
Third Lesson.
T F a man shall know the plague of
his own heart, and shall spread
forth his hands in this house, then
3 Cant. iii. 6.
THE HOLY HOUSE OF LORETO.
911
hear Thou in heaven Thy dwelling-
place, and forgive, and do, and give
to every man according to his ways,
as Thou seest his heart, (for Thou,
even Thou only, knowest the hearts
of all the children of men,) that they
may fear Thee all the days that they
live in the land which Thou gavest
unto our fathers. Moreover, concern-
. ing a stranger that is of Thy people
Israel, but cometh out of a far country
for Thy Name's sake, (for they shall
hear everywhere of Thy great Name,
and of Thy strong hand, and of Thy
stretched-out arm,) when he therefore
shall come and shall pray in this
place, hear Thou in heaven the place
of Thy dwelling, and do according to
all for the which the stranger calleth
to Thee, that all people of the earth
may learn to fear Thy Name as do
Thy people Israel, and that they
may know that this house is called
by Thy Name.
Third Responsory.
Who is this that cometh up like the
sun, this comely as Jerusalem ? The
daughters of Sion saw her, and called
her blessed ; the queens also, and they
praised her.
Verse. And about her it was as the
flower of roses in the spring of the
year, and lilies of the valleys.
Answer. The daughters of Sion
saw her, and called her blessed ; the
queens also, and they praised her.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. The daughters of Sion
saw her, and called her blessed ; the
queens also, and they praised her.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Atitiphon. Grace is poured
into thy lips, therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever: yea, for ever
and ever.
Second Antiphon. The Most High
hath hallowed His tabernacle.
Third Antiphon. That man was
born in her, and the Highest Himself
hath established her.
Verse. Lord, I have loved the
beauty of Thine house.
Answer. And the place where
Thine honour dwelleth.1
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St Bernard, Abbat [of
Clairvaux.] {Sermons on divers
subjects, lii.)
Vy'HEN That Wisdom which was of
God, and which was God, came
unto us from the bosom of the Father,
He builded Himself an house, even
His mother the Virgin Mary, and
therein He hewed out seven pillars.2
And what is signified by His hewing
out in her seven pillars, but that He
made her ready to be by faith and
works a meet dwelling-place for Him-
self? Of the component elements of
the number seven, the number three
relateth to faith, because it is the
number of the Holy Trinity, and the
number four to good works, because
it is the number of the cardinal vir-
tues. In the blessed Mary, God the
Son alone was present by the taking
of manhood unto God, but that the
Holy Trinity was present in her, was
present, I say, by His Majesty, is
attested by the messenger from heaven,
who, when he revealed the hidden
mystery unto her, said : " Hail, thou
that art full of grace, the Lord is with
thee " ; and anon, " The Holy Ghost
shall come upon thee, and the power
of the Highest shall overshadow thee."
Behold, here thou hast the Lord, thou
1 Ps. xxv. 8.
2 Cf. Prov. ix. 1.
912
GENERAL APPENDIX.
hast tke power of the Highest, thou
hast the Holy Ghost. Thou hast God
the Father, God the Son, and God
the Holy Ghost.
Fourth Responsory.
How dreadful is this place ! Surely
this is none other but the house of
God, and this is the gate of heaven.
Verse. This is the house of God
stoutly builded, well founded upon a
sure rock.
Answer. Surely this is none other
but the house of God, and this is the
gate of heaven.
Fifth Lesson.
T T is right, then, to see whether she
possessed also the four cardinal
virtues as the four remaining pillars.
Let us then first see whether she
possessed fortitude ; but how could
this virtue be lacking to one who cast
away the pomps of the world, and
despised the pleasures of the flesh
with the resolution to live in virginity
for God alone ? Unless I am widely
mistaken, this virgin was the woman
of whom Solomon said (Prov. xxxi.
i o) : Who can find a virtuous woman ?
for her price is far above the rarest
merchandise. That she was temper-
ate and just is clearer than light from
the communing of the angel with her,
and her answers unto him, for when
the angel so reverently saluted her,
saying, " Hail, thou that art full of
grace, the Lord is with thee," she was
not lifted up like one who should be
blessed for so singular a privilege of
grace, but was silent and cast in her
mind what manner of salutation this
should be ; and in this was she not
temperate ? And when the angel gave
her further to wit of the mysteries
from heaven, she diligently asked of
him how she should conceive and
bring forth, seeing that she knew not
a man ; and herein she was undoubt-
edly prudent.
Fifth Responsory.
The Lord's house is established in
the top of the mountains, and exalted
above the hills ; and all nations shall
flow unto it, and shall say : Glory be
to Thee, O Lord.
Verse. They shall doubtless come
again with rejoicing, bringing their
sheaves with them.
Answer. And all nations shall flow
unto it, and shall say : Glory be to
Thee, O Lord.
Sixth Lesson.
^\F justice she gave an eminent
^^^ proof when she confessed her-
self to be the handmaid of the Lord.
And what the confession of the just
is, is attested by him who said,
" Surely the righteous shall give
thanks unto Thy Name" (Ps. cxxxix.
14.) The blessed Virgin Mary then
showed fortitude in her intention, tem-
perance in her silence, prudence in
her questioning, and justice in her
confession. These, then, were the
four pillars of works which, when
added to the three pillars of faith
whereof we have spoken, formed the
seven pillars which the heavenly
Wisdom hewed out in her when He
builded her as His house, even that
heavenly wisdom which so filled her
mind, that from the fullness of her
mind her body became fruitful. ( T/ius
far St Bernard.) 1 The very home of
the Virgin, hallowed by the mysteries
1 Natalis domus ; but this must be understood of a place of family residence, since a plenary
indulgence is granted to the Church of St Anne at Jerusalem, on the special ground that it
stands on the site of the house of Joachim, where the blessed Virgin was conceived and born.
THE HOLY HOUSE OF LORETO.
913
of God, was carried by the ministry of
angels, in the time of holy Celestine
V., out of the dominions of the un-
believers, first into Dalmatia, and
then into the country of Loreto, in
the province of Picenum ; and that it
is the very same house wherein the
Word was made Flesh and dwelt
among us, is attested, not only by
Papal documents, and by the famous
veneration of the whole world, but
also by an unceasing number of won-
drous works of power, and by the
grant of gifts from heaven. By these
things Innocent XII. was moved in
order to stir up the memory of the
faithful to a more fervent honouring
of the most loving of mothers, to
command that the translation of her
holy house, held by an annual festival
throughout all the province of Picen-
um, should be kept with a special
Mass and office.
Sixth Responsory.
Mine house shall be called the
house of prayer, saith the Lord.
Therein he that asketh receiveth, he
that seeketh findeth, and to him that
knocketh it shall be opened.
Verse. Ask and ye shall receive,
seek and ye shall find.
Answer. And to him that knocketh
it shall be opened.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And to him that knocketh
it shall be opened.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Bring sacrifices
and come into His courts ; O worship
the Lord in His holy temple.
Second Antiphon. All the people
saw His glory.
Third Antiphon. O sing unto the
vol. 1.
Lord a new song, for the Lord hath
done marvellous things. Alleluia.
Verse. Holiness becometh Thine
house.
Answer. For ever, O Lord.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (i. 26.)
A T that time : The Angel Gabriel
was sent from God unto a city
of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin
espoused to a man whose name was
Joseph, of the house of David ; and
the virgin's name was Mary. And
so on.
Homily by St Bernard, Abbat [of
Clairvaux.] (1st on Luke i. 26.)
Who is this virgin, so worshipful
as to be saluted by an angel, and so
lowly as to be espoused to a car-
penter ? Lovely is this mingling of
virginity and lowliness, neither doth
that so little please God, wherein the
lowliness exalteth the virginity, and
the virginity adorneth the lowliness.
But of what worship is she worthy,
whose lowliness is ennobled by mother-
hood, and whose motherhood halloweth
her virginity ? Dost thou hear that she
is a virgin ? dost thou hear that she is
lowly ? Virginity is praiseworthy, but
lowliness is more needful. Virginity
is advised, lowliness is commanded.
Seventh Responsory.
Grace is poured into thy lips, there-
fore God hath blessed thee for ever.
Verse. Thy garments smell of
myrrh, and aloes, and cassia out
of the ivory palaces, whereby kings'
daughters among thine honourable
women have made thee glad.
Answer. Therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever.
2 G 2
9H
GENERAL APPENDIX.
Eighth. Lesson. (2nd on the same.)
" '"PHE Angel Gabriel was sent
from God ... to a virgin "
— a virgin in body, a virgin in mind,
a virgin in profession, a virgin such
as she of whom the Apostle saith
(1 Cor. vii. 34) that she " careth for
the things of the Lord, that she may
be holy both in body and in spirit."
A virgin not found newly nor per-
chance, but chosen from everlasting,
foreknown by the Most High, and
made ready for Himself, guarded by
angels, prefigured by patriarchs, fore-
told by prophets, or to say it in short,
she whom God Himself would seem
to have foretold (Gen. iii. 15) when
He said unto the serpent, " I will
put enmity between thee and the
woman " ; and if thou yet doubtest
whether He spake of Mary, hearken
to what followeth, "She shall bruise
thy head." For whom was this vic-
tory reserved but for Mary ?
Eighth Responsory.
O Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
blessed art thou that didst believe
the Lord, for there hath been a per-
formance of those things which were
told thee from the Lord. Behold
thou art exalted over choirs of angels,
plead for us with the Lord our God.
Verse. Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Answer. Plead for us with the
Lord our God.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Plead for us with the
Lord our God.
Ninth Lesson. (3rd on the same.)
" A ND the Angel came in unto
her, and said : Hail, thou that
art full of grace, the Lord is with
1 Ecclus. li. 13.
thee." Whither came he in unto
her ? I conjecture that he came into
the sanctuary of her modest bed-
chamber, where perchance she, when
she had shut her door, was praying
to her Father Who is in secret.
(Matth. vi. 6.) It is the use of
angels to stand beside them that
pray, and to delight in them whom
they see lifting up pure hands in
prayer : they rejoice to offer up unto
God for a sweet savour the burnt-
offering of holy earnestness, and how
well-pleasing in the sight of the Most
High were the prayers of Mary is
shown by the action of the Angel who
came in unto her and so reverently
saluted her.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. Holiness becometh
Thine house, O Lord, for ever.
Second Antiphon. Thine house
shall be called the house of prayer ;
therein he that asketh receiveth, and
he that seeketh findeth, and to him
that knocketh it shall be opened.
Third Antiphon. Because of the
house of the Lord our God I will
seek Thy good.
Fourth Antiphon. O Lord God,
Thou hast lifted up my dwelling from
the earth.1
Fifth Antiphon. I will glorify the
house of my glory, and I will make
the place of my feet glorious.2
Chapter. (Ecclus. xxiv. 11.)
T N all these I sought rest, and I
will abide in the inheritance of
the Lord. So the Creator of all things
gave me a commandment, and said,
(and He that made me rested in my
tabernacle), [and He said, Dwell thou
in Jacob, and inherit in Israel, and
strike thy roots amid my chosen
people.]
1 Is. lx. 13.
THE HOLY HOUSE OF LORETO.
915
Hymn. Christ is made the sure
foundation, &c, {p. 594.)
Verse. We will go into His
tabernacle.
Answer. We will worship in His
footprints.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
1 Behold the tabernacle of God is with
men, and He will dwell with them,
and they shall be His people; and
God Himself shall be with them, and
be their God.
Prayer.
C\ GOD, Who in Thy mercy didst
hallow the house of the Blessed
Virgin Mary by the incarnation of Thy
Word, and hast wondrously given unto
the same a resting-place in the midst
of Thy Church, grant us the grace to
be cut off from the tents of wicked-
ness, and made worthy to dwell in
Thine holy house. Through the same
our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Atnen.
Commemorations are made of the
Week-day and of St Melchiades, but
not of the hnmaculate Conception, be-
cause this Office is reckoned as being
of the Blessed Virgin.
PRIME.
Antiphon. Holiness becometh Thine
house, &c, {First Antiphon at Lauds.)
In the Short Responsory. Thou
that wast born of the Virgin Mary.
Chapter at the end. (Ecclus. xxiv. 19.)
T N the broad ways I gave a sweet
smell like cinnamon and aromatic
balm ; I yielded a pleasant odour like
the best myrrh.
TERCE.
Antiphon. Thine house shall be
called the house of prayer, &c, {Second
Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
This is the house of God and the
gate of heaven.
Answer. This is the house of
God and the gate of heaven.
Verse. And it shall be called the
court of the Lord.
Answer. And the gate of heaven.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Afiswer. This is the house of
God and the gate of heaven.
Verse. Lord, I have loved the
beauty of Thine house.
Answer. And the place where
Thine honour dwelleth.
SEXT.
Antiphon. Because of the house
of the Lord, &c, {Third Antiphon at
Lauds. )
Chapter. (Ecclus. xxiv. 15.)
A ND so was I established in Sion,
and likewise in the holy city
was I given to rest ; and in Jerusalem
was my power, and I took root among
the honourable people, even in the
portion of my God as His own in-
heritance ; and mine abiding was in
the full assembly of the saints.
Short Responsory.
Lord, I have loved the beauty of
Thine house.
Answer. Lord, I have loved the
beauty of Thine house.
1 Apoc. xxi. 3.
gi6
GENERAL APPENDIX.
Verse*. And the place where Thine
honour dwelleth.
Answer. The beauty of Thine
house.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Lord, I have loved the
beauty of Thine house.
Verse. Holiness becometh Thine
house, O Lord.
Answer. For ever.
NONE.
Antiphon. I will glorify the house,
&c, {Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at e?id of Prime.
Short Responsory.
Holiness becometh Thine house, O
Lord.
Answer. Holiness becometh Thine
house, O Lord.
Verse. For ever.
Answer. Thine house, O Lord.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Holiness becometh Thine
house, O Lord.
Verse. This is none other than
the house of God and the gate of
heaven.
Answer. And it shall be called the
court of the Lord.
surely this is none other but the
house of God, and this is the gate
of heaven.
Commemorations are made of St
Damasus and of the Week-day, but not
of the Immaculate Conception.
December 13.
In the Diocese of Liverpool.
Octavt of $t Qttcflofae of QUpra.
All from the Common Office, with
Lessons of the First Nocturn from
Scripture according to the Season.
iStmoap, fottijin tije ©ctabe
of tfje lEptpjjanjL
Elje JFtnomg of tfje Cijilo
Sesus in tije Eemple.
Greater Double.
All as on Sundays except the fol-
lowing.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons, Chapter, and Prayer
from Lauds.
Last Psalm, cxvi., " O praise the
Lord, &c," (A 186.)
SECOND VESPERS.
As the First, except the following.
Verse. This is the Lord's house
stoutly builded.
Answer. Well founded upon a
sure rock.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. How dreadful is this place :
Hyt/171.1
r\ JESUS, Teacher of all hearts,
Thou fillest all with sweetest light
Who truly seek Thee, and who then
Find Thee with gladness and delight.
Bethink Thee of that joy supreme,
Which to Thy Virgin Mother's heart,
And to the heart of her dear Spouse,
Thou didst so lovingly impart.
1 Translation by Archbishop Bagshawe, (Breviary Hymns, No. 54.)
THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE. 917
No tongue of ours can ever tell,
Our minds to know are all too weak,
What grief doth pierce their loving hearts,
The while their only Son they seek.
O Son, by Thy dear parents lost,
How dost Thou make their joys abound,
When, sitting in the Temple, Thou
Art with the Doctors teaching found.
If, to us wanderers on earth,
Error hath caused calamity,
Make us to seek Thee as we ought,
And to rejoice in finding Thee.
Who art revealed to anxious ones,
O Jesus, glory be to Thee,
With Father and with Holy Ghost,
Ever throughout Eternity. Amen.
The Hymns at all the Hours end
ifi this manner.
Verse. 1 Behold I have given Him
for a witness to the peoples.
Answer. A leader and commander
to the nations.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The Child JESUS tarried
behind in Jerusalem, and His parents
knew not of it, supposing Him to
have been in the company, and they
sought Him among their kinsfolk and
acquaintance.
Commemoration of the Sunday.
Antiphon. Son, why hast Thou
thus dealt with us ? Thy father and
I have sought Thee sorrowing. How
is it that ye sought Me ? Wist ye not
that I must be about My Father's
business.
Verse. The Kings of Tarshish and
of the isles shall bring presents.
Answer. The Kings of Arabia and
Saba shall offer gifts.
and grant that they may both perceive
and know what things they ought to
do, and also may have grace and
power faithfully to fulfil the same.
Then is made a Commemoration
of the Epiphany. The Antiphon is
that proper to that particular day
within the Octave.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. The Child Jesus sat
in the temple in the midst of the
doctors. * O come let us worship
Him.
Hymn as at Vespers.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. O God, Thou
hast set Thy glory above the heavens,
Who out of the mouth of Thy Son
hast ordained praise.
Psalm viii. " O Lord our Ruler,
&c,» {p. 7.)
Second Antiphon. The words of
the Lord are righteous altogether,
sweeter also than honey, and the
honeycomb.
Psalm xviii. " The heavens de-
clare, &c," (p. 17.)
Third Antiphon. 2 Grace is poured
into the lips of the Child JESUS, there-
fore all they that heard Him were
astonished and wondered at the
gracious 'words which proceeded out
of His mouth.
Psalm xxiii. " The earth
Lord's, &c, (A 46.)
the
Prayer.
T ORD, we beseech Thee, merci-
fully to receive the prayers of
Thy people which call upon Thee :
1 is< iv, 4. 2 a compound of Ps. xliv. 3, Luke ii. 47, and iv
Verse. Behold I have given Him
for a witness to the people.
Answer. A leader and a com-
mander to the nations.
9i8
GENERAL APPENDIX.
"*" First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the book of
Exodus (xxiii. 14.)
HP HE Lord spake unto Moses, say-
ing : Three times shall ye keep
a Feast unto Me in the year. Thou
shalt keep the feast of unleavened
bread. Thou shalt eat unleavened
bread seven days, as I commanded
thee, in the time appointed of the
month of the green ears,1 when thou
earnest out from Egypt : 'thou shalt
not appear before me empty. And the
feast of harvest, the first-fruits of
thy labours whatsoever thou hast
sown in the field. And the feast of the
outgoing of the year, when thou hast
gathered in all thy fruits out of the
field. Three times in the year all
thy males shall appear before the Lord
Thy God.
First Responsory.
Jesus' parents went every year at
the Feast of the Passover, to fulfil
the commandment which the Lord
had commanded in the law of Moses.
Verse. 2 Three times in the year
all thy males shall appear before the
Lord Thy God, in the place which He
shall choose.
Answer. To fulfil the command-
ment which the Lord had commanded
in the law of Moses.
Second Lesson, (xxxiv. .18.)
'THE feast of unleavened bread
shalt thou keep. Seven days
thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I
commanded thee, in the time of the
month of green ears, for in the
month of the spring-time thou earnest
out from Egypt, (22,) and thou shalt
1 Novorum, a translation of the Hebrew Abib, the name given to the month, because the
corn is just formed in the ear.
' Deut. xvi. 16. * Cant. iii. 2.
observe the feast of weeks of the
first-fruits of wheat harvest, and the
feast when the time of year cometh
round for the in-gathering of all things.
Thrice in the year shall all your men-
children appear before the Lord Al-
mighty, the God of Israel.
Second Responsory.
The Child Jesus tarried behind in
Jerusalem, and His parents knew not
of it, but they, supposing Him to have
been in the company, went a day's
journey ; and they sought Him among
their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
Verse. I will rise now, and go
about the city ; in the streets and in
the broad ways I will seek Him
whom my soul loveth.
Answer. And they sought Him
among their kinsfolk and acquaint-
ance.3
Third Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Deuteronomy (xvi. 16.)
A T the same time the Lord spake
unto Moses [saying] : Three
times in a year shall all thy males
appear before the Lord thy God in
the place which He shall choose : In
the feast of unleavened bread, in
the feast of weeks, and in the feast
of tabernacles. They shall not ap-
pear before the Lord empty ; but
every man shall give as he is able
according to the blessing of the Lord
his God which He hath given him.
Third Responsory.
And when Jesus' parents found
Him not, they returned back again to
Jerusalem seeking Him.
THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE. 919
Verse. l Whither is my beloved
gone, that we may seek Him with
thee ?
Answer. They turned back to
Jerusalem seeking Him.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Seeking Him.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. They saw, and so
they marvelled at the understanding
and answers of the Child Jesus.
Ps. xlvii. Great is the Lord, &c,
(p. 98.)
Second Antiphon. The God of
gods, even the Lord, hath spoken,
and all they that heard Him were
astonished at His answers.
Ps. xlix. The God of gods, &c,
{p. 100.)
Third Antiphon. Blessed for ever
be the Name of the Lord unto whom
God His Father hath given judgment
and righteousness.
Ps. lxxi. Give the king, &c, {p.
126.)
Verse. And all they that heard
Him were astonished.
A?iswer. At His understanding and
answers.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Ser-
mons of St " Buona-ventura," [Car-
dinal] Bishop [of Albaho.] {First
on the Sunday within the Octave
of the Epiphany.)
V\f HAT is greatly loved is not lost
without great grief; when
therefore the Blessed Virgin lost the
bodily presence of that tenderly loved
and only Son, whom she loved above
all things, a manifold grief struck
1 Cant. vi. 1.
her to the heart. Scarcely did she
give sleep to her eyes or rest unto her
feet until she found Him in the temple
at Jerusalem, sitting in the midst of
the doctors. When she saw His
gracious countenance, she rejoiced
with great joy and gladness unspeak-
able, and albeit she spake little, as
becometh a virgin, yet did she utter
modestly a word of great prudence
and of great wisdom, saying : " Son,
why hast Thou thus dealt with us."
Then doth she set forth the bitter-
ness of the great trouble that had
been in her heart, and the carefulness
of that wise search which they had
made, when she saith further : " Be-
hold Thy father and I have sought
Thee sorrowing." Herein doth the
Blessed Virgin, albeit most wise, claim
to have given a thought to the Heart
of God Himself, speech to His mouth,
and action to His Body. In her first
words we note the sweetness of her
kindly address to Him, where she
calleth Him Son. Right was it that
the good Son Jesus should be gently
addressed. For even as every good
Son is the joy and gladness of his
mother, so was Jesus the joy and
gladness of His virgin mother.
Fourth Responsory.
After three days Jesus' parents
found Him in the temple sitting in
the midst of the doctors.
Verse. 2 I found Him whom my
soul loveth ; I held Him and would
not let Him go.
Answer. In the temple sitting in
the midst of the doctors.
Fifth Lesson.
" /T* HY father and I have sought
Thee sorrowing." Here do
we note the bitterness of the deep
trouble that had been at her heart.
2 Cant. iii. 4.
920
GENERAL APPENDIX.
Surely^. 0 Glorious Virgin, I marvel
not that thine heart was troubled,
that thou didst feel bitterness and
grief. I should indeed have mar-
velled if thou hadst not sorrowed
when thou hadst lost the bodily pres-
ence of that, thy well-beloved Son,
that presence which filled thy soul
with so many comforts. Her Son was
to the Glorious Virgin in this world
the cause of many sorrows, many
trials, and many afflictions. We may
now say that her sorrow was three-
fold. She sorrowed first for the loss
of the presence of her Son. She
suffered again when she beheld the
sufferings of the Lord. She suffered
once more in sharing His grief over
the blindness of the Jews.
Fifth Responsory.
They found Jesus in the midst of
the doctors, both hearing them, and
asking them questions.
Verse. l When the ear heard him,
then it blest him ; and when the eye
saw him, it gave witness to him.
Answer. Both hearing them, and
asking them questions.
Sixth Lesson.
HTHY father and I have sought
Thee. Thus doth she set forth
the carefulness of her wise search,
for although the Blessed Virgin had
not lost Him through carelessness,
she was careful in seeking Him.
According to the commentators it
was the custom of the Jews in pro-
cessions, and upon journeys, when
they went up to the Temple, and
while they were there, that men and
women should be separated ; children
were not subject to this rule, but
sometimes went with their fathers
and sometimes with their mothers.
Hence the mother Mary thought that
1 Job xxix. ii.
the Child JESUS was with Joseph
along with the men, and Joseph
thought that He was with Mary
along with the women. For this
custom had been introduced for re-
spectability's sake, and for a safe-
guard of chastity. Hence it is mani-
fest that she was not to blame for
losing Him from carelessness, but
she was very careful and diligent in
seeking Him from the uprightness of
her conscience, from the broadness of
her love, and from the surety of her
confidence.
Sixth Responsory.
All they that heard Him were
astonished at His understanding and
answers, and when they saw Him
they were amazed.
Verse. 2 The voice of the Lord is
powerful ; the voice of the Lord is
full of majesty.
Answer. And when they saw Him
they were amazed.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. And when they saw Him
they were amazed.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. When the doctors
in the Temple heard the wisdom that
came forth out of the mouth of Jesus
they were confounded ; they knew not,
neither did they understand, and they
walked on in darkness.
Ps. lxxxi. God standeth, &c, (p.
141.)
Second Antiphon. The Lord hath
made known His salvation ; His
righteousness hath He openly shown
in the sight of the heathen, by means
of His Son.
Ps. xcvii. O sing unto the Lord,
&c, (A 157.)
2 Ps. xxviii. 4.
THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE. 92 1
Third Antiphon. The Lord reign-
eth in the midst of His Temple. Let
the people praise His great and terrible
Name, for it is holy.
Ps. xcviii. The Lord reigneth,
&c, (A 158.)
Verse. Jesus increased in wisdom
and stature.
Answer. And in favour with God
and man.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (ii. 42.)
"\1THEN Jesus was twelve years
old they went up to Jerusalem,
after the custom of the Feast, and
when they had fulfilled the days, as
they returned, the Child JESUS tarried
behind in Jerusalem. And so on.
Homily by St Ambrose, Bishop [of
Milan.] (Bk. ii. on Luke ii.)
We read that when He was twelve
years old the Lord began to dispute.
The number of His years was the
same as the number of the Apostles
whom He afterwards sent forth to
preach the Faith. He Who, as
touching His Manhood, was filled
with wisdom and grace from God,
was not careless of the parents of
the same Manhood, and, after three
days, was pleased to be found in the
Temple : thereby foreshadowing that,
after the three days of His victorious
Passion, He That had been reckoned
with the dead, would present Himself,
living, to our faith, in His heavenly
Kingship and Divine Majesty.
Seventh Responsory.
His mother said unto JESUS, Son,
why hast Thou thus dealt with us ?
Behold Thy father and I have sought
Thee sorrowing.
Verse. l O my Son, the Light of
our eyes, the Comfort of our life.
Answer. Behold Thy father and I
have sought Thee sorrowing.
Eighth Lesson.
" L_T OW is it that ye sought Me ? "
Christ hath two Generations ;
one from His Father, another from
His mother. That from His Father
is His Eternal Generation as God
and Son ; that from His mother is
that whereby He came to work for
us and minister to us. Those acts,
therefore, of His, which are above
nature, beyond His age, and different
to His custom, proceedeth not from
the strength of His Manhood, but
from the power of His Godhead. On
another occasion His mother moveth
Him to work a miracle ; here He
answereth her, because she treateth
that which was of the Godhead, as
though it had been of the Manhood.
Eighth Responsory.
Jesus said unto His parents : How
is it that ye sought Me ? Wist ye
not that I must be about My Father's
business ?
Verse. 2 Serve the Lord in truth, and
seek to do that which pleaseth Him.
Answer. Wist ye not that I must
be about My Father's business ?
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Wist ye not that I must
be about My Father's business ?
Ninth Lesson. 3
/^\N this occasion it is said that
^-^ He was twelve years old, but
on the other He had already disciples.
1 Tobit x. 4. 2 Tobit xiv. 10.
s Observe that the Ninth Lesson is not of the Sunday but of the Feast, because the Gospel
of the Feast and of the Sunday are the same.
922
GENERAL APPENDIX.
His irlother had seen His wonders on
the earlier occasion, -and had learnt
from her Son to call on the mightier
nature for a work of power.1 "And
He came to Nazareth, and was sub-
ject unto them." No wonder that
the great Teacher should practise.
And shall we marvel how He Who
was subject to His mother, was about
His Father's business ? His sub-
jection to His mother proceeded, not
from weakness, but from dutiful
affection.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God, &c," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. Jesus' parents
went to Jerusalem every year at the
Feast of the Passover.
Second Antiphon. And as they
returned, the Child Jesus tarried be-
hind in Jerusalem ; and His parents
knew not of it.
Third Antiphon. And when they
found not Jesus, they returned back
again to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
And after three days they found
Him in the Temple, sitting in the
midst of the doctors, both hearing
them, and asking them questions.
Fourth Antiphon. And His mother
saith unto Him, Son, why hast Thou
thus dealt with us ? Behold Thy father
and I have sought Thee sorrowing.
Fifth Antiphon. And Jesus went
down with them, and came to Nazareth,
and was subject unto them.
Chapter. (Is. lv. I.)
T_J O, every one that thirsteth, come
ye to the waters, and he that
hath no money, make haste, buy and
eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk
without money, and without purse.
1 Translated directly from the works of the Saint. In the Breviary the passage has got
corrupted, even to the substitution of a negative for an affirmative ("ne" for "ut.")
2 Translation by Archbishop Bagshawe, (Breviary Hymns, No. 55.) 3 Joel ii. 23.
Hymn?
JESUS, of wisdom the rich Fount,
By which Thou guidest hearts aright,
And dost the proud disciple judge,
And teachest with celestial light.
We sing a hymn of praise, that Thou,
Coming Thy Father's work to do,
Midst Doctors sittest as a Child,
Yet teachest in the Temple too.
O admirable kind of school !
While Jesus doth the Doctors teach,
Hearing and humbly questioning,
They wonder at His prudent speech.
O Master, mercifully grant,
That no weak man to teach may dare,
Unless from Heaven Thou dost first
With wondrous light his heart prepare.
Then doth all error flee away,
Then shall the Spouse, with footsteps sure,
And all her servants, follow Thee,
Along the royal road secure.
Then, from the true believers' land,
All treacherous teachers shall they drive,
And, on the true and only Faith,
In health our souls shall live and thrive.
Who art revealed to anxious ones,
O Jesus, glory be to Thee,
With Father and with Holy Ghost,
Ever throughout Eternity. Amen.
Verse. 3 Ye children of Zion rejoice
in the Lord your God.
Answer. For He hath given you a
teacher of righteousness.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with
us ? Thy father and I have sought
Thee sorrowing. How is it that ye
sought Me ? Wist ye not that I must
be about My Father's business ?
Prayer throughout the Office.
r\ GOD, Who wast pleased that
^-^ the lowly childhood of Thy
Son should be glorified by wisdom
THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE. 923
from heaven, grant unto us to be so
filled with the spirit of wisdom that
we may walk before Thee in lowliness
unfeigned. Through the Same our
Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
The following Commemoration is
made of the Sunday.
Antiphon. The Child Jesus tarried
behind in Jerusalem, and His parents
knew not of it, supposing Him to
have been in the company, and they
sought Him among their kinsfolk and
acquaintance.
Verse. Worship God. Alleluia.
Answer. All ye His Angels. Alle-
luia.
Prayer as at First Vespers, then of
the Octave of the Epiphany.
Antiphon. This day is the Church
joined unto the Heavenly Bridegroom,
since Christ hath washed away her
sins in Jordan ; the wise men hasten
with gifts to the marriage supper of
the King ; and they that sit at meat
together make merry with water
turned into wine. Alleluia.
Verse. All they from Saba shall
come. Alleluia.
Answer. They shall bring gold
and incense. Alleluia.
PRIME.
Antiphon. Jesus' parents, &c,
(First Antiphon at Lauds.)
In the Short Responsory is said,
Verse. Thou That wast found in
the Temple.
Chapter at the end. (Wisd. viii. 10.)
T^OR Wisdom's sake I shall have
glory before the multitude,
though I am young, and honour
among the elders, and I will be
found sharp in judgement, and won-
derful in the presence of the mighty.
TERCE.
Chapter as at Lauds.
Short Responsory.
Verse. Behold I have given Him
for a witness to the peoples. Alleluia,
Alleluia.
Answer. Behold I have given Him
for a witness to the peoples. Alleluia,
Alleluia.
Verse. A leader and a commander
to the nations.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Behold I have given Him
for a witness to the peoples. Alleluia,
Alleluia.
Verse. All they that heard Him
were astonished. Alleluia.
Answer. At His understanding
and answers. Alleluia.
SEXT.
Antiphon. And when they found
not Jesus, &c, (Third Antiphon at
Lauds. )
Chapter. (Acts iii. 22.)
1\/T OSES truly said unto the fathers :
A Prophet shall the Lord your
God raise up unto you of your breth-
ren, like unto me ; Him shall ye hear
in all things, whatsoever He shall say
unto you.
Short Responsory.
Verse. All they that heard Him
were astonished. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Answer. All they that heard Him
were astonished. Alleluia, Alleluia.
924
GENERAL APPENDIX.
Verse. At His understanding and
answers.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. All they that heard him
were astonished. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Jesus increased in wisdom
and stature. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Answer. And in favour with God
and man. Alleluia.
NONE.
Antiphon. And Jesus went down
with them, &c. ($th Antiphon at
Lauds. )
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
Verse. Jesus increased in wisdom
and stature. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Answer. Jesus increased in wis-
dom and stature. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. And in favour with God
and man.
Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Jesus increased in wis-
dom and stature. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Verse. Ye children of Zion rejoice
in the Lord your God. Alleluia.
Answer. For he hath given you a
teacher of righteousness. Alleluia.
SECOND VESPERS.
All as the First, except the
following :
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. The Child Jesus increased
in wisdom and stature before God
and man.
A Commemoration of the Sunday is
made; then of the Octave.
Antiphon. This day we keep as
holiday in honour of Three Won-
ders. This day a star led the three
wise men to the manger ; this day at
the marriage, water was made wine ;
this day was Christ, for our salvation,
pleased to be baptised of John in
Jordan. Alleluia.
Verse. All they from Saba shall
come. Alleluia.
Answer. They shall bring gold
and incense. Alleluia.
Efjtrti .Suntiag after tfje
lEpipijang*
Wqz Ptolg Home* %z%\x%,
JHarg, anU Sosepfj*
Greater Double.
FIRST VESPERS.
Psalms as in the Feasts of the
Blessed Virgin.
First Antiphon. And Jacob1 begat
Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom
was born Jesus, Who is called the
Christ.
Second Antiphon. The Angel 2 of
the Lord appeared to Joseph in sleep,
saying, Joseph, thou son of David,
fear not to take unto thee Mary thy
wife, for That Which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Ghost.
Third Antipho7i. And the shep-
herds came with haste ; and they
found Mary, and Joseph, and the
Babe lying in a manger.3
Fourth Antiphon. When the wise
men were come into the house, they
found the young Child, with Mary
His mother.4
Fifth Antiphon. His father and
mother marvelled at those things which
were spoken of Him.5
1 Matth. i. 16.
2 Matth. i. 20. 3 Luke ii. 16. 4 Matth. i. 11. 5 Luke ii. 33.
THE HOLY HOME.
925
Chapter. (Luke ii. 51.)
AND Jesus went down with Mary
and Joseph, and came to Naz-
areth, and was subject unto them.
Hymn.
Q HIGHEST Hope of mortals,
Blest Light of saints above,
O Jesus, on Whose boyhood
Home smiled with kindly love ;
O thou whose bosom nursed Him,
O Mary, highly graced,
Whose breast gave milk to Jesus,
Whose arms thy God embraced ;
And thou of all men chosen
To guard the Virgin's fame,
, To whom God's Son refused not
A father's gracious name ;
Born for the nation's healing,
Of Jesse's lineage high,
Behold the suppliants kneeling,
O hear the sinner's cry.
The sun, returned to evening,
Dusks all the twilight air ;
We, lingering here before you,
Pour out our heartfelt prayer.
Your home was as a garden,
Made glad with fairest flowers ;
May life thus blossom sweetly
In every home of ours.
Jesus, to Thee be glory,
The Maiden-Mother's Son,
With Father and with Spirit,
While endless ages run.
Verse. The Word was made Flesh.
Alleluia.
Answer. And dwelt among us.
Alleluia.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Blessed are they that dwell
in Thine house, O Lord ; they shall
be ever praising Thee.1
Prayer.
Q LORD Jesus Christ, Who, when
Thou wast subject to Mary and
to Joseph, didst sanctify the life of
home with virtues which cannot be
uttered, grant that we, by the assist-
ance of both, may be instructed by
the example of this Holy Home, and
admitted to a share in its everlasting
blessedness. Who livest and reignest
with God the Father, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world with-
out end. Amen.
A Commemoration is made of the
Sunday.
Antiphon. God hath holpen His
servant Israel, as He spake unto
Abraham, and to his seed, to exalt
them of low degree for ever and ever.
Verse. Let the evening prayer
ascend unto Thee, O Lord.
Answer. And let there descend
upon us Thy mercy.
Prayer.
r\ ALMIGHTY and everlasting
God, mercifully look upon our
infirmities, and in all our dangers and
necessities stretch forth the right hand
of Thy Majesty, to help and defend us.
Through our Lord JESUS Christ Thy
Son, Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end. Amen.
At Compline and other Hours, at
the end of the Hymn, is said:
JESUS, to Thee be glory,
The Maiden-Mother's Son, &c.
MATTINS.
hivitatory. Christ the Son of God,
obedient to Mary and Joseph, * O
come, let us worship.
Ps. xciv., {p. 2.)
1 Ps. lxxxiii. 5.
926
GENERAL APPENDIX.
Hymn.
"D RIGHTLY gleam the sacred temples,
Where a thousand torches shine,
Garlanded about the altars,
Lo ! the fairest blossoms twine.
Smoking censers send their perfume
To the throne of Love Divine.
Shall we praise the Sole-Begotten's
Royal ancestry with song?
Shall we tell His glory, chanting
All the honoured names that throng
David's line, and their achievements
All the storied ages long?
Rather let us now be mindful
Of the lowly village cot,
Of the Galilean hillside
Where He chose the poor man's lot.
Rather let our hymns remember
How He lived, by men forgot.
Home, from Nile's far distant margin,
Lo ! He travels, angel-led,
Hastening, a little pilgrim,
Many pains gone o'er His Head,
And delivered out of danger,
Shares His foster-father's bread.
Joseph trains Him, Joseph teaches
All his lore of humble skill ;
Jesus grows from boy to manhood —
Hidden years, secluded, still —
Helping Joseph in his labour,
Prenticed by His eager will.
" Let the sweat of toil bedew Me,"
Thus He saith, "against the day
When a sweat of blood shall trickle,
Dyeing earth with ruddy spray :
Thus for humankind's transgressions
Fullest penalty to pay."
Near her gracious Boy the Mother
Sits and looks with loving eye ;
Sits the wife beside her husband,
Glad to know that he is nigh,
Happy if she may console them
As the hours of work go by.
1 Luke ii. 27, 28.
3 Luke ii. 40.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, help us,
Ye who bore our toilsome days ;
Ye who bore with pain and hardship,
Hear the wretchedness that prays ;
Aid us whom our need drives forward.
Struggling on by thorny ways ;
Take from us the pride of living,
If the light of fortune shine,
Teach us in whatever chances
Not to vaunt and not repine.
While we beg for your protection,
Look on us with eyes benign.
Thine be glory, thine be power,
Jesus, while the ages run,
Thou Whose life is our instruction,
Till the tasks of earth are done,
Reigning with the Sovran Father,
And the Spirit, Three in One.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. When His parents
brought in the Child JESUS, then
Simeon took Him up in his arms, and
blessed God.1
Second Antiphon. When they had
performed all things according to the
law of the Lord, they returned into
Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.2
Third Antiphon. And the Child
grew, and waxed strong [in spirit,]
filled with wisdom : and the grace
of God was upon Him.3
Verse. Though He was rich, yet
for our sakes He became poor.
Answer. That we through His
poverty might become rich.4
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Epistle
of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the
Colossians (iii. 12-16.)
TDUT on, therefore, as the elect of
God, holy and beloved, bowels
of mercy, kindness, humbleness, meek-
2 Luke ii. 39.
4 2 Cor. viii. 9.
THE HOLY HOME.
927
ness, long-suffering: forbearing one
another, and forgiving one another,
if any man have a quarrel against
any ; even as the Lord hath forgiven
you, so also do ye. And above all
these things put on charity, which is
the bond of perfectness ; and let the
peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to the which also ye are called in one
body ; and be ye thankful. Let the
word of Christ dwell in you richly, in
all wisdom, teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms, and hymns,
and spiritual songs, singing with grace
in your hearts to the Lord.
1
First Responsory.
Afterwards did He show Himself
upon earth and conversed with men.1
Verse. He hath found out all the
way of knowledge, and hath given it
unto Jacob His servant.2
Answer. And conversed with men.
Second Lesson, ,3
Y^HATSOEVER ye do in word
or deed, do all in the Name
of the Lord JESUS Christ, giving
thanks to God and the Father by
Him. Wives submit yourselves unto
your own husbands, as it is fit in
the Lord. Husbands, love your wives,
and* be not bitter against them.
Children, obey your parents in all
things : for this is well pleasing unto
the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your
children to anger, lest they be dis-
couraged.
Second Responsory.
Blessed are they that dwell in Thine
house, O Lord.4
Verse. They will be ever praising
Thee.
Answer. In Thine house, O Lord.
Third Lesson.5
CERVANTS, obey in all things
your masters according to the
flesh, not with eye-service, as men-
pleasers, but in singleness of heart,
fearing God. Whatsoever ye do, do
it heartily, as to the Lord, and not
unto men, knowing that of the Lord
ye shall receive the reward of the
inheritance. Serve the Lord Christ.
For he that doeth wrong shall re-
ceive for the wrong which he hath
done : and there is no respect of
persons with God. (iv. 1.) Masters,
give unto your servants that which
is just and equal, knowing that ye
also have a Master in heaven. Con-
tinue in prayer, and watch in the same
with thanksgiving.
Third Responsory.
In all things it behoved Him to be
made like unto His brethren, that He
might be merciful.6
Verse. Though He was the Son
of God, yet learned He obedience by
the things which He suffered.7
Answer. That He might be
merciful.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. That He might be
merciful.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. When Joseph
arose, he took the young Child and
His mother by night, and departed
into Egypt.8
Second Antiphon. The Angel of
the Lord appeared to Joseph in
Egypt, in a dream, saying, Arise,
and take the young Child and His
mother, and go into the land of
Israel.9
1 Baruch iii. 38.
4 Ps. lxxxiii. 5.
7 Heb. v. 8.
2 Baruch iii. 37.
5 Col. iii. 22-25 > iy- x> 2'
8 Matth. ii. 14.
3 Col. iii. 17-21.
6 Heb. ii. 17.
9 Matth. ii. 20.
928
GENERAL APPENDIX.
Third Antiphon. And he came
and dwelt at Nazareth : that it might
be fulfilled which was spoken by
the prophets, He shall be called a
Nazarene.1
Verse. The Lord will teach us
His ways.
Answer. And we will walk in
His paths.2
Fourth Lesson.
Sermon by St Ambrose, Bishop [of
Milan.] {An Exposition of Psalms
xxxvi. and xli.)
DE ye subject unto the Lord and
entreat Him. Christ, by doing
the will of the Father, fulfilled the
law ; and therefore He is the fulfil-
ment of the law, and the fulness of
mercy. For, seeing that He loved
the Father, He gave all His affection
to the fulfilling of His will. And
then He was subject to His parents
Joseph and Mary on account of His
duty to them, not of His necessity.
Therefore He took upon Him to
suffer along with us. For, in that
He made all things subject unto
Him, He did that which belonged
unto Himself; but, in that He was
subject, He did that which belongeth
unto us. The soul, He saith, is
subject, not the divinity ; the soul
is subject, not the power of God.
In His soul, therefore, He was
obedient, in His soul lowly; these
things, then, He took upon Him,
not to the laying aside of His power,
but to teach us His doctrine.
Fourth Responsory.
But I am poor and needy. The
Lord thinketh upon me.3
Verse. 4 For thou shalt eat of the
labour of thine hands. Happy shalt
thou be, and it shall be well with
thee.
Answer. The Lord thinketh upon
me.
Fifth Lesson.
A S a man, therefore, He learned
obedience by the things which
He suffered, that He might be made
perfect in the flesh ; and that by
bequeathing to us His obedience, He
might become the Author of eternal
salvation to us, to whom the first
Adam by the legacy of his dis-
obedience had before been the source
of death. His subjection is a lesson
in human virtue, not a diminution
of the Divine power. For will those
who declare that the Son is less than
the Father, and unequal to Him
because He is subject to Him as
God, declare also that He is less
than His mother, because He was
subject to His mother ? For we
read of Joseph and Mary : And He
was subject to them. The truth is
that such dutifulness 5 brings no loss
to any one of us, but rather gain ; for
through it the Lord Jesus has poured
faith and grace into us all, that He
may make us also, in the spirit of
faith, subject to God the Father.
Fifth Responsory.
6 The foxes have holes, and the
birds of the air have nests ; but the
Son of Man hath not where to lay
His head.
Verse. I am poor, and in toil
from my youth up.7
Answer. But the Son of Man
hath not where to lay His head.
Sixth Lesson. (Ps. lxv.)
f" ASTLY, if we consider the matter,
humility had been lost in the
Garden of Eden, and therefore came
1 Matth, ii, 23.
» Pittas.
2 Isa. ii. 3. 3 Ps. xxxix. 18.
6 Matth. viii. 20.
* Ps. cxxvii. 2.
7 Ps. lxxxvii. 16.
THE HOLY HOME.
929
from heaven. In the Garden of Eden
arose disobedience. Obedience came
down on that account with the Saviour.
The flesh was puffed up so that the
subjection of meekness could not be
found on earth. The Lord Jesus
came and first emptied Himself,
though He thought it not robbery
to be equal with God, and taking
upon Himself the form of a servant,
was found in the likeness of a
man, and humbled Himself, becom-
ing obedient unto death. Let Him,
therefore, say : I am a youth and
despised ; because Christ as a poor
man and despised redeemed the
world ; because Christ by His humil-
ity overthrew the devil.
Sixth Responsory.
1 Who, being in the form of God,
emptied Himself, and took the form
of a servant.
Verse. 2 He humbled Himself,
and became obedient even unto
death.
Answer. And took the form of a
servant.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. And took the form of a
servant.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. 3 The parents of
Jesus went up every year to Jeru-
salem to the feast of the Passover.
Second Antiphon. 4As they re-
turned, the Child JESUS tarried be-
hind at Jerusalem ; and His parents
knew not of it.
Third Antiphon. 5 And when they
found not Jesus, they returned into
Jerusalem, seeking Him.
Verse. 6 1 am poor, and in toil
from my youth up.
Answer. And when I was lifted
up, then was I brought down and
troubled.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Luke (ii. 42,
430
AND when Jesus was twelve years
old, they went up to Jerusalem
after the custom of the feast. And
when they had fulfilled the days,
as they returned, the Child Jesus
tarried behind in Jerusalem ; and
His parents knew not of it. And
so on.
Homily by St Bernard, Abbat [of
Clairvaux.] (From the 1st Homily
on the words, " The Angel was
sent.")
And He was subject to them.
Who was subject ? and to whom ?
God to men ; God, I repeat, to Whom
the angels are subject, Whom princi-
palities and powers obey, was subject
to Mary ; and not only to Mary, but
to Joseph also for Mary's sake.
Marvel, therefore, both at God and
man, and choose that which gives
greater wonder, whether it be the
most loving condescension of the
Son, or the exceeding great dignity
of His parents. Both amaze us,
both are marvellous. That God
should obey man is lowliness without
parallel, that man should rule over
God, an elevation beyond comparison.
In praise of virgins it is sung of them
alone, that they follow the Lamb
whithersoever He goeth. Of what
praise do you judge that man worthy
who goeth before Him ?
1 Phil. ii. 6, 7.
4 Luke ii. 43.
2 Phil. ii. 8.
5 Luke ii. 45.
3 Luke ii. 41.
6 Ps. lxxxviii. 16.
930
GENERAL APPENDIX
Seventh Responsory.
1 Verily Thou art a King that
hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the
Saviour.
Verse. Thou teachest man know-
ledge.
Answer. God of Israel, the
Saviour.
Benediction.
God's most mighty strength alway
Be His people's staff and stay.
Answer. Amen.
Eighth Lesson.
[ EARN, O man, to obey ; learn, O
earth, to be subject ; learn, O
dust, to submit. The Evangelist,
speaking of thy Creator, says : "And
He was subject to them." Doubtless to
Mary and Joseph. Shame on you, the
proud ashes ! God abaseth Himself,
and dost thou exalt thyself? God sub-
jects Himself to men, and dost thou,
eager to lord it over men, set thyself
over thy Creator ? For as often soever
as I desire pre-eminency over men, so
often do I strive to excel God. For
of Him it was said : And He was
subject to them. If thou disdainest,
O man, to follow the example of man,
at least thou canst follow thy Creator
without dishonour. If thou canst not,
perchance, follow Him whithersoever
He goeth, deign at least to follow
Him in that to which He hath lowered
Himself for the sake of thee.
Answer. So by the obedience of
one shall many be made righteous.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. So by the obedience of
one shall many be made righteous.
If the Feast be transferred, the
following is read:
Ninth Lesson.
T F thou canst not enter upon the
lofty path of virginity, at least
follow God by the most safe road of
humility. If any turn aside from this
straight way, though they be virgins,
they do not follow the Lamb, if the
truth be told, whithersoever He goeth.
The humble man, though stained with
sin, followeth the Lamb ; the virgin,
though proud, followeth ; but neither
followeth whithersoever He goeth.
The former cannot attain to the purity
of the Lamb, for He is without spot ;
the latter deigns not to descend to
His meekness, Who was dumb, not
before the shearer, but before the
murderer. Yet the sinner who fol-
loweth in humility hath chosen a more
saving way than the proud man who
followeth in virginity, for the humble
man maketh satisfaction, and is
cleansed of his impurity, but the
proud man's chastity is stained by
his pride.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, &c,"
(p. 21,) is said.
Eighth Responsory.
As by one man's disobedience
many were made sinners, so by the
obedience of one shall many be made
righteous'.2
Verse. He came to Nazareth, and
was subject unto them.
1 Isa. xlv. 15 ; rex instead oideus.
3 Luke ii . 46.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. 8 After three days
they found Jesus in the temple, sit-
ting in the midst of the doctors,
both hearing them and asking them
questions.
Second Antiphon. 4 And the mother
2 Rom. v.
4 Luke ii.
19.
THE HOLY HOME.
931
of JESUS said unto Him, Son, why
hast Thou thus dealt with us ? Be-
hold, Thy father and I have sought
Thee sorrowing.
Third Antiphon. \ Jesus went
down with them, and came to Nazar-
eth, and was subject unto them.
Fourth Antiphon. 2 And Jesus in-
creased in wisdom and age, and in
favour with God and man.
Fifth Antiphon. 3 And they said,
Whence hath this Man this wisdom,
and these mighty works ? Is not this
the carpenter's Son ?
Chapter. (Luke ii. 51.)
AND Jesus came down with Mary
and Joseph, and came to Naz-
areth, and was subject unto them.
Hymn.
C\ HAPPY guest of alien race,
O Nazareth's august abode,
The infant Church's dwelling-place
Before she sought the world's highroad.
The sun, who with his golden light
Travels the lands that lie below,
Has never seen a fairer sight,
Nor holier home has earth to show.
Hither the angels oft resort
To honour virtue's sacred fane,
Glad nuncios of the heavenly court,
Again returning and again.
With what glad hand and eager heart
The Child performs the father's will ;
How blithely Mary plays her part,
A mother's duty to fulfil.
Joseph is there with love no less
To halve the burdens of his wife,
And grace that gives all holiness,
With thousand links binds life to life.
Like streams that join, their love outflows
To gulf itself in Jesus' sea,
And Jesus on the twain bestows
The guerdon of their charity.
1 Luke ii. 51.
s Matth. viii. 54, 55. .
So may we fare ; may love unite
Our hearts in one throughout the years,
To soothe our homes with calm delight,
And mingle sweetness in life's tears.
Jesus, for ever unto Thee,
The Maiden-Mother's loving Son,
With Father and with Spirit, be
All glory while the ages run.
Verse. 4 I will cause all thy child-
ren to be taught of the Lord.
Answer. And great shall be the
peace of thy children.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
Let the example of Thine house-
hold shine upon us, O Lord, and
do Thou guide our feet into the
way of peace.
Prayer as at First Vespers.
A Commemoration is made of the
Sunday.
Antiphon. When Jesus was come
down from the mountain, behold, there
came a leper, and worshipped Him,
saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou
canst make me clean. And Jesus
put forth His hand, and touched him,
saying : I will ; be thou clean.
Verse. The Lord reigneth. He is
clothed with majesty.
Answer. The Lord is clothed with
strength, and hath girded Himself
with power.
Prayer as at First Vespers.
PRIME.
In the Short Responsory, instead of
the Verse, " Thou That sittest, &c,"
is said :
Verse. Thou That wast born of
the Virgin Mary.
2 Luke ii. 52.
* Isa. liv. 12, 13.
932
GENERAL APPENDIX.
TERCE.
Chapter.
AND Jesus went down with Mary
*^^ and Joseph, and came to Naz-
areth, and was subject unto them.
Short Responsory.
For our sakes He became poor,
though He was rich.
Answer. For our sakes He became
poor, though He was rich.
Verse. That through His poverty
we might become rich.
Answer. Though He was rich.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. For our sakes He became
poor, though He was rich.
Verse. , l The Lord will teach us
His ways.
Answer, And we will walk in His
paths.
SEXT.
Chapter. (Romans v. 19.)
AS by one man's disobedience
many were made sinners, so by
the obedience of one shall many be
made righteous.
Short Responsory.
The Lord will teach us His ways.
Answer. The Lord will teach us
His ways.
Verse. And we will walk in His
paths.
Answer. His ways.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. The Lord will teach us
His ways.
Verse. I am poor and in toil from
my youth up.
Answer. And when I was lifted
up, then was I brought down and
troubled.
NONE.
Chapter. (Philip, ii. 7.)
TUT E emptied Himself, and took the
form of a servant, and was
made in the likeness of man, and
found in fashion of a man.
Short Responsory.
I am poor, and in toil from my
youth up.
Answer. I am poor, and in toil
from my youth up.
Verse. And when I was lifted up,
there was I brought down and
troubled.
Answer. From my youth up.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. I am poor, and in toil
from my youth up.
Verse. I will cause all thy children
to be taught of the Lord.
Answer. And great shall be the
peace of thy children.
SECOND VESPERS.
Antiphon as at Lauds.
Psalms as at Feasts of the Blessed
Virgin.
Chapter and Hymn as at First
Vespers.
Verse and Answer as at Lauds.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. But Mary kept all those
sayings in her heart.
Then is made a Commemoration of
the Sunday.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou
canst make me clean. And Jesus
said, I will ; be thou clean.
1 Isa. ii. 3.
THE TWENTY-SIX HOLY MARTYRS WHO SUFFERED IN JAPAN. 933
Verse. l Let my prayer, O Lord, be
set forth
Answer. As incense before Thee.
Prayer as before.
Office in Memory of the Sufferings of
our Lord JESUS Christ.
(See ante pp. 442 and 888, foot-
notes.)
Translation by the Rev. E. Caswall
of the hymn Mcerentes oculi, &c,
(Hymns and Poems, p. 35): —
TM'OW let us sit and weep,
And fill our hearts with woe ;
Pondering the shame, and torments deep,
Which God from wicked men did undergo.
See ! how the multitude,
With swords and staves, draw nigh ;
See ! how they smite with buffets rude
That Head divine of awful majesty :
How, bound with cruel cord,
- Christ to the scourge is given ;
And ruffians lift their hands, unaw'd
Against the King of kings and Lord of
Heaven.
Hear it ! ye people, hear !
Our good and gracious God,
Silent beneath the lash severe,
Stands with His sacred Shoulders drench'd
in Blood.
O scene for tears ! but now
The sinful race contrive
A torment new ; deep in His Brow,
With all their force the jagged thorns they
drive.
Then roughly dragged to death,
Christ on the Cross is slain ;
And, as He dies, with parting Breath,
Into His Father's Hands gives back His
Soul again.
To Him who so much bore,
To gain for sinners grace,
Be praise and glory evermore
From the whole universal race.
Translation by the Rev. E. Caswall
of the hymn A spice, infami, &c,
(Hymns and Poems, p. 36) : —
CEE! where in shame the God of glory
hangs,
All bathed in His own Blood :
See ! how the nails pierce with a thousand
pangs
Those Hands so good.
Th' All Holy, as a minister of ill,
Betwixt two thieves they place ;
Oh, deed unjust ! yet such the cruel will
Of Israel's race.
Pale grows His Face, and fixed His languid
Eye;
His wearied Head He bends ;
And rich in merits, forth with one loud cry
His Spirit sends.
Oh heart more hard than iron ! not to
weep
At this ; thy sin it was
That wrought His death ; of all these tor-
ments deep
Thou art the cause.
Praise, honour, glory be through endless
time
To th' everlasting God ;
Who washed away our deadly sins of crime
In His own Blood.
February 9.
tors folio guffereo in
Japan*
Double.
All from the Common Office for
Many Martyrs, (p. 49^, ) except the
following.
Prayer throughout.
r\ LORD Jesus, Christ, Who didst
^ dedicate the first-fruits of the
faith among the people of Japan in
1 Ps. cxl. 2.
934
GENERAL APPENDIX.
the blood of Thine holy martyrs Peter
Baptist, Paul, and their companions,
so that they were conformed to Thy
likeness through the death of the
cross, grant that we, who this day
keep their festival, may be stirred up
by their ensample. Who livest and
reignest with God the Father, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
First Vespers are of St John de la
Mata till the Chapter exclusive, then
of the Martyrs, with Commemorations,
first of the Second Vespers of St John
de la Mata, and then of St Apollonia.
Antiphon, Verse and Answer from the
Common Office for a Virgin and Mar-
tyr, and Prayer, "O God, Who amidst
the wondrous, &c," {p. S73-)
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season. In Lent from Rom. viii.,
(A 499-)
SECOND NOCTURN,
Fourth Lesson.
'"PHE empire of Japan, on the east-
ernmost side of Asia, had lain
for long in darkness and in the
shadow of death, when upon it the
light of Catholic truth shone in the
sixteenth century of man's redemp-
tion. Holy Francis Xavier, the great
apostle of the Indies, there preached
Christ crucified, and founded so
illustrious a church that the times
of the first Apostles seemed there
again to have appeared upon earth.
Neither did this same church lack
martyrs to dedicate in their blood
the first-fruits of its faith. Towards
the close of the aforesaid century,
Taicosama, Emperor of Japan, several
times threatened to invade the Philip-
pine Islands, and His Most Catholic
Majesty the King of Spain deemed
well to send some religious men of
his own nation into Japan to treat of
peace with Taicosama on his royal
behalf. For this purpose he made
choice of the Friar Peter Baptist, a
Priest of the Barefooted Order of
Friars Minor of St Francis of the
Stricter Observance, and a man emi-
nent for his holiness and teaching,
and with him he sent some' com-
panions of the same Order. These
men were authorised by the Apostolic
See to spread the Catholic faith in
the Indies and in China, and they
undertook their mission from the King
of Spain with the intention of making
it an occasion to preach the Gospel
among those people. They came to
Japan, and when they had happily
performed the mission wherewith they
were charged, they called other com-
panions to their aid, and set them-
selves to work for the increase of
religion.
Fifth Lesson.
T7OR three years they toiled by
preaching, fasting, watching,
and praying. They founded many
Christian hospitals, convents, and
churches in divers places. They re-
lieved the sufferings of the poor and
sick with wondrous love, confirmed
many of the faithful in the path of
salvation, and led countless numbers
to the faith. These things stirred up
the priests of the false gods, and they
betook themselves to the Emperor,
and persuaded him that the safety of
his empire demanded that he should
expel from its coasts the Christian
religion, which was springing up on
all sides. The Emperor was stricken
with this groundless fear, and forth-
with commanded the Friars to be
. arrested, and sentenced them to the
THE TWENTY-SIX HOLY MARTYRS WHO SUFFERED IN JAPAN. 935
cross. Besides Peter Baptist and his
five companions, there were arrested
Paul Miki and two other Japanese
members of the Society of Jesus, and
fifteen Japanese members of the Third
Order of St Francis, of whom some
ministered in catechising and others
in holy offices. To whom were added
two more that ministered to them in
their chains, so that there were
twenty-six in all.
Sixth Lesson.
A FTER long suffering, the extreme
point of the left ears of these
brave soldiers of Christ was cut off
in a public square at Meaco. After
this they were carried in carts with
their hands tied behind their backs,
first through the streets of that capital
city, and then through those of other
cities, in order that their shame might
be spread abroad as widely as possible
to the terror of others. They were
thus borne at mid-winter over some
six hundred miles, with a crier going
before them, and bearing the sentence
of their condemnation to the cross
for having preached the law of Christ
which the Emperor had forbidden.
It is meet to be recorded that during
their journey the parents of the young
Japanese Anthony, one of the mem-
bers of the Third Order, met him and
strove by tenderness and tears to get
him to break his truth with Christ.
Them he constantly withstood, and
declared that he despised all earthly
and transitory things, and would
cleave only to Christ, Who had pro-
mised him things heavenly and eter-
nal, and he gave to them his garment
wherewith he was clothed. At length
they came to Nangasaki, where crosses
had been made ready at a hill as
though upon another Calvary. To
these they were fastened and then
lifted up. They ceased not to pro-
claim the faith of Christ, and like the
chiefest of them was Paul Miki, who
from the glorious pulpit of the cross
preached the Christian religion to
the multitude that stood around, and
openly bade himself rejoice that he
was dying upon the cross even as the
Lord Christ died at the same age as
he. At last two lances were thrust
through the body of each of them
from beneath the ribs on the one side
to the shoulder upon the other side,
and thus they gave up their triumph-
ant spirits to heaven. It pleased
God to glorify the victory of his
champions by signs and wonders, and
when these had been duly proved, the
Congregation of Sacred Rites decreed
that it might at any time proceed
with their canonisation. Meanwhile
the Supreme Pontiff Urban VIII., on
receiving this decree, gave leave to
say and celebrate every year an office
and mass of these martyrs as among
the blessed. At length the Provid-
ence of God brought it to pass that
the Supreme Pontiff Pius IX. carried
out the matter, and upon the holy
day of Pentecost, in the year 1862,
when he was surrounded by a great
and illustrious mass of Cardinals and
Bishops, who had come together from
all parts of the Catholic world to
protect the rights of the Church and
of the Apostolic See, he enrolled the
names of these martyrs among those
of the Saints.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke vi. 1 7, with the
homily of St Ambrose, {p. 511.) The
last is omitted to make room for the
Ninth Lesson, which is that for St
Apollonia, {p. 758.) She is also
commemorated at Lauds.
Vespers are of St Scholastica from
the Chapter inclusive, but with a
Commemoration of the Holy Martyrs.
93^
GENERAL APPENDIX.
February 13.
&t kentigern, Bishop [of
ffilasgotoj Confessor,
Double.
All from the Common Office for a
Bishop and Confessor, {p. 515,) except
the following.
Prayer throughout.
r\ GOD, Who didst use Thy
^^^ blessed Confessor and Bishop
Kentigern as a mean whereby to
make the light of the true faith
to shine before barbarous nations,
grant, we beseech Thee, that we
by faithfully following that which
he preached and taught may in
the end obtain unto that light of
eternal glory where he now liveth.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Ecclus. xliv. 1, {p.
529.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
TZENTIGERN, whom the Scots
on account of the innocency
of his life and the sweetness of
his ways called Munghum,1 which
is being interpreted dearly beloved,
1 It is difficult to guess who can have compiled these Lessons. The quaint word
Munghum is evidently meant to represent Mynghu, popularly corrupted into Mungo, and
which signifies "my dear" : the ngh being the c of the Welsh cu undergoing the nasal mutation
after my, in modern Welsh vy. He was not a Pict, but a Briton.
2 The boat containing Kentigern and his mother was washed ashore at Culross very soon
after his birth. The Serf in question was not an Abbat, and it is very improbable that he
was a Bishop. The monastery was not founded for hundreds of years afterwards.
3 It is difficult to understand what is meant by the solitary place, since he seems to have
been attracted to Glasgow by the fact that there was there already a burying-ground which
had been consecrated by Ninian. The word Scotland at that time would have meant Ireland,
and it was not until a good many centuries later that it would have been held to include
Strathclyde.
was sprung of the royal stock of the
Picts in North Britain. While he
was still a lad, he was given over to
the monastery of Culross, under the
teaching of the holy Bishop and
Abbat Serf, and made wondrous
headway in the study not only of
letters, but also of the things of
God and the science of the saints.2
Hence he withdrew into a solitary
place at Glasgow in Scotland,3
where he led an hard life in con-
stant prayer, and meditation upon
the things of heaven, until the
faithful of those parts, moved by
the fame of his holiness, duly chose
him for their bishop.
Fifth Lesson.
"\XTHEN he had been raised to the
dignity of shepherd, he forth-
with shed around the bright rays of
apostolic grace, like a candle set
upon a candlestick. By his words
and his example he so shaped
the flock committed unto him that
many of them were so kindled
with the love of Jesus Christ as
to keep nothing of their own, but
to serve God with one heart and
one mind like the first disciples of
the Apostles. Kentigern himself re-
laxed nothing of his first way of life.
It was his use every day, besides
other works of godliness and penance,
to repeat the whole psalter ; and
every year, after the example of
Christ, he passed in the desert
the whole time of the fast of
ST KENTIGERN.
937
forty days, cut off altogether from
the conversation of men.
Sixth Lesson.
C^ OD confirmed his preaching with
many and great miracles, and
thus this holy bishop, mighty in word
and in work, preserved his flock un-
hurt from the Pelagian heresy which
crept all round about. And in his
vast diocese, wherethrough he trav-
elled many times on foot, he almost
abolished the worship of false gods,
and brought a countless multitude of
heathen into the Church of Christ.1
With this, nevertheless, he was not
content, but sent meet churchmen to
preach the gospel in the northern
parts of Scotland, in the Orkneys, in
Norway, and in Iceland. He lacked
not the merit of suffering hardship for
Christ's sake. He was driven into
exile by a wicked tyrant, and betook
himself to Wales, where he dwelt for
a while with holy Bishop David, and
then founded at the confluence of the
Elwy and the Clwyd a famous monas-
tery, where he trained up holy Asaph
as his disciple. There was a story
that once upon a time, when holy
Colum, the Abbat of Iona, saw Kent-
igern, he said unto his monk, I see a
pillar of fire coming down upon this
holy bishop like a golden crown, and
the light of the glory of heaven shin-
ing upon him. He went to our
fatherland, which is in heaven, full of
days and beloved of God and men, at
the beginning of the seventh century.
His body was buried in the Cathedral
church of Glasgow, where it was held
in great honour until the times
when the fury of the Calvinistic
heresy exterminated Catholic belief
from Scotland.2
THIRD NOCTURN.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (xxv.
14.)
AT that time : Jesus spake unto
His disciples this parable : A
man, travelling into a far country,
called his own servants, and de-
livered unto them his goods. And
so on.
Homily by St Jerome, Priest [at
Bethlehem.] {Bk. iv. on Matth.
xxv. )
By this man travelling into a
far country and first calling his
servants and delivering unto them
his goods, we can hardly doubt but
that Christ is signified, who, after
that He was risen again from the
dead, ascended hence in triumph
to the Father ; but before doing
so, called together His Apostles,
and committed to them the preach-
ing of the Gospel, more to one
and less to another, not arbitrarily,
but to every man "according to his
several ability," even as saith the
Apostle (1 Cor. iii. 2) : "I had fed you
with milk and not with meat ; for
hitherto ye were not able to bear it,
neither yet now are ye able." And
hence we find that at the end he
that had received five talents, and
had therewith gained five talents
more ; and he that had received two
talents, and had gained two other
talents beside them, each received the
same reward, because consideration
was had not to the amount of their
gain, but to the amount of their
earnest effort.
1 This last sentence would appear to be an effort of pure imagination.
- No one would conclude from the above that the body of Kentigern remains absolutely
undisturbed in Glasgow Cathedral to the present day, which is the case. The last amazing
statement needs no remark.
VOL. I.
2 H
938
GENERAL APPENDIX.
Eighth Lesson.
"D Y the five talents, the two talents,
and the one talent, we may
understand the different graces which
are given to each : or, by the five
talents, we may understand the five
senses in full ; by the two, under-
standing and work ; and by the one,
the gift of reason whereby men are
separated from beasts. "Then he
that had received the five talents went
and traded with the same, and made
them other five talents." By the use
of his bodily senses he obtained a
knowledge of heavenly things, by
argument from creation he recog-
nised the existence of a Creator, by
bodily things he rose to the apprecia-
tion of things which are not bodily,
by things seen to things unseen,
by things fleeting to things eternal.
" And likewise he that had re-
ceived two, he also gained other
two." That which he had been
taught in the law he made double
through the Gospel, and understood
that that intelligence and that work
which have to deal with this present
life are but shadows beforehand
leading toward that blessed life
which is to come.
Ninth Lesson.
'"THE time is very long between
the Ascension of our Saviour
and His coming again, but if the
Apostles will be called upon to give
an account of their stewardship, and
will rise again with the fear of the
judge before Him, what are we be-
hoven to do ? And be it remarked
that whatsoever we have now, howso-
ever great, and however much it may
seem to us, is nevertheless little and
scanty in comparison with those things
which are to come. " Enter thou,
saith He, into the joy of Thy Lord,"
and receive those things which " Eye
hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
hath it entered into the heart of man
[the things which God hath prepared
for them that love Him]" (i Cor.
ii. 9.) For what more can be given
unto the faithful servant than to be
with his Lord, and to behold his
Lord's joy ?
Ln Lent the Ninth Lesson is of the
Homily. Ln this case also a Com-
memoration is ?nade of the Week-Day
at Lauds, and at Second Vespers,
and in any case at Vespers is made
a Commemoration of St Valentine.
February 14.
Efje 33lesseti ftfjomas Putm
tree ano i)ts Companions,
JHartgrg.
Greater Double.
All from the Common Office for
Many Martyrs, {p. 498,) except Hie
following.
Prayer throughout.
O God, Who year by year, &c, {p.
508.)
At First Vespers a Commemoration
is made in Lent of the Week-Day, and
in any case of St Valentine.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Romans viii. 12, {p.
499-)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
THOMAS Plumtree was a Priest
honourable for his life and
teaching, who, during the short
restoration of the Catholic religion
in the city of Durham, often publicly
offered up the holy Sacrifice of the
THE BLESSED THOMAS PLUMTREE AND HIS COMPANIONS. 939
Mass and preached to the people.
When he was arrested by the Queen's
officers he steadfastly refused to con-
form himself to the rites of the
heretics, and as a warning to others
he was hanged at Durham, and so
gained the crown of a glorious mar-
tyrdom upon the 4th day of February
in the year 1570. Twelve years later
there suffered in London for the same
Catholic faith, Luke Kirby, who is
said to have been born within the
Bishopric of Durham, and have been
ordained Priest at the English College
at Doway. After he was in the cart
about to be hanged he was offered
his life if he would renounce the
Roman Pontiff and acknowledge the
Queen to be the head of the English
Church. Certainly, said he, I will
not deny the authority of the Pope
in order to save my life, for I
should surely thereby gain the loss
of my soul. The cart therefore
was taken away from under him,
and he resigned his holy soul into
the hands of his Creator upon the
30th day of May.
Fifth Lesson.
TPON the 22nd day of August, in
the same year, there suffered
at York, Richard Kirkman. When
he was asked by the judge if he had
ever said Mass in England, he an-
swered that he had done so in
Northumberland, when sentence of
death was pronounced upon him for
being a Priest from the Seminary of
Rheims and for having induced sub-
jects of the Queen to embrace the
Catholic religion. This lowly servant
of Christ deemed himself unworthy
of so lofty a call, and prayed the
judge to reconsider the matter, since
such a death was worthy of an holy
martyr. Then he could no longer
restrain the outbursts of the joy of
his soul, and said with a loud and
gladsome voice, " We Praise Thee, O
God, we acknowledge Thee to be the
Lord." He was taken to execution
along with the blessed William Lacy,
cheerfully mounted the ladder, and
gave up his blessed spirit with his
eyes raised heavenwards.
Sixth Lesson.
T3I CHARD Thirkill was born at
Coniscliffe, in the county of
Durham, and was already of ripe
years when he was ordained Priest
at Rheims. From often thinking how
extraordinary a gift it was, that he
should offer up unto God every day
for his own salvation, and for the
salvation of all the people, the
Precious Blood of Christ, he early
conceived the desire to offer his own
blood for Christ in return. After four
years he was arrested at York, and
with great boldness he professed him-
self to be a Priest, and while he lay
in prison he laboured to prepare for
a godly death his fellow-prisoners who
were under capital sentence for their
crimes, and to exhort the Catholics
to steadfastness. When he himself
received the sentence of death he
knelt down and cried out with great
joy, "This is the day which the
Lord hath made, let us rejoice and
be glad in it." He suffered upon the
29th day of May in the year 1583.
Pope Leo XIII. approved that the
honours due to the blessed should
be paid to these illustrious martyrs.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Luke xxi. 9, with the
Homily of St Gregory, {p. 505.)
In Lent the Ninth Lesson is omitted,
or read as one with the Eighth, and
the Ninth Lesson is the Homily of the
Week-Day.
940
GENERAL APPENDIX.
At Lands a Commemoration is
made in Lent of the Week-Day, and
in any case of St Valentine j and at
Second Vespers in Lent of the Week-
Day, and in any case of SS. Faustinns
and fovita.
February 17.
&i)e Jflijjfrt of ©ttr HortJ Resits
Cfjrtst into lEgpjt
Greater Double.
All as o?i Sundays, except the
following.
Psalms are the same as in the Office
of the Blessed Virgin. The last verse
of the Hymns at all the little hours is
altered in honour of the Incarnation,
and the same alteration is made at the
Short Responsory at Prime as in her
Office.
FIRST VESPERS.
Antiphons,
from Lauds.
Chapter, and Prayer
Hymn.1
'T'HE mighty King of glory dread,
Promised from Abraham's line to spring,
The kings bear witness now has come ;
That He is born, they tell the king.
The tyrant dooms the Child to death,
Tossed in his soul by passion's waves ;
But, warned by Heaven, from the sword
Her Child the Virgin Mother saves.
To distant lands in Egypt's realms
She bears away her Child in haste,
Nor does she rest until she sees
Her Infant Son in safety placed.
Ah Mother ! bravest of the brave,
Wounded at heart by love most pure,
Lightly all troubles thou dost bear,
And flight's discomforts dost endure.
To Thy poor servants gracious be,
And make their troubles Thy concern,
And those, whom sin has exiles made,
To their true country make return.
Jesus, to Thee be glory given,
Whom erst the Virgin Mother bore,
With Father and with Holy Ghost,
Through endless ages evermore. Amen.
Verse. Joseph arose and took the
young Child and His mother by
night.
Answer. And departed into Egypt.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. Behold the Angel of the
Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream,
saying, Arise, and take the young
Child and His mother, and flee into
Egypt, and be thou there until I bring
thee word : for Herod will seek the
young Child to destroy Him.
MATTINS.
Invitatory. The Lord our Saviour
Jesus Christ fled into Egypt. * O
come let us worship Him.
Hymn as at First Vespers.
FIRST NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Joseph took the
young Child and His mother by
night, and departed into Egypt.
Second Antiphon. And was there
until the death of Herod ; [that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken
of the Lord by the Prophet, saying,
Out of Egypt have I called My
Son.]
Third Antiphon. The Lord was
with Joseph in Egypt.
Verse. - Out of Egypt,
Answer. Have I called My Son.
1 Translation by Archbishop Bagshawe, (Breviary Hymns, No. 50.)
2 Exodus xxxix. 2.
THE FLIGHT OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST INTO EGYPT. 94 1
First Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
the Prophet Hosea (xi. 1.)
A S the morning passeth away, so
hath the King of Israel passed
away. For Israel was a child, and I
loved him, and called my son out of
Egypt. As they called them, so they
went from them ; they sacrificed unto
Baalim, and burned incense unto
graven images ; and I was as a foster
father unto Ephraim, I carried them
in my arms, and they knew not that I
healed them. I will draw them with
cords of Adam, with bands of love,
and I will be unto them as one that
taketh off the yoke on their jaws ; and
I turned aside unto him that he might
eat. He shall not return unto the
land of Egypt, and the Assyrian shall
be his king, because they refused to
return. The sword hath begun on
his cities, and shall consume his
chosen ones, and devour the heads
thereof, and my people shall linger
until I return, and the yoke shall be
laid upon them together, and shall
not be lifted.
be moved at his presence, and the
heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst
of it, and I will set the Egyptians
against the Egyptians, and they shall
fight every one against his brother,
and every one against his neighbour,
city against city, kingdom against
kingdom, and the spirit of Egypt shall
fail in the midst thereof, and I will
destroy the council thereof, and they
shall seek to the idols, and to the
charmers, and to them that have
familiar spirits, and to the wizards,
and Egypt will I give over into the
hand of cruel lords, and the fierce
king shall rule over them, saith the
Lord God of Hosts.
Second Resfionsory.
Christ our King cometh,1 and John
hath testified of Him, that He is the
Lamb that shall come.
Verse. 2 The kings shall shut their
mouths at him, all nations shall serve
him.
Answer. And John hath testified
of Him, that He is the Lamb that
shall come.
First Responsory. (Gen. xlvi. 3, 4.)
Thus saith the Lord : Go down into
Egypt ; I will go down thither with
thee, and I will also bring thee up
again.
Verse. Joseph arose and took the
young Child and His mother by night.
Answer. And I will also bring
thee up again.
Second Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Book
of the Prophet (Isaiah xix. 1.)
TDEHOLD the Lord shall ride upon
-*-* a swift cloud and shall come into
Egypt ; and the idols of Egypt shall
1 John i. 29.
Third Lesson. (Isaiah xix. 19.)
T N that day there shall be an Altar
to the Lord in the midst of the
land of Egypt, and a pillar at the
border thereof, to the Lord for a sign,
and for a witness unto the Lord of
Hosts in the land of Egypt. For
they shall cry unto the Lord because
of the oppressor, and He shall send
them a Saviour, and a Great One,
and He shall deliver them. And the
Lord shall be known to Egypt, and
the Egyptians shall know the Lord in
that day, and they shall do sacrifice
and oblation ; and they shall vow vows
unto the Lord and perform them. And
the Lord shall smite Egypt ; He shall
2 Is. lii. 5.
942
GENERAL APPENDIX.
smite and heal it, and they shall
return even to the Lord, and He
shall be entreated of them, and shall
heal them. In that day there shall
be an highway out of Egypt to
Assyria. And the Assyrians shall
come into Egypt, and the Egyptians
into Assyria, and the Egyptians
shall serve Assyria. In that day
shall Israel be the third with the
Egyptians, and with the Assyrians,
even a blessing in the midst of
the land, whom the Lord of Hosts
hath blest, saying, Blessed be Egypt,
My people.
Third Responsory.
1 Behold, I come from the south,
even I the Lord your God to visit you
in peace.
Verse. 2 I will have respect unto
you, and make you fruitful, you shall
be multiplied and I will establish My
covenant with you.
Answer. To visit you in peace.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. To visit you in peace.
SECOND NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. Herod when He
saw that He was mocked by the wise
men was very wroth.
Second Antiphon. Herod sent forth
and slew all the children that were
in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts
thereof.
Third Antiphon. From two years
old and under, many children did
Herod slay for the Lord's sake.
Verse. In Rama was there a voice
heard.
Answer. Lamentation and great
mourning.
i Cf. Hab. iii. 3.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of St John Chrysostom, Arch-
bishop [of Constantinople.] {Eighth
on Matthew.)
VyHEREFORE was the young
Child sent into Egypt. The
Evangelist giveth the first reason :
" That it might be fulfilled which was
spoken of the Lord by the Prophet,
saying : Out of Egypt have I called
My Son." But it was also so done in
order to proclaim to the whole world
a message of good hope. The two
places wherein glowed the fire of
wickedness, more than in all the
rest of the world, were Babylon and
Egypt, and the Lord from His
very birth declareth that He will
heal these two countries and bring
them to better things. And so
showeth that there is no part of
the world that may not look to
Him for good. From the one He
bringeth wise men to worship Him,
and to the other He Himself goeth
with His mother. From the wise
men we learn well to give ourselves
also to study, and from His flight
into Egypt we learn that trials and
dangers are to be looked for from
the very beginning, — they befell Him
even from His birth. No sooner was
He born than the tyrant broke forth
in fury, whence came flight and
exile, and the harmless mother was
fain to betake herself to the land
of heathens.
Fourth Responsory .
Weep not, O Egypt, for thy King
cometh unto thee, and the depths
shall be moved at His presence, to
set free His people out of the hand
of the mighty.
Verse. Behold the Lord of Hosts,
2 Lev. xxvi. 9.
THE FLIGHT OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST INTO EGYPT. 943
even thy God, cometh with great
power.
Answer. To set free His people
out of the hand of the mighty.
Fifth Lesson.
T^ROM this example thou mayest
learn to bear cheerfully the con-
stant trials which are one of the main
things which befall spiritual-minded
men. Bethink thee that trials befell
not the mother of the Child only,
but the wise men also. They were
fain to depart into their own country
another way. She who had never
left her home was constrained to
undertake a long and toilsome journey
on account of her wondrous Child,
and His mystic birth. Consider
another marvel. In Palestine plots
are made against Him, but in Egypt
He is welcomed and held in safety
from those plots. Types and figures
were set forth not only in the sons
of the Patriarch, but also in the Lord
Himself. Those things which He
did foreshadowed many things which
were afterward to come, as was the
case also in regard to the ass and
her colt. The Angel which appeared
spake not unto Mary, but unto Joseph,
and what said he ? " Arise and take
the young Child and His mother " —
he said not "Thy wife," but His
mother, the birth having taken place.
The trouble of Joseph was removed
and his faith satisfied, and the Angel
speaketh unto him not of his son, or of
his wife, but of the young Child and of
His mother, bidding him flee with them
into Egypt, and he saith moreover why
they should flee, " For Herod will seek
the young Child to destroy Him."
Fifth Responsory.
The Lord shall be known to Egypt,
and the Egyptians shall know the
Lord in that day.
Verse. They shall cry unto the
Lord from the face of the oppressor,
and He will send unto them a Saviour.
Answer. And the Egyptians shall
know the Lord in that day.
Sixth Lesson.
DY this is the Virgin herself set
forth in no little glory and
honour, for she could thus obtain
what was held as a glory by all her
people. They thought it a great
thing and a proud thing that they
had returned out of Egypt, whereat
the Prophet doth point when he saith :
Did I not bring strangers out of
Cappadocia and Assyrians out of a
pit ? and thus is manifested the glory
of the Virgin. Moreover, when the
people and the Patriarch went down
into Egypt and came up again, their
action was a type of His return, for
they went down thither to escape from
the death which was threatening them
through famine, and He went to escape
the death which threatened Him from
plots. They went and were delivered
from the famine. He went that
He might sanctify all that land by
His presence. I would have thee
bethink Thyself, how amid things
lowly are manifested the things which
pertain unto God. When the Angel
said, " Flee into Egypt," he said not
that he would be with them either in
their going down or in their coming
up, giving them to wit that He Who
was with them, albeit a young Child,
was that Great One at whose appear-
ing all things should be changed.
Sixth Responsory .
Hail Mary, how holy and how spot-
less is thy virginity. I am too dull
to praise thee ! for thou hast borne
into Egypt upon thy breast Him
Whom the heavens cannot contain.
Verse. Blessed art thou among
944
GENERAL APPENDIX.
women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb.
Answer. For thou hast borne into
Egypt upon thy breast Him Whom
the heavens cannot contain.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. For thou hast borne into
Egypt Him Whom the heavens cannot
contain.
THIRD NOCTURN.
First Antiphon. But when Herod
was dead, behold an angel of the
Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph
in Egypt.
Second Antiphon. Arise, and take
the young Child and His mother,
and go into the land of Israel.
Third Antiphon. They are dead
which sought the young Child's life.
Verse. Joseph arose and took the
young Child and His mother.
Answer. And came into the land
of Israel.
Seventh Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Holy
Gospel according to Matthew (ii.
I3-)
A T that time : The Angel of the
Lord appeareth to Joseph in a
dream, saying : Arise, and take the
young Child and His mother, and flee
into Egypt, and be thou there until I
bring thee word. And so on.
Homily by St Peter Chrysologus,
Archbishop [of Ravenna.] {On the
Flight of Christ into Egypt.)
What is this day read hath moved
our hearts, made our bowels to
tremble, and confounded our hearing.
Behold the Angel of the Lord ap-
peareth to Joseph in a dream, saying,
"Arise and take the young Child
with His mother and flee into Egypt."
Virginity offereth no obstacle to His
birth, reason resisteth Him not, nature
gainsayeth Him not. What might
then, what power, what danger should
prevail to make Him flee? "Take
the young Child and His mother and
flee into Egypt." It had been more
reverent if he had said, "Go into
Egypt," so that it might have been a
journey and not a flight. An act of
free-will and not of compulsion ; an act
of wisdom and not of fear ; an act at
least of man if not of God ; but now is
there a command to flee — a command
from heaven, a command brought by
an Angel, so that it were as if heaven
and not earth had been the first to fear.
Seventh Responsory.
The Virgin Mother that knew not
a man, bore but travailed not, from
the fountain of her breast the Virgin
fed the Saviour blest, when He the
Eternal King of Angels was driven
into exile.
Verse. Soon riseth in that modest
shrine the temple of the Lord divine ;
the stainless and unwedded one
within her womb conceived the Son.
Answer. From the fountain of her
breast the Virgin fed the Saviour
blest, when He the Eternal King of
Angels was driven into exile.
Eighth Lesson.
" '"TAKE the young Child and His
mother and flee into Egypt."
Flee into Egypt, flee from thine own
home to the land of strangers, flee
from the holy places into the midst of
the wicked, flee from thy temple
unto the shrines of devils, flee from
the fatherland of the Saints into the
country of idols. Judea is not wide
enough, the Lord of the world is
straightened for room, the Holy of
THE FLIGHT OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST INTO EGYPT. 945
Holies will not contain the Lord of
the temple, neither can He find a
place amid the multitude of his
priests, nor a refuge among all the
kinsfolk of Mary and of Joseph, but
profane Egypt must be called in to
afford God a hiding-place. Thus doth
necessity press, and the Virgin may
not consider her modesty, the mother
her toil, the woman her shyness,
Joseph his fears ; they must not con-
sider the weariness of the long journey
and the break-up of their home.
Eighth Responsory.
1 And now what hast thou to do in
the way of Egypt ? Turn again, O
Virgin of Israel, turn again unto thine
own cities.
Verse. How long wilt thou go
about sorrowing ?
Answer. Turn again, O Virgin of
Israel, turn again unto thine own
cities.
Verse. Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost.
Answer. Turn again, O Virgin of
Israel, turn again unto thine own
cities.
In Lent the following Ninth Lesson
is either omitted or read as one with
the Eighth, in order to leave room for
the Homily of the Week-day.
Ninth Lesson.
DRETHREN, the flight of Christ
was not the effect of fear ; it
was a mystery ; it was a declara-
tion of the freedom of the Creator,
not a confession that He was in
danger. It was not the act of
His weakness as man, but of His
power as God. He fled in order
to save the life of the world, not
to save from death Him Who had
made the world. He had come to
die, and why then should He have
fled from death ? If Christ had
allowed Himself to be slain as a
little child, He would have slain the
whole scheme of our salvation. Christ
had come to instruct by His teaching,
and to strengthen by His example ; to
do Himself those things which He
commanded to be done, and to prove
to the eyes the possibility of things
which to the hearing seemed impos-
sible. He had come to make it
known to man that He was God, and
to leave man in ignorance no longer ;
and all these things would have been
lost to us had Christ not fled while
yet He was in swaddling bands.
The Hymn, "We praise Thee, O
God," is said.
LAUDS.
First Antiphon. Behold the Angel
of the Lord * appeareth to Joseph in
a dream.
Second Antiphon. Arise, and take
the young Child * and His mother,
and flee into Egypt.
Third Antiphon. Be thou there
* until I bring thee word.
Fourth Antiphon. For Herod will
seek the young Child * to destroy
Him.
Fifth Antiphon. Joseph arose and
took the young Child and His mother
by night and departed into Egypt.
Chapter. (Is. xix. 1.)
"D EH OLD the Lord shall ride upon
a swift cloud, and shall come
into Egypt ; and the idols of Egypt
shall be moved at His presence, and
the heart of Egypt shall melt in the
midst of it.
1 Jer. ii. 18 ; xxxi. 21, 22.
946
GENERAL APPENDIX.
Hymn.1
'"FO the true Thunderer's Only Son,
Escaping from the treacherous sword,
Leaving the worship of thy gods,
Haste, Egypt, safety to afford.
Him Herod's cruelty compels,
An exile from His home to go,
But the hard flight of Christ avails
To us the Heavenward way to show.
O sweetest Virgin Mother, who
Didst through a thousand risks defend
Thy sweet Son Jesus, and didst reach
Successfully thy journey's end,
Undo the bonds which Satan's wiles
Have woven round us, that we may,
Ever thro' rough ways and thro' plain
Our Leader follow and obey.
Jesus, to Thee be glory given,
Whom erst the Virgin Mother bore,
With Father and with Holy Ghost,
For endless ages evermore. Amen.
Verse. Cry out and shout, O
Egypt.
Answer. 2 For great is the Holy
One of Israel in the midst of them.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
When Herod was dead, behold an
Angel of the Lord appeareth in a
dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying :
Arise, and take the young Child and
His mother, and go into the land of
Israel ; for they are dead which sought
the young Child's life.
Prayer throughout.
C\ GOD, the Protector of all them
^^^ which trust in Thee, Who by a
flight into Egypt wast pleased to de-
liver from the sword of Herod Thine
only - begotten Son our Redeemer,
grant unto us Thy servants at the
prayers of the most blessed Mary
always a Virgin, and yet mother of
the same Thy Son, that we may be
delivered from all dangers whether of
mind or of body, and may be made
meet to be called home from this our
exile unto our very fatherland which
is in heaven. Through the same our
Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee, in
the unity of the Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.
PRIME.
Antiphon. Behold the Angel of the
Lord, &c, {First Antiphoti at Lauds.)
In the Short Responsory.
Thus Thou that wast born of the
Virgin Mary.
Chapter at the end. (Is. xvi. 3.)
'T'AKE counsel, bethink thee of
judgment ; make thy shadow as
the night in the midst of the noon-
day ; hide the outcasts, bewray not
him that wandereth. Let mine out-
casts dwell with thee ; be thou a
covert to them from the face of the
spoiler.
TERCE.
Antiphon. Arise, and take the
young Child, &c, {Second Antiphon
at Lauds.)
Chapter from Lauds.
Short Responsory.
Verse. The Lord is as a bride-
groom.
Answer. The Lord is as a bride-
groom.
Verse. Coming out of his chamber.
Answer. As a bridegroom.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. The Lord is as a bride-
groom.
Verse. The Lord shall come forth
out of His holy place.
Answer. He shall come to save
His people.
1 Translation by Archbishop Bagshawe, (Breviary Hymns, No. 51.)
2 Cf. Is. xii. 6.
ST MARGARET OF CORTONA.
947
SEXT.
Antiphon. Be thou there, &c,
( Third Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter. (Ezek. xxx. 13.)
'"THUS saith the Lord God: I will
destroy the images, and I will
cause the idols to cease out of
Memphis ; and there shall be no
more a prince of the land of Egypt,
and I will put a fear in the land of
Egypt.
Short Responsory.
Verse. The Lord shall come forth
out of His holy place.
Answer. The Lord shall come
forth out of His holy place.
Verse. He shall come to save His
people.
Answer. Out of His holy place.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. The Lord shall come
forth out of His holy place.
Verse. All the ends of the earth
have seen
Answer. The salvation of our
God.
NONE.
Antiphon. Joseph arose, &c, {Fifth
Antiphon at Lauds.)
Chapter as at the end of Prime.
Short Responsory.
All the ends of the earth have seen.
Answer. All the ends of the earth
have seen
Verse. The salvation of our God.
Answer. The ends of the earth
have seen.
Verse. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Answer. All the ends of the earth
have seen.
Verse. The Lord was made flesh.
Answer. And dwelt among us.
SECOND VESPERS.
All as at First Vespers except the
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin.
VyHEN Joseph heard that Arche-
laus did reign in Judea in the
room of his father Herod, he was
afraid to go thither, and being warned
in a dream, he turned aside into the
parts of Galilee ; and he came and
dwelt in a city which is called Naz-
areth, that it might be fulfilled which
was spoken by the prophet : He shall
be called a Nazarene.
A Commemoration is made of St
Simeon.
February 27.
St ifflarjjaret of Cortcma,
penitent.
Semi-double.
All from the Common Office for
Holy Women not Virgins, {p. 580,)
except the following.
In the Second Vespers of St Ethel-
bert a Commemoration is made of St
Margaret. Prayer from Lauds.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season. {In Lent from Proverbs
xxxi. 10, p. 580.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
'T'HIS Margaret who, from the
-*■ place where she fell asleep, is
called Margaret of Cortona, was born
at Alviano, in Tuscany. In her
younger years she was led astray by
the pleasures of the world, and led
a vain and wanton life at Monte
Pulciano, till she was led by a dog
948
GENERAL APPENDIX.
to discover the body of her paramour
who had been foully murdered and
buried in a hole under a pile of wood.
Thenceforth the hand of the Lord was
upon her, and being touched with
great sorrow for her sins she went
out and wept bitterly. She returned
to Alviano, put off her hair, and left
her head untired, clad herself in a
grey garment, and bade farewell to
her own misguided ways and to the
enticements of the world. She lay
upon the ground in the churches with
an halter round her neck, and begged
the pardon of all whom she had
beforetime shocked by her life. Soon
after this she went to Cortona, where
she sought in sackcloth and ashes to
please the majesty of God Whom she
had offended. After a trial of three
years she obtained from the Friars
Minor, who were the directors of her
spiritual life, an habit of the Third
Order of St Francis. Henceforth she
was oftentimes in an abundance of
tears, and such groanings from the
depths of her soul that for a long
time she did not speak. She made
her bed upon the bare ground and
used a stock or stone for her pillow ;
thus she was accustomed to pass
nights without sleep thinking of the
things of heaven. She never again
felt any evil desire, and a good spirit
strengthened her weak flesh for toil.
Fifth Lesson.
r~PHIS valiant woman, when the
devil assailed her by crafty and
dangerous advances, once and again
unmasked the enemy through his own
words and remained unconquered. In
order to escape the temptation to vain-
glory wherewith the evil spirit assailed
her, she continued to assure herself
of her past life with a loud voice in
the streets and broad ways, and to
declare herself worthy of any punish-
ment. It was only through the per-
suasion of her Confessor that she was
prevented from marring the comeliness
of her face which had once been the
source of unclean love, and she took
it to heart that the long hardships
which she inflicted upon her flesh
left her bodily beauty unchanged.
By these and other great works of
repentance she purged away the stain
of her guilt, and so conquered herself
as to keep all her senses untouched
by the allurements of the world.
Thus was she made worthy often-
times to have converse with the Lord.
Sometimes all her senses left her, and
while she appeared as though she were
actually dead, she realised her burn-
ing prayer to be with Christ and with
the Virgin, the Mother of Sorrows.
It came to pass that many resorted
to her, even from distant places, as to
a teacher of perfection, and she by
that heavenly light which shone in
her saw the secrets of hearts and
the consciences of men, and perceived
with woe and tears the sins of those
who were offending God even in far-
off places. From the intensity of her
love for God and for her neighbour
she was of great profit to souls. She
obtained health for the sick who
betook themselves to her, and de-
liverance for those that were pos-
sessed by evil spirits. Touched by
a mother's grief she raised her dead
son to life ; by her constant prayers
she averted the threatening tempests
of war ; and by works of far-stretching
mercy she earned well both of the
living and of the dead.
Sixth Lesson.
AITHILE she was busied with so
many holy works she laid
aside none of the hardness wherewith
she treated her body, neither did she
suffer herself to relax her gaze upon
ST MARGARET OF CORTONA.
949
things heavenly. In both kinds of
life she was so wonderful that she
seemed to be at once both a Mary
and a Martha. At length she be-
sought the Lord for herself that He
would be pleased to call her home
out of this vale of tears into our
Fatherland above which is in heaven,
and her prayer was heard, and it
was revealed to her on what day and
at what hour she should fall asleep.
She was then full of good works and
labours and heavenly gifts. Her
bodily strength began to give way ;
for seventeen days she took no food,
and strengthened herself only by talk-
ing with God. Then she duly re-
ceived the holy sacraments of the
church, and with gladsome face and
eyes lifted up to heaven she happily
passed away hence to be forever with
the Bridegroom upon the 22nd day
of February in the year of man's
salvation 1297, of her own age the
50th, and of her conversion the
23rd. Her body remaineth until
this day lifelike, incorrupt, uninjured,
and diffusing sweet savour. It is
preserved in deep reverence in the
church of the Friars Minor which is
called after her name. She hath
constantly flourished by miracles
which have moved the Bishop of
Rome to grant many indulgences for
the increase of her honour, and Pope
Benedict XIII. held a solemn religious
ceremony of her canonisation upon the
feast of Pentecost, being the 16th
day of May in the year 1728.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xiii. 44, with
the Homily of St Gregory, {p. 583.)
LAUDS.
Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias.
When God gave repentance to the
Magdalene of the Seraphic Order, she
recovered herself out of the snare of
the devil,1 and her sins which were
many were forgiven, for she loved
much.2
SECOND VESPERS.
Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed
Virgin. 3 My beloved is mine and I
am his. I have found Him Whom
my soul loveth, I held Him and would
not let Him go.
In the Dioceses of Newport and
Menevia, St David, March 1, and in
the Diocese of Birmingham, St Chad,
March 2, are Doubles of the First
Class with Octaves.
1 2 Tim. ii. 25, 26.
2 Luke vii. 47.
3 Cant. ii. 16 ; iii. 4.
950
OFFICES PECULIAR TO IRELAND.
iDIKces peculiar to 3frelanix
The Translator did not live to revise his translation of the following Offices. It differs
in some places from the fuller Irish Supplement which is now in use ; but in the
circumstances it has seemed advisable to insert it as its Author left it, altering only
the rubrics indicating the rite of the Office, where the rite has been changed, and
making one or perhaps two other adjustments.
November 27.
St jFarrell,1 Bishop [of &alj*
intra;,] Confessor.
Double.
All from the Common Office, {p.
515,) except the following.
Prayer throughout the Office, " Grant,
we beseech Thee, &c," {p. 524.)
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
{From the Proper Offices of the exempt
Church and Diocese of Passau. )
Fourth Lesson.
T^ARRELL was born in Ireland of
a noble race, and from a little
child, his good dispositions were the
wonder of all who knew him. He
seemed to care for nothing but to
study the Divine Scriptures, and to
do works of love and worship. He
went into France to move men's
hearts with the love of Christ, and
stood high in the esteem of King
Pepin. But God would have him
to be as a candle set on a candlestick,
that all men might see his light ; and
Pope Stephen the Second named him
to the Bishoprick of Salzburg. In
this Office he set before his flock
so bright an ensample of wisdom
and pastoral care, that all whom he
ruled looked upon him as the best
of fathers.
Fifth Lesson.
A T a great expense he built the
cathedral of Salzburg from the
foundations, and brought thither, with
great honour and edification of the
people, the reliques of holy Rupert, the
first of his predecessors. Concerning
the building of this church, we find a
miracle mentioned, namely, that the
money for the payment of those who
were employed was placed in an open
vessel for each man to help himself,
but that none of them was ever able
to take out of it more than was the
just due of his labour.
1 Latinised, Vergilius.
OFFICES PECULIAR TO IRELAND.
951
Sixth Lesson.
A T length Farrell was worn out
with unceasing toil and old
age, and having ruled the Church
committed to his care, with great
praise of godliness and great profit
to souls, and sent into Carinthia
that Bishop Modestus, so eminent
for holiness, he entered into the
heavenly mansions, during the reign
of the Emperor Karl the Great.
His body is kept honourably in the
Church of Salzburg.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xxv. 14, with
the Homily of St Gregory, (p. 522.)
December 18.
<St jHannan, IStsJop [of Hil*
laloe,] Confessor.1
Greater Double.
Prayer throughout, " Grant, we be-
seech Thee, &c," {p. 524.)
Lessons of the Third JVocturn, {p.
522.)
January 2.
&t jftuncfjin, SSisfjop [of
SLimertcfe,] Confessor.
Double of the First Class in the Diocese
of Limerick.
Prayer throughout, "Grant, we be-
seech Thee, &c," {p. 524.)
Lessons of the Third JVocturn, (p.
522.)
1 Son of King Theodorick, and scholar of
John IV., in the year 639.
2 Called "the Brigid of Munster."
January 8.
$>t Albert, Btsfjon [in fHun-
ster,] Confessor.
Double of the First Class with an
Octave in the Diocese of Cashel.
Prayer throughout, " Grant, we be-
seech Thee, &c," {p. 524.)
Lessons of the Third Nocturn, {p.
522.)
January 15.
§bt Eta,2 Firgtn.
Double.
All from the Common, {p. 567,) ex-
cept the following.
Prayer throughout the Office.
r\ GOD, Who didst adorn Thy
^-^ blessed handmaiden Ita with
countless gifts ; grant unto us at her
prayers, we beseech Thee, the grace
to copy in our lives and actions the
ensample of her whom we love and
honour. Through our Lord JESUS
Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
Hymn at both Vespers, and at
Mattins.
OING we the Island of Saints, and God's
blessed and Royal handmaiden,
Ita, a child of our Kings, and a joy and an
help unto Ireland,
She who when first her lips were open, in
accents of wisdom
Spake, and filled with awe her glad and
wondering elders ;
St Molua ; consecrated at Rome, by Pope
952
OFFICES PECULIAR TO IRELAND.
Who, when she lay in sleep, was seen with
flames to be girded, —
Sight of terror and dread, till, lo, Christ's
angel descending
Spake, and the wonder revealed, how the
saintly maiden was glowing,
Not with the fires of earth, but with bright-
ness of heavenly glory,
Like to the bush that burnt and was not
consumed upon Horeb.
Choir unto choir throughout all the faithful
Churches of Ireland,
Rank unto rank white-robed, respond, with
ascriptions of glory, —
Praise unto Him That begat, and to Him
the Only-begotten,
Praise unto Him That proceeds, and hallows
the Saints of His people. Amen.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
T N the sixth age of the Church
there flourished in the province
of Munster in Ireland the holy
Virgin Ita, so illustrious for the
spirit of prophecy, and for famous
miracles. She was born of a
kingly race, in the country of the
Deasy — a region which is now
included in the County of Water-
ford. Her glorious works at once
intensified and emphasised the
lustre which she derived from her
birth. From the very waters of
Baptism, she seemed to *be filled
with the grace of the Holy Ghost,
and all men marvelled to behold
such love of God, such guilelessness
of life, such lowliness as that which
she bore with her everywhere, and
such great wonders as those which
seemed every day to be wrought at
her prayers.
Fifth Lesson.
VyHILE she was yet a little maid,
she earnestly besought her
father that he would allow her to
hallow to Christ herself, and all that
she had. However, her father had
already promised her in marriage to
a noble stripling, and declared that
he was nowise able to grant her
that which she asked. Ita never-
theless, without any hesitation, and
filled with the spirit of prophecy,
foretold to them that stood by that
things would shortly turn out other-
wise. " Let my father have time,"
said she ; " he forbiddeth me now
to be hallowed to God, but here-
after he will pray me to do this
very thing, and my Lord JESUS
Christ will command him, and he
will allow me to go whithersoever
I will, that I may serve God." And
so it came to pass, a while after,
that it was at the persuasion of her
father that this blessed virgin re-
ceived the hallowed veil of virginity
from the churchmen.
Sixth Lesson.
/^\NCE upon a time the holy Ita,
taught by a messenger from
heaven, left the land of her fathers,
and went to the country of the Hy-
Conaill, and there built a monastery,
at the foot of mount Luachra. The
fame of this monastery passed through
the whole island, and drew thither
countless virgins, who sought for
graces like Ita's, and, with her,
hallowed themselves to Christ. Many
Bishops and Abbats asked advice of
holy Ita, and among them were
numbered St Fachnan, St Brandan,
St Colman, St Mochaemoc, and St
Laserian. At length the blessed
Virgin sank from weakness, and when
she had given her blessing to the
OFFICES PECULIAR TO IRELAND.
953
whole sept of the Hy-Conaill, and
been strengthened with the Holy
Sacraments, she happily passed away
hence to be for ever with the Lord,
upon the 15th day of January, in the
year of salvation 570.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xxv. 1, with
the Homily of St Gregory, (p.
57I-)
January 16.
8>X Jfttrseg, &fcirat
Double.
All frotn the Common Office, (p.
531,) except the following.
Prayer throughout, " O Lord, we
beseech Thee, &c," (p. 545.)
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
The Lesson is taken from the Sermons
of the Venerable Bede, Priest, [at
Jarrow.] (English Church Hist.,
iii. 19.)
T^URSEY had preached the word
of God for many years in Ire-
land,1 but not being able any longer
to endure the riots of the mobs, who
broke in upon him, he came into the
land of the English, where also he
preached the word of God, and built
a monastery. After these things he
was fain to withdraw himself from all
business, and so left his monastery,
and the care of souls to his brother
Fullan, and the priests Gobban and
Dicull, and made arrangements for
finishing his life as a hermit.
Fifth Lesson.
T_T E had another brother called
Ultan, who, after a long trial
in a monastery, had gone to live as
a hermit ; to him went Fursey, and
dwelt with him a whole year. When
he saw the country troubled by an
invasion of Gentiles, he took ship for
Gaul, and there being honourably
welcomed by Hlodvius, King of the
Franks, and the noble Ercunvald, he
built a monastery at Lagny-sur-Marne.
Not long after he fell ill, and died.
Sixth Lesson.
J7RCUNVALD took his body, and
kept it in the porch of the
church, which he was building in his
own town of Peronne, until such time
as the said church should be dedi-
cated. When this ceremony took
place at the end of twenty-seven days,
and the body was carried in from the
porch to be buried near the altar,
it was found to be quite perfect.
Again at the end of four years, a
little chapel having been built east-
ward of the altar, for its more honour-
able reception, it was found, on its
translation thither, to be still without
any mark of corruption ; and it is
well known that in that place God
hath often been pleased to cause him
to work wonders.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xix. 27, with
the Homily of St Jerome, (p. 471.)
1 Scotia is the word used here and in several other places, to indicate Ireland, as the original
home of the Scotch race.
VOL. I.
2 I
954
OFFICES PECULIAR TO IRELAND.
January 31.
St Strati, (jmoooc,) Btsfjon [of
jFerns,] anD (Confessor.1
(jreater Double.
Prayer throughout, " Grant, we be-
seech Thee, &c," {p. 524.)
Lessons of the Third Nocturn, {p.
522.)
February i.
St Brtgto, (23rtoe,) Ftrgtn.
Patroness of Srelarttr.
Double of the Second Class.
All from the Common Office for Vir-
gins, {p. 567,) except the following.
Prayer throughout the Office.
f~\ GOD, Who year by year dost
cause us to rejoice as upon this
day, in the feast of Thy blessed hand-
maiden Brigid, mercifully grant us
help for her sake, the bright ensample
of whose chastity doth still shed its
light upon us. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, one God, world
without end. Amen.
MATTINS.
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from 1 Cor. vii. 25, as in
the Common.
SECOND NOCTURN.
Fourth Lesson.
'"PHE holy virgin Brigid was born
of noble and Christian parents
in the province of Leinster in Ireland,
and she was the mother in Christ of
many holy maidens. While she was
yet a little child, her father saw men
clad in white raiment pouring holy
oil upon her head, which thing was
a foreshadowing of the godliness and
holiness of the virgin. As soon as
she had attained to the first years
of girlhood, she chose Christ her
Saviour for her Bridegroom, and
clung to Him with so profound a
passion of her heart, that she gave
away to the poor whatsoever she
had. The matchless loveliness of
her body brought about her a host
of suitors, and lest they should
prevail with her to break the in-
tention of virginity, by which she
had given herself over to God, she
prayed God to make her unsightly.
She was soon heard. One eye
swelled, and her whole face became
so changed, that she was allowed
to send back the messenger of the
suitors, and by a solemn vow to
keep her virginity for Christ.
Fifth Lesson.
CHE took with her three maidens,
and went to Bishop Mahew, the
disciple of St Patrick. When he
beheld a pillar of fire over her
head, he clad her in a white tunic
and a white mantle, read the sacred
prayers, and admitted her to that
canonical profession which blessed
Patrick had brought into Ireland.
At the moment that she bowed
down her head to receive the
hallowed veil, she chanced to touch
the wooden step of the altar with
her hand, and the dry wood at once
became green, and her eye was
healed, and her face became lovely
as beforetime. After her example,
__ ' Born at East Breffny, in the year 558 ; sojourned for some time in Wales ; died, 628.
Edan, Aedan, or Aidan, is the diminutive of Aodh, or Aedh (translated Hew or Hugh.)
Modoc is Aodh with the possessive prefix, mo, my, and the diminutive suffix of endearment.
OFFICES PECULIAR TO IRELAND.
955
so great a multitude of maidens em-
braced the regular life, that in a little
while all Ireland was filled with houses
of nuns, whereof the chief was that
one in which Brigid herself ruled,
and from which the others hung, as
from their head.
Sixth Lesson.
'T'HE holiness of this virgin is wit-
nessed by the miracles which
she openly wrought, not only during
her life, but also after her course in
this world was ended. Very often
did she cleanse lepers, and obtain
health by her prayers for them that
were sick of divers diseases. She
opened the eyes of one that was born
blind. A certain shameless woman
had an unlawful child, whereof she
protested that Bishop Broonus was
the father, but Brigid made the sign
of the cross upon the mouth of the
new-born child, which forthwith told
the name of its real father, and so
delivered the Bishop from that false
accusation. She had the spirit of
prophecy, and foretold many things
which were yet to come, as though
they were present before her. She
was bound in a holy friendship to
St Patrick the Apostle of the Irish.
She foretold when he would pass out
of this life, and where would be the
place of his sepulchre. She was there
when he passed away, and gave the
linen which she had made ready be-
forehand to swathe his body withal.
At last she gave up her beautiful soul
to her bridegroom Christ, and was
laid in the same grave with blessed
Patrick.
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xxv. I, with the
Homily of St Gregory, {p. 571.)
February 6.
St Jftel, Btsjjop [of ^rcasft,]
ana Confessor.1
Greater Double.
Prayer throughout, " Grant, we be-
seech Thee, &c," {p. 524.)
Lessons of the Third Nocturn, (J>.'
522.)
February 17.
&t jrmtan, <mUU2
Double.
All from the Common Office, (p.
S3*-)
Prayer throughout, " O Lord, we
beseech Thee," (p. 545.)
FIRST NOCTURN.
Lessons from Scripture according to
the Season, or in Lent from Ecclus.
xxxi. 8, {p. 542.)
SECOND NOCTURN.
Lessons from St Gregory on Job, {p.
543-)
THIRD NOCTURN.
Lessons from Matth. xix. 27, with the
Homily of St Jerome, {p. 471.)
1 Said to have been a nephew of St Patrick, being the son of his sister Darerca ; placed in
his see by St Patrick, by whom it had been founded ; died in the year 488.
2 Abbat of Cluain-Ednech, in the diocese of Lethglean, in Leinster, in the sixth cen-
tury. (Alban Butler.) " He is of the race of Eochaidh Finnfuathairt, of whom was Brigid.
He is described as Fintan the generous, chief head of the monks of Ireland, and re-
sembling St Benedict in his manners and life." Bp. Forbes' Kalendars of the Scottish Saints,
P- 349-
956
OFFICES PECULIAR TO. IRELAND.
March 5.
<£t Ciaran, ($ trait,) Btsfjop
[of ©ssorgj Confessor.1
Greater Double.
Prayer throughout, "Grant, we be-
seech Thee, &c," (p. 524.)
Lessons of the Third Nocturn, (p.
522.)
March 8.
■St Catalo, Btsijop [of
Earento,] Confessor,2
Double.
All from the Common Office, (p.
515,) just as it stands — (Prayer
throughout, " Grant, we beseech Thee,
&c.,") — unless kept out of Lent, in
'which case the Lessons of the First
Nocturn are from Scripture according
to the Season.
March 13.
&t Senan, 33tsf)op [of &cat=
terg Islano,] Confessor.3
Double.
Prayer throughout, " Grant, we be-
seech Thee, &c," (p. 524.)
Lessons of the Third Nocturn, (p.
522.)
1 Called the first-born of the Saints of Ireland ; said to have been born in Ossory about
the year 352 ; receiving some imperfect knowledge of Christianity, he went to Rome, and, on
his way back, joined company with St Patrick, who was then starting (A. u. 402) ; founded the
See of Ossory at Saigir ; he withdrew to Cornwall, and there died at the place called from
him St Piran's.
'2 A learned Irish monk, for some time regent of the school of Lismore ; made a pilgrimage
to Jerusalem, and afterwards settled at Tarento, where he was elected Bishop towards the end
of the seventh century. ( Alban Butler. )
3 Born about the year 448, of kingly race ; travelled a good deal, visiting Rome, Tours,
and Menevia (St David's) ; founded several monasteries in Ireland, and died at Kileochaille.
Along with St Ita he is the Patron Saint of the Hy-Conaill. By some he is identified with
St Mashenoc, and with the Scotch St Kessog.
END OF VOLUME I.
PRINTED IIV WILLIAM W.ACKWOOD AND SONS
BX 2000 .A4 B8 1908
v.l SMC
Cathol ic Church .
The Roman Breviary :
reformed by order of
AJS-4654 (ab)