Chapter VII. of the Office of Vespees for Sundays and Feasts ; During Christmas

The Office of Vespers, or Even-Song, during the whole year, consists, firstly, of five Psalms and Antiphons, which vary, more or less, every day. As the main object of our Book is the convenience of the Faithful, we only give the Vespers of the Sundays and the principal Feasts. With regard to the Sundays, therefore, during Christmas, which are neither Feasts, nor within the Octave of a Feast, we give them here in full, reserving only that, which is peculiar to each, for the Proper. If it be a Feast, the Office must be sought for on its own day.

After the Pater and Ave have been said in secret, the Church commences this Hour with her favourite supplication :

"ft". Deus in adjutorinm $". Incline unto my aid, O meum intende. God.

I£. Doniine, ad adjuvan- 1$. 0 Lord, make haste to dum me festina. help me.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Glory be to the Father, and Spiritui Sancto : to the Son, and to the Holy

Ghost.

Sicut erat in principio et As it was in the beginning, nunc et semper, et in saecula is now, and ever shall be, sseculorum. Amen. Alleluia, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia.

Ant. Dixit Dominus. Ant. The Lord said.

The first Psalm is a prophecy of the glory of the Messias. This Child, who is now born to us in humility and poverty, is to be seated on the right hand of

SUNDAY S VESPERS. the eternal Father. Now, that we are celebrating his temporal Birth, it is most just that we should often sing the Psalm which speaks of his eternal Generation, as God, and of the future glory which awaits him, as Man. psalm 109.

The Lord said to my Lord, his Son : Sit thou at my right hand, and reign with me.

Until, on the day of thy last coming, I make thy enemies thy footstool.

0 Christ! the Lord thy Father will send forth the sceptre of thy power out of Sion : from thence rule thou in the midst of thy enemies.

With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength, in the brightness of the saints : For the Father hath said to thee : From the womb before the day-star I begot thee.

The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent : he hath said, speaking of thee, the God- Man: Thou art a Priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.

Therefore, 0 Father, the Lord thy Son is at thy right hand : he hath broken kings in the day of his wrath.

He shall cdso judge among nations : in that terrible coming, he shall fill the ruins of the world: he shall crush the heads in the land of many.

He cometh now in humility ; he shall drink, in the way, of the torrent of sufferings: therefore, shall he lift up the head.

Ant. The Lord said to my

Dixit Dominus Domino meo : * Sede a dextris meis.

Donee ponam inimicos tuos : * scabellum pedum tuorum.

Virgam virtutis tuse emittet Dominus ex Sion : * dominare in medio inimicorum tuorum.

Tecum principium in die virtutis tuae in splendoribus sanctorum : * ex utero ante lucif erum genui te.

Juravit Dominus, et non pcenitebit eum : * Tu es Sacerdos in seternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech.

Dominus a dextris tuis :* confregit in die irse suae re- ges.

Judicabit in nationibus, implebit ruinas : * conquassabit capita in terra multorum.

De torrente in via bibet : * propterea exaltabit caput.

Ant. Dixit Dominus Do-

CHRISTMAS. mino meo, sede a dextris Lord, sit thou at my right meis. hand.

Ant. Fidelia. Ant. Faithful.

The following Psalm commemorates the mercies of God to his people — the promised Covenant — the Redemption— his fidelity to his promises. psalm 110.

Confitebor tibi, Domine, in toto corde meo : * in concilio justorum et congregatione.

Magna opera Domini : * exquisita in omnes voluntates ejus.

Confessio etmagnificentia opus ejus : * et justitia ejus manet in saeculum sseculi.

Memoriam fecit mirabilium suorum, misericors et miserator Dominus : * escam dedit timentibus se.

Memor erit in saeculum testamenti sui : * virtutem operum suorum annuntiabit populo suo.

Ut det illis haereditatem Gentium : * opera manuum ejus Veritas et judicium.

Fidelia omnia mandata ejus, confirmata in saeculum saeculi : * facta in veritate et sequitate.

Redemptionem misit populo suo : * mandavit in aeternum testamentum suum.

Sanctum et terribile no-

I will praise thee, 0 Lord, with my whole heart : in the counsel of the just, and in the congregation.

Great are the works of the Lord : sought out according to all his wills.

His work is praise and magnificence : and his justice continueth for ever and ever.

He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord : and being the bread of life, he hath given food to them that fear him.

He will be mindful for ever of his covenant with men : he is come and will shew forth to his people the power of his works.

That he may give them, his Church, the inheritance of the Gentiles : the works of his hand are truth and judgment.

All his commandments are faithful, confirmed for ever and ever : made in truth and equity.

He hath sent Eedemption to his people; he hath, thereby, commanded his covenant for ever.

Holy and terrible is his

SUNDAY'S VESPERS. name : the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

A good understanding to all that do it : his praise continueth for ever and ever.

Ant. Faithful are all his commandments ; confirmed for ever and ever.

Ant. In his commandments. men ejus : * initium sapientiae timor Domini.

Intellectus bonus omnibus facientibus eum : * laudatio ejus manet in saeculum saeculi.

Ant. Fidelia omnia mandata ejus ; confirmata in saeculum saeculi.

Ant. In mandatis.

The next Psalm sings the happiness of the just man, and his hopes on the day of Jesus' Birth. It is applicable also to the sinner, who shall be confounded because he profited nothing by that great Mystery of humility and love. psalm ill.

Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord : he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.

His seed shall be mighty upon earth : the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.

Glory and wealth shall be in his house : and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.

To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness : he is merciful, and compassionate, and just : he is born and dwells amongst us.

Acceptable is the man that showeth mercy and lendeth; he shall order his words with judgment : because he shall not be moved for ever.

The just shall be in everlasting remembrance : he shall not fear the evil hearing.

His heart is ready to hope in the Lord; his heart is

Beatus vir, qui timet Dominum : * in mandatis ejus volet nimis.

Potens in terra erit semen ejus : * generatio rectorum benedicetur.

Gloria, et divitiae in domo ejus : * et justitia ejus manet in saeculum sseculi.

Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis : * misericors, et miserator, et Justus.

Jucundus homo, qui miseretur et commodat, disponet sermones suos in judicio : * quia in aeternum non commovebitur.

In memoria aeterna erit Justus : * ab auditione mala non timebit.

Paratum cor ejus sperare in Domino, confirmatum est

CHEISTMAS. cor ejus : * non commovebitur donee despiciat inimicos suos.

Dispersit, dedit pauperibus, justitia ejus manet in saeculuin saeculi : * cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria.

Peccator videbit, et irascetur, dentibus suis fremet et tabescet : * desiderium peccatorum peribit. strengthened : he shall not be moved until he look over his enemies.

He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor ; his justice remaineth for ever and ever : his horn shall be exalted in glory.

The wicked shall see, and shall be angry ; he shall gnash with his teeth, and pine away : the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Ant. In his commandments he delighteth exceedingly.

Ant. May the name of the Lord.

The Psalm Laudate pueri, is a Canticle of praise to the Lord, who, from his high heaven, has taken pity on the fallen human race, and raised it up again by the Incarnation. psalm 112. ejus

Ant. In mandatis cupit nimis. Ant. Sit nomen Domini.

Laudate, pueri, Dominum : * laudate nomen Domini.

Sit nomen Domini benedictum : * ex hoc nunc et usque in sseculum.

A sol is ortu usque ad occasum : * laudabile nomen Domini.

Excelsus super omnes Gentes Dominus : * et super coelos gloria ejus.

Quis sicut Dominus Deus noster qui in altis habitat :* et humilia respicit in coelo et in terra ]

Suscitans a terra inopem:* et de stercore erigens pauperem.

Praise the Lord, ye children : praise ye the name of the Lord.

Blessed be the name of the Lord : from henceforth now and for ever.

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is worthy of praise.

The Lord is high above all nations : and his glory above the heavens.

Who is as the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high : and looketh down on the low things in heaven and in earth, nay who cometh down amidst us?

Raising up the needy from the earth : and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill.

SUNDAY S VESPERS.

That he may place him with princes : with the princes of his people.

Who maketh a barren woman to dwell in a house, the joyful mother of children.

Ant. May the name of the Lord be for ever blessed.

Ant. We that live.

Ut collocet eumcum principibus : * cum principibus populi sui.

Qui habitare f acit sterilem in domo : * matrem filiorum lagtantem.

Ant. Sit nomen Domini benedictum in saecula.

Ant. Nos qui vivimus.

The fifth Psalm, In exitu, recounts the prodigies witnessed under the ancient Covenant : they were figures, whose realities begin their accomplishment in the Birth of Jesus ; for, he comes that he may deliver Israel from Egypt, emancipate the Gentiles from their idolatry, and pour out a blessing on every man who will consent to fear and love the Lord. psalm 113.

When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a barbarous people.

Judea was made his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.

The sea saw and fled ; Jordan was turned back.

The mountains skipped like rams : and the hills like the lambs of the flock.

What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou didst flee : and thou, O Jordan, that thou wast turned back ?

Ye mountains that ye skipped like rams : and ye hills like lambs of the flock 1

At the presence of the Lord the earth was moved, at the presence of the God of Jacob.

Who turned the rock into pools of water, and the stony hills into fountain of waters.

In exitu Israel de iEgypto : * domus Jacob de populo barbaro.

Facta est Judaea sanctificatio ejus : * Israel potestas ejus.

Mare vidit, et fugit : * Jordanis conversus est retrorsum.

Montes exsultaverunt ut arietes : * et colles sicut agni ovium.

Quid est tibi, mare, quod fugisti : * et tu, Jordanis, quia conversus es retrorsum 1

Montes exsultastis sicut arietes : * et colles sicut agni ovium 1

A facie Domini mota est terra : a facie Dei Jacob.

Qui convertit petram in stagna aquarum : * et rupem in fontes aquarum.

CHRISTMAS.

Non nobis, Domine, non nobis : * sed nomini tuo da gloriam.

Super misericordia tua, et veritate tua : * nequando dicant Gentes : Ubi est Deus eorum.

Deus autem noster in coelo : * omnia qusecumque voluit, fecit.

Simulacra Gentium argentum et aurum: * opera manuum hominum.

Os habent, et non loquentur : * oculos habent, et non videbunt.

Aures habent, et non audient : * nares habent, et non odorabunt.

Man us habent, et non palpabunt, pedes habent, et non ambulabunt : * non clamabunt in gutture suo.

Similes illis fiant qui faciunt ea : * et omnes qui confidunt in eis.

Domus Israel speravit in Domino : * adjutor eorum, et protector eorum est.

Domus Aaron speravit in Domino : * adjutor eorum, et protector eorum est.

Qui timent Dominum, speraverunt in Domino :

• adjutor eorum, et protector eorum est.

Dominus memor fuit nostri : * et benedixit nobis. Benedixit domui Israel :

• benedixit domui Aaron.

Benedixit omnibus qui timent Dominum : * pusillis cum majoribus.

Adjiciat Dominus super vos : * super vos, et super filios vestros.

Not to us, 0 Lord, not to us : but to thy name give glory.

For thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake : lest the Gentiles should say : Where is their God %

But our God is in heaven : he hath done all things whatsoever he would.

The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold : the works of the hands of men.

They have mouths, and speak not : they have eyes, and see not.

They have ears, and hear not : they have noses, and smell not.

They have hands, and feel not : they have feet, and walk not : neither shall they cry out through their throat.

Let them that make them become like unto them : and all such as trust in them.

The house of Israel hath hoped in the Lord : he is their helper and their protector.

The house of Aaron hath hoped in the Lord : he is their helper and their protector.

They that feared the Lord have hoped in the Lord : he is their helper and their protector.

The Lord hath been mindful of us, and hath blessed us.

He hath blessed the house of Israel : he hath blessed the house of Aaron.

He hath blessed all that fear the Lord, both little and great.

May the Lord add blessings upon you : upon you, and upon your children.