Chapter Vm. Ok the Office of Compline, During Christmas

This Office, which concludes the day, commences by a warning of the dangers of the night : then immediately follows the public Confession of our sins, as a powerful means of propitiating the divine justice, and obtaining God's help, now that we are going to spend so many hours in the unconscious and therefore dangerous state of sleep, which is also such an image of death.

The Lector, addressing the Priest, says to him :

Pray, Father, give thy bless- f. Jube, Domne, benediing. cere.

The Priest answers :

May the Almighty Lord Noctem quietam, et finem grant us a quiet night and a perfectum concedat nobis perfect end. Dominus omnipotens.

19. Amen. I?. Amen.

The Lector then reads these words, from the first Epistle of St Peter:

Brethren, be sober and Fratres : Sobrii estote, et watch: for your adversary vigilate : quia adveraanus the devil goes about like a vester diabolus, tamquam roaring lion, seeking whom he leo rugiens circuit quaerens may devour: resist him, being quern devoret : cui resistite strong in faith. But thou, O fortes in fide. Tu autem,

Lord, have mercy on us. Domine, miserere nobis.

The Choir answers :¹

Then, the Priest: p. Adjutorium nostrum f. Our help is in the name in nomine Domini of the Lord.

The Choir :

19. Qui fecit coelum et ter- ty. Who hath made heaven ram. and earth.

Then the Lord's Prayer is recited in secret ; after which the Priest says the Confiteor; and, when he has finished, the Choir says :

Misereatur tui omnipo- May Almighty God be mer- tens Deus, et dimissis pecca- ciful to thee, and, forgiving tistuis,perducattead vitam thy sins, bring thee to ever- seternam. lasting life.

The Priest having answered Amen, the Choir repeats the Confiteor, thus:

Confiteor Deo Omnipo- I confess to Almighty God, tenti, beat® Mariae semper to Blessed Mary ever Virgin,

Virgini,beatoMichaeliArch- to blessed Michael the Arch- angelo, beato Joanni Baptis- angel, to blessed John Baptist tae, Sanctis Apostolis Petro to the holy Apostles Peter ana et Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et Paul, to all the saints, and to tibi Pater: quia peccavi thee, Father, thatl have sinned nimis, cogitatione, verbo, et exceedingly in thought, word, opere: mea culpa, mca culpa, and deed, through my fault, niea maxima culpa. Iaeo through my fault, through d> v precor beatam Mariam sem- most grievous fault. There- per Virginem, beatum Mi- fore I beseech the Blessed chaelem Archangelum, bea- Mary ever Virgin, blessed turn Joannem Baptistam, Michael the Archangel, bless sanctos Apostolos Petrum ed John Baptist, the holy et Paulura, omnes sanctos. Apostles Peter and Paul, and et te, Pater, orare pro me ad all the saints, and thee, Father,

Dominum Deum nostrum, to pray to our Lord God for me.

The Priest then says :

Misereatur vestri omni- May Almighty God be merpotens Deus. et dimissis ciful to you, and, forgiving

III

▼our sins, bring you to everlasting life. ^. Amen.

May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins.

Ifc Amen. f. Convert us, O God, our Saviour.

I?. And turn away thy anger from us. f. Incline unto my aid, O God

I?. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory, <fec Ant. Have mercy. peccatis vestris, perducat vos ad vitam aeternam. Amen.

Indulgentiam, absolution nem, et remissionem peccatorum nostrorum, tribuat nobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus.

Rr. Amen. y. Converts nos, Deus, Salutaris noster.

I?. Et averte iram tuam a nobis. f. Deus, in adjutorium meum intende.

I^. Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina.

Gloria Patri, Ac.

Ant. Miserere.

The first Psalm expresses the confidence with which the just man sleeps in peace ; but the wicked know not what calm rest ia It also speaks of the eternal Word, the Light of the Father, who is come to dispel our darkness.

PSALM 4.

When I called upon him. the God of my justice heard me : when I was in distress, thou hast enlarged me.

Have mercy on me : and hear my prayer.

O ye sons of men, how long will you be dull of heart ? why do you love vanity, and seek after lying f

Know ye also that the Lord hath made his Holy One wonderful : the Lord will hear me, when I shall cry unto him.

Be ye angry, and sin not : the things you say in your

Cum invocarem exaudivit me Deus justitiae meae : * in tribulatione dilatasti mihi.

Miserere mei : * et exaudi orationem meam.

Filii hominum, usauequo gravi corde ? * ut quid diligitis vanitatem, et quaeritia mendacium 1

Et scitote quoniam mirificavit Dominus sanctum suum : * Dominus exaudiet me, cum clamavero ad eum.

Irascimini, et nolite peccare : * quae dicitis iu cordi-

\ bos vestris, in cubilibus tris compungimini.

Sacrificate sacrificium justiti», et sperate in Domino:

• multi dicnnt : Quia ostendit nobis bona 1

Signatum est super nos lumen vultus tui Domine :

• dedisti lsetitiam in corde meo.

A fructu f rumen ti, vini et olei sui : * multiplicati sunt

In pace in idipeum : * dormiam et reqniescam.

Qaoniam tu, Domine, singulariter in spe : * constituuti me. hearts, be sorry for them upon your beds.

Offer op the sacrifice of justice, and trust in the Lord : many say, who showeth us good things?

The Light of thy countenance* 0 Lord, is signed upon us: thou hast given gladness in my heart.

By the fruit of their corn, their wine, and oil, they are multiplied.

In peace, in the self same, I will sleep, and I will rest.

For thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope.

The Church has introduced here the first six Verses of the thirtieth Psalm, because they contain the prayer which our Saviour made when dying: Into thy hands, 0 Lord, I commend my spirit ! words so beautifully appropriate in this Office of the close of day.

PSALM 30.

In tet Domine, speravi, non conf undar in »ternum : * in justitia tua libera me.

Inclina ad me aurem tuam : * accelera ut eruas me.

Esto mihi in Deum protectorem, et in domum refugii : * ut salvum me facias.

Quoniam fortitudo mea. et refugium meum es tu : * et propter nomen tuum deduces me, et enutries me.

Educes me de laqueo hoc, quern absconderunt mihi : *

In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded: deliver me in thy justice.

Bow down thy ear to me : make haste to deliver me.

Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me.

For thou art my strength, and my refuse : and for thy name's sake tnou wilt lead me, and nourish me.

Thou wilt bring me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me: for thou art my protector.

Into thy hands I commend my spirit : thou hast redeemed me, 0 Lord, the God of truth. quoniam tu es protector meus.

In manus tuas commendo spin turn meum : * redemisti me, Domine, Deua veritatis.

The third Psalm gives the motives of the just man's confidence, even during the dangers of the night Then we have God himself speaking, and promising to show us our Saviour. psalm 90.

He that d welleth in the aid of the Most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of heaven.

He shall say to the Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge : my God, in him will I trust

For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters: and from the sharp word.

He will overshadow thee with his shoulders : and under his wings thou shait trust.

His truth shall compass thee with a shield : thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night.

Of the arrow that flieth in the day : of the business that walketh about iu the dark : of invasion, or of the noonday devil.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand : but it shall not come nigh thee.

But thou shalt consider Tvitb thy eyes : and shalt see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast $aid: (2)

Qui habitat in adjutorio Altissimi : * in protection* Dei cceli commorabitur.

Dicet Domino : Susceptor meus es tu, et refugium meum, * Deus meus, speraho in eum.

Quoniam ipse liberavit me de Jaqueo venantium :* et a verbo aspero.

Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi : * et sub pennis ejus sperabis.

Scuto circumdabit te Veritas ejus : * non timebis a tiniore nocturne

A sagitta volante in die, a negotio perambulante in teneons : * ab incursu, et dav monio meridiano.

Cadent a latere tuo mille, et decern millia a dextria tuis : * ad te autem non appropinquabit.

Venimtamen oculis tuis considerable : * et retribu tionem peccatorum videbis.

Quoniam tu es, Domine,

IV

•pes mea : * Altissimum posuisti refugiom tuum.

Non aocedet ad te malum:

et flagellum non appropinquabit tabemaculo tuo.

Quoniam Augelis suis mandavit de te : * ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuia.

In manibus portabunt te:

ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum .

Super asp id em et basiliacum ambulabis : * et conculcabia leonem et draconem.

Quoniam in me speravit, liberabo eum : * protegam eum, quoniam, cognovit* nomen meum.

Clamabit ad me, et ego ezaudiam eum : * cum ipso sum in tribulatione, eripiam eum et glorificabo eum.

Longitudine dierum replebo eum: * et ostendam uli Salutare meum.

Thou, O Lord, art my hope : Thou hast made the Most High thy refuge.

There shall no evil come to thee, nor shall the scourge come near thv dwelling.

For he hath given his Angels charge over thee: to keep thee in all thy ways.

In their hands they shall bear thee up : lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt walk upon the asp and basilisk: and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon.

God will say of thee : Because he hoped in me, I will deliver him: I will protect him, because he hath xnown my name.

He will cry to me, and I will hear him : I am with him in tribulation. I will deliver him, and I will glorify him.

I will fill him with length of days : and I will show him my salvation.

The fourth Psalin invites the Servants of Qod to persevere, with fervour, in the prayers they offer during the Night. The Faithful should say this Psalm in a spirit of gratitude to God, for his raising up, in the Church, adorers of his holy name, whose grand vocation is to lift up their hands, day and night, for the safety of Israel. On such prayers, depend the happiness and destinies of the world

PSALM 133.

Ecce nunc benedicite Dominum : * o nines servi Domini

Qui statis in domo Donri-

Behold Lord, all Lord.

Who stand in the house of now bless ye ye servants of the the the Lord, in the courts of the Di : • in atriis domns Del house of our God. nostri.

In the nights lift up your In noctibus extollite mahands to the holy places, and nus vestras in sancta : * et

Say to Israel : May the Benedicat te Dominus ex

Lord out of Sion bless thee, Sion : * qui fecit coelum et he that made heaven and terrain, earth.

Ant. Have mercy on me, O Ant. Miserere inei, Do- Lord, and hear my prayer. mine, et exaudi orationem

Before the closing of the Te lucis ante terminum, light, we beseech thee, Crea- Re rum Creator, poscimus, tor of all things 1 that, in Ut pro tua dementia thy clemency, thou be our Sis praesul et custodia. protector and our guard.

Procul recedant somnia, Et noctium phantasmata ; Ne polluantur corpora.

May the dreams and phantoms of night depart far from us; and do thou repress our Hostemque nostrum cornenemy, lest our bodies 1* prime, profaned.

Most merciful Father 1 and Praasta, Pater piissime, thou, his Only Begotten Son, Patrique compar Unice, co-equal with him ! reigning Cum Spiritu Paraclito for ever with the Holy Para- Regnans per omne sfi&culum. clete 1 grant this our prayer. Amen. Amen.

(This last Stoma is varied for Christmas Day, <£c., and for the Epiphany. See page 118.)

(Jeremias, xiv.)

But thou art in us, O Lord, Tu autem in nobis es, and thy holy name has been Domine, et nomen sanctum

• According to the Monastic Rite, as follows : benedicite Dominum, meam.

HYMN.*

OaPITULUM.

Te lucis ante terminum, Berum Creator, posoimus, Ut solita olementia

Hostemque nostrum comprime, Ne polluantur corpora,

Preeeta Pater omnipotent, Per Jeaum Christum Dominum, Qui tecum in perpetuum Begnat cum Sancto Spiritu.

Sis prosul ad oustodiam.

Procul recedant somnia, Et noctium phantasmata ; toum invocatum est super noe; ne derelinquas not, Domine Dens noster.

Bf. In manos tuas, Domine : * Commendo spiritum meom. In manos tuas.

?. Redemisti nos, Domine Deus veritatis. # Commendo.

Gloria. In manos tuas. jr. Costodi nos, Domine, ut popillam oculL

19. Sob umbra alarum tuarum protege noa. invoked upon us : forsake os not, O Lord our God.

Bf. Into thy hands, O Lord: * I commend my spirit. Into thy hands.

J. Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord God of truth. *1 commend.

Glory. Into thy hands. ft. Preserve us, O Lord, as the apple of thine eye.

HT. Protect us under the shadow of thy wings.

The Canticle of the venerable Simeon — who, whilst holding the divine Infant in his arms, proclaimed him to be the Light of the Gentiles, and then slept the sleep of the just — harmonises admirably with this closing Office of the day, at Christmastide ; for, during this holy Season, the Church is for ever thanking God, because he has dispelled the shades of death by the rising of the Sun of Justice, in whose love she labours all day long, and takes her rest at night, saying : J sleep, and my heart wateheth}

CANTICLE OF SIMEON.

(St. Luke, ii.)

Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine : * secundum yerbum toom in pace.

Quia viderout ocoli mei : • Sal u tare toom.

Quod parasti : * ante faciem omnium popolorum.

Lomen ad revelationem Gentiom : * et gloriam plebis toaa Israel

Gloria Patri, et Filio, dec

Ant. Salva nos, Domine,

Now dost thou dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word, in peace.

Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples.

The Light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel

Glory.

Ant. Save us, O Lord,

• Cant. v. 2. whilst awake, and watch ns as we sleep ; that we may watch with Christ, and rest in peace. f. The Lord be with yon. I?. And with thy spirit

LIT US PEAT.

Visit we beseech thee, O Lord, this house and family, and drive from it all snares of the enemy : let thy holy An- fels dwell herein, who may eep us in peace, and may thy blessing be always upon us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, thy Son, who liveth and reignetn with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. f. The Lord be with you. g. And with tby spint

• Let us bless the Lord.

17. Thanks be to God.

May the almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless and preserve us.

Ip. Amen. vigilantes : custodi nos dormientes, ut vigilemus cum Christo, et requiescamus in pace. y . Dominus vobiscum. 19. Et cum spiritu tuo.

OBEMUS.

Visita, qnsesumus Domine, habitationem istam, et omnes inaidias inimici ab ea longe repelle: Augeli tui sancti habitent in ea, qui nos in pace custodiant : et benedictio tua sit super nos semper. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in imitate Spiritos Sancti Deus, per omnia aaecula sseculorum. Amen Dominus vobiscum. gr. Et cum spiritu tuo. j. Benedicamus Domino.

Ifc Deo gratias.

Benedicat et custodiat nos omnipotens et misericors Dominus, Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus*

19. Amen.

ANTHEM TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Sweet Mother of our Redeemer, Gate whereby we enter heaven, and Star of the sea, help us, we f all ; yet do we long to rise. Nature looked noon thee with admiration, when thou didst give birth to thy divine Creator, thyself rexnaining, before and after it a pure virgin. Gabriel spoke his Hail to thee ; we sinners crave thy pity.

Alma Redemptoris mater, qua pervia cceli

Porta manes, et Stella maris, succurre cadenti,

Surgere qui curat populo, Tu que genuisti,

Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem.

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

Sumensillud Ave, peccatorum miserere. f. Post partura, Virgo, inviolate permansistL

19* Dei Genitrix, cede pro nobis. inter- f. After child-birth, thou didst remain most pure, O Virgin.

Fp. O Mother of Godl make intercession for us.

OREMUS.

Dens qui salntis ©tern® beat© Maris virginitate fecunda humano generi praamia praastitisti : tribue, quaesumus, at ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus per quam meruimus auctorem vitse suscipere Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum.

R. Amen. y. Divinum auxilium maneat semper nobiscum. Ip. Amen.*

LET US PRAY.

O God, who, by the fruitful Virginity of the Blessed Mary, hast given to mankind the rewards of eternal salvation ; grant, we beseech thee, that we may experience Her intercession, by whom we received the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son.

Amen.

May the divine assistance remain always with us. fy. Amen.

Then in secret, Pater, Ave, and Credo, page 85.

THB LAST STANZA OF THE HYMN IS THUSl VARIED: From Christmas Day till the Epiphany. Roman Breviary. Monastic Breviary.

Jesu, tdbi sit gloria, Gloria tibi Domine,

Qui natus es de Virgine, Qui natus es de Virgine,

Gum Patre et almo Spiritu, Cum Patre et Sane to Spiritu,

In sempiterna ssecula. In sempiterna sacula.

Amen. Amen.

"* In the Monastic Bite, this Response is as follows :

Et oum fratribus nostris I$r. And with our absent Breabsentibas. Amen, thren. Amen.

For the Epiphany, and during the Octave. Roman Breviary. Monastic Breviary.

Jesu, tibi sit gloria. Gloria tibi Domine,

8ui apparuisti Gentious, Qui apparaisti hodie, am Patre et almo Spintu, Cum fatre et Sancto Spiritu,

In sempiterna saecula. In aempiterna saecula. Amen. Amen.

Footnotes

1. 9. Thanks b« to God* **. Deo gratia*.
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