Chapter the Eighth

The Office of Vespers, or Evensong, consists firstly of the five following Psalms. For certain Feasts, one or other of these Psalms is changed for others, which are more appropriate to the day ; hut those we now give, are the ones for Sunday's Vespers.

After the Pater and Ave have been said in secret, the Church commences this Hour with her favourite supplication : f. Deus, in adjutorium meum intende.

&. Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto ;

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, et in saecula sseculorum. Amen. Alleluia.

Ant. Dixit Dominus. f". Incline unto mine aid O God.

O Lord, make haste to help 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. Alleluia.

Ant. The Lord said.

The first Psalm is a prophecy of the future glories of the Messias. The Son of David shall sit on the right hand of the heavenly Father. He is King ; he is Priest ; he is the Son of Man, and Son of God. His enemies will attack him, but he will crush them. He will be humbled ; but this voluntary humiliatioii will lead him to highest glory.

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Sunday's vespers.

PSALM

The Lord said to my Lord, Dixit Dominus Domino his Son : Sit thou at my right meo : * Sede a dextris meis. hand, and reign with me.

Until, on the day of thy last Donee ponam inimioos coming, I make thy enemies tuos: * scabellum pedum thy footstool. tuorum.

Virgam virtutis tu» emit- Dominus ex Sion : * medio inimicorum Sion tuorum.

0 Christ ! the Lord, thy Father, will send forth the tet dosceptre of thy power out of minare in '.from thence rule thou in the midst of thy enemies. in the day of thy strength, in virtutis tuse in splendoribus the brightness of the Saints : Sanctorum : * ex utero ante

For the Father hath said to luciferum genui te. thee: From the womb before the day-star I begot thee.

The Lord hath sworn, and Juravit Dominus, et non he will not repent : he hath pcenitebit eum : * Tu es Sa- said, speaking of tJiee, the Qod- cerdos in aeternum secun-

Man : Thou art a Priest for dum ordinem Melchisedech. ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.

Dominus a dextris tuis : * conf regit in die irse suae re-

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

He shall also judge among Judicabit in nationibus, nations : in that terrible coming % imolebit ruinas : * conquas- he shall fill the ruins of the sabit capita in terra multo- world : he shall crush the heads rum. in the land of many.

He cometh now in humility ; De torrente in via bibet : * he shall drink, in the way, of propterea exaltabit caput, the torrent of suffering : therefore, shall he lift up the head.

Ant. The Lord said to my Ant. Dixit Dominus Do- Lord, sit thou at my right mino meo, sede a dextris hand, meis.

Ant. Faithful. Ant. Fidelia.

The following Psalm oommemorates the mercies of

Tecum principium in die

TIM* AFE&R PJSNTBQOST.

God to his people, — the promised Covenant, — the Redemption^ — his Fidelity to lm word. But it also tells us, that the Name of the Lord is terrible because it is holy ; $»d concludes by admonishing m, \htf,the fern of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. psalm 110.

Confttebor tibi, Domine, in toto corde meo : * in consult) justorum et congregatione.

Magna opera Domini: * exquisita in omnes voluntatis ejus.

Confessioet magnificentia opus ejus : * et justitia ejus jnanet in sseculum sseculi.

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

Memor erit in sseculum testamenti sui : • virtutem operum suorum annuntiabitpopulo suo.

Ut det illis haeredjtatem gentium : * opera manuum ejus Veritas et judicium.

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

Eedemptionem misit populo suo : * mandavit in seternumtestamentum suum.

Sanctum et terribile Nomen ejus : * initium sapientise timor Domini.

Jntellectus bonus omnibus

I will praise thee, 0 I^ord 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: he is the Bread of lift, he hath given food to them that fear mm.

He will be mindful for over of his covenant with men : he will show forth to his people the power of his works.

That he may give to his Church the inheritance of the Gentiles : the works of his hands are truth and judgment.

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

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

Holy and terrible is his name : the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

A good understanding to svkday's yuspeba.

M all that do it : bis praise dontinueth for ever and ever.

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

Ant. In his commandments. faeien<abu eum : * laud&tio ejus manet in sawulum sie* euli.

Ant. Fidelia omnia man* data ejus ; confirmata in sfflculum sseculi.

Ant. In mandatis.

The next Psalm sines the happiness of £he just man, and his hopes on the day of his Lord's ooming. It tells us, likewise, of the confusion of the sinner who shall have despised the mysteries of God's love towards mankind.

PSALM

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 hie justice remaineth for ever and ever.

To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness : that light is the Lord, who is merciful, and compassionate, and just.

Acceptable is the man that showeth mercy and lendeth; he shall order his very 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 strengthened : he shall not be moved until he look over his enemies,

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

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

Gloria et divitice in domo ejus : * et iustitia ejus manet in saeculum steculi.

Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis : # misericors. et miserator, et justus.

Jucundus homo, qui miseretur et commodat, disponet sermon es suos in judicio : • quia in seternum non commovebitur.

In memoria seterna erit justus : * ab auditione mala non timebit.

Paratum cor ejus sperare in Domino, connrmatum est cor ejus : * non commovebitur donee despiciat inimicos suos..

TIME AFTER PENTECOST.

Disuersit, dedit pauperibus ; justitia ejus manet in sseculum saeculi: te

; in ssecuium saecun: w cornu ejus ezaltabitur in gloria.

Pecoator videbit, et iraseetur, dentibus suis fremet ettabescet : * desiderium peceatorum peribit.

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 delighted 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 human race, and has vouchsafed to honour it by the Incarnation of his own Sou. psalm 112. ejus

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

Laudate, pueri, Dominum : * laudate Nomen Domini.

Sit Nomen Domini benedictum : 4 ex hoc nunc, et usque in saeculum.

A solis ortu usque ad occasion : * laudabile Nomen Domini.

Excelsus super omnesgen - tes Dominus : * et super coelo gloria ejus.

Quia 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.

Ut collocet eum cum principibus cum principibus populi sui,

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 ?

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

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

Sunday's vespers.

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.

Qui habitare faoit sterilem in domo : * matrem filiorum lsetantem.

Ant. Sit nomen Domini benedictum in ssecula.

Ant. Nos qui vivimus.

The fifth Psalm, In exitu, recounts the prodigies witnessed under the ancient Covenant: they were figures, whose realities were to be accomplished in the mission of the Son of God, who came to deliver Israel from Egypt, emancipate the Oentiles from their idolatry, and pour out a blessing on every man who would 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 ?

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 fountains of waters.

Not to us, O Lord, not to

In exitu Israel de JEgypto: * domus Jacob de po- fulo barbaro : 'acta est Judaea sanctificatio ejus : * Israel potestas ejus.

Mare vidit, et fugit : * Jordanis con versus est retrorsum.

Montes exsultaverunt ut arietes : * etcolles sicut agni ovium.

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

Montes exsultastis sicut arietes: * et colles, sicut agni ovium ?

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

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

Non nobis, Domine, non to

TIKIS AFTER PfcttfcfcCGST. nobis: * tied Nommituo da gloriam.

Super misericordia tua, et veritate tua: * nequando dicant rentes : Ubi est Deus eorum r

Deus autem noster in coelo : * omnia queecumque voluit fecit.

Simulacra gentium argentum et aurum: * opera Bnanuuxn hominum.

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

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

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

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

Domus Israel sperayit 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 f uit nostri : * et benedixit nobis.

Benedixit domui Israel : * benedixit domui Aaron.

Benedixit omnibus qui timent Dominum: * pusillis cum majoribus.

Adjiciat Dominus super tos: * super vos, *t super filios yestros. us : but unto 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.

STJttDAT^S VSBKS.

Blessed be you of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The heaven of heaven is the Lord's : but the earth he has given to the children of men.

The dead shall not praise thee, 0 Lord : nor any of them that go down to hell.

But We that live bless the Lord : from this time now and for ever.

Ant. We that live bless the Lord.

Benedioti vos a Domino: qui fecit cesium et terram.

Coelum ooeli Domino: * terram autem dedit fiUie hominum.

Non mortui laudabunt te, Domine : * neque omnes qui descendant in infernum.

Sed nos qui vivimus, benedieimus Domino : * ect hoc nunc et usque in sseculum.

Ant. Nos qui vivimus, benedicimus Domino.

After these five Psalms, a short Lesson from the holy Soripture is read. It is called Capitulum, because it is always very short. The ones for the several Festivals are given in the Proper of <eaeh. We here give the Capitulum wmmon to the Sunday.

CAPITULUM.

(2. Cot. i.)

Blessed be the God and Benedictus Deus et t*ater

Father of our Lord Jesus Domini nostri Jesu Christi,

Christ, the Father of mercies, Pater misericordiarum et and the God of all consolation, Dens totius consolationis, who comforteth us in all our qui oonsolatur nos in o*mi tribulations. tribulatione nostra.

Thanks be to God. &. Deo gratias.

Then follows the Hymn. We here give the one for Sundays. It was composed l>y St. Gregory the Great. It sings of Creation, and oelehrates the praises of that portion of it which was called forth on this first day, — the Light.

TIME AFTER PENTECOST.

HYMN. *

Lucis Creator optime, Lucem dierum proferens : Primordii lucis novae, Mundi parans originem.

Qui mane junctum vesperi Diem vooari prsecipis : Illabitur tetrum chaos, t Audi preces cum netibus.

Ne mens gravata crimine, Vitas sit exsul munere : Dum nil perenne cogitat, Seseque culpis illigat.

Ooeleste pulset intimum, Vitale tollat prsemium : Vitemus omne noxium, Purgemu omne pessimum.

Prasta Pater piissime. Patrique compar Unice, Gum Spiritu Paraclito Begnans per omne sseculum.

Amen.

0 infinitely good Creator of the Light ! by thee was produced the Light of day, providing thus the world's beginning with the beginning of the new-made Light.

Thou biddest us call the time from morn till eve Day ; this Day is over ; dark Night comes on, — oh ! hear our tearful prayers.

Let not our soul, weighed down by crime, mis-spend thy gift of life: and, forgetting what is eternal, be earth-tied by her sins.

Oh ! may we strive to enter our heavenly home, and bear away the prize of life : may we shun what would injure us, and cleanse our soul from her defilements.

Most merciful Father ! and thou, his Only Begotten Son, co-equal with him, reigning for ever, with the Holy Paraclete ! grant this our prayer.

Amen.

• According to the Monastic Rite, it is as follows : —

R^. breve. Quam magnificata sunt, * Opera tua Domine. Quam. fi. Omnia in Sapientia fecisti * Opera. Gloria Patri, etc. Quam.

Lucis Creator optime, Lucem dierum proferens ; l*rimordiis lucis novae, Mundi parans originem.

Qui mane junctum vesperi Diem Yocari prsecipis, Tetrum chaos illabitur, Audi preces cum fletibus.

Ne mens gravata crimine, Vitse sit exsul munere, Dum nil perenne cogitat, Seseque culpis illigat.

Coelorum pulset intimum, Vitale tollat prsemium : Vitemus omne noxium, Purgemus omne pessimum.

Praesta Pater piissime, Patrique compar Unice Cum Spiritu Paraclito Regnans per omne sseculum.

Amen.

Sunday's vbspbrs.

The Versicle which follows the Hymn, and which we here give, is that of the Sunday : those for the Feasts are given in their proper places.

Domine,

May my prayer, O Lord, ascend.

$* Like incense in thy sight.

Dirigatur, oratio mea.

Sicut incensnm in oonspectu tuo.

Then is said the Magnificat Antiphon, which is to be found in the Proper. After this, the Church sings the Canticle of Mary, the Magnifimt, in which are celebrated the Divine Maternity, and all its consequent blessings. This exquisitely sweet Canticle is an essential part of the Office of Vespers. It is the evening inoense, just as the Canticle Benedict us, at Lauds, is that of the morning. our lady's canticlb.

(St. Luke, i.)

My soul doth magnify the Lord ;

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid : for, behold, from henceforth, all generations shall call me Blessed.

Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me : and holy is his name.

And his mercy is from generation unto generation, to them that fear him.

He hath showed might in his arm : he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat : and hath exalted the humble. tol. x. amma mea

Magnificat : Dominum ;

Et exBultavit spiritus meus : * in Deo Salutari meo.

Quiarespexit humilitatem ancillse suse : * ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationee.

Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est : * et sanctum Nomen ejus.

Et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies : * timentibus eum.

Fecit potentiam in brachio suo : * dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.

Depoauit potentes de sede: * et exaltavit humiles.

Esurientes implevit bonis : He hath filled the hungry

• et divites dimisit inanes. with good things : and the rich he hath 6ent empty away.

Suscepit Israel puerum He hath received Israel his suum : * recordatus miseri- servant, being mindful of his cordise suae, mercy,

Sicut locutus est ad pa- As he spoke to our fathers, tres nostros : * Abraham et to Abraham, and to his seed semini ejus in saecula. for ever.

The Magnificat Antiphon is then repeated. The Prayer, or Collect, is given in the Proper of each Feast and Sunday.

Benedicamus "Domino. ^. Let us bless the Lord. ft. Deo gratias. &. Thanks be to God.

J. Pidehum animse per f. May the souls of the misericordiam Dei requies- Faithful departed, through the cant in pace. mercy of God, rest in peace.