Chapter the Second

The Office of Vespers, or Even Song, consists firstly of the five following Psalms. For certain Feasts some of these Psalms are changed for others, which are more appropriate to the day ; but 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 : y. Incline unto my aid, O ft. Deus, in adjutorium

God. meum intende.

1$. O Lord, make haste to 1$. Domine, ad adjuvan- help me. dum me festina.

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

As it was in the beginning, Sicut erat in principio, et is now, and ever shall be, nunc, et semper, et in s«- world without end. Amen. cula saeculorum. Amen.

Alleluia. Alleluia.

Ant. The Lord said. Ant. Dixit Dominus.

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

Dixit Dominus Domino meo: * Sede a dextris meis.

Donee ponam inimicos tuos: * scabellum pedum tuorum.

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

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

J uravit Dominus, et non poanitebit eum : * Tu es Sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech.

Dominus a dextris tuis : * confregit in die irae suae reges.

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

De torrente in via bibet : * propterea exaltabit caput.

Ant. Dixit Dominus Domino meo: Sede a dextris meis.

Ant. Fidelia.

The following Psalm

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

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 to thee, the God' Man : Thou art a Priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.

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

He shall also judge among nations : in tliat 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 Lord: Sit thou at my right hand. Ant. Faithful. commemorates the mercies

Sunday's vespers. of God to his people — the promised Covenant — the Redemption — his Fidelity to his word. But it also tells us that the Name of the Lord is terrible because it is holy ; and concludes by admonishing us, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.

PSALM

I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart : in the council 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 hath given food to them that fear him.

He will be mindful for ever of his covenant with men: he will show 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 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 all

Confitebor tibi, Domine, in toto corde meo : * in consilio justorum et congregation e.

Magna opera Domini: * exquisita in omnes voluntates ejus.

Confessi o et magnificentia opus ejus : * et justitia ejus manet in saeculum saeculi.

Memoriam fecit mirabiliura 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 aequitate.

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

Sanctum et terribile nomen ejus: * initium sapiential timor Domini.

Intellectus bonus omni- baa facieutibus eura : * laudatio ejus manet in speculum saeculi.

Ant. Fidelia omnia mandata ejus; confirmata in sseculum sseculi.

Ant. In mandatis. 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.

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

PSALM 111.

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 jufctitia ejus manet in sseculum saeculi.

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

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

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

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

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.

• 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 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 s 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.

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

Peccator videbit,et irascetur, dentibus suis fremet et tabescet : * desiderium peccator urn peribit.

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

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 Son.

PSALM 112.

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?

Raising 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.

Laudate pueri, Dominum : * laudate nomen Domini.

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

A solis ortu usque ad occasum: * laudabile nomen Domini.

Excelsus super: omnes gentes Dominus: * et super ccelos gloria ejus.

Quis sicut Dominus Deus noster qui in altis habitat: * et humilia respicit in colo et in terra ?

Suscitans a terra inopem : * et de stercore erigens paupereni : '

Ut collocet eum cum principibu : * cum principibus populi suL

Qui habitare facit sterilem in domo : * matrem fiiiorum 1® tan tern.

Ant. Sit nomen Domini benedictum in ssecula.

Ant. Nos qui vivimua.

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.

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 Gentiles from their idolatry, and pour out a blessing on every man who will consent to fear and love the Lord.

PSALM 113.

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

Facta est Judaea sanctificatio ejus : * Israel potestas ejus.

Mare vidit, et f ugit : * 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 retrorsumt

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

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

Sunday's 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 bath 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 nobis : * sed nomini tuo da gloriam.

Super misericordia tua, et veritate tua: * nequando dicant gentes: Ubi estDeus eorum 1

Deus autem noster in coelo : * omnia quaecumque 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.

Manus 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.

Benedicti vos a Domino : * qui fecit coelum et terram.

Coelum coeli Domino: * terram autem dedit filiis hominum.

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

Sed nos qui vivimus, benedicimus Domino: *ex hoc nunc et usque in sseculum.

Ant. Nos qui vivimus, benedicimus Domino. i PENTECOST. upon you : upon you, and upon your children.

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, O 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.

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

CAPIT.ULUM.

(2 Cor. i.)

Benedictus Deus et Pater Blessed be the God and

Domini nostri Jesu Christi, Father of our Lord Jesus

Pater misericordiarum et Christ, the Father of mercies

Deus totius consolationis, and the God of all consola- qui consolatur nos in omni tion, who comf orteth us in all tribulatione nostra. our tribulations.

1$. Deo gratias. IJ. Thanks be to God.

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

HYMN*

O 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 I 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 forever, with the Holy Paraclete! grant this our prayer.

Amen.

Lucis Creator optime, Lucem dierum proferens; Primordiis lucis novae, Mundi parans originem.

Qui mane j unctum vesperi Diem vocari praecipis: Illabitur tetruin chaos, Audi preces cum fletibus.

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

Coeleste pulset intimum, Vitale tollat premium : Vitemus omne noxium, Purgemus omne pessimum.

Praasta, Pater piissime, Patrique compar Uuice, Cum Spiritu Paraclito, Regnans per omne saeculum .

Amen.

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

R7. breve. Quam magnificata sunt. * Opera tua, Domine. Quam.

9- Omnia in Sapientia fecisti. * Opera. Gloria Patri, &c. Quam.

Lucis Creator optime, Lucem dierum proferens; Primordiis lucis novae, Mundi parans originem.

Qui mane juctum vesperi Diem vocari praecipis, Tetrum chaos illabitur, Audi precee cum fletibus.

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

Coeloruni pulset intimum, Vitale tollat premium : Vitemus omne noxium, Purgemus omne pessimum.^

Presta, Pater piissime, Patrique compar Unice, Cum Spiritu Paraclito, Regnans per omne swculum.

Amen.

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

Dirigatur, Domine, ^. May my prayer, O Lord, oratio mea. ascend.

]$. Sicut incensum in 1$. Like incense in thy sight, conspectu 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 Magnificat, in which are celebrated the Divine Maternity and all its consequent blessings. This exquisite Canticle is an essential part of the Office of Vespers. It is the evening incense, just as the Canticle Benedictus, at Lauds, is that of the morning. our lady's canticle. (St. Luke i.)

Magnificat : * anima mea My soul doth magnify the Dominura. Lord.

Et exsultavit spiritus me- 'And my spirit hath rejoiced us: * in Deo saiutari meo. in God my Saviour.

Quia respexit humilitatern ancillae suae : * ecce enim ex hoc Beatam me diomnes generationes.

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

Blessed.

Quia fecit mihi magna Because he that is mighty qui potens est: * et sane- hath done great things to me : turn nomen ejus. and holy is his name.

Et misericordia ejus a pro- And his mercy is from genegenie in progenies :* timen- ration unto generation, to tibus eum. them that fear him.

Fecit potentiam in brachio He hath showed might in suo : * dispersit superbos his arm : he hath scattered the mente cordis sui. " proud in the conceit of their heart.

Deposuit potentes de se- He hath put down the de : * et exaltavit humiles. mighty from their seat : and hath exalted the humble.

He bath filled the hungry Esurientes implevit bo- with good things : and the rich nis : * et divites dimisit he hath sent empty away. inanes.

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

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

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

T. Let us bless the Lord. Jjf. Benedicamus Domino.

B. Thanks be to God. J$. Deo gratias. y. May the souls of the fa Fidelium animae per faithful departed, through the misericordiam Dei requies- mercy of God, rest in peace. cant in pace.