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 Ate have been said in secret, the Church commences this Hour with her favourite supplication :

J\ Deus, in adjutorium f. Incline unto my aid, 0 meum intend*. God.

Domine, ad adjuvan- O 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 s»- is now, and ever shall be, cula ssBculorum. Amen. world without end. Amen.

Alleluia. Alleluia.

Ant. Dixit Dominus. Ant. The Lord said.

The first Psalm is a prophecy of the future glory 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 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. tint, vi. D

TIMS AFTBR PENTECOST.

PSALM 109.

Dixit Dominus Domino zneo : • Sede a dextris meis.

Donee ponam inimicos tuos : • scabellum pedum tuorum.

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

Tecum prineipium in die virtutis tu in splendoribus sanctorum : * ex utero ante luciferum genui te.

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

Dominus a dextris tuis : • confregit in die irse suss reges.

Judicabit in nationibus, implebit ruinas : * 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 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 to 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 also 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 Lord: Sit thou at my right hand.

Ant. Faithful. lommemorates the meroies

Sunday's vespers. 87 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 110.

Confitebor tibi, Domine, in toto corde meo : * in con- Bilio justorum et congregatione.

Magna opera Domini : * exquisita in omnes volunta- * tea ejus.

Confessio et magnificentia opua eju : * et justitia ejus manet in saeculum sseculi.

Memoriam fecit mirabilium 8Uorum, misericora et miaerator Dominua : * eacam dedit timentibua ae.

Memor erit in aseoulum teatameuti sui : * virtutem operum suorum annuntiabit populo 8UO.

TJt det illis hsereditatem Gentium : * opera manuum ejus Veritas et judicium.

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

Bedemptionem miait populo auo : * mandayit in seternum teatamentum suum.

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

Intellectus bonus omni-

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 hie wonderful worka, being a merciful and gracious Lord : he hath given food to them that fear him.

He will be mindful for ever of hi covenant with men : he will ahow forth to hia people the power of hi worka.

That he may give them his Church, the inheritance of the Gentilea : the worka 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 bus f acientibuB eum : * laudatio ejus manet in sseculum sseculi.

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

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 his Lord's coming. It tells us,^likewise, of the confusion of the sinner, who shall Jiave despised the mysteries of God's love towards mankind. psalm 111.

Beatua vir qui timet Dominum : • in mandatis ejus volet nimis.

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

Gloria et divitiss in domo ejus : * et justitia ejus manet in sseculum eseculi.

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 seterna erit justus : * ab auditione mala non timebit.

Paratum cor ejus sperare in Domino, confirmatum est cor ejus : * non com movebitur doneo 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 De 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.

Sunday's vespebs;

Dispersit dedit pauperibus, justitia ejus manet in Bseculum sseculi : * cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria.

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

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

He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor ; his justice remaineth for ever and oyer : 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 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 P 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 us^ue ad occasum: * laudabile nomen Domini.

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

Quia sicut Dominus Deus nosier 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.

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

Aot. Sit nomen Domini benedictum in ssecula.

Ant. Nos qui vivimus.

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 oame 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 sanotifioatio ejus : * Israel potestas ejus.

Mare vidit et fugit : • Jordanis conversus est retrorsum.

Montes exsultaverunt ut arietes : * et oolles siout agni ovium.

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

Montes exsultastis siout arietes : • et oolles siout agni ovium P

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

Qui convertit petram in ■tagna 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, 0 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 nobis : * Bed 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.

Manus habent, et non palpabunt; pedes habent, et non am bulabunt : * non clamabunt in gutture suo.

Similes iUis fiant qui faciunt ea: * et omnes qui oonfidunt 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 oummajoribus.

Adjioiat Dominus super 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 vos : * super voa, et super filios vestros.

Benedicti yos a Domino : • qui feoit coelum et terram.

Ooelum 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. 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, 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.

After these five Psalms, a short Lesson from the holy Soriptures is then read. It is oalled 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.

CAP1TULTJM. (2 Cor. i.)

Benedictus Deus et Pater Domini nostri Jesu Christi, Pater misericordiarum et Deus totius oonsolationis, qui consolatur nos in omni tion, tribulatione nostra.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolawho comforteth us in all our tribulations.

$. Deo gratias. ft. Thanks be to God.

Then follows the Hymn. "We here give the one for Sundays. It was oomposed 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.

SUNDAY*!

Lucis Creator optime, Lucem dierum prof erens ; Primordii lucis novae, Mundi parans originem.

Qui mane j unctum vesperi Diem vocari prsecipis : Ulabitur tetrum chaos, Audi preces cum fletibus.

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

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

Praesta, Pater piissime, Patrique compar Unice, Cum Spiritu Paraclito, Eegnans per omne saeculum.

Amen.

VESPERS. 43 MN.*

0 infinitely good Creator of the Light ! by thee was produced the Light of day, providing thus the world's beginning with tho 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 : breve. Quam magnificata sunt. * Opera tua, Domine. Quam.

Omnia in Sapientia fee is - ti. * Opera. Gloria Patri, &c. Quam.

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

Qui mane j unctum vesperi Diem vocari praecipis, Tetrum chaos illabitur, Audi preces cum fletibus.

Ne mens gravata c rimin e, Vitas sit exsul munere, Dum nil perenne cogitat, Seseque culpis illigat.

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

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

Amen*

TIMB AFTER PBHTECOST.

The Versicle which follows the Hymn, and whioh we here give, is that of the Sunday : those for the Feasts are given in their proper places. f. Dirigatur, Domine, y. May my prayer, 0 Lord, oratiomea. ascend, gt. Sicut incensum in &. Like incense in thy sight, conspectu tuo.

Then is said the Magnificat Antiphon, whioh is to be found in the Proper. After this, the Churoh sings the Cantiole of Mary, the Magnificat, in whioh are celebrated the Divine Maternity and all its consequent blessings. This exquisite Cantiole is an essential part of the Office of Vespers. It is the evening inoense, just as the Canticle Benedictus, at Lauds, is that of the morning. our lady's canticle. (St Luke, i.)

Magnificat : * anima mea Dominum ;

Et exsultavit spiritus mens : * in Deo Salutari meo.

Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae : * ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.

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

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

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

Deposuit potentes de sede : • et exaltavit humiles.

My soul magnifies the Lord.

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Because he has regarded the humility of his handmaid : for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Because he that is mighty has done great things for me : and holy is his Name.

And his mercy is from generation to generation : on them that fear him.

He has showed power in his arm : he has dispersed the

Eroud in the conceit of their eart.

He has deposed the mighty from their seat : and has exalted the humble. sumday's vespers.

Esurientes implevit bonis : * et divites dimisit inanes.

Suscepit Israel puerum snum : * recordatus misericordise suae.

Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros : * Abraham et eemini ejus in ssecula.

He has filled the hungry with good things : and has sent the rich away empty.

He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy.

As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

The Magnificat Antiphon is then repeated. The Prayer, or Collect, is given in the Proper of each Feast. y. Benedicamus Domino. fit. Deo gratias. f. Fidehum animae per misericordiam Dei requiesoant in pace. ft. Amen. y. Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. y. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.