Chapter the Third. on the Office of Compline, During the Time after Pentecost

Tflis 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 suoh an image of death.

The Lector, addressing the Priest, says to him :

Jube, Domne, benedicere. Pray, Father, give thy blessing.

The Priest answers :

Noctem quietam et finem May the Almighty Lord perfectum concedat nobis grant us a quiet night and a

Dominus omnipotens. perfect end.

$. Amen. Amen.

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

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

Domine, miserere nobis.

Lord, have mercy on us.

The Choir answers :

$. Deo gratias.

&. Thanks be to God.

COMPLINB.

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

The Choir :

&. Qui fecit coelum et Who hath made heaven terrain. and earth.

Then the Lord's Prayer is reoited in seoret ; after which the Priest says the Confiteor, and when he has finished, the Choir repeats it .

The Priest, having pronounoed the general form of absolution, says : f. Converte nos, Deus, salutaris noster.

Et averte iram tuam a nobis.

Jf. Deus, in adjutorium meum intende.

Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina.

Gloria Patri, &c.

Ant. Miserere. p. Convert us, 0 God, our Saviour.

And turn away thine anger from us.

W. Incline unto my aid, O God. ft. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory, &c. Ant. Have mercy.

The first Psalm expresses the confidence with which the just man sleeps in peace ; but the wicked know not what calm rest is. psalm 4.

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

Miserere mei : * et exaudi oration em meam.

Filii hominum, usquequo gravi corde : * ut quid diligitis vanitatem, et quaBritis mendacium ?

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 ?

TIME AFTER PENTECOST.

Et soitote quoniam mirificavit Dominus sanctum suum : • Dominus exaudiet me, cum clamavero ad eum.

Irascimini et nolite peccare : * quce dicitis in cordibus vestris, in cubilibus vestris compungimini.

Sacrificate sacrificium j ustitise, et sperate in Domino :

• multi dicunt : Quis ostendit nobis bona ?

Signatum est super nos lumen vultus tui Domine:

• dedisti lcetitiam in corde meo.

A fructu frumenti, vim et olei sui : * multiplicati sunt.

In pace in idipsum : * dormiam et requiescam.

Quoniam tu, Domine, singulariter in spe : * constitu- 18 ti me.

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 hearts, be sorry for them upon your beds.

Offer up 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 Churoh has introduced here the first six Verses of the thirtieth Psalm, because they contain the prayer whioh 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 the day.

Psalm. 30.

In te, Domine, speravi, non confundar in seternum : # 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,

In thee, 0 Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded : deliver me in thy justice.

Bow down thine 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,

COMPLINE. et refugium meum es tu: • et propter Nomen tuum deduces me, et enutries me.

Educes me de laqueo hoc quern absconderunt mihi : * quoniam tu es protector meus.

In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum : * redemisti me, Domine, Deus veritatis. and my refuge: and for thy Name's sake, thou 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, O Lord, the God of truth.

The third Psalm gives the motives of the just man's confidence, even during the dangers of the night. There is no snare neglected by the demons ; but the good Angels watch over us, with brotherly solicitude. Then, we have God himself speaking, and promising to send us a Saviour. psalm. 90.

Qui habitat in adjutorio Altissimi : * in protectione Dei coeli commorabitur.

Dicet Domino : Susceptor meus es tu, et refugium meum : # Deus meus, sperabo in eum.

Quoniam ipse liberavit me de laqueo venantiura : * et a verbo aspero.

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

Scuto circumdabit te Veritas ejus : * non time bis a timore nocturno :

A sagitta volante in die, a negotio perambulante in tenebris : * ab incursu, et deemonio meridiano.

Cadent a latere tuo mille,

He that dwelleth in the aid of the Most High,- shall abide under the protection of the God of Heaven.

He shall say unto 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 shalt trust.

His truth shall compassjthee 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 in the dark : of invasion, or of the noonday devil.

A thousand shall fall at thy

TIME AFTER PENTECOST. et decern milHa a dextris tuisj * ad te autem non appropinquabit.

Yerumtamen oeulis tuis oonsiderabis : * et retributionem peccatorum videbis.

Quomam tu es, Domine, spes mea : * Altissimum po- Buisti refugium tuum.

Non accedat ad te malum : * et flagellum non appropinquabit tabernaculo tuo.

Quoniam Angelis suis mandavit de te : * ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis.

In manibus portabunt te: * ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum.

Super aspidem et basilisoum ambulabis: * et conculcabis leonem et draconem.

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

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

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

The fourth Psalm invites the Servants of Q-od 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 worlc^ side, and ten thousand at thy right hand : but it shall not come nigh thee.

But thou shalt consider with thine eyes : and shalt see the reward of the wicked.

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

There shall no evil come unto thee, nor shall the scourge come near thy 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 known my name.

He will cry unto 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.

COMPLINE.

Psalm 133.

Ecce nunc benedicite Dominum : * omnes servi Domini.

Qui statis in domo Domini: * in atriis domus Dei nostri.

In noctibus extollite manus vestras in sancta : * et benedicite Dominum.

Benedicat te Dominus ex Sion : # qui fecit coelum et terrain.

Ant. Miserere mihi, Domine, et exaudi orationem meam.

Behold ! now bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord.

Who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.

In the nights lift up your hands to the holy places, and bless ye the Lord.

Say to Israel : May the Lord, out of Sion, bless thee, he that made heaven and earth.

Ant. Have mercy on me, O Lord, and hear my prayer.

HYMN.

Te lucis ante terminum, Eerum Creator, poscimus, Ut pro tua dementia, Sis praesul et custodia.

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

Preesta, Pater piissime, Patrique compar Unice, Cum Spirftu Paraclito Eegnans per omne sseculum.

Amen.

Before the closing of the light, we beseech thee, Creator of all things ! that, in thy clemency thou be our protector and our guard.

May the dreams and phantoms of night depart far from us : and do thou repress our enemy, lest our bodies be profaned.

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, as follows : —

Te lucis ante terminum, Rerum Creator, poscimus, Ut solita dementia Sis praesul ad custodiam.

Procul recedant somnia Et noctium phantasmata ; x»ijit. vi.

Hostemque nostrum comprime, Ne polluantur corpora.

PrsBsta, Pater omnipotens, Per Jesum Christum Dominum, Qui tecum in perpetuum Regnat cum Sancto Spiritu. Amen.

TIME AFTER PENTECOST.

CAPITULUM.

(Jeremias, xiv.)

Tu autem in nobis es Domine, et Nomen sanctum tuum invocatum est super nos : ne derelinquas nos, Domine Deus noster.

In manus tuas, Domine: * Commendo spiritum meum. In manus tuas.

^. Eedemisti nos, Domine Deus veritatis. * Commendo.

Gloria. In manus tuas.

But thou art in us, 0 Lord, and thy holy Name hath been invoked upon us: forsake us not, 0 Lord our God.

Into thy hands, 0 Lord : * I commend my spirit. Into thy hands.

Thou hast redeemed us, 0 Lord God of truth. * I commend.

Glory. Into thy hands. f. Custodi nos, Domine, ut'pupillam oculi.

Sub umbra alarum tuarum protege nos.

The Canticle of the y. Preserve us, O Lord, as the apple of thine eye.

Protect us under the shadow of thy wings. 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, — is admirably appropriate to the Office of Compline. Holy Church blesses God for having dispelled the darkness of night by the rising of theJSun' of ' Justice ; it is for love of him that she toils the whole day through and rests during the night, saying : I sleep, but my heart tcatcheth. 1

CANTICLE OF SIMEON.

(St. Luke, n.)

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

Quia viderunt oculi mei : * Salutare tuum.

Quod parasti : * ante f aciem omnium populorum.

Lumen ad revelationem

Now dost thou dismiss thy servant, 0 Lord, according to thy word, in peace.

Because mine eyes have seen thy Salvation.

Which thou hast prepared : before the face of all peoples. A light to the revelation of

1 Cant. v. 2.

COMPLINE.

Gentium : * et gloriam plebis tuse Israel. Gloria.

Ant. Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes : custodi nos dormientes, ut yigilemus cum Christo, et requiescamus in pace.

OREMUS. the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. Glory, &c.

Ant. Save us, O Lord, whilst awake, and watch us, as we sleep, that we may watch with Christ and rest in peace.

LET US PRAY.

Visita, qusesumus, Domine, habitationem istam, et omnes insidias inimici ab ea longe repelle: Angeli 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 unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

^. Dominus vobiscum. Et cum spiritu tuo. y. Benedicamus Domino.

Bt. Deo gratias.

Eenedicat et custodiat nos omnipotens et misericors Dominus, Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus. Amen.

Visit, we beseech thee, 0 Lord, this house and family, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy : let thy holy Angels dwell herein, who may keep us in peace, and may thy blessing be always upon us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. f. The Lord be with you. gt. And with thy spirit.

^. Let us bless the Lord.

&. Thanks be to God.

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

&. Amen.

ANTHEM TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Salve Eegina, Mater misericordiae.

Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filiiEvse.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrymarum valle.

Eia, ergo, advocata nos-

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy.

Our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope, all hail !

To thee we cry, poor banished children of Eve ;

To thee we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping, in this vale of tears.

Turn, then, most gracious

TIME AFTER FBHTB008T.

Father; and God, the last end of oreation and of redemption, will be all in all}

Long before the seer of the Apooalypse, Isaias sang : J saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and elevated, and his train filled the temple. And the Seraphim cried one to another, and said : Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God of hosts, all the earth is full of his glory. 2 The train and fringes of God's vesture are the eleot, who are the adornment of the Word, the splendour of the Father. For since the Word has ^espoused our human nature, that nature is his glory, as he is the glory of God. The Bride herself is clothed with the justifications of the Saints ; and when this glittering robe is perfected, the signal will be given for the end of time. This feast announces the ever-growing nearness of the eternal nuptials ; for on it we annually celebrate the progress of the Bride's preparations.

Blessed are they that are called to the marriagesupper of the Lamb ! z Blessed are we all, who have received in Baptism the nuptial robe of holy charity, which entitles us to a seat at the heavenly banquet ! Let us prepare ourselves for the unspeakable destiny reserved for us by love. To this end are directed all the labours of this life : toils, struggles, sufferings for t God's 'sake, all adorn with priceless jewels the garment of grace, the clothing of the elect. Blessed are they 'that mourn / 4

They that have gone before us, wept as they turned the furrows and cast in the seed ; but now their triumphant joy overflows upon us as an anticipated glory in this valley of tears. Without waiting for the dawn of eternity, the present solemnity gives us to enter by hope into the land of light, whither our