MAUNDY THURSDAY TENEBRÆ
sung on Wednesday Night
AT MATINS
Our Father, Hail Mary and I believe are said
silently. The Office is begun at once
with the Antiphon on the first Psalm; and at the end of each Psalm at Matins
and at Lauds one of the fifteen candles on the triangular stand before the
Altar is extinguished.
NOCTURN I
Ant. The zeal of thine house † hath even eaten me; and the rebukes of them
that rebuked thee are fallen upon me.
Psalm 69. Salvum me fac.
SAVE me, Ó God; * for the waters are come
in, even únto my soul.
2 I stick fast in the deep mire, where no gróund is; * I am come
into deep waters, so that the floods rún
over me.
3 I am weary of crying; † my throat ís dry; * my sight faileth me for
waiting so long úpon my God.
4 They that hate me without a cause are more
than the hairs of my head; *
they that are mine enemies, and would destroy me guiltléss, are mighty.
5 I paid them the things that I nevér took: * God, thou knowest my
simpleness, and my faults are nót hid
from thee.
6 Let not them that trust in thee, O Lord God of
hosts, be ashamed for my cause;
* let not those that seek thee be confounded through me, O Lord God óf Israel.
7 And why? † for thy sake have I suffered réproof; * shame hath cóvered my face.
8 I am become a stranger unto my bréthren, * even an alien unto my
móther's children.
9 For the zeal of thine house hath even eáten me; * and the rebukes of
them that rebuked thee are fallén
upon me.
10 I wept, and chastened myself with fásting, * and that was turned tó my reproof.
11 I put on sackcloth álso, * and they jestéd
upon me.
12 They that sit in the gate speak agáinst me, * and the drunkards
make sóngs upon me.
13 But, Lord, I make my prayer únto thee * in an accéptable time.
14 Hear me, O God, in the multitude of thy mércy, * even in the truth of thy salvation.
15 Take me out of the mire, that I sínk not; * O let me be delivered
from them that hate me, and out of thé
deep waters.
1
16 Let not the water flood drown me, † neither
let the deep swallow mé up; *
and let not the pit shut her móuth
upon me.
17 Hear me, O Lord, for thy loving-kindness is cómfortable; * turn thee unto me
according to the multitude óf thy
mercies.
18 And hide not thy face from thy servant, for I
am in tróuble: * O haste thée, and hear me.
19 Draw nigh unto my soul, and sáve it; * O deliver me, because óf mine enemies.
20 Thou hast known my reproof, my shame, and my
dishónour: * mine adversaries
are áll in thy sight.
21 Thy rebuke hath broken my heart; † I am full
of héaviness: * I looked for
some to have pity on me, but there was no man, † neither found I any tó comfort me.
22 They gave me gáll to eat; * and when I was thirsty they gave me vínegar to drink.
23 Let their table be made a snare to take themsélves withal; * and let the
things that should have been for their wealth be unto them an occasíon of falling.
24 Let their eyes be blinded, that they sée not; * and ever bow thóu down their backs.
25 Pour out thine indignation upón them, * and let thy wrathful
displeasure táke hold
of them.
26 Let their habitation bé void, * and no man to dwéll
in their tents.
27 For they persecute him whom thou hast smítten; * and they talk how they
may vex them whom thóu hast
wounded.
28 Let them fall from one wickedness to anóther, * and not come into thy righteousness.
29 Let them be wiped out of the book of the líving, * and not be written amóng the righteous.
30 As for me, when I am poor and in héaviness, * thy help, O God, sháll lift me up.
31 I will praise the Name of God with á song, * and magnify it wíth thanksgiving.
32 This also shall pléase the Lord, * better than a bullock that háth horns and hoofs.
33 The humble shall consider this and bé glad: * seek ye after God, and
yóur soul shall live.
34 For the Lord heareth thé poor, * and despiseth nót his prisoners.
35 Let heaven and earth práise him: * the sea, and all that móveth therein.
36 For God will save Sion, and build the cities
of Júdah, * that men may dwell
there, and have it ín possession.
2
37 The posterity also of his servants shall inhérit it; * and they that love
his Name sháll dwell therein.
Ant.
The zeal of thine house † hath even eaten me; and the rebukes of them
that rebuked thee are fallen upon me.
Ant.
Let them be turned backward † and put to confusion that wish me evil.
Psalm 70.
Deus in adjutorium.
HASTE thee, O
God, to delíver me; * make
haste to hélp me, O Lord.
2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek
after my soul; * let them be
turned backward and put to confusion that wísh
me evil.
3 Let them for their reward be soon brought tó shame * that cry ovér me, There, there.
4 But let all those that seek thee be joyful
and glád in thee: * and let
all such as delight in thy salvation say alway, Thé Lord be praised.
5 As for me, I am poor and in mísery: * haste thee untó me, O God.
6 Thou art my helper, and my redéemer: * O Lord, make nó long tarrying.
Ant.
Let them be turned backward † and put to confusion that wish me evil.
Ant. Deliver me, † O my God,
out of the hand of the ungodly.
Psalm 71.
In te, Domine, speravi.
IN thee, O
Lord, have I put my trust, let me never be put to confúsion: * but rid me and deliver me in thy righteousness; †
incline thine ear unto mé, and
save me.
2 Be thou my strong hold, whereunto I may alwáys resort: * thou hast promised
to help me, for thou art my house of defence, ánd my castle.
3 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the
ungódly, * out of the hand of
the unrighteous ánd cruel man.
4 For thou, O Lord God, art the thing that I lóng for: * thou art my hope, evén from my youth.
5 Through thee have I been holden up ever since
I wás born: * thou art he that
took me out of my mother's womb; † my praise shall be álways of thee.
6 I am become as it were a monster unto mány, * but my sure trúst is in thee.
7 O let my mouth be filled with thy praise, * that I may sing of
thy glory and honour áll the
day long.
3
8 Cast me not away in the time óf age; * forsake me not when my stréngth faileth me.
9 For mine enemies speak against me; † and they
that lay wait for my soul take their counsel together, sáying, * God hath forsaken him; † persecute him, and take
him, for there is none to déliver
him.
10 Go not far from me, Ó God; * my God, haste thée
to help me.
11 Let them be confounded and perish that are
against my soul; * let them be
covered with shame and dishonour that seek to dó me evil.
12 As for me, I will patiently abide álway, * and will praise thée more and more.
13 My mouth shall daily speak of thy
righteousness and salvátion; *
for I know nó end thereof.
14 I will go forth in the strength of the Lórd God, * and will make mention
of thy rightéousness only.
15 Thou, O God, hast taught me from my youth up
untíl now; * therefore will I
tell of thy wondrous works.
16 Forsake me not, O God, in mine old age when I
am gray-héaded, * until I have
shewed thy strength unto this generation, † and thy power to all them that are yét for to come.
17 Thy righteousness, O God, is véry high, * and great things are
they that thou hast done; † O God, who is
líke unto thee?
18 O what great troubles and adversities hast
thou shewed me! † and yet didst thou turn and refrésh me; * yea, and broughtest me from the deep of thé earth again.
19 Thou hast brought me to great hónour, * and comforted me ón every side:
20 Therefore will I praise thee and thy
faithfulness, O God, † playing upon an instrument of músic: * unto thee will I sing upon the harp, O thou Holy
One óf Israel.
21 My lips will be fain when I sing únto thee; * and so will my soul
whom thou hást delivered.
22 My tongue also shall talk of thy
righteousness all the dáy
long; * for they are confounded and brought unto shame that seek to dó me evil.
Ant. Deliver me, † O my God,
out of the hand of the ungodly.
V. Let
them be turned backward and put to cónfusion:
R.
That seek to do mé evil.
Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently. The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone
else sits down.
4
Here beginneth the Lamentation of Jeremiah the
Prophet.
Lesson i Chapter 1:1-14
ALEPH. How doth the city sit solitary, that was full
of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among
the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become
tributary! Beth. She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears
are on her cheeks; among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her
friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. Ghimel. Judah is gone into
captivity, because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth
among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her
between the straits. Daleth.
The ways of Sion do mourn,
because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate; her priests
sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. He. Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies
prosper; for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her
transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy
God.
V. On the mount of Olives † he prayed
to the Father: Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: * The
spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into
temptation. The spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak.
Lesson ii
VAU. From the daughter of Sion all her beauty is
departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture: and
they are gone without strength before the pursuer. Zain. Jerusalem remembered in the
days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had
in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none
did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths. Heth. Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore
she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her
nakedness; yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward. Teth. Her filthiness is in her skirts; she
remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no
comforter. O Lord, behold my affliction;
for the enemy hath magnified himself.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy
God.
5
V. My soul † is
exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with me: now
shall ye see the multitude which shall come about me: * Ye shall flee, and I go
to be offered up for you. Behold, the
hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Ye shall flee, and I go to be offered up for
you.
Lesson iii
JOD. The adversary hath spread
out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the
heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should
not enter into thy congregation. Caph.
All her people sigh, they seek
bread: they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see,
O Lord, and consider: for I am become vile.
Lamed. Is it nothing to
you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my
sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day
of his fierce anger. Mem. From above hath he sent fire into my bones,
and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath
turned me back; he hath made me desolate and faint all the day. Nun. The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his
hand; they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck; he hath made my strength to
fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to
rise up.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy
God.
V. Lo, † we have
seen him without form or comeliness; his look is gone from him: he hath borne
our sins and mourneth for us: but he was wounded for our transgressions, * with
his stripes we are healed. Surely he
hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.
With his stripes we are healed.
Lo, we have seen him without form or comeliness; his look is gone from
him: he hath borne our sins and mourneth for us: but he was wounded for our
transgressions, with his stripes we are healed.
NOCTURN II
Ant. He shall deliver † the poor
when he crieth: the needy also, and him that hath no helper.
Psalm 72. Deus,
judicium.
GIVE the King thy judgments, Ó God, * and thy righteousness untó the King's son.
6
2 Then shall he judge thy people according untó right, * and défend the poor.
3 The mountains also shall bríng peace, * and the little hills righteousness untó the people.
4 He shall keep the simple folk by théir right, * defend the
children of the poor, and punish thé
wrong doer.
5 They shall fear thee, as long as the sun and
moon endúreth, * from one
generation tó another.
6 He shall come down like the rain into a
fleece óf wool, * even as the
drops that wáter the earth.
7 In his time shall the righteous flóurish; * yea, and abundance of
peace, so long as the móon
endureth.
8 His dominion shall be also from the one sea
to the óther, * and from the
flood untó the world's end.
9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall kneel
befóre him; * his enemies sháll lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tharsis and of the isles shall
give présents; * the kings of
Arabia and Sabá shall bring
gifts.
11 All kings shall fall down befóre him; * all nations shall dó him service.
12 For he shall deliver the poor when he críeth; * the needy also, and him
that háth no helper.
13 He shall be favourable to the simple and néedy, * and shall preserve the sóuls of the poor.
14 He shall deliver their souls from falsehood ánd wrong; * and dear shall their
blood bé in his sight.
15 He shall live and unto him shall be given of
the gold of Arábia; * prayer
shall be made ever unto him and daily sháll
he be praised.
16 There shall be an heap of corn in the earth,
high upón the hills; * his
fruit shall shake like Libanus, and shall be green in the city like grass úpon the earth.
17 His Name shall endure for ever; † his Name
shall remain under the sun among the posterities which shall be blessed thróugh him; * and all the heathén shall praise him.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, even the God of Ísrael, * which only doéth wondrous things;
19 And blessed be the Name of his Majesty for éver: * and all the earth shall
be filled with his Majesty. † Ámen,
Amen.
Ant. He shall deliver † the poor
when he crieth: the needy also, and him that hath no helper.
7
Ant. They corrupt other, † and speak
of wicked blasphemy: their talking is against the Most High.
Psalm 73. Quam
bonus Israel.
TRULY God is loving unto Ísrael:
* even unto such as are óf a
clean heart.
2 Nevertheless, my feet were almóst gone, * my treadings hád well-nigh slipt.
3 And why? † I was grieved at the wícked: * I do also see the
ungodly in such prósperity.
4 For they are in no peril óf death; * but are lústy
and strong.
5 They come in no misfortune like óther folk; * neither are they
plagued líke other men.
6 And this is the cause that they are so holden
wíth pride, * and
overwhélmed with cruelty.
7 Their eyes swell with fátness, * and they do evén
what they lust.
8 They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blásphemy; * their talking is agáinst the Most High.
9 For they stretch forth their mouth unto the héaven, * and their tongue goéth through the world.
10 Therefore fall the people únto them, * and thereout suck they no smáll advantage.
11 Tush, say they, how should God percéive it? * is there knowledge ín the Most High?
12 Lo, these are the ungodly, † these prosper in
the world, and these have riches in posséssion:
* and I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, and washed mine hands in ínnocency.
13 All the day long have I been púnished, * and chastened évery morning.
14 Yea, and I had almost said even ás they; * but lo, then I should
have condemned the generation óf thy
children.
15 Then thought I to understánd this; * but it was tóo
hard for me,
16 Until I went into the sanctuary óf God: * then understood I the énd of these men;
17 Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery pláces, * and castest them down,
and déstroyest them.
18 Oh, how suddenly do they cónsume, * perish, and come to á fearful end!
19 Yea, even like as a dream when one awáketh; * so shalt thou make
their image to vanish out óf the
city.
8
20 Thus my heart wás grieved, * and it went evén through my reins.
21 So foolish was I, and ígnorant, * even as it were a béast before thee.
22 Nevertheless, I am alway by thee; * for thou hast holden me by my right hand.
23 Thou shalt guide me with thy cóunsel, * and after that receive
mé with glory.
24 Whom have I in heaven bút thee? * and there is none upon earth that I desire in
comparíson of thee.
25 My flesh and my heart fáileth; * but God is the strength of my heart, and my portíon for ever.
26 For lo, they that forsake thee shall pérish; * thou hast destroyed all
them that commit fornicatíon
against thee.
27 But it is good for me to hold me fast by God,
† to put my trust in the Lórd
God, * and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughtér of Sion.
Ant. They corrupt other, † and speak
of wicked blasphemy: their talking is against the Most High.
Ant. Arise O God: † maintain
my cause.
Psalm 74. Ut
quid, Deus.
O GOD, wherefore art thou absent
from us só long? * why is thy
wrath so hot against the sheep óf thy pasture?
2 O think upon thy congregátion, * whom thou hast purchased, and rédeemed of old.
3 Think upon the tribe of thine inhéritance, * and Mount Sion,
whereín thou hast dwelt.
4 Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly
destroy every énemy, * which
hath done evil in thy sánctuary.
5 Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy
congregátions, * and set up
their bannérs for tokens.
6 He that hath hewed timber afore out of the thíck trees, * was known to bring
it to an éxcellent work.
7 But now they break down all the carved wórk thereof * with axés and hammers.
8 They have set fire upon thy holy pláces, * and have defiled the
dwelling-place of thy Name, even únto
the ground.
9 Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make
havoc of them altogéther: *
thus have they burnt up all the houses of Gód
in the land.
9
10 We see not our tokens, † there is not one próphet more; * no, not one is
there among us that understandéth
any more.
11 O God, how long shall the adversary do this
dishónour? * how long shall
the enemy blaspheme thy Náme,
for ever?
12 Why withdrawest thou thy hand? * why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy
bosom to consume thé enemy?
13 For God is my King óf old; * the help that is done upon earth he doéth it himself.
14 Thou didst divide the sea through thy pówer; * thou brakest the heads
of the dragons ín the waters.
15 Thou smotest the heads of Leviathan in píeces, * and gavest him to be
meat for the people in thé
wilderness.
16 Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out
of the hárd rocks; * thou
driedst up míghty waters.
17 The day is thine and the níght is thine; * thou hast prepared the líght and the sun.
18 Thou hast set all the borders óf the earth; * thou hast made
summér and winter.
19 Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy hath rébuked; * and how the foolish
people hath blásphemed thy
Name.
20 O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove
unto the multitude of the énemies;
* and forget not the congregation of the póor
for ever.
21 Look upon the cóvenant; * for all the earth is full of darkness and cruel hábitations.
22 O let not the simple go away áshamed; * but let the poor and
needy give praise únto thy
Name.
23 Arise, O God, maintain thine ówn cause; * remember how the
foolish man blaspheméth thee
daily.
24 Forget not the voice of thine énemies; * the presumption of
them that hate thee increaseth evér
more and more.
Ant. Arise O God: † maintain
my cause.
V.
Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the úngodly:
R.
Out of the hand of the unrighteous and crúel
man.
Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently. The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone
else sits down.
10
From the Treatise of Saint Augustine the Bishop,
on the Psalms.
Lesson iv. On Ps. 55:1.
'HEAR my prayer, O God: and hide not thyself from my
petition. Take heed unto
me, and hear me.'
These are the words of one disquieted, in trouble
and anxiety. He prays under much
suffering, desiring to be released from evil.
Let us now see under what evil he lies: and when he begins to speak, let
us place ourselves by him: that, sharing his tribulation, we may join in his
prayer. I mourn, saith he, in my prayer,
and am vexed. When does he mourn? When is he vexed? He says: in my prayer. He speaks of the evil men whom he suffers:
and that sufferance of evil men he calls his complaint. Think not that the evil are in the world to
no avail, or that God makes no use of them.
Every wicked man lives either that he may be corrected himself: or that
the righteous may be exercised by him.
V. Mine own familiar friend † hath
betrayed me with a kiss: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him
fast. This wicked sign he gave: who with
a kiss brought about my death. * Unhappy
man, he threw down the price of blood: and in the end hanged himself. It had been good for that man if he had not
been born. Unhappy man, he threw down the
price of blood: and in the end hanged himself.
Lesson v.
WOULD that they who now try us were converted and
tried with us: yet, though they continue to try us, let us not
hate them: for we know not whether any of them will continue to the end in his
evil ways. And mostly, when thou
thinkest thyself to be hating thine enemy, thou hatest thy brother, and knowest
it not. The devil and his angels are
shown to us in Scripture as doomed to eternal fire. Their amendment alone is hopeless against
whom we wage a secret strife: for which strife the Apostle arms us, saying; We
wrestle not against flesh and blood: that is, not against men, whom we see, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this world. Lest that by saying, the
world, ye should think perhaps that devils are rulers of heaven and earth, he
says: Of the darkness of this world. He
says, of the world, that is, the lovers of the world: Of the world, that is,
the impious and wicked: Of the world, that is, of which the Gospel saith; And
the world knew him not.
11
V. Judas, † that most
wicked trader, betrayed the Lord with a kiss: he, like an innocent lamb,
refused not the kiss of Judas: * For a few pence he hath delivered Christ to
the Jews. It had been better for that
man if he had not been born. For a few
pence he hath delivered Christ to the Jews.
Lesson vi.
FOR I have spied unrighteousness and strife in the
city. See the glory of the Cross
itself. Now on the brow of kings is
placed that Cross, which enemies did deride.
Effect hath proved strength: he hath subdued the world, not with steel,
but with wood. The wood of the Cross
seemed a worthy object of scorn to his enemies; and standing before that wood
they wagged their heads, saying; If thou be the Son of God, come down from the
Cross. He stretched forth his hands to
an unbelieving and gainsaying people. If
he is just who lives by faith he is unrighteous who has not faith. Therefore when he saith unrighteousness,
understand that it is unbelief. The Lord
then saw unrighteousness and strife in the city, and stretched out his hand to
an unbelieving and gainsaying people: yet, waiting for them, he saith; Father,
forgive them, for they know not what they do.
V. One of my disciples † shall
this day betray me: Woe unto that man by whom I shall be betrayed: * It had
been better for that man if he had not been born. He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish,
the same is he that shall betray me into the hands of sinners. It had been better for that man if he had not
been born. One of my disciples shall
this day betray me: Woe unto that man by whom I shall be betrayed: It had been
better for that man if he had not been born.
NOCTURN III
Ant. I said unto the fools: † speak not
with a stiff neck.
Psalm 75. Confitebimur
tibi.
UNTO thee, O God, do we gíve thanks; * yea, unto thee dó we give thanks.
2 Thy name also is só nigh, * and that do thy wondróus works declare.
3 When I receive the congregátion * I shall judge accordíng unto right.
4 The earth is weak, and all the inhabiters théreof: * I bear up the píllars of it.
5 I said unto the fools, Deal not so mádly; * and to the ungodly, Set nót up your horn.
6 Set not up your horn ón high, * and speak not wíth
a stiff neck.
12
7 For promotion cometh neither from the east,
nor from thé west, * nor yét from the south.
8 And why? † God is thé Judge; * he putteth down one, and setteth úp another.
9 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup,
and the wine ís red; * it is
full mixed, and he poureth óut of
the same.
10 As for the dregs théreof, * all the ungodly of the earth shall drink them, ánd suck them out.
11 But I will talk of the God of Jácob, * and praise hím for ever.
12 All the horns of the ungodly also will Í break, * and the horns of the
righteous shall bé exalted.
Ant. I said unto the fools: † speak not
with a stiff neck.
Ant. The earth trembled † and was
still, when God arose to judgment.
Psalm 76. Notus
in Judæa.
IN Jewry is Gód
known; * his Name is great ín
Israel.
2 At Salem is his tabernácle, * and his dwellíng
in Sion.
3 There brake he the arrows óf the bow, * the shield, the
sword, ánd the battle.
4 Thou art of more honour ánd might * than the hills óf the robbers.
5 The proud are robbed, they have slept théir sleep; * and all the men
whose hands were mighty háve found
nothing.
6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jácob; * both the chariot and hórse are fallen.
7 Thou, even thou art to bé feared; * and who may stand in thy sight when thóu art angry?
8 Thou didst cause thy judgment to be heard
from héaven; * the earth trembléd, and was still.
9 When God arose to júdgment, * and to help all the méek upon earth.
10 The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise; * and the fierceness
of them shált thou refrain.
11 Promise unto the Lord your God and keep it, †
all ye that are round abóut him;
* bring presents unto him that óught
to be feared.
12 He shall refrain the spirit of prínces, * and is wonderful among
the kíngs of the earth.
Ant. The earth trembled † and was
still, when God arose to judgment.
13
Ant. In the time † of my trouble: I sought the
Lord.
Psalm 77. Voce
mea ad Dominum.
I
WILL cry
unto God with my voice; * even
unto God will I cry with my voice, and he shall hearkén unto me.
2 In the time of my trouble I sought thé Lord: * my sore ran, and
ceased not in the night-season; † my soul réfused
comfort.
3 When I am in heaviness, I will think upón God; * when my heart is vexed,
Í will complain.
4 Thou holdest mine eyes wáking: * I am so feeble that Í cannot speak.
5 I have considered the days óf old, * and the yéars that are past.
6 I call to remembrance my song, * and in the night I commune with mine own heart
and search óut my spirits.
7 Will the Lord absent himself for éver? * and will he be no móre intreated?
8 Is his mercy clean gone for éver? * and is his promise come
utterly to an end fór
evermore?
9 Hath God forgotten to be grácious? * and will he shut up his loving-kindness ín displeasure?
10 And I said, It is mine own infírmity; * but I will remember
the years of the right hand of thé
Most Highest.
11 I will remember the works of thé Lord, * and call to mind thy
wondérs of old time.
12 I will think also of all thy works, * and my talking shall be óf thy doings.
13 Thy way, O God, is hóly; * who is so great a Gód as our God?
14 Thou art the God that doest wónders, * and hast declared thy
power amóng the people.
15 Thou hast mightily delivered thy péople, * even the sons of Jacób and Joseph.
16 The waters saw thee, O God, † the waters saw
thee and were áfraid; * the
depths alsó were troubled.
17 The clouds poured out water, the air thúndered, * and thine arróws went abroad.
18 The voice of thy thunder was heard round ábout: * the lightnings shone
upon the ground; † the earth was moved ánd
shook withal.
19 Thy way is in the sea and thy paths in the
great wáters, * and thy footstéps are not known.
20 Thou leddest thy people líke sheep, * by the hand of Mosés and Aaron.
Ant. In the time † of my trouble: I sought the
Lord.
14
V.
Aríse, O God:
R.
Maintáin my cause.
Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently. The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone
else sits down.
From the First Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle
to the Corinthians.
Lesson vii Ch. 11:17-34
NOW in
this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together, not for
the better, but for the worse. For first
of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions
among you; and I partly believe it. For there
must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made
manifest among you. When ye come
together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating, every one taketh before other
his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What, have ye not houses to eat and to drink
in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you
in this? I praise you not.
V. I was like † a lamb
that is innocent; I was brought to the slaughter, and I knew it not; mine
enemies have taken counsel against me, saying: * Come, let us put wood into his
bread: and let us root him out of the land of the living. All mine enemies have thought evil things
against me: and have spoken against me, saying: Come, let us put wood into his
bread: and let us root him out of the land of the living.
Lesson viii
FOR I have received of the Lord that which also I
delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed
took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat:
this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup,
when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do
ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink
this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
15
V. Could ye not † watch
with me one hour, who were ready to die for me? * Or see ye not Judas, how he
sleepeth not, but hasteneth to deliver me up to the Jews? Why sleep ye?
Arise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. Or see ye not Judas, how he sleepeth not, but
hasteneth to deliver me up to the Jews?
Lesson ix
WHEREFORE whosoever
shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and
blood of the Lord. But let a man examine
himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily,
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among
you, and many sleep. For if we would
judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not
be condemned with the world. Wherefore,
my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home:
that ye come not together unto condemnation.
And the rest will I set in order when I come.
V. The elders † of the
people took counsel * How they might take Jesus by subtilty, and put him to
death: they went out as against a thief, with swords and staves. The chief priests and Pharisees took counsel. How they might take Jesus by subtilty, and
put him to death: they went out as against a thief, with swords and
staves. The elders of the people took
counsel. How they might take Jesus by
subtilty, and put him to death: they went out as against a thief, with swords
and staves.
AT LAUDS
Ant.
Mayest thou † be justified in thy saying, and clear when
thou art judged.
Psalm 51.
Miserere mei, Deus.
HAVE mercy
upon me, O God, after thy great góodness;
* according to the multitude of thy mercies do away míne offences.
2 Wash me throughly from my wíckedness, * and cleanse mé from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is evér before me.
4 Against thee only have I sinned, † and done
this evil in thy sight; * that
thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear whén thou art judged.
16
5 Behold, I was shapen in wíckedness, * and in sin hath my mothér conceived me.
6 But lo, thou requirest truth in the inwárd parts, * and shalt make me
to understand wisdóm secretly.
7 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall bé clean; * thou shalt wash me,
and I shall be whíter than
snow.
8 Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gládness, * that the bones which
thou hast brokén may rejoice.
9 Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out áll
my misdeeds.
10 Make me a clean heart, Ó God, * and renew a right spirít within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy présence, * and take not thy holy
Spírit from me.
12 O give me the comfort of thy help ágain, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
13 Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wícked, * and sinners shall be
convertéd unto thee.
14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, †
thou that art the God of my
health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy
righteousness.
15 Thou shalt open my lips, Ó Lord, * and my mouth sháll
shew thy praise.
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, † else would
I gíve it thee; * but thou
delightest not in búrnt-offerings.
17 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spírit: * a broken and contrite
heart, O God, shalt thóu not
despise.
18 O be favourable and gracious unto Síon; * build thou the walls of Jérusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice
of righteousness, † with the burnt-offerings and oblátions; * then shall they offer young bullocks upón thine altar.
Ant.
Mayest thou † be justified in thy saying, and clear when
thou art judged.
Ant. He was led † as a
sheep to the slaughter, and he opened not his mouth.
Psalm 90. Domine,
refugium.
LORD,
thou hast been our réfuge, *
from one generation tó
another.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or
ever the earth and the wórld
were made, * thou art God from everlasting, and wórld without end.
3 Thou turnest man to destrúction; * again thou sayest, Come again ye chíldren of men.
17
4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yésterday; * seeing that is past
as a wátch in the
night.
5 As soon as thou scatterest them they are even
as ásleep; * and fade away
suddenly like the grass.
6 In the morning it is green, and growéth up; * but in the evening it
is cut down, dried úp, and
withered.
7 For we consume away in thy displéasure, * and are afraid at thy
wrathful índignation.
8 Thou hast set our misdeeds befóre thee; * and our secret sins
in the light of thy
countenance.
9 For when thou art angry all our days áre gone: * we bring our years to
an end, as it were a tále that
is told.
10 The days of our age are threescore years and
ten; † and though men be so strong that they come to fourscóre years, * yet is their strength then but labour and
sorrow; † so soon passeth it away, ánd
we are gone.
11 But who regardeth the power of thy wrath? * for even thereafter
as a man feareth, so is thy displeasure.
12 So teach us to number óur days, * that we may apply our hearts únto wisdom.
13 Turn thee again, O Lord, at thé last, * and be gracious untó thy servants.
14 O satisfy us with thy mercy, and thát soon: * so shall we rejoice
and be glad all the dáys of
our life.
15 Comfort us again now after the time that thou
hast plágued us; * and for the
years wherein we have suffered ádversity.
16 Shew thy servants thy work, * and their childrén thy glory.
17 And the glorious Majesty of the Lord our God
be upón us: * prosper thou the
work of our hands upon us, † O prosper thou
óur handy-work.
Ant. He was led † as a
sheep to the slaughter, and he opened not his mouth.
Ant. My heart † within me is broken: all my
bones shake.
Psalm 36. Dixit
injustus.
MY heart sheweth me the wickedness of the ungódly, * that there is no fear of God béfore his eyes.
2 For he flattereth himself in his ówn sight, * until his abominable
sín be found out.
3 The words of his mouth are unrighteous, and
full of déceit: * he hath left
off to behave himself wisely, ánd to
do good.
18
4 He imagineth mischief upon his bed, and hath
set himself in no góod way; *
neither doth he abhor any thing thát
is evil.
5 Thy mercy, O Lord, reacheth unto the héavens, * and thy faithfulness únto the clouds.
6 Thy righteousness standeth like the strong móuntains: * thy judgments are líke the great deep.
7 Thou, Lord, shalt save both man and beast; †
How excellent is thy mercy, Ó God! * and the children of men shall put
their trust under the shadów
of thy wings.
8 They shall be satisfied with the
plenteousness of thy house; *
and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures, as out óf the river.
9 For with thee is the well óf life; * and in thy light sháll we see light.
10 O continue forth thy loving-kindness unto
them that knów thee, * and thy
righteousness unto them that áre true
of heart.
11 O let not the foot of pride come agáinst me; * and let not the hand
of the ungodly cast me down.
12 There are they fallen, all that work wíckedness: * they are cast down,
and shall not be áble to
stand.
Ant. My heart † within me is broken: all my
bones shake.
Ant. Thou hast encouraged us † in thy
power, O Lord, and in thy holy refection.
THE SONG OF MOSES
Exodus 15:1-19. Cantemus
Domino.
I
WILL sing
unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed glóriously:
the horse and his rider hath he thrown ínto the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength ánd song, * and he is become my salvation:
3 He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitátion; * my father's God, and I wíll exalt him.
4 The Lord is a man óf war: * the Lórd
is his Name.
5 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast
into thé sea: * his chosen
captains also are drowned ín
the Red Sea.
6 The depths have cóvered them: * they sank into the bottóm as a stone.
7 Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in
pówer: * thy right hand, O
Lord, hath dashed in pieces thé enemy.
8 And in the greatness of thine excellency †
thou hast overthrown them that rose up agáinst
thee; * thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed thém as stubble.
19
9 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters
were gathered togéther, * the
floods stood upright as an heap, † and the depths were congealed in the héart of the sea.
10 The enemy said, † I will pursue, I will
overtake, I will divide thé spoil;
* my lust shall be satisfíed
upon them;
11 I will draw my sword, * my hand sháll
destroy them.
12 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea cóvered them: * they sank as lead
in the míghty waters.
13 Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among thé gods? * who is like thee,
glorious in holiness, † fearful in praises, dóing
wonders?
14 Thou stretchedst out thy ríght hand, * the éarth
swallowed them.
15 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people
which thou hast rédeemed: *
thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy hábitation.
16 The people shall hear, and be áfraid: * sorrow shall take hold
on the inhabitants of Pálistina.
17 Then the dukes of Edom shall be ámazed; * the mighty men of Moab,
trembling shall take hold upon them; † all the inhabitants of Canaan sháll melt away.
18 Fear and dread shall fall upon them, † by the
greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as á stone; * till thy people pass over, O Lord, † till the
people pass over which thóu
hast purchased.
19 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in
the mountain of thine inhéritance,
* in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in; † in the
Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands háve
established.
20 The Lord sháll
reign * for evér and ever.
21 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his
chariots and with his horsemen into thé
sea, * and the Lord brought again the waters of the séa upon them.
22 But the children of Israel went on dry land * in the mídst of the sea.
Ant. Thou hast encouraged us † in thy
power, O Lord, and in thy holy refection.
Ant. He was made † an offering because he himself
desired it: and himself bare our sins.
Psalm 147. Laudate
Dominum.
O PRAISE the Lord, for it
is a good thing to sing praises unto óur
God; * yea, a joyful and plesant thing it is tó be thankful.
2 The Lord doth build up Jerúsalem, * and gather together the
outcasts óf Israel.
20
3 He healeth those that are broken ín heart, * and giveth medicine
to héal their sickness.
4 He telleth the number of thé stars, * and calleth them áll by their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and great is his pówer; * yea, and his wisdom ís infinite.
6 The Lord setteth up thé meek; * and bringeth the ungodly dówn to the ground.
7 O sing unto the Lord with thanksgíving; * sing praises upon the
harp únto our God;
8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and
prepareth rain for thé earth;
* and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains, and herb for thé use of men;
9 Who giveth fodder unto the cáttle, * and feedeth the young
ravens that cáll upon him.
10 He hath no pleasure in the strength of án horse; * neither delighteth he
in ány man's legs.
11 But the Lord's delight is in them that féar him, * and put their trust ín his mercy.
Ant. He was made † an offering because he
himself desired it: and himself bare our sins.
V.
Mine own familiar friend whom Í trusted;
R.
Who did also eat of my bread, hath laid great wáit for me.
Ant. on Benedictus. Now he that betrayed him † gave them
a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast.
All stand up. During the
singing of the following Canticle, all the candles upon the triangular stand
having been put out (except the one placed at the top), the six candles upon
the Altar are likewise extinguished one by one, so that at the last verse the
last candle is put out. The lamps and
other lights throughout the church, except those which burn before the Blessed
Sacrament, are extinguished, not to be relighted until Holy Saturday.
THE SONG OF ZACHARIAS
Saint Luke 1:68-79. Benedictus
Dominus.
BLESSED be the Lord God of Ísrael; * for he hath visited and redéemed his people;
2 And hath raised up a mighty salvation fór us, * in the house of his sérvant David;
21
3 As he spake by the mouth of his holy próphets, * which have been since
thé world began;
4 That we should be saved from our énemies, * and from the hand of áll that hate us;
5 To perform the mercy promised to our fórefathers, * and to remember
his holy covenant;
6 To perform the oath which he sware to our
forefather Ábraham, * that hé would give us;
7 That we being delivered out of the hand of
our énemies, * might serve hím without fear;
8 In holiness and righteousness befóre him, * all the dáys of our life.
9 And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet
of the Híghest: * for thou
shalt go before the face of the Lord to prépare
his ways;
10 To give knowledge of salvation unto his péople, * for the remissíon of their sins,
11 Through the tender mercy of óur God; * whereby the day-spring
from on high hath vísited us;
12 To give light to them that sit in darkness, †
and in the shadow óf death, *
and to guide our feet into thé
way of peace.
Ant. Now he that betrayed him † gave them
a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast.
During the repetition of the Antiphon Now he that betrayed him, the topmost candle is taken from the
candelabrum, and hidden from sight. Then
all kneel down and the following is sung:
Christ became † obedient for us unto death.
Our Father is then said in silence.
Then the Psalm Misere mei, Deus, is said in a
humble voice.
Psalm 51.
Miserere mei, Deus.
HAVE mercy
upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; * according to the multitude
of thy mercies do away mine offences.
2 Wash me throughly from my wickedness, * and
cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is
ever before me.
4 Against thee only have I sinned, † and done
this evil in thy sight; * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and
clear when thou art judged.
22
5 Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, * and in
sin hath my mother conceived me.
6 But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward
parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
7 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall
be clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness,
* that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out all
my misdeeds.
10 Make me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a
right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence, * and
take not thy holy Spirit from me.
12 O give me the comfort of thy help again, *
and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
13 Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked,
* and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, †
thou that art the God of my health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy
righteousness.
15 Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, * and my
mouth shall shew thy praise.
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, † else would
I give it thee; * but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
17 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: *
a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
18 O be favourable and gracious unto Sion; *
build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice
of righteousness, † with the burnt-offerings and oblations; * then shall they
offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
Then the officiant, still kneeling, says the Collect in a humble
voice, without The
Lord be with you or Let us pray.
COLLECT
ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee
graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to
be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death
upon the cross. He adds silently, Who
now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world
without end. Amen.
A slight noise is then made; the lighted candle is at once brought
forth from the place where it was concealed; and all rise and depart in
silence.
23
GOOD
FRIDAY TENEBRÆ
sung on
Maundy Thursday Night
AT MATINS
Our Father, Hail Mary and I believe are said
silently. The Office is begun at once
with the Antiphon on the first Psalm; and at the end of each Psalm at Matins
and at Lauds one of the fifteen candles on the triangular stand before the
Altar is extinguished.
NOCTURN I
Ant.
The kings † of the earth stand up, and the rulers take
counsel together against the Lord, and against his Anointed.
Psalm 2. Quare
fremuerunt gentes.
WHY do
the heathen so furiously rage togéther?
* and why do the people imagíne
a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth stand up and the
rulers take counsel togéther *
against the Lord and against hís
Anointed.
3 Let us break their bonds asúnder, * and cast away théir cords from us.
4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them tó scorn: * the Lord shall have
them ín derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in hís wrath, * and vex them in his sóre displeasure:
6 Yet have I set my King * upon my holy híll
of Sion.
7 I will preach the law, whereof the Lord hath
said únto me, * Thou art my
Son, this day have I bégotten
thee.
8 Desire of me, and I shall give thee the
heathen for thine inhéritance,
* and the utmost parts of the earth for thy
possession.
9 Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of íron, * and break them in pieces
like a pótter's vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O yé kings; * be learned, ye that are judgés of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord ín fear, * rejoice unto hím
with reverence.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, † and so ye perish
from the ríght way; * if his
wrath be kindled, yea but a little, †
blessed are all they that put théir
trust in him.
Ant.
The kings † of the earth stand up, and the rulers take
counsel together against the Lord, and against his Anointed.
If this Office follows the Mass, the Altar is stripped during the
following Psalm:
24
Ant. They part my garments † among
them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Psalm 22. Deus,
Deus meus.
MY God,
my God, look upon me; † why hast thou forsáken
me? * and art so far from my health, and from the words óf my complaint?
2 O my God, I cry in the day-time, but thou héarest not; * and in the
night-season also Í take no
rest.
3 And thou continuest hóly, * O thou worship óf
Israel.
4 Our fathers hóped in thee; * they trusted in thee and thou didst déliver them.
5 They called upon thee, and were hólpen; * they put their trust in
thee, and were nót confounded.
6 But as for me, I am a worm, and nó man; * a very scorn of men,
and the outcast óf the people.
7 All they that see me laught me tó scorn: * they shoot out their
lips, and shake théir heads,
saying,
8 He trusted in God, that he would delíver him; * let him deliver him,
if hé will have him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of my móther's womb; * thou wast my
hope, when I hanged yet upon my
mother's breasts.
10 I have been left unto thee ever since I wás born; * thou art my God even
from my mother's womb.
11 O go not from me, † for trouble is hard át hand, * and there is nóne to help me.
12 Many oxen are come abóut me; * fat bulls of Basan close me in ón every side.
13 They gape upon me with théir mouths, * as it were a ramping and a róaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones
are óut of joint; * my heart
also in the midst of my body is even líke
melting wax.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, †
and my tongue cleaveth tó my
gums, * and thou shalt bring me into thé
dust of death.
16 For many dogs are come abóut me, * and the council of the wicked layeth síege against me.
17 They pierced my hands and my feet; † I may
tell áll my bones: * they
stand staring and lookíng upon
me.
18 They part my garments amóng them, * and cast lots upón my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, Ó Lord: * thou art my succour,
haste thée to help me.
25
20 Deliver my soul from thé sword, * my darling from the powér of the dog.
21 Save me from the líon's mouth; * thou hast heard me also from among the horns
of thé unicorns.
22 I will declare thy Name unto my bréthren; * in the midst of the
congregation wíll I praise
thee.
23 O praise the Lord, ye that féar him: * magnify him, all ye
of the seed of Jacob, † and fear him, all ye seed óf Israel;
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the low
estate of thé poor; * he hath
not hid his face from him, but when he called unto hím he heard him.
25 My praise is of thee in the great congregátion; * my vows will I perform
in the sight of thém that fear
him.
26 The poor shall eat and be sátisfied: * they that seek after
the Lord shall praise him; † your heart shall líve for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember
themselves, and be turned unto thé
Lord; * and all the kindreds of the nations shall worshíp before him.
28 For the kingdom ís the Lord's, * and he is the Governor amóng the people.
29 All such as be fat upón earth * have eatén
and worshipped.
30 All they that go down into the dust shall
kneel befóre him; * and no man
hath quickéned his own soul.
31 My seed shall sérve him; * they shall be counted unto the Lord for a géneration.
32 They shall come and the heavens shall declare
his ríghteousness * unto a
people that shall be born, whom thé
Lord hath made.
Ant. They part my garments † among
them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Ant. There are false witnesses † risen
up against me, and such as speak wrong.
Psalm 27. Dominus
illuminatio.
THE Lord is my light and my salvation; † whom then
shall Í fear? * the Lord is the
strength of my life; † of whom then shall Í
be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my
foes came upon me to eat up my
flesh, * they stúmbled and
fell.
3 Though an host of men were laid against me,
yet shall not my heart be áfraid;
* and though there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him.
26
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I
will réquire; * even that I
may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, † to behold the
fair beauty of the Lord and to visít
his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me
in his tabernácle; * yea, in
the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me, and set me up upon á rock of stone.
6 And now shall he lift up míne head * above mine enemies róund about me.
7 Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an
oblation with great gládness;
* I will sing and speak praises únto
the Lord.
8 Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry únto thee; * have mercy upon mé, and hear me.
9 My heart hath talked of thee, Seek ye my face: * Thy face, Lórd, will I seek.
10 O hide not thou thy face fróm me, * nor cast thy servant away ín displeasure.
11 Thou hast been my súccour; * leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
12 When my father and my mother forsáke me, * the Lord táketh me up.
13 Teach me thy wáy, O Lord, * and lead me in the right way, because of míne enemies.
14 Deliver me not over into the will of mine ádversaries: * for there are
false witnesses risen up against me and súch
as speak wrong.
15 I should utterly have fáinted, * but that I believe verily to see the goodness of
the Lord in the land óf the
living.
16 O tarry thou the Lord léisure; * be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart; †
and put thou thy trúst in the
Lord.
Ant. There are false witnesses † risen
up against me, and such as speak wrong.
V.
They part my garments ámong
them:
R. And
cast lots upon my vesture.
Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently. The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone
else sits down.
27
From the Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet.
Lesson i. Chapter 2:8-15
HETH. The Lord hath purposed to destroy the wall of
the daughter of Sion; he hath stretched out a line, he hath not
withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall
to lament; they languished together. Teth. Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath
destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles:
the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the Lord. Jod.
The elders of the daughter of Sion sit upon the ground, and keep silence:
they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with
sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground. Caph. Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are
troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the
daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the
streets of the city.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy
God.
V. All my friends † have
forsaken me, and they that laid snares for me have prevailed against me; he
whom I loved hath betrayed me: * And with terrible looks, piercing me with a
cruel blow, they gave me vinegar to drink.
They cast me out among the wicked, and spared not my life. And with terrible looks, piercing me with a
cruel blow, they gave me vinegar to drink.
Lesson ii.
LAMED. They say to their mothers, Where is corn and
wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the
city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom. Mem.
What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to
thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort
thee, O virgin daughter of Sion? for thy breach is great like the sea; who can
heal thee? Nun. Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things
for thee; and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy
captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment. Samech. All that pass by clap their hands at thee;
they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the
city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
28
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy
God.
V. The veil of the temple † was rent:
* And the whole earth did quake: the thief from the cross cried out, saying:
Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. The rocks were rent, and the graves were
opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose. And the whole earth did quake: the thief from
the cross cried out saying: Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy
kingdom.
Lesson iii. Chapter 3:1-9
ALEPH. I am the man that hath seen
affliction by the rod of his wrath. Aleph. He hath led me, and brought
me into darkness, but not into light. Aleph. Surely against me is he turned; he turneth
his hand against me all the day. Beth.
My flesh and my skin hath he
made old; he hath broken my bones. Beth.
He hath builded against me, and
compassed me with gall and travail. Beth. He hath set me in dark places, as they that
be dead of old. Ghimel. He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get
out: he hath made my chain heavy. Ghimel.
Also when I cry and shout, he
shutteth out my prayer. Ghimel. He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he
hath made my paths crooked.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy
God.
V. O my chosen vine, † I have
planted thee: * How art thou turned into bitterness; that thou shouldst crucify
me, and let Barrabas go. I fenced thee,
and gathered out the stones from thee, and built a tower. How art thou turned into bitterness; that
thou shouldst crucify me, and let Barrabas go.
O my chosen vine, I have planted thee: how art thou turned into
bitterness; that thou shouldst crucify me, and let Barrabas go.
Nocturn II
Ant. They also † that sought after my life
laid snares for me.
Psalm 38. Domine,
ne in furore.
PUT me not to rebuke, O Lord, in
thine ánger; * neither chasten
me in thy heavy
displeasure:
2 For thine arrows stick fást in me, * and thy hand présseth me sore.
3 There is no health in my flesh because of thy
displéasure; * neither is
there any rest in my bones by reasón
of my sin.
29
4 For my wickednesses are gone over my head, * and are like a sore
burden, too heavy fór me to
bear.
5 My wounds stink, and are córrupt, * through my
foolishness.
6 I am brought into so great trouble and mísery, * that I go mourning áll the day long.
7 For my loins are filled with a sore dísease, * and there is no whole
part ín my body.
8 I am feeble and sore smítten; * I have roared for the very disquietnéss of my heart.
9 Lord, thou knowest all my désire; * and my groaning is nót hid from thee.
10 My heart panteth, my strength hath fáiled me, * and the sight of
mine eyes ís gone from me.
11 My lovers and my neighbours did stand looking
upon my tróuble, * and my
kinsmen stóod afar off.
12 They also that sought after my life laid snáres for me; * and they that
went about to do me evil talked of wickedness, † and imagined deceit áll the day long.
13 As for me, I was like a deaf man, and héard not; * and as one that is
dumb, who doth not ópen his
mouth.
14 I became even as a man that héareth not, * and in whose mouth
áre no reproofs.
15 For in thee, O Lord, have I pút my trust; * thou shalt answer
for me, Ó Lord my God.
16 I have required that they, even mine enemies,
should not triumph óver me; *
for when my foot slipped, they rejoiced greatly against me.
17 And I truly am set ín the plague, * and my heaviness is evér in my sight.
18 For I will confess my wíckedness, * and be sorry
for my sin.
19 But
mine enemies live and are míghty;
* and they that hate me wrongfully are many
in number.
20 They also that reward evil for good are agáinst me; * because I follow the
thíng that good is.
21 Forsake me not, O Lórd my God; * be not thóu
far from me.
22 Haste thee to hélp me, * O Lord God of my
salvation.
Ant. They also † that sought after my life
laid snares for me.
Ant.
Let them be ashamed † and confounded together, that seek after my
soul to destroy it.
30
Psalm 40. Exspectans
exspectavi.
I WAITED patiently fór
the Lord, * and he inclined unto me, and héard my calling.
2 He brought me also out of the horrible pit, †
out of the míre and clay, *
and set my feet upon the rock, and ordéred
my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, * even a thanksgiving únto our God.
4 Many shall see it ánd fear, * and shall put their trúst in the Lord.
5 Blessed is the man that hath set his hope in thé Lord, * and turned not unto
the proud, and to such as go ábout
with lies.
6 O Lord my God, great are the wondrous works
which thou hast done, † like as be also thy thoughts which are to ús-ward; * and yet there is no
man that ordereth thém unto
thee.
7 If I should declare them and spéak of them, * they should be
more than I am ablé to
express.
8 Sacrifice and meat-offering thou wouldést not, * but mine ears hást thou opened.
9 Burnt-offering and sacrifice for sin hast
thou not réquired: * then said
Í, Lo, I come;
10 In the volume of the book it is written of
me, that I should fulfil thy will, O my
God: * I am content to do it; † yea, thy law is wíthin my heart.
11 I have declared thy righteousness in the
great congregátion: * lo, I
will not refrain my lips, O Lord, and thát
thou knowest.
12 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; * my talk hath been of
thy truth, and of thy salvation.
13 I have not kept back thy loving mercy ánd truth * from the great cóngregation.
14 Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me, Ó Lord; * let thy loving-kindness
and thy truth alwáy preserve
me.
15 For innumerable troubles are come about me; †
my sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to lóok up; * yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my
head, and my heárt hath failed
me.
16 O Lord, let it be thy pleasure to delíver me; * make haste, O Lórd, to help me.
17 Let them be ashamed and confounded together
that seek after my soul to destróy
it; * let them be driven backward and put to rebuke that wísh me evil.
18 Let them be desolate and rewarded wíth shame, * that say unto me
Fie upon thee, fíe upon thee.
31
19 Let all those that seek thee be joyful and
glad ín thee; * and let such
as love thy salvation say always, Thé
Lord be praised.
20 As for me, I am poor and néedy; * but the Lord cáreth
for me.
21 Thou art my helper and redéemer; * make no long tarryíng, O my God.
Ant.
Let them be ashamed † and confounded together, that seek after my
soul to destroy it.
Ant.
Strangers † are risen up against me, and tyrants seek after my soul.
Psalm 54. Deus,
in nomine.
SAVE me, O God, for thy Náme's sake, * and avenge mé in thy strength.
2 Hear my prayer, Ó God, * and hearken unto the wórds of my mouth.
3 For strangers are risen up agáinst me; * and tyrants, which
have not God before their eyes, seek áfter
my soul.
4 Behold, God is my hélper; * the Lord is with them that úphold my soul.
5 He shall reward evil unto mine énemies: * destroy thou thém in thy truth.
6 An offering of a free heart will I give thee,
and praise thy Name, Ó Lord; *
because it is so cómfortable.
7 For he hath delivered me out of all my tróuble; * and mine eye hath seen
his desire upon míne enemies.
Ant.
Strangers † are risen up against me, and tyrants seek after my soul.
V. There are false witnesses risen up ágainst me.
R. And such ás speak wrong.
Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently. The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone
else sits down.
From the Treatise of Saint Augustine the Bishop,
on the Psalms.
Lesson iv. Ps. 64:2.
'HIDE me from the gathering together of the froward,
and from the multi-tude of wicked
doers.'
32
Now let us contemplate our Head Himself. Many martyrs have suffered such things, but
none shines with such glory as the head of the martyrs: in him we see better
what they endured. He was hidden from
the multitude of the froward. For God
hid himself: he, the very Son made man, hid his own flesh. For he is Son of Man and Son of God: Son of
God, being in the form of God: Son of Man, being in the form of a servant:
having power to lay down his life, and having power to take it again. What could his enemies do unto him? They killed the body, the soul they killed
not. Give heed: It were little for the
Lord to exhort the martyrs by word, did he not confirm them by his example.
V. Ye are come out † against
me as against a thief: with swords and staves for to take me. * I sat daily
with you teaching in the temple; and ye laid no hold on me: and behold ye
scourge me, and lead me away to be crucified.
And when they had laid hands on Jesus, and held him, he said unto them,
I sat daily with you teaching in the temple; and ye laid no hold on me: and
behold ye scourge me, and lead me away to be crucified.
Lesson v.
YE know what was the gathering together of the
froward Jews, and what was the multitude of the wicked doers. How were they wicked doers? In that they desired to kill the Lord Jesus
Christ. Many good works, saith he, have
I showed you: for which of these works do ye desire to kill me? He bore all their infirmities, he healed all
their sick, he preached the kingdom of heaven: he kept not silence concerning
their vices, and this, that they might be displeased with the vices themselves,
not with the physician who healed them.
Yet such was their ingratitude for all these cures, that, like men
raging in high fever, they were maddened against the physician who had come to
heal them, and took counsel for his destruction. As though they would put it to the proof
whether he were very man or mortal, or whether he were something superhuman,
who would not suffer himself to die. We
recognized their words in the wisdom of Solomon: Let us condemn him, they say,
with a shameful death. Let us examine
him: for by his own saying he shall be respected. If he be the Son of God, he will help him.
V. There was darkness † over all
the land, when the Jews had crucified Jesus: and about the ninth hour Jesus
cried with a loud voice saying: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? *
And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost.
When Jesus had cried with a loud voice: he said, Father into thy hands I
commend my spirit. And bowing his head,
he gave up the ghost.
33
Lesson vi.
THEY have whet their tongues like a sword. Let not the Jews say: We did not kill
Christ. For they delivered him up to
Pilate's tribune in order that they should themselves seem innocent of his
death. For when Pilate said to them; Put
ye him to death: they answered; It is not lawful for us to put any man to
death. Thus when they sought to cast the
guilt of their crime upon a human judge: did they deceive God the Judge? What Pilate did made him in some sort
partaker of their crime: but in comparison with them he was much more
innocent. For he did all he could to
rescue him out of their hands: and therefore ordered him to be scourged and
brought before them. Not by way of
persecution did he scourge the Lord, but as wishing to satisfy their rage: that
when they saw him scourged, they might relent, and cease to desire his death. This then he did. But when they persisted, ye know how he
washed his hands, and said that it was not he that did the deed, and that he
was innocent of his death. Nevertheless
he did do it. But if he be guilty who
did it, though reluctantly: shall they be innocent who forced him to do
it? By no means. He pronounced sentence on him and commanded
him to be crucified, and so might be said to kill him: but ye, O Jews, have
killed him. How did ye kill him? With the sword of the tongue: for ye have
whet your tongue. And when did ye strike
the blow, but when ye cried out: Crucify him, Crucify him.
V. I have delivered † the
beloved of my soul into the hand of the wicked: and mine heritage is become
unto me as a lion in the wood: mine adversary hath cried out against me saying:
Gather ye together and make haste to devour him: they have placed me in a
lonely desert: and all the earth hath mourned over me. * Because there was none
found that would know me, and do me any good.
Men without mercy rose up against me, and spared not my life. Because there was none found that would know
me, and do me any good. I have delivered
the beloved of my soul into the hand of the wicked: and mine heritage is become
unto me as a lion in the wood: mine adversary hath cried out against me saying:
Gather ye together and make haste to devour him: They have placed me in a
lonely desert: and all the earth hath mourned over me. Because there was none found that would know
me: and do me any good.
NOCTURN III
Ant.
Defend me, O Lord, † from them that rise up against me: for lo, they
lie waiting for my soul.
34
Psalm 59. Eripe
me de inimicis.
DELIVER me
from mine enemies, Ó God; *
defend me from them that rise úp
against me.
2 O deliver me from the wicked dóers, * and save me from the blóodthirsty men.
3 For lo, they lie waiting for my soul; * the mighty men are
gathered against me, without any offence or fault óf me, O Lord.
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault; * arise thou therefore
to help mé, and behold.
5 Stand up, O Lord God of hosts, thou God of
Israel, † to visit all the héathen,
* and be not merciful unto them that offend of malicíous wickedness.
6 They go to and fro in the évening, * they grin like a dog,
and run about thróugh the
city.
7 Behold, they speak with their mouth, and
swords are in théir lips; * fór who doth hear?
8 But thou, O Lord, shalt have them in derísion, * and thou shalt laugh
all the héathen to scorn.
9 My strength will I ascribe untó thee; * for thou art the God óf my refuge.
10 God sheweth me his goodness plénteously; * and God shall let
me see my desire upon míne enemies.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forgét it; * but scatter them abroad
among the people, and put them down, O Lórd,
our defence.
12 For the sin of their mouth, and for the words
of their lips, † they shall be taken in théir
pride: * and why? † their preaching is of cúrsing and lies.
13 Consume them in thy wrath, consume them that
they may pérish; * and know
that it is God that ruleth in Jacob, † and unto the énds of the world.
14 And in the evening they will réturn, * grin like a dog, and
will go abóut the city.
15 They will run here and there fór meat, * and grudge if they be
nót satisfied.
16 As for me, I will sing of thy power and will
praise thy mercy betimes in the mórning;
* for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day óf my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will Í sing; * for thou, O God, art my
refuge, and my mérciful God.
Ant.
Defend me, O Lord, † from them that rise up against me: for lo,
they lie waiting for my soul.
35
Ant. Thou hast put away mine acquaintance † far from
me: I am so fast in prison that I cannot get forth.
Psalm 88. Domine
Deus.
O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and
night befóre thee: * O let my prayer
enter into thy presence, incline thine ear untó my calling.
2 For my soul is full of tróuble, * and my life draweth nígh unto hell.
3 I am counted as one of them that go down into
thé pit, * and I have been
even as a man thát hath no
strength.
4 Free among the dead, like unto them that are
wounded, and lie in thé grave,
* who are out of remembrance, and are cut awáy
from thy hand.
5 Thou hast laid me in the lowést pit, * in a place of
darkness, ánd in the deep.
6 Thine indignation lieth hard upón me, * and thou hast vexed me wíth all thy storms.
7 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far fróm me, * and made me to be ábhorred of them.
8 I am so fast in príson * that I cánnot
get forth.
9 My sight faileth for very tróuble; * Lord, I have called
daily upon thee, I have stretched forth my hánds
unto thee.
10 Dost thou shew wonders among thé dead? * or shall the dead
rise up agáin, and praise
thee?
11 Shall thy loving-kindness be shewed ín the grave? * or thy
faithfulness ín destruction?
12 Shall thy wondrous works be known ín the dark? * and thy
righteousness in the land where all things
áre forgotten?
13 Unto thee have I cried, Ó Lord; * and early shall my prayer cóme before thee.
14 Lord, why abhorrest thou my soul, * and hidest thou thy face from me?
15 I am in misery, and like unto him that is at
the point tó die; * even from
my youth up, thy terrors have I suffered with á troubled mind.
16 Thy wrathful displeasure goeth óver me, * and the fear of thee háth undone me.
17 They came round about me daily like wáter, * and compassed me
together ón every side.
18 My lovers and friends hast thou put away fróm me: * and hid mine
acquaintance óut of my sight.
Ant. Thou hast put away mine acquaintance † far from
me: I am so fast in prison that I cannot get forth.
36
Ant. They gather them together † against
the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
Psalm 94. Deus
ultionum.
O LORD God, to whom vengeance belóngeth, * thou God, to whom vengeance belongéth, shew thyself.
2 Arise, thou Judge of thé world, * and reward the proud after théir deserving.
3 Lord, how long shall the ungódly, * how long shall the ungódly triumph?
4 How long shall all wicked doers speak so disdáinfully, * and make súch proud boasting?
5 They smite down thy people, Ó Lord, * and trouble thíne heritage.
6 They murder the widow and the stránger, * and put the fathérless to death.
7 And yet they say, Tush, the Lord shall nót see, * neither shall the God
of Jacób regard it.
8 Take heed, ye unwise among the péople: * O ye fools, when will yé understand?
9 He that planted the ear, shall he nót hear? * or he that made the
eye, sháll he not see?
10 Or he that nurtureth the héathen, * it is he that teacheth man knowledge; † shall nót he punish?
11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts óf man, * that théy are but vain.
12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, Ó Lord, * and teachest hím in thy law;
13 That thou mayest give him patience in time of
advérsity, * until the pit be
digged up for thé ungodly.
14 For the Lord will not fail his péople; * neither will he forsake
his ínheritance;
15 Until righteousness turn again unto júdgment: * all such as are true
in heart sháll follow it.
16 Who will rise up with me against the wícked? * or who will take my
part aginst the évil-doers?
17 If the Lord had not hélped me, * it had not failed, but my soul had been pút to silence.
18 But when I said, My foot háth slipt; * thy mercy, O Lórd, held me up.
19 In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart, * thy comforts have réfreshed my soul.
37
20 Wilt thou have any thing to do with the stool
of wíckedness, * which
imagineth mischíef as a law?
21 They gather them together against the soul of
the ríghteous, * and condemn
the ínnocent blood.
22 But the Lord is my réfuge, * and my God is the strength of my confidence.
23 He shall recompense them their wickedness, †
and destroy them in their own málice;
* yea, the Lord our God sháll
destroy them.
Ant. They gather them together † against
the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
V. They
have spoken against me wíth
false tongues.
R. They compassed me about also with words of
hatred,
and
fought against me withóut a
cause.
Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently. The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone
else sits down.
From the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Lesson vii. Chapter 4:11-16;
5:1-10
LET us
labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same
example of unbelief. For the word of God
is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to
the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not
manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him
with whom we have to do. Seeing then
that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the
Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling
of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin.
V.
They have given me up † into the hands of sinners, and cast me out
among the wicked, and spared not my life: the mighty gathered together against
me: * And like giants they stood up against me.
Strangers are risen up against me; and the mighty sought after my
life. And like giants they stood up
against me.
38
Lesson viii.
LET us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and
find grace to help in time of need. For
every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining
to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have
compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he
himself also is compassed with infirmity.
And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself,
to offer for sins.
V. The wicked man † betrayed
Jesus to the chief priests and elders of the people: * But Peter followed him
afar off, to see the end. And they led
him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and Pharisees were
assembled. But Peter followed him afar
off, to see the end.
Lesson ix.
AND no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he
that is called of God, as was Aaron.
So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he
that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a
priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had
offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that
was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he
were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the thing which he suffered; and being
made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey
him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedech.
V. Mine eyes are dimmed † by my
weeping: for he is far from me that comforted me: See all ye people: * If there
be any sorrow like unto my sorrow. All
ye that pass by, behold and see: if there be any sorrow like unto my
sorrow. Mine eyes are dimmed by my
weeping: for he is far from me that comforted me: See all ye people, if there
be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.
AT LAUDS
Ant. He spared not † his own
Son: but delivered him up for us all.
39
Psalm 51.
Miserere mei, Deus.
HAVE mercy
upon me, O God, after thy great góodness;
* according to the multitude of thy mercies do away míne offences.
2 Wash me throughly from my wíckedness, * and cleanse mé from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is evér before me.
4 Against thee only have I sinned, † and done
this evil in thy sight; * that
thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear whén thou art judged.
5 Behold, I was shapen in wíckedness, * and in sin hath my mothér conceived me.
6 But lo, thou requirest truth in the inwárd parts, * and shalt make me
to understand wisdóm secretly.
7 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall bé clean; * thou shalt wash me,
and I shall be whíter than
snow.
8 Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gládness, * that the bones which
thou hast brokén may rejoice.
9 Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out áll
my misdeeds.
10 Make me a clean heart, Ó God, * and renew a right spirít within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy présence, * and take not thy holy
Spírit from me.
12 O give me the comfort of thy help ágain, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
13 Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wícked, * and sinners shall be
convertéd unto thee.
14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, †
thou that art the God of my
health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy
righteousness.
15 Thou shalt open my lips, Ó Lord, * and my mouth sháll
shew thy praise.
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, † else would
I gíve it thee; * but thou
delightest not in búrnt-offerings.
17 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spírit: * a broken and contrite
heart, O God, shalt thóu not
despise.
18 O be favourable and gracious unto Síon; * build thou the walls of Jérusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice
of righteousness, † with the burnt-offerings and oblátions; * then shall they offer young bullocks upón thine altar.
Ant. He spared not † his own
Son: but delivered him up for us all.
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Ant.
My spirit † is vexed within me: and my heart within me
is desolate.
Psalm 143. Domine,
exaudi.
HEAR my prayer, O Lord, and consider my désire; * hearken unto me for thy
truth and ríghteousness' sake.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy sérvant; * for in thy sight shall
no man living bé justified.
3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; † he
hath smitten my life down to thé ground;
* he hath laid me in the darkness, and the men that háve been long dead.
4 Therefore is my spirit vexed withín me, * and my heart within me ís desolate.
5 Yet do I remember the time past; † I muse
upon all thy works; * yea, I
exercise myself in the wórks of
thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands únto thee; * my soul gaspeth unto thee as á thirsty land.
7 Hear me, O Lord, and that soon, for my spirit
wáxeth faint; * hide not thy
face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down ínto the pit.
8 O let me hear thy loving-kindness betimes in
the morning, † for in thee is my trust:
* shew thou me the way that I should walk in, for I lift up my sóul unto thee.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine énemies; * for I flee unto thée to hide me.
10 Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee
for thou art my God: * let thy
loving Spirit lead me forth into the land óf
righteousness.
11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Náme's sake; * and for thy
righteousness' sake bring my soul óut
of trouble.
12 And of thy goodness slay mine énemies, * and destroy all them
that vex my soul; † for I ám
thy servant.
Ant.
My spirit † is vexed within me: and my heart within me
is desolate.
Ant. The other malefactor † answering
rebuked him, saying; We indeed receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man
hath done nothing amiss. Lord, remember
me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Psalm 85. Benedixisti,
Domine.
LORD,
thou art become gracious unto thy
land; * thou hast turned away the captivity
of Jacob.
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2 Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy péople, * and covéred all their sins.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy displéasure, * and turned thyself
from thy wrathful índignation.
4 Turn us then, O God our Sáviour, * and let thine angér cease from us.
5 Wilt thou be displeased at us for éver? * and wilt thou stretch out
thy wrath from one generation tó another?
6 Wilt thou not turn again, and quícken us, * that thy people may
réjoice in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, Ó Lord, * and grant us thy
salvation.
8 I will hearken what the Lord God will say concérning me; * for he shall speak
peace unto his people, and to his saints, † that they túrn not again.
9 For his salvation is nigh them that féar him; * that glory may dwéll in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met togéther: * righteousness and peace
have kíssed each other.
11 Truth shall flourish out of thé earth, * and righteousness
hath looked dówn from heaven.
12 Yea, the Lord shall shew loving-kíndness; * and our land shall gíve her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go befóre him, * and he shall direct his goíng in the way.
Ant. The other malefactor † answering
rebuked him, saying; We indeed receive the due reward of our deeds: but this
man hath done nothing amiss. Lord,
remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Ant. When my soul is troubled, † O Lord:
thou wilt remember mercy.
THE SONG OF HABAKKUK
Habakkuk 3:2-19. Domine, audivi.
O LORD, I have heard thy speech,
and was áfraid: * O Lord,
revive thy work in the mídst
of the years.
2 In the midst of the years máke known, * in wrath remémber mercy.
3 God came from Téman, * and the Holy One fróm Mount Paran.
4 His glory covered the héavens, * and the earth was fúll of his praise.
5 And his brightness was as the light; † he had
horns coming out of hís hand;
* and there was the hiding óf his
power.
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6 Before him went the péstilence, * and burning coals went fórth at his feet.
7 He stood and measured the earth, † he beheld,
and drove asunder the nátions:
* and the everlasting mountains were scattered; † the perpetual hills did bow;
† his ways are éverlasting.
8 I saw the tents of Cushan in afflíction; * and the curtains of
the land of Midián did
tremble.
9 Was the Lord displeased against the rívers? * was thine anger agáinst the rivers?
10 Was thy wrath agáinst the sea, * that thou didst ride upon thine horses and
thy chariots óf salvation?
11 Thy bow was made quite náked, * according to the oaths of the tribes, éven thy word.
12 Thou didst cleave the earth with rívers: * the mountains saw thee,
ánd they trembled.
13 The overflowing of the water pássed by: * the deep uttered his
voice, and lifted up hís hands
on high.
14 The sun and moon stood still in their habitátion: * at the light of thine
arrows they went, † and at the shining of thy glíttering spear.
15 Thou didst march through the land in indignátion, * thou didst thresh out
the heathén in anger.
16 Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy péople, * even for salvation with
thíne Anointed:
17 Thou woundedst the head out of the house of
the wícked, * by discovering
the foundation únto the neck.
18 Thou didst strike through with his staves the
head of his víllages; * they
came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: † their rejoicing was as to devour the póor secretly.
19 Thou didst walk through the sea with thine hórses, * through the heap óf great waters.
20 When I heard, my belly trémbled; * my lips quivéred
at the voice:
21 Rottenness entered into my bones, * and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in
the dáy of trouble.
22 When he cometh up unto the péople, * he will invade thém with his troops.
23 Although the fig tree shall not blóssom, * neither shall fruit bé in the vines;
24 The labour of the olive sháll fail, * and the fields sháll yield no meat;
25 The flock shall be cut off fróm the fold, * and there shall
be no hérd in the stalls:
26 Yet will I rejoice ín the Lord, * I will joy in the God of my salvation.
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27 The Lord God is my strength, and he will make
my feet like hínds' feet, *
and he will make me to walk upon míne
high places.
Ant. When my soul is troubled, † O Lord:
thou wilt remember mercy.
Ant. Lord, remember me: † when
thou comest into thy kingdom.
Psalm 147:12. Lauda Jerusalem.
PRAISE the Lord, O Jerúsalem; * praise thy Gód,
O Sion.
13 For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates, * and hath blessed thy
childrén within thee.
14 He maketh peace in thy bórders, * and filleth thee with thé flour of wheat.
15 He sendeth forth his commandment upón earth, * and his word runneth véry swiftly.
16 He giveth snow líke wool, * and scattereth the hoar-fróst like ashes.
17 He casteth forth his ice like mórsels: * who is able to ábide his frost?
18 He sendeth out his word, and mélteth them: * he bloweth with
his wind, and thé waters flow.
19 He sheweth his word unto Jácob, * his statutes and ordinances untó Israel.
20 He hath not dealt so with any nátion; * neither have the
heathen knowlédge of his laws.
Ant. Lord, remember me: † when
thou comest into thy kingdom.
V. He hath laid me in thé darkness:
R. As the men that have béen long dead.
Ant. on Benedictus. And they set up † over his
head his accusation written: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
All stand up. During the
singing of the following Canticle, all the candles upon the triangular stand
having been put out (except the one placed at the top), the six candles upon
the Altar are likewise extinguished one by one, so that at the last verse the
last candle is put out.
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THE SONG OF ZACHARIAS
Saint Luke 1:68-79. Benedictus
Dominus.
BLESSED be the Lord God of Ísrael; * for he hath visited and redéemed his people;
2 And hath raised up a mighty salvation fór us, * in the house of his sérvant David;
3 As he spake by the mouth of his holy próphets, * which have been since
thé world began;
4 That we should be saved from our énemies, * and from the hand of áll that hate us;
5 To perform the mercy promised to our fórefathers, * and to remember
his holy covenant;
6 To perform the oath which he sware to our
forefather Ábraham, * that hé would give us;
7 That we being delivered out of the hand of
our énemies, * might serve hím without fear;
8 In holiness and righteousness befóre him, * all the dáys of our life.
9 And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet
of the Híghest: * for thou
shalt go before the face of the Lord to prépare
his ways;
10 To give knowledge of salvation unto his péople, * for the remissíon of their sins,
11 Through the tender mercy of óur God; * whereby the day-spring
from on high hath vísited us;
12 To give light to them that sit in darkness, †
and in the shadow óf death, *
and to guide our feet into thé
way of peace.
Ant. on Benedictus. And they set up † over his
head his accusation written: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
During the repetition of the Antiphon And they set up, the topmost candle is taken from the
candelabrum, and hidden from sight. Then
all kneel down and the following is sung:
Christ became † obedient for us unto death.
Our Father is then said in silence.
Then the Psalm Misere mei, Deus, is said in a
humble voice.
45
Psalm 51.
Miserere mei, Deus.
HAVE mercy
upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; * according to the multitude
of thy mercies do away mine offences.
2 Wash me throughly from my wickedness, * and cleanse
me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is
ever before me.
4 Against thee only have I sinned, † and done
this evil in thy sight; * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and
clear when thou art judged.
5 Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, * and in
sin hath my mother conceived me.
6 But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward
parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
7 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall
be clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness,
* that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out all
my misdeeds.
10 Make me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a
right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence, * and
take not thy holy Spirit from me.
12 O give me the comfort of thy help again, *
and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
13 Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked,
* and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, †
thou that art the God of my health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy
righteousness.
15 Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, * and my
mouth shall shew thy praise.
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, † else would
I give it thee; * but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
17 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: *
a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
18 O be favourable and gracious unto Sion; *
build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice
of righteousness, † with the burnt-offerings and oblations; * then shall they
offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
Then the officiant, still kneeling, says the Collect in a humble voice,
without The
Lord be with you or Let us pray.
46
COLLECT
ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee
graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to
be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon
the cross. He adds silently, Who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the
Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
Amen.
A slight noise is then made; the lighted candle is at once brought
forth from the place where it was concealed; and all rise and depart in
silence.
HOLY
SATURDAY TENEBRÆ
Sung on
Good Friday Night
AT MATINS
Our Father, Hail Mary and I believe are said
silently. The Office is begun at once
with the Antiphon on the first Psalm; and at the end of each Psalm at Matins
and at Lauds one of the fifteen candles on the triangular stand before the
Altar is extinguished.
NOCTURN I
Ant. I will lay me † down in
peace, and take my rest.
Psalm 4. Cum
invocarem.
HEAR me
when I call O God of my ríghteousness:
* thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; † have mercy
upon me, and hearken únto my
prayer.
2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme
mine hónour, * and have such
pleasure in vanity, and seek áfter
leasing?
3 Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to
himself the man that is gódly;
* when I call upon the Lord, hé will
hear me.
4 Stand in awe, and sín not; * commune with your own heart, and in your chambér, and be still.
5 Offer the sacrifice of ríghteousness, * and put your trúst in the Lord.
6 There be many thát say, * Who will shew ús any good?
7 Lord, lift thóu up * the light of thy countenánce upon us.
8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, * since the time that
their corn and wine ánd oil
increased.
9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; * for it is thou, Lord,
only, that makest me dwéll in
safety.
47
Ant. I will lay me † down in
peace, and take my rest.
Ant. He shall dwell † in thy
tabernacle: he shall rest upon thy holy hill.
Psalm 15. Domine, quis habitabit.
LORD,
who shall dwell in thy tábernacle?
* or who shall rest upon thy
holy hill?
2 Even he that leadeth an uncorrúpt life, * and doeth the thing
which is right, and speaketh the trúth
from his heart.
3 He that hath used no deceit in his tongue,
nor done evil to his néighbour,
* and hath not slandéred his
neighbour.
4 He that setteth not by himself, but is lowly
in his ówn eyes, * and maketh
much of them thát fear the
Lord.
5 He that sweareth unto his neighbour, and
disappointeth hím not, *
though it were to hís own hindrance.
6 He that hath not given his money upon úsury, * nor taken reward against thé innocent.
7 Whoso doeth thése things * sháll
never fall.
Ant. He shall dwell † in thy
tabernacle: he shall rest upon thy holy hill.
Ant.
My flesh also † shall rest in hope.
Psalm 16. Conserva
me, Domine.
PRESERVE me, Ó
God; * for in thee have Í put
my trust.
2 O my soul, thou hast said untó the Lord, * Thou art my God,
my goods are nothíng unto
thee.
3 All my delight is upon the saints that are in
thé earth, * and upon such as
excél in virtue.
4 But they that run after anóther god * shall háve great trouble.
5 Their drink-offerings of blood will I not óffer, * neither make mention of
their names wíthin my lips.
6 The Lord himself is the portion of mine
inheritance, and of my cup; *
thou shalt máintain my lot.
7 The lot is fallen unto me in a fáir ground; * yea, I have a goodly heritage.
8 I will thank the Lord for giving me wárning; * my reigns also chasten
me in thé night-season.
48
9 I have set God always befóre me; * for he is on my right hand, therefore Í shall not fall.
10 Wherefore my heart was glad, and my glory réjoiced: * my flesh also sháll rest in hope.
11 For why? † thou shalt not leave my soul ín hell; * neither shalt thou
suffer thy Holy One to sée
corruption.
12 Thou shalt shew me the path of life; † in thy
presence is the fulness óf joy,
* and at thy right hand there is pleasure fór
evermore.
Ant.
My flesh also † shall rest in hope.
V. I will lay me dówn in peace.
R. And táke my rest.
Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently. the reader goes to the lectern, and everyone
else sits down.
From the Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet.
Lesson i. Chapter 3:22-30
HETH.
It is of the
Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Heth. They are new every morning: great is thy
faithfulness. Heth. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul;
therefore will I hope in him. Teth.
The Lord is good unto them that wait
for him, to the soul that seeketh him. Teth. It is good that a man should both hope and
quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
Teth. It is good for a
man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Jod. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because
he hath borne it upon him. Jod. He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be
there may be hope. Jod. He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him:
he is filled full with reproach.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy
God.
V. He was led † as a
sheep to the slaughter, and when he was evil entreated, he opened not his
mouth: he was delivered up to death, * that he might give life unto his
people. He hath poured out his soul unto
death, and was numbered among the transgressors. That he might give life unto his people.
49
Lesson ii. Chapter 4:1-6
ALEPH. How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed!
the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. Beth. The precious sons of Sion, comparable to fine
gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the
potter! Ghimel. Even the sea monsters draw out the breast,
they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel,
like the ostriches in the wilderness. Daleth. The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to
the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask for bread, and no man
breaketh it unto them. He. They that did feed delicately are desolate in
the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. Vau. For the punishment of the iniquity of the
daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that
was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy
God.
V.
Arise, O Jerusalem, † and put off thy garments of joy: put on
thyself sackcloth and ashes: * For in thee the Saviour of Israel hath been
slain. Let thy tears run down like a
river day and night: and let not the apple of thine eye cease. For in thee the Saviour of Israel hath been
slain.
Lesson iii. Chapter 5:1-11
Here beginneth the Prayer of Jeremiah the
Prophet.
REMEMBER, O
Lord, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.
Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers
are as widows. We have drunken our water
for money; our wood is sold unto us. Our
necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest. We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and
to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their
iniquities. Servants have ruled over us;
there is none that doth deliver us out of their hands. We gat our bread with the peril of our lives
because of the sword of the wilderness. Our skin was black like an oven because
of the terrible famine. They ravished
the women in Sion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy
God.
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V. Lament † like a
virgin, O my people: howl, O ye shepherds, in ashes and sackcloth: * For the
day of the Lord cometh, a great day and exceeding bitter. Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl
ye ministers of the altar; cover yourselves with ashes. For the day of the Lord cometh, a great day
and exceeding bitter. Lament, like a
virgin, O my people: howl, O ye shepherds, in ashes and sackcloth. For the day of the Lord cometh, a great day,
and exceeding bitter.
NOCTURN II
Ant. Be ye lift up, † ye
everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.
Psalm 24. Domini
est terra.
THE earth
is the Lord's, and all that thérein
is; * the compass of the world, and they thát
dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upón the seas, * and prepared it úpon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of thé Lord? * or who shall rise up
in hís holy place?
4 Even he that hath clean hands, and a púre heart; * and that hath not
lift up his mind unto vanity, † nor sworn to deceíve his neighbour.
5 He shall receive the blessing from thé Lord, * and righteousness
from the God of hís salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that séek him; * even of them that
seek thy fáce, O Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates, † and be ye
lift up, ye everlásting doors;
* and the King of glory shall
come in.
8 Who is the King of glóry? * It is the Lord strong and mighty, even the Lord
mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates, † and be ye
lift up, ye everlásting doors;
* and the King of glory shall
come in.
10 Who is the King of glóry? * Even the Lord of hosts, he is the Kíng of glory.
Ant. Be ye lift up, † ye
everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.
Ant. I believe † verily
to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
51
Psalm 27. Dominus
illuminatio.
THE Lord is my light and my salvation; † whom then
shall Í fear? * the Lord is the
strength of my life; † of whom then shall Í
be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my
foes came upon me to eat up my
flesh, * that stúmbled and
fell.
3 Though an host of men were laid against me,
yet shall not my heart be áfraid;
* and though there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I
will réquire; * even that I
may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, † to behold the
fair beauty of the Lord and to visít
his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me
in his tabernácle; * yea, in
the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me, and set me up upon á rock of stone.
6 And now shall he lift up míne head * above mine enemies róund about me.
7 Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an
oblation with great gládness;
* I will sing and speak praises únto
the Lord.
8 Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry únto thee; * have mercy upon mé, and hear me.
9 My heart hath talked of thee, Seek ye my face: * Thy face, Lórd, will I seek.
10 O hide not thou thy face fróm me, * nor cast thy servant away ín displeasure.
11 Thou hast been my súccour; * leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
12 When my father and my mother forsáke me, * the Lord táketh me up.
13 Teach me thy wáy, O Lord, * and lead me in the right way, because of míne enemies.
14 Deliver me not over into the will of mine ádversaries: * for there are
false witnesses risen up against me and súch
as speak wrong.
15 I should utterly have fáinted, * but that I believe verily to see the goodness of
the Lord in the land óf the
living.
16 O tarry thou the Lord's léisure; * be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart; †
and put thou thy trúst in the
Lord.
Ant. I believe † verily
to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Ant.
Thou, Lord, † hast brought my soul out of hell.
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Psalm 30. Exaltabo
te, Domine.
I WILL magnify
thee, O Lord, for thou hast set mé
up, * and not made my foes to triúmph
over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried únto thee; * and thóu
hast healed me.
3 Thou, Lord, hast brought my soul óut of hell: * thou hast kept my
life from them that go dówn to
the pit.
4 Sing praises unto the Lord, O ye sáints of his; * and give thanks
unto him for a remembrance of hís
holiness.
5 For his wrath endureth but the twinkling of
an eye, and in his pleasure ís
life; * heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh ín the morning.
6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be
rémoved: * thou, Lord, of thy
goodness hast made my hill so
strong.
7 Thou didst turn thy fáce from me, * and Í
was troubled.
8 Then cried I unto thee, Ó Lord; * and gat me to my Lórd right humbly.
9 What profit is there in my blood, * when I go dówn
to the pit?
10 Shall the dust give thanks únto thee? * or shall it déclare thy truth?
11 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upón me; * Lord, be thóu my helper.
12 Thou hast turned my heaviness ínto joy; * thou hast put off my
sackcloth, and girded mé with
gladness.
13 Therefore shall every good man sing of thy
praise without céasing. * O my
God, I will give thanks unto thée
for ever.
Ant.
Thou, Lord, † hast brought my soul out of hell.
V. Be thou merciful unto mé, O Lord.
R. Raise thou me up again and I shall réward them.
Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently. The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone
else sits down.
From the Treatise of Saint Augustine the Bishop,
on the Psalms.
Lesson iv. Ps. 64:6, 7
(Accedet homo ad cor altum, et exaltabitur Deus.)
'A
MAN shall
come to a deep heart, and God shall be exalted.' They said, who will see us? The searchers out of searchings, that is of
evil counsels, have failed. A man came
to these very counsels, and suffered himself to be seized as a man. For he
could not have been seized if he were
not man, nor been
53
seen if he were not man, nor been scourged if he
were not man, nor been crucified, nor died, if he were not man. As man, therefore, he came to endure all
those sufferings which could have had no effect upon him had he not been
man. But if he had not been man, man
could not have been freed. He came, a
man to a deep heart, that is a secret heart, exposing his manhood to human
view, but keeping his divinity within: concealing the form of God, wherein he
is equal to the Father, and exhibiting the form of a servant, wherein he is
inferior to the Father.
V. Our Shepherd, † the
fountain of living water, is gone, at whose departure the sun was darkened: *
For he also is taken who held the first man captive: this day hath our Saviour
burst both the gates and bars of death.
He hath destroyed the bonds of hell, and overthrown the powers of the
devil. For he also is taken who led the
first man captive: this day hath our Saviour burst both the gates and bars of
death.
Lesson v.
HOW far did they carry these their searchings,
those in which they failed? So far that even when the Lord was dead and
buried, they set a watch over the sepulchre.
For they said to Pilate; That deceiver: by this name the Lord Jesus
Christ was named, to the comfort of his servants, when they are named
deceivers. That deceiver, say they to
Pilate, said while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command, therefore, that the sepulchre be
made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him
away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error
shall be worse than the first. Pilate
said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure,
sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
V. All ye † that pass by, behold and see
* If there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.
All ye my people, behold and see my sorrow. If there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.
Lesson vi.
THEY place
a watch of soldiers over the sepulchre.
The earth quaked: the Lord rose again. Such miracles were wrought about the
sepulchre that the very soldiers who kept watch might have become witnesses, if
they had been willing to declare the
truth. But that covetousness
which possessed the dis-
54
ciple and companion of Christ, possessed also the
soldiers who guarded his tomb. We will
give you money, say they; and say ye that his disciples came and stole him away
while ye slept. Truly, they failed in
searching out their searchings. What is
this thou saidst, O wretched cunning?
Dost thou so far forsake the light of prudence and duty, and plunge
thyself so deep in craftiness as to speak thus; Say ye that his disciples came
and stole him away while ye slept? Thou
producest sleeping witnesses: surely thou wast thyself asleep, who didst thus
fail in searching out such things.
V.
Lo, † the righteous perisheth, and no man layeth
it to heart: and righteous men are taken away, none considering it: the
righteous is taken from that which is evil: * And his memory shall be in
peace. As a sheep before her shearers is
dumb, so he opened not his mouth: He was taken from prison and from
judgment. And his memory shall be in
peace. Lo, the righteous perisheth, and
no man layeth it to heart: and righteous men are taken away, none considering
it: the righteous is taken away from that which is evil: and his memory shall
be in peace.
NOCTURN III
Ant.
God is my helper, † the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
Psalm 54. Deus,
in nomine.
SAVE me, O God, for thy Náme's sake, * and avenge mé in thy strength.
2 Hear my prayer, Ó God, * and hearken unto the wórds of my mouth.
3 For strangers are risen up agáinst me; * and tyrants, which
have not God before their eyes, seek áfter
my soul.
4 Behold, God is my hélper; * the Lord is with them that úphold my soul.
5 He shall reward evil unto mine énemies: * destroy thou thém in thy truth.
6 An offering of a free heart will I give thee,
and praise thy Name, Ó Lord; *
because it is so cómfortable.
7 For he hath delivered me out of all my tróuble; * and mine eye hath seen
his desire upon míne enemies.
Ant.
God is my helper, † the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
Ant. At Salem † is his tabernacle, and his
dwelling in Sion.
55
Psalm 76. Notus
in Judæa.
IN Jewry is Gód
known; * his Name is great ín
Israel.
2 At Salem is his tabernácle, * and his dwellíng
in Sion.
3 There brake he the arrows óf the bow, * the shield, the
sword, ánd the battle.
4 Thou art of more honour ánd might * than the hills óf the robbers.
5 The proud are robbed, they have slept théir sleep; * and all the men
whose hands were mighty háve found
nothing.
6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jácob; * both the chariot and hórse are fallen.
7 Thou, even thou art to bé feared; * and who may stand in thy sight when thóu art angry?
8 Thou didst cause thy judgment to be heard
from héaven; * the earth trembléd, and was still.
9 When God arose to júdgment, * and to help all the méek upon earth.
10 The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise; * and the fierceness
of them shált thou refrain.
11 Promise unto the Lord your God and keep it, †
all ye that are round abóut him;
* bring presents unto him that óught
to be feared.
12 He shall refrain the spirit of prínces, * and is wonderful among
the kíngs of the earth.
Ant. At Salem † is his tabernacle, and his
dwelling in Sion.
Ant.
I have been † even as a man that hath no strength, free
among the dead.
Psalm 88. Domine
Deus.
O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and
night befóre thee: * O let my prayer
enter into thy presence, incline thine ear untó my calling.
2 For my soul is full of tróuble, * and my life draweth nígh unto hell.
3 I am counted as one of them that go down into
thé pit, * and I have been
even as a man thát hath no
strength.
4 Free among the dead, like unto them that are
wounded, and lie in thé grave,
* who are out of remembrance, and are cut awáy
from thy hand.
5 Thou hast laid me in the lowést pit, * in a place of
darkness, ánd in the deep.
6 Thine indignation lieth hard upón me, * and thou hast vexed me wíth all thy storms.
7 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far fróm me, * and made me to be ábhorred of them.
56
8 I am so fast in príson * that I cánnot
get forth.
9 My sight faileth for very tróuble; * Lord, I have called
daily upon thee, I have stretched forth my hánds
unto thee.
10 Dost thou shew wonders among thé dead? * or shall the dead
rise up agáin, and praise
thee?
11 Shall thy loving-kindness be shewed ín the grave? * or thy
faithfulness ín destruction?
12 Shall thy wondrous works be known ín the dark? * and thy
righteousness in the land where all things
áre forgotten?
13 Unto thee have I cried, Ó Lord; * and early shall my prayer cóme before thee.
14 Lord, why abhorrest thou my soul, * and hidest thou thy face from me?
15 I am in misery, and like unto him that is at
the point tó die; * even from
my youth up, thy terrors have I suffered with á troubled mind.
16 Thy wrathful displeasure goeth óver me, * and the fear of thee háth undone me.
17 They came round about me daily like wáter, * and compassed me
together ón every side.
18 My lovers and friends hast thou put away fróm me: * and hid mine
acquaintance óut of my sight.
Ant.
I have been † even as a man that hath no strength, free
among the dead.
V.
At Salem is his tabérnacle.
R.
And his dwelling ín
Sion.
Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently. The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone
else sits down.
From the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Lesson vii. Chapter 9:11-12
CHRIST being come an high priest of good things to
come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands,
that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves,
but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained
eternal redemption for us. For if the blood
of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean,
sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God,
purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
57
V.
The kings † of the earth stand up, and the rulers take
counsel together * against the Lord, and against his Anointed. Why do the heathen so furiously rage
together? and why do the people imagine a vain thing? Against the Lord and against his Anointed.
Lesson viii.
AND for this cause he is the mediator of the new
testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the
transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might
receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of
the testator. For a testament is of
force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the
testator liveth. Whereupon neither the
first testament was dedicated without blood.
V.
I am counted † as one of them that go down into the pit: *
And I have been even as a man that hath no strength, free among the dead. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in a
place of darkness, and in the deep. And
I have been as a man that hath no strength, free among the dead.
Lesson ix.
FOR when Moses had spoken every precept to all the
people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats,
with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all
the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined
unto you. Moreover, he sprinkled with
blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged
with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
V.
When the Lord † was buried, they sealed the sepulchre:
rolling a great stone to the door of the sepulchre: * And placed soldiers to
guard him. The chief priests came
together unto Pilate, and besought him: and placed soldiers to guard him. When the Lord was buried, they sealed the
sepulchre: rolling a great stone to the door of the sepulchre: and placed
soldiers to guard him.
AT LAUDS
Ant. O death,
† I will be thy plagues: O grave, I will be thy destruction.
58
Psalm 51.
Miserere mei, Deus.
HAVE mercy
upon me, O God, after thy great góodness;
* according to the multitude of thy mercies do away míne offences.
2 Wash me throughly from my wíckedness, * and cleanse mé from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is evér before me.
4 Against thee only have I sinned, † and done
this evil in thy sight; * that
thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear whén thou art judged.
5 Behold, I was shapen in wíckedness, * and in sin hath my mothér conceived me.
6 But lo, thou requirest truth in the inwárd parts, * and shalt make me
to understand wisdóm secretly.
7 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall bé clean; * thou shalt wash me,
and I shall be whíter than
snow.
8 Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gládness, * that the bones which
thou hast brokén may rejoice.
9 Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out áll
my misdeeds.
10 Make me a clean heart, Ó God, * and renew a right spirít within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy présence, * and take not thy holy
Spírit from me.
12 O give me the comfort of thy help ágain, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
13 Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wícked, * and sinners shall be
convertéd unto thee.
14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, †
thou that art the God of my
health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy
righteousness.
15 Thou shalt open my lips, Ó Lord, * and my mouth sháll
shew thy praise.
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, † else would
I gíve it thee; * but thou
delightest not in búrnt-offerings.
17 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spírit: * a broken and contrite
heart, O God, shalt thóu not
despise.
18 O be favourable and gracious unto Síon; * build thou the walls of Jérusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice
of righteousness, † with the burnt-offerings and oblátions; * then shall they offer young bullocks upón thine altar.
Ant. O death,
† I will be thy plagues: O grave, I will be thy destruction.
59
Ant.
They shall mourn for him
† as one mourneth for his only son: for
the Lord, who is without sin, is slain.
Psalm 92. Bonum
est confiteri.
IT is
a good thing to give thanks unto thé Lord,
* and to sing praises unto thy Name,
Ó Most Highest;
2 To tell of thy loving-kindness early in the mórning, * and of thy truth in thé night-season;
3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon thé lute; * upon a loud
instrument, and úpon the harp.
4 For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy works; * and I will rejoice
in giving praise for the operatións
of thy hands.
5 O Lord, how glorious are thy works! * thy thoughts áre very deep.
6 An unwise man doth not well consíder this, * and a fool doth not
únderstand it.
7 When the ungodly are green as the grass, †
and when all the workers of wickedness do flóurish,
* then shall they be destroyed for ever; † but thou, Lord, art the Most Highest
fór evermore.
8 For lo, thine enemies, O Lord, lo, thine
enemies shall pérish; * and
all the workers of wickedness sháll
be destroyed.
9 But mine horn shall be exalted like the horn
of an únicorn; * for I am
anointéd with fresh oil.
10 Mine eye also shall see his lust of mine énemies, * and mine ear shall
hear his desire of the wicked that arise úp
against me.
11 The righteous shall flourish like a pálm-tree, * and shall spread
abroad like a cedar ín
Libanus.
12 Such as are planted in the house of thé Lord, * shall flourish in the
courts of the hóuse of our
God.
13 They also shall bring forth more fruit in théir age, * and shall be fat ánd well-liking.
14 That they may shew how true the Lord my stréngth is, * and that there is
no unrightéousness in him.
Ant.
They shall mourn for him
† as one mourneth for his only son: for
the Lord, who is without sin, is slain.
Ant.
All ye my people † behold and see my sorrow.
60
Psalm 64. Exaudi,
Deus.
HEAR my
voice, O God, in my prayer; *
preserve my life from fear of thé enemy.
2 Hide me from the gathering together of the fróward, * and from the
insurrection of wícked doers;
3 Who have whet their tongue like á sword, * and shoot out their
arrows, evén bitter words;
4 That they may privily shoot at him that is pérfect: * suddenly do they hit hím, and fear not.
5 They encourage themselves in míschief, * and commune among
themselves how they may lay snares, † and say, that no mán shall see them,
6 They imagine wickedness, and práctise it; * that they keep
secret among themselves, every man in the déep
of his heart.
7 But God shall suddenly shoot at them with a
swift árrow, * that they sháll be wounded.
8 Yea, their own tongues shall make thém fall; * insomuch that whoso
seeth them shall láugh them to
scorn.
9 And all men that see it shall say, This hath Gód done; * for they shall
perceive that ít is his work.
10 The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord, and
put his trúst in him; * and
all they that are true of héart
shall be glad.
Ant.
All ye my people † behold and see my sorrow.
Ant.
From the gate of hell; † O Lord, deliver my soul.
THE SONG OF HEZEKIAH
Isaiah 38:10-20. Ego
dixi.
I SAID; In the cutting off of my days, * I shall go to the gátes of the grave.
2 I am deprived of the residue of my years * I said: I shall not
see the Lord, † even the Lord, in the land óf
the living.
3 I shall behold man nó more * with the inhabitánts
of the world.
4 Mine age is depárted, * and is removed from me, even as á shepherd's tent.
5 I have cut off, like a weaver, my life: * he will cut me off
with píning sickness.
6 From day even tó night * wilt thou make án end of me.
7 I reckoned til morning, † that, as a lion, so
will he break all my bones: *
from day even to night wilt thou make án
end of me.
61
8 Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chátter: * I did móurn as a dove.
9 Mine eyes fail with looking úpward: * O Lord, I am oppressed;
† undértake for me.
10 What shall I say? † He hath both spoken unto
me, and himself hath dóne it:
* I shall go softly all my years in the bitternéss of my soul.
11 O Lord, by these things men live, † and in
all these things is the life of my spírit:
* so wilt thou recover me, and máke
me to live.
12 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness; †
but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corrúption: * for thou hast cast all
my sins béhind thy back.
13 For the grave cannot praise thee, † death
cannot celebráte thee: * they
that go down into the pit cannot hópe
for thy truth.
14 The living, the living, he shall praise thee,
as I do thís day: * the father
to the children shall máke
known thy truth.
15 The Lord was ready to sáve me: * therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed
instruments all the days of our life in the hóuse
of the Lord.
Ant.
From the gate of hell; † O Lord, deliver my soul.
Ant.
All ye that pass by, † behold and see: if there be any sorrow like
unto my sorrow.
Psalm 150. Laudate Dominum.
O PRAISE God in his hóliness:
* praise him in the firmament óf
his power.
2 Praise him in his noblé acts: * praise him according to his excéllent greatness.
3 Praise him in the sound of the trúmpet: * praise him upon thé lute and harp.
4 Praise him in the cymbals and dánces: * praise him upon thé strings and pipe.
5 Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals: * praise him upon thé loud cymbals.
6 Let everything that háth breath * give práise
to the Lord.
Ant.
All ye that pass by, † behold and see: if there be any sorrow like
unto my sorrow.
V. My flesh also shall rést in hope.
R. Neither shalt thou suffer thy holy
one to see córruption.
62
Ant. on Benedictus. The women also † sitting
at the sepulchre made lamentation: weeping for the Lord.
All stand up. During the
singing of the following Canticle, all the candles upon the triangular stand
having been put out (except the one placed at the top), the six candles upon
the Altar are likewise extinguished one by one, so that at the last verse the
last candle is put out.
THE SONG OF ZACHARIAS
Saint Luke 1:68-79. Benedictus
Dominus.
BLESSED be the Lord God of Ísrael; * for he hath visited and redéemed his people;
2 And hath raised up a mighty salvation fór us, * in the house of his sérvant David;
3 As he spake by the mouth of his holy próphets, * which have been since
thé world began;
4 That we should be saved from our énemies, * and from the hand of áll that hate us;
5 To perform the mercy promised to our fórefathers, * and to remember
his holy covenant;
6 To perform the oath which he sware to our
forefather Ábraham, * that hé would give us;
7 That we being delivered out of the hand of
our énemies, * might serve hím without fear;
8 In holiness and righteousness befóre him, * all the dáys of our life.
9 And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet
of the Híghest: * for thou
shalt go before the face of the Lord to prépare
his ways;
10 To give knowledge of salvation unto his péople, * for the remissíon of their sins,
11 Through the tender mercy of óur God; * whereby the day-spring
from on high hath vísited us;
12 To give light to them that sit in darkness, †
and in the shadow óf death, *
and to guide our feet into thé
way of peace.
Ant. on Benedictus. The women also † sitting
at the sepulchre made lamentation: weeping for the Lord.
During the repetition of the Antiphon The women also, the topmost candle is taken from the
candelabrum, and hidden from sight. Then
all kneel down and the following is sung:
Christ became † obedient for us unto death, even
the death of the Cross: wherefore God also hath highly exalted him: and given
him a Name which is above every name.
63
Our Father is then said in silence.
Then the Psalm Misere mei, Deus, is said in a
humble voice.
Psalm 51.
Miserere mei, Deus.
HAVE mercy
upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; * according to the multitude
of thy mercies do away mine offences.
2 Wash me throughly from my wickedness, * and
cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is
ever before me.
4 Against thee only have I sinned, † and done
this evil in thy sight; * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and
clear when thou art judged.
5 Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, * and in
sin hath my mother conceived me.
6 But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward
parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
7 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall
be clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness,
* that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out all
my misdeeds.
10 Make me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a
right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence, * and
take not thy holy Spirit from me.
12 O give me the comfort of thy help again, *
and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
13 Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked,
* and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, †
thou that art the God of my health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy
righteousness.
15 Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, * and my
mouth shall shew thy praise.
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, † else would
I give it thee; * but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
17 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: *
a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
18 O be favourable and gracious unto Sion; *
build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice
of righteousness, † with the burnt-offerings and oblations; * then shall they
offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
64
Then the officiant, still kneeling, says the Collect in a humble
voice, without The
Lord be with you or Let us pray.
COLLECT
ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee
graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to
be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death
upon the cross. He adds silently, Who
now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world
without end. Amen.
A slight noise is then made; the lighted candle is at once brought
forth from the place where it was concealed; and all rise and depart in
silence.