Less. 8. ET ideo Novi Testamenti Mediator est: ut morte intercedente, in redemptionem earum prævaricationum, quæ erant sub priori Testamento, repromissionem accipiant, qui vocati sunt, æternæ hereditatis. Ubi enim testamentum est, mors necesse est intercedat testatoris. Testamentum enim in mortuis confirmatum est: alioquin nondum valet, dum vivit qui testatus est. Unde nec primum quidem sine sanguine dedicatum est. R. Estimatus sum cum descendentibus in lacum: *Factus sum sicut homo sine adjutorio, inter mortuos liber. V. Posuerunt me in lacu inferiori: in tenebrosis, et in umbra mortis: Factus sum &c. Less. 9. AN ND therefore He is the Mediator of the New Testament: that by means of His Death, for the redemption of those trangressions which were under the former Testament, they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, the death of the testator must of necessity intervene. For a testament, comes into force through death: otherwise it is as yet of no strength, whilst the testator liveth. Whereupon neither was the first indeed dedicated without blood. R. I am counted among them that go down to the pit: *I am become like a man without help, free among the dead. V. They laid me in the lower pit: in dark places, and in the shadow of death: * I am become &c. when every command LECTOenimosi ment of the law had been, mandato a Moyse universo populo, accipiens sanguinem vitulorum et hircorum, cum aqua et lana coccinea et hyssopo, ipsum quoque librum et omnem populum aspersit dicens, Hic sanguis Testamenti quod mandavit ad vos Deus. Etiam tabernaculum, et omnia vasa ministerii sanguine similiter aspersit. Et omnia pene in sanguine secundum legem mundantur: et sine sanguinis effusione non fit remissio. read by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people: saying, This is the blood of the Testament which God hath enjoined upon you. The tabernacle also, and all the vessels of the ministry, in like manner, he sprinkled with blood. And almost all things, according to the law, are cleansed with blood: and without shedding of blood there is no remission. R. Sepulto Domino, signatum est monumentum: volventes lapidem ad ostium monumenti: * Ponentes milites, qui custodirent illum. V. Accedentes principes sacerdotum ad Pilatum, petierunt illum. Ponentes milites qui custodirent illum. R. Sepulto Domino &c. to the V. R. When the Lord was buried, they sealed the sepulchre, rolling a stone before the mouth of the sepulchre: * And placed soldiers to guard Him. V. The Chief Priests went to Pilate, and having asked, placed soldiers to guard Him. R. When the Lord &c. to the Ꮴ . AT LAUDS. Anth. O mors, ero mors Anth. O death, I will be thy tua: morsus tuus ero in- death: O hell, I will be thy ferne. ruin. Ps. 50, Miserere, page 119; after which the preceding Anthem is repeated. Anth. Plangent eum quasi unigenitum, quia innocens Dominus occisus est. Anth. They shall mourn for Him as for an only son, because the innocent Lord is slain. Ps. 42, Judica me, page 1; after which the Anthem Plangent is repeated. Anth. Attendite universi po puli, et videte dolorem meum. Anth. Behold, all ye people, and see my grief. Ps. 62 and 66 together, Deus meus, and Deus misereatur nostri, page 122; after which the preceding Anthem is repeated. Anth. A porta inferi erue, Domine, animam meam. Cant. Ez. Is. 38. •EGO dixi, In dimidio dierum meorum: vadam ad portas inferi. Quæsivi residuum annorum meorum: dixi, Non videbo Dominum Deum in terra viventium. Non aspiciam hominem ultra et habitatorem quietis. Generatio mea ablata est, et convoluta est a me: quasi tabernaculum pastorum. Anth. From the gate of hell, O Lord, deliver my soul. SAID, In the midst of my days I shall go to the gates of hell. I sought for the residue of my years: I said, I shall not see the Lord God in the land of the living. I shall behold man no more: nor the inhabitant of rest. My generation is at an end, and it is rolled away from me as a shepherd's tent. My life is cut off as by a weaver; whilst I was but beginning, He cut me off: from morning even until night, Thou wilt make an end of me. I hoped until morning: as a lion, so hath He broken all my bones. From morning even until night Thou wilt made an end of me: I will cry like a young swallow, I will meditate like a dove. Mine eyes are weakened: with looking upward. Lord, I suffer violence, answer Thou for me: What shall I say, or what shall He answer for me, whereas He Himself hath done it ? I will recount to Thee all my years in the bitterness of my soul. O Lord, if man's life be such, and the life of my spirit be in such things as these, Thou shalt correct me, and quicken me. Behold, in peace is my bitterness most bitter. But Thou hast delivered my soul that it should not perish: Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back. For hell shall not confess unto Thee, neither shall death praise Thee: nor shall they that go down into the pit, look for Thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day: the father shall make Thy truth known to the children. O Lord, save me and we will sing our psalms, all the 14 mus cunctis diebus vitæ nos- days of our life, in the house træ in domo Domini. Anth. porta inferi erue, Domine, animam meam. Anth. O vos omnes qui transitis per viam, attendite et videte, si est dolor sicut dolor meus. of the Lord. Anth. From the gate of hell, O Lord, deliver my soul. Anth. O all ye that pass by, attend and see, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow. The three Psalms, Laudate Dominum de cœlis, Cantate Domino, and Laudate Dominum in sanctis ejus, are said as one Psalm, page 126. After which the Anthem O vos omnes is repeated. V. Caro mea requiescet in spe: R. Et non dabis Sanctum tuum videre corruptionem. V. My flesh shall rest in hope : R. And Thou wilt not suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption. Anthem at the Benedictus. Mulieres sedentes ad monumentum lamentabantur, flentes Dominum. The women sitting at the sepulchre, mourned, weeping for the Lord. See the Note, page 129, as to extinguishing the Altar candles. The Canticle Benedictus, page 129; after which the Anthem Mulieres is repeated, and the Lauds are concluded as shewn on page 130. AT THE MORNING SERVICE. The Station is at St. John's Lateran. What is now the Morning Service of Holy Saturday, was anciently an evening service commencing after None, that is about half-past three on Saturday afternoon, and not terminating till the morning of Easter Sunday. Thus Mass was not celebrated either on Good Friday or Holy Saturday; and the Mass now celebrated on Holy Saturday is by origin the First Mass of Easter Sunday, the Mass of the Hour of the Resurrection. Dating from the Eleventh Century this Mass has been gradually anticipated, until now it has been brought to the morning of Holy Saturday. The history of the Service thus explains the references to 'night,' which will be found in the prayers and services of Holy Saturday. THE BLESSING OF THE NEW FIRE. The At a suitable time the Altars are covered with the usual cloths. Short Hours' (i.e., Prime, Terce, Sext, and None) are recited, but the candles on the Altar remain unlighted until the beginning of Mass. Meanwhile, outside the Church, a fire of charcoal is lighted from sparks struck from a flint. When None has been said, the Priest, in a violet cope, accompanied by the Clergy and acolytes, with Cross, Holy Water and Incense, repairs to the porch of the Church, and there (outside, unless that is inconvenient) blesses the new fire: saying, Let us P. The Lord be with you: R. And with thy spirit. GOD; Who through Thy Son, as the Corner Stone, pray. hast bestowed upon the faithful the fire of Thy brightness: sanctify this new fire produced from a flint for our use; and grant that by these Paschal Solemnities we may be so inflamed with heavenly desires, as to come with pure minds to the festival of Thy perpetual light. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen. Let us pray. LORD GOD, Father Almighty, Light Unfailing, do very light, bless this light which hath been hallowed and sanctified by Thee Who didst enlighten the whole world: that we may be enkindled by this light, and illuminated by the fire of Thy brightness; and as Thou didst give light unto Moses when he went out of Egypt, so do Thou now illuminate our hearts and senses, that we may attain to arrive at life and light everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. Let us HOLY LORD, Father Almighty, Everlasting God, pray. vouchsafe to co-operate with us who bless this fire in Thy Name, and in that of Thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, and in that of the Holy Ghost; help us against the fiery darts of the enemy, and enlighten us with Thy heavenly grace: O Thou that livest and reignest with the same only-begotten Son and the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen. He then blesses the five grains of incense, which, in the form of a Cross, will later on be placed in the Paschal Candle. LET Thine abundant blessing, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, flow down upon this incense; and do Thou, O invisible Renewer of all things, kindle this nocturnal splendour: that not only may the Sacrifice which is offered this night shine with the hidden admixture of Thy light, but also that into whatsoever place any part of the mystery of this sanctification is brought, the wickedness of the devil's deceit may thence be expelled, and the power of Thy Majesty be present. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. Whilst the grains of incense are being blessed, an acolyte fills the thurible with coal from the fire just blest; and the Priest, when he has finished the last Prayer, puts incense into the thurible, giving the usual blessing. Then he sprinkles the grains of incense and the fire with holy water, saying, Sprinkle me with hyssop, O Lord, and I shall HW B 14-2 |