Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

bus vestris, in cubilibus vestris compungimini.

Sacrificate sacrificium justitiæ, et sperate in Domino: *multi dicunt: Quis ostendit nobis bona?

Signatum est super nos lumen vultus tui Domine: * dedisti lætitiam in corde meo.

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

In pace in idipsum: * dormiam et requiescam. Quoniam tu, Domine, singulariter in spe : *constituisti me.

hearts, be sorry for them upon your beds.

Offer up the sacrifice of justice, and trust in the Lord: many say, who showeth us good things?

The Light of thy countenance, O Lord, is signed upon us thou hast given gladness in my heart.

By the fruit of their corn, their wine, and oil, they are multiplied. In in the self same, I peace, will sleep, and I will rest. For thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope.

The Church has introduced here the first six Verses of the thirtieth Psalm, because they contain the prayer which our Saviour made when dying: Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit! words so beautifully appropriate in this Office of the close of day.

PSALM 30.

In te, Domine, speravi, non confundar in æternum: * in justitia tua libera me.

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

Inclina ad me aurem Bow down thy ear to me: tuam: * accelera ut eruas make haste to deliver thee.

[blocks in formation]

hidden for me: for thou art my protector.

Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth.

quoniam tu es protector

meus.

In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum: * redemisti me, Domine, Deus veritatis.

The third Psalm gives the motives of the just man's confidence, even during the dangers of the night. Then, we have God himself speaking, and promising to show us our Saviour.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

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

There shall no evil come to thee, nor shall the scourge come near thy dwelling.

For he hath given his Angels charge over thee: to keep thee in all thy ways.

In their hands they shall bear thee up: lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt walk upon the asp and basilisk: and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon.

God will say of thee: Because he hoped in me, I will deliver him: I will protect him, because he hath known my name.

He will cry to me, and I will hear him : I am with him in tribulation, I will deliver him, and I will glorify him.

I will fill him with length of days: and I will show him my salvation.

The fourth Psalm invites the Servants of God to persevere, with fervour, in the prayers they offer during the Night. The Faithful should say this Psalm in a spirit of gratitude to God, for his raising up, in the Church, adorers of his holy name, whose grand vocation is to lift up their hands, day and night, for the safety of Israel. On such prayers, depend the happiness and destinies of the world.

PSALM 133.

Ecce nunc benedicite Dominum : * omnes servi Domini.

Qui statis in domo Domi

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

Who stand in the house of

[blocks in formation]

(This last Stanza is varied for Christmas Day, &c., and for the Epiphany. See page 118.)

CAPITULUM.

(Jeremias, xiv.)

But thou art in us, O Lord, and thy holy name has been

Tu autem in nobis es, Domine, et nomen sanctum

* According to the Monastic Rite, as follows:

Te lucis ante terminum,
Rerum Creator, poscimus,
Ut solita clementia
Sis præsul ad custodiam.
Procul recedant somnia,
Et noctium phantasmata;

Hostemque nostrum comprime, Ne polluantur corpora.

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

tuum invocatum est super nos; ne derelinquas nos, Domine Deus noster.

R. In manus tuas, Domine: * Commendo spiritum meum. In manus tuas. V. Redemisti nos, Domine Deus veritatis. Commendo.

Gloria. In manus tuas. . Custodi nos, Domine, ut pupillam oculi. R. Sub umbra alarum tuarum protege nos.

invoked upon us forsake us not, O Lord our God.

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

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

Glory. Into thy hands. V. Preserve us, O Lord, as the apple of thine eye.

R. Protect us under the shadow of thy wings.

The Canticle of the venerable Simeon-who, whilst holding the divine Infant in his arms, proclaimed him to be the Light of the Gentiles, and then slept the sleep of the just-harmonises admirably with this closing Office of the day, at Christmastide; for, during this holy Season, the Church is for ever thanking God, because he has dispelled the shades of death by the rising of the Sun of Justice, in whose love she labours all day long, and takes her rest at night, saying: I sleep, and my heart watcheth.1

[blocks in formation]
« PoprzedniaDalej »