ceptum Domini lucidum, il- commandment of the Lord luminans oculos. is lightsome, enlightening the eyes. Timor Domini sanctus, permanens in sæculum sæculi: judicia Domini vera, justificata in semetipsa. Desiderabilia super aurum et lapidem pretiosum multum : et dulciora super mel et favum. Etenim servus tuus custodit ea: * in custodiendis illis retributio multa. Delicta quis intelligit? ab occultis meis munda me : * et ab alienis parce servo tuo. Si mei non fuerint dominati, tunc immaculatus ero: * et emundabor a delicto maximo. Et erunt ut complaceant eloquia oris mei : * et meditatio cordis mei in conspectu tuo semper. Domine adjutor meus : et Redemptor meus. * ANT. Tamquam sponsus Dominus procedens de thalamo suo. The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring for ever and ever: the judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves. More to be desired than gold and many precious stones: and sweeter than honey and the honey-comb. For thy servant keepeth them; and in keeping them there is a great reward. Who can understand sins? From my secret ones cleanse me, O Lord; and from those of others spare thy servant. If they shall have no dominion over me, then shall I be without spot; and I shall be cleansed from the greatest sin. And the words of my mouth shall be such as may please: and the meditation of my heart, always in thy sight. O Lord, that art born for my sake, thou art my helper and my Redeemer. ANT. The Lord is as a Bridegroom coming out of his bride-chamber. The third Psalm shows us Christ advancing in the conquest of the world, as the mighty Conqueror. His beauty and meekness are, like his truth and his justice, perfect; and the power of his love is irresistible. On his right, we have the Queen of this world, the august Mary; the Lord has been pleased with her beauty, and her fruitful Virginity has been the model, after which have been formed all those pure souls consecrated to God, who are the companions of the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. In this most sublime Psalm, let us sing our canticle of praise to the ineffable dignity of our Divine King, and to the sweetness of our incomparable Mother and Queen. ANT. Grace is poured out upon thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever. ANT. Diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis; propterea benedixit te Deus in æter num. PSALM My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works, my songs, to Jesus, the King. My tongue is the pen of a scrivener, that writeth swiftly. Thou, O Emmanuel, art beautiful above the sons of men grace is poured abroad in thy lips therefore, hath God blessed thee for ever. Thou comest that thou mayest conquer the world; gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most Mighty! With thy comeliness and thy beauty, set out, proceed prosperously, and reign, Because of truth, and meekness, and justice and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully. Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, into the hearts of the enemies of the King, who sends thee. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness. Thou hast loved justice, and hatedst iniquity: therefore God, thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Myrrh, and stacte, and cassia 44. Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum:* dico ego opera mea Regi. Lingua mea calamus scribæ : velociter scribentis. Speciosus forma præ filiis hominum, diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis: * propterea benedixit te Deus in æter num. Accingere gladio tuo super femur tuum: * potentissime. Specie tua et pulchritudine tua:* intende, prospere procede, et regna. Propter veritatem, et mansuetudinem, et justitiam: * et deducet te mirabiliter dextera tua. Sagittæ tuæ acutæ, populi sub te cadent: * in corda inimicorum regis. Sedes tua, Deus, in sæculum sæculi: * virga directionis, virga regni tui. Dilexisti justitiam, et odisti iniquitatem : * propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, oleo lætitiæ præ consortibus tuis. Myrrha, et gutta, et casia a vestimentis tuis, a domibus eburneis: * ex quibus delectaverunt te filiæ regum in honore tuo. Adstitit Regina a dextris tuis in vestitu deaurato: * circumdata varietate. Audi filia, et vide, et inclina aurem tuam : *et obliviscere populum tuum, et domum patris tui. Et concupiscet Rex decorem tuum : * quoniam ipse est Dominus Deus tuus, et adorabunt eum. Et filiæ Tyri in muneribus: * vultum tuum deprecabuntur omnes divites plebis. Omnis gloria ejus filiæ regis ab intus: * in fimbriis aureis circumamicta varietatibus. Adducentur Regi virgines post eam proximæ ejus afferentur tibi. Afferentur in lætitia et exsultatione: * adducentur in templum Regis. Pro patribus tuis nati sunt tibi filii : * constitues eos principes super omnem ter ram. Memores erunt nominis tui: * in omni generatione, et generationem. "And the daughters of Tyre "with gifts, yea, all the rich among the people, shall en"treat thy countenance." 66 All the glory of the King's Daughter is within, in golden borders, clothed round about with varieties. After her shall virgins be brought to the King her neighbours, they that have spiritually conceived Christ, shall be brought to thee, O King! They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be brought into the temple of the King. Instead of thy fathers of the Jewish people, of whose race thou didst deign to be born, but who have not known thee, O Emmanuel! sons are born to thee of a new race: thou shalt make them princes over all the earth. They shall remember thy name throughout all generations. The Priest begins the two first words of the Lord's Prayer: Our Father. Pater noster. The rest is said in silence, as far as the last two petitions, when the Priest says aloud : . And lead us not into temptation. V. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem. The Choir answers: B. But deliver us from evil. B. Sed libera nos a malo. Then the Priest: Graciously hear, O Lord Jesus Christ, the prayers of thy servants, and have mercy upon us: who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest for ever and ever. Exaudi, Domine Jesu Christe, preces servorum tuorum, et miserere nobis, qui cum Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivis et regnas in sæcula sæculorum. The Choir answers: Amen. Then one of the Choir turns towards the Priest, and bowing down, says: Pray, Father, give thy bless Jube, Domne, benedicere. ing. Then the Priest: May the Eternal Father Benedictione perpetua bebless us with an everlasting nedicat nos Pater æternus. blessing. B. Amen. R. Amen. The Lessons of the First Nocturn are taken from the Prophet Isaias, whom the Church has followed through the whole of Advent. The Responsories, which follow each Lesson, assist the Faithful in those sentiments of joy, which should fill their hearts on hearing the sacred prophecies read to them, and that, too, at the very hour when they are to be accomplished. 1ST LESSON. Primo tempore alleviata est terra Zabulon, et terra Nephtali et novissimo aggravata est via maris trans Jordanem Galilææ Gentium. Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam habitantibus in regione umbræ mortis, lux orta est eis. Multiplicasti gentem, et non magnificasti lætitiam. Lætabuntur coram te, sicut qui lætantur in messe, sicut exsultant victores capta præda, quando dividunt spolia. Jugum enim oneris ejus, et virgam humeri ejus, et sceptrum exactoris ejus superasti, sicut in die Madian. Quia omnis violenta prædatio cum tumultu, et vestimentum mistum sanguine, erit in combustionem, et cibus ignis. Parvulus enim natus est nobis, et filius datus est nobis et factus est princi Isaias, Ch. ix. At the first time, the land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephtali, was lightly touched by the Lord and at the last, the way of the sea beyond the Jordan of the Gentiles was heavily loaded. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light to them, that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and hast not increased the joy. The inhabitants of Jerusalem, whom thou hast succoured, shall rejoice before thee, as they that rejoice in the harvest; as conquerors rejoice after taking a prey, when they divide the spoils. For the yoke of their burden, and the rod of their shoulder, and the sceptre of their oppressor, thou hast overcome, as in the day of Madian. For every violent taking of spoils, with tumult, and garment mingled |