CHAPTER THE THIRD. ON THE OFFICE OF COMPLINE, DURING THE TIME AFTER PENTECOST. THIS Office, which concludes the day, commences by a warning of the dangers of the night: then immediately follows the public Confession of our sins, as a powerful means of propitiating the divine justice, and obtaining God's help, now that we are going to spend so many hours in the unconscious and therefore dangerous state of sleep, which is also such an image of death. The Lector, addressing the Priest, says to him : Jube, Domne, benedicere. Pray, Father, give thy blessing. The Priest answers: Noctem quietam et finem May the Almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. B. Amen. The Lector then reads these words, from the first Epistle of St. Peter: Fratres Sobrii estote, et vigilate quia adversarius vester diabolus, tamquam leo rugiens circuit quærens quem devoret: cui resistite fortes in fide. Tu autem, Domine, miserere nobis. B. Deo gratias. Brethren, be sober and watch; for your adversary the devil goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour resist him, being strong in faith. But thou, Ở Lord, have mercy on us. The Choir answers : B. Thanks be to God. . Adjutorium in nomine Domini. Then, the Priest: V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. nostrum The Choir: B. Qui fecit cœlum et B. Who hath made heaven terram. and earth. Then the Lord's Prayer is recited in secret; after which the Priest says the Confiteor, and when he has finished, the Choir repeats it. The Priest, having pronounced the general form of absolution, says: The first Psalm expresses the confidence with which the just man sleeps in peace; but the wicked know not what calm rest is. PSALM 4. Cum invocarem exaudivit me Deus justitiæ meæ: in tribulatione dilatasti mihi. Miserere mei: * et exaudi orationem meam. Filii hominum, usquequo gravi corde : ut quid diligitis vanitatem, et quæritis mendacium? When I called upon him, the God of my justice heard me when I was in distress, thou hast enlarged me. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long will you be dull of heart? why do you love vanity, and seek after lying? Know ye also that the Lord hath made his Holy One wonderful: the Lord will hear me, when I shall cry unto him. Be ye angry, and sin not: the things you say in your hearts, be sorry for them upon your beds. Offer up the sacrifice of justice, and trust in the Lord: many say, Who showeth us good things? The Light of thy countenance, 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 peace, in the self same I 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 the day. PSALM. 30. In te, Domine, speravi, non confundar in æternum: * in justitia tua libera me. am: Inclina ad me aurem tu* accelera ut eruas me. Esto mihi in Deum protectorem, et in domum refugii: ut salvum me faoias. Quoniam fortitudo mea, In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded deliver me in thy justice. Bow down thine ear to me: make haste to deliver me. Be thou unto me a God, a protector and a house of refuge, to save me. For thou art my strength, et refugium meum es tu: ⚫et propter Nomen tuum deduces me, et enutries me. Educes me de laqueo hoc quem absconderunt ́mihi : quoniam tu es protector meus. In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum: redemisti me, Domine, Deus veritatis. and my refuge and for thy Name's sake, thou wilt lead me, and nourish me. Thou wilt bring me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me: for thou art my protector. Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth. The third Psalm gives the motives of the just man's confidence, even during the dangers of the night. There is no snare neglected by the demons; but the good Angels watch over us, with brotherly solicitude. Then, we have God himself speaking, and promising to send us a Saviour. PSALM. 90. Qui habitat in adjutorio Altissimi : in protectione Dei cœli commorabitur. Dicet Domino: Susceptor meus es tu, et refugium meum: * Deus meus, sperabo in eum. Quoniam ipse liberavit me de laqueo venantium : et a verbo aspero. Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi : et sub pennis ejus sperabis. Scuto circumdabit te veritas ejus : non timebis a timore nocturno : A sagitta volante in die, a negotio perambulante in tenebris: ab incursu, et dæmonio meridiano. Cadent a latere tuo mille, He that dwelleth in the aid of the Most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of Heaven. He shall say unto the Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge: my God, in him will I trust. For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters: and from the sharp word. He will overshadow thee with his shoulders : and under his wings thou shalt trust. His truth shall compassithee with a shield: thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night: : Of the arrow that flieth in the day of the business that walketh about in the dark: of invasion, or of the noonday devil. A thousand shall fall at thy et decem millia a dextris tuis: ad te autem non appropinquabit. Verumtamen oculis tuis considerabis: * et retributionem peccatorum videbis. Quoniam tu es, Domine, spes mea: Altissimum posuisti refugium tuum. Non accedat ad te malum: * et flagellum non appropinquabit tabernaculo tuo. Quoniam Angelis suis mandavit de te: ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis. In manibus portabunt ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum. te: * Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis: * et conculcabis leonem et draco nem. Quoniam in me speravit, liberabo eum: * protegam eum, quoniam cognovit Nomen meum. * Clamabit ad me, et ego exaudiam eum: cum ipso sum in tribulatione, eripiam eum, et glorificabo eum. Longitudine dierum replebo eum: et ostendam illi Salutare meum. side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee. But thou shalt consider with thine eyes: and shalt see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast said: Thou, O Lord, art my hope, Thou hast made the Most High thy refuge. There shall no evil come unto thee, nor shall the scourge come near thy dwelling. For he hath given his Angels charge over thee: to keep thee in all thy ways. In their hands they shall bear thee up lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt walk upon the asp and basilisk: and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon. God will say of thee: Because he hoped in me, I will deliver him: I will protect him, because he hath known my name. He will cry unto me, and I will hear him: I am with him in tribulation, I will deliver him, and I will glorify him. I will fill him with length of days: and I will show him my salvation. 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, |