They that persecute me have drawn nigh to iniquity: but they have gone far off from thy law. Thou art near, O Lord: and all thy ways are truth. I have known, from the beginning, concerning thy testimonies : that thou hast founded them for ever. See my humiliation, and deliver me for I have not forgotten thy law. Judge my judgment, and redeem me quicken thou me, for thy word's sake. Salvation is far from sinners; because they have not sought thy justifications. Many, O Lord, are thy mercies; quicken me, according to thy judgment. Many are they that persecute me, and afflict me: but I have not declined from thy testimonies. I beheld the transgressors, and I pined away; because they kept not thy words. Behold! I have loved thy commandments, O Lord : quicken me thou, in thy mercy. The beginning of thy word. is truth all the judgments of thy justice are for ever. Glory be to the Father, etc. Princes have persecuted me, without cause and my heart hath been in awe of thy words. I will rejoice at thy words, as one that hath found great spoil. I have hated and abhorred iniquity; but I have loved thy law. Seven times a day I have given praise unto thee, for the judgments of thy justice. Much peace have they that love thy law, and to them there is no stumbling-block. I looked for thy salvation, O Lord; and I loved thy commandments. My soul hath kept thy testimonies, and hath loved them exceedingly. I have kept thy commandments and thy testimonies; because all my ways are in thy sight. Let my supplication, O Lord, come near in thy sight: give me understanding according to thy word. Let my request come in before thee; deliver thou me according to thy word. My lips shall utter a hymn, when thou shalt teach me thy justifications. My tongue shall pronounce thy word because all thy commandments are justice. Let thy hand be with me, to save me; for I have chosen thy precepts. I have longed for thy Salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my meditation. My soul shall live, and shall praise thee; and thy judgments shall help me. I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost : seek thy servant, because I have not forgotten thy commandments. Glory be to the Father, etc. super judicia Pax multa diligentibus legem tuam: illis scandalum. Exspectabam * et non est Salutare tuum, Domine: * et mandata tua dilexi. Custodivit anima mea testimonia tua : * et dilexit ea vehementer. Servavi mandata tua, et testimonia tua: * quia omnes viæ meæ in conspectu tuo. Appropinquet deprecatio mea in conspectu tuo, Domine : juxta eloquium tuum da mihi intellectum. Intret postulatio mea in conspectu tuo, secundum eloquium tuum eripe me. Eructabunt labia mea hymnum: * cum docueris me justificationes tuas. Pronuntiabit lingua mea eloquium tuum: quia omnia mandata tua æquitas. Fiat manus tua, ut salvet me : quoniam mandata tua elegi. * Concupivi Salutare tuum, Domine:* et lex tua meditatio mea est. Vivet anima mea, et laudabit te : et judicia tua adjuvabunt me. Erravi sicut ovis quæ periit: quære servum tuum, quia mandata tua non sum oblitus. Gloria Patri. The Antiphon, Capitulum, Response, Brief, Versicle and Prayer, which complete the Office of None, are given on the respective Feasts. CHAPTER THE EIGHTH. ON THE OFFICE OF VESPERS FOR SUNDAY AND FEASTS, DURING THE TIME AFTER PENTECOST. THE Office of Vespers, or Even Song, consists firstly of the five following Psalms. For certain Feasts, one or other of these Psalms are changed for others, which are more appropriate to the day; but those we now give, are the ones for Sunday's Vespers. After the Pater and Ave have been said in secret, the Church commences this Hour with her favourite supplication : . Deus, in adjutorium meum intende. B. Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto; Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen. Alleluia. ANT. Dixit Dominus. V. Incline unto mine aid, O God. B. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia. ANT. The Lord said. The first Psalm is a prophecy of the future glories of the Messias. The Son of David shall sit on the right hand of the heavenly Father. He is King; he is Priest; he is the Son of Man, and Son of God. His enemies will attack him, but he will crush them. He will be humbled; but this voluntary humiliation will lead him to highest glory. PSALM 109. The Lord said to my Lord, his Son: Sit thou at my right hand, and reign with me. Until, on the day of thy last coming, I make thy enemies thy footstool. O Christ! the Lord, thy Father, will send forth the sceptre of thy power out of Sion: from thence rule thou in the midst of thy enemies. With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength, in the brightness of the Saints: For the Father hath said to thee: From the womb before the day-star I begot thee. The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent: he hath said, speaking of thee, the GodMan: Thou art a Priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech. Therefore, O Father, the Lord thy Son is at thy right hand he hath broken kings in the day of his wrath. He shall also judge among nations in that terrible coming, he shall fill the ruins of the world: he shall crush the heads in the land of many. He cometh now in humility; he shall drink, in the way, of the torrent of sufferings: therefore, shall he lift up the head. ANT. The Lord said to my Lord, sit thou at my right hand. ANT. Faithful. Dixit Dominus Domino meo:* Sede a dextris meis. Donec ponam inimicos tuos : scabellum pedum tuorum. Virgam virtutis tuæ emittet Dominus ex Sion: * dominare in medio inimicorum tuorum. Tecum principium in die virtutis tuæ in splendoribus Sanctorum: * ex utero ante luciferum genui te. Juravit Dominus, et non poenitebit eum : Tu es Sacerdos in æternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech. Dominus a dextris tuis : confregit in die iræ suæ reges. Judicabit in nationibus, implebit ruinas : conquassabit capita in terra multo rum. De torrente in via bibet: * propterea exaltabit caput. ANT. Dixit Dominus Domino meo, sede a dextris meis. ANT. Fidelia. The following Psalm commemorates the mercies of God to his people, the promised Covenant,-the Redemption,-his Fidelity to his word. But it also tells us, that the Name of the Lord is terrible because it is holy; and concludes by admonishing us, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. PSALM 110. I will praise thee, O Lord with my whole heart: in the counsel of the just, and in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord: sought out according to all his wills. His work is praise and magnificence : and his justice continueth for ever and ever. He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord he is the Bread of life, he hath given food to them that fear him. He will be mindful for ever of his covenant with men he will show forth to his people the power of his works. That he may give to his Church the inheritance of the Gentiles: the works of his hands are truth and judgment. All his commandments are faithful, confirmed for ever and ever made in truth and equity. He hath sent redemption to his people; he hath thereby commanded his covenant for ever. Holy and terrible is his name: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding to |