Monday None

The Good Shepherd of the penitent and the righteous

Recurring theme : Look to the end, and ask if you will persevere.

This Hour shews us two ways to God: the way of penance (Ps. 31) and the way of innocency (Ps. 32). Whether we come to the end of the day, of the week, of life itself, in the garb of penance, or in the garb of innocency, we must make certain of being among the just (Antiphon: Rejoice, O ye righteous ; yea, be joyful all ye that are true of heart).

God, the Good Shepherd, lifts the strayed sheep from among the thorn bushes (Ps. 31) and pastures his flock with tender care (Ps. 32).

Psalm 31.  Beati quorum

The penitent's hymn of thanksgiving

David prayed this Psalm after his sin with Bethsabee.  And we also may feel thankful for the grace of repentance so often granted unto us.

Peace in penance

Beáti quorum remíssæ sunt iniquitátes: * et quorum tecta sunt peccáta.
2  Beátus vir, cui non imputávit Dóminus peccátum, * nec est in spíritu ejus dolus.

Blessed are they whose unrighteousness is forgiven, * and whose sins are covered.
2  Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin, * and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Torture of conscience

3  Quóniam tácui, inveteravérunt ossa mea, * dum clamárem tota die.
4  Quóniam die ac nocte graváta est super me manus tua: * convérsus sum in ærúmna mea, dum confígitur spina.

3  Because I held my tongue, my bones consumed away, * whilst I cried out all the day long.
4  For thy hand was heavy upon me day and night, * I am turned in my anguish, whilst the thorn is fastened.

Confession

5  Delíctum meum cógnitum tibi feci: * et injustítiam meam non abscóndi.
6  Dixi: Confitébor advérsum me injustítiam meam Dómino: * et tu remisísti impietátem peccáti mei.

5  I acknowledged my sin unto thee; * and mine unrighteousness have I not hid.
6  I said, I will confess against myself my sins unto the Lord; * and so thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin.

Fearless with God

7  Pro hac orábit ad te omnis sanctus, * in témpore opportúno.
8  Verúmtamen in diluvio aquarum multárum, * ad eum non appróximábunt.
9  Tu es refúgium meum a tribulatióne, quæ circúmdedit me: * exsultátio mea, érue me a circumdántibus me.

7  For this shall every one that is godly make his prayer unto thee, * in a seasonable time.
8  Surely the great water-floods * shall not come nigh him.
9  Thou art a place to hide me in from the tribulation that compasseth me round about : * thou that art mine exultation, deliver me from them that surround me.

Sheltered in the sanctuary

10  Intellectum tibi dabo, et instruam te in via hac, qua gradiéris: * firmábo super te óculos meos.
11  Nolíte fíeri sicut equus et mulus, * quibus non est intellectus.
12  In camo et freno maxíllas eórum constringe: * qui non appróximant ad te.
13  Multa flagélla peccatóris, * sperántem autem in Dómino misericórdia circúmdabit.

10  I will give thee understanding, and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go; * and I will guide thee with mine eye.
11  Be ye not like to horse and mule, * which have no understanding.
12  With bit and bridle hold fast their jaws, * who come not near unto thee.
13  Many are the plagues of the ungodly; * but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord, mercy embraceth him on every side.

Finale

Psalm 32

God, the Lord of the world

This Psalm portrays God as the Good Shepherd over nature, over the affairs of men and especially over his adopted children.  We may here meditate on God's loving providence in the order of nature and in the order of grace.

Psalm 32.  Exsultate, justi

Praise our all-merciful God

Exsultáte, justi in Dómino: * rectos decet collaudátio.
2  Confitémini Dómino in cíthara: * in psaltério decem chordárum psállite illi.
3  Cantáte ei cánticum novum: * bene psállite ei in vociferatióne.
4  Quia rectum est verbum Dómini, * et ómnia ópera ejus in fide.
5  Díligit misericórdiam et judícium: * misericórdia Dómini plena est terra.

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; * for it becometh well the just to be thankful.
2  Praise the Lord with harp; * sing praises unto him with the lute, and instrument of ten strings.
3  Sing unto the Lord a new song; * sing praises well unto him with a loud noise.
4  For the word of the Lord is true; * and all his works are faithful.
5  He loveth mercy and judgment; * the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.

The almighty Creator

6  Verbo Dómini cæli firmáti sunt: * et spíritu oris ejus omnis virtus eórum.
7  Cóngregans sicut in utre aquas maris: * ponens in thesáuris abyssos.
8  Tímeat Dóminum omnis terra: * ab eo autem commoveántur omnes inhabitántes orbem.
9  Quóniam ipse dixit, et facta sunt: * ipse mandávit, et creáta sunt.

6  By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; * and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7  He gathereth the waters of the sea together, as it were upon an heap; * and layeth up the deep, as in a treasure-house.
8  Let all the earth fear the Lord: * stand in awe of him, all ye that dwell in the world.
9  For he spake, and they were made; * he commanded, and they were created.

The all-wise Ruler

10  Dóminus díssipat consília Géntium: * réprobat autem cogitatiónes populórum et réprobat consília príncipum.
11  Consílium autem Dómini in ætérnum manet: * cogitatiónes cordis ejus in generatióne et generatiónem.

10  The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought, * and maketh the devices of the people to be of none effect, and casteth out the counsels of princes.
11  But the counsel of the Lord shall endure for ever, * and the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation.

Psalm 32. ii.  Beata gens

Searcher of hearts

12  Beáta gens, cujus est Dóminus, Deus ejus: * pópulus, quem elégit in hereditátem sibi.
13  De cælo respéxit Dóminus: * vidit omnes fílios hóminum.
14  De præparáto habitáculo suo * respéxit super omnes, qui hábitant terram.
15  Qui finxit sigillátim corda eórum: * qui intélligit ómnia ópera eórum.

12  Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord; * and blessed are the folk that he hath chosen to him, to be his inheritance.
13  The Lord looketh down from heaven, * and beholdeth all the children of men.
14  From the habitation of his dwelling, * he considereth all them that dwell on the earth.
15  He who hath fashioned all the hearts of them, * and understandeth all their works.

He defies the wicked

16  Non salvátur rex per multam virtútem: * et gigas non salvábitur in multitúdine virtútis suæ.
17  Fallax equus ad salútem: * in abundántia autem virtútis suæ non salvábitur.

16  The king is not saved by the multitude of an host; * neither is the mighty man delivered by his great strength.
17  A horse is counted but a vain thing to save a man; * neither shall he be delivered by the abundance of his strength.

He aids the virtuous

18  Ecce óculi Dómini super metuéntes eum: * et in eis, qui sperant super misericórdia ejus :
19  Ut éruat a morte ánimas eórum: * et alat eos in fame.

18  Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, * and upon them that put their trust in his mercy;
19  To deliver their soul from death, * and to feed them in the time of dearth.

Finale (Confidence)

20  Anima nostra sústinet Dóminum: * quóniam adjútor et protéctor noster est.
21  Quia in eo lætábitur cor nostrum: * et in nómine sancto ejus sperávimus.
22  Fiat misericórdia tua, Dómine, super nos: * quemádmodum sperávimus in te.

20  Our soul hath patiently tarried for the Lord; * for he is our help and our protector.
21  For our heart shall rejoice in him; * because we have hoped in his holy Name.
22  O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, * as our trust is in thee.