Monday Terce

The Lord is my light

May the Holy Ghost enlighten us (Antiphon: My light and my salvation is the Lord)  to pray rightly and to live rightly.  "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."  (Rom. 8, 26).

This Hour is a model of heartfelt and trusting prayer.  Its principal thought is strong confidence in God.  It is the pastoral prayer of all those who have care of souls, whether priest, parent, teacher, guardian, or any one of us into whose protection the souls of our fellow men have been placed.  First we arm ourselves with solid trust in God, then we pray for our own needs and those whom we must guide and protect.

Psalm 26

Strong confidence in God

Psalm 26 consists of two strophes unlike in thought and concluded each by a finale.  Notice the beautiful priestly prayer of verse "One thing have I desired of the Lord..." 

Psalm 26. i.  Dominus illuminatio mea

Confidence unwavering

Dóminus illuminátio mea, et salus mea, * quem timebo?
2  Dóminus protéctor vitæ meæ, * a quo trepidábo?

The Lord is my light and my salvation; * whom then shall I fear?
2  The Lord is the protector of my life; * of whom then shall I be afraid?

Fearless with God

3  Dum apprópiant super me nocéntes, * ut edant carnes meas :
4  Qui tríbulant me inimíci mei, * ipsi infirmáti sunt et cecidérunt.
5  Si consístant advérsum me castra, * non timébit cor meum.
6   Si exsúrgat advérsum me prælium, * in hoc ego sperabo.

3  When the wicked draw nigh against me, * to eat up my flesh,
4  Even mine enemies that trouble me, * have themselves been weakened and have fallen.
5  Though an host of men were laid against me, * yet shall not my heart be afraid.
6  And though a battle should rise up against me, * yet will I put my trust in him.

Sheltered in the sanctuary

7  Unam pétii a Dómino, hanc requíram, * ut inhábitem in domo Dómini ómnibus diébus vitæ meæ :
8  Ut vídeam voluptátem Dómini, * et vísitem templum ejus.
9  Quóniam abscóndit me in tabernáculo suo: * in die malórum protéxit me in abscóndito tabernáculi sui.

7  One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will require; * even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
8  To behold the fair beauty of the Lord, * and to visit his temple.
9  For he hath hidden me in his tabernacle; * in the day of evils, yea, he hath protected me in the secret place of his dwelling.

Finale

10  In petra exaltávit me: * et nunc exaltávit caput meum super inimícos meos.
11  Circuívi et immolávi in tabernáculo ejus hóstiam vociferatiónis: * cantábo et psalmum dicam Dómino.

10  He hath set me up upon a rock of stone : * and now he hath lifted up mine head above mine enemies.
11  I have gone round about, and have offered a sacrifice of jubilation in his dwelling : * I will sing and speak praises unto the Lord.

Psalm 26. ii.  Exaudi, Domine

Plea for aid in inner conflict

12  Exáudi, Dómine, vocem meam, qua clamávi ad te: * miserére mei, et exáudi me.

12  Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry unto thee; * have mercy upon me, and hear me.

Submission

13  Tibi dixit cor meum, exquisívit te fácies mea : * fáciem tuam, Dómine, requíram.
14  Ne avértas fáciem tuam a me, * ne declínes in ira a servo tuo.
15  Adjútor meus esto: * ne derelínquas me, neque despícias me, Deus, salutáris meus.
16  Quóniam pater meus, et mater mea dereliquérunt me: * Dóminus autem assúmpsit me.
17  Legem pone mihi, Dómine, in via tua: * et dírige me in sémitam rectam propter inimícos meos.
18  Ne tradíderis me in ánimas tribulántium me: * quóniam insurrexérunt in me testes iníqui et mentíta est iníquitas sibi.

13  My heart hath said unto thee, My face hath sought thee : * thy face, Lord, will I seek.
14  O hide not thou thy face from me, * nor cast thy servant away in displeasure.
15  Thou hast been my succour; * leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
16  For my father and my mother have forsaken me, * but the Lord hath taken me up.
17  Set me a law in thy way, O Lord, * and lead me in the right way, because of mine enemies.
18  Deliver me not over into the will of mine adversaries: * for there are false witnesses risen up against me, and wickedness hath lied to itself.

Finale

19  Credo vidére bona Dómini * in terra vivéntium.
20  Exspécta Dóminum, viríliter age: * et confortétur cor tuum, et sustine Dóminum.

19  I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord * in the land of the living.
20  Expect thou the Lord and act manfully; * and thine heart shall be comforted; and wait thou for the Lord.

Psalm 27.  Ad te, Domine

The pastor's prayer

Psalm 27 continues the spirit of the second part of Psalm 26.  It is a pressing plea for help in time of crisis.  For us it is the pastoral prayer of the Church.

Plea for protection

Ad te, Dómine, clamábo, Deus meus, ne síleas a me: * nequándo táceas a me, et assimilábor descendéntibus in lacum.
2  Exáudi, Dómine, vocem deprecatiónis meæ dum oro ad te: * dum extóllo manus meas ad templum sanctum tuum.

Unto thee will I cry, O Lord, my God, be not thou silent unto me : * lest, if thou make as though thou hearest not, I become like them that go down into the pit.
2  O Lord, hear the voice of my humble petitions, when I cry unto thee; * when I hold up my hands towards thy holy temple.

Prayer for the destruction of our enemies

3  Ne simul trahas me cum peccatóribus: * et cum operántibus iniquitátem ne perdas me.
4  Qui loquúntur pacem cum próximo suo, * mala autem in córdibus eórum.
5  Da illis secúndum ópera eórum, * et secúndum nequítiam adinventiónum ipsórum.
6  Secúndum ópera mánuum eórum tríbue illis, * redde retributiónem eórum ipsis.
7  Quóniam non intellexérunt ópera Dómini, et in ópera mánuum ejus * déstrues illos, et non ædificábis eos.

3  O pluck me not away with the ungodly, * neither destroy me with the wicked doers, *
4  Which speak peace to their neighbours, * but imagine mischief in their hearts.
5  Reward them according to their deeds, * and according to the wickedness of their own inventions.
6  Recompense them after the work of their hands; * pay them that they have deserved.
7  For they have regarded not in their mind the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands; * therefore shall he break them down, and not build them up.

Thanksgiving in the assurance that God will hear us

8  Benedíctus Dóminus, * quóniam exaudívit vocem deprecatiónis meæ.
9  Dóminus adjútor meus, et protéctor meus : * in ipso sperávit cor meum et adjútus sum.
10  Et reflóruit caro mea: * et ex voluntáte mea confitébor ei.

8  Blessed be the Lord; * for he hath heard the voice of my humble petitions.
9  The Lord is my strength, and my shield; * my heart hath trusted in him, and I am helped.
10  And my flesh hath flourished again, * and with my will I will praise him.

 Plea for king and people

11  Dóminus fortitúdo plebis suæ: * et protéctor salvatiónum Christi sui est.
12  Salvum fac pópulum tuum, Dómine, et bénedic hereditáti tuæ, * et rege eos, et extólle illos usque in ætérnum.

11  The Lord is the strength of his people, * and he is the defence of the salvation of his anointed.
12  O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance : * govern them, and lift them up for ever.