Wednesday Compline

In the shadow of thy wings

On other days of the week Compline is usually filled with sentiments of penance and contrition, but today it is a prayer of thanksgiving.  The first half of the week's battle is over, the conflict has passed its climax.  Compline tonight is a pause for rest and an expression of gratitude, a very peaceful and inspiring Hour.

Psalm 33 may be taken as a glance backwards across the battlefield of the first half of the week.  God has not forsaken the just; the fortunes of war do not lie with the sinners.

Psalm 60 is the expression of our confidence and security in God, a most fitting thought for Compline: in the shadow of thy wings am I secure.  The Antiphon expresses a beautiful thought about our guardian angel.

Psalm 33

Blessings of holy fear

This very beautiful and consoling Psalm assures us that God never abandons his children.  He rescues them from every peril and rewards  them richly.  Like a refrain, four times repeated, one mighty theme stands out: the just man cried out to God, and God delivered him from every peril.

The experience of the week so far, together with the inspiring verses of this Psalm, should give us strength and courage to continue the battle of the week.  Psalm 33 was a great favorite among the early Christians and was often chanted as a Communion hymn during holy Mass.

Psalm 33.i.  Benedicam Dominum

Invitation to praise God

Benedicam Dóminum in omni témpore : * semper laus ejus in ore meo.
2  In Dómino laudábitur ánima mea : * áudiant mansuéti, et læténtur.
3  Magnificáte Dóminum mecum : * et exaltémus nomen ejus in idípsum.

I WILL bless the Lord alway; * his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord; * the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3  O praise the Lord with me, * and let us magnify his Name together.

 God is good to them that fear him

4  Exquisívi Dóminum, et exaudívit me : * et ex ómnibus tribulatiónibus meis erípuit me.
5  Accédite ad eum, et illuminámini : * et fácies vestræ non confundéntur.
6  Iste pauper clamávit, et Dóminus exaudívit eum : * et de ómnibus tribulatiónibus ejus salvávit eum.
7  Immíttet Angelus Dómini in circúitu timéntium eum : * et erípiet eos.
8  Gustáte, et vidéte quóniam suávis est Dóminus : * beátus vir, qui sperat in eo.
9  Timéte Dóminum, omnes sancti ejus : * quóniam non est inópia timéntibus eum.
10  Dívites eguérunt et esuriérunt : * inquiréntes autem Dóminum non minuéntur omni bono.

4  I sought the Lord, and he heard me; * yea, he delivered me out of all my troubles.
5  Come ye unto him, and be enlightened; * and your faces shall not be ashamed.
6  Lo, the poor hath cried out, and the Lord heard him; * yea, and hath saved him out of all his troubles.
7  The angel of the Lord shall tarry round about them that fear him, * and he shall deliver them.
8  O taste, and see that the Lord is gracious: * blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9  O fear the Lord, ye that are his saints; * for they that fear him lack nothing.
10  The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger; * but they who seek the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good.

The way to see good days

Veníte, fílii, audíte me : * timórem Dómini docébo vos.
12  Quis est homo qui vult vitam : * díligit dies vidére bonos?
13  Próhibe linguam tuam a malo : * et lábia tua ne loquántur dolum.
14  Divérte a malo, et fac bonum : * inquíre pacem, et perséquere eam.
15  Oculi Dómini super justos : * et aures ejus in preces eórum.
16  Vultus autem Dómini super faciéntes mala : * ut perdat de terra memóriam eórum.
17  Clamavérunt justi, et Dóminus exaudívit eos : * et ex ómnibus tribulatiónibus eórum liberávit eos.
18  Juxta est Dóminus iis, qui tribuláto sunt corde : * et húmiles spíritu salvábit.
19  Multæ tribulatiónes justórum : * et de ómnibus his liberávit eos Dóminus.
20  Custódit Dóminus ómnia ossa eórum : * unum ex his non conterétur.
21  Mors peccatórum péssima : * et qui odérunt justum, delínquent.
22  Rédimet Dóminus ánimas servórum suórum : * et non delínquent omnes qui sperant in eo.

11  Come, ye children, and hearken unto me; * I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12  What man is he that lusteth to live, * and would fain see good days?
13  Keep thy tongue from evil, * and thy lips, that they speak no guile.
14  Eschew evil, and do good; * seek peace, and ensue it.
15  The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, * and his ears are open unto their prayers.
16  The countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil, * to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
17  The righteous have cried out, and the Lord heard them, * and hath delivered them out of all their troubles.
18  The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart, * and will save such as be of an humble spirit.
19  Great are the troubles of the righteous; * but the Lord delivereth him out of all.
20  He keepeth all his bones, * so that not one of them is broken.
21  But the death of the ungodly is most evil; * and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22  The Lord shall redeem the souls of his servants; * and all they that put their trust in him shall not be destitute.

Psalm 60.  Exaudi, Deus

Protection in the shadow of thy wings

This Psalm is primarily a song of petition, but it passes over into a joyous certainty of being heard.  Like the preceding Psalm, it can be turned into a prayer of thanksgiving.  In the second part of the Psalm, we thank God for having made us children of his kingdom.

Longing for God's house

Exáudi, Deus, deprecatiónem meam : * inténde oratióni meæ.
2  A fínibus terræ ad te clamávi : * dum anxiarétur cor meum, in petra exaltásti me.
3  Deduxísti me, quia factus es spes mea : * turris fortitúdinis a fácie inimíci.
4  Inhabitábo in tabernáculo tuo in sæcula : * prótegar in velaménto alárum tuárum.

Hear my crying, O God, * give ear unto my prayer.
2  From the ends of the earth have I called upon thee, * when my heart was in heaviness, thou didst set me up upon a rock.
3  Thou hast conducted me, for thou hast been my hope, * and a strong tower for me against the enemy.
4  I will dwell in thy tabernacle for ever, * and my trust shall be under the covering of thy wings.

Prayer for the rulers of the people

5  Quóniam tu, Deus meus, exaudísti oratiónem meam : * dedísti hereditátem timéntibus nomen tuum.
6  Dies super dies regis adjícies : * annos ejus usque in diem generatiónis et generatiónis.
7  Pérmanet in ætérnum in conspéctu Dei : * misericórdiam et veritátem ejus quis requíret?

5  For thou, my God, hast heard my prayer, * and hast given an heritage unto those that fear thy Name.
6  Thou shalt grant the King a long life, * that his years may endure throughout all generations.
7  He shall dwell before God for ever: * his loving mercy and faithfulness who shall search?

Finale

8  Sic psalmum dicam nómini tuo in sæculum sæculi : * ut reddam vota mea de die in diem.

8  So will I sing praise unto thy Name for ever and ever, * that I may daily perform my vows.