Thursday Matins

O sacred banquet!

In the Invitatory we praise the great Lord and King.  This leads us easily to thoughts of the Eucharist:  Christ is the great King: Saviour of his people (Ps. 61, 65), Victor in Old and New Testament (Ps. 67), King of suffering (Ps. 68).

Psalm 61 reminds man not to trust in himself and in the world, but only in God.  This is a condition for being saved.  It must be a matter of firm conviction with us that Christ is our only Saviour.

Psalm 65 is a thanksgiving for deliverance from exile, the same image that prefigures our own redemption through Christ.  In the liturgy of Easter time, this Psalm turns into a song of the Resurrection.

 Man needs a saviour.  Wealth cannot save him; it must be Christ.

My God and my Saviour

Nonne Deo subjécta erit ánima mea? * ab ipso enim salutáre meum.
2  Nam et ipse Deus meus, et salutáris meus: * suscéptor meus, non movébor ámplius.
3  Quoúsque irruitis in hóminem? * interfícitis univérsi vos: tamquam paríeti inclináto et macériæ depúlsæ?
4  Verúmtamen prétium meum cogitavérunt repéllere, cucúrri in siti: * ore suo benedicébant, et corde suo maledicébant.

Shall my soul not be subject to God? * for of him cometh my salvation.
2 For he is my God and my salvation; * he is my defence, so that I shall be moved no more.
3  How long do ye rush in upon a man? * ye shall all of you slay : yea, as a tottering wall shall ye be, and like a broken hedge.
4  But they have thought only to cast away my prayer, in thirst did I run : * their have blessed with their mouth, but cursed with their heart.

God helps all who hope in him

5  Verúmtamen Deo subjécta esto, ánima mea: * quóniam ab ipso patiéntia mea.
6  Quia ipse Deus meus, et salvátor meus: * adjútor meus, non emigrábo.
7  In Deo salutáre meum, et glória mea: * Deus auxílii mei, et spes mea in Deo est.
8  Speráte in eo omnis congregátio pópuli, effúndite coram illo corda vestra: * Deus adjútor noster in ætérnum.

5  But be thou, my soul, subject to God : * for from him is my endurance.
6  For he truly is my God and my salvation; * he is my defence, so that I shall not be moved.
7  In God is my salvation and my glory; * he is the God of my help, and in God is my trust.
8  O put your trust in him all ye congregation of the people, pour out your hearts before him, * for God is our helper for ever.

Human nothingness

9  Verúmtamen vani fílii hóminum, mendáces fílii hóminum in statéris: * ut decípiant ipsi de vanitáte in idípsum.
10  Nolíte speráre in iniquitáte, et rapínas nolíte concupíscere: * dívítiæ si áffluant, nolíte cor appónere.
11  Semel locútus est Deus, duo hæc audívi, quia potéstas Dei est, et tibi, Dómine, misericórdia: * quia tu reddes unicuíque juxta ópera sua.

9  But vain are the children of men, yea, the children of men are liars upon the balances : * that by vanity they may together deceive.
10  O trust not in wickedness, and be not desirous of plunder: * if riches abound, set not your heart upon them.
11  God spake once, and these two things I have heard, that power belongeth unto God, and that thou, Lord, art merciful : * for thou shalt render to every man according to his work.

 Christ has redeemed us; holy Mass is the thanksgiving sacrifice of our redemption.

Psalm 65. i.  Jubilate Deo

Praise God

Jubiláte Deo, omnis terra, psalmum dícite nómini ejus: * date glóriam laudi ejus.
2  Dicite Deo: Quam terribília sunt ópera tua, Dómine! * in multitúdine virtútis tuæ mentiéntur tibi inimíci tui.
3  Omnis terra adoret te, et psallat tibi: * psalmum dicat nómini tuo.

O be joyful in God, all ye lands, sing praises unto the honour of his Name; * make his praise to be glorious.
2  Say unto God, O how terrible art thy works, O Lord! * in the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies be found liars unto thee.
3  All the world shall worship thee, and sing of thee, * yea, and sing praises unto thy Name.

For the wonders of the past

4  Veníte, et vidéte ópera Dei: * terríbilis in consíliis super fílios hóminum.
5  Qui convértit mare in áridam, in flúmine pertransíbunt pede: * ibi lætábimur in ipso.
6  Qui dominátur in virtúte sua in ætérnum, óculi ejus super Gentes respíciunt: * qui exasperant non exalténtur in semetípsis.

4  O come hither, and behold the works of God; * terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
5  He turneth the sea into dry land, in the river they shall go through on foot; * there shall we rejoice in him.
6  Who ruleth with his power for ever; his eyes behold the people: * and such as shall provoke him shall not be able to exalt themselves.

For deliverance from éxile

7  Benedícite, Gentes, Deum nostrum: * et audítam fácite vocem laudis ejus,
8  Qui pósuit ánimam meam ad vitam: * et non dedit in commotiónem pedes meos.
9  Quóniam probásti nos, Deus: * igne nos examinásti, sicut examinátur argéntum.
10  Induxísti nos in láqueum, posuísti tribulatiónes in dorso nostro: * imposuísti hómines super cápita nostra.
11  Transívimus per ignem et aquam: * et eduxísti nos in refrigérium.

7  O bless our God, ye people, * and make the voice of his praise to be heard;
8  Who hath set my soul to live; * and hath suffered not our feet to slip.
9  For thou, O God, hast proved us; * thou also hast tried us, like as silver is tried.
10  Thou broughtest us into the snare, and laidest afflictions upon our back : * thou sufferedst men to ride over our heads.
11  We have passed through fire and water, * and thou broughtest us out into a place of rest.

Psalm 65. ii.  Introibo in domum

12  Introíbo in domum tuam in holocáustis: * reddam tibi vota mea, quæ distinxérunt lábia mea.
13  Et locútum est os meum, * in tribulatióne mea.
14  Holocáusta medulláta ófferam tibi cum incénso aríetum: * ófferam tibi boves cum hircis.
15  Veníte, audíte, et narrábo, omnes, qui timétis Deum: * quanta fecit ánimæ meæ.
16  Ad ipsum ore meo clamávi, * et exaltávi sub lingua mea.
17  Iniquitátem si aspéxi in corde meo, *  non exáudiet Dóminus.
18  Proptérea exaudívit Deus, * et atténdit voci deprecatiónis meæ.

12  I will go into thine house with burnt-offerings, * and will pay thee my vows, which I promised with my lips.
13  And my mouth hath spoken, * in my tribulation.
14  I will offer unto thee fat burnt-sacrifices, with the incense of rams; * I will offer thee bullocks and goats.
15  O come hither, and hearken, all ye that fear God; * and I will tell you what great things he hath done for my soul.
16  I called unto him with my mouth, * and gave him praises with my tongue.
17  If I have looked at iniquity with mine heart, * the Lord will not hear me.
18  Therefore hath God heard me; * and hath considered the voice of my supplication.

Finale

19  Benedíctus Deus, * qui non amóvit oratiónem meam, et misericórdiam suam a me.

19  Blessed be God, * who hath not cast out my prayer, nor turned his mercy from me.

Psalm 67 is surely the most difficult Psalm in the Psalter.  It portrays the triumphal procession of the Ark of the Covenant.  God, with his Ark, sets out from Egypt, travels through the desert, enters the promised land, and advances to Mt. Sion.  Then, from Mt. Sion, as God of the Covenant, he spreads his rule over the heathen, over all the world.

This royal world empire continues and develops to its fullest extent in Christ and in his Church.  The Catholic Church is the true Mt. Sion, uniting all the peoples.  The Holy Eucharist is the Ark of the New Covenant; no longer does it hold the stone tables of the Law and the jar of manna and Aaron's blossoming staff, but now it bears the living Lawgiver himself, the living Manna from heaven, and the divine High Priest of the New Law.

In this Psalm we can see the victory chariot of the Church with the Holy Eucharist making its way through the ages.

Message:  The triumphal chariot of the Church with the Eucharistic King.

Signal for procession (Num. 10:35)

Exsúrgat Deus, et dissipéntur inimíci ejus, * et fúgiant qui odérunt eum, a fácie ejus.
2  Sicut déficit fumus, defíciant: * sicut fluit cera a fácie ignis, sic péreant peccatóres a fácie Dei.
3  Et justi epuléntur, et exsúltent in conspéctu Dei: * delecténtur in lætítia.

Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; * let them also that hate him flee before his face.
2  Like as the smoke vanisheth, so let them be driven away; * and like as wax melteth at the fire, so let the ungodly perish at the presence of God.
3  But let the righteous feast sumptuously, and rejoice before God; * let them also be merry with gladness.

Praise God's mighty deeds

4  Cantáte Deo, psalmum dícite nómini ejus: * iter fácite ei, qui ascéndit super occásum: (fit reverentia) Dóminus nomen illi.
5  Exsultáte in conspéctu ejus: * turbabúntur a fácie ejus, patris orphanórum et júdicis viduárum.

Deliverance from Egypt

6  Deus in loco sancto suo: * Deus, qui inhabitáre facit uníus moris in domo:
7  Qui edúcit vinctos in fortitúdine, * simíliter eos qui exasperant, qui hábitant in sepúlcris.

6  God in his holy habitation : * he is the God that maketh men of one mind to dwell within an house
7  And bringeth out the prisoners that were bound in strength; * in like manner them that provoke, that dwell in the sepulchres.

Journey through the desert

8  Deus, cum egrederéris in conspéctu pópuli tui, * cum pertransíres in desérto:
9  Terra mota est, étenim cæli distillavérunt a fácie Dei Sínai, * a fácie Dei Israël.
10  Plúviam voluntáriam segregábis, Deus, hereditáti tuæ: * et infirmáta est, tu vero perfecísti eam.
11  Animália tua habitábunt in ea: * parásti in dulcédine tua páuperi, Deus.

8  O God, when thou didst go forth before thy people; * when thou didst pass through the wilderness,
9  The earth shook, and the heavens dropped at the presence of the God of Sinai; * even at the presence of the God of Israel.
10  Thou, O God, shalt set aside a gracious rain unto thine inheritance, * and hast perfected it when it was weakened.
11  Therein shall dwell thy creatures; * for thou, O God, hast of thy goodness provided for the poor.

Psalm 67. ii.  Dominus dabit

Promised land

12  Dóminus dabit verbum evangelizántibus, * virtúte multa.
13  Rex virtútum dilécti dilécti: * et spéciei domus divídere spólia.
14  Si dormiátis inter médios cleros, pennæ colúmbæ deargentátæ, * et posterióra dorsi ejus in pallóre auri.
15  Dum discérnit cæléstis reges super eam, nive dealbabúntur in Selmon: * mons Dei, mons pinguis.

12  The Lord shall give the word to them that preach good tidings, * with great power.
13  The King of hosts is of the beloved, yea, of the beloved : * and the splendour of the household shall divide the spoils.
14  If ye sleep among the lots of the land, ye shall be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, * and the hinder parts of her back with the paleness of gold.
15  When he that is in heaven appointed kings over her, then shall they be whited with snow in Selmon : * the hill of God is a fertile hill.

Sanctuary on Sion

16  Mons coagulatus, mons pinguis: * ut quid suspicámini montes coagulátos?
17  Mons, in quo beneplácitum est Deo habitáre in eo: * étenim Dóminus habitábit in finem.
18  Currus Dei decem míllibus multiplex, míllia lætántium: * Dóminus in eis in Sina in sancto.
19  Ascendísti in altum, cepísti captivitátem: * accepísti dona in homínibus.
20  Etenim non credéntes, * inhabitáre Dóminum Deum.

16  A hill made solid, a fertile hill; * wherefore do ye mistrust, ye solid hills?
17  A hill, in the which it pleaseth God to dwell; * yea, the Lord will abide in it for ever.
18  The chariot of God is attended by ten thousands, even thousands of them that rejoice; * the Lord is among them in the holy place of Sinai.
19  Thou art gone up on high, thou hast led captivity captive, * and received gifts among men.
20  Yea, even for the unbelievers, * the dwelling of the Lord God.

God's rule on Sion

21  Benedíctus Dóminus die quotídie: * prósperum iter fáciet nobis Deus salutárium nostrórum.
22  Deus noster, Deus salvos faciéndi: * et Dómini Dómini éxitus mortis.
23  Verúmtamen Deus confrínget cápita inimicórum suórum: * vérticem capílli perambulántium in delíctis suis.
24  Dixit Dóminus: Ex Basan convértam, * convértam in profúndum maris:
25  Ut intingátur pes tuus in sánguine: * lingua canum tuórum ex inimícis, ab ipso.

21  Blessed be the Lord day by day, * the God of our salvation shall make our journey prosperous.
22  He is our God, even the God of whom cometh salvation: * and of the Lord, yea, of the Lord is the mouth of death.
23  But God shall wound the head of his enemies, * and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his wickedness.
24  The Lord hath said, I will turn them from Basan; * I will turn them into the deep of the sea:
25  That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, * and that the tongue of thy dogs may be red through the same.

The triumph

26  Vidérunt ingréssus tuos, Deus: * ingréssus Dei mei: regis mei qui est in sancto.
27  Prævenérunt príncipes conjúncti psalléntibus: * in médio juvenculárum tympanistriárum.
28  In ecclésiis benedícite Deo Dómino, * de fóntibus Israël.
29  Ibi Bénjamin adolescéntulus: * in mentis excéssu.
30  Príncipes Juda, duces eórum: * príncipes Zábulon, príncipes Nephtali.

26  They have seen, O God, how thou goest; * how thou, goest, my God and my King, who art in the sanctuary.
27  The princes went before, the minstrels follow after, * in the midst are the damsels playing with the timbrels.
28  Bless ye the Lord God in the congregations, * from the fountains of Israel.
29  There is young Benjamin : * in ecstasy of mind.
30  The princes of Juda are their leaders : * the princes of Zabulon, and the princes of Nephthali.

God's world empire

31  Manda, Deus, virtúti tuæ: * confírma hoc, Deus, quod operátus es in nobis.
32  A templo tuo in Jerúsalem, * tibi ófferent reges múnera.
33  Increpa feras arúndinis, congregátio taurórum in vaccis populórum: * ut exclúdant eos, qui probáti sunt argénto.
34  Díssipa Gentes, quæ bella volunt: vénient legáti ex Ægypto: * Æthiópia prævéniet manus ejus Deo.

31  Command, O God, thy mighty power; * stablish, O God, what thou hast wrought in us,
32  From thy temple at Jerusalem; * so shall kings bring presents unto thee.
33  Rebuke the wild beasts of the reeds, the congregation of bulls among the beasts of the people, * who seek to exclude them that are tried with silver
34  Scatter thou the people that delight in war; then shall the ambassadors come out of Egypt : * Ethiopia shall soon stretch our her hands unto God.

Invitation to praise God

35  Regna terræ, cantáte Deo: * psállite Dómino.
36  Psállite Deo, qui ascéndit super cælum cæli, * ad Oriéntem.
37  Ecce dabit voci suæ vocem virtútis, date glóriam Deo super Israël, * magnificéntia ejus, et virtus ejus in núbibus.
38  Mirábilis Deus in sanctis suis, Deus Israël ipse dabit virtútem, et fortitúdinem plebi suæ, * benedíctus Deus.

35  Sing unto God, O ye kingdoms of the earth; * O sing praises unto the Lord;
36  Yea, sing ye praises unto God, who riseth above the heaven of heavens, * unto the East.
37  Lo, he shall give his voice a mighty voice, ascribe ye glory to God over Israel;* his splendour and his strength is in the clouds.
38  God is wonderful in his holy places, even the God of Israel, he will give strength and power unto his people, * blessed be God.

This Messiánic Psalm expresses in striking terms the agony of our blessed Lord as well as other scenes in the sufferings of his life.  The curse formulas must be understood as our Lord's lamentation at the ingratitude of the Jewish people and as a prophecy of the subjection and dispersion of this people.  As the Psalm comes to an end, we are reminded of the Saviour's consolation in the garden:  "And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him" (Luke 22:43).

Suffering

Salvum me fac, Deus: * quóniam intravérunt aquæ usque ad ánimam meam.
2  Infíxus sum in limo profúndi: * et non est substántia.
3  Veni in altitúdinem maris: * et tempéstas demérsit me.
4  Laborávi clamans, raucæ factæ sunt fauces meæ: * defecérunt óculi mei, dum spero in Deum meum.
5  Multiplicáti sunt super capíllos cápitis mei, * qui odérunt me gratis.
6  Confortáti sunt qui persecúti sunt me inimíci mei injúste: * quæ non rápui, tunc exsolvébam.
7  Deus, tu scis insipiéntiam meam: * et delícta mea a te non sunt abscóndita.
8  Non erubéscant in me qui exspéctant te, Dómine, * Dómine virtútum
9  Non confundántur super me * qui quærunt te, Deus Israël.
10  Quóniam propter te sustínui oppróbrium: * opéruit confúsio fáciem meam.
11  Extráneus factus sum frátribus meis, * et peregrínus fíliis matris meæ.
12  Quóniam zelus domus tuæ comédit me: * et oppróbria exprobrántium tibi cecidérunt super me.
13  Et opérui in jejúnio ánimam meam: * et factum est in oppróbrium mihi.
14  Et pósui vestiméntum meum cilícium: * et factus sum illis in parábolam.
15  Advérsum me loquebántur, qui sedébant in porta: * et in me psallébant qui bibébant vinum.
16  Ego vero oratiónem meam ad te, Dómine: * tempus benepláciti, Deus.

Save me, O God; * for the waters are come in, even unto my soul.
2  I stick fast in the deep mire, * and there is no sure standing.
3  I am come into the depths of the sea, * and a tempest hath overwhelmed me.
4  I am weary of crying; my jaws are made dry; * my sight faileth me whilst I put my trust in my God.
5  They that hate me without a cause * are made more than the hairs of my head.
6  Mine enemies are grown mighty, who have wrongfully persecuted me : * I paid them the things that I never took.
7  God, thou knowest my simpleness, * and my faults are not hid from thee.
8  Let not them be ashamed for me that look unto thee, O Lord : * the Lord of Hosts.
9  Let them not be confounded through me, * that seek thee, O God of Israel.
10  Because for thy sake have I suffered reproof; * shame hath covered my face.
11  I am become a stranger unto my brethren, * even an alien unto my mother's children.
12  For the zeal of thine house hath even eaten me: * and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon me.
13  And I covered my soul with fasting, * and that was turned to my reproof.
14  And I made sackcloth my garment, * and I became a byword unto them.
15  They that sat in the gate spoke against me, * and they that drink wine made songs upon me.
16  But, Lord, I make my prayer unto thee * in an acceptable time, O God.

Psalm 68. ii.  In multitudine

Plea amid sufferings

17  In multitúdine misericórdiæ tuæ exáudi me, * in veritáte salútis tuæ:
18  Eripe me de luto, ut non infígar: * líbera me ab iis, qui odérunt me, et de profúndis aquárum.
19  Non me demérgat tempéstas aquæ, neque absórbeat me profúndum: * neque úrgeat super me púteus os suum.
20  Exáudi me, Dómine, quóniam benígna est misericórdia tua: * secúndum multitúdinem miseratiónum tuárum réspice in me.
21  Et ne avértas fáciem tuam a púero tuo: * quóniam tríbulor, velóciter exáudi me.
22  Inténde ánimæ meæ, et líbera eam: * propter inimícos meos éripe me.
23  Tu scis impropérium meum, et confusiónem meam, * et reveréntiam meam.
24  In conspéctu tuo sunt omnes qui tríbulant me: * impropérium exspectávit cor meum, et misériam.
25  Et sustínui qui simul contristarétur, et non fuit: * et qui consolarétur, et non invéni.
26  Et dedérunt in escam meam fel: * et in siti mea potavérunt me aceto.

17  Hear me, O God, in the multitude of thy mercy, * even in the truth of thy salvation.
18  Take me out of the mire, that I sink not; * O let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
19  Let not the water-flood drown me, neither let the deep swallow me up; * and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
20  Hear me, O Lord, for thy mercy is kind; * look upon me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
21  And hide not thy face from thy servant; * for I am in trouble, O haste thee, and hear me.
22  Draw nigh unto my soul, and save it; * O deliver me, because of mine enemies.
23  Thou knowest my reproof, and my shame, * and my dishonour.
24  Mine adversaries are all in thy sight : * my heart hath expected rebuke, and I am wretched.
25  And I looked for one that would grieve together with me, but there was no man, * neither found I any to comfort me.
26  They gave me gall to eat; * and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.

Punishment of enemies

27  Fiat mensa eórum coram ipsis in láqueum, * et in retributiónes, et in scándalum.
28  Obscuréntur óculi eórum ne vídeant: * et dorsum eórum semper incúrva.
29  Effúnde super eos iram tuam: * et furor iræ tuæ comprehéndat eos.
30  Fiat habitátio eórum desérta: * et in tabernáculis eórum non sit qui inhábitet.
31  Quóniam quem tu percussísti, persecúti sunt: * et super dolórem vulnerum meórum addidérunt.
32  Appóne iniquitátem super iniquitátem eórum: * et non intrent in justítiam tuam.
33  Deleántur de libro vivéntium: * et cum justis non scribántur.

27  Let their table be made a snare before them; * and a recompense, and a stumbling block.
28  Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; * and ever bow thou down their backs.
29  Pour out thine indignation upon them, * and let thy wrathful displeasure take hold of them.
30  Let their habitation be void, * and no man to dwell in their tents.
31  For they have persecuted him whom thou hast smitten; * and they have added to the grief of my wounds.
32  Add thou wickedness upon their wickedness, * and let them not come into thy righteousness.
33  Let them be wiped out of the book of the living, * and not be written among the righteous.

Thanksgiving and a promise

34  Ego sum pauper et dolens: * salus tua, Deus, suscépit me.
35  Laudábo nomen Dei cum cántico: * magnificábo eum in laude:
36  Et placébit Deo super vítulum novéllum: * córnua producéntem et úngulas.
37  Vídeant páuperes et læténtur: * quærite Deum, et vivet ánima vestra.
38  Quóniam exaudívit páuperes Dóminus: * et vinctos suos non despéxit.

34  But I am poor and in heaviness, * thy salvation, O God, hath lifted me up.
35  I will praise the Name of God with a song, * and magnify him with praise.
36  This also shall please the Lord better than a young calf * that bringeth forth horns and hoofs.
37  The poor shall consider this, and be glad: * Seek ye after God, and your soul shall live.
38  For the Lord hath heard the poor, * and hath not despised his prisoners.

Finale

39  Laudent illum cæli et terra, * mare et ómnia reptília in eis.
40  Quóniam Deus salvam fáciet Sion: * et ædificabúntur civitátes Juda.
41  Et inhabitábunt ibi, * et hereditáte acquírent eam.
42  Et semen servórum ejus possidébit eam: * et qui díligunt nomen ejus, habitábunt in ea.

39  Let heaven and earth praise him: * the sea, and all that creepeth therein.
40  For God will save Sion, * and build the cities of Judah.
41  And men shall dwell there, * and acquire it as an inheritance.
42  And the seed of his servants shall possess it; * and they that love his Name shall dwell therein.