Friday Terce

The wasted vineyard: prayer of poor sinners

It is Friday between the hours of 9 and 12.  Our Lord is standing before the bloodthirsty crowds of Jews, crowned with thorns, a mock king, the everlasting Judge condemned to death by earthly judges.  Two Psalms describe the scene for us in Friday Terce: the song of the wasted vineyard, which is a figure of the outraged humanity of Christ, and the song of the evil judges, who represent Pilate and the high priests.  This is the background in the story of salvation.  In the foreground there is another picture, equally the object of our prayers and compassion.  The wasted vineyard is my own soul violated by sin, once the home of the Holy Spirit.  It can also be seen as the Church, violated and desecrated by the abominations of the Vatican II reforms.  And the unjust judges represent the fallen hierarchy.  In the name of these poor unfortunates, we pray the Advent theme four times: Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts; shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

Psalm 79

The song of the wasted vineyard

This Psalm is a poetic elegy:  Israel (the Church), once God's fruitful vineyard, is now a desolate waste.  The psalmist prays for a renewal of the former glory of his people.  The parable is particularly well done, and the fervent refrain heightens the thought of lamentation.

Psalm 79. i.  Qui regis Israël

First strophe:  Plea for aid

Qui regis Israël, inténde: * qui dedúcis velut ovem Joseph.
2  Qui sedes super Chérubim: * manifestáre coram Ephraim, Bénjamin, et Manásse.
3  Excita poténtiam tuam, et veni: * ut salvos fácias nos.
4  Deus, convérte nos: * et osténde fáciem tuam, et salvi érimus.

Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel, * thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep.
2  Thou that sittest upon the Cherubim : * shew thyself also before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.
3  Stir up thy strength, and come * to save us.
4  Turn thou us, O God; * shew us thy countenance, and we shall be saved.

Second strophe:  Lament over the ruin

5  Dómine, Deus virtútum, * quoúsque irascéris super oratiónem servi tui?
6  Cibábis nos pane lacrimárum: * et potum dabis nobis in lácrimis in mensúra?
7  Posuísti nos in contradictiónem vicínis nostris: * et inimíci nostri subsannavérunt nos.
8  Deus virtútum, convérte nos: * et osténde fáciem tuam, et salvi érimus.

5  O Lord God of hosts, * how long wilt thou be angry with the prayer of thy people?
6  How long wilt thou feed us with the bread of tears, * and give us plenteousness of tears to drink.
7  Thou hast made us a very strife unto our neighbours, * and our enemies have laughed us to scorn.
8  Turn thou us, O God of hosts : * shew us thy countenance, and we shall be saved.

Psalm 79. ii.  Vineam de Ægypto

Third strophe:  Former care

9  Víneam de Ægypto transtulísti: * ejecísti Gentes, et plantásti eam.
10  Dux itíneris fuísti in conspéctu ejus: * plantásti radíces ejus, et implévit terram.
11  Opéruit montes umbra ejus: * et arbusta ejus cedros Dei.
12  Exténdit pálmites suos usque ad mare: * et usque ad flumen propágines ejus.
13  Ut quid destruxísti macériam ejus: * et vindémiant eam omnes, qui prætergrediúntur viam?
14  Exterminávit eam aper de silva: * et singuláris ferus depastus est eam.
15  Deus virtútum, convértere: * réspice de cælo, et vide, et vísita víneam istam.

9  Thou hast brought a vineyard out of Egypt; * thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
10  Thou wast the guide of its journey in its sight; * thou hast planted the roots thereof, and it filled the land.
11  The hills were covered with the shadow thereof, * and its boughs were as the cedar-trees of God.
12  It stretched out its branches unto the sea, * and its boughs unto the river.
13  Why hast thou then broken down its hedge, * that all they that go by pluck off the grapes thereof?
14  The wild boar out of the wood hath laid it waste, * and the wild beasts of the forest one by one have devoured it.
15  Turn thee again, thou God of hosts, * look down from heaven, behold, and visit thou this vineyard.

Fourth strophe:  Plea for restoration

16  Et pérfice eam, quam plantávit déxtera tua: * et super fílium hóminis, quem confirmásti tibi.
17  Incénsa igni, et suffóssa: * ab increpatióne vultus tui períbunt.
18  Fiat manus tua super virum déxteræ tuæ: * et super fílium hóminis quem confirmásti tibi.
19  Et non discédimus a te, vivificábis nos: * et nomen tuum invocábimus.
20  Dómine, Deus virtútum, convérte nos: * et osténde fáciem tuam, et salvi érimus.

16  And perfect the same that thy right hand hath planted, * and upon the son of man, whom thou hast confirmed for thine own self.
17  The things burnt with fire and cut down * shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
18  Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, * and upon the son of man, whom thou hast confirmed for thine own self.
19  And we will not depart from thee, and thou shalt quicken us : * and we will call upon thy Name.
20  Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts; * shew us thy countenance, and we shall be saved.

Psalm 81.  Deus stetit

The evil judges

The divine Judge

Deus stetit in synagóga deórum: * in médio autem deos dijúdicat.

God hath stood in the congregation of the gods : * he judgeth the gods in the midst thereof.

Accusation and judgment

2  Usquequo judicátis iniquitátem: * et fácies peccatórum súmitis?
3  Judicáte egeno, et pupíllo: * húmilem, et páuperem justificáte.
4  Eripite páuperem: * et egénum de manu peccatóris liberáte.

2  How long will ye give wrong judgment, * and accept the persons of the ungodly?
3  Defend the needy and fatherless; * do justice unto the humble and the poor.
4  Deliver the poor; * and save the needy from the hand of the ungodly.

Sentence

5  Nesciérunt, neque intellexérunt, in ténebris ámbulant: * movebúntur ómnia fundaménta terræ.
6  Ego dixi: Dii estis, * et fílii Excélsi omnes.
7  Vos autem sicut hómines moriémini: * et sicut unus de princípibus cadétis.

5  They have not known, neither did they understand, they walk on in darkness: * all the foundations of the earth shall be moved.
6  I have said, Ye are gods, * and ye are all the children of the Most Highest.
7  But ye like men shall die, * and shall fall like one of the princes.

Finale

8  Surge, Deus, júdica terram: * quóniam tu hereditábis in ómnibus Géntibus.

8  Arise, O God, and judge thou the earth; * for thou shalt take all nations to thine inheritance.