Matins

The first part of Matins is in the Ordinary

Invitatory and Hymn

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn
 

Invitatory and Hymn

Regem Confessórum Dóminum, * Veníte, adorémus.

The Lord, the King of Confessors, * O come, let us worship.

Regem Confessórum Dóminum, * Veníte, adorémus.

The Lord, the King of Confessors, * O come, let us worship.

Psalmus 94.
Venite, exsultemus Domino

Veníte, exsultémus Dómino, jubilémus Deo, salutári nostro : præoccupémus fáciem ejus in confessióne, et in psalmis jubilémus ei.

O come, let us sing unto the Lord ; let us heartily rejoice in the God of our salvation.  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving ; and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms.

Regem Confessórum Dóminum, * Veníte, adorémus.

The Lord, the King of Confessors, * O come, let us worship.

Quóniam Deus magnus Dóminus, et Rex magnus super omnes deos : quóniam non repéllet Dóminus plebem suam : quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, et altitúdines móntium ipse cónspicit.

For the Lord is a great God ; and a great King above all gods:  For the Lord will not cast off his people:  In his hand are all the corners of the earth, and the strength of the hills is his also.

Veníte, adorémus.

O come, let us worship.

In the following verse of the Psalm, at the words veníte, adorémus, et procidámus ante Deum (O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker) all genuflect.

Quóniam ipsíus est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et áridam fundavérunt manus ejus : veníte, adorémus, et procidámus ante Deum : plorémus coram Dómino, qui fecit nos, quia ipse est Dóminus Deus noster ; nos autem pópulus ejus, et oves páscuæ ejus.

The sea is his and he made it ; and his hands prepared the dry land.  O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker: For he is the Lord our God ; and we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Regem Confessórum Dóminum, * Veníte, adorémus.

The Lord, the King of Confessors, * O come, let us worship.

Hódie, si vocem ejus audiéritis, nolíte obduráre corda vestra, sicut in exacerbatióne, secúndum diem tentatiónis in desérto : ubi tentavérunt me patres vestri, probavérunt et vidérunt ópera mea.

Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness ; when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works.

Veníte, adorémus.

O come, let us worship.

Quadragínta annis próximus fui generatióni huic, et dixi : Semper hi errant corde ; ipsi vero non cognovérunt vias meas : quibus jurávi in ira mea : Si introíbunt in réquiem meam.

Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways:  unto whom I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest.

Regem Confessórum Dóminum, * Veníte, adorémus.

The Lord, the King of Confessors, * O come, let us worship.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.  Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,  et in sæcula sæculórum.  Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

Veníte, adorémus.

O come, let us worship.

Regem Confessórum Dóminum, * Veníte, adorémus.

The Lord, the King of Confessors, * O come, let us worship.

As soon as the introductory part of Matins is finished, there is begun The First Nocturn.  The Psalms with their Antiphons are taken from the occurring weekday, as given in the table below.

The Lessons for the First Nocturn are taken from the occurrent Scripture.  If, however, they are to be taken from the Common, they are read from that of Several Confessors, Series 2,  Laudemus viros.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of Several Confessors
 

Absolutio: Ipsíus píetas et misericórdia nos ádjuvet, qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculórum.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  May his loving-kindness and mercy assist us.  Who, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, for ever and ever.
R.  Amen.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Pray, Sir (Lord), give me thy blessing.

Benedíctio 4: Deus Pater omnípotens sit nobis propítius et clemens.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 4:  May God the Father Almighty shew us his mercy and pity.
R.  Amen.

Sæculo tértio décimo cum Frideríci secúndi diro schísmate cruentísque factiónibus cultióres Itáliæ pópuli scinderéntur, próvidens Dei misericórdia, præter álios sanctitáte illústres, septem e Florentína nobilitáte viros suscitávit, qui in caritáte conjúncti, præclárum fratérnæ dilectiónis præbérent exémplum.  Hi, nimírum Bonfílius Monáldius, Bonajúncta Manéttus, Manéttus Antellénsis, Amidéus de Amidéis, Ugúccio Ugucciónum, Sostenéus de Sostenéis et Aléxius Falconérius, cum, anno trigésimo tértio ejus sæculi, die sacra Virgini cælo recéptæ, in quodam piórum hóminum convéntu, Laudántium nuncupáto, fervéntius orárent ; ab eádem Deípara síngulis apparénte sunt admóniti, ut sánctius perfectiúsque vitæ genus amplecteréntur.  Re ítaque prius cum Florentíno præsule colláta, hi septem viri, géneris nobilitáte divitiísque posthábitis, sub vilíssimis detritísque véstibus cilício indúti, octáva die Septémbris in rurálem quamdam ædículam secessére, ut ea die primórdia vitæ sanctióris auspicaréntur, qua ipsa Dei Génitrix mortálibus orta sanctíssimam vitam incéperat.

In the thirteenth century, when the more cultured parts of Italy were rent by the dread dissension of the Emperor Frederick the Second and by bloody civil wars, the mercy of God set forth divers men eminent for holiness, and among others raised up seven nobles of Florence, who were bound one to another in charity and have an illustrious example of brotherly love.  Their names were Buonfiglio Monaldo, Buonagiunta Manetti, Manetto Antalli, Amadeo de Amidei, Uguccio de Uguccióni, Sosteneo de' Sostenei, and Alexis Falconieri.  Upon the holiday of the Assumption of the Virgin into heaven in the year 1233 they were praying in the oratory of a guild called the Guild of Praise, when the same Mother of God appeared to each one of them, and bade them embrace a life of greater holiness and perfection.  These seven men discussed the matter with the Bishop of Florence, and then, considering neither the nobility of their birth nor their wealth, and clad in haircloth under vile and worn-out garments, withdrew into a little house in the country upon the 8th day of September, that they might begin their holier life upon the same day whereon the Mother of God herself had by her birth begun her life of holiness upon earth.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Honéstum fecit illum Dóminus, et custodívit eum ab inimícis, et a seductóribus tutávit illum : * Et dedit illi claritátem ætérnam.
V.  Justum dedúxit Dóminus per vias rectas, et osténdit illi regnum Dei.
R.  Et dedit illi claritátem ætérnam.

R.  The Lord multiplied the fruit of his labours and defended him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those that lay in wait. * And gave him perpetual glory.
V.  The Lord guided the righteous in right paths, and shewed him the kingdom of God.
R.  And gave him perpetual glory.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Pray, Sir (Lord), give me thy blessing.

Benedíctio 5: Christus perpétuæ det nobis gáudia vitæ.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 5: May Christ bestow upon us the joys of life eternal.
R.  Amen.

Hoc vitæ institútum quam sibi foret accéptum Deus miráculo osténdit.  Nam cum paulo deínceps hi septem viri per Florentínam urbem ostiátim eleemósynam emendicárent, áccidit, ut repénte infántium voce, quos inter fuit sanctus Philíppus Benítius quintum ætátis mensem vix ingréssus, beátæ Maríæ Servi acclamaréntur : quo deínde nómine semper appelláti sunt.  Quare, vitándi pópuli occúrsus ac solitúdinis amóre ducti, in Senárii montis recéssu omnes convenére, ibíque cæléste quoddam vitæ genus aggréssi sunt.  Victitábant enim in spelúncis, sola aqua herbísque conténti ; vigíliis aliísque asperitátibus corpus atterébant, Christi passiónem ac mæstíssimæ ejúsdem Genitrícis dolóres assídue meditántes.  Quod cum olim sacra Parascéves die impénsius exsequeréntur, ipsa beáta Virgo illis iteráto appárens, lúgubrem vestem, quam indúerent, osténdit ; sibíque acceptíssimum fore significávit, ut novum in Ecclésia regulárem órdinem excitárent, qui jugem recóleret ac promovéret memóriam dolórum, quos ipsa pértulit sub cruce Dómini.  Hæc sanctus Petrus, ínclytus órdinis Prædicatórum Martyr, ex familiári cum sanctis illis viris consuetúdine ac peculiári étiam Deíparæ visióne cum didicísset ; iis auctor fuit, ut órdinem regulárem sub appellatióne Servórum beátæ Vírginis institúerent : qui póstea ab Innocéntio quarto Pontífice máximo approbátus fuit.

God shewed by a miracle how acceptable in his sight should be their manner of life, for a short while after, when these seven men were begging alms from door to door through the city of Florence, it came to pass that some children, among whom was holy Philip Beniti, who had then scarcely entered the fifth month of his age, called them blessed Mary's servants, by the which name they were called ever after.  To avoid meeting people, and in the desire to be alone, they all withdrew together to  the solitude of Monte Senario, and there began a kind of heavenly life.  They lived in caves and upon herbs and water only, while they wore out their bodies with watching and other hardships, while they contemplated unweariedly the sufferings of Christ and the woes of his most sorrowful Mother.  One Good Friday, when their thoughts were fixed thereon more than ever, the Blessed Virgin appeared to them twice, and shewed them her garments of mourning as those wherein they should clothe themselves.  She bade them know that she would take it right well that they should raise up in the Church a new order to recall the memory of the sorrows which she bore beneath the Cross of the Lord.  Holy Peter, the illustrious martyr of the Order of Friars Preachers, learnt this not only from his familiar converse with these holy men, but also from a special vision of the Mother of God, and it was on his incitement that they founded the regular Order called that of the Servites, or Servants of the Blessed Virgin, the which Order was afterward approved by the Supreme Pontiff Innocent IV.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Amávit eum Dóminus, et ornávit eum : stolam glóriæ índuit eum, * Et ad portas paradísi coronávit eum.
V.  Induit eum Dóminus lorícam fídei, et ornávit eum.
R.  Et ad portas paradísi coronávit eum.

R.  The Lord loved him and adorned him; he clothed him with a robe of glory : * And crowned him at the gates of Paradise.
V.  The Lord hath put on him the breast-plate of faith, and hath adorned him.
R.  And crowned him at the gates of Paradise.

St. Peter the Martyr

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Pray, Sir (Lord), give me thy blessing.

Benedíctio 6: Ignem sui amóris accéndat Deus in córdibus nostris.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 6: May God enkindle in our hearts the fire of his holy love.
R.  Amen.

Porro sancti illi viri, cum plures sibi sócios adjunxíssent, Itáliæ civitátes atque óppida, præsértim Etrúriæ excúrrere cœpérunt, prædicántes ubíque Christum crucifíxum, civíles discórdias compescéntes et innúmeros fere dévios ad virtútis sémitam revocántes.  Neque Itáliam modo, sed et Gálliam, Germániam ac Polóniam suis evangélicis labóribus excoluérunt.  Dénique cum bonum Christi odórem longe latéque diffudíssent, portentórum quoque glória illústres, migrárunt ad Dóminum.  Sed quos unus veræ fraternitátis ac religiónis amor in vita sociáverat, unum páriter demórtuos contéxit sepúlcrum, únaque pópuli venerátio prosecúta est.  Quaprópter Clemens undécimus et Benedíctus décimus tértius Pontífices máximi delátum iísdem a plúribus sæculis indivíduum cultum confirmárunt ; ac Leo décimus tértius, approbátis ántea miráculis, post indúltam veneratiónem ad collectívam eorúmdem invocatiónem a Deo patrátis, eósdem anno quinquagésimo sacerdótii sui Sanctórum honóribus cumulávit, eorúmque memóriam Offício et Missa in univérsa Ecclésia quotánnis recoléndam instítuit.

 These holy men, when they had gathered to themselves some companions, began to go through the cities and towns of Italy, and especially of Tuscany, everywhere preaching Christ crucified, stilling contests among the citizens, and calling back almost countless backsliders into the path of grace.  Neither did they make Italy only the field of their Gospel labours, but also France, Germany, and Poland.  They passed away to be ever with the Lord when they had spread far and wide a sweet savour of Christ, and were famous also for the glory of signs and wonders.  As one love of brotherhood and of the monastic life had joined them together upon earth, so one grave held their dead bodies, and one honour was paid them by the people.  For this reason the Supreme Pontiffs Clement XI and Benedict XIII confirmed the honour which had for centuries been paid to them individually, and Leo XIII, after proof of their miracles which had been wrought by God on the common invocation of these saints, after their veneration had been sanctioned in the jubilee year of his priesthood, decreed to them the honours paid to Saints, and ordered that their memory should every year be kept throughout the universal Church with an Office and Mass.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Iste homo perfécit ómnia quæ locútus est ei Deus, et dixit ad eum : Ingrédere in réquiem meam : * Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus.
V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna.
R.  Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus.

R.  This is he which did according to all that God commanded him ; and God said unto him : Enter thou into my rest : * For thee have I seen righteous before me among all people.
V.  This is he which despised his life in this world, and is come unto an everlasting kingdom.
R.  For thee have I seen righteous before me among all people.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  For thee have I seen righteous before me among all people.

Sæculo tértio décimo, septem e Florentína nobilitáte viri, nimírum Bonfílius Monáldius, Bonajúncta Manéttus, Manéttus Antellénsis, Amidéus de Amidéis, Ugúccio Ugucciónum, Sostenéus de Sostenéis et Aléxius Falconérius, in rurálem quamdam ædículam secessére, Christi passiónem ac mæstíssimæ ejúsdem Matris dolóres assídue recoléntes, illis beáta Virgo, sacra Parascéves die appárens lúgubrem vestem, quam indúerent, osténdit, sibíque acceptíssimum fore significávit, ut novum regulárem órdinem excitárent, qui jugem recóleret ac promovéret memóriam dolórum, quos ipsa pértulit sub Cruce Dómini.  Tunc sancti illi viri, beáto Petro, órdinis Prædicatórum Mártyre, adjutóre, órdinem Servórum beátæ Vírginis instituérunt, et cum sóciis civitátes et óppida excúrrere cœpérunt, ubíque Christum crucifíxum verbo et exémplo prædicántes.  Quos vero unus veræ fraternitátis amor in vita sociáverat, unum páriter demórtuos contéxit sepúlcrum, únaque pópuli venerátio prosecúta est.  Quare Clemens undécimus et Benedíctus décimus tértius delátum iísdem indivíduum cultum confírmavérunt ; Leo autem décimus tértius eos albo Sanctórum accénsuit.

In the thirteenth century, there were seven Florentine noblemen, namely Buonfiglio Monaldo, Buonagiunta Manetti, Manetto Antalli, Amadeo de Amidei, Uguccio de Uguccióni, Sosteneo de' Sostenei, and Alexis Falconieri, who withdrew to a little hut in the country to meditate on the Passion of Christ and the sorrows of his grieving Mother.  The Blessed Virgin appeared to them on Good Friday, holding out a dark habit which they were to wear ; and she made it known that it would be most pleasing to her if they would found a new Order of religious who would reverence and foster the memory of the sorrows which she had suffered as she stood beneath the Cross of our Lord.  Then these holy men, with the help of St. Peter the Martyr of the Order of Preachers, founded the Order of Servites, or Servants of the Blessed Virgin, and, with their companions, began to go about through cities and towns, everywhere preaching Christ crucified, by word and by example.  And, as one love had united them in a true brotherhood during life, one grave received them when they died, and they were venerated as one by popular devotion.  Clement XI and Benedict XIII, therefore, confirmed this common veneration which had been paid to them, and Leo XIII enrolled them among the Saints.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

After the conclusion of the Second Nocturn, the Third Nocturn is begun according to the current weekday, as given in the table below.

Third Nocturn

In the Third Nocturn, the Gospel Homily Ecce nos reliquimus  is read from the Common of Abbots, Series 1.

Gospel Homily from Common of Abbots