Matins

The first part of Matins is in the Ordinary

Invitatory and Hymn

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn
 

Invitatory and Hymn

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

In worshipful remembrance of our blessed protector Joseph, * Let us praise our God, alleluia.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

In worshipful remembrance of our blessed protector Joseph, * Let us praise our God, alleluia.

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.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

In worshipful remembrance of our blessed protector Joseph, * Let us praise our God, alleluia.

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.

In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

Let us praise our God, alleluia.

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.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

In worshipful remembrance of our blessed protector Joseph, * Let us praise our God, alleluia.

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.

In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

Let us praise our God, alleluia.

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.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

In worshipful remembrance of our blessed protector Joseph, * Let us praise our God, alleluia.

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.

In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

Let us praise our God, alleluia.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

In worshipful remembrance of our blessed protector Joseph, * Let us praise our God, alleluia.

Te, Joseph, célebrent ágmina cælitum,
Te cuncti résonent christíadum chori,
Qui clarus méritis, junctus est ínclytæ
Casto fœdere Vírgini.

Almo cum túmidam gérmine cónjugem
Admírans, dúbio tángeris ánxius,
Afflátu súperi Fláminis Angelus
Concéptum Púerum docet.

Tu natum Dóminum stringis, ad éxteras
Ægypti prófugum tu séqueris plagas ;
Amíssum Sólymis quæris, et ínvenis,
Miscens gáudia flétibus.

Post mortem réliquos sors pia cónsecrat,
Palmámque eméritos glória súscipit :
Tu vivens, Súperis par, frúeris Deo,
Mira sorte beátior.

Nobis, summa Trias, parce precántibus,
Da Joseph méritis sídera scándere :
Ut tandem líceat nos tibi pérpetim
Gratum prómere cánticum.  Amen.

O Joseph, spouse so pure of that immortal bride
Whose glory shines secure, midst virgins glorified:
How now on high thy name is ever magnified
Let all of Christendom proclaim;

How once at God's behest an Angel came to bring
Joy to thine anxious breast, and tell of Christ the King—
The Babe foretold of yore that of a maid must spring,
By God the Spirit shadowed o'er.

How with thy new-born Lord and Mary thou didst flee;
How Egypt did afford haven for them and thee;
How in Jerusalem that Son, sought mournfully,
Restored all joy, all grief did stem.

Not till death's hour is past do other men obtain
The blessings that do last, the joys that e'er remain;
Thou, like to Angels blest, on earth didst here attain
To clasp thy God unto thy breast.

O Holy Trinity, thy suppliant servants spare;
Grant us to come to thee, with Joseph's help and prayer;
And then our hearts shall raise, in saintly chorus fair,
Exulting canticles of praise.  Amen.

First Nocturn

Psalms and Antiphons of Wednesday

The Lessons for the First Nocturn are taken from the occurrent Scripture. 

Scripture Lessons
 

Second Nocturn

Psalms and Antiphons of Wednesday

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.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), 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.

Non falláciter ab Angelo dictum est ad Joseph : Noli timére accípere Maríam cónjugem tuam.  Conjux vocátur ex prima fide desponsatiónis, quam concúbitu nec cognóverat nec fúerat cognitúrus ; nec períerat nec mendax mánserat cónjugis appellátio, ubi nec fúerat nec futúra erat ulla carnis commíxtio.  Erat quippe illa Virgo ; ídeo et sánctius et mirabílius jucúnda suo viro, quia étiam fœcúnda sine viro, prole dispar, fide compar.  Propter quod fidéle conjúgium paréntes Christi vocári ambo meruérunt, et non solum illa mater, verum étiam ille pater ejus, sicut conjux matris ejus, utrúmque mente, non carne.  Sive autem ille pater sola mente, sive illa mater et carne, paréntes tamen ambo humilitátis ejus, non sublimitátis ; infirmitátis, non divinitátis.

The Angel did not speak falsely when he said to Joseph : Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife.  She is called wife because of the mutual confidence established between them at the time of her espousal, although he had not known her carnally, nor was he ever so to do.  And the name of wife was not lost or rendered untrue because there had not been any carnal intercourse, and would not be in the future.  She was, in fact, The Virgin ; and therefore she was holier and a more wonderful source of joy to her husband just because she became a mother without a man's intervention.  Thus he knew her to be like unto himself in faithfulness, unlike him as regards her offspring.    On account of his faithful union, both of them merited the name of Christ's parents.  And not only is she called his Mother, but he also is called his father, as being the husband of his Mother, not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.  But even though he was a father only in spirit, whilst she was Mother according to the flesh, yet they both were the parents of his humility, not of his glory ; of his infirmity, not of his divinity.

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

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

R.  Dedísti mihi protectiónem salútis tuæ et déxtera tua suscépit me : * Protéctor meus et cornu salútis meæ et suscéptor meus, allelúja.
V.  Ego protéctor tuus sum et merces tua magna nimis.
R.  Protéctor meus et cornu salútis meæ et suscéptor meus, allelúja.

R.  Thou hast given me the defence of thy salvation ; thy right hand also shall hold me up : *  It is God that girdeth me, my buckler, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge, alleluia.
V.  I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.
R.  It is God that girdeth me, my buckler, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge, alleluia.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), 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.

Neque enim mentítur Evangélium, ubi légitur : Et erat Pater ejus et Mater mirántes super his, quæ dicebántur de illo.  Et álio loco : Ibant paréntes ejus per omnes annos in Jerúsalem.  Item paulo post : Et dixit Mater ejus ad illum : Fili, quid fecísti nobis sic?  Ecce pater tuus et ego doléntes quærebámus te.  At ille, ut osténderet habére se præter illos Patrem, qui eum génuit præter matrem, respóndit eis : Quid est, quod me quærebátis?  Nesciebátis, quia in his, quæ Patris mei sunt, opórtet me esse?  Et rursum, ne hoc dicto paréntes illos negásse putarétur, Evangelísta secútus adjúnxit : Et ipsi non intellexérunt verbum quod locútus est ad illos ; et descéndit cum eis, et venit Názareth, et erat súbditus illis.  Quibus súbditus nisi paréntibus?  Quis autem súbditus, nisi Jesus Christus, qui, cum in forma Dei esset, non rapínam arbitrátus est, esse se æquálem Deo?

For the Gospel doth not lie, when it saith : And Joseph and his Mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.  And in another place : His parents went to Jerusalem every year.  And a little further on : And his Mother said unto him ; Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.  But, to shew that, apart from them, he had a Father who begat him without a mother, he answered them : How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?  And, as a set-off to this, lest anyone might think that by these words he denied his parents, the Evangelist immediately addeth : And they understood the saying which he spake unto them ; and he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.  To whom was he subject but to his parents? And who was thus subject but Jesus Christ, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God?

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

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

R.  Státuet fílios suos sub tégmine illíus et sub ramis ejus morábitur ; protegétur sub tégmine illíus a fervóre : * Et in glória ejus requiéscet, allelúja.
V.  Speráte in eo, omnis congregátio pópuli, effúndite coram illo corda vestra.
R.  Et in glória ejus requiéscet, allelúja.

R.  He shall set his children under his shelter, and shall lodge under his branches ; by him shall he be covered from the heat : * And in his glory shall he dwell, alleluia.
V.  O put your trust in him alway, ye congregation of the people, pour out your hearts before him.
R.  And in his glory shall he dwell, alleluia.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), 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.

Cur ergo illis súbditus, qui longe infra formam Dei erant, nisi quia semetípsum exinanívit formam servi accípiens, cujus formæ paréntes erant?  Sed profécto nec ipsíus formæ servi paréntes ambo essent, nisi inter se étiam sine carnis commixtióne cónjuges essent.  Unde et séries generatiónum, cum paréntes Christi connexióne successiónis commemorántur, usque ad Joseph pótius, sicut factum est, fúerat perducénda ; ne in illo conjúgio viríli séxui, útique potióri, fíeret injúria, cum veritáti nihil períret, quia ex sémine David, ex quo ventúrus prædíctus est Christus, et Joseph erat et María.  Omne ítaque nuptiárum bonum implétum est in illis paréntibus Christi : proles, fides sacraméntum.  Prolem cognóscimus ipsum Dóminum Jesum ; fidem, quia nullum adultérium ; sacraméntum, quia nullum divórtium.

Why therefore was he subject to them who were so far below the form of God, except that he humbled himself, taking upon himself the form of a servant, of which form they were the parents?  But truly, neither of them would have attained unto the parenthood of this form of a servant, except they had become respectively husband and wife, albeit without any carnal intercourse.  And hence, when the ancestors of Christ are recounted in direct line of succession, the genealogy was fittingly traced down to Joseph.  Otherwise, it would have been a slur upon the male sex, which is wont to be accorded the greater dignity.  At the same time the truth did not suffer, for both Joseph and Mary were of the seed of David, from which it was prophesied that Christ should come.  Note how thus all the good things of marriage are found in these parents of Christ : offspring, fidelity, the marriage bond.  The offspring we know, was the Lord Jesus himself ; their fidelity is proved because there was no adultery ; the marriage bond, because there was no divorce.

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

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

R.  Si consístant advérsum me castra, non timébit cor meum : * Si exsúrgat advérsum me prælium, in hoc ego sperábo, allelúja.
V.  In te cantátio mea semper, quóniam tu adjútor fortis.
R.  Si exsúrgat advérsum me prælium, in hoc ego sperábo, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Si exsúrgat advérsum me prælium, in hoc ego sperábo, allelúja.

R.  Though an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid, * And though a battle should rise up against me, yet will I put my trust in him, alleluia.
V.  My mouth shall be alway filled  with thy praise, for thou art my strong refuge.
R.  And though a battle should rise up against me, yet will I put my trust in him, alleluia.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And though a battle should rise up against me, yet will I put my trust in him, alleluia.

Third Nocturn

Psalms and Antiphons of Wednesday

Absolutio: A vínculis peccatórum nostrórum absólvat nos omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  May the Lord Almighty and merciful break the bonds of our sins and set us free.
R.  Amen.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 7: Evangélica léctio sit nobis salus et protéctio.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 7:  May the Gospel's holy lection be our safeguard and protection.
R.  Amen.

In illo témpore : Factum est autem cum baptizarétur omnis pópulus, et Jesu baptizáto et oránte, apértum est cælum.  Et réliqua.

At that time : When all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened.  And so on, and that which followeth.

Natális hódie alter est quodam modo Salvatóris.  Nam eísdem eum signis, eísdem miráculis cognóscimus génitum, sed nunc majóri mystério baptizátum.  Ait enim Deus : Hic est Fílius meus diléctus, in quo mihi complácui.  Præclárior plane est secúnda, quam prima natívitas.  Illa enim sine teste siléntio Christum génuit ; ista cum divinitátis professióne Dóminum baptizávit.  Ab illa se Joseph, qui pater putabátur, excúsat ; in hac se Pater, qui non credebátur, insínuat.  Ibi labórat suspiciónibus Mater, quia professióni déerat pater ; hic honorátur Génitrix, quia Divínitas Fílium protestátur.

The day of his baptism is, as it were, a second birthday of the Saviour.  For we know that he was born with signs and wonders like to those of his baptism, and that in the latter is a great mystery like to his birth.  For God saith : This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  This second birth is indeed more glorious than the first.  For then, he was born in silence, and without witnesses.  Now, the Lord is baptized with a proclamation of his divinity.  Then, Joseph, who was supposed to be his father, denied that he was.  Now, his true Father, who was not believed to be so, proclaimeth himself so to be.  Then, the Mother was enduring suspicion, because no father was acknowledged.  Now she that bore him is honoured because the Divinity maketh him known as his Son.

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

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

R.  Joseph, fili David, noli timére accípere Maríam cónjugem tuam ; quod enim in ea natum est, de Spíritu Sancto est ; páriet autem fílium, * Et vocábis nomen ejus Jesum, allelúja.
V.  Ipse enim salvum fáciet pópulum suum a peccátis eórum.
R.  Et vocábis nomen ejus Jesum, allelúja.

R.  Joseph, thou Son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife ; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost, and she shall bring forth a Son, *  And thou shalt call his Name Jesus, alleluia.
V.  For he shall save his people from their sins.
R.  And thou shalt call his Name Jesus, alleluia.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 8:  Cujus festum cólimus, ipse intercédat pro nobis ad Dóminum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 8:  May he whose feast day we are keeping, be our Advocate with God.
R.  Amen.

Honorátior, inquam, secúnda, quam prima natívitas.  Síquidem Pater hic Deus majestátis inscríbitur ; illic Joseph ártifex æstimátur.  Et licet in utráque Dóminus per Spíritum Sanctum et natus sit et baptizátus, tamen honorátior est qui de cælis clamat, quam qui in terris labórat.  Joseph ergo faber in terris pater putabátur esse Dómini Salvatóris, nec ab hoc ópere Deus, qui vere est Pater Dómini nostri Jesu Christi, exclúditur ; nam est et ipse faber.

I say that the second birth was more glorious than the first.  For now, the God of majesty proclaimeth himself as his father.  Then, the carpenter Joseph was so accounted.  And although it was the Holy Ghost through whom the Lord was born and baptized, yet the Father, whose voice was heard from heaven, is greater than the father who laboured on earth.  Therefore Joseph the workman on earth was supposed to be the father of the Lord and Saviour.  But God, the true Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is also a workman, and cannot be excluded from those who work at the carpenter's trade.

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

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

R.  Surge, et áccipe Púerum et Matrem ejus, et fuge in Ægyptum ; * Et esto ibi, usque dum dicam tibi, allelúja.
V.  Ut adimplerétur quod dictum est a Dómino per prophétam dicéntem : Ex Ægypto vocávi fílium meum.
R.  Et esto ibi, usque dum dicam tibi, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et esto ibi, usque dum dicam tibi, allelúja.

R.  Arise and take the young Child and his Mother, and flee into Egypt, * And be thou there until I bring thee word, alleluia.
V.  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet : Out of Egypt have I called my Son.
R.  And be thou there until I bring thee word, alleluia.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And be thou there until I bring thee word, alleluia.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 9: Ad societátem cívium supernórum perdúcat nos Rex Angelórum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 9: May the King of Angels give us fellowship with all the citizens of heaven.
R.  Amen.

Ipse enim est ártifex, qui hujus mundi máchinam non solum mirábili, sed étiam ineffábili poténtia fabricávit ; tamquam sápiens architéctus cælum sublimitáte suspéndit, terram mole fundávit, mária cálculis alligávit.  Ipse est ártifex, qui ad mensúram quamdam supérbiæ depónit fastígia, humilitátis extréma sublímat.  Ipse est ártifex, qui in nostris móribus præcídit supérflua ópera, utília quæque consérvat.  Ipse est ártifex, cujus secúrim ad radícem nostram pósitam Joánnes Baptísta comminátur, ut omnis arbor, quæ normam justæ discretiónis excésserit, excísa radícitus tradátur incéndio ; quæ autem mensúram veritátis habúerit, cælésti fábricæ deputétur.

For he is the artificer who hath wrought the fabric of this world with power not only wondrous but ineffable.  Like a wise architect hath he erected the heavens on high ; he hath laid the foundations of the earth ; he hath constrained the sea within its beaches.  He is the artificer who, in due measure, lowereth the pinnacles of pride and bringeth to the surface the bedrock of humility.  He is the artificer who doth chip off the unnecessary substance in our behaviour, and preserveth whatever is useful.  He is the artificer whose axe, as John the Baptist warneth us, is laid to the root of our tree.  So every tree, which measureth not up to his standard of due growth, is cut down at the roots, and used as fuel for the fire.  But that which measureth up rightly, according to his rule and standard, is squared and fitted by his divine workmanship.

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

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