or
The Eve of All Hallows

commonly called
Hallowe'en

The Office begins at Matins, and is of Feria, (with Lauds 2, the ferial Preces, etc.) except the Lessons and Responds at Matins and the Collect which are proper.

Matins

COLLECT OF THE DAY

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

The Suffrage of the Saints is this day omitted

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Matins

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 1: Evangélica léctio sit nobis salus et protéctio.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 1:  May the Gospel's holy lection be our safeguard and protection.
R.  Amen.

In illo témpore : Descéndens Jesus de monte, stetit in loco campéstri, et turba discipulórum ejus, et multitúdo copiósa plebis ab omni Judæa, et Jerúsalem, et marítima, et Tyri, et Sidónis.  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus came down from the mountain and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude out of all Judea, and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon.  And so on, and that which followeth.

Advérte ómnia diligénter, quómodo et cum Apóstolis ascéndat, et descéndat ad turbas.  Quómodo enim turba nisi in húmili Christum vidéret?  Non séquitur ad excélsa, non ascéndit ad sublímia.  Dénique ubi descéndit, invénit infírmos ; in excélsis enim infírmi esse non possunt.  Hinc étiam Matthæus docet in inferióribus débiles esse sanátos.  Prius enim unusquísque sanándus est, ut paulátim, virtútibus procedéntibus ascéndere possit ad montem ; et ídeo quemque in inferióribus sanat, hoc est, a libídine révocat, injúriam cæcitátis avértit.  Ad vúlnera nostra descéndit ; ut, usu quodam et cópia suæ natúræ, compartícipes nos fáciat esse regni cæléstis.

Mark well how Jesus goeth upward with his Apostles, and downward to the multitude.  How should the multitude behold Christ, save in a lower place?  Such go not up with him to the things which are above ; such attain not to the things which are high.  Hence, when Jesus cometh down, he findeth such as are diseased : for such like go not up to the heights.  Hence also Matthew saith that there were there "all sick people."  Of these every man had need of healing, that, when he had received strength, by and by, he might go up into the mountain.  And therefore, being himself come down to the plain, he healeth them in this lower place; that is to say, he calleth them away from their earthly desires, and freeth them of their blindness.  He cometh down to the level of our wounded condition, to impart to us something from the abundance of his own nature, thus to make us joint-heirs of the kingdom of heaven. 

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

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

Respond is from the Feria, as in the Proper of the Season

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 2: Divínum auxílium máneat semper nobíscum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 2: May help divine be with us all, for ever abiding.
R.  Amen.

Beáti páuperes ; quia vestrum est regnum Dei.  Quátuor tantum beatitúdines sanctus Lucas Domínicas pósuit, octo vero sanctus Matthæus ; sed in illis octo istæ quátuor sunt, et in quátuor istis illæ octo.  Hic enim quátuor velut virtútes ampléxus est cardináles ; ille in illis octo mysticum númerum reserávit.  Pro octáva enim multi inscribúntur Psalmi, et mandátum áccipis octo illis partem dare, fortásse benedictiónibus.  Sicut enim spei nostræ, octáva, perféctio est ; ita octáva, summa virtútum est.

Blessed be ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.   Saint Luke giveth us but four of the Lord's beatitudes, whilst Saint Matthew hath eight.  However, the four are contained in the eight, and the eight in the four.  For in these four are embraced the cardinal virtues, whilst the number eight in itself containeth a mystery.  It is written at the head of more than one of the Psalms that they are for the octave. And thou hast received the commandment : Give a portion to seven, and also to eight.  To seven or eight what?  Perchance, degrees of blessedness.  For the octave of blessedness, namely this eighth beatitude, doth name the most glorious realization of all virtues, Blessed are they which are persecuted, and also the fullest realization of blessedness : Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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

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

Respond is from the Feria, as in the Proper of the Season

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 3: Ad societátem cívium supernórum perdúcat nos Rex Angelórum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 3: May the King of Angels give us fellowship with all the citizens of heaven.
R.  Amen.

Sed prius quæ sunt amplióra videámus.  Beáti, inquit, páuperes, quóniam vestrum est regnum Dei.  Primam benedictiónem hanc utérque Evangelísta pósuit.  Ordine enim prima est, et parens quædam generatióque virtútum ; quia qui contémpserit sæculária, ipse merébitur sempitérna, nec potest quisquam méritum regni cæléstis adipísci, qui, mundi cupiditáte pressus, emergéndi non habet facultátem.

But let us now consider the fuller of the forms of these beatitudes.  Blessed be ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  Both of the Evangelists give to this beatitude the first place.  Yea, surely, for poorness, at least in spirit, is the first in order, the mother and procreatrix of virtues ; since he that setteth no store by temporal things, winneth toward eternal things ; neither is any man able to gain the kingdom of heaven, on whom the love of this present world doth so press, that he cannot rid himself thereof.

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

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