Being the First Day of Lent

Privileged Feria of I Class

Matins

Lauds

Vespers

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Oremus.
Præsta, Dómine, fidélibus tuis : ut jejuniórum veneránda solémnia, et cóngrua pietáte suscípiant, et secúra devotióne percúrrant.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Grant, O Lord, unto thy faithful people, that they may both piously undertake the venerable solemnities of the Fast, and persevere in the same with unfailing devotion.  Through.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Matins

Station at St. Sabina

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

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 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 : Dixit Jesus discípulis suis : cum jejunátis, nolíte fíeri sicut hypócritæ, tristes.  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus said unto his disciples : When ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance.  And so on, and that which followeth.

Maniféstum est, his præcéptis omnem nostram intentiónem in interióra gáudia dírigi : ne foris quæréntes mercédem, huic sæculo conformémur, et amittámus promissiónem tanto solidióris atque firmióris, quanto interióris beatitúdinis, qua nos elégit Deus confórmes fíeri imáginis Fílii sui.  In hoc autem capítulo máxime adverténdum est, non in solo rerum corporeárum nitóre atque pompa, sed étiam in ipsis sórdibus luctuósis esse posse jactántiam ; et eo periculosiórem, quo sub nómine servitútis Dei décipit.

From these precepts it is evident that our every action should be directed towards the attainment of an interior life, which alone giveth true happiness.  For if contrariwise we seek our reward in outward things, we shall be conformed to the fashion of this world, and thus forfeit God's promise of happiness, to wit, that we shall be conformed to the image of his Son.  Such happiness, inasmuch as it concerneth inward things, is all the more certain and enduring.  Howbeit, the special teaching of this passage is this : That vainglory can come forth, not only from worldly elegance and human pretensions, but even from a condition of sad countenance and dirty disfigurement.  Furthermore, the latter kind of vainglory is the more dangerous, in that it deceiveth under the pretence of an humble service of 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.  Veni hódie ad fontem aquæ, et orávi Dóminum, dicens : * Dómine, Deus Abraham, tu prósperum fecísti desidérium meum.
V.  Igitur puélla, cui díxero, Da mihi aquam de hydria tua, ut bibam : et illa díxerit, Bibe, dómine, et camélis tuis potum tríbuam : ipsa est, quam præparávit Dóminus fílio dómini mei.
R.  Dómine, Deus Abraham, tu prósperum fecísti desidérium meum.

R.  I came this day unto the well, and I besought the Lord, and said : *   O Lord God of Abraham, thou hast prospered my way.
V.  Therefore the virgin to whom I shall say : Give me water of thy pitcher to drink ; and she shall say to me : Drink my lord, and I will give thy camels drink also ; let the same be the woman whom the Lord hath appointed out for my master's son.
R.  O Lord God of Abraham, thou hast prospered my way.

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

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

Qui ergo immoderáto cultu córporis atque vestítu, vel ceterárum rerum nitóre præfúlget, fácile convíncitur rebus ipsis, pompárum sæculi esse sectátor, nec quemquam fallit dolósa imágine sanctitátis.  Qui autem in professióne christianitátis, inusitáto squalóre ac sórdibus inténtos in se óculos hóminum facit, cum id voluntáte fáciat, non necessitáte patiátur : ex céteris ejus opéribus potest cónjici, utrum hoc contémptu supérflui cultus, an ambitióne áliqua fáciat : quia et sub ovína pelle cavéndos lupos Dóminus præcépit : Sed ex frúctibus, inquit, eórum cognoscétis eos.

On the one hand, whosoever sheweth unbridled indulgence, whether in bodily comforts and dress, or in other forms of elegance, thereby standeth manifestly convicted as a follower of the pomps of this world.  Nor doth such an one, by his pretence of godliness, deceive anybody.  On the other hand, whosoever from choice, and not of necessity, professeth Christianity in such wise as to draw attention unto himself by reason of his seeming humility, or his particular disregard for outward things, this man is to be judged from the fashion of his other behaviour, as to whether therein he sheweth a desire for mortification, or rather for vainglory.  For the Lord biddeth us beware of wolves in sheep's clothing.  Rather, as he saith, by their fruits shall ye know them.

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

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

R.  Factus est sermo Dómini ad Abram, dicens : * Noli timére, Abram : ego protéctor tuus sum, et merces tua magna nimis.
V.  Ego enim sum Dóminus Deus tuus, qui edúxi te de Ur Chaldæórum.
R.  Noli timére, Abram : ego protéctor tuus sum, et merces tua magna nimis.

R.  The word of the Lord came to Abram, saying : * Fear not, Abram, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.
V.  For I am the Lord thy God that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees.
R.  Fear not, Abram, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.

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.

Cum enim cœperint alíquibus tentatiónibus ea ipsa scílicit illis súbtrahi, vel negári, quæ isto velámine vel consecúti sunt, vel cónsequi cúpiunt : tunc necésse est ut appáreat, utrum lupus in ovína pelle sit, an ovis in sua.  Non tamen proptérea ornátu supérfluo debet aspéctus hóminum mulcére Christiánus, quia illum parcum hábitum ac necessárium étiam simulatóres sæpius usúrpant, ut incáutos decípiant : quia et illæ oves non debent pelles suas depónere, si aliquándo eis lupi se cóntegant.

Now here is the test of the seeming godliness of such folk.  When some adversity bringeth upon them the loss of the advantages which they had gained, or sought to gain, by their profession of godliness, then it must needs appear whether they be wolves in sheep's clothing, or sheep in their own.  Nevertheless, a Christian should not seek to tickle the fancy of other folk by a parade of elegance, on the plea that hypocrites do seek to beguile the unwary by a display of frugality.  For sheep should not lay aside their own clothing because wolves do sometimes falsely assume the same.

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

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

R.  Movens Abram tabernáculum suum, venit et habitávit juxta convállem Mambre : * Ædificavítque ibi altáre Dómino.
V.  Dixit autem Dóminus ad eum : Leva óculos tuos, et vide : omnem terram, quam cónspicis tibi dabo, et sémini tuo in sempitérnum.
R.  Ædificavítque ibi altáre Dómino.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Ædificavítque ibi altáre Dómino.

R.  Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre : *  And he built there an altar unto the Lord.
V.  And the Lord said unto him, Lift up now thine eyes and look : for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
R.  And he built there an altar unto the Lord.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And he built there an altar unto the Lord.

The Office of Matins ends after the Third Respond.  The Te Deum is not said, and Lauds normally follows immediately, beginning with the Opening Versicles.  Otherwise, the Conclusion of Matins is read, according to the Rubrics.

Conclusion of Matins
 

Lauds

Ad Bened. Ant:  Cum jejunátis, * nolíte fíeri sicut hypócritæ, tristes.

Ant. on Bened:  When ye fast, * be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance.

Ferial Preces

Oremus.
Præsta, Dómine, fidélibus tuis : ut jejuniórum veneránda solémnia, et cóngrua pietáte suscípiant, et secúra devotióne percúrrant.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Grant, O Lord, unto thy faithful people, that they may both piously undertake the venerable solemnities of the Fast, and persevere in the same with unfailing devotion.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

SUFFRAGE OF ALL SAINTS

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Vespers

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Thesaurizáte vobis * thesáuros in cælo, ubi nec ærúgo, nec tínea demolítur.

Ant. on Magnif:  Lay up for yourselves treasures * in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt.

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Ferial Preces

Oremus.
Inclinántes se, Dómine, majestáti tuæ, propitiátus inténde : ut, qui divíno múnere sunt refécti, cæléstibus semper nutriántur auxíliis.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Look down in mercy, O Lord, upon us now kneeling before thy majesty : that we which have been partakers of thy heavenly gifts may evermore be strengthened with thy heavenly succour.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

SUFFRAGE OF ALL SAINTS if it is said

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH