Wednesday of Passion Week

Station at St. Marcellus

Matins

Lauds

Vespers

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Oremus.
Sanctificáto hoc jejúnio Deus, tuórum corda fidélium miserátor illústra : et, quibus devotiónis præstas afféctum, præbe supplicántibus pium benígnus audítum.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O merciful God, we beseech thee to sanctify this our fasting to the enlightenment of the hearts of thy faithful people : that we, to whom thou hast given an hearty desire to pray, may obtain of thy loving-kindness the fulfilment of all our petitions.  Through.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Matins

In illo témpore : Facta sunt encænia in Jerosólymis : et hiems erat.  Et ambulábat Jesus in templo, in pórticu Salomónis.  Et réliqua.

At that time : It was at Jerusalem the Feast of the Dedication, and it was winter.  And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch.  And so on, and that which followeth.

Encænia festívitas erat dedicatiónis templi.  Græce enim cænon dícitur novum.   Quandocúmque  novum áliquid fúerit dedicátum, encænia vocántur.  Jam et usus habet hoc verbum.  Si quis nova túnica induátur, encæniáre dícitur.  Illum enim diem, quo templum dedicátum est, Judæi solémniter celebrábant : ipse dies festus agebátur, cum ea quæ lecta sunt, locútus est Dóminus.

The Feast of the Dedication of the Temple was called in Greek The Encaenia.  The derivation thereof is the Greek word Kainon, which, being interpreted, is New.  Whenever the dedication of anything was celebrated anew it was thence called The Encaenia, that is to say, The Renewal.  And this figure of speech is common in popular usage, so much so that if a man donneth a new coat for the first time, we are wont jocularly to say that he reneweth himself.  So it was that the day whereon the temple was dedicated was ever afterwards solemnly celebrated by the Jews.  Now it was on this selfsame feast day when the Lord spake the words which have just been read.

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

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

On Feastdays having an Office of Nine Lessons during Passiontide, the Te Deum is said after the conclusion of the Ninth Lesson.

R.  Tota die contristátus ingrediébar, Dómine : quóniam ánima mea compléta est illusiónibus : * Et vim faciébant, qui quærébant ánimam meam.
V.  Amíci mei et próximi mei advérsum me appropinquavérunt et stetérunt : et qui juxta me erant, de longe stetérunt.
R.  Et vim faciébant, qui quærébant ánimam meam.

R.  O Lord, I go mourning all the day long, for my soul is filled with a loathsome disease : * They also that sought after my life have used violence against me.
V.  My friends and my neighbours draw near, and stand over against me ; and they that are nearest to me stand afar off.
R.  They also that sought after my life have used violence against me.

Hiems erat, et ambulábat Jesus in templo, in pórticu Salomónis.  Circumdedérunt ergo eum Judæi, et dicébant ei : Quoúsque ánimam nostram tollis?  Si tu es Christus, dic nobis palam.  Non veritátem desiderábant, sed calumniam præparábant.  Hiems erat, et frígidi erant : ad illum enim divínum ignem accédere pigri erant.  Si accédere est crédere : qui credit, accédit : qui negat, recédit.  Non movétur ánima pédibus, sed afféctibus.

It was winter ; and Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch ; then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt?  If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.  This they said, not because they sought to know the truth, but to have whereof to accuse him.  It was winter, and they were cold ; for they were slow to draw near to that divine fire.  If believing be a means of approaching, then he that believeth approacheth ; and he that denieth, draweth back.  The soul moveth not on feet but on its affections.

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

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

R.  Ne avértas fáciem tuam a púero tuo, Dómine : * Quóniam tríbulor, velóciter exáudi me.
V.  Inténde ánimæ meæ, et líbera eam : propter inimícos meos éripe me.
R.  Quóniam tríbulor, velóciter exáudi me.

R.  O Lord, hide not thy face from thy servant, * For I am in trouble ; O haste thee, and hear me.
V.  Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it ; O deliver me, because of mine enemies.
R.  For I am in trouble ; O haste thee, and hear me.

Frigúerant diligéndi caritáte, et ardébant nocéndi cupiditáte.  Longe áberant, et ibi erant : non accedébant credéndo, et premébant persequéndo.  Quærébant audíre a Dómino, Ego sum Christus : et fortásse de Christo secúndum hóminem sapiébant.  Prædicavérunt enim prophétæ Christum : sed divinitátem Christi et in prophétis et in ipso Evangélio nec hærétici intélligunt : quanto minus Judæi, quámdiu velámen est super cor eórum?

They were frozen with want of love and at the same time on fire with thirst to do injury.  They stood afar off, even whilst they came round about him.  They drew near, not in faith, but in desire to persecute.  They sought to hear the Lord say : I am the Christ : and perchance they even knew somewhat concerning Christ, as touching his Manhood, for the Prophets had prophesied of Christ.  But the Godhead of Christ, which same is witnessed in both the Prophets and the Gospel, is not perceived even by hereticks.  How much less therefore can this same be perceived by Jewry, so long as the veil is upon their heart!

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

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

R.  Quis dabit cápiti meo aquam, et óculis meis fontem lacrimárum, et plorábo die ac nocte? quia frater propínquus supplantávit me, * Et omnis amícus fraudulénter incéssit in me.
V.  Fiant viæ eórum ténebræ et lúbricum : et Angelus Dómini pérsequens eos.
R.  Et omnis amícus fraudulénter incéssit in me.
R.  Quis dabit cápiti meo aquam, et óculis meis fontem lacrimárum, et plorábo die ac nocte? quia frater propínquus supplantávit me, * Et omnis amícus fraudulénter incéssit in me.

R.  O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night ; for my nearest brother hath supplanted me, * And my neighbour hath walked with slanders against me.
V.  Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them.
R.  And my neighbour hath walked with slanders against me.
R.  O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night ; for my nearest brother hath supplanted me, * And my neighbour hath walked with slanders against me.

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

V.  Deliver me from mine enemies, O God.
R.  Defend me, O Lord, from them that rise up against me.

Ad Bened. Ant:  Oves meæ * vocem meam áudiunt : et ego Dóminus agnósco eas.

Ant. on Bened:  My sheep * hear my voice, and I the Lord do know them.

BENEDICTUS

THE BENEDICTUS

Ferial Preces

Oremus.
Sanctificáto hoc jejúnio Deus, tuórum corda fidélium miserátor illústra : et, quibus devotiónis præstas afféctum, præbe supplicántibus pium benígnus audítum.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O merciful God, we beseech thee to sanctify this our fasting to the enlightenment of the hearts of thy faithful people : that we, to whom thou hast given an hearty desire to pray, may obtain of thy loving-kindness the fulfilment of all our petitions.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Vespers

V.  Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man.
R.  And preserve me from the wicked man.

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Multa bona ópera * operátus sum vobis : propter quod opus vultis me occídere?

Ant. on Magnif:  Many good works * have I wrought among you : for which of those works do ye seek to kill me?

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Ferial Preces

Oremus.
Adesto supplicatiónibus nostris, omnípotens Deus : et, quibus fidúciam sperándæ pietátis indúlges, consuétæ misericórdiæ tríbue benígnus efféctum.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications : that we, whom thou dost suffer to put our trust and confidence in thy mercy, may of thy goodness obtain the wonted effects of thy compassion.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH