23 My knees are weak through fast-hand of the poor to save his soul ing my flesh is dried up for want of from unrighteous judges. fatness. 24 I became also a reproach unto them they that looked upon me shaked their heads. 25 Help me, O LORD my GOD: O save me according to thy mercy ; 26 And they shall know, how that this is thy hand: and that thou, LORD, hast done it. 27 Though they curse, yet bless thou: and let them be confounded that rise up against me; but let thy servant rejoice. 28 Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a cloke. 29 As for me, I will give great thanks unto the LORD with my mouth: Ant. I will give thanks: unto Thee, O LORD, with my whole heart. In Advent. . The LORD cometh out of His holy place: Ry. That He may save His people. Through the Year. . O LORD, hear our prayer: Ry. And let our cry come unto Thee. In Lent. . His faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Ry. Thou shalt not be afraid of any terror by night. In Passion-tide. . O shut not up my soul with the sinners: Ry. Nor my life with the bloodthirsty. In Easter-tide. V. Then were the and praise him among the multi-disciples glad. Alleluia. tude; Ry. When they saw the LORD. 30 For he shall stand at the right Alleluia. Common of Saints. VIGILS OF APOSTLES. The office is of the feria, except the Lessons, which are set down in their proper places. But where there are no proper Lessons, the following Gospel and Homily are read. many by the diversity of the work, How this one by the root of love. love is to be holden He Himself hinteth, for in many sentences of His Scriptures He commandeth that friends must be loved in Him, and enemies for His sake. For he of a Lesson of the Holy Gospel according truth hath charity who both loveth his to S. John. Lesson I. Chap. xv. AT that time: JESUS said unto His disciples: This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. And that which follows. A Homily of S. Gregory the Pope. Hom. 27 on the Gospels. When the holy sayings of the LORD are full of commandments, wherefore doth the LORD say of love, as though it were His only commandment: This is My commandment, that ye love one another: save because every commandment is of love alone, and all are but one command? because whatsoever is commanded is made sure in charity alone. For even as the many branches of a tree come forth but from one root: so many virtues are begotten from charity alone. Neither hath the branch of good works any greenness, if it abide not in the root of charity. RyRy. of the week-day, according to the Season. Lesson II. friends in GOD, and his enemy for GOD's sake. For some there are who love their neighbours but with the love of kin, and of the flesh : nevertheless the sacred Scripture forbiddeth not this manner of love to such but that which is bestowed freely by nature is one thing, that which comes from charity by the LORD's commandment, and is due to obedience, is another. Lesson III. HESE in truth love their neigh TH bour, and yet nevertheless attain not those loftier rewards of love: because they bestow their love not spiritually but carnally. Wherefore when the LORD had said: This is My commandment, that ye love one another: immediately He added: As I have Love ye for this, because of which I loved you: as if He had plainly said: have loved you. Herein, dearly beloved brethren, we must heedfully observe that our old enemy, while he draweth aside our hearts to delight in things temporal, stirs up against us our weaker neighbour, who thus endeavours to take from those very things which THE commandments of the LORD us are therefore both many, and one: love. (B) we COMMON OF APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS. testimony of the LORD is sure, and giveth wisdom unto the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are Inv. The LORD, the King of Apos-right, and rejoice the heart: the comtles* O come let us worship. Ps. mandment of the LORD is pure, and Venite, p. 3. HYMN.-Eterna Christi munera. H' Eternal gifts of CHRIST the KING, The Church in these her princes boasts, giveth light unto the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, and endureth for ever: the judgements of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey, and the honey-comb. 11 Moreover, by them is thy servant taught and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse thou me from my secret faults. 13 Keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins, lest they get the dominion over me: so shall I be undefiled, and innocent from the great offence. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart: be alway acceptable in thy sight, 15 O LORD: my strength, and my redeemer. Ant. Their sound is gone out into all lands and their words into the THE heavens declare the glory of ends of the world. GOD and the firmament sheweth : his handywork. 2 One day telletn another and one night certifieth another. 3 There is neither speech nor lan Ant. The righteous cry and the LORD heareth them. Ps. xxxiv. Benedicam Domino. guage: but their voices are heardI WILL alway give thanks unto the among them. 4 Their sound is gone out into all lands and their words into the ends of the world. 5 In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun which cometh forth as a bridegroom out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a giant to run his course. 6 It goeth forth from the uttermost part of the heaven, and runneth about unto the end of it again and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. LORD his praise shall ever be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O praise the LORD with me and let us magnify his Name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me yea, he delivered me out of all my fear. 5 They had an eye unto him, and were lightened and their faces were 7 The law of the LORD is an un-not ashamed. defiled law, converting the soul: the 6 Lo, the poor crieth, and the LORD heareth him yea, and saveth him over all the earth they shall reout of all his troubles. member Thy Name, O LORD. 8 O taste, and see, how gracious the LORD is blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9 O fear the LORD, ye that are his saints for they that fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions do lack, and suffer hunger but they who seek the LORD shall want no manner of thing that is good. 11 Come, ye children, and hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 What man is he that lusteth to live and would fain see good days? and 13 Keep thy tongue from evil thy lips, that they speak no guile. 14 Eschew evil, and do good: seek peace, and ensue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers. 16 The countenance of the LORD is against them that do evil to root out the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth them and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart and will save such as be of an humble spirit. 19 Great are the troubles of the righteous but the LORD delivereth him out of all. 20 He keepeth all his bones : so that not one of them is broken. 21 But misfortune shall slay the ungodly and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. : 22 The LORD delivereth the souls of his servants and all they that put their trust in him shall not be destitute. Ant. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth them. Ant. Thou shalt make them princes Ps. xlv. Eructavit cor meum. MY heart is inditing of a good matter I speak of the things which I have made unto the King. 2 My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. 3 Thou art fairer than the children of men full of grace are thy lips, because God hath blessed thee for ever. 4 Gird thee with thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most Mighty: according to thy worship and renown. : 5 Good luck have thou with thine honour ride on, because of the word of truth, of meekness, and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. 6 Thy arrows are very sharp, and the people shall be subdued unto thee even in the midst among the King's enemies. 7 Thy seat, O GOD, endureth for ever the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 8 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity: wherefore GOD, even thy GOD, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 9 All thy garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia: out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. 10 Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in a vesture of gold, wrought about with divers colours. 11 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, incline thine ear: forget also thine own people, and thy father's house. 12 So shall the King have pleasure in thy beauty for he is thy LORD GOD, and worship thou him. 13 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift: like as the rich also among the people shall make their supplication before thee. 14 The King's daughter is all glo rious within her clothing is of wrought gold. 15 She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework the virgins that be her fellows shall bear her company, and shall be brought unto thee. 16 With joy and gladness shall they be brought and shall enter into the King's palace. 17 Instead of thy fathers thou shalt have children whom thou mayest make princes in all lands. 18 I will remember thy Name from one generation to another: therefore shall the people give thanks unto thee, world without end. Ant..Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth: they shall remember Thy Name, O LORD. y. Their sound is gone out into all lands. Ry. And their words into the ends of the world. Ry. Behold, I send you forth as sheep into the midst of wolves, saith the LORD. * Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. y. While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of the light. Be ye. Ben. The Only Begotten. Lesson II. AND these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to GOD ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. Ry. Take My yoke upon you, saith the LORD, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, saith the LORD:* for My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. V. And ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My. Ben. LET a man so account of us, as of The grace. Lesson III. the ministers of CHRIST, and stewards of the mysteries of GOD. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a WE are fools for CHRIST's sake, man be found faithful. But with me but ye are wise in CHRIST; we it is a very small thing that I should are weak, but ye are strong; ye are be judged of you, or of man's judg-honourable, but we are despised. ment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the LORD. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the LORD come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts and then shall every man have praise of God. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; and labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. I write not these things to |