Sunday Matins

Theme:  The citizens of God's kingdom.

At the very beginning of the week, the Church directs our attention to our high calling as Christians, but reminds us at the same time of the great tasks, conflicts and sufferings which God's kingdom demands of us.

Progression of ideas:
Psalm 1:  Citizens of the kingdom
Psalm 2:  The King of God's kingdom―allegiance
Psalm 3:  The victory weapon:  trust in God
Psalm 8:  Citizens of the kingdom―God-like and kingly
Psalm 9a:  Thanksgiving for the victory of the kingdom in the Church and in the individual soul
Psalm 9b:  In peril―delivered by God
Psalm 10:  Glory!

Message:  Struggle is an essential element of the kingdom, enmity with the world is its lot, victory its certain end, trust in God its only weapon.

The two ways

Psalm 1 shews us two ways, the one leading to the City of God, the other to the city of sin, and presents also the beautiful image of the fruitful tree.

Way of the righteous

Beátus vir, qui non ábiit in consílio impiórum, et in via peccatórum non stetit, * et in cáthedra pestiléntiæ non sedit :
2  Sed in lege Dómini volúntas ejus, * et in lege ejus meditábitur die ac nocte.
3  Et erit tamquam lignum, quod plantátum est secus decúrsus aquárum, * quod fructum suum dabit in témpore suo:
4  Et fólium ejus non défluet: * et ómnia quæcúmque fáciet, prosperabúntur.

Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, * and hath not sat in the seat of pestilence.
2  But his delight is in the law of the Lord; * and in his law will he exercise himself day and night.
3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-side, * that will bring forth his fruit in due season.
4  His leaf also shall not wither; * and all whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper.

Way of the sinner

5  Non sic ímpii, non sic: * sed tamquam pulvis, quem prójicit ventus a fácie terræ.
6  Ideo non resúrgent ímpii in judício: * neque peccatóres in concílio justórum.
7  Quóniam novit Dóminus viam justórum: * et iter impiórum períbit.

5  As for the ungodly, it is not so with them; * but they are like the chaff, which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth.
6  Therefore the ungodly shall not rise again in judgment; * neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
7  For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous; * and the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 2.  Quare fremuerunt gentes?

The victory of God's kingdom

This is a well-known and highly dramatic Messiánic Psalm.  St. Bernard calls it "the roaring of the Lion of Juda against his enemies."  The song portrays the never-énding battle waged by hell against Christ and the kingdom of God.

Enemy kings of earth

Quare fremuérunt Gentes: * et pópuli meditáti sunt inánia?
2  Astitérunt reges terræ, et príncipes convenérunt in unum * advérsus Dóminum, et advérsus Christum ejus.
3  Dirumpámus víncula eórum: * et projiciámus a nobis jugum ipsórum.

Why do the heathen so furiously rage together? * and why do the people imagine a vain thing?
2  The kings of the earth have arisen, and the rulers have taken counsel together * against the Lord, and against his Anointed.
3  Let us break their bonds asunder, * and cast away their cords from us.

The King of heaven scoffs at them

4  Qui hábitat in cælis, irridébit eos: * et Dóminus subsannábit eos.
5  Tunc loquétur ad eos in ira sua, * et in furóre suo conturbábit eos.
6  Ego autem constitútus sum Rex ab eo super Sion montem sanctum ejus, * prædicans præcéptum ejus.

4  He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn: *  the Lord shall have them in derision.
5  Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, * and vex them in his sore displeasure :
6  Yet I have been stablished King by him upon his holy hill of Sion, * preaching his commandment.

He enthrones his Messiah as King

7  Dóminus dixit ad me: * Fílius meus es tu, ego hódie génui te.
8  Póstula a me, et dábo tibi Gentes hereditátem tuam, * et possessiónem tuam términos terræ.
9  Reges eos in virga férrea, * et tamquam vas fíguli confrínges eos.

7  The Lord hath said unto me : Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
8  Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, * and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9  Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron, * and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Admonition to earthly kings

10  Et nunc, reges, intellígite: * erudímini, qui judicátis terram.
11  Servíte Dómino in timóre: * et exsultáte ei cum tremóre.
12  Apprehéndite disciplínam, nequándo irascátur Dóminus, * et pereátis de via justa.
13  Cum exárserit in brevi ira ejus: * beáti omnes qui confídunt in eo.

10  Be wise now therefore, O ye kings; * be learned, ye that are judges of the earth.
11  Serve the Lord in fear, * and rejoice unto him with reverence.
12  Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, * and so ye perish from the right way.
13  If his wrath be kindled, yea, but in a short time : *  blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Prayer of confidence in time of need

The victory weapon of God's citizen is trust in God.  This is a night-time song full of heartfelt trust.  The soul's changing moods are masterfully portrayed.

Great distress

Dómine quid multiplicáti sunt qui tríbulant me? * multi insúrgunt advérsum me.
2  Multi dicunt ánimæ meæ: * Non est salus ipsi in Deo ejus.

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! * many are they that rise against me.
2  Many one there be that say of my soul, * There is no help for him in his God.

Trust in God

3  Tu autem, Dómine, suscéptor meus es, * glória mea, et exáltans caput meum.
4  Voce mea ad Dóminum clamávi: * et exaudívit me de monte sancto suo.

3  But thou, O Lord, art my defender; * thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head.
4  I did call upon the Lord with my voice, * and he heard me out of his holy hill.

Repose in God (climax)

5  Ego dormívi, et soporátus sum: * et exsurréxi, quia Dóminus suscépit me.
6  Non timébo míllia pópuli circumdántis me: * exsúrge, Dómine, salvum me fac, Deus meus.

5  I laid me down and slept, * and rose up again, for the Lord sustained me.
6  I will not be afraid for thousands of the people that have set themselves against me round about ; * up, Lord, and help me, O my God.

Salvation

7  Quóniam tu percussísti omnes adversántes mihi sine causa: * dentes peccatórum contrivísti.
8  Dómini est salus: * et super pópulum tuum benedíctio tua.

7  For thou smitest all that are mine enemies without cause ; * thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8  Salvation belongeth unto the Lord; * and thy blessing is upon thy people.

Man, the crown of creation

This majestic hymn is a song of gratitude to God the Creator for having exalted his lowly creature, man.  God's Name shines out in unmistakable splendour on the brow of a child, in the stars of heaven, in man, the king of his creation.

Majesty of God

Dómine, Dóminus noster, * quam admirábile est nomen tuum in univérsa terra!
2  Quóniam eleváta est magnificéntia tua, * super cælos.

O Lord our Governour, * how excellent is thy Name in all the world!
2  For thou hast set thy glory * above the heavens.

Glory of heaven

3  Ex ore infántium et lacténtium perfecísti laudem propter inimícos tuos, * ut déstruas inimícum et ultórem.
4  Quóniam vidébo cælos tuos, ópera digitórum tuórum: * lunam et stellas, quæ tu fundásti.
5  Quid est homo quod memor es ejus? * aut fílius hóminis, quóniam vísitas eum?

3  Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise, because of thine enemies, * that thou mightest destroy the enemy and the avenger.
4  For I will consider thy heavens, even the works of thy fingers; * the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained;
5  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? * and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Glory of man

6  Minuísti eum paulo minus ab Angelis, glória et honóre coronásti eum: * et constituísti eum super ópera mánuum tuárum.
7  Omnia subjecísti sub pédibus ejus, * oves et boves univérsas : ínsuper et pécora campi.
8  Vólucres cæli, et pisces maris, * qui perámbulant sémitas maris.

6  Thou madest him lower than the Angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and worship : * thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands.
7  Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet : * all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8  The fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea; * and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the seas.

Finale

9  Dómine, Dóminus noster, * quam admirábile est nomen tuum in univérsa terra!

9  O Lord our Governour, * how excellent is thy Name in all the world!

Here is an appropriate song of victory and thanksgiving for the Church to sing on Sunday.  By his dying, Christ has overcome the devil and given us a pledge of the victory.  He will win in the Church and in our soul.  The enemies spoken of are not the forces of earth, but those of hell.  Nor must we think of an earthly victory.  Rather, our victory as Christians will be like that of Christ, who seemed to be defeated in the eyes of men.

Psalm 9. i.  Confitebor tibi

Theme:  Thanksgiving

Confitébor tibi, Dómine, in toto corde meo: * narrábo ómnia mirabília tua.
2  Lætábor et exsultábo in te: * psallam nómini tuo, Altíssime.

I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; * I will speak of all thy marvellous works.
2  I will be glad and rejoice in thee; * yea, my songs will I make of thy Name, O thou Most Highest.

First motive:  God has judged our enemies

3  In converténdo inimícum meum retrórsum: * infirmabúntur, et períbunt a fácie tua.
4  Quóniam fecísti judícium meum et causam meam: * sedísti super thronum, qui júdicas justítiam.
5  Increpásti Gentes, et périit impius: * nomen eórum delésti in ætérnum, et in sæculum sæculi.
6  Inimíci defecérunt frámeæ in finem: * et civitátes eórum destruxisti.

3  While mine enemies are driven back, * they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
4  For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; * thou art set in the throne that judgest right.
5  Thou hast rebuked the heathen, and the ungodly hath perished; * thou hast put out their name for ever, yea for ever and ever.
6  The swords of the enemy have failed unto the end; * and their cities thou hast destroyed.

Second motive:  God protects his own

7  Périit memória eórum cum sónitu: * et Dóminus in ætérnum pérmanet.
8  Parávit in judício thronum suum: * et ipse judicábit orbem terræ in æquitáte, judicábit pópulos in justítia.
9  Et factus est Dóminus refúgium páuperi: * adjútor in opportunitátibus, in tribulatióne.
10  Et sperent in te qui novérunt nomen tuum: * quóniam non dereliquísti quæréntes te, Dómine.

7  Their memorial is perished with great noise : * but the Lord shall endure for ever.
8  He hath also prepared his seat for judgment : * for he shall judge the world in righteousness, and minister true judgment unto the people.
9  And the Lord is become a refuge for the poor, * even an helper in due time of trouble.
10  And they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee; * for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psalm 9. ii.  Psallite Domino

Thanks and praise be unto him

11  Psállite Dómino, qui hábitat in Sion: * annuntiáte inter Gentes stúdia ejus:
12  Quóniam requírens sánguinem eórum recordátus est: * non est oblítus clamórem páuperum.
13  Miserére mei, Dómine: * vide humilitátem meam de inimícis meis.
14  Qui exáltas me de portis mortis, * ut annúntiem omnes laudatiónes tuas in portis fíliæ Sion.

11  O praise ye the Lord which dwelleth in Sion; * declare his ways among the heathen.
12  For when he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them, * and forgetteth not the complaint of the poor.
13  Have mercy upon me, O Lord; * consider the humiliation which I suffer from mine enemies.
14  Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death; * that I may shew all thy praises within the ports of the daughter of Sion.

Above all, for punishing our enemies

15  Exsultábo in salutári tuo: * infíxæ sunt Gentes in intéritu, quem fecérunt.
16  In láqueo isto, quem abscondérunt, * comprehénsus est pes eórum.
17  Cognoscétur Dóminus judícia fáciens: * in opéribus mánuum suárum comprehénsus est peccátor.
18  Convertántur peccatóres in inférnum, * omnes Gentes quæ obliviscúntur Deum.
19  Quóniam non in finem oblívio erit páuperis: * patiéntia páuperum non períbit in finem.

15  I will rejoice in thy salvation: * the heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made.
16  In the same net which they hid privily * is their foot taken.
17  The Lord shall be known when he executeth judgment; * the ungodly is trapped in the work of his own hands.
18  The wicked shall be turned into hell, * and all the people that forget God.
19  For the poor shall not alway be forgotten; * the patient abiding of the meek shall not perish for ever.

Finale

20  Exsúrge, Dómine, non confortétur homo: * judicéntur Gentes in conspéctu tuo.
21  Constítue, Dómine, legislatórem super eos: * ut sciant Gentes quóniam hómines sunt.

20  Up, Lord, and let not man be strengthened; * let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
21  Appoint, O Lord, a lawgiver over them, * that the heathen may know themselves to be but men.

The previous Nocturns have been full of joyous confidence, but this Third Nocturn is sunk in sadness and lamentation.  We have to realize that there is more than victory to the kingdom.  We must see its other side: the defeats, the Gethsemane, the tears.  The mystical Christ, and with him the child of God, goes through the world with a cross upon his shoulder.  That is the message of Psalm 9b.

Psalm 9. iii.  Ut quid, Domine?

Plea for help

22  Ut quid, Dómine, recessísti longe, * déspicis in opportunitátibus, in tribulatióne?
23  Dum supérbit impius, incénditur pauper: * comprehendúntur in consíliis quibus cógitant.

22  Why standest thou so far off, O Lord, * and hidest thy face in the needful time of trouble?
23  Whilst the wicked man is proud, the poor is set on fire: * they are taken in the counsels that they have devised.

Lamentation over the inroads of the enemy

24  Quóniam laudátur peccátor in desidériis ánimæ suæ: * et iníquus benedícitur.
25  Exacerbávit Dóminum peccátor, * secúndum multitúdinem iræ suæ non quæret.
26  Non est Deus in conspéctu ejus: * inquinátæ sunt viæ illíus in omni témpore.
27  Auferúntur judícia tua a fácie ejus: * ómnium inimicórum suórum dominábitur.
28  Dixit enim in corde suo: * Non movébor a generatióne in generatiónem sine malo.
29  Cujus maledictióne os plenum est, et amaritúdine, et dolo: * sub lingua ejus labor et dolor.
30  Sedet in insídiis cum divítibus in occúltis: * ut interfíciat innocéntem.
31  Oculi ejus in páuperem respíciunt: * insidiátur in abscóndito, quasi leo in spelúnca sua.
32  Insidiátur ut rápiat páuperem: * rápere páuperem, dum attrahit eum.
33  In láqueo suo humiliábit eum: * inclinábit se, et cadet, cum dominátus fúerit páuperum.
34  Dixit enim in corde suo: Oblítus est Deus, * avértit fáciem suam ne vídeat in finem.

24  For the ungodly is praised in his own heart's desire, * and the unjust man is blessed.
25  The sinner hath provoked the Lord, * according to the multitude of his wrath he will not seek him.
26  He hath not God before his eyes : * his ways are alway grievous.
27  Thy judgments are removed out of his sight, * and therefore shall he rule over all his enemies.
28  For he hath said in his heart, * I shall never be cast down from generation to generation, and shall be without evil.
29  His mouth is full of cursing, bitterness, and fraud: * under his tongue is labour and sorrow.
30  He sitteth lurking in ambush with the rich in the dark places : * that he may murder the innocent.
31  His eyes are set against the poor : * for he lieth waiting secretly; even as a lion lurketh he in his den.
32  He lieth in ambush that he may ravish the poor : * ravish the poor when he draweth him nigh.
33  In his net shall he bring him down : * he will crouch and fall, when he shall have power over the poor.
34  He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten; * he hideth away his face not to see to the end.

Psalm 9. iv.  Exsurge, Domine Deus

Plea for protection

35  Exsúrge, Dómine Deus, exaltétur manus tua: * ne obliviscáris páuperum.
36  Propter quid irritávit impius Deum? * dixit enim in corde suo: Non requíret.
37  Vides quóniam tu labórem et dolórem consíderas: * ut tradas eos in manus tuas.
38  Tibi derelictus est pauper: * órphano tu eris adjútor.
39  Cóntere bráchium peccatóris et malígni: * quærétur peccátum illíus, et non inveniétur.

35  Arise, O Lord God, and lift up thine hand; * forget not the poor.
36  Wherefore hath the wicked blasphemed God, * for he hath said in his heart, He will not require it?
37  Thou seest it, for thou beholdest labour and sorrow, that thou mayest deliver them into thy hands.
38  The poor man is left unto thee; * for thou art the helper of the orphan.
39  Break thou the arm of the ungodly and malicious; * his sin shall be sought, and shall not be found.

Finale

40  Dóminus regnábit in ætérnum, et in sæculum sæculi: * períbitis, Gentes, de terra illíus.
41  Desidérium páuperum exaudívit Dóminus: * præparatiónem cordis eórum audívit auris tua.
42  Judicáre pupíllo et húmili, * ut non appónat ultra magnificáre se homo super terram.

40  The Lord shall reign for ever, yea for ever and ever, * and ye shall perish, all ye heathen, out of his land.
41  The Lord hath heard the desire of the poor; * thine ear hath heard the preparation of their heart.
42  To judge for the fatherless and for the humble, * that man be no more exalted upon earth.

Psalm 10.  In Domino confido

Courage!  (Trust in God)

This song of David forms a logical extension and climax to the previous Psalm.  "In God is my trust"―that is the shield for God's citizen in every crisis.

No man need be feared

In Dómino confído : quómodo dícitis ánimæ meæ: * Tránsmigra in montem sicut passer?
2  Quóniam ecce peccatóres intendérunt arcum, paravérunt sagíttas suas in pháretra, * ut sagíttent in obscúro rectos corde.
3  Quóniam quæ perfecísti, destruxérunt: * justus autem quid fecit?

In the Lord do I put my trust : how say ye then to my soul, * that she should flee as a bird unto the hill?
2  For lo, the ungodly bend their bow, and make ready their arrows within the quiver, * that they may shoot in the dark at them which are true of heart.
3  For they have destroyed the things which thou hast made : * and what hath the righteous done?

By one who trusts in God

4  Dóminus in templo sancto suo, * Dóminus in cælo sedes ejus.
5  Oculi ejus in páuperem respíciunt: * pálpebræ ejus intérrogant fílios hóminum.
6  Dóminus interrogat justum et ímpium: * qui autem díligit iniquitátem, odit ánimam suam.
7  Pluet super peccatóres láqueos: * ignis, et sulphur, et spíritus procellárum pars cálicis eórum.
8  Quóniam justus Dóminus, et justítias diléxit: * æquitátem vidit vultus ejus.

4  The Lord is in his holy temple; * the Lord's seat is in heaven.
5  His eyes consider the poor, * and his eyelids try the children of men.
6  The Lord trieth the righteous and the wicked : * but he that delighteth in wickedness, abhoreth his own soul.
7  Upon the ungodly he shall rain snares, * fire and brimstone, storm and tempest shall be their portion to drink.
8  For the Lord is righteous and loveth righteousness; * his countenance hath beholden the thing that is just.