Wednesday Matins

Kingdom of God and kingdom of Satan,
or way of life and way of death

We see two joyful pictures and two sad pictures of the Church and of souls:  1)  the Church as Christ's bride, a magnificent spectacle:  the divine Bridegroom in the beauty of youth, King Champion, Judge, and at his side, his bride, the Church;  2)  the Church as a mountain fortress, the city of God, Sion the holy, much besieged but never taken, joyous in persecution, for God is with her;  3)  the children of this world with their hunger for riches and honours, forced by death to leave behind whatever they have scraped together;  4)  the Pharisee with only an outward shew of religion, harbouring within him an evil, sinful heart.  Finally, to these last thoughts we respond with the penitential Miserére.

 This Psalm is a prophetic wedding song for the mystic nuptials of Christ and the Church:  Jesus is Bridegroom, the bride is the Church and the soul.

The royal bridegroom

Eructávit cor meum verbum bonum: * dico ego ópera mea Regi.
2  Lingua mea cálamus scribæ: * velóciter scribéntis.

His spirit and courage

3  Speciósus forma præ fíliis hóminum, diffúsa est grátia in lábiis tuis: * proptérea benedíxit te Deus in ætérnum.
4  Accíngere gládio tuo super femur tuum, * potentíssime.
5  Spécie tua et pulchritúdine tua: * inténde, próspere procéde, et regna.
6  Propter veritátem, et mansuetúdinem, et justítiam: * et dedúcet te mirabíliter déxtera tua.
7  Sagíttæ tuæ acutæ, pópuli sub te cadent: * in corda inimicórum Regis.

3  Thou art fairer than the children of men, full of grace are thy lips, * therefore hath God hath blessed thee for ever.
4  Gird thee with thy sword upon thy thigh, * O thou Most Mighty.
5  In thy comeliness, yea in thy beauty : * go forth, ride prosperously, and reign.
6  Because of truth, of meekness, and righteousness; * and thy right hand shall wondrously lead thee.
7  Thy arrows are very sharp, and the people shall be subdued unto thee; *  even in the hearts of the King's enemies.

His justice

8  Sedes tua, Deus, in sæculum sæculi: * virga directiónis virga regni tui.
9  Dilexísti justítiam, et odísti iniquitátem: * proptérea unxit te, Deus, Deus tuus, óleo lætítiæ præ consórtibus tuis.

8  Thy seat, O God, endureth for ever; * the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
9  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; * wherefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

His royal splendour

10  Myrrha, et gutta, et cásia a vestiméntis tuis, a dómibus ebúrneis: * ex quibus delectavérunt te fíliæ regum in honóre tuo.
11  Astitit regína a dextris tuis in vestítu deauráto: * circúmdata varietáte.

10  All thy garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, * whereby the daughters of kings have made thee glad in thy glory.
11  Upon thy right hand did stand the queen in a vesture of gold, * wrought about with divers colours.

Psalm 44. ii.  Audi, filia

The royal bride:  her nuptials

12  Audi, fília, et vide, et inclína aurem tuam: * et oblivíscere pópulum tuum, et domum patris tui.
13  Et concupíscet Rex decórem tuum: * quóniam ipse est Dóminus Deus tuus, et adorábunt eum.
14  Et fíliæ Tyri in munéribus * vultum tuum deprecabúntur: omnes dívites plebis.

12  Hearken, O daughter, consider, and incline thine ear; * forget also thine own people, and thy father's house.
13  So shall the King have pleasure in thy beauty; * for he is the Lord thy God, and they shall worship him.
14  And the daughters of Tyre shall be there with a gift; * yea, all the rich among the people shall entreat thy countenance.

Her beauty

15  Omnis glória ejus fíliæ Regis ab intus, * in fímbriis aureis circumamícta varietátibus.
16  Adducéntur Regi vírgines post eam: * próximæ ejus afferéntur tibi.
17  Afferéntur in lætítia et exsultatióne: * adducéntur in templum Regis.

15  The King's daughter is all glorious within; * in wrought gold clothed round about with divers colours.
16  Virgins shall be brought after her unto the King : * her neighbours shall be brought unto thee.
17  With joy and gladness shall they be brought, * they shall be brought into the King's temple.

Their offspring

18  Pro pátribus tuis nati sunt tibi fílii: * constítues eos príncipes super omnem terram.
19  Memores erunt nóminis tui: * in omni generatióne et generatiónem.
20  Proptérea pópuli confitebúntur tibi in ætérnum: * et in sæculum sæculi.

18  Instead of thy fathers, thou shalt have children, * whom thou shalt make princes over all the earth..
19  They shall remember thy Name * throughout all generations.
20  Therefore shall the people give thanks unto thee for ever, * yea, and for ever, and world without end.

Psalm 45.  Deus noster refugium

 Under the image of the "city of God", Jerusalem, the following two Psalms picture the kingdom of God invincibly fortified and firmly entrenched in the Church and in the soul.  "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18).  The Church will never be vanquished by the devil―this is our great consolation.

The individual Christian, too, may be a rock, like St. Peter, upon which Christ can build his kingdom.  To fill that role, he prays here for perseverance.

Psalm 45 has an exceptionally fine poetical development.

The enemies' futile onslaught

Deus noster refúgium, et virtus: * adjútor in tribulatiónibus, quæ invenérunt nos nimis.
2  Proptérea non timébimus dum turbábitur terra: * et transferéntur montes in cor maris.
3  Sonuérunt, et turbátæ sunt aquæ eórum: * conturbáti sunt montes in fortitúdine ejus.

God is our hope and strength, * a very present help in trouble, which hath found us exceedingly.
2  Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved, * and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea;
3  Though the waters thereof rage and swell, * and though the mountains shake at the strength of the same.

God the bulwark of his city

4  Flúminis ímpetus lætíficat civitátem Dei: * sanctificávit tabernáculum suum Altíssimus.
5  Deus in médio ejus, non commovébitur: * adjuvábit eam Deus mane dilúculo.
6  Conturbátæ sunt Gentes, et inclinata sunt regna: * dedit vocem suam, mota est terra.
7  Dóminus virtútum nobíscum: * suscéptor noster Deus Jacob.

4  The rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the city of God; * the Most Highest hath made holy his tabernacle.
5  God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed; * God shall help her, and that right early.
6  The nations were troubled, and the kingdoms were bowed down; * but he hath shewed his voice, and the earth hath been moved.
7  The Lord of Hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our refuge.

The enemy overthrown

8  Veníte, et vidéte ópera Dómini, quæ pósuit prodígia super terram: * áuferens bella usque ad finem terræ.
9  Arcum cónteret, et confrínget arma: * et scuta combúret igni.
10  Vacáte, et vidéte quóniam ego sum Deus: * exaltábor in Géntibus, et exaltábor in terra.
11  Dóminus virtútum nobíscum: * suscéptor noster Deus Jacob.

8  O come hither, and behold the works of the Lord : what wonders he hath brought upon the earth : * he maketh wars to cease even to the end of the earth.
9  He shall break the bow, and break the spear in sunder, * and the shield he shall burn in the fire.
10  Be still then, and know that I am God: * I will be exalted among the heathen, and I will be exalted in the earth.
11  The Lord of Hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Jerusalem is besieged, but she is wondrously delivered.  This is a figure of the Church and of individual souls in the truest and fullest sense.

Theme:  God protects his city

Magnus Dóminus, et laudábilis nimis * in civitáte Dei nostri, in monte sancto ejus.
2  Fundátur exsultatióne univérsæ terræ mons Sion, * látera Aquilónis, cívitas Regis magni.
3  Deus in dómibus ejus cognoscétur: * cum suscípiet eam.

Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised * in the city of our God, even upon his holy hill.
2  The hill of Sion is founded with the joy of the whole earth; * upon the north side lieth the city of the great King.
3  In her palaces shall God be well known : * for he shall protect her.

Jerusalem delivered

4  Quóniam ecce reges terræ congregáti sunt: * convenérunt in unum.
5  Ipsi vidéntes sic admiráti sunt, conturbáti sunt, commóti sunt: * tremor apprehéndit eos.
6  Ibi dolóres ut parturiéntis: * in spíritu veheménti cónteres naves Tharsis.
7  Sicut audívimus, sic vídimus in civitáte Dómini virtútum, in civitáte Dei nostri: * Deus fundávit eam in ætérnum.

4  For lo, the kings of the earth are assembled: * yea, they are gathered together.
5  So they saw, and they marvelled, they were troubled, they were moved : * fear came there upon them.
6  There were pains as upon a woman in her travail : * with a violent wind thou shalt break the ships of Tharsis.
7  Like as we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of Hosts, in the city of our God; * God upholdeth the same for ever.

Solemn thanksgiving in the temple

8  Suscépimus, Deus, misericórdiam tuam, * in médio templi tui.
9  Secúndum nomen tuum, Deus, sic et laus tua in fines terræ: * justítia plena est déxtera tua.
10  Lætétur mons Sion, et exsúltent fíliæ Judæ: * propter judícia tua, Dómine.

8  We have received thy mercy, O God, * in the midst of thy temple.
9  O God, according to thy Name, so is thy praise unto the world's end; * thy right hand is full of righteousness.
10  Let the mount Sion rejoice, and the daughters of Judah be glad, * because of thy judgments, O Lord.

Festival procession

11  Circúmdate Sion, et complectímini eam: * narráte in túrribus ejus.
12  Pónite corda vestra in virtúte ejus: * et distribúite domus ejus, ut enarrétis in progénie áltera.
13  Quóniam hic est Deus, Deus noster in ætérnum et in sæculum sæculi: * ipse reget nos in sæcula.

11  Walk about Sion, and go round about her; * and tell ye in the towers thereof.
12  Set your hearts on her strength : * and distribute her houses, that ye may tell it in another generation.
13  For this is God, even our God, for ever world without end : * he shall rule us for evermore.

 This is a didactic poem; in the spirit of the Old Testament it attempts to solve the riddle of the prosperity of the godless.  The chief theme is the nothingness of riches; man cannot use them to lengthen his life, and when he dies he has to leave them all behind.

We Christians, fortunately, have a much more satisfying answer to this riddle.  As we pray this Psalm, we should be more and more conscious of the nothingness of riches.  Avarice is a form of idolatry―we will not serve the wicked mammon.  "A rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 19:23).  The parable of Dives and Lazarus might serve as an illustration of this Psalm.

Invitation to listen

Audíte hæc, omnes Gentes: * áuribus percípite omnes, qui habitátis orbem:
2  Quique terrígenæ, et fílii hóminum: * simul in unum dives et pauper.
3  Os meum loquétur sapiéntiam: * et meditátio cordis mei prudéntiam.
4  Inclinábo in parábolam aurem meam: * apériam in psaltério propositiónem meam.

O hear ye this, all ye nations; * ponder it with your ears, all ye that dwell in the world;
2  All ye that are earthborn, and ye children of men : * one with another, rich and poor.
3  My mouth shall speak of wisdom, * and my heart shall muse of understanding.
4  I will incline mine ear to the parable, * and shew my case upon the harp.

Riddle:  unequal lots

5  Cur timébo in die mala? * iníquitas calcánei mei circúmdabit me:
6  Qui confídunt in virtúte sua: * et in multitúdine divitiárum suárum gloriántur.

5  Wherefore should I fear in the days of wickedness, * and when the wickedness of my heels compasseth me round about?
6  They that put their trust in their own strength, * and glory in the multitude of their riches.

Solution:  death, the great levéller

7  Frater non rédimit, rédimet homo: * non dabit Deo placatiónem suam.
8  Et prétium redemptiónis ánimæ suæ: * et laborábit in ætérnum, et vivet adhuc in finem.
9  Non vidébit intéritum, cum víderit sapiéntes moriéntes: * simul insípiens, et stultus períbunt 10  Et relínquent aliénis divítias suas: * et sepúlcra eórum domus illórum in ætérnum.
11  Tabernácula eórum in progénie et progénie: * vocavérunt nómina sua in terris suis.
12  Et homo, cum in honóre esset, non intelléxit: * comparátus est juméntis insipiéntibus, et símilis factus est illis.

7  No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem, * nor shall he give unto God his appeasement.
8  Nor the price of the redemption of his soul, * and he shall labour for ever, and shall live unto the end.
9  He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying : * the ignorant and foolish shall perish together.
10  And they shall leave their riches for strangers : * and their sepulchres shall be their houses for ever.
11  Their dwelling-places shall endure from one generation to another; * they have called the lands after their own names.
12  And man, when he abided in honour, had no understanding : * he is compared unto the senseless beasts, and is become like unto them.

Psalmus 48. ii.  Hæc via illorum

Judgment in the hereafter

13  Hæc via illórum scándalum ipsis: * et póstea in ore suo complacébunt.
14  Sicut oves in inférno pósiti sunt: * mors depáscet eos.
15  Et dominabúntur eórum justi in matutíno: * et auxílium eórum veteráscet in inférno a glória eórum.
16  Verúmtamen Deus rédimet ánimam meam de manu ínferi: * cum accéperit me.

13  This is their way and it is a stumbling block to them : * and afterwards they shall delight in their mouth.
14  They are laid in the hell like sheep, * death gnaweth upon them.
15  And the righteous shall have domination over them in the morning: * and their help shall decay in hell from their glory.
16  But God will deliver my soul from the hand of hell; * when he shall receive me.

Admonition:  do not envy the rich

17  Ne timúeris, cum dives factus fúerit homo: * et cum multiplicáta fúerit glória domus ejus.
18  Quóniam cum interíerit, non sumet ómnia: * neque descéndet cum eo glória ejus.
19  Quia ánima ejus in vita ipsíus benedicétur: * confitébitur tibi cum beneféceris ei.
20  Introíbit usque in progénies patrum suórum: * et usque in ætérnum non vidébit lumen.
21  Homo, cum in honóre esset, non intelléxit: * comparátus est juméntis insipiéntibus, et símilis factus est illis.

17  Be not thou afraid, though a man be made rich, * or if the glory of his house be increased;
18  For when he shall die he shall carry nothing away, * neither shall his glory descend with him.
19  For while he liveth, his soul shall be blessed; * and he will praise thee when thou doest well unto him.
20  He shall follow the generation of his fathers, * and shall never see light.
21  Man, when he abided in honour, had no understanding: * he is compared unto the senseless beasts, and is become like unto them.

This highly poetic Psalm uses the form of a divine sermon to teach us that the essence of true piety does not consist in external works, but in interior dedication.  It censures a  spirit of two-faced Pharisaism: external works without interior disposition and pious words without good works.  It was especially in his sermon on the mount that our Lord so explicitly condemned this false piety.  Even today, the Pharisees among us have not all died away.

God comes for judgment

Deus deórum, Dóminus locútus est: * et vocávit terram,
2  A solis ortu usque ad occásum: * ex Sion spécies decóris ejus.
3  Deus maniféste véniet: * Deus noster et non silébit.
4  Ignis in conspéctu ejus exardéscet: * et in circúitu ejus tempéstas válida.
5  Advocábit cælum desúrsum: * et terram discérnere pópulum suum.
6  Congregáte illi sanctos ejus: * qui órdinant testaméntum ejus super sacrifícia.
7  Et annuntiábunt cæli justítiam ejus: * quóniam Deus judex est.

The Lord, even the God of gods, hath spoken, * and he hath called the earth.
2  From the rising up of the sun unto the going down thereof : * out of Sion hath he appeared in perfect beauty.
3  God shall come plainly, * yea, our God shall come, and shall not keep silence.
4  A fire shall consume before him : * and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.
5  He shall call the heaven from above, * and the earth to judge his people.
6  Gather ye his saints together unto him; * who ordained his covenant above sacrifice.
7  And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; * for God is judge.

God's sentence:  Not external sacrifices, but inner dispositions

8  Audi, pópulus meus, et loquar :  Israël, et testificábor tibi: * Deus, Deus tuus ego sum.
9  Non in sacrifíciis tuis árguam te: * holocáusta autem tua in conspéctu meo sunt semper.
10  Non accípiam de domo tua vítulos: * neque de grégibus tuis hircos.
11  Quóniam meæ sunt omnes feræ silvárum: * juménta in móntibus et boves.
12  Cognóvi ómnia volatília cæli: * et pulchritúdo agri mecum est.
13  Si esuríero, non dicam tibi: * meus est enim orbis terræ, et plenitúdo ejus.
14  Numquid manducábo carnes taurórum? * aut sánguinem hircórum potábo?
15  Immola Deo sacrifícium laudis: * et redde Altíssimo vota tua.
16  Et ínvoca me in die tribulatiónis: * éruam te, et honorificábis me.

8  Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify to thee; * for I am God, even thy God.
9  I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices; * but thy burnt-offerings are alway before me.
10  I will take no young bullocks out of thine house, * nor he-goats out of thy flocks.
11  For all the beasts of the forest are mine, * and so are the cattle upon the hills, and the oxen.
12  I know all the fowls of the air, * and with me is the beauty of the field.
13  If I be hungry, I will not tell thee; *  for the whole world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
14  Shall I eat the flesh of bullocks, * or shall I drink the blood of goats?
15  Offer unto God the sacrifice of praise : * and pay thy vows unto the Most Highest.
16  And call upon me in the time of trouble; * I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalm 49. ii.  Peccatori autem

Not words, but deeds

17  Peccatóri autem dixit Deus: * Quare tu enárras justítias meas, et assúmis testaméntum meum per os tuum?
18  Tu vero odísti disciplínam: * et projecísti sermónes meos retrórsum:
19  Si vidébas furem, currébas cum eo: * et cum adúlteris portiónem tuam ponebas.
20  Os tuum abundávit malítia: * et lingua tua concinnábat dolos.
21  Sedens advérsus fratrem tuum loquebáris, et advérsus fílium matris tuæ ponébas scándalum: * hæc fecísti, et tácui.
22  Existimásti, iníque, quod ero tui símilis: * árguam te, et státuam contra fáciem tuam.

17  But unto the ungodly God hath said : * Why dost thou preach my laws, and take my covenant in thy mouth?
18  Whereas thou hatest discipline, * and hast cast my words behind thee.
19  When thou sawest a thief, thou didst run with him; * and hast been partaker with the adulterers.
20  Thy mouth hath abounded with wickedness, * and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.
21  Sitting thou didst speak against thy brother, yea, and hast slandered thine own mother's son : * these things hast thou done, and I held my tongue.
22  Thou thoughtest unjustly, that I should be like unto thyself; * but I will reprove thee, and set up before thy face.

Finale

23  Intellígite hæc, qui obliviscímini Deum: * nequándo rápiat, et non sit qui erípiat.
24  Sacrifícium laudis honorificábit me: * et illic iter, quo osténdam illi salutáre Dei.

23  O consider this, ye that forget God, * lest he pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.
24  The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me; * and this is the path by which I will shew him the salvation of God.

Have mercy, O Lord

Having contemplated the four pictures painted by the previous Psalms, and in spirit having gone along the way of life and the way of death, we find reason to strike our breast and pray the great penitential hymn of the Church.  David composed and prayed this Psalm after his terrible twofold sin.

Confession of guilt

Miserére mei Deus, * secúndum magnam misericórdiam tuam.
2  Et secúndum multitúdinem miseratiónum tuárum, * dele iniquitátem meam.
3  Amplius lava me ab iniquitáte mea: * et a peccáto meo munda me.
4  Quóniam iniquitátem meam ego cognósco: * et peccátum meum contra me est semper.
5  Tibi soli peccávi, et malum coram te feci: * ut justificéris in sermónibus tuis, et vincas cum judicáris.
6  Ecce enim in iniquitátibus concéptus sum: * et in peccátis concépit me mater mea.
7  Ecce enim veritátem dilexísti: * incérta et occúlta sapiéntiæ tuæ manifestásti mihi.

Have mercy upon me, O God, * after thy great goodness.
2  According to the multitude of thy mercies * do away mine offences.
3  Wash me throughly from my wickedness, * and cleanse me from my sin.
4  For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is ever before me.
5  Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.
6  Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, * and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
7  But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.

Plea for inner conversion

8  Aspérges me hyssópo, et mundábor: * lavábis me, et super nivem dealbábor.
9  Audítui meo dábis gáudium et lætítiam: * et exsultábunt ossa humiliáta.
10  Avérte fáciem tuam a peccátis meis: * et omnes iniquitátes meas dele.
11  Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: * et spíritum rectum ínnova in viscéribus meis.
12  Ne projícias me a fácie tua: * et spíritum sanctum tuum ne áuferas a me.
13  Redde mihi lætítiam salutáris tui: * et spíritu principáli confírma me.

8  Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
9  Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, * that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
10  Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out all my misdeeds.
11  Make me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a right spirit within me.
12  Cast me not away from thy presence, * and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
13  O give me the comfort of thy help again, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.

Thanksgiving and a promise

14  Docébo iníquos vias tuas: * et ímpii ad te converténtur.
15  Líbera me de sanguínibus, Deus, Deus salútis meæ: * et exsultábit lingua mea justítiam tuam.
16  Dómine, lábia mea apéries: * et os meum annuntiábit laudem tuam.
17  Quóniam si voluísses sacrifícium dedíssem útique: * holocáustis non delectáberis.
18  Sacrifícium Deo spíritus contribulátus: * cor contrítum, et humiliátum, Deus non despícies.

14  Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, * and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
15  Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
16  Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, * and my mouth shall shew thy praise.
17  For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee; * but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
18  The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: * a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.

Finale (later addition from exile)

19  Benígne fac, Dómine, in bona voluntáte tua Sion: * ut ædificéntur muri Jerúsalem.
20  Tunc acceptábis sacrifícium justítiæ, oblatiónes, et holocáusta: * tunc impónent super altáre tuum vítulos.

19  O be favourable and gracious unto Sion; * build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
20  Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations; * then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.