Series 3 of Gospel Lessons
for a Doctor

Third Nocturn

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

Absolution:  May the Lord Almighty and merciful break the bonds of our sins and set us free.
R.  Amen.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 7: Evangélica léctio sit nobis salus et protéctio.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 7:  May the Gospel's holy lection be our safeguard and protection.
R.  Amen.

In illo témpore : Dixit Jesus discípulis suis:   Vos estis sal terræ.  Quod si sal evanúerit, in quo saliétur?  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus said unto his disciples:  Ye are the salt of the earth : But if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?  And so on, and that which followeth.

Atténdite quid díxerit : Vos estis sal terræ ; per quod osténdit, quam necessário ista præcípiat.  Non enim de vestra, inquit, tantúmmodo vita, sed de univérso orbe vobis rátio reddénda est.  Non ad duas quippe urbes aut decem aut vigínti, neque ad unam gentem vos mitto, sicut mittébam prophétas ; sed ad omnem terram prorsus ac mare totúmque mundum, et hunc váriis crimínibus oppréssum.

Consider how that the Lord saith : Ye are the salt of the earth: by the which figure he sheweth what a necessity of life is his teaching.  By this figure he would have us know that we have an account to render, not of our own life only, but for the whole world.  Not unto two cities, nor unto ten, nor unto twenty, nor unto one people, as I sent the Prophets, so send I you.  But I send you unto every land and sea, even unto the whole world, lying groaning, as it is, under the burden of divers sins.

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

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

R.  Amávit eum Dóminus, et ornávit eum : stolam glóriæ índuit eum, * Et ad portas paradísi coronávit eum.
V.  Induit eum Dóminus lorícam fídei, et ornávit eum.
R.  Et ad portas paradísi coronávit eum.

R.  The Lord loved him and adorned him ; he clothed him with a robe of glory : * And crowned him at the gates of Paradise.
V.  The Lord put upon him the breastplate of faith, and adorned him.
R.  And crowned him at the gates of Paradise.

R.  Iste est, qui ante Deum magnas virtútes operátus est, et de omni corde suo laudávit Dóminum : * Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.
V.  Ecce homo sine queréla, verus Dei cultor, ábstinens se ab omni ópere malo, et pérmanens in innocéntia sua.
R.  Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.

R.  This is he who wrought mighty deeds and valiant in the sight of God, and all the earth is filled with his doctrine : * May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.
V.  Behold a man without blame, a worshipper of God in truth, keeping himself clean from every evil work, and abiding still in his innocency.
R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 8:  Cujus festum cólimus, ipse intercédat pro nobis ad Dóminum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 8:  May he whose feast day we are keeping, be our Advocate with God.
R.  Amen.

Dicéndo enim, Vos estis sal terræ, osténdit univérsam hóminem infatuátum esse natúram et peccatórum vi corrúptam ; et idcírco illas ab eis virtútes requírit, quæ máxime ad multórum salútem procurándam necessáriæ sunt atque útiles.  Nam, qui mansuétus est ac modéstus, et miséricors et justus, non intra se tantúmmodo hæc recte facta conclúdit, verum in aliórum quoque utilitátem præcláros hos fáciet efflúere fontes.  Igitur qui corde mundo est atque pacíficus, et persecutiónem pro veritáte pátitur, nihilóminus in commúne cómmodum vitam instítuit.

These words : Ye are the salt of the earth, shew unto us the whole nature of man as savourless, and of bad odour through the corruption of sin.  And therefore he demandeth from his followers such qualities as are most needful and useful to the furthering of the salvation of many.  He that is lowly in spirit, compassionate, meek, and a seeker after righteousness, shutteth not up his good things in his own heart, but rather is like a fountain whence good things freely flow forth unto his neighbour.  He that is merciful, whose heart is pure, who seeketh peace, and who suffereth persecution for the truth's sake, is by the same token one whose life is for the good of the commonwealth.

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

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

R.  In médio Ecclésiæ apéruit os ejus, * Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus.
V.  Jucunditátem et exsultatiónem thesaurizávit super eum.
R.  Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus.

R.  In the midst of the congregation he opened his mouth : * And the Lord filled him with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding.
V.  He shall find joy, and a crown of gladness.
R.  And the Lord filled him with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And the Lord filled him with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding..

If Lesson ix is to be taken from an occurring Feast or Sunday, it is given in its proper place, as announced in the Ordo.

Alternate Ninth Lesson

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 9: Ad societátem cívium supernórum perdúcat nos Rex Angelórum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 9: May the King of Angels give us fellowship with all the citizens of heaven.
R.  Amen.

Ne ígitur putétis, inquit, ad lévia vos ducéndos esse certámina, neque exiguárum rerum vobis ineúndam esse ratiónem, Vos estis sal terræ.  Quid ígitur?  Ipsíne putrefácta medicáti sunt? Nequáquam ; neque enim fíeri potest, ut ea, quæ jam corrúpta sunt, salis perfricatióne reparéntur.  Non ergo hoc fecérunt ; sed, ante renováta sibíque trádita atque ab illa jam putrédine liberáta, aspergébant sale, et in ea novitáte conservábant, quam a Dómino suscéperant.  Liberáre quippe a putrédine peccatórum, Christi virtútis est ; ut autem ad illa íterum non revertántur, Apostolórum curæ est ac labóris.

Think not, saith the Lord, that the struggle is easy whereunto ye shall be called, nor that those are paltry things for which ye shall be held accountable.  Ye are the salt of the earth.  What then?  Are ye to salt that which is corrupted?  Nay, for it is impossible that what is once corrupted can be made sound by salting it.  This it is not asked of them to do.  But their work is to sprinkle with salt, and to keep fresh thereafter, such things as the Lord hath given over into their charge, for these things he himself hath made new, and freed them from all taint, before giving them.  Christ's is the power that doth deliver from the corruption of sin.  To preserve from falling away again is the duty and toil commanded to the Apostles.

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

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