Matins

The first part of Matins is in the Ordinary

Invitatory and Hymn

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn

Invitatory and Hymn

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

In worshipful remembrance of our blessed protector Joseph, * Let us praise our God, alleluia.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

In worshipful remembrance of our blessed protector Joseph, * Let us praise our God, alleluia.

Psalmus 94.
Venite, exsultemus Domino

Veníte, exsultémus Dómino, jubilémus Deo, salutári nostro : præoccupémus fáciem ejus in confessióne, et in psalmis jubilémus ei.

O come, let us sing unto the Lord ; let us heartily rejoice in the God of our salvation.  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving ; and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

In worshipful remembrance of our blessed protector Joseph, * Let us praise our God, alleluia.

Quóniam Deus magnus Dóminus, et Rex magnus super omnes deos : quóniam non repéllet Dóminus plebem suam : quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, et altitúdines móntium ipse cónspicit.

For the Lord is a great God ; and a great King above all gods:  For the Lord will not cast off his people:  In his hand are all the corners of the earth, and the strength of the hills is his also.

In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

Let us praise our God, alleluia.

In the following verse of the Psalm, at the words veníte, adorémus, et procidámus ante Deum (O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker) all genuflect.

Quóniam ipsíus est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et áridam fundavérunt manus ejus : veníte, adorémus, et procidámus ante Deum : plorémus coram Dómino, qui fecit nos, quia ipse est Dóminus Deus noster ; nos autem pópulus ejus, et oves páscuæ ejus.

The sea is his and he made it ; and his hands prepared the dry land.  O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker: For he is the Lord our God ; and we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

In worshipful remembrance of our blessed protector Joseph, * Let us praise our God, alleluia.

Hódie, si vocem ejus audiéritis, nolíte obduráre corda vestra, sicut in exacerbatióne, secúndum diem tentatiónis in desérto : ubi tentavérunt me patres vestri, probavérunt et vidérunt ópera mea.

Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness ; when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works.

In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

Let us praise our God, alleluia.

Quadragínta annis próximus fui generatióni huic, et dixi : Semper hi errant corde ; ipsi vero non cognovérunt vias meas : quibus jurávi in ira mea : Si introíbunt in réquiem meam.

Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways:  unto whom I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

In worshipful remembrance of our blessed protector Joseph, * Let us praise our God, alleluia.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.  Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,  et in sæcula sæculórum.  Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

Let us praise our God, alleluia.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In veneratióne beáti Joseph, protectóris nostri, allelúja.

In worshipful remembrance of our blessed protector Joseph, * Let us praise our God, alleluia.

Te, Joseph, célebrent ágmina cælitum,
Te cuncti résonent christíadum chori,
Qui clarus méritis, junctus est ínclytæ
Casto fœdere Vírgini.

Almo cum túmidam gérmine cónjugem
Admírans, dúbio tángeris ánxius,
Afflátu súperi Fláminis Angelus
Concéptum Púerum docet.

Tu natum Dóminum stringis, ad éxteras
Ægypti prófugum tu séqueris plagas ;
Amíssum Sólymis quæris, et ínvenis,
Miscens gáudia flétibus.

Post mortem réliquos sors pia cónsecrat,
Palmámque eméritos glória súscipit :
Tu vivens, Súperis par, frúeris Deo,
Mira sorte beátior.

Nobis, summa Trias, parce precántibus,
Da Joseph méritis sídera scándere :
Ut tandem líceat nos tibi pérpetim
Gratum prómere cánticum.  Amen.

O Joseph, spouse so pure of that immortal bride
Whose glory shines secure, midst virgins glorified:
How now on high thy name is ever magnified
Let all of Christendom proclaim;

How once at God's behest an Angel came to bring
Joy to thine anxious breast, and tell of Christ the King—
The Babe foretold of yore that of a maid must spring,
By God the Spirit shadowed o'er.

How with thy new-born Lord and Mary thou didst flee;
How Egypt did afford haven for them and thee;
How in Jerusalem that Son, sought mournfully,
Restored all joy, all grief did stem.

Not till death's hour is past do other men obtain
The blessings that do last, the joys that e'er remain;
Thou, like to Angels blest, on earth didst here attain
To clasp thy God unto thy breast.

O Holy Trinity, thy suppliant servants spare;
Grant us to come to thee, with Joseph's help and prayer;
And then our hearts shall raise, in saintly chorus fair,
Exulting canticles of praise.  Amen.

First Nocturn

Psalms and Antiphons of Thursday

The Lessons for the First Nocturn are taken from the occurrent Scripture. 

Scripture Lessons

Second Nocturn

Psalms and Antiphons of Thursday

Absolutio: Ipsíus píetas et misericórdia nos ádjuvet, qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculórum.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  May his loving-kindness and mercy assist us.  Who, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, for ever and ever.
R.  Amen.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 4: Deus Pater omnípotens sit nobis propítius et clemens.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 4:  May God the Father Almighty shew us his mercy and pity.
R.  Amen.

Cum inter Maríam et Joseph fúerit veríssimum matrimónium per divínam inspiratiónem contráctum, et in matrimónio fiat únio animórum in tantum quod una dicúntur persóna sponsus et sponsa, ut possit dici únitas quasi summa ; quómodo cogitáre potest mens discréta  quod Spíritus Sanctus tanta unióne uníret menti tantæ Vírginis áliquam ánimam, nisi ei virtútum operatióne simíllimam?  Unde credo, istum virum sanctum Joseph fuísse mundíssimum in virginitáte, profundíssimum in humilitáte, ardentíssimum in Dei amóre et caritáte, altíssimum in contemplatióne.  Et quia nóverat Virgo istum sibi a Spíritu Sancto datum in sponsum, et in suæ virginitátis fidum custódem, et ad participándum secum in caritátis amóre et obsequiósa sollicitúdine erga diviníssimam Prolem Dei ; ídeo credo, quod totíus cordis afféctu hunc, sanctum Joseph, sinceríssime diligébat.

The marriage between Mary and Joseph was a real marriage, for it was contracted under divine inspiration.  Now in marriage there is so close a union of souls that the bridegroom and the bride are said to be one person, for which reason marriage is like unto the very perfection of unity.  Hence how can any discerning mind think that the Holy Spirit would unite, in a union of this intimacy, a mind such as the Virgin's, with the soul of a man who had not within him the operation of a godliness like unto hers?  Wherefore I believe that this Joseph was holy, the chastest of men and a virgin, completely humble, burning with a passion of charity towards God, and full of the highest graces of contemplation.  And since the Virgin knew that he was given her by the Holy Spirit to be her spouse, and the faithful guardian of her virginity, and to share besides in devoted love and affectionate care towards that One who was in the divinest fashion the very offspring of God ; therefore I believe that she sincerely loved Saint Joseph with all the affection of her 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.  Dedísti mihi protectiónem salútis tuæ et déxtera tua suscépit me : * Protéctor meus et cornu salútis meæ et suscéptor meus, allelúja.
V.  Ego protéctor tuus sum et merces tua magna nimis.
R.  Protéctor meus et cornu salútis meæ et suscéptor meus, allelúja.

R.  Thou hast given me the defence of thy salvation ; thy right hand also shall hold me up : *  It is God that girdeth me, my buckler, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge, alleluia.
V.  I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.
R.  It is God that girdeth me, my buckler, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge, alleluia.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 5: Christus perpétuæ det nobis gáudia vitæ.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 5: May Christ bestow upon us the joys of life eternal.
R.  Amen.

Hábuit Joseph erga Christum ardentíssimam caritátem.  Quis déneget, óbsecro, quod ipsi tenénti Christum in bráchiis aut confabulánti cum ipso, Christus, sive infans sive adúltus, ingéreret et imprímeret ineffábiles sensus atque jucunditátes de semetípso, et hoc cooperánte extérius grátia Christi cum filiáli aspéctu, affátu atque compléxu?  O quanta dúlcia óscula ab ipso recépit! o quanta dulcédine audiébat balbutiéntem Párvulum se patrem vocáre, et quanta suavitáte sentiébat se dúlciter amplexári!  Consídera étiam, cum quanta compassióne in itinéribus, quæ fecérunt, párvulum Jesum ex labóre lassum, cum grandiúsculus esset, in suo grémio requiéscere faciébat : quia omni amóre transformatívo ferebátur in eum, ut in dulcíssimum Fílium sibi in cónjuge sua Vírgine per Spíritum Sanctum datum.

Now Joseph was most ardent in his love for Christ.  For who, pray, would deny that Christ, whether as a child or as a grown man, would most deeply inspire ineffable affection, and the peculiar joys which he alone could give?  And what would be the effect on one who held him in his arms, and conversed at will with him?  And besides all this, who can reckon the bliss of receiving from the Christ Child those gazes of filial love? or his words spoken as a devoted son? or the giving of his trustful embraces?  O how sweet were the kisses that Joseph received from him!  O how sweet to hear little One lisp the name of father, and how delightful to feel his gentle carresses!  Think again how often (when the little Jesus was growing bigger, and was wearied with much walking on the journeys which they made) Joseph must have been filled with compassion, and so carried him at rest in his bosom.  For Joseph bore towards Jesus all the fulness of an adoptive love, as to a most dear son, given to him by the Holy Ghost in his Virgin bride.

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

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

R.  Státuet fílios suos sub tégmine illíus et sub ramis ejus morábitur ; protegétur sub tégmine illíus a fervóre : * Et in glória ejus requiéscet, allelúja.
V.  Speráte in eo, omnis congregátio pópuli, effúndite coram illo corda vestra.
R.  Et in glória ejus requiéscet, allelúja.

R.  He shall set his children under his shelter, and shall lodge under his branches ; by him shall he be covered from the heat : * And in his glory shall he dwell, alleluia.
V.  O put your trust in him alway, ye congregation of the people, pour out your hearts before him.
R.  And in his glory shall he dwell, alleluia.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 6: Ignem sui amóris accéndat Deus in córdibus nostris.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 6: May God enkindle in our hearts the fire of his holy love.
R.  Amen.

Ideo prudentíssima Mater, quæ expérta fúerat ejus afféctum, ad Fílium suum Jesum in templo reinvéntum ait : Fili, quid fecísti nobis sic?  Ecce pater tuus et ego doléntes quærebámus te.  Ad hujus verbi intelléctum notándum est, quod duo sapórum génera cóntinet in se Christus, dulcóris et dolóris ; et quia sanctíssimus Joseph horum duórum gústuum mirabíliter párticeps fuit, ídeo beáta Virgo vocat eum singuláriter patrem Christi.  Hic solum légitur Vírginem Joseph appellásse patrem Jesu : quia sensus dolóris, quem hábuit de Jesu pérdito, verum in eo monstrávit patris afféctum.  Si enim secúndum humánas leges divínitus approbátas potest extráneus áliquem adoptáre in fílium, multo magis Dei Fílius datus ipsi Joseph in sua sanctíssima Sponsa sub virginális matrimónii admirábili sacraménto, debet ejus fílius appellári ; et étiam credi quod in eo fúerit gustus paternális amóris atque dolóris respéctu dilécti Jesu.

Hence it was that a most prudent Mother, who knew the devotion of Joseph to Jesus, said to her Son, when she found him in the temple : Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.  In order to understand this, we must note that Christ hath within himself, as it were, two savours, sweetness and bitterness.  And since the most holy Joseph was in a wonderful manner (as we shall see) a partaker of these two savours, therefore the blessed Virgin doth bestow upon him in a special sense the title of Father of Christ.  This is the only place where we read that she did call Saint Joseph the father of Jesus, doubtless because the bitterness of sorrow which he felt at the loss of Jesus shewed the fatherly affection which he bore him.  For if according to human laws, which are approved by God, a man can adopt as his son the child of another family, how much more truly ought the Son of God to be called the Son of Joseph.  For he was given to this Joseph by his most holy Spouse, in the wonderful mystery of a virginal marriage.  And so it is also to be believed that in Joseph there were the two savours of Jesus, sweetness and bitterness, which were manifested as the sweetness of paternal love, and the bitterness of his compassion, towards his beloved Jesus.

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

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

R.  Si consístant advérsum me castra, non timébit cor meum : * Si exsúrgat advérsum me prælium, in hoc ego sperábo, allelúja.
V.  In te cantátio mea semper, quóniam tu adjútor fortis.
R.  Si exsúrgat advérsum me prælium, in hoc ego sperábo, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Si exsúrgat advérsum me prælium, in hoc ego sperábo, allelúja.

R.  Though an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid, * And though a battle should rise up against me, yet will I put my trust in him, alleluia.
V.  My mouth shall be alway filled  with thy praise, for thou art my strong refuge.
R.  And though a battle should rise up against me, yet will I put my trust in him, alleluia.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And though a battle should rise up against me, yet will I put my trust in him, alleluia.

Third Nocturn

Psalms and Antiphons of Thursday

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.  Pray, Sir (Lord), give me 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 : Factum est autem cum baptizarétur omnis pópulus, et Jesu baptizáto et oránte, apértum est cælum.  Et réliqua.

At that time : When all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened.  And so on, and that which followeth.

Neque proptérea non erat appellándus Joseph pater Christi, quia non eum concumbéndo genúerat ; quandóquidem pater esset étiam ejus, quem non ex sua cónjuge procreátum aliúnde adoptásset.  Putabátur quidem Christus étiam áliter fílius Joseph, tamquam ex ejus omníno carne progénitus ; sed ab eis hoc putabátur, quos Maríæ latébat virgínitas : nam Lucas ait : Et ipse Jesus erat incípiens quasi annórum trigínta, ut putabátur, fílius Joseph.  Qui tamen Lucas non ejus paréntem solam Maríam, sed ambos paréntes ejus appelláre mínime dubitávit, ubi ait : Puer autem crescébat et confortabátur plenus sapiéntia, et grátia Dei erat in illo ; et ibant paréntes ejus per omnes annos in Jerúsalem, in die solémni Paschæ.

Joseph cannot be denied the name of father of Christ, merely because he did not beget him by coition.  For he would have been called the father of any child whom he adopted, even if the child were not the issue of his wife, but from another family.  It is true that Christ was supposed to be the son of Joseph in another sense ; namely, in that of having been actually begotten by Joseph according to the flesh.  But this supposition was made only by those from whom Mary's virginity was concealed.  It is of this that Luke saith : And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph.  However, Luke sheweth no hesitation in giving the name of parent, not to Mary only, but also to Joseph, when in another place he saith : And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom : and the grace of God was upon him  : Now his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the Feast of Passover.

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

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

R.  Joseph, fili David, noli timére accípere Maríam cónjugem tuam ; quod enim in ea natum est, de Spíritu Sancto est ; páriet autem fílium, * Et vocábis nomen ejus Jesum, allelúja.
V.  Ipse enim salvum fáciet pópulum suum a peccátis eórum.
R.  Et vocábis nomen ejus Jesum, allelúja.

R.  Joseph, thou Son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife ; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost, and she shall bring forth a Son, *  And thou shalt call his Name Jesus, alleluia.
V.  For he shall save his people from their sins.
R.  And thou shalt call his Name Jesus, alleluia.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Pray, Sir (Lord), give me 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.

Sed, ne quisnam hic paréntes consanguíneos pótius Maríæ cum ipsa Matre ejus intelligéndos putet, quid ad illud respondébit quod ipse item Lucas supérius dixit, Et erant Pater ejus et Mater mirántes super his, quæ dicebántur de illo?  Cum ígitur ipse narret, non ex concúbitu Joseph, sed ex María Vírgine natum Christum ; unde eum patrem ejus appéllat, nisi quia et virum Maríæ recte intellígimus sine commixtióne carnis, ipsa copulatióne conjúgii ; et ob hoc étiam Christi patrem multo conjúnctius, qui ex ejus cónjuge natus sit, quam si esset aliúnde adoptátus?  Ac per hoc, si demonstráre áliquis posset Maríam ex David nullam consanguinitátis oríginem dúcere, sat erat secúndum istam ratiónem, accípere Christum Fílium David ; qua ratióne étiam Joseph pater ejus appellátus est.

But lest anyone should think that by the word Parents there is here to understood Mary and her forbears only, we must take into account what Luke recordeth earlier, And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.  Since, therefore, Luke witnesseth that Christ was born, not by the begetting of Joseph, but of the Virgin Mary, how can he call Joseph the father of Jesus, except in the sense that Joseph was a real husband to Mary by virtue of the true bond of marriage, saving only that there never was any carnal intercourse between them?  And yet, on account of this bond of marriage, Joseph was the father of Jesus in a much closer sense (seeing that the Christ Child was born of his wife) than if Joseph had adopted Jesus from another family.  Hence, also, if anyone could prove that Mary did not trace her origin from David, the same reasoning by which Joseph is called the father of Christ would be sufficient reason for giving Christ the name, Son of David.

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

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

R.  Surge, et áccipe Púerum et Matrem ejus, et fuge in Ægyptum ; * Et esto ibi, usque dum dicam tibi, allelúja.
V.  Ut adimplerétur quod dictum est a Dómino per prophétam dicéntem : Ex Ægypto vocávi fílium meum.
R.  Et esto ibi, usque dum dicam tibi, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et esto ibi, usque dum dicam tibi, allelúja.

R.  Arise and take the young Child and his Mother, and flee into Egypt, * And be thou there until I bring thee word, alleluia.
V.  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet : Out of Egypt have I called my Son.
R.  And be thou there until I bring thee word, alleluia.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And be thou there until I bring thee word, alleluia.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Pray, Sir (Lord), give me 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.

Lucas autem non ab inítio Evangélii sui, sed a baptísmo Christi generatiónes enárrat, nec descendéndo, sed ascendéndo, tamquam sacerdótem in expiándis peccátis magis assígnans ; ubi eum vox de cælo declarávit, ubi testimónium Joánnes ipsi perhíbuit dicens : Ecce, qui tollit peccáta mundi.  Ascendéndo autem transit Abraham et pérvenit ad Deum, cui mundáti et expiáti reconciliámur.  Mérito et adoptiónis oríginem ipse suscépit, quia per adoptiónem effícimur fílii Dei, credéndo in Fílium Dei.  Satis autem demonstrávit, non se ídeo dixísse.  Joseph fílium Heli, quod de illo génitus, sed quod ab illo fúerat adoptátus ; cum et ipsum Adam fílium Dei dixit, cum sit factus a Deo, sed per grátiam, quam póstea peccándo amísit, tamquam fílius in paradíso constitútus sit.

Luke giveth the genealogy, not at the beginning of his Gospel, but after the account of the Baptism of Christ.  And he giveth it, not in the descending order, but in the ascending, more as if he were pointing to Christ as Priest, making atonement for sins.  This was the occasion when the voice spake in testimony from heaven.  And also at this time John himself gave testimony, saying : Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.   By thus beginning with Jesus and tracing back, Luke passeth up through Abraham and eventually cometh to God, to whom we are reconciled after purification and atonement.  Rightly then doth Luke give the origin by adoption, for through adoption and faith in the Son of God we become God's sons.  In this fashion, Luke sheweth clearly enough why he nameth Joseph as the son of Heli ; that is, not because Joseph was betotten by Heli, but because he was adopted by him.  For Luke calleth Adam himself the son of God, and this because he was made by God, being set in the paradise of Eden as a son by virtue of the grace which afterwards he lost in sinning.

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

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