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 Saturday

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

Scripture Lessons

Second Nocturn

Psalms and Antiphons of Saturday

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.

Joseph, fili David, noli timére accípere Maríam cónjugem tuam.  Quid autem est accípere?  Domi  profécto retinére ; jam enim illam mente dimíserat : sed dimíssam, inquit, retíneas, quam Deus tibi cópulat, non paréntes ; cópulat vero, non in fœdus solémne conjúgii, sed in consórtium commúnis habitáculi, et cópulat per meæ vocis offícium.  Sicut enim illam póstea comméndat Christus ipse discípulo, ita étiam nunc Angelus Sponso ; solátium tantúmmodo ejus habitúram absque fœdere nuptiárum.  Deínde honéstius multóque dígnius causa partus expósita, suspiciónem quoque prorsus restínxit.  Non modo, inquit, illícito non est violáta compléxu, verum étiam supra natúram morémque fœcúnda est.  Noli ígitur de tam felíci partu Sponsæ attráhere mærórem prorúmpe lætítiam ; quod enim in ea natum est, de Spíritu Sancto est.

Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife.  But what is : To take?  Undoubtedly, to maintain, and that in his own house.  For he had already sent her away in his mind.  But now the Angel commandeth : Her whom thou wouldst send away, maintain ; her, do thou, and not her parents, maintain, for God joineth her to thee ; her, God verily joineth to thee, not in the sacred commerce of marriage, but in the fellowship of a common home ; and her, God joineth to thee through the ministry of my words.  Just as Christ himself later entrusted her to the care of his disciple, so now the Angel giveth her to her spouse ; in such manner that she may have the consolation of his company without other conjugal rights.  By this means her confinement would be explained in a worthier and more honourable way, and suspicion would be allayed.  It is as though the Angel said : Not only was she not dishonoured by an unlawful embrace, but indeed she is fruitful in a manner above nature and usage ; therefore grieve not at the happy confinement of thy Bride, but break forth into greater joy!  For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

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.

Páriet autem Fílium, et vocábis nomen ejus Jesum ; non enim quia ex Spíritu Sancto est, idcírco te a ministério tantæ exístimes dispensatiónis extráneum.  Nam etsi nihil hábeas in hac generatióne commúne (Virgo quippe permánsit intácta), tamen quod est próprium patris quodque nihil offúscat Vírginis dignitátem, hoc tibi fácile concédo, ut scílicet Nato nomen impónas ; tu enim illum primum vocábis.  Quamquam enim non sit fílius tuus iste, qui náscitur, tu tamen curam erga illum et sollicitúdinem osténdes paréntis ; et proptérea te illi ab ipsa statim nóminis impositióne conjúngo.  Deínde, ne quis illum ex hoc patrem esse suspicarétur, Páriet, inquit, Fílium.  Non dixit, Páriet tibi, sed pósuit illud indefinítum et suspénsum ; non enim illi, sed univérso prorsus orbi péperit Christum.

And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his Name Jesus.  That is : Think not that the ministry of this great dispensation, because it is of the Holy Ghost, is a thing apart from thee.  For even thought thou hast no part in his generation, since the Virgin remaineth ínviolate, yet do I readily grant thee this, namely ; that thine are all the rights of a father, in so far as they obscure not the dignity of the Virgin ; thou shalt certainly give the new-born his Name ; thou shalt be the first to call him by his Name.   For even though he who is born is not thy son, nonetheless thou shalt shew him the care and solicitude of a parent ; and therefore I unite thee to him by this immediate giving of the Name.  But, lest anyone might think from this that Joseph was the begetter of Christ, the Angel was first careful to say : She shall bring forth a Son.  He doth not say : She shall bear thee a son : but maketh his statement in an undetermined and indefinite way.  For Mary did not bear a son to Joseph, but brought forth Christ to the whole world.

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.

Proptérea et nomen ejus de cælo Angelum detulísse Evangelísta memorávit, ut hinc quoque osténderet illum mirábilem esse partum, quo ejus nomen ad Joseph et per Angelum et a Deo missum docéret.  Nam et ipsum vocábulum non inániter pósitum est, quod certe mille cóntinet thesáuros bonórum.  Propter quod illud étiam Angelus interpretátur bonis mæréntem spebus animándo ; et hoc quoque illum modo ad credéndum quod lóquitur, invítat.  Fácile namque sollicitámur ad próspera, et prómptius fidem accommodámus secúndis.  Ipse enim, inquit, salvum fáciet pópulum suum a peccátis eórum.  Hinc quoque benefícii nóvitas indicátur.  Non enim a bello visíbili neque a gládio barbarórum, sed, quod his longe majus est, a peccáto suo pópulum suum núntiat liberándum : quod præstáre nulli fuit hóminum aliquándo possíbile.

Therefore the Evangelist relateth that the Angel brought his Name from heaven, so that thus might be shewn how wonderful was his birth, seeing that he himself taught his Name to Joseph by an Angel sent from God.  For this Name, which verily containeth a thousand treasures of good, was not given without meaning.  Therefore the Angel doth himself interpret it, thereby consoling Joseph's grief with good hopes ; and thus also inviting him to believe these words.  For we are easily summoned to that which is pleasant, and give prompt credence unto good tidings.  Wherefore the Angel said : He shall save his people from their sins.  This also sheweth the novelty of the gift.  For he announceth that this people are to be saved, not indeed from external wars, nor from the swords of barbarians, but from what is far greater than these : From their sins.  And no mere man could ever accomplish this.

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 Saturday

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.

Néminem movére debet, quod ita scriptum est : Qui putabátur fílius Joseph.  Bene enim putabátur, quia natúra non erat ; sed ídeo putabátur, quia eum María, quæ Joseph viro suo erat desponsáta genúerat.  Sic enim habes : Nonne hic est fílius Joseph fabri?  Díximus supra qua ratióne per Vírginem, díximus étiam, qua ratióne per Vírginem, díximus étiam, qua ratióne per desponsátam, et quare cénsus témpore nasci volúerit Dóminus salutáris ; non aliénum étiam vidétur, ut qua ratióne fabrum patrem habúerit, declarémus.  Hoc enim typo eum patrem sibi esse demónstrat, qui fabricátor ómnium cóndidit mundum.  Nam etsi humána non sunt comparánda divínis, typus tamen ínteger est, quod Pater Christi igne operátur et spíritu, et tamquam bonus ánimæ faber vítia nostra circúmdolat ; cito secúrum ádmovens arbóribus infœcúndis, secáre doctus exígua, culmínibus serváre sublímia, rígida méntium spíritus igne mollíre, et in vários usus omne humánum genus divérsa ministeriórum qualitáte formáre.

No one should be troubled at the words : As was supposed, the son of Joseph.  For it was no more than a supposition, seeing that Christ was not the son of Joseph by nature.  Albeit, it was so supposed because Mary who was espoused to her husband Joseph, gave Christ birth.  And so, referring to Joseph as father, it is written : Is not this the carpenter's son?  We have already discussed why the Lord of salvation chose to be born of a Virgin.  We have also discussed why she was an espoused Virgin when her conception took place ; and why it took place at the time of the enrollment for taxing.  Hence it is not fitting to explain why Christ had a working-man for his father.  For thereby is figured Christ's divine Father, who as Maker of all things, framed the world.  Even though human and divine matters be not equal to each other, yet is this figure a complete one.  Christ's Father worketh by fire and by breathing on things.  Yea, like a good carpenter of the soul, he chippeth away our defects.  Promptly doth he lay his axe to the barren trees and hew them down.  Skilful is he in correcting whatever is built scantily, and in buttressing whatever is to be built magnificently.  He tempereth the hardness of hearts as with fire, and with his gentle Breath.  And by his divers workings he formeth the quality of the human race.

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.

Cur autem Joseph magis quam Maríæ generátio describátur, cum María de Spíritu Sancto generávit Christum, et Joseph a generatióne Dómini videátur aliénus, dubitáre possémus, nisi consuetúdo nos instrúeret Scripturárum, quæ semper viri oríginem quærit.  Viri enim persóna quæritur, qui étiam in senátu et réliquis cúriis civitátum géneris assérvat dignitátem.  Quam defórme autem, si relícta viri orígine, orígo féminæ quærerétur, ut viderétur patrem non habuísse ille totíus mundi pópulis prædicándus!  Vides ubíque famíliam per virórum generatiónes esse decúrsam.  Noli mirári quod Joseph orígo descrípta est.  Etenim secúndum carnem natus, usum débuit sequi carnis, et qui in sæculum venit, sæculi débuit more descríbi ; máxime cum in Joseph orígine étiam orígo sit Maríæ.

We might wonder why the genealogy of Joseph, rather than of Mary, is given (since Mary conceived Christ by the Holy Ghost, and Joseph had not part in the Lord's conception), were it not that the Holy Scripture teacheth us how it was the custom to trace descent on the male side.  For in this fashion the person of the man is set forth as pre-eminent, and his dignity maintained, even as it is wont to be done in the Senate and the other high places of the commonwealth.  And how unseemly it would have been to have passed over the lineage of the father, and to have given that of the mother, since the so doing would have appeared to proclaim to all the people in the world that Christ had not father.  It is a world-wide custom to trace the genealogy of a family in the male line.  Therefore, be not perplexed that the lineage of Joseph is given.  Forasmuch as Christ was born in the flesh, he was bound to follow this custom of the flesh.  And he who came into the world had to be enrolled for taxing in the worldly manner, the more so that Joseph's descent was the same as Mary's.

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.

Cur autem sanctus Matthæus ab Abraham generatiónem enumeráre cœperit Christi, sanctus vero Lucas a Christo usque ad Deum perdúxerit, explanándum vidétur.  Lucas ad Deum putávit oríginem ejus esse referéndam, quod verus Christi generátor Deus sit, vel secúndum veram generatiónem Pater, vel secúndum lavácri regeneratiónem mystici múneris auctor.  Et ídeo non a primo generatiónem ejus cœpit descríbere ; sed posteáquam baptísmum ejus explícuit, Auctórem ómnium Deum per baptísmum cúpiens demonstráre.  Christum quoque a Deo órdine manásse successiónis asséruit, univérsa contéxens, ut et secúndum natúram et secúndum grátiam et secúndum carnem Dei Fílium demonstráret.  Quod autem evidéntius divínæ generatiónis indícium, quam quod de generatióne dictúrus, ipsum Patrem præmísit loquéntem : Hic est Fílius meus diléctus, in quo complácui?

But some explanation is required as to why Saint Matthew reckoneth Christ's descent from Abraham forward, whilst Saint Luke traceth the same from Christ backward to the creation of Adam by God.  By this, Luke would have us understand that Christ's lineage should be traced to God, because God was Christ's true Progenitor, both as his Father whereof he was begotten, and as the Author, in the laver of baptism, of the mystical gift of the Spirit.  Wherefore Luke doth not begin his Gospel with the reckoning of Christ's lineage, but recordeth it after the account of the baptism, thereby shewing forth in baptism the working of God, the Author of all things.  Thus also Luke asserteth that Christ came forth from God according to a certain rule of orderliness.  For he weaveth all things together to prove that Christ is by nature, by grace, and in the flesh, the Son of God.  But what more evident proof of Christ's divine descent could we have than what Luke giveth?  For before the Evangelist reckoneth the genealogy of Christ, he giveth the words of the Father himself : This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

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

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