Matins

STAND

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.

Benedíctio 1: Evangélica léctio sit nobis salus et protéctio.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 1:  May the Gospel's holy lection be our safeguard and protection.
R.  Amen.

In illo témpore : Manifestávit se íterum Jesus discípulis ad mare Tiberíadis.  Manifestávit autem sic : Erant simul Simon Petrus, et Thomas, qui dícitur Dídymus.  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself : there were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus.  And so on, and that which followeth.

Léctio sancti Evangélii, quæ modo in áuribus vestris lecta est, fratres mei, quæstióne ánimum pulsat, sed pulsatióne sua vim discretiónis índicat.  Quæri étenim potest, cur Petrus, qui piscátor ante conversiónem fuit, post conversiónem ad piscatiónem rédiit : et cum Véritas dicat : Nemo mittens manum suam ad arátrum, et aspíciens retro, aptus est regno Dei : cur repétiit quod derelíquit ?  Sed si virtus discretiónis inspícitur, cítius vidétur : quia nimírum negótium, quod ante conversiónem sine peccáto éxstitit, hoc étiam post conversiónem repétere culpa non fuit.

The Lesson from the Holy Gospel which hath but now been read in your ears, my brethren, knocketh loudly at the door of your hearts with a certain question, the answer whereto calleth for thought.  This same question concerneth Peter, who before his conversion had been a fisherman ; to wit, Wherefore did he, after his conversion, again go a-fishing?  For the Truth hath said : No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.  Wherefore did Peter return to that which he had left?  But if we take thought we can see the answer to this question.  The trade which was harmless before his conversion, did not become harmful because he had been converted.

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

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

R.  Ecce vicit leo de tribu Juda, radix David, aperíre librum, et sólvere septem signácula ejus : * Allelúja, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Dignus est Agnus, qui occísus est, accípere virtútem, et divinitátem, et sapiéntiam, et fortitúdinem, et honórem, et glóriam, et benedictiónem.
R.  Allelúja, allelúja, allelúja.

R.  Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof ; *  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honour and glory and blessing.
R.  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Benedíctio 2: Divínum auxílium máneat semper nobíscum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 2: May help divine be with us all, for ever abiding.
R.  Amen.

Nam piscatórem Petrum, Matthæum vero teloneárium scimus : et post conversiónem suam ad piscatiónem Petrus rédiit, Matthæus vero ad telónei negótium non resédit : quia áliud est victum per piscatiónem quærere, áliud autem telónei lucris pecúnias augére.  Sunt enim pléraque negótia, quæ sine peccátis exhibéri aut vix, aut nullátenus possunt.  Quæ ergo ad peccátum ímplicant, ad hæc necésse est, ut post conversiónem ánimus non recúrrat.

We know that Peter had been a fisherman, and Matthew a publican, and that Peter after his conversion went back to his fishing, but Matthew did not return to the receipt of custom.  It is one thing to seek a livelihood by fishing, and another to amass money by the farming of taxes.  Verily, there are many kinds of business that can hardly, or never, be practiced without committing sin ; and to such kinds of business, he which hath once been converted must not again return.

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

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

R.  Ego sum vitis vera, et vos pálmites : * Qui manet in me, et ego in eo, hic fert fructum multum, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Sicut diléxit me Pater, et ego diléxi vos.
R.  Qui manet in me, et ego in eo, hic fert fructum multum, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Qui manet in me, et ego in eo, hic fert fructum multum, allelúja, allelúja.

R.  I am the true Vine, ye are the branches : * He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.
R.  He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, alleluia, alleluia.

Benedíctio 3: Ad societátem cívium supernórum perdúcat nos Rex Angelórum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 3: May the King of Angels give us fellowship with all the citizens of heaven.
R.  Amen.

Quæri étiam potest, cur discípulis in mari laborántibus, post resurrectiónem suam Dóminus in líttore stetit, qui ante resurrectiónem suam coram discípulis in flúctibus maris ambulávit.  Cujus rei rátio festíne cognóscitur, si ipsa, quæ tunc ínerat, causa pensétur.  Quid enim mare, nisi præsens sæculum signat, quod se cásuum tumúltibus, et undis vitæ corruptíbilis illídit ?  Quid per soliditátem líttoris, nisi illa perpetúitas quiétis ætérnæ figurátur?  Quia ergo discípuli adhuc flúctibus mortális vitæ ínerant, in mari laborábant :  quia autem Redémptor noster jam corruptiónem carnis excésserat, post resurrectiónem suam in líttore stabat.

It may likewise be asked why, when the disciples were toiling in the sea, the Lord, after his resurrection, stood on the shore ; whereas, before his resurrection he had walked on the waves before them all.  A mystical reason will be perceived if we bethink ourselves of the inner nature of the case.  The sea is a figure of this present world, tossed to and fro by changing fortune, and continually ebbing and flowing with the divers tides of life.  The fixedness of the shore is an image of the never-ending rest of the eternal home.  Therefore, the disciples (who were as yet tossed to and fro upon the waves of a dying life), were toiling in the sea, but the Redeemer (who had already laid aside all that in this body is subject to corruption, and had risen again from the dead), stood safely upon the shore.

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

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