Fourth Sunday of August

Semidouble

August 19th or one of the next six days thereafter

1st Vespers

Matins

Vespers on the Eve of the
Fourth Sunday of August

The first part of Vespers is in the Ordinary

All as at Saturday Vespers except for what is proper as below

V.  Vespertína orátio ascéndat ad te, Dómine.
R.  Et descéndat super nos misericórdia tua.

V.  Let our evening prayer come up before thee, O Lord.
R.  And let thy mercy come down upon us.

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Sapiéntia * clámitat in platéis : Si quis díligit sapiéntiam, ad me declínet, et eam invéniet : et, cum invénerit, beátus erit si tenúerit eam.

Ant. on Magnif:  Wisdom * crieth in the streets : If any man love wisdom, let him come unto me, and he shall find her ; and when once he hath found her, blessed shall he be if he hold her.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

SUFFRAGE OF ALL SAINTS if it is said

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Matins

The first part of Matins is in the Ordinary

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn
 

If this Scripture cannot be read on this day, it with the Responds of this day should be transferred to the first ensuing day upon which the Scripture of the Season can be read, the Lessons of which day are then omitted.

First Nocturn

Absolutio: Exáudi, Dómine Jesu Christe, preces servórum tuórum, et miserére nobis : Qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivis et regnas in sæcula sæculórum.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  Graciously hear, O Lord Jesu Christ, the prayers of thy servants, and have mercy upon us.  Who, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, for ever and ever.
R.  Amen.

Benedíctio 1: Benedictióne perpétua benedícat nos Pater ætérnus.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 1:  May the Father Eternal bless us with a never-ending blessing.
R.  Amen.

Incipit liber Ecclesiástici

Here beginneth the Book of Ecclesiasticus

Omnis sapiéntia a Dómino Deo est et cum illo fuit semper et est ante ævum.  Arénam maris et plúviæ guttas et dies sæculi quis dinumerávit?  Altitúdinem cæli et latitúdinem terræ et profúndum abyssi quis diménsus est?  Sapiéntiam Dei præcedéntem ómnia quis investigávit?  Prior ómnium creáta est sapiéntia, et intelléctus prudéntiæ ab ævo.  Fons sapiéntiæ Verbum Dei in excélsis, et ingréssus illíus mandáta ætérna.

All wisdom cometh from the Lord, and is with him for ever.  Who can number the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and the days of eternity? Who can find out the height of heaven, and the breadth of the earth, and the deep, and wisdom?  Wisdom hath been created before all things, and the understanding of prudence from everlasting.  The Word of God Most High is the fountain of wisdom; and her ways are everlasting commandments.

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 princípio Deus ántequam terram fáceret, priúsquam abyssos constitúeret, priúsquam prodúceret fontes aquárum, * Antequam montes collocaréntur, ante omnes colles generávit me Dóminus.
V.  Quando præparábat cælos, áderam, cum eo cuncta compónens.
R.  Antequam montes collocaréntur, ante omnes colles generávit me Dóminus.

R.  The Lord possessed me in the beginning, or ever the earth was, when there were no fountains abounding with water ; * Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.
V.  When he prepared the heavens, I was there, present with him, forming all things.
R.  Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.

Benedíctio 2: Unigénitus Dei Fílius nos benedícere et adjuváre dignétur.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 2: May the Son of God, the sole-begotten, mercifully bless and keep us.
R.  Amen.

Radix sapiéntiæ cui reveláta est? et astútias illíus quis agnóvit?  Disciplína sapiéntiæ cui reveláta est et manifestáta? et multiplicatiónem ingréssus illíus quis intelléxit?  Unus est altíssimus, Creátor omnípotens et Rex potens et metuéndus nimis, sedens super thronum illíus et dóminans, Deus.  Ipse creávit illam in Spíritu Sancto et vidit et dinumerávit et mensus est.  Et effúdit illam super ómnia ópera sua et super omnem carnem secúndum datum suum et præbuit illam diligéntibus se.

To whom hath the root of wisdom been revealed? or who hath known her wise counsels?  Unto whom hath the knowledge of wisdom been made manifest?  and who hath understood her great experience?  There is one wise and greatly to be feared, the Lord sitting upon his throne.  He created her, and saw her, and numbered her, and poured her out upon all his works.  She is with all flesh according to his gift, and he hath given her freely to them that love him.

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

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

R.  Gyrum cæli circuívi sola, et in flúctibus maris ambulávi, in omni gente et in omni pópulo primátum ténui : * Superbórum et sublímium colla própria virtúte calcávi.
V.  Ego in altíssimis hábito, et thronus meus in colúmna nubis.
R.  Superbórum et sublímium colla própria virtúte calcávi.

R.  I alone have compassed the circuit of heaven, and walked in the bottom of the deep, and in every people and nation have I gotten myself a possession ; *  And by mine own power have I trodden under my feet the hearts of both the high and the low.
V.  I dwell in the highest places, and my throne is in a pillar of cloud.
R.  And by mine own power have I trodden under my feet the hearts of both the high and the low.

Benedíctio 3: Spíritus Sancti grátia illúminet sensus et corda nostra.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 3: May the grace of the Holy Spirit all our heart and mind enlighten.
R.  Amen.

Timor Dómini glória et gloriátio et lætítia et coróna exsultatiónis.  Timor Dómini delectábit cor et dabit lætítiam et gáudium et longitúdinem diérum.  Timénti Dóminum bene erit in extrémis et in die defunctiónis suæ benedicétur.  Diléctio Dei honorábilis sapiéntia ; quibus autem apparúerit in visu díligunt eam in visióne et in agnitióne magnálium suórum.  Inítium sapiéntiæ timor Dómini et cum fidélibus in vulva concreátus est.

The fear of the Lord is honour, and glory, and gladness, and a crown of rejoicing.  The fear of the Lord maketh a merry heart, and giveth joy, and gladness, and a long life.  Whoso feareth the Lord, it shall go well with him at the last, and he shall find favour in the day of his death.  To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom : and it was created together with the faithful in the womb.

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

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

R.  Emítte, Dómine, sapiéntiam de sede magnitúdinis tuæ, ut mecum sit et mecum labóret : * Ut sciam quid accéptum sit coram te omni témpore.
V.  Da mihi, Dómine, sédium tuárum assistrícem sapiéntiam.
R.  Ut sciam quid accéptum sit coram te omni témpore.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Ut sciam quid accéptum sit coram te omni témpore.

R.  Send Holy Wisdom out of thy heavens, O Lord, and from the Throne of thy Glory, to be present and labour with me, * That I may ever know what is pleasing unto thee.
V.  Give me, O Lord, Holy Wisdom that sitteth by thy Throne.
R.  That I may ever know what is pleasing unto thee.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  That I may ever know what is pleasing unto thee.

Second Nocturn
 

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.

Sunt nonnúlli qui vitam suam négligunt et, dum transitória áppetunt, dum ætérna vel non intélligunt, vel intellécta contémnunt, nec dolórem séntiunt, nec habére consílium sciunt ; cumque supérna quæ amisérunt, non consíderant, esse se (heu míseri) in bonis felíces putant.  Nequáquam enim ad veritátis lucem, cui cónditi fúerant, mentis óculos érigunt ; nequáquam ad contemplatiónem pátriæ ætérnæ desidérii áciem tendunt ; sed semetípsos in his, ad quæ projécti sunt, deseréntes, vice pátriæ díligunt exsílium quod patiúntur, et in cæcitáte quam tólerant, quasi in claritáte lúminis exsúltant.

Some there are who have no regard to their own true life ; greedy are they of the things which pass away ; but as to the things which are eternal, either they understand them not, or, understanding them, they hold them to be but of little moment ; so that they seem insensate, and never know how to take wise advice ; and, in forgetfulness of the heavenly possessions which they have lost, they deem themselves (alas, poor wretches!) happy in their possession of the things of the world.  They make no endeavour to lift up their eyes to the light of truth for which they were created.  No keen desire ever maketh them to cast a longing look toward their eternal fatherland.  Rather, forsaking the true end for which they were destined, they fall in love with the exile which they are enduring, rather than with their home, and make merry in their blindness which they are suffering, as though it were glorious daylight.

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

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

R.  Da mihi, Dómine, sédium tuárum assistrícem sapiéntiam, et noli me reprobáre a púeris tuis : * Quóniam servus tuus sum ego, et fílius ancíllæ tuæ.
V.  Mitte illam de sede magnitúdinis tuæ, ut mecum sit et mecum labóret.
R.  Quóniam servus tuus sum ego, et fílius ancíllæ tuæ.

R.  Give me, O Lord, Holy Wisdom that sitteth by thy Throne, and reject me not from among thy children : *  For I am thy servant and the son of thine handmaid.
V.  Send Holy Wisdom from the Throne of thy Glory, to be present and labour with me.
R.  For I am thy servant and the son of thine handmaid.

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.

At contra, electórum mentes, dum transitória cuncta nulla esse conspíciunt, ad quæ sint cónditæ exquírunt : cumque eórum satisfactióni nihil extra Deum súfficit, ipsa inquisitiónis exercitatióne fatigáta illórum cogitátio, in Conditóris sui spe et contemplatióne requiéscit, supérnis intérseri cívibus áppetit ; et unusquísque eórum adhuc in mundo córpore pósitus, mente tamen extra mundum surgit : ærúmnam exsílii, quam tólerat, deplórat, et ad sublímem pátriam incessántibus se amóris stímulis éxcitat.  Cum ergo dolens videt, quam sit ætérnum quod pérdidit, ínvenit salúbre consílium, temporále hoc despícere quod percúrrit : et quo magis crescit consílii sciéntia ut peritúra déserat, eo augétur dolor, quod necdum ad mansúra pertíngat.

But, on the other hand, the understandings of the elect, (since they perceive that all things transitory are as nothing,) do go in search after those things for which they were created.  And (since nothing outside God doth fully satisfy them) their hearts, even though wearied by the strain of their search, do find rest in the hope for, and in the contemplation of, their Creator.  So are they fain to have their citizenship in heaven.  And each one of them, although still placed in the world as concerning his body, doth yet in heart and mind thither ascend, and there above doth continually dwell.  All such do bemoan the hardships of the exile which they are enduring, and do rouse themselves by the constant pricking of their love, to look at their fatherland on high.  When therefore such an one seeth that he hath, through sin, lost an eternal inheritance, he grieveth ; and then he seeketh (and so he findeth) this healthy counsel, to wit, to reckon but lightly the transitory things through which he is passing.  And the more he groweth in understanding of the wise course that he hath chosen, (that is, to abandon perishing things,) the more his longing increaseth to attain unto the things which endure.

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

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

R.  Inítium sapiéntiæ timor Dómini : * Intelléctus bonus ómnibus faciéntibus eum : laudátio ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.
V.  Diléctio illíus custódia legum est : quia omnis sapiéntia timor Dómini.
R.  Intelléctus bonus ómnibus faciéntibus eum : laudátio ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.

R.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom : * A good understanding have all they that do thereafter ; the praise of it endureth for ever.
V.  For the fear of the Lord is all wisdom, and love is the keeping of her law.
R.  A good understanding have all they that do thereafter ; the praise of it endureth for ever.

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.

Intuéndum quoque est, quod nullus dolor mentis sit in actióne præcipitatiónis.  Qui enim sine consíliis vivunt, qui seípsos rerum evéntibus præcípites déserunt, nullo ínterim cogitatiónum dolóre fatigántur.  Nam qui solérter in vitæ consílio figit mentem, caute sese in omni actióne circumspiciéndo consíderat ; et ne ex re quæ ágitur, repentínus finis adversúsque surrípiat, hunc prius mólliter pósito pede cogitatiónis palpat : pensat, ne ab his quæ agénda sunt, præpédiat formído ; ne in his quæ differénda sunt, præcipitátio impéllat ; ne prava per concupiscéntiam apérto bello súperent ; ne recta per inánem glóriam insidiándo supplántent.

It is also worthy of notice that they who are given to rash and hasty action are, by the same token, not given to sorrow of heart, but rather are insensate to spiritual things.  For they that live without thought, and leave themselves recklessly to the guidance of events, thereby escape the sorrowful weariness which cometh from the effort of thinking.  He that ordereth his life by prudent consideration is ever looking carefully round about him before the beginning of any new course.  Thus, like a man that, before advancing on an uncertain way, trieth the ground with his foot, so he taketh thought beforehand, lest he come unexpectedly upon some evil thing.  On this wise he is ever on the watch ; lest panic overtake him when he must do something which requíreth coolness ; lest rashness drive him into things which were better put off to another season ; lest concupiscence should overcome him in the warfare against his lusts ; or lest even good things should undo him by an onslaught of vain glory.

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

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

R.  Verbum iníquum et dolósum longe fac a me, Dómine : * Divítias et paupertátem ne déderis mihi, sed tantum víctui meo tríbue necessária.
V.  Duo rogávi te, ne déneges mihi ántequam móriar.
R.  Divítias et paupertátem ne déderis mihi, sed tantum víctui meo tríbue necessária.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Divítias et paupertátem ne déderis mihi, sed tantum víctui meo tríbue necessária.

R.  Remove far from me, O Lord, vanity and lies, * And give me neither poverty nor riches, but feed me only with the necessaries of life.
V.  Two things have I asked of thee, deny me them not before I die.
R.  And give me neither poverty nor riches, but feed me only with the necessaries of life.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And give me neither poverty nor riches, but feed me only with the necessaries of life.