Second Sunday of September

Semidouble

September 5th or one of the next six days thereafter

Vespers on the Eve of the
Second Sunday of September

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:  In ómnibus his * non peccávit Job lábiis suis neque stultum áliquid contra Deum locútus est.

Ant. on Magnif:  In all these things * Job sinned not with his lips, nor charged God with foolishness.

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
 

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.

De libro Job

The Lesson is taken from
the Book of Job

Et respóndens Job ait : Vere scio quod ita sit, et quod non justificétur homo compósitus Deo.  Si volúerit conténdere cum eo, non póterit ei respondére unum pro mille.  Sápiens corde est et fortis róbore.  Quis réstitit ei, et pacem hábuit?  Qui tránstulit montes, et nesciérunt hi quos subvértit in furóre suo.

Then Job answered and said, I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?  If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.  He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?  Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

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 bona suscépimus de manu Dei, mala autem quare non sustineámus? * Dóminus dedit, Dóminus ábstulit ; sicut Dómino plácuit, ita factum est : sit nomen Dómini benedíctum.
V.  Nudus egréssus sum de útero matris meæ et nudus revértar illuc.
R.  Dóminus dedit, Dóminus ábstulit ; sicut Dómino plácuit, ita factum est : sit nomen Dómini benedíctum.

R.  Shall we receive good at the hand of God and not receive evil also? * The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away ; as the Lord hath pleased, so hath it befallen ; blessed be the Name of the Lord.
V.  Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I thither return.
R.  The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away ; as the Lord hath pleased, so hath it befallen ; blessed be the Name of the Lord.

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.

Qui cómmovet terram de loco suo, et colúmnæ ejus concutiúntur ; qui præcipit soli, et non óritur, et stellas claudit quasi sub signáculo ; qui exténdit cælos suos, et gráditur super fluctus maris ; qui facit Arctúrum et Oríona et Hyadas et interióra Austri ; qui facit magna et incomprehensibília et mirabília, quorum non est númerus.

Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.  Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.  Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.  Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.  Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

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

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

R.  Antequam cómedam suspíro, et tamquam inundántes aquæ sic rugítus meus ; quia timor, quem timébam, evénit mihi, et quod verébar áccidit.  Nonne dissimulávi? nonne sílui? nonne quiévi? * Et venit super me indignátio.
V.  Ecce non est auxílium mihi in me, et necessárii quoque mei recessérunt a me.
R.  Et venit super me indignátio.

R.  My sighing cometh unto me before I eat, and my groaning is poured out like the waters : for the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of befalleth me.  Was I not silent?  Held not I my peace?  Was not I at rest? * And trouble came upon me.
V.  Behold, I cannot help myself, and they that were needful unto me have forsaken me.
R.  And trouble came upon me.

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.

Si vénerit ad me, non vidébo eum ; si abíerit, non intélligam ; si repénte intérroget, quis respondébit ei vel quis dícere potest : Cur ita facis?  Deus, cujus iræ nemo resístere potest, et sub quo curvántur qui portant orbem ; quantus ergo sum ego, ut respóndeam ei, et loquar verbis meis cum eo?  Qui, étiam si habúero quíppiam justum, non respondébo, sed meum júdicem deprecábor.  Et, cum invocántem exaudíerit me, non credo quod audíerit vocem meam.  In túrbine enim cónterit me, et multiplicábit vúlnera mea, étiam sine causa.

Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.  Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?  If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.  How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?  Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.  If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.  For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

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

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

R.  Quare detraxístis sermónibus veritátis? ad increpándum verba compónitis et subvértere nitímini amícum vestrum : * Verúmtamen quæ cogitástis, expléte.
V.  Quod justum est, judicáte ; et non inveniétis in lingua mea iniquitátem.
R.  Verúmtamen quæ cogitástis, expléte.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Verúmtamen quæ cogitástis, expléte.

R.  Why do ye argue against the words of truth?  Do ye imagine words to reprove me? and strive to confound one that is your friend? * Nevertheless, finish that ye have in mind.
V.  Judge that which is just, and ye shall find no iniquity in my tongue.
R.  Nevertheless, finish that ye have in mind.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Nevertheless, finish that ye have in mind.

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.

Vero scio quod ita sit, et quod non justificábitur homo compósitus Deo.  Homo quippe Deo non compósitus justítiam pércipit, compósitus amíttit ; quia quisquis se auctóri bonórum cómparat, bono se, quod accéperat, privat.  Qui enim accépta bona sibi árrogat, suis contra Deum donis pugnat.  Unde ergo despéctus erígitur, dignum est ut eréctus inde destruátur.  Sanctus autem vir, quia omne virtútis nostræ méritum esse vítium cónspicit, si ab intérno árbitro distrícte judicétur, recte subjúngit : Si volúerit conténdere cum eo, non póterit respondére ei unum pro mille.

I know that it is so of a truth, and that a man cannot be justified as against God.  When God is put out of consideration, a man may be considered to be just, but considered as against God, his righteousness vanisheth away.  When a man measureth himself by his relation to him, who is the Author of all good, he doth thereby acknowledge that of himself he hath no good in him, but hath received from God whatsoever he hath.  He that glorifieth himself because of good which hath been given him, fighteth against God with God's own gifts.  It is just therefore that the grounds upon which he ought to have been humbled, but upon which he hath puffed himself up, should be used to humble his vainglory.  But an holy man, because he perceiveth that the worth of our own good deeds falleth short, when he considereth his own spiritual man, justly saith : If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

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

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

R.  Indúta est caro mea putrédine, et sórdibus púlveris cutis mea áruit et contrácta est : * Meménto mei, Dómine, quóniam ventus est vita mea.
V.  Dies mei velócius transiérunt quam a texénte tela succíditur, et consúmpti sunt absque ulla spe.
R.  Meménto mei, Dómine, quóniam ventus est vita mea.

R.  My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust ; my skin is dry and drawn together. *  Remember me, O Lord, for my life is but a breath, like the wind.
V.  My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
R.  Remember me, O Lord, for my life is but a breath, like the wind.

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.

In Scriptúra sancta millenárius númerus pro universitáte solet intélligi.  Hinc étenim Psalmista ait : Verbi, quod mandávit in mille generatiónes : cum profécto constet, quod ab ipso mundi exórdio usque ad Redemptiónis advéntum per Evangelístam non ámplius quam septuagínta et septem propágines numeréntur.  Quid ergo in millenário número nisi ad proferéndam novam sóbolem perfécta univérsitas præscítæ generatiónis exprímitur?  Hinc et per Joánnem dícitur : Et regnábunt cum eo mille annis : quia vidélicet regnum sanctæ Ecclésiæ universitátis perfectióne solidátur.

In the Holy Scriptures the numeral a thousand is used to be taken as signifying a generalization.  Thus, the Psalmist saith : The word which he commanded to a thousand generations, whereas it is notorious that the Evangelist doth not reckon more than seventy-and-seven generations between the very beginning of the world and the coming of our Redeemer.  What therefore is to be understood here by a thousand?  The general ripeness of the old generation to bring forth a new offspring.  Hence also it is said by John : And shall reign with him a thousand years―because the reign of the Holy Church will be over all mankind made perfect.

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

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

R.  Páucitas diérum meórum finiétur brevi ; dimítte me, Dómine, ut plangam páululum dolórem meum, * Antequam vadam ad terram tenebrósam et opértam mortis calígine.
V.  Manus tuæ, Dómine, fecérunt me, et plasmavérunt me totum in circúitu ; et sic repénte præcípitas me?
R.  Antequam vadam ad terram tenebrósam et opértam mortis calígine.

R.  My days are few, and in a short while they will be ended ; let me alone, then, O Lord, that I may bewail my sorrow a little, * Before I go to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death.
V.  Thine hands, O Lord, have made me, and fashioned me together round about ; and yet dost thou forthwith destroy me?
R.  Before I go to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death.

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.

Quia vero monas décies multiplicáta in denárium dúcitur, denárius  per semetípsum ductus in centenárium dilatátur, qui rursus per denárium ductus in millenárium ténditur ; cum ab uno incípimus, ut ad millenárium veniámus, quid hoc loco uníus appellatióne, nisi bene vivéndi inítium? quid millenárii númeri amplitúdine, nisi ejúsdem bonæ vitæ perféctio designátur?  Cum Deo autem conténdere, est, non ei tribúere, sed sibi glóriam suæ virtútis arrogáre.  Sed sanctus vir conspíciat, quia et qui summa jam dona percépit, si de accéptis extóllitur, cuncta quæ accéperat, amíttit.

Ten times one is ten, and ten times ten is an hundred, and ten times an hundred is a thousand.  Observing therefore this connection between one and a thousand, what are we to understand by the one?  Is it not the beginning of a good life, even as the thousand representeth perfection?  The contending with God is the non-acknowledgement of that which is owed to him, and the vain-glorying instead in our own strength.  But an holy man should see, that even if one had received the gifts of perfection, and were to make them the grounds of self-glorifying, such an one would thereby lose all that he had received.

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

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

R.  Non abscóndas me, Dómine, a fácie tua : manum tuam longe fac a me, * Et formído tua non me térreat.
V.  Córripe me, Dómine, in misericórdia, non in furóre tuo, ne forte ad níhilum rédigas me.
R.  Et formído tua non me térreat.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et formído tua non me térreat.

R.  Hide not thy face from me, O Lord, withdraw not thine hand far from me ; * Let not thy dread make me afraid.
V.  O Lord, correct me, but with mercy, not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
R.  Let not thy dread make me afraid.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Let not thy dread make me afraid.