Fourth Sunday of September

Semidouble

September 19th or one of the next six days thereafter

Vespers on the Eve of the
Fourth 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:  Adonái, Dómine, * Deus magne et mirábilis, qui dedísti salútem in manu féminæ, exáudi preces servórum tuórum.

Ant. on Magnif:  O Adonai, O Lord God, * thou art great and glorious, who hast given salvation into the hand of a woman ; graciously hear the prayers of thy servants.

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 Judith

Here beginneth the Book of Judith

Arpháxad ítaque rex Medórum subjugáverat multas gentes império suo, et ipse ædificávit civitátem potentíssimam, quam appellávit Ecbátanis, ex lapídibus quadrátis et sectis.  Fecit muros ejus in altitúdinem cubitórum septuagínta et in latitúdinem cubitórum trigínta ; turres vero ejus pósuit in altitúdinem cubitórum centum.  Per quadrum vero eárum latus utrúmque vicenórum pedum spátio tendebátur ; posuítque portas ejus in altitúdinem túrrium ; et gloriabátur quasi potens in poténtia exércitus sui et in glória quadrigárum suárum.

Now Arphaxad, King of the Medes, had brought down many nations under his dóminion, and he built a strong city, and called it Ecbatané, of stones squared and hewn.  He made the height of the wall thereof seventy cubits, and the breadth thirty cubits, and set up the towers thereof an hundred cubits high.  And the towers were twenty feet every way, four square ; and he made the gates thereof as high as the tower ; and he made his boast, like a mighty man, in the strength of his army and in the fame of his chariots.

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

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

R.  Adonái, Dómine, Deus magne et mirábilis, qui dedísti salútem in manu féminæ, * Exáudi preces servórum tuórum.
V.  Benedíctus es, Dómine, qui non derelínquis præsuméntes de te, et de sua virtúte gloriántes humílias.
R.  Exáudi preces servórum tuórum.

R.  O Adonai, O Lord God, thou art great and glorious, who hast given salvation into the hand of a woman ; * Graciously hear the prayers of thy servants.
V.  Blessed art thou, O Lord, who failest none that put their trust in thee, and humblest such as boast themselves in their own strength.
R.  Graciously hear the prayers of thy servants.

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.

Anno ígitur duodécimo regni sui Nabuchodónosor rex Assyriórum, qui regnábat in Nínive civitáte magna, pugnávit contra Arpháxad et obtínuit eum in campo magno qui appellátur Rágau, circa Euphráten et Tigrin et Jádason, in campo Erioch regis Elicórum.  Tunc exaltátum est regnum Nabuchodónosor, et cor ejus elevátum est ; et misit ad omnes, qui habitábant in Cilícia et Damásco et Líbano, et ad gentes quæ sunt in Carmélo et Cedar et inhabitántes Galilæam in campo magno Esdrelon, et ad omnes qui erant in Samaría et trans flumen Jordánem usque ad Jerúsalem, et omnem terram Jesse, quoúsque perveniátur ad términos Æthiópiæ.

Therefore in the twelfth year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar King of the Assyrians, which reigned in the great city Nineveh, fought against Arphaxad and took him in the great plain which is called Ragan, which bordereth upon Euphrates, and Tigris, and Jadason, in the field of Erioch, King of the Elicians.  Then was the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar exalted, and his heart was lifted up ; and he sent messengers unto all the dwellers in Cilicia, and in Damascus, and in Lebanon, and unto the tribes that are in Carmel and Cedar, and unto them that dwelt in Galilee and the great plains of Esdraelon, and unto all that were in Samaria, and beyond Jordan even unto Jerusalem, and all the land of Jesse, until thou comest unto the borders of Ethiopia.

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

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

R.  Tribulatiónes civitátum audívimus, quas passæ sunt, et defécimus : timor et hebetúdo mentis cécidit super nos et super líberos nostros : ipsi montes nolunt recípere fugam nostram : * Dómine, miserére.
V.  Peccávimus cum pátribus nostris, injúste égimus, iniquitátem fécimus.
R.  Dómine, miserére.

R.  We have heard of the tribulation of those cities, which they have suffered, and we have fainted.  Fear and confusion of mind are fallen upon us.  Even the mountains will not give us a refuge. * Lord, have mercy.
V.  We have sinned like our forefathers, we have done unjustly, and wrought iniquity.
R.  Lord, have mercy.

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.

Ad hos omnes misit núntios Nabuchodónosor rex Assyriórum ; qui omnes uno ánimo contradixérunt et remisérunt eos vácuos et sine honóre abjecérunt.  Tunc indignátus Nabuchodónosor rex advérsus omnem terram illam, jurávit per thronum et regnum suum, quod defénderet se de ómnibus regiónibus his.  Anno tertiodécimo Nabuchodónosor regis, vigésima et secúnda die mensis primi factum est verbum in domo Nabuchodónosor regis Assyriórum, ut defénderet se.  Vocavítque omnes majóres natu, omnésque duces et bellatóres suos, et hábuit cum eis mystérium consílii sui dixítque cogitatiónem suam in eo esse, ut omnem terram suo subjugáret império.

Unto all these did Nebuchadnezzar King of the Assyrians send messengers, but they all with one consent gainsaid his messengers, and sent them away empty, and cast them out without honour.  Then was the wrath of King Nebuchadnezzar kindled against all that land, and he swore by his throne and by his kingdom that he would avenge himself on all those countries.  In the thirteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, on the two-and-twentieth day of the first month, there was talk in the house of Nebuchadnezzar King of the Assyrians, that he should avenge himself.  So he called unto him all his elders, and his captains, and his fighting men, and made known unto them his secret counsel, and declared his thought to bring  the whole earth into subjection unto his kingdom.

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

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

R.  Benedícat te Dóminus in virtúte sua, qui per te ad níhilum redégit inimícos nostros : * Ut non defíciat laus tua de ore hóminum.
V.  Benedíctus Dóminus qui creávit cælum et terram ; quia hódie nomen tuum ita magnificávit.
R.  Ut non defíciat laus tua de ore hóminum.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Ut non defíciat laus tua de ore hóminum.

R.  The Lord bless thee by his power, who hath brought our enemies to nought through thee : * And may the praise of thee never fail from the mouth of men.
V.  Blessed be the Lord, who hath created the heaven and the earth, because that he hath so glorified thy name this day.
R.  And may the praise of thee never fail from the mouth of men.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And may the praise of thee never fail from the mouth of men.

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.

Poténtes vinum prohibéntur bíbere, ne, cum bíberint, obliviscántur sapiéntiam.  Dénique bibébant vinum in ebrietáte poténtes, qui Holoférni príncipi milítiæ regis Assyriórum se trádere gestiébant ; sed non bibébant fémina Judith, jejúnans ómnibus diébus viduitátis suæ, præter festórum diérum solemnitátes.  His armis muníta procéssit et omnem Assyriórum circumvénit exércitum.  Sóbrii vigóre consílii ábstulit Holoférnis caput, servávit pudicítiam, victóriam reportávit.

It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes strong drink, lest they drink and forget the law.  The rulers drank wine even unto drunkenness, who planned to deliver themselves into the hands of Holofernes, captain of the host of the King of the Assyrians ; but the woman Judith drank not, who fasted all the days of her widowhood, saving the solemn Feastdays.  She went forth in the harness of this abstinence, and over-reached the whole army of the Assyrians.  By the clear thought of her soberness she took away the head of Holofernes, kept her chastity, and carried off the victory.

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

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

R.  Nos álium Deum nescímus præter Dóminum, in quo sperámus : * Qui non déspicit nos, nec ámovet salútem suam a génere nostro.
V.  Indulgéntiam ipsíus fusis lácrimis postulémus, et humiliémus illi ánimas nostras.
R.  Qui non déspicit nos, nec ámovet salútem suam a génere nostro.

R.  We know no strange God before the Lord ; in him we trust. *  He despiseth us not, neither putteth he away his salvation from our nation.
V.  His mercy let us seek with tears, and humble our souls before him.
R.  He despiseth us not, neither putteth he away his salvation from our nation.

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.

Hæc enim succíncta jejúnio in castris prætendébat aliénis ; ille vino sepúltus jacébat, ut ictum vúlneris sentíre non posset.  Itaque uníus mulíeris jejúnium innúmeros stravit exércitus Assyriórum.  Esther quoque púlchrior facta est jejúnio ; dóminus enim grátiam sóbriæ mentis augébat.  Omne genus suum, id est, totum pópulum Judæórum a persecutiónis acerbitáte liberávit, ita ut regem sibi fáceret esse subjéctum.

Girded with fasting, she entered the camp of the strangers ; he lay soaked in wine, so that he could not feel the blow that slew him.  And thus the fast of one woman overthrew the countless armies of the Assyrians.  Esther also became fairer by fasting ; for the Lord gave favour unto her for her soberness.  She delivered all her nation, that is, the whole people of the Jews, from the fierceness of persecution, so that she brought down the King himself under her will.

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

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

R.  Dominátor, Dómine, cælórum et terræ, Creátor aquárum, Rex univérsæ creatúræ : * Exáudi oratiónem servórum tuórum.
V.  Tu, Dómine, cui humílium semper et mansuetórum plácuit deprecátio.
R.  Exáudi oratiónem servórum tuórum.

R.  O Lord, Ruler of the heavens and of the earth, Maker of the waters, King of every creature, * Graciously hear the prayer of thy servants.
V.  Thou, O Lord, unto whom the supplications of the humble and meek are alway well-pleasing.
R.  Graciously hear the prayer of thy servants.

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.

Itaque illa, quæ tríduo jejunávit contínuo, et corpus suum aqua lavit, plus plácuit, et vindíctam rétulit.  Aman autem, dum se regáli jactat convívio, inter ipsa vina pœnam suæ ebrietátis exsólvit.  Est ergo jejúnium reconciliatiónis sacrifícium, virtútis increméntum, quod fecit étiam féminas fortióres augménto grátiæ.  Jejúnium nescit fæneratórem, non sortem fænoris novit : non rédolet usúras mensa jejunántium.  Etiam ipsis jejúnium convíviis dat grátiam : dulcióres post famem épulæ fiunt, quæ assiduitáte fastídio sunt, et diutúrna continuatióne viléscunt.  Condiméntum cibi jejúnium est : quanto avídior appeténtia, tanto esca jucúndior.

Thus also Esther who fasted three days, and washed her body with water, found greater favour, and obtained vengeance, whereas Haman, who boasted himself at the King's table, paid the penalty of his drunkenness, even while yet he was in his cups.  Fasting, therefore, is a sacrifice of reconciliation, a means of strength, whereby in the might of grace, women wax manful.  Fasting knoweth not usury, nor the gain of the usurer ; the faster's table smelleth not of usury, but the fast itself giveth favour to them that sit at meat.  A banquet is all the pleasanter after hunger, whereas by constant use it becometh unattractive, and when it is long carried on cometh to be lightly esteemed.  Fasting is a good sauce for meat.  The keener the appetite, the more toothsome the food.

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

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

R.  Dómine Deus, qui cónteris bella ab inítio, éleva bráchium tuum super Gentes, quæ cógitant servis tuis mala : * Et déxtera tua glorificétur in nobis.
V.  Allíde virtútem eórum in virtúte tua ; cadat robur eórum in iracúndia tua.
R.  Et déxtera tua glorificétur in nobis.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et déxtera tua glorificétur in nobis.

R.  O Lord God, that breakest the battles from of old, lift up thine arm against the Gentiles, that devise evil against thy servants. * And let thy right hand be glorified in us.
V.  Throw down their strength in thy power, and bring down their force in thy wrath.
R.  And let thy right hand be glorified in us.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And let thy right hand be glorified in us.