Wednesday in the Fourth Week of September

If today be a Feria, the Collect is taken from the preceding Sunday as given in the Ordo.

Matins

De libro Judith

The Lesson is taken from
the Book of Judith

Factum est autem, cum cessásset clamáre ad Dóminum, surréxit de loco in quo jacúerat prostráta ad Dóminum ; vocavítque abram suam, et descéndens in domum suam ábstulit a se cilícium et éxuit se vestiméntis viduitátis suæ et lavit corpus suum et unxit se myro óptimo et discriminávit crinem cápitis sui et impósuit mitram super caput suum et índuit se vestiméntis jucunditátis suæ induítque sandália pédibus suis assumpsítque dextralíola et lília et ináures et ánulos et ómnibus ornaméntis suis ornávit se.  Cui étiam Dóminus cóntulit splendórem.

And it came to pass, after that she had ceased to cry unto the Lord, she rose up from the place where she had cast herself down before the Lord.  And she called her maid, and went down into her house, and pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off the garments of her widowhood, and washed her body, and anointed herself with precious ointment, and parted the hair of her head, and put on a tire upon her head, and put on her the garments of her gladness, and she put sandals upon her feet, and put about her bracelets, and her lilies, and her ear-rings, and her rings, and decked herself bravely with all her ornaments.  And the Lord also made her to seem more comely.

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

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

R.  Confórta me, Rex, Sanctórum principátum tenens : * Et da sermónem rectum et bene sonántem in os meum.
V.  Dómine, Rex univérsæ potestátis, convérte consílium eórum super eos.
R.  Et da sermónem rectum et bene sonántem in os meum.

R.  Strengthen me, O King, who reignest over the holy ones ; * Put thou in my mouth clear and well-sounding words.
V.  O Lord, King of all forces, turn back their device upon themselves.
R.  Put thou in my mouth clear and well-sounding words.

Factum est autem, cum descénderet montem circa ortum diéi, occurrérunt ei exploratóres Assyriórum et tenuérunt eam dicéntes : Unde venis aut quo vadis?  Quæ respóndit : Fília sum Hebræórum ; ídeo ego fugi a fácie eórum, quóniam futúrum agnóvi quod dentur vobis in deprædatiónem, pro eo quod contemnéntes vos noluérunt ultro trádere seípsos, ut invenírent misericórdiam in conspéctu vestro.

And it came to pass, as she went down the mountain, that, about the dawning of the day, the first watch of the Assyrians met her, and took her, and asked her, saying : Whence comest thou? and whither goest thou?  And she answered : I am a daughter of the Hebrews, and have fled from them, because I know that they shall be given you to be consumed, for that they set you at nought, and are no more willing to deliver themselves up, that they may find mercy in your sight.

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.

In Feastdays of Simple rank :

V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Dómine, miserére.

V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Lord, have mercy.

And on such Feastdays of Simple rank, the Third Lesson is read according to the Proper.

Proper Third Lesson

Duxerúntque illam ad tabernáculum Holoférnis annuniántes eam.  Cumque intrásset ante fáciem ejus, statim captus est in suis óculis Holoférnes.  Dixerúntque ad eum satéllites ejus : Quis contémnat pópulum Hebræórum, qui tam decóras mulíeres habent, ut non pro his mérito pugnáre contra eos debeámus?  Videns ítaque Judith Holoférnem sedéntem in conopéo, quod erat ex púrpura et auro et smarágdo et lapídibus pretiósis intéxtum, et, cum in fáciem ejus intendísset, adorávit eum prostérnens se super terram.

And they brought her to the tent of Holofernes, and shewed him of her.  And when Judith was come before him, Holofernes was straightway taken with her eyes.  And his servants said unto him : Who shall despise the Hebrews, that have among them such fair women, that it is enough to fight against them for these alone?  And when Judith saw Holofernes sitting under a canopy woven with purple, and gold, and emerald, and precious stones, she fell down upon her face upon the ground, and did reverence unto 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.  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.

The Office of Matins ends after the Third Respond.  The Te Deum is not said, and Lauds normally follows immediately, beginning with the Opening Versicles.  Otherwise, the Conclusion of Matins is read, according to the Rubrics.

Conclusion of Matins

After the conclusion of the First Nocturn, the Second Nocturn is begun according to the current weekday.

Second Nocturn