First Sunday of October

Semidouble

September 28th or one of the next six days thereafter

Vespers on the Eve of the
First Sunday of October

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:  Adapériat Dóminus * cor vestrum in lege sua et in præcéptis suis et fáciat pacem Dóminus Deus noster.

Ant. on Magnif:  The Lord open your hearts * in his law and commandments, and may the Lord our God send peace.

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

The Winter Invitatory, Adoremus Dominum, and the Winter Hymn, Primo die, are read as noted in the Psalter.  These are said henceforth on Sundays until the V Sunday of November inclusive.

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn

If the following 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 primus Machabæórum

Here beginneth the Former Book of Maccabees

Et factum est, postquam percússit Alexánder Philíppi Mácedo, qui primus regnávit in Græcia, egréssus de terra Cethim, Daríum regem Persárum et Medórum, constítuit prælia multa et obtínuit ómnium munitiónes et interfécit reges terræ et pertránsiit usque ad fines terræ et accépit spólia multitúdinis Géntium, et síluit terra in conspéctu ejus.  Et congregávit virtútem et exércitum fortem nimis, et exaltátum est et elevátum cor ejus, et obtínuit regiónes Géntium et tyránnos, et facti sunt illi in tribútum.  Et post hæc décidit in lectum et cognóvit quia morerétur et vocávit púeros suos nóbiles, qui secum erant nutríti a juventúte, et divísit illis regnum suum, cum adhuc víveret.

And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettiim, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece, and made many wars, and won many strong holds, and slew the kings of the earth, and went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch that the earth was quiet before him; whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted up.  And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and nations, and kings, who became tributaries unto him.  And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die.  Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, and had been brought up with him from his youth, and parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.

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

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

R.  Adapériat Dóminus cor vestrum in lege sua et in præcéptis suis et fáciat pacem in diébus vestris : * Concédat vobis salútem, et rédimat vos a malis.
V.  Exáudiat Dóminus oratiónes vestras et reconciliétur vobis nec vos déserat in témpore malo.
R.  Concédat vobis salútem, et rédimat vos a malis.

R.  The Lord open your hearts in his law and commandments, and send you peace in your days : * May he grant you salvation and redeem you out of all evil.
V.  The Lord hear your prayers, and be at one with you, and never forsake you in the time of trouble.
R.  May he grant you salvation and redeem you out of all evil.

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.

Et regnávit Alexánder annis duódecim et mórtuus est.  Et obtinuérunt púeri ejus regnum, unusquísque in loco suo, et imposuérunt omnes sibi diadémata post mortem ejus, et fílii eórum post eos annis multis.  Et multiplicáta sunt mala in terra.  Et éxiit ex eis radix peccátrix, Antíochus illústris, fílius Antíochi regis qui fúerat Romæ obses, et regnávit in anno centésimo trigésimo séptimo regni Græcórum.

So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died.  And his servants bare rule every one in his place.  And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth.  And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

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

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

R.  Exáudiat Dóminus oratiónes vestras, et reconciliétur vobis nec vos déserat in témpore malo * Dóminus, Deus noster.
V.  Det vobis cor ómnibus, ut colátis eum et faciátis ejus voluntátem.
R.  Dóminus, Deus noster.

R.  The Lord hear your prayers, and be at one with you, and never forsake you in the time of trouble, * Even he, the Lord our God.
V.  Give you all an heart to serve him, and to do his will.
R.  Even he, the Lord our God.

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.

In diébus illis exiérunt ex Israël fílii iníqui et suasérunt multis dicéntes : Eámus et disponámus testaméntum cum Géntibus, quæ circa nos sunt, quia, ex quo recéssimus ab eis, invenérunt nos multa mala.  Et bonus visus est sermo in óculis eórum.  Et destinavérunt áliqui de pópulo et abiérunt ad regem, et dedit illis potestátem ut fácerent justítiam Géntium ; et ædificavérunt gymnásium in Jerosólymis secúndum leges natiónum et fecérunt sibi præpútia et recessérunt a testaménto sancto et juncti sunt natiónibus et venúmdati sunt ut fácerent malum.

In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow.  So this device pleased them well.  Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen: whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen: and made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief.

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

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

R.  Congregáti sunt inimíci nostri, et gloriántur in virtúte sua : cóntere fortitúdinem illórum, Dómine, et dispérge illos : * Ut cognóscant quia non est álius qui pugnet pro nobis, nisi tu, Deus noster.
V.  Dispérge illos in virtúte tua, et déstrue eos, protéctor noster, Dómine.
R.  Ut cognóscant quia non est álius qui pugnet pro nobis, nisi tu, Deus noster.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Ut cognóscant quia non est álius qui pugnet pro nobis, nisi tu, Deus noster.

R.  Our enemies are gathered together, and make their boast of their own strength : O Lord, break their power and scatter them ; * That they may know that there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.
V.  Scatter them in thy strength, and destroy them, O Lord our defence.
R.  That they may know that there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  That they may know that there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.

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.

Fortásse áliquos béllica defíxos glória tenet, ut putent solam esse præliárem fortitúdinem ; et ídeo me ad ista deflexísse, quia illa nostris déforet.  Quam fortis Jesus Nave, ut uno prælio quinque reges captos stérneret cum pópulis suis!  Deínde cum advérsum Gabaonítas urgéret prælium, et vererétur ne nox impedíret victóriam, magnitúdine mentis et fídei clamávit : Stet sol, et stetit, donec victória consummarétur.  Gédeon in trecéntis viris de ingénti pópulo et acérbo hoste revéxit triúmphum.  Jónathas adoléscens virtútem magnam fecit in prælio.

There may perchance be some who are so blinded by the glory of war as to think there is no valour except in war ; and that the reason why I have taken up other subjects is that among us there is no warlike valour whereof to speak.  But consider the valour of Joshua the son of Nun, when in one battle he laid low five nations, and took prisoners their kings.  Then, when he was fighting against the Gibeonites, and feared lest the closing in of night should cut short his victory, he cried aloud in the greatness of his courage, and of his faith : Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou Moon in the valley of Ajalon!  And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies.  How valiant also was Gideon who, with three hundred men, won the victory over a vast people, and a savage enemy!  How valiant was Jonathan who as a youth proved himself mighty in battle!

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

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

R.  Impetum inimicórum ne timuéritis : mémores estóte quómodo salvi facti sunt patres nostri : * Et nunc clamémus in cælum et miserébitur nostri Deus noster.
V.  Mementóte mirabílium ejus, quæ fecit Pharaóni et exercítui ejus in Mari Rubro.
R.  Et nunc clamémus in cælum et miserébitur nostri Deus noster.

R.  Be ye not afraid of the assault of the enemy ; but rather remember how our fathers were given deliverance : *  Now therefore let us cry unto heaven, if peradventure the Lord will have mercy upon us.
V.  Remember the marvellous works that he hath done to Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea.
R.  Now therefore let us cry unto heaven, if peradventure the Lord will have mercy upon us.

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.

Quid de Machabæis loquar?  Sed prius de pópulo dicam patrum ; qui cum essent paráti ad repugnándum pro templo Dei et pro legítimis suis, dolo hóstium die lacessíti sábbati, maluérunt vulnéribus offérre nuda córpora, quam repugnáre, ne violárent sábbatum.  Itaque omnes læti se obtulérunt morti.  Sed Machabæi considerántes quod hoc exémplo gens omnis posset períre, sábbato étiam, cum ipsi in bellum provocaréntur, ulti sunt innocéntium necem fratrum suórum.  Unde póstea stimulátus rex Antíochus, cum bellum accénderet per duces suos Lysiam, Nicánorem, Górgiam, ita cum Orientálibus suis et Assyriis attrítus est cópiis, ut quadragínta et octo míllia in médio campi a tribus míllibus prosterneréntur.

And what shall I say of the Maccabees?  But before I speak of them, I will speak of their fathers, even of them who, when they were ready to fight for the Temple of God and for their own rights, were assailed by a trick of their enemies upon the Sabbath Day, and were willing rather to offer their bodies naked to the sword than to fight back, lest they violate the Sabbath ; and so they gave themselves up gladly to death.  But the Maccabees, considering that on this wise the whole nation might perish, avenged the innocent blood of their brethren even upon the Sabbath Day, when they were provoked to battle ; and afterward, when King Antiochus had been stirred up to make war on them by his generals, Lysias and Nicanor and Gorgias, he and his Eastern and Assyrian forces were so crushed that forty and eight thousand were laid low on the field by three 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.  Congregátæ sunt Gentes in multitúdine, ut dímicent contra nos, et ignorámus quid ágere debeámus : * Dómine Deus, ad te sunt óculi nostri, ne pereámus.
V.  Tu scis quæ cógitant in nos : quómodo potérimus subsístere ante fáciem illórum, nisi tu ádjuves nos?
R.  Dómine Deus, ad te sunt óculi nostri, ne pereámus.

R.  Lo, the heathen are assembled together against us to destroy us, and we know not what to do! * O Lord God, our eyes are upon thee that we perish not.
V.  What things they imagine against us, thou knowest!  How shall we be able to stand against them, except thou, O God, be our help?
R.  O Lord God, our eyes are upon thee that we perish not.

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.

Virtútem ducis Judæ Machabæi de uno ejus mílite consideráte.  Namque Eleázarus, cum supereminéntem céteris elephántem loríca vestítum régia advérteret, arbitrátus quod in eo esset rex, cursu cóncito in médium legiónis se prorúpit : et, abjécto clypeo, utráque manu interficiébat, donec perveníret ad béstiam, atque intrávit sub eam, et subjécto gládio interémit eam.  Itaque cadens béstia oppréssit Eleázarum, atque ita mórtuus est.  Quanta ígitur virtus ánimi! primo, ut mortem non timéret ; deínde, ut circumfúsus legiónibus inimicórum, in confértos raperétur hostes, médium penetráret agmen, et contémpta morte ferócior, abjécto clypeo, utráque manu vulnerátæ molem béstiæ subíret ac sustinéret : post infra ipsam succéderet, quo plenióri feríret ictu ; cujus ruína inclúsus magis quam oppréssus, suo est sepúltus triúmpho.

Of the valour of Judas the Maccabean leader we may judge by the type of his men.  When Eleazar saw an elephant bigger than the rest, adorned with the King's harness, he thought that the King was riding thereon ; and therefore he rushed forward, and dashed into the midst of the legion ; and having cast away the encumbrance of his shield, he fought with his sword ; and so the beast fell upon Eleazar and crushed him, and he died.  What was the valour of his soul!  To begin with, he feared not to die ; and when the enemy surrounded him he cast himself into the midst of their ranks, and penetrated their line ; and becoming all the fiercer from his contempt of death, he threw away his shield, and fought with both hands that he might come unto the huge bulk of the monster ; beneath which he crawled that he might there strike a more effective blow.  And so, when he died thereunder, he might well have been said not so much to have been crushed, as to have been swallowed up in 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.  Tua est poténtia, tuum regnum, Dómine : tu es super omnes gentes : * Da pacem, Dómine, in diébus nostris.
V.  Creátor ómnium, Deus, terríbilis et fortis, justus et miséricors.
R.  Da pacem, Dómine, in diébus nostris.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Da pacem, Dómine, in diébus nostris.

R.  Thine, O Lord, is the power, thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted above all the heathen : * Give peace in our time, O Lord.
V.  O Lord God, Creator of all things, who art fearful and strong, righteous and merciful.
R.  Give peace in our time, O Lord.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Give peace in our time, O Lord.