Posted on 01/18/2009 7:55:14 PM PST by Salvation
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Monday of the Second Week
in Ordinary Time
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Reading 1
Heb 5:1-10
Brothers and sisters:
Every high priest is taken from among men
and made their representative before God,
to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,
for he himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself
as well as for the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself
but only when called by God,
just as Aaron was.
In the same way,
it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him:
You are my Son:
this day I have begotten you;
just as he says in another place,
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.
In the days when he was in the Flesh,
he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears
to the one who was able to save him from death,
and he was heard because of his reverence.
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered;
and when he was made perfect,
he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4
R. (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:
“Rule in the midst of your enemies.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
“You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
Gospel
Mk 2:18-22
The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast.
People came to Jesus and objected,
“Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them,
“Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast on that day.
No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak.
If he does, its fullness pulls away,
the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins,
and both the wine and the skins are ruined.
Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”
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1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
3. The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)
5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.
End with the Hail Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Final step -- The Sign of the Cross
The Mysteries of the Rosary
By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.
St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits
who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
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The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast is also celebrated on January 3. Here is an explanation of the devotion.
Since the 16th century Catholic piety has associated entire months to special devotions. The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus has been traditionally associated with the month of January, due to its celebration on January 3. The name Jesus was given to the Holy Child at God's command (Luke 1:31). The Holy Name is all-powerful because of the Person who bears it; we honor it because of the command of Christ, that we should pray in His Name and because it reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. Hence St. Paul was able to write to the Philippians: ". . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10). By means of this devotion we also make amends for improper use of the Holy Name.
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
Prayer/Hymn in Honor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus - Iesu, Dulcis Memoria
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' name,
The Savior of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart!
0 joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.
Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity. Amen.
---Roman Breviary
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
O Divine Jesus, Thou hast promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in Thy name shall be granted.
O Eternal Father. In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfillment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, Thy Divine Son. Amen.
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
St. Bernard on the Most Holy Name of Jesus [Ecumenical]
Holy Name of Jesus [San Bernadino of Siena] Ecumenical
Devotion to the Holy Name [of Jesus]
The Name of Jesus: Its Power in Our Lives
From: Hebrews 5:1-10
Christ Has Been Made High Priest by God the Father
[5] So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appoin-
ted by him who said to him, “Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee”; [6]
as he says also in another place, “Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Mel-
chizedek.”
[7] In the days of the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplica-
tions, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and
he was heard for his godly fear. [8] Although he was a Son, he learned obedience
through what he suffered; [9] and being made perfect he became the source of
eternal salvation to all who obey him, [10] being designated by God a high priest
after the order of Melchizedek.
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Commentary:
1-10. The central theme of the epistle, broached in 2:17 and taken up again in 4:
14-15, is discussed from here up to the start of chapter 10 — the theme of Christ
as high priest, the high priest who really can free us from all sin. In fact, Christ
is the only perfect Priest: other priests—in both natural religions and the Jewish
religion—are only prefigurements of Christ. The first thing to be emphasized, be-
cause the writer is addressing people of Jewish background, is that Christ’s
priesthood is on a higher plane than that of the priests of the Old Law. However,
the argument applies not only to the priesthood of Aaron, to whose family all
Israelite priests belonged, but also, indirectly, to all forms of priesthood before
Christ. But there is a basic difference, in that whereas other priests were chosen
by men, Aaron was chosen by God. Sacred Scripture introduces him as Moses’
brother (cf. Ex 6:20), acting as his interpreter to Pharaoh (because Moses was
“slow of speech”: Ex 4: 10; cf. 7:1-2) and joining him to lead the people out of
Egypt (cf. Ex 4:27-30). After the Israelites left Egypt, God himself instituted the
priesthood of Aaron to minister and carry out divine worship at the tabernacle
and later at the temple in Jerusalem (cf. Ex 28:1-5).
Divine intervention, therefore, brought to a close the period when sacrifice was of-
fered by the head of the family or the chief of the tribe and when no specific cal-
ling or external ordination rite was connected with priesthood. Thus, for example,
in the Book of Genesis we read that Cain, and Abel, themselves offered sacrifices
(cf. Gen 4:35), as did Noah after coming safely through the flood (cf. Gen 8:20);
and the patriarchs often offered sacrifices to God in adoration or thanksgiving or
to renew their Covenant—for example, Abraham (cf. Gen 12:8; 15:8-17; 22:1-13)
and Jacob (cf. Gen 26:25; 33:20), etc.
Although for a considerable time after the institution of the Aaron priesthood,
sacrifices continued to be offered also by private individuals - for example, in
the period of the Judges, the sacrifice of Gideon (Judg 6:18,25-26) or that of
Samson’s parents (Judg 13:15-20)— gradually the convictions grew that to be a
priest a person had to have a specific vocation, one which was not given to any-
one outside males of the line of Aaron (cf. Judg 17:7-13), whom God had chosen
from outof all the people of Israel, identifying him by the sign of his rod sprouting
buds (Num 17:16-24). God himself meted out severe punishment to Korah and
his sons when they tried to set themselves up as rivals of Aaron: they were de-
voured by fire from heaven (cf. Num 16); and it was specified in Mosaic legisla-
tion time and time again that only the sons of Aaron could act as priests (cf.
Num 3:10; 17:5; 18:7). This priesthood offered the sacrifices of Mosaic worship—
the burnt offerings, cereal offerings, sin offerings and peace offerings (cf. Lev 6).
To the descendants of Aaron, assisted by the Levites, was entrusted also the
care of the tabernacle and the protection of the ark of the Cove- nant. They re-
ceived their ministry and had it confirmed by the offering of sacrifice and by
anointing of the man’s head and hands with oil (Ex 29; Lev 8-9; Num 3:3). For
all these reasons Hebrew priests were honored and revered by the people and
regarded (not without reason, because God had ordained them) as on a much
higher plane than other priests particularly those of the peoples of Canaan, the
priests of Baal, for example. In Christ’s time the high priest was the highest re-
ligious authority in Israel; his words were regarded as oracular statements, and
his decisions could have important political repercussions.
However, Christ came with the very purpose of taking this ancient institution and
transforming it into a new, eternal priesthood. Every Christian priest is, as it were,
Christ’s instrument or an extension of his sacred humanity. Christian priests do
not act in their own name, nor are they mere representatives of the people: they
act in the name of God. “Here we have the priest’s identity: he is direct and dai-
ly instrument of the saving grace which Christ has won for us” (St. J. Escriva,
“In Love with the Church”, 39). It is really Christ who is acting through them by
means of their words, gestures etc. All of this means that Christian priesthood
cannot be separated from the eternal priesthood of Christ. This extension of
God’s providence (in the form of the Old Testament priesthood and the priest-
hood instituted by Christ in the New Testament and the mission entrusted to
New Testament priests) should lead us to love and honor the priesthood irres-
pective of the human defects and shortcomings of these ministers of God: “To
love God and not venerate his Priests...is not possible” (St. J. Escriva, “The
Way”, 74).
1a. These words provide a very good short definition of what every priest is.
“The office proper to a priest”, St Thomas Aquinas points out, “is to be a media-
tor between God and the people, inasmuch as he bestows divine things on the
people (he is called “sacerdos” (priest), which means ‘a giver of sacred things’,
“sacra dans” [...]), and again inasmuch as he offers the people’s prayer to God
and in some way makes satisfaction to God for their sins” (”Summa Theologiae”,
III, q.22, a.1).
In this passage of the letter we can detect an echo of the description of Aaron in
the Book of Sirach: “He chose him out of all the living to offer sacrifice to the Lord,
incense and a pleasing odor as a memorial portion, to make atonement for the
people” (Sir 45:16). Four elements characterize the office of the high priest (the
text speaks of the “high” priest in the strict sense, but it is applicable to all
priests — 1) his special dignity, because although he is a man he has been spe-
cially chosen by God; 2) the purpose of his mission, which is the good of man-
kind (”to act on behalf of men”); 3) the “material” side of his office, that is, public
divine worship; 4) the specific acts he must perform, the offering of sacrifice at
appropriate times.
In the specific case of priesthood instituted by God—such as that of Aaron or the
new priesthood instituted by Christ—the calling (”taken” or “chosen” from among
men) is not simply an influence the person feels interiorly, or a desire to be a
priest: its divine origin is confirmed by nomination by the proper authority, and by
official consecration.
1b. A priest is “chosen from among men”, that is, he should possess a human
nature. This is a further sign of God’s mercy: to bring about our salvation he uses
someone accessible to us, one who shares our human condition, “so that man
might have someone like himself to have recourse to” (St Thomas, “Commentary
on Heb, ad loc.”). These words also indicate the extent of God’s kindness be-
cause they remind us that the divine Redeemer not only offered himself and
made satisfaction for the sins of all, but desired that “the priestly life which the
divine Redeemer had begun in his mortal body by his prayers and sacrifice
(should not cease). He willed it to continue unceasingly through the ages in his
mystical body, which is the Church; and therefore he instituted a visible priest-
hood to offer everywhere a clean oblation (Mal 1:11), so that all men all over the
world, being diverted from sin, might serve God conscientiously, and of their own
free will” (Pius XII, “Mediator Dei”, 1).
He is “chosen from among men” also in the sense that he is given special con-
secration which is some way marks him off from the rest of the people of God.
St John Chrysostom comments, recalling Jesus triple question to Peter after the
Resurrection (cf. Jn 21:15-17): “When he asked Peter if he loved him, he did not
do so because he needed to know whether his disciple loved him, but because
he wanted to show how great his own love was; thus, when he says, ‘Who then
is the faithful and prudent servant’, he does not say this because he does not
know the answer, but in order to show us how unique and wonderful an honor it
is, as can be deduced from the rewards: ‘he will place him over all his goods.’
And he concludes that the priest ought to be outstanding in holiness (”De Sa-
cerdotio”, II, 1-2).
“The priests of the New Testament”, Vatican II reminds us, “are, by their voca-
tion to ordination, set apart in some way in the midst of the people of God, but
this is not in order that they should be separated from that people or from anyone,
but that they should be completely consecrated to the task for which God chose
them” (”Presbyterorum Ordinis”, 3). This calling, then, constitutes a distinction
but not a separation because it is indissolubly linked to a specific mission: a
priest is “chosen from among men” but for the purpose of acting “on behalf of
men in relation to God”. In this delicate balance between divine call and spiritual
mission to men lies the essence of priesthood. Christians, therefore, should
never view a priest as “just another person”. “They want to find in the priest the
virtues appropriate to any Christian and even any upright man—understanding,
justice, commitment to work (priestly work, in this case), charity, good manners,
social refinement. But the faithful also want to be able to recognize clearly the
priestly character: they expect the priest to pray, not to refuse to administer the
sacraments; they expect him to be open to everyone and not set himself up to
take charge of people or become an aggressive leader of human factions, of
whatever shade (cf. “Presbyterorum Ordinis”, 6). They expect him to bring love
and devotion to the celebration of Mass, to sit in the confessional, to console the
sick and the troubled; to teach sound doctrine to children and adults, to preach
the Word of God and no mere human science which—no matter how well he may
know it—is not the knowledge that saves and brings eternal life; they expect him
to give counsel and be charitable to those in need” (St. J. Escriva, “In Love with
the Church”, 42).
Priests “could not be the servants of Christ unless they were witnesses and
dispensers of a life other than that of this earth. On the other hand, they would be
powerless to serve men if they remained aloof from their life and circumstances”
(”Presbyterorum Ordinis”, 3). In this connection, Pope John Paul II has made the
following appeal: “Yes, you are chosen from among men, given to Christ by the
Father, to be in the world, “in the heart of society”. You are appointed to act on
behalf of men (Heb 5:1). The priesthood is the sacrament whereby the Church
is to be seen as the society of the people of God; it is the ‘social’ sacrament.
Priests should ‘convoke’ each of the communities of the people of God, around
them but not for themselves—for Chrit.!” (”Homily at an Ordination of Priests”,
15 June 1980).
The specific function of the priest has, then, been clearly identified: he is con-
cerned about his brethren but he is not here to solve temporal problems; his role
is only “in relation to God”. “Christian ministerial priesthood is different from any
other priesthood in that it is not an office to which someone is appointed by
others to intercede with God on their behalf; it is a mission to which a man is
called by God (Heb 5: 1-10; 7:24; 9: 11-28) to be towards others a living sign of
the presence of Christ, the only Mediator (1 Tim 2:5), Head and Shepherd of his
people [...]. In other words, Christian priesthood is essentially (this ist he only
possible way it can be understood) an eminently sacred mission, both in its
origin (Christ) and in its content (the divine mystery) and by the very manner in
which it is conferred (a sacrament)” (A. del Portillo, “On Priesthood”, pp. 59f).
2-3. From the moral qualities a priest needs, these verses single out mercy and
compassion, which lead him, on the one hand, to be gentle to sinners and, at the
same time, to desire to make personal reparation for their sins. The Latin transla-
tion of v. 2a puts the emphasis on the fact that the priest shares in suffering for
sin: he can “suffer along with” (”aeque condolere”) but in just measure on see-
ing those who go astray, and, imitating Christ, he can himself perform some of
the penance those sinners should be doing. The original word translated here as
“deal gently” recalls the profound, but serene, sorrow which Abraham felt when
Sarah died (cf. Gen 23:2) and at the same time it alludes to the need for forbea-
rance, generosity and understanding: a priest must be a person who, while rejec-
ting sin, is understanding to the sinner and conscious that it may take him time
to mend his ways. He is also inclined to put the sinner’s intentions in the best
light (cf. Gal 6:1): people do not always sin deliberately; they can sin out of ig-
norance (that is, not realizing the gravity of their actions) and, more often than
not, out of weakness.
The Old Testament makes a clear distinction between sin committed unwittingly
(cf. Lev 4:2-27; Num 14:24, 27-29) and sins of rebelliousness (cf. Num 15:22-31;
Deut 17:12). Further on (cf. Heb 6:4-6; 10:26-27; 12:17), the letter will again refer
to the gravity of sins committed out of malice. Here, however, it is referring to sin,
whether grave or not, committed out of weakness. “Ignorant” and “wayward” are
almost synonymous, for a person who sins out of ignorance is described in He-
brews by a word which means “he who goes astray, he who does not know the
way”. The basic reason why a priest should be understanding and compassio-
nate is his awareness of his own weakness. Thus, the Church puts these words
on his lips in Eucharistic Prayer I: “’nobis quoque peccatoribus’—for ourselves,
too, sinners” (cf. Wis 9:5-6). A priest is compassionate and understanding be-
cause “he himself is beset with weakness”. The word translated as “beset” con-
tains the idea of surrounded or covered by or wrapped as if in a cloak. Pope Pius
XI wrote: “When we see a man exercising this faculty (of forgiving sins), we can-
not but repeat (not out of pharisaical scandal, but with reverent amazement)
those words, ‘Who is this, who even forgives sins?’ (Lk 7:49). It is the Man-God,
who had and has ‘authority on earth to forgive sins’ (Lk 5:24), and has chosen to
communicate it to his Priests, and thereby with the generosity of divine mercy to
meet the human conscience’s need of purification. Hence the great consolation
the guilty man receives who experiences remorse and contritely hears the priest
tell him in God’s name, ‘I absolve you from your sins.’ The fact that he hears this
said by someone who himself will need to ask another priest to speak the same
words to him, does not debase God’s merciful gift: it enhances it, for the hand of
God who works this wonder is seen (as operating) by means of a frail creature”
(Pius XII, “Ad Catholici Sacerdotii”).
3. Everyone, including the priest, is a sinner. In the Old Testament rites for the
Day of Atonement (”Yom Kippur”), the high priest, before entering the Holy of
Holies, offered a sin-offering for his own sins (cf. Lev 16:3, 6, 11; Heb 9:6-14); so
too the Priests of the New Testament have a duty to be holy, to reject sin, to
ask for forgiveness of their own sins, and to intercede for sinners.
The model the priest should always have before him is Jesus Christ, the eternal
high priest. “The main motive force actuating a priest should be the determination
to attain the closest union with the divine Redeemer [...]. He should continually
keep Christ before his eyes. Christ’s commands, actions and example he should
follow most assiduously, in the conviction that it is not enough for him to submit
to the duties by which the faithful are bound, but that he must at a daily increa-
sing pace pursue the perfection of life which the high dignity of a priest de-
mands” (Pius XII, “Menti Nostrae”, 7). But, one might object, Christ never had
any defect, never sinned, because his human nature was perfect and totally holy:
is he not therefore too perfect a model for men who when it comes down to it are
sinners? The answer is, No, not at all, for he himself said, “I have given you an
example, that you also should do as I have done to you” (Jn 13:15). Besides,
when the text (v. 2) refers to “weakness” this may refer to two things the weak-
ness of human nature (of man as creature), and the imperfection resulting from
his faults and his passions. The former kind of defect is one Christ shares with
us; the second is one he does not. For this very reason, in the case of the priest,
consciousness of his sins, plus his conviction that he has been called by Christ,
moves him to be very committed to his apostolic ministry of reconciliation and
penance; and in the first instance Priests perform this ministry for one another.
“Priests, who are consecrated by the anointing of the Holy Spirit and sent by
Christ, mortify the works of the flesh in themselves and dedicate themselves
completely to the service of people” (Vatican II, “Presbyterorum Ordinis”, 12).
As Pope John Paul II has stressed, “the priest’s celebration of the Eucharist
and administration of the other sacraments, his pastoral zeal, his relationship
with the faithful, his communion with this brother Priests, his collaboration with
his bishop, his life of prayer—in a word, the whole of his priestly existence—suf-
fers an inexorable decline if by negligence or for some other reason he fails to
receive the sacrament of Penance at regular intervals and in a spirit of genuine
faith and devotion. If a priest were no longer to go to confession or properly con-
fess his sins, his priestly being and his priestly action would feel the effect of
this very soon, and it would also be noticed by the community of which he was
the pastor.
“But I also add that even in order to be a good and effective minister of Penance
the priest needs to have recourse to the source of grace and holiness present in
this sacrament. We Priests, on the basis of our personal experience, can cer-
tainly say that, the more careful we are to receive the sacrament of Penance and
to approach it frequently and with good dispositions, the better we fulfill our own
ministry as confessors and ensure that our penitents benefit from it. And on the
other hand this ministry would lose much of its effectiveness if in some way we
were to stop being good penitents. Such is the internal logic of this great sacra-
ment. It invites all of us Priests of Christ to pay renewed attention to our personal
confession” (”Reconciliatio Et Paenitentia”, 31).
What the Pope says here ultimately stems from the fact that “ as ministers of the
sacred mysteries, especially in the sacrifice of the Mass, Priests act in a special
way in the person of Christ who gave himself as a victim to sanctify men” (”Pres-
byterorum Ordinis”, 13).
In this way, “Christ the shepherd is present in the priest so as continually to ac-
tualize the universal call to conversion and repentance which prepares for the
coming of the Kingdom of heaven (cf. Mt 4:17). He is present in order to make
men understand that forgiveness of sins, the reconciliation of the soul and God,
cannot be the outcome of a monologue, no matter how keen a person’s capacity
for reflection and self-criticism. He reminds us that no one, alone, can calm his
own conscience; that the contrite heart must submit its sins to the Church-
institution, to the man-priest, who in the sacrament of Penance is a permanent
objective witness to the radical need which fallen humanity has of the man-God,
the only Just One, the only Justifier” (A. del Portillo, “On Priesthood”, p. 62).
10. As the epistle repeatedly teaches, Christ is a high priest “after the order of
Melchizedek”. Two essential characteristics come together here: he is the eter-
nal Son of God, as announced in the messianic Psalm 2:7: “You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”; and he is at the same time high priest not according
to the order which God instituted with Aaron but according to the order of Melchi-
zedek, also established by God. Further on the letter explains in what sense this
“order of Melchizedek” is superior to that of Levi and Aaron. What it stresses at
this point is the connection between Christ’s priesthood and his divine sonship.
Christ, the Son of God, was sent by the Father as Redeemer and mediator, and
the mediation of Christ, who is God and true man, is exercised by way of priest-
hood. So, in the last analysis Christ is Priest both by virtue of being the Son of
God and by virtue of his Incarnation as man. “The abyss of malice which sin
opens up has been bridged by his infinite charity. God did not abandon men.
His plans foresaw that the sacrifices of the Old Law would be insufficient to re-
pair our faults and re-establish the unity which had been lost. A man who was
God would have to offer himself up. To help us grasp in some measure this un-
fathomable mystery, we might imagine the Blessed Trinity taking counsel toge-
ther in their uninterrupted intimate relationship of intimate love. As a result of
their eternal decision, the only-begotten Son of God the Father takes on our hu-
man condition and bears the burden of our wretchedness and sorrow, to end up
sewn with nails to a piece of wood” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 95).
It was appropriate that the divine person who became incarnate should be the
Son or Word, for “the Word has a kind of essential kinship not only with rational
nature but also universally with the whole of creation, since the Word contains
the essences of all things created by God, just as man the artist in the concep-
tion of his intellect comprehends the essences of all the products of art [...].
Wherefore all things are said to be made by the Word. Therefore, it was appro-
priate for Word to be joined to creature, that is, to human nature” (St. Thomas,
“Summa Contra Gentiles”, IV, 42). Finally, it was fitting that Redemption from sin
should be brought about by way of a sacrifice offered by the same divine person.
So it is that Christ, the only-begotten Son, to whom God said, “You are my son,
today I have begotten you”, is also the priest to whom God swears, “Thou art a
priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek”.
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
From: Mark 2:18-22
A Discussion on Fasting
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
18-22. Using a particular case, Christ’s reply tells about the connection between
the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament the Bridegroom has not yet
arrived; in the New Testament He is present, in the person of Christ. With Him
began the Messianic Times, a new era distinct from the previous one. The Jewish
fasts, therefore, together with their system of religious observances, must be seen
as a way of preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah. Christ shows the
difference between the spirit He has brought and that of the Judaism of His time.
This new spirit will not be something extra, added on to the old; it will bring to life
the perennial teachings contained in the older Revelation. The newness of the
Gospel—just like new wine—cannot fit within the molds of the Old Law.
But this passage says more: to receive Christ’s new teaching people must inward-
ly renew themselves and throw off the straight-jacket of old routines.
19-20. Jesus describes Himself as the Bridegroom (cf. also Luke 12:35; Matthew
25:1-13; John 3:29), thereby fulfilling what the Prophets had said about the relation-
ship between God and His people (cf. Hosea 2:18-22; Isaiah 54:5ff). The Apostles
are the guests at the wedding, invited to share in the wedding feast with the Bride-
groom, in the joy of the Kingdom of Heaven (cf. Matthew 22:1-14).
In verse 20 Jesus announces that the Bridegroom will be taken away from them:
this is the first reference He makes to His passion and death (cf. Mark 8:31; John
2:19; 3:14). The vision of joy and sorrow we see here epitomizes our human
condition during our sojourn on earth.
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Looking forward to the next two weeks as my home team the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare to play in the Super Bowl.
| First reading | Hebrews 5:1-10 © |
|---|---|
| Every high priest has been taken out of mankind and is appointed to act for men in their relations with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins; and so he can sympathise with those who are ignorant or uncertain because he too lives in the limitations of weakness. That is why he has to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honour on himself, but each one is called by God, as Aaron was. Nor did Christ give himself the glory of becoming high priest, but he had it from the one who said to him: You are my son, today I have become your father, and in another text: You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever. During his life on earth, he offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation and was acclaimed by God with the title of high priest of the order of Melchizedek. | |
| Psalm or canticle: Psalm 109:1-4 |
| Gospel | Mark 2:18-22 © |
|---|---|
| One day when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and said to him, ‘Why is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of fasting while the bridegroom is still with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they could not think of fasting. But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then, on that day, they will fast. No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak; if he does, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. And nobody puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins too. No! New wine, fresh skins!’ | |
| Monday, January 19, 2009 (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity) Weekday |
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The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Amen. |
Novena request start Jan.11
If you are apposed to abortion then there is bad news on the horizon.
For those of you who do not know, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is set to be signed if congress passes it on January 21-22 of 2009. The FOCA is the next sick chapter in the book of abortion. If made a law then all present limitations on abortion will be lifted which will result in the following:
1) All hospitals, including Catholic hospitals, will be required
to perform abortions upon request. If this happens, Bishops vow to close down all Catholic hospitals, which amounts to more then 30% of all hospitals in the United States.
2) Partial birth abortions would be legal and have no
limitations.
3) All U.S. tax payers would be funding abortions.
4) Parental notification will no longer be required.
5) The number of abortions will increase by a minimum of 100,000 annually.
Perhaps most importantly the government will now have control in the issue of abortion. This could result in a future amendment which may force women by law to have abortions in certain situations (rape, down syndrome babies, etc) and could even regulate how many children women are allowed to have.
Needless to say this information is disturbing, but sadly true.
As Catholics, as Christians, as anyone who is against the needless killing of innocent children, we must stand as one. We must stop this horrific act before it becomes a law.
The Plan :
Say a novena ( 9 days of prayer ) along with fasting starting
on January 11th. For Catholics, the prayer of choice will be the rosary with intentions to stop the FOCA. For non Catholics I encourage you to pray your strongest prayers with the same intentions, also for nine consecutive days.
The hope is that this will branch and blossom as to become a global effort with maximum impact. We have very little time so we all must act quickly. Just do three things:
1) Pass this letter to 5 or more people
2) Do it in three days or less
3) Start the novena on January 11th and pray for nine consecutive days.
(please also fast for at least two days during the novena)
Remember that with God all things are possible and the power of prayer is undeniable. If you are against the senseless killing of defenseless children then the time is now to do something about it!
May God bless you all!!
URGENT: Novena request for the defeat of FOCA to start Jan.11
Blessings to all reading this thread.
If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 30 (31) |
|---|
| Trustful prayer in time of adversity |
| In you, Lord, I put my trust: may I never be put to shame. In your justice, set me free, Turn your ear to me, make haste to rescue me. Be my rampart, my fortification; keep me safe. For you are my strength and my refuge: you will lead me out to the pastures, for your own name’s sake. You will lead me out of the trap that they laid for me – for you are my strength. Into your hands I commend my spirit: you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth. You hate those who run after vain nothings; but I put my trust in the Lord. I will rejoice and be glad in your kindness, for you have looked on me, lowly as I am. You saw when my soul was in need: you did not leave me locked in the grip of the enemy, but set my feet on free and open ground. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 30 (31) |
|---|
| Take pity on me, Lord, for I am troubled: my eyes grow weak with sorrow, the very centre of my being is disturbed. For my life is worn out with distress, my years with groaning; my strength becomes weakness, my bones melt away. I am a scandal and a disgrace, so many are my enemies; to my friends and neighbours, I am a thing to fear. When they see me in the street, they run from me. I have vanished from their minds as though I were dead, or like a pot that is broken. I know this – for I have heard the scolding of the crowd. There is terror all around, for when they come together against me it is my life they are resolved to take. But I put my trust in you, Lord; I say: “You are my God, my fate is in your hands.” Tear me from the grip of my enemies, from those who hound me; let your face shine upon your servant, in your kindness, save me. Let me not be put to shame, for I have called on you; let the wicked be shamed instead, let them go down into the underworld and silence. Let their lying mouths be dumb, that now speak against the righteous, in their pride and arrogance and contempt. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 30 (31) |
|---|
| How very many are the pleasures, Lord, that you have stored up for those who fear you. You have made these things ready for those who trust in you, to give them in the sight of all men. Far away from the plottings of men you hide them in your secret place. You keep them safe in your dwelling-place far from lying tongues. Blessed be the Lord, for he has shown me his wonderful kindness within the fortified city. In my terror, I said “I am cut off from your sight”; but you heard the voice of my prayer when I called to you. Love the Lord, all his chosen ones. The Lord keeps his faithful ones safe, heaps rich revenge on the arrogant. Be brave, let your hearts be strong, all who trust in the Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Reading | Deuteronomy 4:1-8,32-40 © |
|---|---|
| Moses speaks to the people | |
| These are the words that Moses spoke beyond Jordan to the whole of Israel: ‘Now, Israel, take notice of the laws and customs that I teach you today, and observe them, that you may have life and may enter and take possession of the land that the Lord the God of your fathers is giving you. You must add nothing to what I command you, and take nothing from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God just as I lay them down for you. You can see with your own eyes what the Lord has done at Baal-peor; all the followers of the Baal of Peor have been wiped out from among you by the Lord your God; but all of you who stayed faithful to the Lord your God are still alive today. See, as the Lord my God has commanded me, I teach you the laws and customs that you are to observe in the land you are to enter and make your own. Keep them, observe them, and they will demonstrate to the peoples your wisdom and understanding. When they come to know of all these laws they will exclaim, “No other people is as wise and prudent as this great nation.” And indeed, what great nation is there that has its gods so near as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to him? And what great nation is there that has laws and customs to match this whole Law that I put before you today? ‘Put this question, then, to the ages that are past, that went before you, from the time God created man on earth: Was there ever a word so majestic, from one end of heaven to the other? Was anything ever heard? Did ever a people hear the voice of the living God speaking from the heart of the fire, as you heard it, and remain alive? Has any god ventured to take to himself one nation from the midst of another by ordeals, signs, wonders, war with mighty hand and outstretched arm, by fearsome terrors – all this that the Lord your God did for you before your eyes in Egypt? ‘This he showed you so that you might know that the Lord is God indeed and that there is no other. He let you hear his voice out of heaven for your instruction; on earth he let you see his great fire, and from the heart of the fire you heard his word. Because he loved your fathers and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out from Egypt, openly showing his presence and his great power, driving out in front of you nations greater and more powerful than yourself, and brought you into their land to give it you for your heritage, as it is still today. ‘Understand this today, therefore, and take it to heart: the Lord is God indeed, in heaven above as on earth beneath, he and no other. Keep his laws and commandments as I give them to you today, so that you and your children may prosper and live long in the land that the Lord your God gives you for ever.’ |
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| Reading | From a letter to the Ephesians by Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr |
|---|---|
| Have faith in Christ, and love | |
| Try to gather together more frequently to give thanks to God and to praise him. For when you come together frequently, Satan’s powers are undermined, and the destruction he threatens is done away with in the unanimity of your faith. Nothing is better than peace, in which all warfare between heaven and earth is brought to an end. None of this will escape you if you have perfect faith and love toward Jesus Christ. These are the beginning and the end of life: faith the beginning, love the end. When these two are found together, there is God, and everything else concerning right living follows from them. No one professing faith sins; no one possessing love hates. “A tree is known by its fruit.” So those who profess to belong to Christ will be known by what they do. For the work we are about is not a matter of words here and now, but depends on the power of faith and on being found faithful to the end. It is better to remain silent and to be than to talk and not be. Teaching is good if the teacher also acts. Now there was one teacher who “spoke, and it was made,” and even what he did in silence is worthy of the Father. He who has the word of Jesus can truly listen also to his silence, in order to be perfect, that he may act through his speech and be known by his silence. Nothing is hidden from the Lord, but even our secrets are close to him. Let us then do everything in the knowledge that he is dwelling within us so that we may be his temples and he may be God within us. He is, and will reveal himself, in our sight, according to the love we bear him in holiness. “Make no mistake,” my brothers: those who corrupt families “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” If those who do these things in accordance with the flesh have died, how much worse will it be if one corrupts through evil doctrine the faith of God for which Jesus was crucified. Such a person, because he is defiled, will depart into the unquenchable fire, as will any one who listens to him. For the Lord received anointing on his head in order that he might breathe incorruptibility on the Church. Do not be anointed with the evil odour of the teachings of the prince of this world, do not let him lead you captive away from the life that is set before you. But why is it that we are not all wise when we have received the knowledge of God, which is Jesus Christ? Why do we perish in our stupidity, not knowing the gift the Lord has truly sent us? My spirit is given over to the humble service of the cross which is a stumbling block to unbelievers but to us salvation and eternal life. |
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| Concluding Prayer |
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| Almighty and ever-living God, you rule both heaven and earth. In your kindness listen to the prayers of our people and grant us your peace in our day. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
Collect: All-powerful and ever-living God, direct your love that is within us, that our efforts in the name of your Son may bring mankind to unity and peace. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Monday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time
Old Calendar: Saints Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum, martyrs; St. Canute, martyr
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According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of Sts. Marius, Martha, Audivax and Abachum, a group of Roman martyrs of the third century. St. Canute was king of Denmark; he was put to death out of hatred of his faith and his zeal in working for its extension in his kingdom. He was killed in St. Alban's Church in Odense.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Their feast does not appear in the Roman calendar until the twelfth century. The Acts of these martyrs are wholly legendary. They give the following details. Marius was a Persian of noble extraction. With his wife, who was also noble-born, and his two sons, Audifax and Abachus, he came to Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II (268-270) to venerate the graves of the martyrs. They visited the Christians in prison, encouraged them by word and deed, and shared with them their goods. And like Tobias of old, they buried the bodies of the saints. It was not long before they themselves were arrested; and when neither threats nor allurements could make them offer sacrifice to the idols, they were savagely flogged. Martha was the first to die, but not before she had fervently exhorted her husband and sons to endure steadfastly whatever tortures might be inflicted for the faith. All were beheaded in the same place and their bodies thrown into the fire. Felicitas, a saintly Roman woman, succeeded in recovering the half-burnt bodies and buried them on her estate.
St. Canute, king of Denmark, was murdered in St. Alban's Church, Odense, July 10, 1086. The Martyrology confuses him with his nephew, St. Canute the Duke, who died on January 7, 1131, and was canonized November 8, 1169, by Pope Alexander III. St. Canute is also called Canute the holy, or Danish Knut, or Knud, Den Hellige, or Sankt Knut, or Knud. The son of King Sweyn II Estrithson of Denmark, Canute succeeded his brother Harold Hen as king of Denmark. Canute opposed the aristocracy and kept a close association with the church in an attempt to create a powerful and centralized monarchy.
In ecclesiastical matters, Canute generously patronized several churches, including the Cathedral of Lund, Denmark's archbishopric; established a Benedictine abbey at Odense; and supported apostolic preaching throughout Denmark. In temporal matters, he attempted an administrative reform, particularly an enforced levying of tithes that incurred the wrath of the rural aristocracy. In 1085 he reasserted the Danish claims to England and, with the count of Flanders and King Olaf III of Norway, prepared a massive invasion fleet that alarmed the Norman-English king William I the Conqueror.
Canute's plan, however, had to be abandoned suddenly, for those aristocrats who opposed his tax policy revolted as he was preparing to embark for England. He fled from the rebels, led by his brother Prince Olaf, to St. Alban's Church, Odense, which he had founded, and was assassinated there with the entire royal party.
Canute was buried in St. Alban's, renamed c. 1300 St. Canute's Cathedral. Miracles were recorded at his tomb, and, at the request (1099) of King Erik III Evergood of Denmark, he was canonized (1101) by Pope Paschal II.
Patron: Zeeland, Denmark.
Symbols: Knight with a wreath, lance, and ciborium.
The Week of Prayer for Christian UnityToday's theme is Christians face to face with war and violence “that they may become one in your hand”.
War and violence are still major obstacles to that unity willed by God for humanity. In the last analysis, war and violence are the result of unhealed division which exists inside ourselves, and of the human arrogance which prevents us from recovering the real foundation of our existence.
Prayer
Lord, who gave yourself on the cross for the unity of all humankind, we offer up to you our human nature marred by egoism, arrogance, vanity and anger. Lord, do not abandon the oppressed who suffer from all sorts of violence, anger and hatred, victims of erroneous beliefs and conflicting ideologies. Lord, reach out to us with compassion and take care of your people, so that we may enjoy the peace and joy integral to the order of your creation. Lord, may all Christians work together to bring about your justice, rather than ours. Give us the courage to help others to bear their cross, rather than putting our own on their shoulders. Lord, teach us the wisdom to treat our enemies with love instead of hatred. Amen.
If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 41 (42) |
|---|
| Longing for the Lord and his temple |
| Like a deer that longs for springs of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God: when shall I come and stand before the face of God? My tears are my food, by day and by night, and everyone asks, “where is your God?.” I remember how I went up to your glorious dwelling-place and into the house of God: the memory melts my soul. The sound of joy and thanksgiving, the crowds at the festival. Why are you so sad, my soul, and anxious within me? Put your hope in the Lord, I will praise him still, my saviour and my God. My soul is sad within me, and so I will remember you in the lands of Jordan and Hermon, on the mountain of Mizar. Deep calls to deep in your rushing waters: and all your torrents, all your waves have flowed over me. By day the Lord sends his kindness upon me; by night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God: “You are my support, why have you forgotten me? Why must I go in mourning, while the enemy persecutes me?.” As my bones break, my persecutors deride me, all the time saying “where is your God?.” Why are you so sad, my soul, and anxious within me? Put your hope in the Lord, I will praise him still, my saviour and my God. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Canticle | Ecclesiasticus 36 |
|---|---|
| A prayer for Jerusalem, the holy city | |
| God of all, have mercy on us, take notice of us, and show us the light of your mercies. Make the nations fear you, who have not sought you out, make them know that there is no God except you, let them tell of your wonders. Lift up your hand over foreign nations, that they may see your power – for just as in their sight you have been sanctified in us, so in our sight you will be magnified in them. Lift up your hand so that they may know, as we know, that there is no God but you, Lord. Bring forth new signs and repeat your wonders; glorify your hand, show the strength of your arm. Gather together all the tribes of Jacob, give them back the inheritance they had from the beginning. Take pity on your people, over whom we invoke your name, and on Israel, whom you have made equal to your firstborn. Take pity on the city you have sanctified, Jerusalem, the place of your rest. Fill Sion with your majesty; fill your temple with your glory. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Psalm 18 (19) |
|---|
| Praise of God the creator |
| The skies tell the story of the glory of God, the firmament proclaims the work of his hands; day pours out the news to day, night passes to night the knowledge. Not a speech, not a word, not a voice goes unheard. Their sound is spread throughout the earth, their message to all the corners of the world. At the ends of the earth he has set up a dwelling place for the sun. Like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, it rejoices like an athlete at the race to be run. It appears at the edge of the sky, runs its course to the sky’s furthest edge. Nothing can hide from its heat. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Short reading | Jeremiah 15:16 © |
|---|---|
| When your words came, I devoured them: your word was my delight and the joy of my heart; for I was called by your name, Lord, God of hosts. | |
| Canticle | Benedictus |
|---|---|
| The Messiah and his forerunner | |
| Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| Almighty Lord and God, you have brought us to the start of this day. By your power keep us safe so that today, at least, we may not sin, directing our thoughts, words and actions rightly according to your law. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
Douay Rheims Version
MATINS: First Nocturn
Psalm 13
Dixit Insipiens
The general corruption of men, before our redemption by Christ. 1 Unto the end, a psalm for David. THE fool hath said in his heart: There is no God. They are corrupt, and are become abominable in their ways: there is none that doth good, no not one. 2 The Lord hath looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there be any that understand and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are become unprofitable together: there is none that doth good, no not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre: with their tongues they acted deceitfully; the poison of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and unhappiness in their ways: and the way of peace they have not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes. 4 Shall not all they know that work iniquity, who devour my people as they eat bread? 5 They have not called upon the Lord: there have they trembled for fear, where there was no fear. 6 For the Lord is in the just generation: you have confounded the counsel of the poor man, but the Lord is his hope. 7 Who shall give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? when the Lord shall have turned away the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall be glad.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 14
Domine Quis HabitabitWhat kind of men shall dwell in the heavenly Sion. 1 A psalm of David. LORD, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? or who shall rest in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh without blemish, and worketh justice: 3 He that speaketh truth in his heart, who hath not used deceit in his tongue: Nor hath done evil to his neighbour: nor taken up a reproach against his neighbours. 4 In his sight the malignant is brought to nothing: but he glorifieth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his neighbour, and deceiveth not; 5 he that hath not put out his money to usury, nor taken bribes against the innocent: He that doth these things shall not be moved for ever.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 16
Exaudi Dominum JustitiumA just man's prayer in tribulation, against the malice of his enemies. 1 The prayer of David. HEAR, O Lord, my justice: attend to my supplication. Give ear unto my prayer, which proceedeth not from deceitful lips. 2 Let my judgment come forth from thy countenance: let thy eyes behold the things that are equitable. 3 Thou hast proved my heart, and visited it by night, thou hast tried me by fire: and iniquity hath not been found in me. 4 That my mouth may not speak the works of men: for the sake of the words of thy lips, I have kept hard ways. 5 Perfect thou my goings in thy paths: that my footsteps be not moved. 6 I have cried to thee, for thou, O God, hast heard me: O incline thy ear unto me, and hear my words. 7 Shew forth thy wonderful mercies; thou who savest them that trust in thee. 8 From them that resist thy right hand keep me, as the apple of thy eye. Protect me under the shadow of thy wings. 9 From the face of the wicked who have afflicted me. My enemies have surrounded my soul: 10 they have shut up their fat: their mouth hath spoken proudly. 11 They have cast me forth and now they have surrounded me: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth. 12 They have taken me, as a lion prepared for the prey; and as a young lion dwelling in secret places. 13 Arise, O Lord, disappoint him and supplant him; deliver my soul from the wicked one: thy sword 14 from the enemies of thy hand. O Lord, divide them from the few of the earth in their life: their belly is filled from thy hidden stores. They are full of children: and they have left to their little ones the rest of their substance. 15 But as for me, I will appear before thy sight in justice: I shall be satisfied when thy glory shall appear.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
SECOND NOCTURN:
Psalm 17: 1-16
Diligam Te DomineDavid's thanks to God for his delivery from all his enemies. 1 Unto the end, for David the servant of the Lord, who spoke to the Lord the words of this canticle, in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hands of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 I WILL love thee, O Lord, my strength: 3 The Lord is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer. My God is my helper, and in him will I put my trust. My protector and the horn of my salvation, and my support. 4 Praising I will call upon the Lord: and I shall be saved from my enemies. 5 The sorrows of death surrounded me: and the torrents of iniquity troubled me. 6 The sorrows of hell encompassed me: and the snares of death prevented me. 7 In my affliction I called upon the Lord, and I cried to my God: And he heard my voice from his holy temple: and my cry before him came into his ears. 8 The earth shook and trembled: the foundations of the mountains were troubled and were moved, because he was angry with them. 9 There went up a smoke in his wrath: and a fire flamed from his face: coals were kindled by it. 10 He bowed the heavens, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. 11 And he ascended upon the cherubim, and he flew; he flew upon the wings of the winds. 12 And he made darkness his covert, his pavilion round about him: dark waters in the clouds of the air. 13 At the brightness that was before him the clouds passed, hail and coals of fire. 14 And the Lord thundered from heaven, and the highest gave his voice: hail and coals of fire. 15 And he sent forth his arrows, and he scattered them: he multiplied lightnings, and troubled them. 16 Then the fountains of waters appeared, and the foundations of the world were discovered: At thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the spirit of thy wrath.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 17: 17-31
Diligam Te DomineDavid's thanks to God for his delivery from all his enemies. 17 He sent from on high, and took me: and received me out of many waters. 18 He delivered me from my strongest enemies, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. 19 They prevented me in the day of my affliction: and the Lord became my protector. 20 And he brought me forth into a large place: he saved me, because he was well pleased with me. 21 And the Lord will reward me according to my justice; and will repay me according to the cleanness of my hands: 22 Because I have kept the ways of the Lord; and have not done wickedly against my God. 23 For all his judgments are in my sight: and his justices I have not put away from me. 24 And I shall be spotless with him: and shall keep myself from my iniquity. 25 And the Lord will reward me according to my justice; and according to the cleanness of my hands before his eyes. 26 With the holy, thou wilt be holy; and with the innocent man thou wilt be innocent. 27 And with the elect thou wilt be elect: and with the perverse thou wilt be perverted. 28 For thou wilt save the humble people; but wilt bring down the eyes of the proud. 29 For thou lightest my lamp, O Lord: O my God enlighten my darkness. 30 For by thee I shall be delivered from temptation; and through my God I shall go over a wall. 31 As for my God, his way is undefiled: the words of the Lord are fire tried: he is the protector of all that trust in him.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 17: 32-51
Diligam Te DomineDavid's thanks to God for his delivery from all his enemies. 32 For who is God but the Lord? or who is God but our God? 33 God who hath girt me with strength; and made my way blameless. 34 Who hath made my feet like the feet of harts: and who setteth me upon high places. 35 Who teacheth my hands to war: and thou hast made my arms like a brazen bow. 36 And thou hast given me the protection of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath held me up: And thy discipline hath corrected me unto the end: and thy discipline, the same shall teach me. 37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; and my feet are not weakened. 38 I will pursue after my enemies, and overtake them: and I will not turn again till they are consumed. 39 I will break them, and they shall not be able to stand: they shall fall under my feet. 40 And thou hast girded me with strength unto battle; and hast subdued under me them that rose up against me. 41 And thou hast made my enemies turn their back upon me, and hast destroyed them that hated me. 42 They cried, but there was none to save them, to the Lord: but he heard them not. 43 And I shall beat them as small as the dust before the wind; I shall bring them to nought, like the dirt in the streets. 44 Thou wilt deliver me from the contradictions of the people: thou wilt make me head of the Gentiles. 45 A people, which I knew not, hath served me: at the hearing of the ear they have obeyed me. 46 The children that are strangers have lied to me, strange children have faded away, and have halted from their paths. 47 The Lord liveth, and blessed be my God, and let the God of my salvation be exalted: 48 O God, who avengest me, and subduest the people under me, my deliverer from my enemies. 49 And thou wilt lift me up above them that rise up against me: from the unjust man thou wilt deliver me. 50 Therefore will I give glory to thee, O Lord, among the nations, and I will sing a psalm to thy name. 51 Giving great deliverance to his king, and shewing mercy to David his anointed: and to his seed for ever.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
THIRD NOCTURN
Psalm 19
Exaudiat Te DominusA prayer for the king. 1 Unto the end. A psalm for David. 2 MAY the Lord hear thee in the day of tribulation: may the name of the God of Jacob protect thee. 3 May he send thee help from the sanctuary: and defend thee out of Sion. 4 May he be mindful of all thy sacrifices: and may thy whole burnt offering be made fat. 5 May he give thee according to thy own heart; and confirm all thy counsels. 6 We will rejoice in thy salvation; and in the name of our God we shall be exalted. 7 The Lord fulfil all thy petitions: now have I known that the Lord hath saved his anointed. He will hear him from his holy heaven: the salvation of his right hand is in powers. 8 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will call upon the name of the Lord our God. 9 They are bound, and have fallen; but we are risen, and are set upright. 10 O Lord, save the king: and hear us in the day that we shall call upon thee.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm20
Domine In VirtutePraise to God for Christ's exaltation after his passion. 1 Unto the end. A psalm for David. 2 IN thy strength, O Lord, the king shall joy; and in thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly. 3 Thou hast given him his heart's desire: and hast not withholden from him the will of his lips. 4 For thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness: thou hast set on his head a crown of precious stones. 5 He asked life of thee: and thou hast given him length of days for ever and ever. 6 His glory is great in thy salvation: glory and great beauty shalt thou lay upon him. 7 For thou shalt give him to be a blessing for ever and ever: thou shalt make him joyful in gladness with thy countenance. 8 For the king hopeth in the Lord: and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved. 9 Let thy hand be found by all thy enemies: let thy right hand find out all them that hate thee. 10 Thou shalt make them as an oven of fire, in the time of thy anger: the Lord shall trouble them in his wrath, and fire shall devour them. 11 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth: and their seed from among the children of men. 12 For they have intended evils against thee: they have devised counsels which they have not been able to establish. 13 For thou shalt make them turn their back: in thy remnants thou shalt prepare their face. 14 Be thou exalted, O Lord, in thy own strength: we will sing and praise thy power.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm29
Exaltabo Te DomineDavid praiseth God for his deliverance, and his merciful dealings with him. 1 A psalm of a canticle, at the dedication of David's house. 2 I WILL extol thee, O Lord, for thou hast upheld me: and hast not made my enemies to rejoice over me. 3 O Lord my God, I have cried to thee, and thou hast healed me. 4 Thou hast brought forth, O Lord, my soul from hell: thou hast saved me from them that go down into the pit. 5 Sing to the Lord, O ye his saints: and give praise to the memory of his holiness. 6 For wrath is in his indignation; and life in his good will. In the evening weeping shall have place, and in the morning gladness. 7 And in my abundance I said: I shall never be moved. 8 O Lord, in thy favour, thou gavest strength to my beauty. Thou turnedst away thy face from me, and I became troubled. 9 To thee, O Lord, will I cry: and I will make supplication to my God. 10 What profit is there in my blood, whilst I go down to corruption? Shall dust confess to thee, or declare thy truth? 11 The Lord hath heard, and hath had mercy on me: the Lord became my helper. 12 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into joy: thou hast cut my sackcloth, and hast compassed me with gladness: 13 To the end that my glory may sing to thee, and I may not regret: O Lord my God, I will give praise to thee for ever.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
LAUDS:
Psalm 46
Omnes Gentes PlauditeThe Gentiles are invited to praise God for the establishment of the kingdom of Christ. 1 Unto the end, for the sons of Core. 2 O CLAP your hands, all ye nations: shout unto God with the voice of joy, 3 For the Lord is high, terrible: a great king over all the earth. 4 He hath subdued the people under us; and the nations under our feet. 5 He hath chosen for us his inheritance, the beauty of Jacob which he hath loved. 6 God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet. 7 Sing praises to our God, sing ye: sing praises to our king, sing ye. 8 For God is the king of all the earth: sing ye wisely. 9 God shall reign over the nations: God sitteth on his holy throne. 10 The princes of the people are gathered together, with the God of Abraham: for the strong gods of the earth are exceedingly exalted.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 5
Verba Mea AudibusA prayer to God against the iniquities of men. 1 Unto the end, for her that obtaineth the inheritance. A psalm of David. 2 GIVE ear, O Lord, to my words, understand my cry. 3 Hearken to the voice of my prayer, O my King and my God. 4 For to thee will I pray: O Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear my voice. 5 In the morning I will stand before thee, and will see: because thou art not a God that willest iniquity. 6 Neither shall the wicked dwell near thee: nor shall the unjust abide before thy eyes. 7 Thou hatest all the workers of iniquity: Thou wilt destroy all that speak a lie. The bloody and the deceitful man the Lord will abhor. 8 But as for me in the multitude of thy mercy, I will come into thy house; I will worship towards thy holy temple, in thy fear. 9 Conduct me, O Lord, in thy justice: because of my enemies, direct my way in thy sight. 10 for there is no truth in their mouth; their heart is vain. 11 Their throat is an open sepulchre: they dealt deceitfully with their tongues: judge them, O God. Let them fall from their devices: according to the multitude of their wickedness cast them out: for they have provoked thee, O Lord. 12 But let all them be glad that hope in thee: they shall rejoice for ever, and thou shalt dwell in them. And all they that love thy name shall glory in thee: 13 For thou wilt bless the just. O Lord, thou hast crowned us, as with a shield of thy good will.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 28
Afferte DominoAn invitation to glorify God, with a commemoration of his mighty works. 1 A psalm for David, at the finishing of the tabernacle. BRING to the Lord, O ye children of God: bring to the Lord the offspring of rams. 2 Bring to the Lord glory and honour: bring to the Lord glory to his name: adore ye the Lord in his holy court. 3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of majesty hath thundered, The Lord is upon many waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is in power; the voice of the Lord in magnificence. 5 The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars: yea, the Lord shall break the cedars of Libanus. 6 And shall reduce them to pieces, as a calf of Libanus, and as the beloved son of unicorns. 7 The voice of the Lord divideth the flame of fire: 8 The voice of the Lord shaketh the desert: and the Lord shall shake the desert of Cades. 9 The voice of the Lord prepareth the stags: and he will discover the thick woods: and in his temple all shall speak his glory. 10 The Lord maketh the flood to dwell: and the Lord shall sit king for ever. 11 The Lord will give strength to his people: the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Canticle of David: 1 Par 29:10-13 57 10 And he blessed the Lord before all the multitude, and he said: Blessed art thou, O Lord the God of Israel, our father from eternity to eternity. 11 Thine, O Lord, is magnificence, and power, and glory, and victory: and to thee is praise: for all that is in heaven, and in earth, is thine: thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art above all princes. 12 Thine are riches, and thine is glory, thou hast dominion over all, in thy hand is power and might: in thy hand greatness, and the empire of all things. 13 Now therefore our God we give thanks to thee, and we praise thy glorious name.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 116
Laudate DominumAll nations are called upon to praise God for his mercy and truth. 1 Alleluia. O PRAISE the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. 2 For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
PRIME:
Psalm 23
Domini Est TerraWho they are that shall ascend to heaven: Christ's triumphant ascension thither. 1 On the first day of the week, a psalm for David. THE earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof: the world, and all they that dwell therein. 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas; and hath prepared it upon the rivers. 3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 The innocent in hands, and clean of heart, who hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour. 5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Saviour. 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob. 7 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in. 8 Who is this King of Glory? the Lord who is strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in. 10 Who is this King of Glory? the Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 18
Coeli EnarrantThe works of God shew forth his glory; his law is to be esteemed and loved. 1 Unto the end. A psalm for David. 2 THE heavens shew forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of his hands. 3 Day to day uttereth speech, and night to night sheweth knowledge. 4 There are no speeches nor languages, where their voices are not heard. 5 Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the world. 6 He hath set his tabernacle in the sun: and he, as a bridegroom coming out of his bride chamber, Hath rejoiced as a giant to run the way: 7 His going out is from the end of heaven, And his circuit even to the end thereof: and there is no one that can hide himself from his heat. 8 The law of the Lord is unspotted, converting souls: the testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom to little ones. 9 The justices of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts: the commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes. 10 The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring for ever and ever: the judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves. 11 More to be desired than gold and many precious stones: and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. 12 For thy servant keepeth them, and in keeping them there is a great reward. 13 Who can understand sins? from my secret ones cleanse me, O Lord: 14 and from those of others spare thy servant. If they shall have no dominion over me, then shall I be without spot: and I shall be cleansed from the greatest sin. 15 And the words of my mouth shall be such as may please: and the meditation of my heart always in thy sight. O Lord, my helper, and my redeemer.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
TERCE:
Psalm 26
Dominus IlluminatioDavid's faith and hope in God 1 The psalm of David before he was anointed. THE Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid? 2 Whilst the wicked draw near against me, to eat my flesh. My enemies that trouble me, have themselves been weakened, and have fallen. 3 If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear. If a battle should rise up against me, in this will I be confident. 4 One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. That I may see the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple. 5 For he hath hidden me in his tabernacle; in the day of evils, he hath protected me in the secret place of his tabernacle. 6 He hath exalted me upon a rock: and now he hath lifted up my head above my enemies. I have gone round, and have offered up in his tabernacle a sacrifice of jubilation: I will sing, and recite a psalm to the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, my voice, with which I have cried to thee: have mercy on me and hear me. 8 My heart hath said to thee: My face hath sought thee: thy face, O Lord, will I still seek. 9 Turn not away thy face from me; decline not in thy wrath from thy servant. Be thou my helper, forsake me not; do not thou despise me, O God my Saviour. 10 For my father and my mother have left me: but the Lord hath taken me up. 11 Set me, O Lord, a law in thy way, and guide me in the right path, because of my enemies. 12 Deliver me not over to the will of them that trouble me; for unjust witnesses have risen up against me; and iniquity hath lied to itself. 13 I believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Expect the Lord, do manfully, and let thy heart take courage, and wait thou for the Lord
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 27
Ad Te Domine ClamaboDavid's prayer that his enemies may not prevail over him. 1 A psalm for David himself. UNTO thee will I cry, O Lord: O my God, be not thou silent to me: lest if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. 2 Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication, when I pray to thee; when I lift up my hands to thy holy temple. 3 Draw me not away together with the wicked; and with the workers of iniquity destroy me not: Who speak peace with their neighbour, but evils are in their hearts. 4 Give them according to their works, and according to the wickedness of their inventions. According to the works of their hands give thou to them: render to them their reward. 5 Because they have not understood the works of the Lord, and the operations of his hands: thou shalt destroy them, and shalt not build them up. 6 Blessed be the Lord, for he hath heard the voice of my supplication. 7 The Lord is my helper and my protector: in him hath my heart confided, and I have been helped. And my flesh hath flourished again, and with my will I will give praise to him. 8 The Lord is the strength of his people, and the protector of the salvation of his anointed. 9 Save, O Lord, thy people, and bless thy inheritance: and rule them and exalt them for ever.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
SEXT:
Psalm 30
In Te Domine SperaviA prayer of a just man under affliction. 1 Unto the end, a psalm for David, in an ecstasy. 2 IN thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded: deliver me in thy justice. 3 Bow down thy ear to me: make haste to deliver me. Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me. 4 For thou art my strength and my refuge; and for thy name's sake thou wilt lead me, and nourish me. 5 Thou wilt bring me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me: for thou art my protector. 6 Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth. 7 Thou hast hated them that regard vanities, to no purpose. But I have hoped in the Lord: 8 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy. For thou best regarded my humility, thou hast saved my soul out of distresses. 9 And thou hast not shut me up in the hands of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a spacious place. 10 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am afflicted: my eye is troubled with wrath, my soul, and my belly: 11 For my life is wasted with grief: and my years in sighs. My strength is weakened through poverty and my bones are disturbed. 12 I am become a reproach among all my enemies, and very much to my neighbours; and a fear to my acquaintance. They that saw me without fled from me. 13 I am forgotten as one dead from the heart. I am become as a vessel that is destroyed. 14 For I have heard the blame of many that dwell round about. While they assembled together against me, they consulted to take away my life. 15 But I have put my trust in thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my God. 16 My lots are in thy hands. Deliver me out of the hands of my enemies; and from them that persecute me. 17 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save me in thy mercy. 18 Let me not be confounded, O Lord, for I have called upon thee. Let the wicked be ashamed, and be brought down to hell. 19 Let deceitful lips be made dumb. Which speak iniquity against the just, with pride and abuse. 20 O how great is the multitude of thy sweetness, O Lord, which thou hast hidden for them that fear thee! Which thou hast wrought for them that hope in thee, in the sight of the sons of men. 21 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy face, from the disturbance of men. Thou shalt protect them in thy tabernacle from the contradiction of tongues. 22 Blessed be the Lord, for he hath shewn his wonderful mercy to me in a fortified city. 23 But I said in the excess of my mind: I am cast away from before thy eyes. Therefore thou hast heard the voice of my prayer, when I cried to thee. 24 O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord will require truth, and will repay them abundantly that act proudly. 25 Do ye manfully, and let your heart be strengthened, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
NONE:
Psalm 31
Beati QuorumThe second penitential psalm. 1 To David himself, understanding. BLESSED are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 Because I was silent my bones grew old; whilst I cried out all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: I am turned in my anguish, whilst the thorn is fastened. 5 I have acknowledged my sin to thee, and my injustice I have not concealed. I said I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord: and thou hast forgiven the wickedness of my sin. 6 For this shall every one that is holy pray to thee in a seasonable time. And yet in a flood of many waters, they shall not come nigh unto him. 7 Thou art my refuge from the trouble which hath encompassed me: my joy, deliver me from them that surround me. 8 I will give thee understanding, and I will instruct thee in this way, in which thou shalt go: I will fix my eyes upon thee. 9 Do not become like the horse and the mule, who have no understanding. With bit and bridle bind fast their jaws, who come not near unto thee. 10 Many are the scourges of the sinner, but mercy shall encompass him that hopeth in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye just, and glory, all ye right of heart.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 32
Exultate JustiAn exhortation to praise God, and to trust in him. 1 A psalm for David. REJOICE in the Lord, O ye just: praise becometh the upright. 2 Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing to him a new canticle, sing well unto him with a loud noise. 4 For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done with faithfulness. 5 He loveth mercy and judgment; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord. 6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were established; and all the power of them by the spirit of his mouth: 7 Gathering together the waters of the sea, as in a vessel; laying up the depths in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord, and let all the inhabitants of the world be in awe of him. 9 For he spoke and they were made: he commanded and they were created. 10 The Lord bringeth to naught the counsels of nations; and he rejecteth the devices of people, and casteth away the counsels of princes. 11 But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance. 13 The Lord hath looked from heaven: he hath beheld all the sons of men. 14 From his habitation which he hath prepared, he hath looked upon all that dwell on the earth. 15 He who hath made the hearts of every one of them: who understandeth all their works. 16 The king is not saved by a great army: nor shall the giant be saved by his own great strength. 17 Vain is the horse for safety: neither shall he be saved by the abundance of his strength. 18 Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear him: and on them that hope in his mercy. 19 To deliver their souls from death; and feed them in famine. 20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and protector. 21 For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have trusted. 22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in thee.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
VESPERS:
Psalm 114
DilexiThe prayer of a just man in affliction, with a lively confidence in God. 1 Alleluia. I HAVE loved, because the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me: and in my days I will call upon him. 3 The sorrows of death have compassed me: and the perils of hell have found me. I met with trouble and sorrow: 4 and I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, deliver my soul. 5 The Lord is merciful and just, and our God sheweth mercy. 6 The Lord is the keeper of little ones: I was humbled, and he delivered me. 7 Turn, O my soul, into thy rest: for the Lord hath been bountiful to thee. 8 For he hath delivered my soul from death: my eyes from tears, my feet from falling. 9 I will please the Lord in the land of the living.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 115
CredidiThis, in the Hebrew, is joined with the foregoing psalm, and continues to express the faith and gratitude of the psalmist. 1 Alleluia. I HAVE believed, therefore have I spoken; but I have been humbled exceedingly. 2 I said in my excess: Every man is a liar. 3 What shall I render to the Lord, for all the things he hath rendered unto me? 4 I will take the chalice of salvation; and I will call upon the name of the Lord. 5 I will pay my vows to the Lord before all his people: 6 precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 7 O Lord, for I am thy servant: I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast broken my bonds: 8 I will sacrifice to thee the sacrifice of praise, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. 9 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people: 10 in the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 119
Ad DominumA prayer in tribulation. 1 A gradual canticle. IN my trouble I cried to the Lord: and he heard me. 2 O Lord, deliver my soul from wicked lips, and a deceitful tongue. 3 What shall be given to thee, or what shall be added to thee, to a deceitful tongue? 4 The sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals that lay waste. 5 Woe is me, that my sojourning is prolonged! I have dwelt with the inhabitants of Cedar: 6 my soul hath been long a sojourner. 7 With them that hated peace I was peaceable: when I spoke to them they fought against me without cause.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 120
Levavi OculosGod is the keeper of his servants. 1 A gradual canticle. I HAVE lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from whence help shall come to me. 2 My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 May he not suffer thy foot to be moved: neither let him slumber that keepeth thee. 4 Behold he shall neither slumber nor sleep, that keepeth Israel. 5 The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy protection upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not burn thee by day: nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord keepeth thee from all evil: may the Lord keep thy soul. 8 May the Lord keep thy going in and thy going out; from henceforth now and for ever.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 121
Laetatus Sum In HisThe desire and hope of the just for the coming of the kingdom of God, and the peace of his Church. 1 A gradual canticle. I REJOICED at the things that were said to me: We shall go into the house of the Lord. 2 Our feet were standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city, which is compact together. 4 For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord. 5 Because their seats have sat in judgment, seats upon the house of David. 6 Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem: and abundance for them that love thee. 7 Let peace be in thy strength: and abundance in thy towers. 8 For the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbours, I spoke peace of thee. 9 Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good things for thee.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
COMPLINE:
Psalm 6
Domine Ne In FuroreA prayer of a penitent sinner, under the scourge of God. The first penitential Psalm. 1 Unto the end, in verses, a psalm for David, for the octave. 2 O LORD, rebuke me not in thy indignation, nor chastise me in thy wrath. 3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak: heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. 4 And my soul is troubled exceedingly: but thou, O Lord, how long? 5 Turn to me, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O save me for thy mercy's sake. 6 For there is no one in death, that is mindful of thee: and who shall confess to thee in hell? 7 I have laboured in my groanings, every night I will wash my bed: I will water my couch with my tears. 8 My eye is troubled through indignation: I have grown old amongst all my enemies. 9 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. 10 The Lord hath heard my supplication: the Lord hath received my prayer. 11 Let all my enemies be ashamed, and be very much troubled: let them be turned back, and be ashamed very speedily.
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Psalm 7
Domine Deus MeusDavid, trusting in the justice of his cause, prayeth for God's help against his enemies. 1 The psalm of David which he sung to the Lord for the words of Chusi the son of Jemini. 2 O LORD my God, in thee have I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me. 3 Lest at any time he seize upon my soul like a lion, while there is no one to redeem me, nor to save. 4 O Lord my God, if I have done this thing, if there be iniquity in my hands: 5 If I have rendered to them that repaid me evils, let me deservedly fall empty before my enemies. 6 Let the enemy pursue my soul, and take it, and tread down my life on the earth, and bring down my glory to the dust. 7 Rise up, O Lord, in thy anger: and be thou exalted in the borders of my enemies. And arise, O Lord my God, in the precept which thou hast commanded: 8 and a congregation of people shall surround thee. And for their sakes return thou on high. 9 The Lord judgeth the people. Judge me, O Lord, according to my justice, and according to my innocence in me. 10 The wickedness of sinners shall be brought to nought: and thou shalt direct the just: the searcher of hearts and reins is God. 11 Just is my help from the Lord: who saveth the upright of heart. 12 God is a just judge, strong and patient: is he angry every day? 13 Except you will be converted, he will brandish his sword: he hath bent his bow and made it ready. 14 And in it he hath prepared the instruments of death, he hath made ready his arrows for them that burn. 15 Behold he hath been in labour with injustice; he hath conceived sorrow, and brought forth iniquity. 16 He hath opened a pit and dug it: and he is fallen into the hole he made. 17 His sorrow shall be turned on his own head: and his iniquity shall come down upon his crown. 18 I will give glory to the Lord according to his justice: and will sing to the name of the Lord the most high. Glory be to the Father...
Haydock’s Bible Commentary
Divine Office "Liturgy of the Hours"
The Psalms: The Perfect Prayer Book for Everyone
"Ego sum Alpha et Omega, princípium
et finis, dicit Dóminus Deus : qui est,
et qui erat, et qui ventúrus est, omnípotens".
"The psalms are prayer, in which God Himself teaches us how to pray; for they were written under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Herein we have the answer to the question: "What prayers shall I say?" Why the prayers of Holy Scripture itself! "There is no need to scrape together endless man-made prayers when Sacred Scripture frames the very thoughts of God." The psalms are the vital presentation of God's inspirations and man's aspirations; they are the ideal manifestations of man's hunger and thirst after God and of God's loving response to man. Of great age, they are ever new and appropriate. They are as satisfying and stimulating to us of the twentieth century as they were to men before the birth of Christ and down through the Apostolic and Middle Ages".
Rev. Joseph B. Frey; July 16, 1947.
From My Daily Psalm Book, Arranged by Father Joseph Frey, Confraternity of the Precious Blood (1947) pp.vi-ix.
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