Nocturn I: (Fourth Sunday of September)
Reading 1: From the beginning of the book of Judith - Now Arphaxad king of the Medes had brought many nations under his dominions, and he built a very strong city, which he called Ecbatana, Of stones squared and hewed: he made the walls thereof seventy cubits broad, and thirty cubits high, and the towers thereof he made a hundred cubits high. But on the square of them, each side was extended the space of twenty feet. And he made the gates thereof according to the height of the towers: And he gloried as a mighty one in the force of his army and in the glory of his chariots.
Reading 2: Now in the twelfth year of his reign, Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, who reigned in Ninive the great city, fought against Arphaxad and overcame him, In the great plain which is called Ragua, about the Euphrates, and the Tigris, and the Jadason, in the plain of Erioch the king of the Elicians. Then was the kingdom of Nabuchodonosor exalted, and his heart was elevated: and he sent to all that dwelt in Cilicia and Damascus, and Libanus, And to the nations that are in Carmelus, and Cedar, and to the inhabitants of Galilee in the great plain of Asdrelon, And to all that were in Samaria, and beyond the river Jordan even to Jerusalem, and all the land of Jesse till you come to the borders of Ethiopia.
Reading 3: To all these Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, sent messengers: But they all with one mind refused, and sent them back empty, and rejected them without honour. Then king Nabuchodonosor being angry against all that land, swore by his throne and kingdom that he would revenge himself of all those countries.
Reading 4: In the thirteenth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, the two and twentieth day of the first month, the word was given out in the house of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, that he would revenge himself. And he called all the ancients, and all the governors, and his officers of war, and communicated to them the secret of his counsel: And he said that his thoughts were to bring all the earth under his empire.
Nocturn II: St Ambrose on Elijah and fasting
Reading 5: From the book of St Ambrose on Elijah and fasting - It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes strong drink, lest they drink and forget the law. The rulers drank wine even unto drunkenness, who planned to deliver themselves into the hand of Holofernes, captain of the host of the King of the Assyrians but the woman Judith drank not, who fasted all the days of her widowhood, saving the solemn Feast-days. She went forth in the harness of this abstinence, and over - reached the whole army of the Assyrians. By the clear thought of her soberness she took away the head of Holofernes, kept her chastity, and carried off the victory.
Reading 6: Armed with fasting, she entered the camp of the strangers he lay soaked in wine, so that he could not feel the blow that slew him. And thus the fast of one woman overthrew the countless armies of the Assyrians. Esther also became fairer by fasting for the Lord gave favour unto her for her soberness. She delivered all her nation, that is, the whole people of the Jews, from the fierceness of persecution, so that she brought down the King himself under her will.
Reading 7: Thus also (Esther) who fasted three days, and washed her body with water, found greater favour, and obtained vengeance, whereas Haman, who boasted himself at the King's table, paid the penalty of his drunkenness, even while yet he was in his cups. Fasting, therefore, is a sacrifice of reconciliation, a means of strength, whereby in the might of grace, women wax manful.
Reading 8: Fasting knoweth not usury, nor the gain of the usurer the faster's table smelleth not of usury, but the fast itself giveth favour to them that sit at meat. A banquet is all the pleasanter after hunger, whereas by constant use it becometh unattractive, and when it is long carried on cometh to be lightly esteemed. Fasting is a good sauce for meat. The keener the appetite, the more toothsome the food.
Nocturn III (18th Sunday)
Reading 9: From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew: At that time Jesus entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into His own city. And so on.
Homily of St Maximus, bishop - This day's reading hath shown us an instance of how Christ, in those things which He did as Man, worked deep works of God, and by things which were seen wrought things which were not seen. The Evangelist saith Jesus " entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into His Own city." Was not This He Who had once parted the waves hither and thither, and made the dry ground appear at the bottom of the sea, so that His people Israel passed dry-shod between masses of water standing still, as through an hollow glen in a mountain.
Reading 10: Was not This He Who made the depths of the sea solid under the feet of Peter, so that the watery path offered a firm way for human footsteps.Therefore then denied He unto Himself a like service from the sea, but crossed over that narrow lake at the cost of a voyage on shipboard " He entered into a ship, and passed over."
Reading 11: What wonder, my brethren Christ came to take our weakness upon Him, that He might n make us partakers of His strength to seek the things of men, that He might give to men the things of God to receive insults, that He might bestow honours to bear weariness, that He might grant rest for the physician that is himself beset by no frailties, knoweth not how to treat the frailties of others, nor he that is not weak with the weak, how to make the weak strong.
Reading 12: Therefore, if Christ had abode still in His strength, He had in no wise been a fellow of men if in Him Flesh had not run the way of flesh, then had it been idle for Him to have taken Flesh at all. " He entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into His Own city." The Lord, the Maker of the world, and of all things that are therein, having been pleased for our sakes to prison Himself in our flesh, began to have an human home, and to be a citizen of a Jewish city Himself the Father of all, to have parents and all, that His love might invite, His charity draw, His tenderness bind, His gentleness persuade them whom His Kingship had scared, His awfulness scattered, and His power terrified out of His dominion.
Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8
And entering into a boat, he passed over the water and came into his own city. And behold they brought to him one sick of the palsy lying in a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the man sick of the palsy: Be of good heart, son, thy sins are forgiven thee. And behold some of the scribes said within themselves: He blasphemeth. And Jesus seeing their thoughts, said: Why do you think evil in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee: or to say, Arise, and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then said he to the man sick of palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house. And he arose, and went into his house. And the multitude seeing it, feared, and glorified God that gave such power to men.
Reading 1: From the beginning of the book of Judith - Now Arphaxad king of the Medes had brought many nations under his dominions, and he built a very strong city, which he called Ecbatana, Of stones squared and hewed: he made the walls thereof seventy cubits broad, and thirty cubits high, and the towers thereof he made a hundred cubits high. But on the square of them, each side was extended the space of twenty feet. And he made the gates thereof according to the height of the towers: And he gloried as a mighty one in the force of his army and in the glory of his chariots.
R. Adonai, Dómine, Deus magne et mirábilis, qui dedísti salútem in manu féminæ, * Exáudi preces servórum tuórum.
V. Benedíctus es, Dómine, qui non derelinquis præsuméntes de te, et de sua virtúte gloriántes humilias. R. Exáudi preces servórum tuórum. |
R. O Adonai, O Lord God, Thou art great and glorious. Who hast given salvation into the hand of a woman: * Graciously hear the prayers of thy servants.
V. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Who failest none that put their trust in thee, and humblest such as boast themselves in their own strength. R. Graciously hear the prayers of thy servants. |
Reading 2: Now in the twelfth year of his reign, Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, who reigned in Ninive the great city, fought against Arphaxad and overcame him, In the great plain which is called Ragua, about the Euphrates, and the Tigris, and the Jadason, in the plain of Erioch the king of the Elicians. Then was the kingdom of Nabuchodonosor exalted, and his heart was elevated: and he sent to all that dwelt in Cilicia and Damascus, and Libanus, And to the nations that are in Carmelus, and Cedar, and to the inhabitants of Galilee in the great plain of Asdrelon, And to all that were in Samaria, and beyond the river Jordan even to Jerusalem, and all the land of Jesse till you come to the borders of Ethiopia.
R. Tribulatiónes civitátum audívimus, quas passæ sunt, et defécimus: timor et hebetúdo mentis cécidit super nos et super liberos nostros: ipsi montes nolunt recipere fugam nostram: * Dómine, miserére.
V. Peccávimus cum pátribus nostris, iniúste egimus, iniquitátem fécimus.
R. Dómine, miserére.
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R. We have heard of the tribulation of those cities, which they have suffered, and we have fainted. Fear and confusion of mind are fallen upon us. Even the mountains will not give us a refuge. * Lord, have mercy.
V. We have sinned like our forefathers, we have done unjustly, and wrought iniquity.
R. Lord, have mercy.
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Reading 3: To all these Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, sent messengers: But they all with one mind refused, and sent them back empty, and rejected them without honour. Then king Nabuchodonosor being angry against all that land, swore by his throne and kingdom that he would revenge himself of all those countries.
R. Benedícat te Dóminus in virtúte sua, qui per te ad níhilum redégit inimícos nostros: * Ut non defíciat laus tua de ore hóminum.
V. Benedíctus Dóminus qui creávit cælum et terram; quia hódie nomen tuum ita magnificávit. R. Ut non defíciat laus tua de ore hóminum. |
R. The Lord bless thee by His power, Who hath brought our enemies to nought through thee.* And may the praise of thee never fail from the mouth of men.
V. Blessed be the Lord, Who hath created the heaven and the earth, because that He hath so glorified thy name this day. R. And may the praise of thee never fail from the mouth of men. |
Reading 4: In the thirteenth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, the two and twentieth day of the first month, the word was given out in the house of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, that he would revenge himself. And he called all the ancients, and all the governors, and his officers of war, and communicated to them the secret of his counsel: And he said that his thoughts were to bring all the earth under his empire.
R: Vos qui in turribus estis aperite portas dominus omnipotens fecit virtutem * Et victoriam dedit de inimicis nostris
V: Laudate dominum deum nostrum qui non deseruit sperantes in se R: Et victoriam dedit de inimicis nostris V Gloria Patri V: Laudate dominum deum nostrum qui non deseruit sperantes in se |
R: You who are in the towers, open the gates for God is with us, who hath shewn his power in Israel.* And has given us victory over our enemies
V: Praise ye the Lord our God, who hath not forsaken them that hope in him. R: And has given us victory over our enemies V: Glory be... R: And has given us victory over our enemies |
Nocturn II: St Ambrose on Elijah and fasting
Reading 5: From the book of St Ambrose on Elijah and fasting - It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes strong drink, lest they drink and forget the law. The rulers drank wine even unto drunkenness, who planned to deliver themselves into the hand of Holofernes, captain of the host of the King of the Assyrians but the woman Judith drank not, who fasted all the days of her widowhood, saving the solemn Feast-days. She went forth in the harness of this abstinence, and over - reached the whole army of the Assyrians. By the clear thought of her soberness she took away the head of Holofernes, kept her chastity, and carried off the victory.
R. Nos alium Deum nescímus præter Dóminum, in quo sperámus: * Qui non déspicit nos, nec ámovet salútem suam a genere nostro.
V. Indulgéntiam ipsíus fusis lácrimis postulemus, et humiliémus illi ánimas nostras. R. Qui non déspicit nos, nec ámovet salútem suam a genere nostro. |
R. We know no strange God before the Lord. In Him we trust. * He despiseth us not, neither putteth He away His salvation from our nation.
V. His mercy let us seek with tears, and humble our souls before Him. R. He despiseth us not, neither putteth He away His salvation from our nation. |
Reading 6: Armed with fasting, she entered the camp of the strangers he lay soaked in wine, so that he could not feel the blow that slew him. And thus the fast of one woman overthrew the countless armies of the Assyrians. Esther also became fairer by fasting for the Lord gave favour unto her for her soberness. She delivered all her nation, that is, the whole people of the Jews, from the fierceness of persecution, so that she brought down the King himself under her will.
R. Dominator, Dómine, cælórum et terræ, Creator aquárum, Rex univérsæ creaturæ: * Exáudi oratiónem servórum tuórum.
V. Tu, Dómine, cui humílium semper et mansuetórum plácuit deprecátio. R. Exáudi oratiónem servórum tuórum. |
R. O Lord, Ruler of the heavens and of the earth, Maker of the waters, King of every creature, * Graciously hear the prayer of thy servants.
V. Thou, O Lord, unto Whom the supplications of the humble and meek are alway well-pleasing R. Graciously hear the prayer of thy servants. |
Reading 7: Thus also (Esther) who fasted three days, and washed her body with water, found greater favour, and obtained vengeance, whereas Haman, who boasted himself at the King's table, paid the penalty of his drunkenness, even while yet he was in his cups. Fasting, therefore, is a sacrifice of reconciliation, a means of strength, whereby in the might of grace, women wax manful.
R. Dómine Deus, qui cónteris bella ab inítio, éleva brachium tuum super Gentes, quæ cógitant servis tuis mala: * Et déxtera tua glorificétur in nobis.
V. Allíde virtútem eórum in virtúte tua; cadat robur eórum in iracúndia tua. R. Et déxtera tua glorificétur in nobis. |
R. O Lord God, That breakest the battles from of old, lift up thine arm against the Gentiles, that devise evil against thy servants.* And let thy right hand be glorified in us.
V. Throw down their strength in thy power, and bring down their force in thy wrath. R. And let thy right hand be glorified in us. |
Reading 8: Fasting knoweth not usury, nor the gain of the usurer the faster's table smelleth not of usury, but the fast itself giveth favour to them that sit at meat. A banquet is all the pleasanter after hunger, whereas by constant use it becometh unattractive, and when it is long carried on cometh to be lightly esteemed. Fasting is a good sauce for meat. The keener the appetite, the more toothsome the food.
R: Spem in alium nunquam habui praeterquam in te, Deus Israel: * Qui irasceris et propitius eris et omnia peccata hominum in tribulatione dimittis.
V: Domine Deus Creator caeli et terrae respice humilitatem nostram. R: Qui irasceris et propitius eris et omnia peccata hominum in tribulatione dimittis. V: Gloria Patri.. R: Qui irasceris et propitius eris et omnia peccata hominum in tribulatione dimittis. |
R: I have never put my hope in any other
but in Thee, God of Israel * Who canst show both wrath and graciousness, and who absolves all the sins of suffering man. V: Lord God, Creator of Heaven and Earth Regard our humility. R: Who canst show both wrath and graciousness, and who absolves all the sins of suffering man. V: Glory be... R: Who canst show both wrath and graciousness, and who absolves all the sins of suffering man |
Nocturn III (18th Sunday)
Reading 9: From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew: At that time Jesus entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into His own city. And so on.
Homily of St Maximus, bishop - This day's reading hath shown us an instance of how Christ, in those things which He did as Man, worked deep works of God, and by things which were seen wrought things which were not seen. The Evangelist saith Jesus " entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into His Own city." Was not This He Who had once parted the waves hither and thither, and made the dry ground appear at the bottom of the sea, so that His people Israel passed dry-shod between masses of water standing still, as through an hollow glen in a mountain.
R. Conforta me, Rex, Sanctórum principátum tenens: * Et da sermónem rectum et bene sonántem in os meum.
V. Dómine, Rex univérsæ potestátis, convérte consílium eórum super eos. R. Et da sermónem rectum et bene sonántem in os meum. |
R. Strengthen me, O King, Who reignest over the holy ones. * Put Thou in my mouth clear and well-sounding words.
V. O Lord, King of all forces, turn back their device upon themselves. R. Put Thou in my mouth clear and well-sounding words. |
Reading 10: Was not This He Who made the depths of the sea solid under the feet of Peter, so that the watery path offered a firm way for human footsteps.Therefore then denied He unto Himself a like service from the sea, but crossed over that narrow lake at the cost of a voyage on shipboard " He entered into a ship, and passed over."
R. Meménto mei, Dómine Deus, in bonum: * Et ne deleas miseratiónes meas, quas feci in domo Dei mei et in cæremoniis ejus.
V. Recordare mei, Dómine, Deus meus. R. Et ne deleas miseratiónes meas, quas feci in domo Dei mei et in cæremoniis ejus. |
R. Remember me for good, O Lord God, * And put not away my works of mercy, which I have wrought in the house of my God, and in the times of His solemn rites.
V. Remember me, O Lord my God R. And put not away my works of mercy, which I have wrought in the house of my God, and in the times of His solemn rites. |
Reading 11: What wonder, my brethren Christ came to take our weakness upon Him, that He might n make us partakers of His strength to seek the things of men, that He might give to men the things of God to receive insults, that He might bestow honours to bear weariness, that He might grant rest for the physician that is himself beset by no frailties, knoweth not how to treat the frailties of others, nor he that is not weak with the weak, how to make the weak strong.
R: Laudate Dominum Deum nostrum qui non deseruit sperantes in se et in me adimplevit misericordiam suam * Quam promisit domui Israel
V: Confitemini illi quoniam bonus, quoniam in sæculum misericordia ejus. R: Quam promisit domui Israel |
R: Praise ye the Lord our God, who hath not forsaken them that hope in him And by me he hath fulfilled his mercy * Which he promised to the house of Israel:
V: Give glory to him, because he is good, because his mercy endureth for ever. R: Which he promised to the house of Israel: |
Reading 12: Therefore, if Christ had abode still in His strength, He had in no wise been a fellow of men if in Him Flesh had not run the way of flesh, then had it been idle for Him to have taken Flesh at all. " He entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into His Own city." The Lord, the Maker of the world, and of all things that are therein, having been pleased for our sakes to prison Himself in our flesh, began to have an human home, and to be a citizen of a Jewish city Himself the Father of all, to have parents and all, that His love might invite, His charity draw, His tenderness bind, His gentleness persuade them whom His Kingship had scared, His awfulness scattered, and His power terrified out of His dominion.
R. Duo Seraphim clamabant alter ad alterum: * Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth: * Plena est omnis terra gloria ejus.
V. Tres sunt qui testimonium dant in caelo, Pater, Verbum, et Spiritus Sanctus: et hi tres unum sunt.
R. Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth
V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
R. Plena est omnis terra gloria ejus.
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R. One Seraph cried unto another * Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of hosts * The whole earth is full of His glory.
V. There are Three That bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost and these Three are One.
R. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of hosts
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R. The whole earth is full of His glory.
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Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8
And entering into a boat, he passed over the water and came into his own city. And behold they brought to him one sick of the palsy lying in a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the man sick of the palsy: Be of good heart, son, thy sins are forgiven thee. And behold some of the scribes said within themselves: He blasphemeth. And Jesus seeing their thoughts, said: Why do you think evil in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee: or to say, Arise, and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then said he to the man sick of palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house. And he arose, and went into his house. And the multitude seeing it, feared, and glorified God that gave such power to men.
