Wednesday in Passion week - Matins readings and responsories

(St John 10:22-38; Augusutine Tract 48)

Lectio 1: Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Ioánnem - In illo témpore: Facta sunt encǽnia in Ierosólymis: et hiems erat. Et ambulábat Iesus in templo, in porticu Salomónis. Et réliqua. Homilía sancti Augustíni Epíscopi - Encǽnia festívitas erat dedicatiónis templi. Græce enim cænon dícitur novum. Quandocúmque novum aliquid fúerit dedicátum, encǽnia vocántur. Iam et usus habet hoc verbum. Si quis nova túnica induátur, encæniáre dícitur. Illum enim diem, quo templum dedicátum est, Iudǽi solémniter celebrábant: ipse dies festus agebátur, cum ea quæ lecta sunt, locútus est Dóminus.

Reading 1: From the holy Gospel according to John - At that time it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem: and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch. And so on. Homily by St Augustine, Bishop - The Greek word Enkainia, used by the Evangelist, signifieth the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple. The derivation thereof is kainon, which is, being interpreted, new; and the Dedication of anything new is thence called Enkainia. The use of this word is still preserved among ourselves; if any man put on his new coat for the first time we say that he enkainiateth. It was the use of the Jews to keep solemn holiday upon the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Temple, and this was the Feast-day which was being observed when the Lord spake the words which have been read.

℟. Tota die / contristátus ingrediébar, Dómine: † quóniam ánima mea compléta est illusiónibus: * Et vim faciébant, qui quærébant ánimam meam. ℣. Amíci mei et próximi mei advérsum me appropinquavérunt et stetérunt: † et qui iuxta me erant, de longe stetérunt. ℟. Et vim faciébant, qui quærébant ánimam meam.

℟. O Lord, I go mourning all the day long, for my soul is filled with a loathsome disease * They also that sought after my life have used violence against me. ℣. My friends and my neighbours draw near, and stand over against me; and they that are nearest to me stand afar off. ℟. They also that sought after my life have used violence against me.

NR 349

Lectio 2: Hiems erat, et ambulábat Iesus in templo, in pórticu Salomónis. Circumdedérunt ergo eum Iudǽi, et dicébant ei: Quoúsque ánimam nostram tollis? Si tu es Christus, dic nobis palam. Non veritátem desiderábant, sed calúmniam præparábant. Hiems erat, et frigidi erant: ad illum enim divínum ignem accédere pigri erant. Si accédere est crédere: qui credit, accedit: qui negat, recédit. Non movétur ánima pédibus, sed afféctibus.

Reading 2: It was winter. And Jesus walked in the Temple in Solomon's Porch. Then came the Jews round about Him, and said unto Him How long dost Thou make us to doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. They sought not to know the truth, but to have whereof to accuse Him. It was winter, and they were cold; for they were slow to draw near to God's fire. If to believe is to draw near thereto, then he which believeth draweth near thereto and he which denieth, goeth away therefrom. The feet of the soul, by which it moveth, are the affections thereof.

℟. Ne avértas / fáciem tuam a púero tuo, Dómine: * Quóniam tríbulor, velóciter exáudi me. ℣. Inténde ánimæ meæ, et líbera eam: † propter inimícos meos éripe me. ℟. Quóniam tríbulor, velóciter exáudi me.

℟. O Lord, hide not thy face from thy servant * For I am in trouble; hear me speedily. ℣. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it; deliver me, because of mine enemies. ℟. For I am in trouble; hear me speedily.

NR 349

Lectio 3: Frigúerant diligéndi caritáte, et ardébant nocéndi cupiditáte. Longe áberant, et ibi erant: non accedébant credéndo, et premébant persequéndo. Quærébant audíre a Dómino, Ego sum Christus: et fortásse de Christo secúndum hóminem sapiébant. Prædicavérunt enim prophétæ Christum: sed divinitátem Christi et in prophétis et in ipso Evangélio nec hærétici intéllegunt: quanto minus Iudǽi, quámdiu velámen est super cor eórum?

Reading 3: They were frozen with want of love, and at the same time on fire with thirst to do injury. They stood afar off, and yet came near; for though they drew not near by faith, they were eager to persecute. They sought to hear the Lord say I am the Christ; and perchance they knew somewhat concerning Christ, as touching His Manhood, for the Prophets had prophesied of Christ. But the Godhead of Christ even some heretics do not see witnessed either in the Prophets or in the Gospel; how much less the Jews, as long as the veil is upon their heart.

℟. Quis dabit / capiti meo aquam, et óculis meis fontem lacrimárum, et plorábo die ac nocte? † quia frater propínquus supplantávit me, * Et omnis amícus fraudulénter incéssit in me. ℣. Fiant viæ eórum ténebræ et lúbricum: † et Angelus Dómini pérsequens eos. ℟. Et omnis amícus fraudulénter incessit in me. ℟. Quis dabit capiti meo aquam, et óculis meis fontem lacrimárum, et plorábo die ac nocte? † quia frater propínquus supplantávit me, * Et omnis amícus fraudulénter incéssit in me.

℟. O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night! for my nearest brother hath supplanted me, * And my neighbour hath walked with slanders against me. ℣. Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them. ℟. And my neighbour hath walked with slanders against me. ℟. O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night! for my nearest brother hath supplanted me, * And my neighbour hath walked with slanders against me.

NR 350

Oratio: Sanctificáto hoc ieiúnio Deus, tuórum corda fidélium miserátor illústra: † et, quibus devotiónis præstas afféctum, * præbe supplicántibus pium benígnus audítum. Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

Collect: O God, be mercifully pleased, through the hallowing of this Fast, to shed light upon the hearts of thy faithful people, and since Thou hast given them the mind to pray, let thy ears be opened graciously to hear their pious  supplications. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.