Matins readings for the Vigil of the Epipnay

 (1953 rubrics - responsories are of the corresponding Nocturn for Jan I)

Invitatory antiphon

Christus natus est nobis: * Veníte, adorémus.

Unto us a Christ is born, * O come, let us worship Him.

LR 54

 

Hymn

Christe, Redémptor ómnium, Ex Patre, Patris Unice, Solus ante princípium Natus ineffabíliter,	Christ, the Father's only Son, whose death for all redemption won, before the worlds, of God most high, begotten all ineffably.
Tu lumen, tu splendor Patris, Tu spes perénnis ómnium, Inténde quas fundunt preces Tui per orbem fámuli.	The Father's Light and Splendor Thou their endless Hope to Thee that bow: accept the prayers and praise today that through the world Thy servants pay.
Meménto, salútis auctor, Quod nostri quondam córporis, Ex illibáta Vírgine Nascéndo, formam súmpseris.	Salvation's author, call to mind how, taking the form of humankind, born of a Virgin undefiled, Thou in man's flesh becamest a Child.
Sic praesens testátur dies, Currens per anni círculum, Quod a solus sede Patris Mundi salus advéneris;	Thus testifies the present day Through every year in long array, that Thou, salvation's source alone proceedest from the Father's Throne.
Hunc caelum, terra, hunc mare, Hunc omne quod in eis est, Auctórem advéntus tui Laudans exsúltat cántico.	Whence sky, and stars, and sea's abyss, and earth, and all that therein is, shall still, with laud and carol meet, the Author of thine Advent greet.
Nos quoque, qui sancto tuo Redémpti sánguine sumus, Ob diem natális tui Hymnum novum concínimus.	And we who, by Thy precious Blood from sin redeemed, are marked for God, on this, the day that saw Thy Birth, sing the new song of ransomed earth.
Glória tibi, Dómine, Qui natus es de Vírgine, Cum Patre et Sancto Spíritu, In sempitérna sǽcula. Amen.	Glory to you O Lord, Who wast born of the Virgin; whom with the Father we adore, and Holy Ghost forevermore. Amen.

Nocturn I 

Ant. In princípio, et ante sǽcula Deus erat Verbum, et ipse natus est hódie Salvátor mundi.

In the beginning, and before the worlds, the Word was God, and this day is He born the Saviour of the world.

 Psalms of the day 

V. Tamquam sponsus. R.  Dominus procedens de thalamo suo.

V. The Lord is as a bridegroom. R. Coming out of his chamber.

 

Lectio 1: Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Matthǽum - In illo témpore: Defúncto Heróde, ecce Angelus Dómini appáruit in somnis Joseph in Ægýpto, dicens: Surge, et áccipe púerum et matrem ejus, et vade in terram Israël. Et réliqua.   Homilía sancti Hierónymi Presbýteri - Ex hoc loco intellígimus non solum Heródem, sed et sacerdótes et scribas eódem témpore necem Dómini fuísse meditátos. Qui surgens accépit púerum, et matrem ejus. Non dixit: Accépit fílium suum et uxórem suam, sed Púerum et matrem ejus; quasi nutrítius, non marítus.

From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew - In that time: When Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt, Saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. And so on.   Homily by St. Jerome, Priest at Bethlehem - From the words, they are dead, (in the Plural), which are used in this passage of the Gospel, we may understand that there were others beside Herod which sought the young Child's life probably the Priests and Scribes. And he Joseph arose, and took the young Child and His Mother. It is not written, He took his wife and child, but he took the young Child and His Mother; whence it is clear that the holy Evangelist means to imply that Joseph was not the father, but the Guardian of Jesus, not the husband, but the Betrothed of Mary.

 

R. Congratulámini mihi, / omnes qui dilígitis Dóminum: † Quia, cum essem párvula, plácui Altíssimo, * Et de meis viscéribus génui Deum et hóminem. V. Beátam me dicent omnes generatiónes, quia ancíllam húmilem respéxit Deus. R. Et de meis viscéribus génui Deum et hóminem.

R. Rejoice with me, all ye that love the Lord. For while I was yet little I pleased the Most High, * And from my womb have I brought forth God and man. V. All generations shall call me blessed, for God hath regarded the lowliness of His hand-maiden. R. And from my womb have I brought forth God and man.

NR [159]

 

Lectio 2 - Audiens autem quod Archeláus regnáret in Judǽa pro Heróde patre suo, tímuit illo ire. Multi labúntur erróre propter ignorántiam históriæ, putántes eumdem esse Heródem, a quo in passióne sua Dóminus irridétur, et qui nunc mórtuus esse referátur. Ergo Heródes ille qui cum Piláto póstea amicítias fecit, hujus Heródis fílius est, frater Archelái.

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea, in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither. There are some persons so grossly ignorant of history that they confuse themselves over the two Herods, as if the one mentioned here were the same who afterwards set our Lord at nought during His Passion, and they cannot understand how he should now be said to be dead. The Herod who was made friends with Pilate over Christ's death, was the son of the Herod who massacred the infants of Bethlehem, and the brother of Archelaus.

 

R. Confirmátum est / cor Vírginis, in quo divína mystéria, Angelo nuntiánte, concépit: † tunc speciósum forma præ fíliis hóminum castis suscépit viscéribus: * Et benedícta in ætérnum, † Deum nobis prótulit et hóminem. V. Domus pudíci péctoris templum repénte fit Dei: † intácta nésciens virum, verbo concépit Fílium. R. Et benedícta in ætérnum, † Deum nobis prótulit et hóminem.

R. The heart of the Virgin was fixed, when the Angel declared unto her the mystery of God, and she conceived, then did she receive in her pure womb Him that is fairer than the children of men. * And, she that is blessed forever, brought forth for us God and man. V. Soon rises, in that modest shrine, the temple of the Lord Divine, the stainless and unwedded one, within her womb conceived the Son. R. And, she that is blessed forever, brought forth for us God and man.

 

Reading 3: Quóniam Nazarǽus vocábitur. Si fixum de Scriptúris posuísset exémplum, numquam díceret: Quod dictum est per prophétas: sed simplíciter: Quod dictum est per prophétam. Nunc autem pluráliter prophétas vocans, osténdit se non verba de Scriptúris sumpsísse, sed sensum. Nazarǽus sanctus interpretátur; sanctum autem Dóminum futúrum omnis Scriptúra commémorat. Possumus et aliter dicere; quod etiam eisdem verbis, juxta Hebraicam veritatem, in Isaia scriptum sit; Exiet virga de radice Jesse, et Nazraeus de radice ejus conscendet.

He shall be called a Nazarene. The Evangelist, in quoting these words, says that they were spoken by the Prophets. If he had been citing any one precise passage he would have said by the Prophet, in the singular. But he is citing the sense of the Prophets, and not any individual passage in any of their writings. He seems to refer to the fact that in Hebrew the word Nazarene signifies holy, and that Christ is the Holy One of God is the common declaration of all the Scriptures. We can even state in a different way that which is written in the same words, according to the Hebrew text, in Isaiah: There shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and the Nazarene shall rise up out of his root.”

 

R. Benedícta / et venerábilis es, Virgo María, † quæ sine tactu pudóris invénta es mater Salvatóris: * Iacébat in præsépio, et fulgébat in cælo. V. Dómine, audívi audítum tuum, et tímui: † considerávi ópera tua, et expávi: † in médio duórum animálium. R. Iacébat in præsépio, et fulgébat in cælo. V. Gloria Patri… R. Iacébat in præsépio, et fulgébat in cælo

R. Blessed and worshipful art thou, O Virgin Mary; from thee, still maiden undefiled, the Saviour came a little Child. * He Whose glory filled the heavens lay in a manger. V. O Lord, I have heard thy speech and was afraid; I considered thy works and trembled. O Thou That dwellest between the two living creatures! R. He Whose glory filled the heavens lay in a manger.

 

Nocturn II 

Ant. Nato Dómino, Angelórum chorus canébat, dicens: Salus Deo nostro, sedénti super thronum, et Agno.

When the Lord was born the Angels sang together, saying: Salvation to our God, Which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Psalms of the day

 Chapter (Gal 4:4-5) and versicle 

At ubi venit plenitudo temporis, misit Deus Filium suum factum ex muliere, factum sub lege, ut eos, qui sub lege erant, redimeret, ut adoptionem filiorum reciperemus.	But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law: that he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.
V. Notum fecit Dóminus, alleluia R. Salutáre suum, Alleluia	V. He hath remembered, alleluia R. His mercy, alleluia

 

Collect 

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, dírige actus nostros in beneplácito tuo: ut in nómine dilécti Fílii tui mereámur bonis opéribus abundáre:Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

O Almighty and everlasting God, do Thou order all our actions in conformity with thy good pleasure, that through the name of thy well-beloved Son, we may worthily abound in all good works. Who with thee liveth and reigneth, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen

 

Matins readings for January 5

Readings for Jan 5 (Romans 8:1-4) - 1960 rubrics

 

Lectio 1: Nihil ergo nunc damnationis est iis qui sunt in Christo Jesu: qui non secundum carnem ambulant. Lex enim spiritus vitæ in Christo Jesu liberavit me a lege peccati et mortis. Nam quod impossibile erat legi, in quo infirmabatur per carnem: Deus Filium suum mittens in similitudinem carnis peccati et de peccato, damnavit peccatum in carne, ut justificatio legis impleretur in nobis, qui non secundum carnem ambulamus, sed secundum spiritum.

Reading 1: There is now therefore no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh. For the law of the spirit of life, in Christ Jesus, hath delivered me from the law of sin and of death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh; God sending his own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh and of sin, hath condemned sin in the flesh; That the justification of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.

R. Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccáta mundi: ecce de quo dicébam vobis: Qui post me venit, ante me factus est: * Cuius non sum dignus corrigiam calceaménti sólvere. V. Qui de terra est, de terra lóquitur: qui de cælo venit, super omnes est. R. Cuius non sum dignus corrigiam calceaménti sólvere.

R. Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him Which taketh away the sins of the world; behold Him of Whom I said unto you: He That cometh after me is preferred before me * Whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. V. He that is of the earth speaketh of the earth; He That cometh from heaven is above all. R. Whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

 

Lectio 2: Qui enim secundum carnem sunt, quæ carnis sunt, sapiunt: qui vero secundum spiritum sunt, quæ sunt spiritus, sentiunt. Nam prudentia carnis, mors est: prudentia autem spiritus, vita et pax: quoniam sapientia carnis inimica est Deo: legi enim Dei non est subjecta, nec enim potest. Qui autem in carne sunt, Deo placere non possunt. Vos autem in carne non estis, sed in spiritu: si tamen Spiritus Dei habitat in vobis.

Reading 2: For they that are according to the flesh, mind the things that are of the flesh; but they that are according to the spirit, mind the things that are of the spirit. For the wisdom of the flesh is death; but the wisdom of the spirit is life and peace.  Because the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither can it be.  And they who are in the flesh, cannot please God.  But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

R. Dies sanctificatus illuxit nobis: venite Gentes, et adorate Dominum: * Quia hodie descendit lux magna in terris. V. Haec dies quam fecit Dominus, exsultemus et laetemur in ea. R. Quia hodie descendit lux magna in terris.

R. This day which is breaking is holy; O come, ye Gentiles, and worship the Lord.* For this day is much light come down unto us from heaven. V. This is the day which the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. R. For this day is much light come down unto us from heaven.

 

Lectio 3: Si quis autem Spiritum Christi non habet, hic non est ejus. Si autem Christus in vobis est, corpus quidem mortuum est propter peccatum, spiritus vero vivit propter justificationem. Quod si Spiritus ejus, qui suscitavit Jesum a mortuis, habitat in vobis: qui suscitavit Jesum Christum a mortuis, vivificabit et mortalia corpora vestra, propter inhabitantem Spiritum ejus in vobis.	Reading 3: Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body indeed is dead, because of sin; but the spirit liveth, because of justification. And if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you; he that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead, shall quicken also your mortal bodies, because of his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
R. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini, Deus Dominus, et illuxit nobis:* Alleluia, alleluia. V. Haec dies quam fecit Dominus, exsultemus et laetemur in ea. R. Alleluia, alleluia. V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto. R. Alleluia, alleluia.	R. Blessed be He That cometh in the name of the Lord! God is the Lord Who hath showed us light.* Alleluia, Alleluia. V. This is the day which the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. R. Alleluia, Alleluia. V. Glory be... R. Alleluia, Alleluia.

 

January 4/Octave Day of Holy Innocents

Under the 1960 rubrics, the season is Nativitytide, and the three readings care from Romans 7: 1-9.

In the 1953 breviary, however, the day is celebrated as the Octave Day of the feast of the Holy Innocents.  In this case, the Invitatory antiphon, hymn and collect are as for the feast; the psalms and antiphons are those of the day of the week; the versicle at the end of nocturn I and chapter at the end of Nocturn II are of the season.  The first two readings and responsories are as for 1960; the third reading and responsory are set out below. 

Lectio 1: De Epistola ad Romanos - An ignoratis, fratres (scientibus enim legem loquor), quia lex in homine dominatur quanto tempore vivit? Nam quæ sub viro est mulier, vivente viro, alligata est legi: si autem mortuus fuerit vir ejus, soluta est a lege viri. Igitur, vivente viro, vocabitur adultera si fuerit cum alio viro: si autem mortuus fuerit vir ejus, liberata est a lege viri, ut non sit adultera si fuerit cum alio viro.

Reading 1: Know you not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) that the law hath dominion over a man, as long as it liveth? For the woman that hath a husband, whilst her husband liveth is bound to the law. But if her husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. Therefore, whilst her husband liveth, she shall be called an adulteress, if she be with another man: but if her husband be dead, she is delivered from the law of her husband; so that she is not an adulteress, if she be with another man.

R. Sancta et immaculata virginitas, quibus te laudibus efferam nescio: * Quia quem coeli capere non poterant, tuo gremio contulisti. V. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui. R. Quia quem coeli capere non poterant, tuo gremio contulisti.

R. O Mary, how holy and how spotless is thy virginity! I am too dull to praise thee! * For thou hast borne in thy breast Him Whom the heavens cannot contain. V. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. R. For thou hast borne in thy breast Him Whom the heavens cannot contain.

Lectio 2: Itaque fratres mei, et vos mortificati estis legi per corpus Christi: ut sitis alterius, qui ex mortuis resurrexit, ut fructificemus Deo. Cum enim essemus in carne, passiones peccatorum, quæ per legem erant, operabantur in membris nostris, ut fructificarent morti. Nunc autem soluti sumus a lege mortis, in qua detinebamur, ita ut serviamus in novitate spiritus, et non in vetustate litteræ.

Reading 2: Therefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law, by the body of Christ; that you may belong to another, who is risen again from the dead, that we may bring forth fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members, to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are loosed from the law of death, wherein we were detained; so that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

R. Nesciens Mater Virgo virum, péperit sine dolóre: * Salvatórem sæculórum, ipsum Regem Angelórum, sola Virgo lactábat ubere de cælo pleno. V. Domus pudici péctoris templum repénte fit Dei: intacta nesciens virum, verbo concépit Fílium. R. Salvatórem sæculórum, ipsum Regem Angelórum, sola Virgo lactábat ubere de cælo pleno.

R. The Virgin-Mother that knew not a man, bore, but travailed not.* She fed the Saviour of the world, The King of Angel hosts above, Jesus, our Redeemer blest, From the fountain of her breast. V. Soon rises in that modest shrine, The Temple of the Lord Divine; The stainless and unwedded one, Within her womb conceived the Son. R. She fed the Saviour of the world, The King of Angel hosts above, Jesus, our Redeemer blest, From the fountain of her breast.

Lectio 3: Quid ergo dicemus? lex peccatum est? Absit. Sed peccatum non cognovi, nisi per legem: nam concupiscentiam nesciebam, nisi lex diceret: Non concupisces. Occasione autem accepta, peccatum per mandatum operatum est in me omnem concupiscentiam. Sine lege enim peccatum mortuum erat. Ego autem vivebam sine lege aliquando: sed cum venisset mandatum, peccatum revixit.	Reading 3: What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? God forbid. But I do not know sin, but by the law; for I had not known concupiscence, if the law did not say: Thou shalt not covet.  But sin taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.  And I lived some time without the law. But when the commandment came, sin revived.
R. Parvulus natus est nobis, et fílius datus est nobis, et factus est principátus super humerum ejus: * Et vocábitur Admirábilis, Deus Fortis V. Multiplicabitur ejus imperium et pacis non erit finis R. Et vocábitur Admirábilis, Deus Fortis V. Gloria Patri… R. Et vocábitur Admirábilis, Deus Fortis	R. A child is born to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: * And his name shall be called, Wonderful, God the Mighty V. His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of peace R. And his name shall be called, Wonderful, God the Mighty V. Glory be… R. And his name shall be called, Wonderful, God the Mighty.

OR (For the Octave Day of the Holy Innocents):

 

Reading 3 - Sermo sancti Augustíni Epíscopi: Nascénte Dómino, luctus cœpit, non cælo, sed mundo: indícitur mátribus lamentátio, Angelis exsultátio, infántibus transmigrátio. Deus est, qui natus est: Innocéntes illi debéntur víctima, qui venit damnáre mundi malítiam. Agnélli debent immolári, quia Agnus futúrus est crucifígi, qui tollit peccáta mundi. Sed oves úlulant matres, quia agnos perdunt sine voce balántes. Grande martýrium, crudéle spectáculum! Exímitur machæra, et nulla intérvenit causa: sola stridet invídia, cum qui natus est, nulli fáciat violéntiam. Sed oves cérnimus matres: quæ super agnos lugent: Vox in Rama audíta est, plorátus et ululátus magnus. Pígnora sunt, non crédita, sed creáta; non depósita, sed expósita.

The Lord is born, and sorrow breaks out, not in heaven but on earth; to mothers is proclaimed lamentation, to angels joy, to children translation. God is born, and innocence must be offered up to Him Who cometh to condemn the malice of the world. The Lamb that takes away the sins of the world is come to be crucified, and the tender flock is brought to the sacrifice. But the mothers will lament over them whose inarticulate bleating is silenced for ever. Let us turn a look on this great martyrdom, this heart-rending sorrow. The sword is drawn, though there is no offence to punish, only jealousy shrieking for Him Who is born, and does no violence. And here are mothers weeping over the lambs of the flock. In Ramah was there a voice heard, weeping and great mourning. which shall be returned hereafter, but they are pledges taken without being given, impounded without being entrusted.

R. Céntum / quadragínta quátuor míllia, qui empti sunt de terra, † hi sunt qui cum muliéribus non sunt coinquináti: * Vírgines enim permansérunt, ídeo regnant cum Deo, et Agnus Dei cum illis. V. Isti sunt qui venérunt ex magna tribulatióne, † et lavérunt stolas suas in sánguine Agni. R. Vírgines enim permansérunt, ídeo regnant cum Deo, et Agnus Dei cum illis. V. Gloria Patri... R.  Virgines...

R. A hundred and forty-four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth; these are they which were not defiled with women. * For they remained virgins; therefore are they kings before God, and the Lamb of God is with them. V. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes in the Blood of the Lamb. R. For they remained virgins; therefore are they kings before God, and the Lamb of God is with them.

NR 190-1