S. Gulielmi AbbatisS. William, Abbot

℣ O Lord, ✠ open my lips.

℟ And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

℣ O God, ✠ come to my assistance.

℟ 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.

Ant. The Lord, King of Confessors, * come, let us adore.

Ant. The Lord, King of Confessors, * come, let us adore.

Come, let us exult in the Lord. Let us shout joyfully to God, our Savior. Let us anticipate his presence with confession, and let us sing joyfully to him with psalms.

Ant. The Lord, King of Confessors, * come, let us adore.

For the Lord is a great God and a great King over all gods. For the Lord will not drive away his people. For in his hand are all the limits of the earth, and he beholds the heights of the mountains.

Ant. come, let us adore.

For the sea is his, and he made it, and his hands established the dry land. (kneel) Come, let us adore and fall prostrate before God, and let us weep before the Lord who made us. For he is the Lord our God, and we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Ant. The Lord, King of Confessors, * come, let us adore.

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts: as in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness, where your fathers tempted me; they tested and saw my works.

Ant. come, let us adore.

For forty years, I was near to that generation, and I said: These have always strayed in heart. But they have not known my ways. To them I swore in my wrath: They shall not enter into my rest.

Ant. The Lord, King of Confessors, * come, let us adore.

℣ 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.

Ant. come, let us adore.

Ant. The Lord, King of Confessors, * come, let us adore.

This the confessor of the Lord, whose triumph

Now all the faithful celebrate, with gladness

On this feast day year by year receiveth

Merited honors.

Saintly and prudent, modest in behaviour,

Peaceful and sober, chaste was he, and lowly.

While that life’s vigour, coursing through his members,

Quickened his being.

Sick ones of old time, to his tomb resorting,

Sorely by ailments manifold afflicted,

Oft-times have welcomed health and strength returning,

At his petition.

Whence we in chorus gladly do him honour,

Chanting his praises with devout affection,

That in his merits we may have a portion,

Now and forever.

His be the glory, power and salvation,

Who over all things reigneth in the highest,

Earth’s mighty fabric ruling and directing,

Onely and Trinal.

Amen.

At the Nocturn

Ant. In God is my salvation * and my glory: and my hope is in God.

Psalm 61 [1]

61:2 Will my soul not be subject to God? * For from him is my salvation.

61:3 Yes, he himself is my God and my salvation. * He is my supporter; I will be moved no more.

61:4 How is it that you rush against a man? * Every one of you puts to death, as if you were pulling down a ruined wall, leaning over and falling apart.

61:5 So, truly, they intended to reject my price. I ran in thirst. * They blessed with their mouth and cursed with their heart.

61:6 Yet, truly, my soul will be subject to God. * For from him is my patience.

61:7 For he is my God and my Savior. * He is my helper; I will not be expelled.

61:8 In God is my salvation and my glory. * He is the God of my help, and my hope is in God.

61:9 All peoples gathered together: trust in him. Pour out your hearts in his sight. * God is our helper for eternity.

61:10 So, truly, the sons of men are untrustworthy. The sons of men are liars in the scales, * so that, by emptiness, they may deceive among themselves.

61:11 Do not trust in iniquity, and do not desire plunder. * If riches flow toward you, do not be willing to set your heart on them.

61:12 God has spoken once. I have heard two things: that power belongs to God, and that mercy belongs to you, O Lord. * For you will repay each one according to his works.

℣ 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.

Ant. In God is my salvation and my glory: and my hope is in God.

Ant. Behold the works of the Lord, * and make the voice of his praise be heard.

Psalm 65(1-12) [2]

65:1 Shout joyfully to God, all the earth. Proclaim a psalm to his name. * Give glory to his praise.

65:3 Exclaim to God, “How terrible are your works, O Lord!” * According to the fullness of your virtue, your enemies will speak lies about you.

65:4 Let all the earth adore you and sing psalms to you. * May it sing a psalm to your name.

65:5 Draw near and see the works of God, * who is terrible in his counsels over the sons of men.

65:6 He converts the sea into dry land. They will cross the river on foot. * There, we will rejoice in him.

65:7 He rules by his virtue for eternity. His eyes gaze upon the nations. * May those who exasperate him, not be exalted in themselves.

65:8 Bless our God, you Gentiles, * and make the voice of his praise be heard.

65:9 He has set my soul toward life, * and he has granted that my feet may not be shaken.

65:10 For you, O God, have tested us. * You have examined us by fire, just as silver is examined.

65:11 You have led us into a snare. You have placed tribulations on our back. * You have set men over our heads.

65:12 We have crossed through fire and water. * And you have led us out to refreshment.

℣ 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.

Ant. Behold the works of the Lord, and make the voice of his praise be heard.

Ant. Hear, all * you who fear God, how much he has done for my soul.

Psalm 65(13-20) [3]

65:13 I will enter your house with holocausts. * I will repay my vows to you, which my lips discerned

65:14 and my mouth spoke, * in my tribulation.

65:15 I will offer to you holocausts full of marrow, with the burnt offerings of rams. * I will offer to you bulls as well as goats.

65:16 Draw near and listen, all you who fear God, * and I will describe to you how much he has done for my soul.

65:17 I cried out to him with my mouth, * and I extolled him under my breath.

65:18 If I have seen iniquity in my heart, * the Lord would not heed me.

65:19 And yet, God has heeded me * and he has attended to the voice of my supplication.

65:20 Blessed is God, * who has not removed my prayer, nor his mercy, from 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.

Ant. Hear, all you who fear God, how much he has done for my soul.

Ant. Let God arise, * and let his enemies be scattered.

Psalm 67(2-11) [4]

67:2 May God rise up, and may his enemies be scattered, * and may those who hate him flee from before his face.

67:3 Just as smoke vanishes, so may they vanish. * Just as wax flows away before the face of fire, so may sinners pass away before the face of God.

67:4 And so, let the just feast, and let them exult in the sight of God * and be delighted in gladness.

67:5a Sing to God, sing a psalm to his name. * Make a path for him, who ascends over the west. (bow) The Lord is his name.

67:5b Exult in his sight; * they will be stirred up before his face, (6a) the father of orphans and the judge of widows.

67:6b God is in his holy place. * (7a) It is God who makes men dwell in a house under one custom.

67:7b He leads out those who are strongly bound, * and similarly, those who exasperate, who dwell in sepulchers.

67:8 O God, when you departed in the sight of your people, * when you passed through the desert,

67:9 the earth was moved, for the heavens rained down before the face of the God of Sinai, * before the face of the God of Israel.

67:10 You will set aside for your inheritance, O God, a willing rain. * And though it was weak, truly, you have made it perfect.

67:11 Your animals will dwell in it. * O God, in your sweetness, you have provided for the poor.

℣ 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.

Ant. Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered.

Ant. Our God, * the God of salvation: and to the Lord belong the escapes from death.

Psalm 67(12-24) [5]

67:12 The Lord will give the word to evangelizers, * along with great virtue.

67:13 The King of virtue is beloved among the beloved. * And the beauty of the house will divide spoils.

67:14 If you take your rest in the midst of the clergy, you will be like a dove whose wings are covered with fine silver * and edged with pale gold.

67:15 When heaven discerns kings to be over her, they will be whitened with the snows of Zalmon. * (16a) The mountain of God is a fat mountain,

67:16b a dense mountain, a thick mountain. * (17a) So then, why are you distrustful of dense mountains?

67:17b The mountain on which God is well pleased to dwell, * even there, the Lord will dwell until the end.

67:18 The chariot of God is ten thousand fold: thousands rejoice. * The Lord is with them in Sinai, in the holy place.

67:19a You have ascended on high; you have taken captivity captive. * You have accepted gifts among men.

67:19b For even those who do not believe * dwell with the Lord God.

67:20 Blessed is the Lord, day after day. * The God of our salvation will make our journey prosper for us.

67:21 Our God is the God who will bring about our salvation, * and our Lord is the Lord who has brought an end to death.

67:22 So then, truly, God will break the heads of his enemies, * the hairy skull of those who wander around in their offenses.

67:23 The Lord said: I will turn them away from Bashan, * I will turn them into the depths of the sea,

67:24 so that your feet may be soaked in the blood of your enemies, * so that the tongue of your dogs may be soaked with the same.

℣ 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.

Ant. Our God, the God of salvation: and to the Lord belong the escapes from death.

Ant. In the assemblies * bless the Lord God.

Psalm 67(25-36) [6]

67:25 O God, they have seen your arrival, * the arrival of my God, of my king who is in a holy place.

67:26 The leaders went ahead, united with the singers of psalms, * in the midst of girls playing on timbrels.

67:27 In the churches, bless the Lord God * from the fountains of Israel.

67:28a In that place, Benjamin is a youth * in ecstasy of mind.

67:28b The leaders of Judah are their governors: * the leaders of Zebulun, the leaders of Naphtali.

67:29 Command by your virtue, O God. * Confirm in this place, O God, what you have wrought in us.

67:30 Before your temple in Jerusalem, * kings will offer gifts to you.

67:31a Rebuke the wild beasts of the reeds, a congregation of bulls with the cows of the people, * for they seek to exclude those who have been tested like silver.

67:31b Scatter the nations that are pleased by wars. (32) Ambassadors will come out of Egypt. * Ethiopia will offer in advance her hands to God.

67:33a Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. * Sing psalms to the Lord.

67:33b Sing psalms to God. (34a) He ascends, up to the heaven of the heavens, * toward the east.

67:34b Behold, he will utter his voice, the voice of virtue. (35) Give glory to God beyond Israel. * His magnificence and his virtue is in the clouds.

67:36 God is wonderful in his saints. The God of Israel himself will give virtue and strength to his people. * Blessed is 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.

Ant. In the assemblies bless the Lord God.

Ant. Save me, * O God, for the waters have entered even to my soul. ‡

Psalm 68(2-13) [7]

68:2 Save me, O God, for the waters have entered, even to my soul.

68:3 ‡ I have become stuck in a deep quagmire, * and there is no firm footing.

68:3 I have arrived at the height of the sea, * and a tempest has overwhelmed me.

68:4 I have endured hardships, while crying out. My jaws have become hoarse; * my eyes have failed. Meanwhile, I hope in my God.

68:5 Those who hate me without cause * have been multiplied beyond the hairs of my head.

68:5 My enemies, who persecuted me unjustly, have been strengthened. * Then I was required to pay for what I did not take.

68:6 O God, you know my foolishness, * and my offenses have not been hidden from you.

68:7 Let those who wait for you, O Lord, * the Lord of hosts, not be shamed in me.

68:7 Let those who seek you, O God of Israel, * not be confounded over me.

68:8 For because of you, I have endured reproach; * confusion has covered my face.

68:9 I have become a stranger to my brothers * and a sojourner to the sons of my mother.

68:10 For zeal for your house has consumed me, * and the reproaches of those who reproached you have fallen upon me.

68:11 And I covered my soul with fasting, * and it has become a reproach to me.

68:12 And I put on a haircloth as my garment, * and I became a parable to them.

68:13 Those who sat at the gate spoke against me, * and those who drank wine made me their song.

68:13 But as for me, truly, my prayer is to you, O Lord. * This time has pleased you well, O 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.

Ant. Save me, O God, for the waters have entered even to my soul.

Ant. Because of my enemies * deliver me, O Lord.

Psalm 68(14-29) [8]

68:14 In the multitude of your mercy, * in the truth of your salvation, hear me.

68:15 Rescue me from the quagmire, so that I may not become trapped. * Free me from those who hate me and from deep waters.

68:16 Do not allow the tempest of water to submerge me, nor the deep to absorb me. * And do not allow the well to close in on me.

68:17 Hear me, O Lord, for your mercy is kind. * Look upon me, according to the fullness of your compassion.

68:18 And do not turn your face away from your servant, * for I am in trouble: heed me quickly.

68:19 Attend to my soul, and free it. * Rescue me, because of my enemies.

68:20 You know my reproach, and my confusion, * and my reverence.

68:21 All those who trouble me are in your sight; * my heart has anticipated reproach and misery.

68:21 And I sought for one who might grieve together with me, but there was no one, * and for one who might console me, and I found no one.

68:22 And they gave me gall for my food. * And in my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.

68:23 Let their table be a snare before them, * and a retribution, and a scandal.

68:24 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they may not see, * and may their back always be crooked.

68:25 Pour out your indignation upon them, * and may the fury of your anger take hold of them.

68:26 May their dwelling place be deserted, * and may there be no one who dwells in their tabernacles.

68:27 For they persecuted whomever you struck. * And they have added to the grief of my wounds.

68:28 Assign an iniquity upon their iniquity, * and may they not enter into your justice.

68:29 Delete them from the Book of the Living, * and let them not be written down with the just.

℣ 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.

Ant. Because of my enemies deliver me, O Lord.

Ant. Seek the Lord, * and your soul shall live.

Psalm 68(30-37) [9]

68:30 I am poor and sorrowful, * but your salvation, O God, has taken me up.

68:31 I will praise the name of God with a canticle, * and I will magnify him with praise.

68:32 And it will please God more than a new calf * producing horns and hoofs.

68:33 Let the poor see and rejoice. * Seek God, and your soul will live.

68:34 For the Lord has heard the poor, * and he has not despised his prisoners.

68:35 Let the heavens and the earth praise him: * the sea, and everything that crawls in it.

68:36 For God will save Zion, * and the cities of Judah will be built up.

68:36 And they will dwell there, * and they will acquire it by inheritance.

68:37 And the offspring of his servants will possess it; * and those who love his name will dwell in it.

℣ 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.

Ant. Seek the Lord, and your soul shall live.

℣ I will praise the name of God with a canticle.

℟ And I will magnify him with praise.

The Our Father is said silently as far as And lead us not into temptation:

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 also forgive those who trespass against us:

℣ And lead us not into temptation:

℟ But deliver us from evil.

Absolution. Hear the prayers of your servants, Lord Jesus Christ, and have mercy on us: You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

℟ Amen.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May he bless us who lives and reigns without end.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 1

From the First Book of Kings

1 Reg 19:1-3

1 Now Saul spoke to his son Jonathan, and to all his servants, so that they would kill David. But Jonathan, the son of Saul, loved David very much.

2 And Jonathan revealed it to David, saying: “Saul, my father, is seeking to kill you. Because of this, I ask you, take care for yourself in the morning. And you should conceal yourself and remain in hiding.

3 Then I, going out, will be standing beside my father in the field, where you will be. And I will speak about you to my father. And whatever I see, I will report to you.”

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ Prepare your hearts to the Lord, and serve him alone:

* And he will deliver you from the hands of your enemies.

℣ Turn to him with your whole heart, and put away the foreign gods from your midst.

℟ And he will deliver you from the hands of your enemies.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May he whose feast we celebrate intercede for us to the Lord.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 2

1 Reg 19:4-6

4 Then Jonathan spoke good things about David to his father Saul. And he said to him: “You should not sin, O king, against your servant David. For he has not sinned against you, and his works toward you are very good.

5 And he took his life in his own hand, and struck down the Philistine. And the Lord wrought a great salvation for all of Israel. You saw it, and you rejoiced. Why then would you sin against innocent blood by killing David, who is without guilt?”

6 And when Saul had heard this, being pleased by the voice of Jonathan, he swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be killed.”

1 Reg 19:8-10

8 Then the war was stirred up again. And David went out and fought against the Philistines. And he struck them down with a great slaughter. And they fled from his face.

9 And the evil spirit from the Lord came to Saul, who was sitting in his house and holding a lance. And David was playing music with his hand.

10 And Saul attempted to fix David to the wall with the lance. But David turned aside from the face of Saul. And the lance failed to wound him, and it became fixed in the wall. And David fled, and so he was saved that night.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ The Lord, who delivered me from the mouth of the lion, and freed me from the hand of the beast,

* He himself will deliver me from the hands of my enemies.

℣ God sent his mercy and his truth: he rescued my soul from the midst of lion cubs.

℟ He himself will deliver me from the hands of my enemies.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ He himself will deliver me from the hands of my enemies.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the King of Angels lead us to the company of the citizens on high.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 3

William, born at Vercelli of noble parents, had scarcely completed his fourteenth year when he made a pilgrimage to Compostela with a wondrous spirit of penance and ardor of devotion. Then, a new pilgrimage to the Sepulchre of Christ the Lord having been fruitlessly attempted, he lived in hiding for two years on a solitary mountain amid constant prayers, vigils, and fasts. After he had restored sight to a blind man, he fled human esteem and built a monastery on Mount Virgilian — which thereafter was called the Virgin's — in a rough and inaccessible place; there he received companions and formed them, by word and the example of his most holy life, according to fixed rules drawn largely from the institutions of blessed Benedict. Then, as other monasteries were founded, William's growing holiness drew men to him from every side, drawn also by the fame of frequent miracles. Finally, having foretold the day of his death, he fell asleep in the Lord in the year of salvation one thousand one hundred and forty-two.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

Te Deum

O God, we praise you; * O Lord, we acclaim you.

Eternal Father, * all the earth reveres you.

To you all the Angels, * the heavens and all the Powers of heaven:

To you the Cherubim and Seraphim * cry out in endless praise:

(A bow is made) Holy, Holy, Holy * Lord God of hosts;

Heaven and earth are filled * with the majesty of your glory.

The glorious choir of Apostles * sings to you,

the noble company of Prophets * praises you,

the white-robed army of Martyrs * glorifies you.

Holy Church throughout the earth * proclaims you,

the Father * of boundless majesty;

your true and only Son, * worthy of adoration;

and the Holy Spirit, * the Paraclete.

You, O Christ, * are the King of glory.

You are * the Father's everlasting Son.

(A bow is made) When you resolved to save the human race, * you did not spurn the Virgin's womb.

You overcame the sting of death * and opened the Kingdom of Heaven to those who put their faith in you.

You are seated at the right hand of God * in the glory of the Father.

We believe you are the Judge * who is to come.

(The following verse is said kneeling) And so we beg you, help your servants, * redeemed by your most precious blood.

Number them * among your Saints in eternal glory.

Save your people, Lord, * and bless your inheritance.

Shepherd them * and raise them to eternal life.

Day by day * we bless you,

(A bow is made, according to custom) and we praise your name * for endless ages evermore.

Be gracious, Lord, on this day, * and keep us from all sin.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, * have mercy.

May your mercy be upon us, Lord, * as we place our trust in you.

In you, O Lord, I rest my hope: * let me never be put to shame.

The rest is omitted unless Lauds is said separately.

℣ O Lord, hear my prayer.

℟ And let my cry come before you.

Let us pray.

O God, who have set before your people the example and support of your Saints for treading the path of salvation in our weakness: grant us so to venerate the merits of blessed Abbot William, that we may receive his intercession and follow his footsteps.

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.

℣ O Lord, hear my prayer.

℟ And let my cry come before you.

℣ Let us bless the Lord.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℣ May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

℟ Amen.