Sanctæ Mariæ Sabbato

Nocturn 1

Ant. The Lord our God has been mindful * for ever of his covenant.

Psalm 104(1-15)

104:1 Confess to the Lord, and invoke his name. * Announce his works among the nations.
104:2 Sing to him, and sing psalms to him. * Describe all his wonders.
104:3 Be praised in his holy name. * Let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
104:4 Seek the Lord, and be confirmed. * Seek his face always.
104:5 Remember his miracles, which he has done, * his portents and the judgments of his mouth:
104:6 you offspring of Abraham his servant, * you sons of Jacob his elect.
104:7 He is the Lord our God. * His judgments are throughout the entire earth.
104:8 He has remembered his covenant for all ages: * the word that he entrusted to a thousand generations,
104:9 which he assigned to Abraham, * and his oath to Isaac.
104:10 And he stationed the same for Jacob with a precept, * and for Israel with an eternal testament,
104:11 saying: To you, I will give the land of Canaan, * the allotment of your inheritance.
104:12 Though they may have been but a small number, * very few and foreigners there,
104:13 and though they passed from nation to nation, * and from one kingdom to another people,
104:14 he allowed no man to harm them, * and he reproved kings on their behalf.
104:15 Do not be willing to touch my Christ, * and do not be willing to malign my prophets.

℣ 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. The Lord our God has been mindful for ever of his covenant.

Ant. The Lord increased * his people: and strengthened them against their enemies.

Psalm 104(16-27)

104:16 And he called a famine upon the land, * and he crushed every foundation of the bread.
104:17 He sent a man before them: * Joseph, who had been sold as a slave.
104:18 They humbled his feet in shackles; the iron pierced his soul, * until his word arrived.
104:19 The eloquence of the Lord inflamed him. * The king sent and released him; he was the ruler of the people, and he dismissed him.
104:21 He established him as master of his house * and ruler of all his possessions,
104:22 so that he might instruct his princes as himself, * and teach his elders prudence.
104:23 And Israel entered into Egypt, * and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham.
104:24 And he helped his people greatly, * and he strengthened them over their enemies.
104:25 He turned their heart to hate his people, * and to deal deceitfully with his servants.
104:26 He sent Moses, his servant, * and Aaron, the one whom he chose.
104:27 He placed with them signs of his word, * and portents in the land of Ham.

℣ 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. The Lord increased his people: and strengthened them against their enemies.

Ant. God led out * his people in exultation, and his chosen ones in gladness.

Psalm 104(28-45)

104:28 He sent darkness and made it conceal, * and he did not afflict them with his speech.
104:29 He turned their waters into blood, * and he slaughtered their fish.
104:30 Their land brought forth frogs, * even in the inner chambers of their kings.
104:31 He spoke, and there came forth common flies * and gnats, in every region.
104:32 He gave them a shower of hail * and a burning fire, in the same land.
104:33 And he struck their vineyards and their fig trees, * and he crushed the trees of their region.
104:34 He spoke, and the locust came forth, and the caterpillar, * of which there was no number.
104:35 And it devoured all the grass in their land, * and it consumed all the fruit of their land.
104:36 And he struck all the first-born in their land, * the first-fruits of all their labor.
104:37 And he led them out with silver and gold, * and there was not an infirm one among their tribes.
104:38 Egypt was joyful at their departure, * for the fear of them lay heavy upon them.
104:39 He spread a cloud for their protection, * and a fire, to give them light through the night.
104:40 They petitioned, and the quail came; * and he satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
104:41 He ruptured the rock and the waters flowed: * rivers gushed in the dry land.
104:42 For he had called to mind his holy word, * which he kept near to his servant Abraham.
104:43 And he led forth his people in exultation, * and his elect in rejoicing.
104:44 And he gave them the regions of the Gentiles, * and they possessed the labors of the peoples,
104:45 so that they might observe his justifications, * and inquire about his law.

℣ 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. God led out his people in exultation, and his chosen ones in gladness.

Ant. The Lord saved them * for his name's sake.

Psalm 105(1-15)

105:1 Confess to the Lord, for he is good, * for his mercy is with every generation.
105:2 Who will declare the powers of the Lord? * Who make a hearing for all his praises?
105:3 Blessed are those who keep judgment * and who do justice at all times.
105:4 Remember us, O Lord, with good will for your people. * Visit us with your salvation,
105:5 so that we may see the goodness of your elect, so that we may rejoice in the joy of your nation, * so that you may be praised along with your inheritance.
105:6 We have sinned, as have our fathers. * We have acted unjustly; we have wrought iniquity.
105:7 Our fathers did not understand your miracles in Egypt. * They did not remember the multitude of your mercies.
105:7 And they provoked you, while going up to the sea, * even the Red Sea.
105:8 And he saved them for the sake of his name, * so that he might make known his power.
105:9 And he rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up. * And he led them into the abyss, as if into a desert.
105:10 And he saved them from the hand of those who hated them. * And he redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
105:11 And the water covered those who troubled them. * Not one of them remained.
105:12 And they believed his words, * and they sang his praises.
105:13 As soon as they had finished, they forgot his works, * and they would not endure his counsel.
105:14 And they coveted their desire in the desert, * and they tempted God in a waterless place.
105:15 And he granted to them their request, * and he sent abundance into their souls.

℣ 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. The Lord saved them for his name's sake.

Ant. They forgot God * who saved them.

Psalm 105(16-31)

105:16 And they provoked Moses in the camp, * and Aaron, the holy one of the Lord.
105:17 The earth opened and swallowed Dathan, * and it covered the congregation of Abiram.
105:18 And a fire broke out in their congregation. * A flame burned up the sinners.
105:19 And they fashioned a calf at Horeb, * and they adored a graven image.
105:20 And they exchanged their glory * for the likeness of a calf that eats hay.
105:21 They forgot God, who saved them, * who did great things in Egypt: miracles in the land of Ham, terrible things at the Red Sea.
105:23 And he said that he would destroy them, * yet Moses, his elect, stood firm before him in the breach,
105:24 in order to avert his wrath, lest he destroy them. * And they held the desirable land to be nothing.
105:25 They did not trust in his word. And they murmured in their tabernacles. * They did not heed the voice of the Lord.
105:26 And he lifted up his hand over them, * in order to prostrate them in the desert,
105:27 and in order to cast their offspring among the nations, * and to scatter them among the regions.
105:28 And they were initiated into Baal of Peor, * and they ate the sacrifices of the dead.
105:29 And they provoked him with their inventions, * and ruination was multiplied in them.
105:30 Then Phinehas stood up and placated him: * and so the violent disturbance ceased.
105:31 And it was reputed to him unto justice, * from generation to generation, even forever.

℣ 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. They forgot God who saved them.

Ant. When they were in tribulation * the Lord saw them: and heard their prayer.

Psalm 105(32-48)

105:32 And they provoked him at the Waters of Contradiction, * and Moses was afflicted because of them, for they exasperated his spirit.
105:33 And so he divided them with his lips. * They did not destroy the nations, about which the Lord had spoken to them.
105:35 And they were mixed among the Gentiles. And they learned their works, and they served their graven images, * and it became a scandal to them.
105:37 And they sacrificed their sons * and their daughters to demons.
105:38 And they shed innocent blood: * the blood of their sons and of their daughters, which they sacrificed to the graven images of Canaan.
105:39 And the land was infected with bloodshed, and was contaminated with their works. * And they fornicated according to their own inventions.
105:40 And the Lord became furiously angry with his people, * and he abhorred his inheritance.
105:41 And he delivered them into the hands of the nations. * And those who hated them became rulers over them.
105:42 And their enemies afflicted them, and they were humbled under their hands. * Many times, he delivered them.
105:43 Yet they provoked him with their counsel, * and they were brought low by their iniquities.
105:44 And he saw that they were in tribulation, * and he heard their prayer.
105:45 And he was mindful of his covenant, * and he repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
105:46 And he provided for them with mercies, * in the sight of all those who had seized them.
105:47 Save us, O Lord our God, * and gather us from the nations,
105:47 so that we may confess your holy name * and glory in your praise.
105:48 Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, from ages past, even to all ages. * And let all the people say: Amen. Amen.

℣ 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. When they were in tribulation the Lord saw them: and heard their prayer.

Ant. They cried out to the Lord * and he delivered them from their distress.

Psalm 106(1-14)

106:1 Confess to the Lord, for he is good, * for his mercy is with every generation.
106:2 Let those who have been redeemed by the Lord say so: those whom he redeemed from the hand of the enemy * and gathered from the regions,
106:3 from the rising of the sun and its setting, * from the north and from the sea.
106:4 They wandered into solitude in a waterless place. * They did not find the way of the city to be their dwelling place.
106:5 They were hungry, and they were thirsty. * Their soul fainted within them.
106:6 And they cried out to the Lord in tribulation, * and he rescued them in their necessity.
106:7 And he led them in the right way, * so that they might go forth to a city of habitation.
106:8 Let his mercies confess to the Lord, * and let his miracles confess to the sons of men.
106:9 For he has satisfied the empty soul, * and he has satisfied the hungry soul with good things:
106:10 those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, * shackled by extreme poverty and by iron.
106:11 For they exasperated the eloquence of God, * and they irritated the deliberation of the Most High.
106:12 And their heart was brought low with hardships. * They were weakened, and there was no one to help them.
106:13 And they cried out to the Lord in their tribulation, * and he freed them from their distress.
106:14 And he led them out of darkness and the shadow of death, * and he broke apart their chains.

℣ 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. They cried out to the Lord and he delivered them from their distress.

Ant. They themselves saw * the works of God and his wonders.

Psalm 106(15-30)

106:15 Let his mercies confess to the Lord, * and let his miracles confess to the sons of men.
106:16 For he has crushed the gates of brass * and broken the iron bars.
106:17 He has taken them up, from the way of their iniquity. * For they were brought low, because of their injustices.
106:18 Their soul abhorred all food, * and they drew near even to the gates of death.
106:19 And they cried out to the Lord in their tribulation, * and he delivered them in their necessity.
106:20 He sent his word, and he healed them, * and he rescued them from their utter destruction.
106:21 Let his mercies confess to the Lord, * and let his miracles confess to the sons of men.
106:22 And let them offer sacrifice with the sacrifice of praise, * and let them announce his works in exultation.
106:23 Those who descend to the sea in ships, * making their livelihood in the great waters:
106:24 these have seen the works of the Lord * and his wonders in the deep.
106:25 He spoke: and a windstorm stood up, * and its waves were exalted.
106:26 They ascend even to the heavens, and they descend even to the abyss. * Their soul will waste away in distress.
106:27 They were troubled, and they moved like a drunkard, * and all their wisdom was consumed.
106:28 And they cried out to the Lord in their tribulation, * and he led them out of their distress.
106:29 And he replaced the storm with a breeze, * and its waves were stilled.
106:30 And they were joyful that it was stilled, * and he led them into the haven that they desired.

℣ 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. They themselves saw the works of God and his wonders.

Ant. The righteous shall see * and rejoice, and shall understand the mercies of the Lord.

Psalm 106(31-43)

106:31 Let his mercies confess to the Lord, * and let his miracles confess to the sons of men.
106:32 And let them exalt him in the Church of the people, * and praise him in the chair of the elders.
106:33 He has placed rivers in the desert * and sources of water in dry places,
106:34 a fruit-bearing land in the midst of brine, * before the malice of those who dwell in it.
106:35 He has placed a desert in the midst of pools of waters, * and a land without water in the midst of sources of water.
106:36 And he has gathered the hungry together there, * and they constructed a city of habitation.
106:37 And they sowed fields and planted vineyards, * and they produced the fruit of nativity.
106:38 And he blessed them, and they were multiplied exceedingly. * And he did not diminish their beasts of burden.
106:39 And they became few, * and they were afflicted by the tribulation of evils and of sorrow.
106:40 Contempt was poured over their leaders, * and he caused them to wander in an impassable place, and not on the way.
106:41 And he helped the poor out of destitution, * and he stationed families like sheep.
106:42 The upright will see, and they will rejoice. * And every iniquity will block its mouth.
106:43 Who is wise and will keep these things? * And who will understand the mercies of 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.

Ant. The righteous shall see and rejoice, and shall understand the mercies of the Lord.

℣ Let them exalt the Lord in the assembly of the people.

℟ And praise him in the seat of the elders.

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.

May the prayers and merits of blessed Mary ever Virgin and all the Saints bring us to the kingdom of heaven.

℟ Amen.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the Virgin Mary with her loving Son bless us.

℟ Amen.

Reading 1

From Ezekiel the Prophet

Ezek 19:1-7

1 And as for you, take up a lament over the leaders of Israel,
2 and you shall say: Why did your mother, the lioness, recline among the male lions, and raise her little ones in the midst of young lions?
3 And she led away one of her little ones, and he became a lion. And he learned to seize prey and to consume men.
4 And the Gentiles heard about him, and they seized him, but not without receiving wounds. And they led him away in chains to the land of Egypt.
5 Then, when she had seen that she was weakened, and that her hope had perished, she took one of her little ones, and appointed him as a lion.
6 And he advanced among the lions, and he became a lion. And he learned to seize prey and to devour men.
7 He learned to make widows, and to lead their citizens into the desert. And the land, with its plenitude, was made desolate by the voice of his roaring.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ Holy and undefiled virginity, with what praises I may extol you, I know not:

For him whom the heavens could not contain, you bore in your bosom.

℣ Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

℟ For him whom the heavens could not contain, you bore in your bosom.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the Virgin of virgins intercede for us to the Lord.

℟ Amen.

Reading 2

Ezek 19:8-11

8 And the Gentiles came together against him, on every side, from the provinces, and they spread their net over him; by their wounds, he was captured.
9 And they put him into a cage; they led him in chains to the king of Babylon. And they cast him into a prison, so that his voice would no longer be heard upon the mountains of Israel.
10 Your mother is like a vine, in your blood, planted by the water; her fruit and her branches have increased because of many waters.
11 And her strong branches were made into scepters for the rulers, and her stature was exalted among the branches. And she saw her own loftiness among the multitude of her branches.

Ezek 19:12-14

12 But she was uprooted in wrath, and cast upon the ground. And the burning wind dried up her fruit. Her robust branches withered and were dried up. A fire consumed her.
13 And now she has been transplanted into the desert, into a land impassable and dry.
14 And a fire has gone forth from a rod of her branches, which has consumed her fruit. And there is no strong branch in her to become a scepter for the rulers. This is a lamentation, and it shall be a lamentation.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ For you are blessed, O holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise:

For from you arose the Sun of justice, Christ our God.

℣ Pray for the people, intercede for the clergy, plead for the devout female sex: let all feel your help, whoever celebrate your holy feast.

℟ For from you arose the Sun of justice,

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

℟ Christ our God.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. Through the Virgin Mother, may the Lord grant us salvation and peace.

℟ Amen.

Reading 3

From the Commentary of St. Basil, Bishop, on the Prophet Isaias

On chapter 8 near the beginning

“I went to the prophetess”, he says, “and she conceived and bore a son.” To see Mary in the prophetess whom Isaias approached by spiritual foreknowledge one need only recall the words Mary uttered when she was inspired by the spirit of prophecy: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid; for behold, henceforth all generation shall call me blessed.” In fact, if you bear in mind all that she said, you can only agree that she was indeed the prophetess, since the spirit of Lord came upon her, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her.

℣ 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.