S. Ioannis a S. Facundo Confessoris

Nocturn 1

Ant. The Lord raised up * a testimony in Jacob: and appointed a law in Israel.

Psalm 77(1-8)

77:1 O my people, attend to my law: * incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
77:2 I will open my mouth in parables: * I will speak about concepts that are from the beginning.
77:3 We have heard and known such great things: * and our fathers have described them to us.
77:4 These things have not been hidden from their sons: * in any generation.
77:4 Declaring the praises of the Lord, and his virtues: * and the wonders that he has done.
77:5 And he has received testimony with Jacob: * and he has set a law within Israel.
77:5 Such great things, he has commanded our fathers, so as to make these things known to their sons: * so that another generation might know them.
77:6 Sons who will be born and will grow up, * and will describe them to their sons.
77:7 So then, may they put their hope in God, and may they not forget the works of God: * and may they seek his commandments.
77:8 May they not become like their fathers: * a perverse and exasperating generation.
77:8 A generation that does not straighten their heart: * and whose spirit is not trustworthy with 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. The Lord raised up a testimony in Jacob: and appointed a law in Israel.

Ant. Before their fathers * God worked wonders.

Psalm 77(9-16)

77:9 The sons of Ephraim, who bend and shoot the bow: * have been turned back in the day of battle.
77:10 They have not kept the covenant of God: * and they were not willing to walk in his law.
77:11 And they have been forgetful of his benefits: * and of his miracle, which he revealed to them.
77:12 He performed miracles in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt: * in the field of Tanis.
77:13 He broke the sea and he led them through: * and he stationed the waters, as if in a vessel.
77:14 And he led them with a cloud by day: * and with illumination by fire throughout the night.
77:15 He broke through the rock in the wasteland: * and he gave them to drink, as if from the great abyss.
77:16 He brought forth water from the rock: * and he conducted the waters, as if they were rivers.

℣ 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. Before their fathers God worked wonders.

Ant. The Lord opened * the gates of heaven, and rained down manna upon them to eat.

Psalm 77(17-31)

77:17 And yet, they continued to sin against him: * in a waterless place, they provoked the Most High with resentment.
77:18 And they tempted God in their hearts, * by asking for food according to their desires.
77:19 And they spoke badly about God: * they said, Would God be able to prepare a table in the desert?
77:20 He struck the rock, and so waters flowed, and the torrents flooded: * but would even he be able to provide bread,
77:20 or provide a table * for his people?
77:21 Therefore, the Lord heard, and he was dismayed: * and a fire was kindled within Jacob, and an anger ascended into Israel.
77:22 For they neither put their trust in God: * nor did they hope in his salvation:
77:23 And he commanded the clouds from above: * and he opened the doors of heaven.
77:24 And he rained down manna upon them to eat: * and he gave them the bread of heaven.
77:25 Man ate the bread of Angels, * he sent them provisions in abundance.
77:26 He transferred the south wind from heaven: * and in his virtue, he brought in the Southwest wind.
77:27 And he rained down flesh upon them, as if it were dust: * and feathered birds, as if they were the sand of the sea.
77:28 And they fell down in the midst of their camp: * encircling their tabernacles.
77:29 And they ate until they were greatly satisfied, and he brought to them according to their desires: * they were not cheated out of what they wanted.
77:30 Their food was still in their mouth: * and then the wrath of God came upon them.
77:31 And he slew the fat ones among them, * and he impeded the elect of Israel.

℣ 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 opened the gates of heaven, and rained down manna upon them to eat.

℣ God struck the rock and waters flowed.

℟ And the torrents overflowed.

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.

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

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benedictio. May the eternal Father bless us with his everlasting blessing.

Reading 1

From the First Book of Kings.

1 Reg 8:4-6

4 Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel, having gathered together, went to Samuel at Ramah.
5 And they said to him: 'Behold, you are elderly, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king, so that he may judge us, just as all the nations have.'
6 And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, for they had said, 'Give us a king to judge us.' And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

℟ Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands:

For the hand of the Lord was with him; he struck down the Philistine, and took away the reproach from Israel.

℣ Is not this David, of whom they sang in the chorus, saying: Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

℟ For the hand of the Lord was with him; he struck down the Philistine, and took away the reproach from Israel.

℟ O mountains of Gilboa, let neither dew nor rain fall upon you,

where the mighty of Israel have fallen.

℣ May the Lord visit all the mountains that surround it: but from Gilboa may he pass away.

℟ where the mighty of Israel have fallen.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benedictio. May the Only Begotten Son of God be pleased to bless and assist us.

Reading 2

1 Reg 8:7-9

7 Then the Lord said to Samuel: 'Listen to the voice of the people in all that they are saying to you. For they have not rejected you, but me, lest I reign over them.
8 In accord with all their works, which they have done from the day when I led them away from Egypt, even to this day: just as they have forsaken me, and served foreign gods, so now they also do to you.
9 Now therefore, hear their voice. Yet truly, testify to them and foretell to them the rights of the king who will reign over them.'

℟ O mountains of Gilboa, let neither dew nor rain fall upon you,

where the mighty of Israel have fallen.

℣ May the Lord visit all the mountains that surround it: but from Gilboa may he pass away.

℟ where the mighty of Israel have fallen.

℟ You have heard, O Lord, the prayer of your servant, that I should build a temple for your name:

Bless and sanctify this house for evermore, O God of Israel.

℣ O Lord, who keep your covenant with your servants who walk before you with their whole heart.

℟ Bless and sanctify this house for evermore, O God of Israel.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benedictio. May the mercy of Christ lead us to the joys of paradise.

Reading 3

1 Reg 8:10-14

10 And so, Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people, who had petitioned a king from him.
11 And he said: 'This will be the right of the king who will have authority over you: He will take your sons, and place them in his chariots. And he will make them his horsemen and his runners before his four-horse chariots.
12 And he will appoint them to be his tribunes and centurions, and the plowmen of his fields, and the harvesters of the grain, and the makers of his weapons and chariots.
13 Likewise, your daughters he will take for himself as makers of ointments, and as cooks and bakers.
14 Also, he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best olive groves, and he will give them to his servants.'

℟ I took you from your father's house, says the Lord, and I set you to shepherd the flock of my people:

And I was with you in all things, wherever you walked, establishing your kingdom for ever.

℣ And I made you a great name, after the name of the great ones who are on the earth; and I gave you rest from all your enemies.

℟ And I was with you in all things, wherever you walked, establishing your kingdom for ever.

℣ 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.

℟ And I was with you in all things, wherever you walked, establishing your kingdom for ever.

℟ Lord, if your people have turned back and have prayed toward your sanctuary:

You will hear in heaven, O Lord, and deliver them from the hands of their enemies.

℣ If your people sin against you, and, having turned back, do penance, and come and pray in this place.

℟ You will hear from heaven, O Lord, and deliver them from the hands of their enemies.

Nocturn 2

Ant. God * is their helper: and the Most High is their redeemer.

Psalm 77(32-41)

77:32 In all these things, they continued to sin: * and they were not trustworthy with his miracles.
77:33 And their days faded away into vanity: * and their years with haste.
77:34 When he slew them, then they sought him: * and they returned, and they drew near to him in the early morning.
77:35 And they were mindful that God is their helper: * and that the Most High God is their redeemer.
77:36 And they chose him with their mouth, * and then they lied to him with their tongue.
77:37 For their heart was not upright with him: * nor have they been living faithfully in his covenant.
77:38 Yet he is merciful, and he will pardon their sins: * and he will not destroy them.
77:38 And he has abundantly turned aside his own wrath: * and he did not enflame his wrath entirely:
77:39 And he remembered that they are flesh: * a spirit that goes forth and does not return.
77:40 How often did they provoke him in the desert, * and stir him to wrath in a waterless place?
77:41 And they turned back and tempted God: * and they exasperated the Holy One of Israel.

℣ 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 is their helper: and the Most High is their redeemer.

Ant. The Lord * redeemed them from the hand of the one who afflicted them.

Psalm 77(42-58)

77:42 They did not remember his hand, * in the day that he redeemed them from the hand of the one troubling them.
77:43 Thus he positioned his signs in Egypt, * and his wonders in the field of Tanis.
77:44 And he turned their rivers into blood, * along with their rain showers, so that they could not drink.
77:45 He sent among them the common fly, and it devoured them, * and the frog, and it scattered them.
77:46 And he gave up their fruits to mold, * and their labors to the locust.
77:47 And he slew their vineyards with hail, * and their mulberry trees with severe frost.
77:48 And he delivered their cattle to the hail, * and their possessions to fire.
77:49 And he sent the wrath of his indignation among them: * indignation and wrath and tribulation, sent forth by evil angels.
77:50 He made way for the path of his anger; he did not spare their souls from death: * and he enclosed their beasts of burden in death.
77:51 And he struck all the first-born in the land of Egypt: * the first-fruits of all their labor in the tabernacles of Ham.
77:52 And he took away his own people like sheep, * and he led them through the wilderness like a flock.
77:53 And he led them out in hope, and they did not fear: * and the sea covered their enemies.
77:54 And he led them to the mountain of his sanctification: * the mountain that his right hand had acquired.
77:54 And he cast out the Gentiles before their face: * and he divided their land by lot to them, with a line of distribution.
77:55 And he caused them to dwell in their tabernacles: * the tribes of Israel.
77:56 Yet they tempted and aggravated God Most High: * and they did not keep his testaments.
77:57 And they turned themselves aside, and they did not serve the covenant: * just as their fathers, they were turned backwards like a crooked bow.
77:58 They impelled him to anger on their hills: * and they provoked him to rivalry with their graven images.

℣ 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 redeemed them from the hand of the one who afflicted them.

Ant. God * built his sanctuary on earth.

Psalm 77(59-72)

77:59 God listened, and he spurned them: * and he reduced Israel greatly, almost to nothing.
77:60 And he rejected the tabernacle of Shiloh: * his tabernacle where he had dwelt among men.
77:61 And he delivered their virtue into captivity: * and their beauty into the hands of the enemy.
77:62 And he enclosed his people with the sword: * and he spurned his inheritance.
77:63 Fire consumed their young men: * and their virgins were not lamented.
77:64 Their priests fell by the sword: * and their widows did not weep.
77:65 And the Lord was awakened, as if out of sleep: * and like a powerful man impaired by wine.
77:66 And he struck his enemies on the back: * he gave them over to everlasting disgrace.
77:67 And he rejected the tabernacle of Joseph: * and he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.
77:68 But he chose the tribe of Judah: * mount Zion, which he loved.
77:69 And he built up his sanctuary like a single-horned beast in the land, * which he founded for all ages.
77:70 And he chose his servant David, and he took him from the flocks of the sheep: * he received him from following the ewes with their young,
77:71 in order to pasture Jacob his servant, * and Israel his inheritance.
77:72 And he fed them with the innocence of his heart: * and he led them with the understanding of his hands.

℣ 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 built his sanctuary on earth.

℣ The mouth of the just man shall meditate wisdom.

℟ And his tongue shall speak judgment.

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.

Absolutio. May his loving kindness and mercy assist us, he who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benedictio. May God the almighty Father be gracious and merciful to us.

Reading 4

John of Sahagún was born in Spain of noble lineage; his parents, having long been childless, obtained him from God through pious works and prayers. From his earliest years he gave an outstanding token of future holiness: for he would often speak from an elevated place to the other boys, exhorting them to virtue and the worship of God, and settling their quarrels. In his homeland he was entrusted to the monks of Saint Facundus of the Order of Saint Benedict for instruction in the first elements of learning. While he applied himself to these studies, his father arranged for him to administer a parish church; but this office the young man could be induced by no argument to retain. Admitted among the familiars of the Bishop of Burgos, he became the bishop's closest confidant on account of his well-attested integrity, and was ordained priest and canon by him, being enriched with many benefices. But leaving the bishop's household in order to serve God more quietly, he renounced all the revenues of the Church and devoted himself to a small chapel, where he celebrated Mass daily and frequently preached on divine matters to the great edification of his hearers.

℟ The Lord is near to all who call upon him,

To all who call upon him in truth.

℣ The Lord is compassionate and merciful, patient and of great mercy.

℟ To all who call upon him in truth.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benedictio. May Christ grant us the joys of eternal life.

Reading 5

Going afterwards to Salamanca for the sake of studies, enrolled in the celebrated college of Saint Bartholomew, he so exercised the priestly office as to pursue his desired studies at the same time and also to be constantly engaged in sacred preaching. When he had fallen into a most grave illness, he bound himself by a vow of stricter discipline; and to fulfill it, having first given to a certain poor man who was nearly naked the better of only two garments he possessed, he betook himself to the monastery of Saint Augustine, then flourishing especially in severe discipline: admitted there, he surpassed his elders in obedience, humility of soul, vigils, and prayer. When the care of the refectory was entrusted to him, a small cask of wine, at his touch, sufficed abundantly for all the monks throughout a year. After the year of novitiate, at the superior's command he undertook the office of preaching. At Salamanca at that time, all things divine and human were so confounded by bloody factions that murders took place at nearly every hour, and not only the streets and squares but even the churches overflowed with the blood of men of every rank, and especially of the nobility.

℟ I confess to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent

And revealed them to little ones.

℣ Yes, Father, for so it was pleasing before you.

℟ And revealed them to little ones.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benedictio. May God kindle the fire of his love in our hearts.

Reading 6

John, soothing the minds of the citizens by his preaching and by private conversations, reduced the city to tranquility. He deeply offended a local ruler because he had rebuked his cruelty toward his subjects. For this reason the ruler sent two horsemen to run him through on the road, and they had already drawn near to him, when, struck with a stupor sent from God, they stood motionless together with their horses, until, casting themselves at the feet of the holy man, they begged pardon for their crime. The ruler himself also, struck with sudden terror, had already despaired of his life, when, recalling John and repenting of what he had done, he was restored to health. Likewise, factious men who attacked him with clubs had their arms grow stiff, and their strength was not restored until they begged pardon for their offense. He was accustomed to behold Christ the Lord present while he celebrated Mass, and to draw from that very source of divinity the heavenly mysteries. To perceive the secrets of hearts and to foresee future events of rare occurrence were frequent gifts of his; and he raised to life a seven-year-old niece of his brother who had died. Finally, having foretold the day of his death and having most devoutly received the sacraments of the Church, he closed his last day, glorious for many miracles before and after his death. These being duly proved, Alexander VIII enrolled him in the number of the Saints.

℟ All the nations that you have made will come

And will adore before you, O Lord.

℣ And they will glorify your name, for you are great and do wondrous deeds.

℟ And will adore before you, O 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.

℟ And will adore before you, O Lord.

Nocturn 3

Ant. Help us, * O God, our salvation: and be gracious toward our sins.

Psalm 78

78:1 O God, the Gentiles have entered into your inheritance; they have polluted your holy temple: * they have set Jerusalem as a place to keep an orchard.
78:2 They have placed the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky: * the flesh of your saints for the beasts of the earth.
78:3 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem: * and there was no one who would bury them.
78:4 We have become a disgrace to our neighbors: * a mockery and a derision to those who are around us.
78:5 How long, O Lord? Will you be angry until the end? * Will your zeal be kindled like a fire?
78:6 Pour out your wrath among the Gentiles who have not known you: * and upon the kingdoms that have not invoked your name.
78:7 For they have devoured Jacob: * and they have desolated his place.
78:8 Do not remember our iniquities of the past; may your mercies quickly intercept us: * for we have been made greatly poor.
78:9 Help us, O God, our Savior; and free us, Lord, for the glory of your name: * and be merciful to our sins, for the sake of your name.
78:10 Let them not say among the Gentiles: Where is their God? * and may it become known among the nations before our eyes.
78:10 May the vengeance of the blood of your servants that has been poured out * enter before you as the groaning of those in chains.
78:11 According to the greatness of your arm, * take possession of the sons of those who have been put to death.
78:12 And repay our neighbors sevenfold within their sinews: * the reproach with which they have reproached you, O Lord.
78:13 But we are your people and the sheep of your pasture: * we will give thanks to you in all ages.
78:13 From generation to generation * we will declare your praise.

℣ 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. Help us, O God, our salvation: and be gracious toward our sins.

Ant. I am the Lord * your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

Psalm 80

80:2 Exult before God our helper: * sing joyfully to the God of Jacob.
80:3 Take up a psalm, and bring forth the timbrel: * a pleasing Psalter with stringed instruments.
80:4 Sound the trumpet at the new moon, * on the noteworthy day of your solemnity.
80:5 For it is a precept in Israel: * and a judgment for the God of Jacob.
80:6 He set it as a testimony in Joseph, when he came out of the land of Egypt: * he heard a tongue that he knew not.
80:7 He turned his back from the burdens: * his hands had served in the basket.
80:8 In tribulation you called upon me, and I delivered you: * I heard you in the secret place of the storm; I proved you at the waters of contradiction.
80:9 Hear, O my people, and I will testify to you: * O Israel, if you will hear me, there shall be no new god among you, nor shall you adore a foreign god.
80:11 For I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt: * open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
80:12 But my people did not hear my voice: * and Israel did not heed me.
80:13 So I dismissed them according to the desires of their heart: * they shall walk in their own devices.
80:14 If my people had heard me: * if Israel had walked in my ways:
80:15 I would have humbled their enemies as nothing: * and I would have stretched forth my hand upon those who troubled them.
80:16 The enemies of the Lord have lied to him: * and their time shall be for ever.
80:17 And he fed them with the fat of wheat: * and filled them with honey from the rock.

℣ 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. I am the Lord your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

Ant. Be not silent, O God, * for your enemies have lifted up their head.

Psalm 82

82:2 O God, who shall be like you? * Be not silent, neither be still, O God.
82:3 For behold, your enemies have made a noise: * and they who hate you have lifted up their head.
82:4 They have devised a malicious counsel against your people: * and they have plotted against your holy ones.
82:5 They have said: Come, and let us destroy them as a nation: * and let the name of Israel be remembered no more.
82:6 For they have plotted together with one accord: * they have made a covenant against you— the tents of the Edomites and the Ishmaelites:
82:8 Moab and the Hagarenes, Gebal and Ammon and Amalek: * the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre.
82:9 And Assyria also has come with them: * they have become a help for the sons of Lot.
82:10 Do to them as you did to Midian and to Sisera: * as to Jabin at the torrent of Kishon.
82:11 They perished at Endor: * they became as dung upon the earth.
82:12 Make their princes as Oreb and Zeb, * and Zebah and Zalmunna:
82:13 All their princes: * who have said: Let us possess the sanctuary of God as our inheritance.
82:14 O my God, make them like a wheel, * and like stubble before the face of the wind.
82:15 As fire that burns a forest: * and as a flame burning mountains:
82:16 So shall you pursue them in your storm: * and in your anger you shall trouble them.
82:17 Fill their faces with shame: * and they shall seek your name, O Lord.
82:18 Let them be ashamed and troubled for ever and ever: * and let them be confounded and perish.
82:19 And let them know that the Lord is your name: * you alone are the Most High over all the earth.

℣ 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. Be not silent, O God, for your enemies have lifted up their head.

℣ The law of his God is in his heart.

℟ And his steps shall not be overthrown.

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.

Absolutio. May the almighty and merciful Lord absolve us from the bonds of our sins.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

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

Reading 7

A Reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Ioannes 19:31-37

At that time: The Jews, because it was the day of Preparation, that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a great day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and they might be taken away. And so forth.

A Homily of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop

Liber de ligno vitæ, num. 30

So that the Church might be formed from the side of Christ sleeping on the cross, and the Scripture fulfilled which says: They shall look upon him whom they have pierced, it was granted by divine ordinance that one of the soldiers should pierce and open that sacred side with a lance; so that with blood and water flowing forth, the price of our salvation might be poured out — which, issuing from the hidden fountain of the Heart, might give power to the Sacraments of the Church for the conferring of the life of grace, and might now be for those living in Christ the drink of the fountain of living water, springing up unto eternal life. Rise up, therefore, O soul, friend of Christ; cease not to be watchful; set your lips there, that you may draw water from the fountains of the Savior.

℟ I, if I am lifted up from the earth,

Will draw all things to myself.

℣ Now he said this signifying by what death he was to die.

℟ Will draw all things to myself.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benedictio. May the divine assistance remain always with us.

Reading 8

De vite mystica, cap. 3

Since we have come once to the most sweet Heart of the Lord Jesus, and it is good for us to be here, let us not be easily torn away from it. O how good and delightful it is to dwell in this Heart. Your Heart, O best Jesus, is a good treasure, a precious pearl, which we found when the field of your body was dug. Who would cast away this pearl? Rather, I will give all my pearls; I will exchange and purchase it with all my thoughts and affections, casting all my care upon the Heart of the good Jesus, and without deceit it will nourish me. Having found this Heart, then — yours and mine, O most sweet Jesus — I will pray to you, my God: admit my prayers into the sanctuary of your hearing; indeed, draw me wholly into your Heart.

℟ Let us therefore be imitators of God

And let us walk in love.

℣ As Christ also loved us and delivered himself up for us.

℟ And let us walk in love.

℣ 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.

℟ And let us walk in love.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

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

Reading 9

For it was for this that your side was pierced, that an entrance might be opened for us. For this was your Heart wounded, that, freed from outward disturbances, we might dwell within it. And likewise was it wounded for this, that through the visible wound we might see the invisible wound of love. How better could this ardor be shown, unless he permitted not only the body but the very Heart itself to be wounded by the lance? The wound of the flesh, therefore, shows the wound of the spirit. Who would not love a Heart so wounded? Who would not love in return one who loves so much? Who would not embrace one so pure? Let us therefore, while we remain still in the flesh, as much as we are able, love him in return who loves us, let us embrace our wounded One, whose hands and feet and side and Heart the impious cultivators have dug open; and let us pray that he may be pleased to constrain our heart, still hard and impenitent, with the bond of his love and wound it with his dart.
We praise you, O God: * we acknowledge you as Lord.
All the earth worships you, * O Father everlasting.
To you all Angels, * to you the Heavens and all the Powers,
To you the Cherubim and Seraphim * cry out without ceasing:
(A bow is made) Holy, Holy, Holy * Lord God of Sabaoth.
Full are the heavens and the earth * of the majesty of your glory.
The glorious chorus of Apostles * praises you,
The admirable company of Prophets * praises you,
The white-robed army of Martyrs * praises you.
Throughout the whole world * the holy Church acknowledges you:
Father * of immeasurable majesty;
Your true and only * Son, worthy of all worship;
And the Holy * Paraclete Spirit.
You, O Christ, * are the King of glory.
You are the * everlasting Son of the Father.
(A bow is made) You, about to take upon yourself humanity for its liberation: * did not shrink from the Virgin's womb.
You, about to take upon yourself humanity for its liberation: * did not shrink from the Virgin's womb.
You, having vanquished the sting of death, * opened the kingdoms of heaven to those who believe.
You sit at the right hand of God, * in the glory of the Father.
You are believed * to be the Judge to come.

(The following verse is said kneeling)

(Brethren, when they begin 'Te ergo quaesumus,' departing from the Stalls, let them reverently bow at the words 'Quos pretioso' and the rest)

We beseech you, therefore, come to the aid of your servants, * whom you have redeemed with your precious blood.
Number them among your Saints * in eternal glory.
Number them among your Saints * to receive reward in eternal glory.
Save your people, O Lord, * and bless your inheritance.
And rule them, * and lift them up for ever.
Day by day * we bless you.
(A bow is made, according to custom) And we praise your name for ever, * and for ever and ever.
And we praise your name for ever, * and for ever and ever.
Graciously keep us, O Lord, this day * without sin.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, * have mercy on us.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, * as we have hoped in you.
In you, O Lord, I have hoped: * let me not be confounded for ever.

Te Deum

We praise you, O God: * we acknowledge you as Lord.
All the earth worships you, * O Father everlasting.
To you all the Angels, * to you the Heavens, and all the Powers:
To you the Cherubim and Seraphim * cry out without ceasing:
(A bow is made) Holy, Holy, Holy, * Lord God of Hosts.
The heavens and the earth are full * of the majesty of your glory.
The glorious choir * of the Apostles,
The praiseworthy company * of the Prophets,
The white-robed army * of Martyrs praises you.
The holy Church throughout the world * acknowledges you,
the Father * of immeasurable majesty;
Your true and only * Son, worthy of veneration;
And the Holy * Paraclete Spirit.
You, O Christ, are the King of glory.
You are the * eternal Son of the Father.
(A bow is made) You, about to take on humanity for its liberation, * did not shrink from the Virgin's womb.
You, about to take on humanity for its liberation, * did not shrink from the Virgin's womb.
Having overcome the sting of death, * you opened the Kingdom of Heaven to those who believe.
You sit at the right hand of God, * in the glory of the Father.
You are believed * to be the Judge to come.

(The following verse is said kneeling)

(Brethren, when they begin 'Te ergo quaesumus,' departing from the Stalls, let them reverently bow at the words 'Quos pretioso' and the rest)

We beseech you, therefore, come to the aid of your servants, * whom you have redeemed with your precious blood.
Number them among your Saints * in eternal glory.
Number them among your Saints * to receive reward in eternal glory.
Save your people, O Lord, * and bless your inheritance.
And rule them, * and lift them up for ever.
Day by day * we bless you.
(A bow is made, according to custom) And we praise your name for ever, * and for ever and ever.
And we praise your name for ever, * and for ever and ever.
Graciously keep us, O Lord, this day * without sin.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, * have mercy on us.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, * as we have hoped in you.
In you, O Lord, I have hoped: * let me not be confounded for ever.