The Pontifical Office: Matins, Translated.

[thesmellypocket 1859]

The Pontifical Office: Matins. 

FOR GENERAL USE IN SEMINARIES, MONASTERIES, CHURCHES AND HOMES.

Translated, Collected and Written by Father Humbert, O.S.J. Posthumously Published by Philip Pius Coppinger.

 

Matins is the earliest prayer of the Church, and should be prayed about two hours after midnight. It is made up of two Psalms and the Canticle. It is notable for, together with Vespers, having the Canticle of Saint Julia.

 

`It was very frustrating to me that no permanent prayer rule had survived in order that we Judites might pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Therefore, the task has fallen on me, God’s unworthy Slave, to do something. This was written for the Judites, but can also be used by nuns, priests and laymen (For the latter have I translated this into Common.) The Hours should especially be prayed in seminaries, to raise up prayerful priests. It can be prayed alone or together, or sung in Chant. I have left my settings of the Chants so that people may use them. If every Canonist prayed the Office, the world would be saved. Thy humble Slave in God,

 

-Father Humbert, O.S.J.’

 

C=Main Celebrant.

R=Response.

Antiphon = sung or said together at the begining and end of the Psalm or Canticle. 

 

C : Gloria Patri et Horeno, et Omnibus Sanctis! [Glory be to the Father, and to Horen, and to all the Saints!]

 

R: Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen! [As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen!]

 

C (All crossing themselves): Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini. [Our help is in the name of the Lord.]

 

R: Qui fecit caelum et terram. [Who made heaven and earth.]

 

C : Oremus. [Let us pray.]

 

C : Pone, Domine, custodiam ori meo, et ostium circumstantiae labiis meis. [Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and a door round about my lips.]

 

R: Accendat in nobis Dominus ignem sui amoris, et flammam aeternae caritatis. Amen. [May the Lord enkindle within us the fire of His love, and the flame of everlasting charity. Amen.]

 

Psalm I: ECCE NUNC BENEDICITE.

 

 

Antiphon: Deus magnum Dominum: Venite, adoremus. [God is the great Lord: come, let us adore Him.]

 

C : Ecce nunc benedicite Dominum, omnes servi Domini. [Behold now bless ye the Lord: all ye slaves of the Lord.]

 

R: Qui statis in domo Domini, in atriis domus Dei nostri.  [Who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of God.]

 

C : In noctibus extollite manus vestras in sancta, et benedicite Dominum. [In the nights lift up your hands to the holy places: and bless ye the Lord.]

 

R: Benedicat te Dominus ex Orenia, qui fecit caelum et terram. [May the Lord out of Oren bless thee, He that made heaven and earth.]

 

C : Gloria Patri et Horeno, et Omnibus Sanctis! [Glory be to the Father, and to Horen, and to all the Saints.]

 

R: Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen! [As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.]

 

Psalm II:  DOMINUS REGIT ME.

 

 

Antiphon: Confitebúntur tibi  pópuli Deus in ætérnum. [Let thy people confess to thee, O God, for all time.]

 

C : Dominus regit me, et nihil mihi deerit. [The Lord ruleth me, I shall want for nothing.]

 

R: In loco pascuae ibi me collocavit. Super aquam refectionis educavit me… [He makes me down to lie in pastures green, he leadeth me, the quiet waters by…]

 

C : ...animam meam convertit. Deduxit me super semitas justitiae, proper nomen suum. [He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name’s sake.]

 

R: Nam, etsi ambulavero in medio umbrae mortis, non timebo mala, quoniam tu mecum es. Virga tua, et baculus tuus, ipsa me consolata sunt. [For though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil: for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.]

 

C : Parasti in conspectu meo mensam, adversus eos qui tribulant me; impinguasti in oleo caput meum; et calix meus inebrians quam praeclarus est! [Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!]

 

R: Et misericordia tua subsequetur me omnibus diebus vitae meae; et ut inhabitem in domo Domini, in longitudinem dierum. [And thy mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.]

 

C : Gloria Patri…

 

R: Sicut erat...

 

THE CANTICLE.

 

 

Antiphon at the MAGNIFICAT:  Regina quondam terrestris nunc assistit Dei dextris in veste deaurata ornatu variata! [The once-earthly queen now sits at the right hand of God, cloaked in glorious vestments!]

 

C : Gloria Patri, et Horeno, et Omnibus Sanctis!

 

R: Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen! 

 

(Repeat antiphon.)

 

 

C : Magnificat anima mea Domninum. [My soul doth magnify the Lord.]

 

R: Et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo. [And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my saviour.]

 

C : Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae; ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes. [For he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.]

 

R: Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus, [For he that is mighty, hath done great things to me, and holy is his name,]

 

C : Et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum. [And his mercy is from generation unto generations: to them that fear him.]

 

R: Fecit potentiam in bracchio suo; Dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. [He hath shown power in his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.]

 

C : Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles. [He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.]

 

R: Esurientes implevit bonis, et divites dimisit inanes. [The poor he hath filled with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away.]

 

C : Suscepit Oreniam, puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae, [He hath helped Oren his servant, remembering his mercy,]

 

R: Sicut locutus est ad maritiam suae, Horenum et semini eius in saecula. [As he spoke to my husband, to Horen and his seed for ever.]

 

C : Gloria Patri et Horeno, et Omnibus Sanctis!  [Glory be…]

 

R: Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. [As it was…]

 

C : Oremus. [Let us pray.]

 

Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis! Laudamus te. Benedicimus te. Adoramus te. Glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. [Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to all men of good will! We praise thee, we bless we, we adore thee; we glorify thee. We give thee thanks of Thy great glory.]

 

R: Deo gratias! [Thanks be to God.]