Lesson IX. THEN was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the Prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Kachel weeping for her children. Of Rachel was born Benjamin, in whose tribe Bethlehem is not. How then, it is asked, does Rachel weep for the sons of Judah, that is, Bethlehem, as if they were her own? We reply, briefly, that she was buried near Bethlehem Ephratah, and she is called their mother, be cause she received the name of mother of the place where her tomb was made. Or else that the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin were united, and Herod had commanded to slay all the children, not in Bethlehem only, but in all the coasts thereof. Ry. Who are these that are arrayed in white robes, and whence came they? And he said unto me: * These are they which came out of great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the LA . I saw under the Altar of GOD the souls of them which were slain for the Word of GOD, and for the testimony which they kept. These. Glory. These. |Here beginneth the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romans. Lesson I. Chap. i. PAUL, a servant of JESUS CHRIST, called to be an apostle, separated unto the Gospel of GOD, (which he had promised afore by his prophets in holy scriptures,) concerning his Son JESUS CHRIST our LORD, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the SON of GOD with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: among whom are ye also the called of JESUS CHRIST: to all that be in Rome, beloved of GOD, called to be saints: Grace to and the LORD JESUS CHRIST. you and peace from GoD our Father, Ry. To-day true peace p. xxvii. Lesson II. FIRST, I thank my God through JESUS CHRIST for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For GoD is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of GOD to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Ry. Whom have ye p. xxvii. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of CHRIST: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of GOD revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of GOD is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of GOD is manifest in them; for GOD hath shewed it unto them. R. O wonderful mystery p. xxviii. SECOND NOCTURN. A Sermon of S. Leo the Pope. Sermon 9. on the Nativity of the LORD. THE magnitude of the work of GOD exceeds, nay far surpasses, the power of human speech; and the difficulty of utterance arises thence whence comes the cause for not keeping silence. Because in CHRIST JESUS, the SON of GOD, it beholds not only the Divine Essence, but the human nature, as is said by the Prophet, "Who shall declare His generation?" For unless faith believes that each Substance was united in One Person, speech cannot explain this doctrine. And, therefore, matter will never be wanting for our praise, because the fluency of him that praises is never sufficient. Ry. The blessed Mother p. xxviii. Lesson V. LET us rejoice, therefore, that we are unequal to setting forth the mystery of God's mercy, and since we are unable to express the height of our salvation, let us rejoice that we are conquered by it. For no one comes nearer to the knowledge of the truth than he who comprehends that, in the things of GOD, although he has made some progress, there is always something above him still remaining to seek. For he who too soon thinks that he has reached his aim, finds not what he seeks, but falls short in his quest. Ry. Holy and Immaculate p. xxix. BUT lest we should be disturbed by the trials of our weakness, the sayings of the Evangelists and of the Prophets help us by which we are so taught and so kindled that we are not so much to commemorate the Birthday of our LORD as a thing past, as to behold it actually present, because the Word is made Flesh. For the tidings which the Angels brought to the shepherds, as they watched for the safe keeping of their flocks, have filled our hearing also: and therefore we are set over the sheep of the LORD, because we retain in the ear of our heart the divinely published word, as it is said in this day's festivity: Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is CHRIST the LORD. Ry. Blessed is the womb of Mary the Virgin, which bare the Son of the Eternal FATHER: and blessed are the paps which gave suck to CHRIST the LORD, * Who to-day for the salvation of the world vouchsafed to be born of a Virgin. . A day of holiness hath dawned upon us: come, ye nations, and worship the LORD. Who. Glory. Who. THIRD NOCTURN. Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to S. Matthew. Lesson VII. Chap. i. THE Birth of JESUS CHRIST was on this wise: When as His Mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the HOLY GHOST. And that which follows. From the Commentary of S. Jerome | gifts for men. The Apostle, this the Priest on S. Matthew. Seeing that Joseph was not father of our LORD the SAVIOUR, what reference to the LORD hath a pedigree traced down to Joseph? Our first answer shall be that it is not scriptural usage to set down the succession of women in genealogies. Next, that Joseph and Mary were of the same tribe, wherefore he was obliged by the law to take her as his kinswoman, and that they were taxed together in Bethlehem, as sprung from the same IT is to be noted at the same time that Joseph is called son of David, that it might be pointed out that Mary also was of the house of David. JESUS, in the Hebrew tongue, means SAVIOUR. Therefore the Evangelist marked the etymology of that name, saying, Thou shalt call His Name JESUS, for He shall save His people. And whereas the Evangelist Matthew witness, did not say shall receive, but FIFTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF tave, p. xxxviii., except the Lessons Lesson of the Holy Gospel according says, She shall have in her womb; in AT that time: The shepherds said one to another: Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this the Prophet it is written, She shall receive in her womb. But the Prophet, because he foretells the future, de- thing which the LORD hath made known unto us. clares what shall come to pass, and And they came with writes shall receive. haste. And that which follows. The Evangelist, because he is not telling the history of the future, but of the past, changed the word receive, and put down have. For she who hath, is not one who is yet to receive. Ry. O King of heaven, served with such honours! He is placed in a stable, Who comprehends the world: * He lies in a manger, and reigns in heaven. V. Unto us is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is CHRIST the LORD. He lies. He lies. Lesson IX. Glory. WE read similarly in the Psalms, Going up on high He hath led captivity captive, and shall receive A Homily of S. Ambrose the Bishop. Book 2 on S. Luke ii. Notice that the shepherds came with haste. For no one ought to seek CHRIST slothfully. Notice that the shepherds believed the Angel; and wilt thou not believe the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY GHOST, as well as the Angels, the Prophets, and the Apostles? See how wonderfully Scrip They came with haste, it says, to see ture weighs the meaning of each word. the Word. For when the Flesh of the LORD was seen, the Word was seen, since the Word is the SON. Ry. The Word was made Flesh. p. xxx. Lesson VIII. NOR should this example seem to suffering; goodness and forbearance and longnot knowing that the you a poor one because of the | goodness of GOD leadeth thee to repentpoverty of the shepherds. For surely ance? the less valuable it seems to worldly wisdom, the more precious it is to faith. The LORD did not require schools crowded with the wise, but a simple people, which knew not how to clothe what they heard in splendid or meretricious language. For simplicity is sought, not eloquence. Ry. O King of heaven p. xl. Lesson IX. A Te Deum, p. 15. Lesson II. BUT after thy hardness and im penitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of GOD; who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath. Lesson III. TRIBULATION and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile : for there is no respect of persons with GOD. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; for not the hearers of the SIXTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRIST- law are just before GOD, but the doers MAS. The Office as on the previous day, except the Lessons of the 1st Nocturn. FIRST NOCTURN. From the Epistle to the Romans. Lesson I. Chap. ii.. THEREFORE thou art inexcusable, of the law shall be justified. THE CIRCUMCISION AND OCTAVE OF THE Double of the 2nd Class. O man, whosoever thou art that judgest for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of GOD is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of GOD? chamber. Or despisest thou the riches of his p. 14. * Ant, In them hath he set a tabernacle for the Sun: which cometh forth as a Bridegroom out of his Ps. xix. Cæli enarrant, * Ant. Be ye lift up doors and the King come in. Ps. xxiv. Domini est terra. p. 92. V. As a Bridegroom. ye everlasting | the scripture? Abraham believed GOD of glory shall and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him Ry. The LORD proceeding out of His that worketh not, but believeth on him chamber. that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even Of the Epistle of S. Paul the Apostle as David also describeth the blessed to the Romans. Lesson I. Chaps. iii. and iv. WHAT advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of GOD. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of GOD without effect? GOD forbid: yea, let GOD be true, but overy man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is on unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man). GOD forbid for then how shall God judge the world? Ry. Behold the Lamb of GOD, Which taketh away the sins of the world: He it is, of Whom I said unto you, He corning 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. Whose. IS Lesson II. S he the GoD of the Jews only? is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also. Seeing it is one GOD, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? GOD forbid: yea, we establish the law. What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before GoD. For what saith ness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Ry. A hallowed day hath shone upon us: come, ye nations, and worship the LORD:* for to-day a great light descended on the earth. y. This is the day which the LORD hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it. For. Lesson III. COMETH this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: and the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. Ry. Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the LORD, our LORD GOD, and hath shone forth upon us Alleluia, Alleluia. y. This is the day which the LORD hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it. Alleluia. SECOND NOCTURN. Ant. Thou art fairer * than the |