Page images
PDF
EPUB

He was taken from prison and from | testament is, there must also of judgment. And He. Behold how.

THIRD NOCTURN.

Ant. GoD is My helper, the LORD is with them that uphold my soul. Ps. liv. Deus, in nomine tuo, p. clxxiii. Ant. At Salem is His tabernacle, and His dwelling in Sion. Ps. lxxvi. Notus in Judæa, p. 43.

Ant. I have been even as a man that hath no strength: free among the dead. Ps. lxxxviii. Domine Deus, p. 51.

y. At Salem is His tabernacle.
Ry. And His dwelling in Sion.

necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

Ry. I am counted as one of them that go down into the pit; * I have been even as a man that hath no strength, free among the dead. . They laid Me in the lowest pit, in a place of darkness, and in the deep. I have been.

Lesson IX.

Of the Epistle of S. Paul the Apostle FOR when Moses had spoken every

to the Hebrews. Lesson VII. Chap. ix.

BUT CHRIST being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh : how much more shall the blood of CHRIST, who through the eternal SPIRIT offered himself without spot to GOD, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living GOD?

Ry. The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers took counsel together: against the LORD and against His Anointed. y. Why do the heathen so furiously rage together, and why do the people imagine a vain thing? Against.

Lesson VIII.

AND for this cause He is the Me

diator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a

precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet

wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Ry. When the LORD was buried, the tomb was sealed, and they rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre: * and the soldiers were set to watch it. V. The chief priests came to Pilate and besought him. And the soldiers. When.

[blocks in formation]

Ant. I laid Me down* and slept: and rose up again, for the LORD sustained Me. Al. Al. Ps. iii. Domine, quid multiplicati. p. 6.

V. The LORD hath risen from the grave. Al. Ry. Who hung upon the Cross for us. Al.

Our FATHER. Abs. Hear, LORD JESU CHRIST, . Sir, pray for a blessing. Ben. The evangelical lection.

to Y. for a help.

Then is said: y. Sir, pray blessing. Ben. The Divine

Lesson II.

THEY ran both together; but John

ran on more quickly than Peter. He came first to the sepulchre, and Ventured not to enter in. Peter therefore came after and entered in. What, brethren, what signifies this running? Is this subtle description of the Evangelist to be supposed void of Not in the least.

Lesson of the Holy Gospel according mystery? to S. John.

Lesson I. Chap. 20.

A T that time: On the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre. And that which follows.

A Homily of S. Gregory the Pope.

Homily 22 on the Gospels. The lesson from the Holy Gospel which ye have already heard, my brethren, is plain enough as far as the mere history is concerned: but it also contains mysteries into which it is meet that we should briefly inquire. Mary Magdalene, when it was yet dark, cometh unto the sepulchre. The history records the hour, but the mystical meaning shows us the state of mind of her who sought. Mary indeed sought in the sepulchre the Author of all things, Whom she had seen dead according to the flesh; and because she in no wise found Him, she believed Him to have been stolen It was therefore yet dark, when she came to the sepulchre. She ran quickly and told the disciples; but those ran before the rest, who had loved beyond the rest; namely, Peter and John.

away.

*

R. CHRIST being raised from the dead, dieth no more: death hath no more dominion over Him: for in that He died, He died unto sin once: But in that He liveth, He liveth unto GOD. Al. Al. y. He died for our sins, and rose again for our justification. But. Glory. Repeat from CHRIST, down

For surely John would not have said that he came first, and would not enter in, had not been mystery. What then is if in that very shrinking of his there signified by John, but the synagogue? What by Peter, but the Church?

Ry. These are the tender lambs which declared the word. Al. Now they have come to the fountains, * and are filled with glory, Al. Al. V. In the sight of the Lamb they are clothed in white raiment, and palms are in their hands. And. Glory. And. y. Sir, pray. Ben. The King of Angels.

Lesson III.

NOR should it seem strange that

signified by the younger, but the the synagogue is set forth as Church by the elder; for, although as far as the worship of GOD is concerned, the synagogue is before the Church of the Gentiles, yet, as regards the use of this world, the multitude of the Gentiles is before the synagogue, as Paul beareth witness, when he saith: For that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural. By Peter, the elder, therefore, is signified the Church of the Gentiles; but by John, the younger, the synagogue of the Jews. They ran both together, because from their rising even Gentiles ran with the synagogue a to their setting, the way which to both was one and the same, nevertheless not in one and the same sense. came first to the sepulchre, yet by no The synagogue means entered in; because, although

she understood the commandments of the law, and heard the prophecies of the LORD'S Incarnation and Passion, yet would she not believe in Him Who died.

Te Deum, p. 15. EASTER MONDAY. Inv., Ants., and Pss., are said through the Octave as on Easter Day.

. The LORD is risen from the grave. Al. R. Who hung on the Cross for us. Al. Our FATHER. Abs. Hear, LORD JESUS CHRIST. Ben. The evangelical lection.

Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to S. Luke.

Lesson I. Chap. xxiv.

the week, they came to the sepulchre at the rising of the sun: and entering in, they saw a young man, sitting on the right side, who said unto them. JESUS. Ben. The Divine help.

Lesson II.

НЕ derstanding, opened unto them the mysteries of the sacred Scriptures concerning Himself: yet nevertheless, because He was as yet a stranger to faith in their hearts, He made as though He would have gone farther. He who was sincere truth did nothing by double-dealing: but nevertheless shewed Himself unto them in body such as He was unto them in heart. For they were to be tried, whether

conversed with them in words, rebuked the dulness of their un

AT that time: Two of the disciples of they who as yet loved Him not as GOD,

JESUS went that same day to a village, called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And that which follows. A Homily of S. Gregory the Pope.

Homily 23 on the Gospels. Dearly beloved brethren, ye have heard how that the LORD appeared to two of His disciples, as they walked

in the way, not indeed thoroughly

believing, yet nevertheless speaking of Him: but He showed not unto them the Form which they would recognise. The LORD therefore did that outwardly, with regard to the eyes of their bodies, which was being done nwardly with regard to the eyes of their hearts. For they, within themselves, inwardly loved, yet doubted; and so to them the LORD drew nigh and was present outwardly, yet Who He was He showed not. He showed His presence to them that spake concerning Him, but from them that doubted concerning Him, He hid the Form which they knew.

Ry. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went early to the sepulchre: * JESUS Whom ye seek is not here: He is risen, as He said; He shall go before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him. Al. Al. V. And very early in the morning, the first day of

would at least love Him as a stranger.

Ry. The Good Shepherd hath arisen, who laid down His life for the sheep, and vouchsafed to die for His flock. * Al. Al. Al. y. For CHRIST our Passover is sacrificed for us. Al. Glory. Al. Ben. The King of Angels.

Lesson III.

BUT since those with whom the

Truth was walking could not well be far from love: they invite Him to entertainment as a stranger. But why say we, invite, when it is written here that they constrained Him? From which example it may well indeed be concluded, that strangers are not to be merely asked, but persuaded to accept entertainment. They spread, therefore, the table, and offer Him bread and meat, and GOD, Whom they knew not in the expounding of the Scriptures, they knew in the breaking of bread. By hearing God's commandments therefore, their eyes are not opened, but they are opened in the doing of them; because it is written: Not the hearers of the law are just before GOD, but the doers of the law shall be justified. Whoever therefore would understand that which he hears, let him hasten to fulfil in deed, those

[blocks in formation]

Lesson I. Chap. xxiv.

AT that time: JESUS Himself stood in the midst of the disciples, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

And that which follows.

A Homily of S. Ambrose the Bishop.

as yet embedded in the things which accompany this earthy degradation. For how could it be not a body which the LORD presented to be handled, when there yet remained in it the marks of the wounds, the traces of the stripes? Whereby not only doth He strengthen our faith, but also exciteth our devotion: because He chooseth to bear into Heaven the wounds for us received; He refuseth to do away with them, so that He may show unto God the FATHER the price of our freedom. This is He Whom the FATHER seateth at His own

right hand, thus receiving the triumphant token of our salvation. And there the crown of their scars will shew us the Martyrs in like fashion.

Ry. From the mouth of the wise B. 10, Com. on S. Luke, c. 24. proceedeth honey. Al. The sweetness It is truly marvellous how His of honey is under His tongue. Al. * bodily nature made itself a way His lips drop honeycomb. Al. Al. through an impenetrable body, by any. Wisdom abideth in His heart, and invisible entrance, yet visible to the prudence in the word of His mouth. gaze, easy to be touched, hard to be His lips. Glory. His lips. Ben. The comprehended. Then were the dis- King. ciples troubled, and thought they saw a spirit. And therefore, that He might

Lesson III.

show us the manner of His Resur- AND now, since our discourse hath

rection, the LORD saith: Handle Me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have. It was not therefore by means of a bodiless nature, but by means of the fashion of His Resurrection, that He passed through the fast shut enclosure. For what is touched is a body, what is handled is a body.

[blocks in formation]

taken this turn, let us consider for what cause, according to S. John, the apostles believe and are glad: according to S. Luke, are rebuked as unbelieving; according to the former, they receive the HOLY GHOST: according to the latter, they are commanded to tarry in the city until they be endued with power from on high. And it seemeth unto me as though the one apostle touched greater and higher things; the other, consequences, and things nearer unto men; this useth the longer historical method, that an abridgement; for it is not possible to doubt what he sayeth who bare witness of events in which he himself took part, and his

AND we too shall rise in our bodies. testimony is true; and from him also,

For it is sown a natural body, and rises a spiritual body; the latter more subtle, the former more gross,

who deserved to be an evangelist, it is but just that all suspicion of carelessness or of falsehood should be

banished. And therefore we esteem | Judah, the Root of David, hath pre

both as true, differing from each other neither by variations in what they relate, nor by divergencies as to the persons. For even though Luke at first sayeth that they believed not, nevertheless he afterwards sheweth that they believed; and so, if we take into account only what is said at first, the statements are contrary; if, the

vailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. * Al. Al. Al. ỹ. Worthy is the Lamb Which was slain, to receive virtue, power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Al. Al. Al. Ben. The Divine help.

Lesson II.

consequences that followed, they cer- FOR we know that Peter was a fisher,

tainly agree.

Te Deum. p. 15.

WEDNESDAY.

. Then were the disciples glad. Al. R. When they saw the LORD. Al. Our FATHER. Abs. The Almighty and merciful LORD. Ben. The evangelical lection,

Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to S. John.

Lesson I. Chap. xxi.

AT that time: JESUS shewed Him

self again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. And on this wise shewed He Himself. There were together Simon Peter and Thomas called Didymus. And that which follows.

A Homily of S. Gregory the Pope.

Hom. 24 on the Gospels.

The lesson of the holy Gospel which has just been read in your ears, my brethren, striketh the mind with a question, but by its striking marks the power of discernment. For it may well be asked why Peter, who was a fisher before his conversion, after his conversion returneth to fishing: and since the Truth saith: No man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is. fit for the kingdom of God; why doth he turn again to that which he had forsaken? But if the power of discernment is regarded, it is very quickly seen how this is: because, without all doubt, any business, which was pursued before conversion without sin, might without fault be returned to after conversion.

Ry. Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of

but Matthew was a receiver of custom and after his conversion Peter returned to his fishing: but Matthew sat not again at the receipt of custom; because it is one thing to seek sustenance by fishing, but quite another to hoard up money by the gains of custom. For there are several businesses which can hardly or not at all be pursued without sin. Those then which draw one into sin, to them it is necessary that the soul return not after conversion.

Ry. I am the True Vine, ye are the branches. * He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. ΑΙ. Al. V. As the FATHER hath loved Me, so have I loved you. He that. Glory. He that. Lesson III.

IT might also be inquired why the

For

LORD stood on the shore while the disciples were toiling on the sea after His resurrection, when before His resurrection He walked upon the waves of the sea in the presence of His disciples. The reason of this may be quickly perceived, if the case, as it then stood, be duly weighed. what signifieth the sea, save this present time, which dasheth about with the surges of chances, and the waves of this corruptible life? What is figured by the firmness of the shore save the eternity of everlasting rest? Therefore, because the disciples were yet amid the surges of this mortal life, they toiled on the sea. But because our Redeemer but already laid aside the corruption of the flesh, after His resurrection He stood upon the shore. Te Deum. p. 15.

« PreviousContinue »