III. classis

Feria Quarta infra Hebdomadam IV in Quadragesima

Commemoratio ad Laudes tantum: S. Cyrilli Episcopi Hierosolymitani Confessoris et Ecclesiæ Doctoris

Ad Matutinum

Incipit

Invitatorium

Let it not be vain for you to rise up early, before the light: * For the Lord hath promised a crown to them that watch.

Hymnus

1. The fast, as taught by holy lore, We keep in solemn course once more: The fast to all men known, and bound In forty days of yearly round. 2. The law and seers that were of old In diverse ways this Lent foretold, Which Christ, all seasons’ King and Guide, In after ages sanctified. 3. More sparing therefore let us make The words we speak, the food we take, Our sleep and mirth, —and closer barred Be every sense in holy guard. 4. Avoid the evil thoughts that roll Like waters o’er the heedless soul; Nor let the foe occasion find Our souls in slavery to bind. 5. In prayer together let us fall, And cry for mercy, one and all, And weep before the Judge’s feet, And his avenging wrath entreat. 6. Thy grace have we offended sore, By sins, O God, which we deplore; But pour upon us from on high, O pardoning One, thy clemency. 7. Remember thou, though frail we be, That yet thine handiwork are we; Nor let the honour of thy name Be by another put to shame. 8. Forgive the sin that we have wrought; Increase the good that we have sought: That we at length, our wanderings o'er, May please thee here and evermore. 9. Grant O thou Blessed Trinity, Grant, O Essential Unity, That this our fast of forty days May work our profit and thy praise. Amen.

Nocturnus I

Psalmus 44 (2,10)

Thou art beautiful * above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips.

My heart hath uttered a good word; * I speak my works to the King.

  1. Lingua mea cálamus scribæ: * velóciter scribéntis.

    2. My tongue is the pen of a scrivener * that writeth swiftly.

  2. Speciósus forma præ fíliis hóminum, † diffúsa est grátia in lábiis tuis: * proptérea benedíxit te Deus in ætérnum.

    3. Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips; * therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.

  3. Accíngere gládio tuo super femur tuum, * potentíssime.

    4. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, * O thou most mighty.

  4. Spécie tua et pulchritúdine tua: * inténde, próspere procéde, et regna.

    5. With thy comeliness and thy beauty * set out, proceed prosperously, and reign.

  5. Propter veritátem, et mansuetúdinem, et justítiam: * et dedúcet te mirabíliter déxtera tua.

    6. Because of truth and meekness and justice: * and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.

  6. Sagíttæ tuæ acútæ, pópuli sub te cadent: * in corda inimicórum Regis.

    7. Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, * into the hearts of the king’s enemies.

  7. Sedes tua, Deus, in sǽculum sǽculi: * virga directiónis virga regni tui.

    8. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: * the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness.

  8. Dilexísti justítiam, et odísti iniquitátem: * proptérea unxit te, Deus, Deus tuus, óleo lætítiæ præ consórtibus tuis.

    9. Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: * therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

  9. Myrrha, et gutta, et cásia a vestiméntis tuis, a dómibus ebúrneis: * ex quibus delectavérunt te fíliæ regum in honóre tuo.

    10. Myrrh and stacte and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory houses: * out of which the daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory.

  10. Astitit regína a dextris tuis in vestítu deauráto: * circúmdata varietáte.

    11. The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; * surrounded with variety.

  11. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

    12. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

  12. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

    13. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Thou art beautiful * above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips.

Psalmus 44 (11,18)

Let people confess to thee, * O God, forever.

Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: * and forget thy people and thy father’s house.

  1. Et concupíscet Rex decórem tuum: * quóniam ipse est Dóminus Deus tuus, et adorábunt eum.

    2. And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; * for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore.

  2. Et fíliæ Tyri in munéribus * vultum tuum deprecabúntur: omnes dívites plebis.

    3. And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, * yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance.

  3. Omnis glória ejus fíliæ Regis ab intus, * in fímbriis áureis circumamícta varietátibus.

    4. All the glory of the king’s daughter is within, * in golden borders, clothed round about with varieties.

  4. Adducéntur Regi vírgines post eam: * próximæ ejus afferéntur tibi.

    5. After her shall virgins be brought to the king: * her neighbours shall be brought to thee.

  5. Afferéntur in lætítia et exsultatióne: * adducéntur in templum Regis.

    6. They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: * they shall be brought into the temple of the king.

  6. Pro pátribus tuis nati sunt tibi fílii: * constítues eos príncipes super omnem terram.

    7. Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: * thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.

  7. Mémores erunt nóminis tui: * in omni generatióne et generatiónem.

    8. They shall remember thy name * throughout all generations.

  8. Proptérea pópuli confitebúntur tibi in ætérnum: * et in sǽculum sǽculi.

    9. Therefore shall people praise thee for ever; yea, * for ever and ever.

  9. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

    10. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

  10. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

    11. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Let people confess to thee, * O God, forever.

Psalmus 45

Our God * is our helper in troubles.

Our God is our refuge and strength: * a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly.

  1. Proptérea non timébimus dum turbábitur terra: * et transferéntur montes in cor maris.

    2. Therefore we will not fear, when the earth shall be troubled; * and the mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea.

  2. Sonuérunt, et turbátæ sunt aquæ eórum: * conturbáti sunt montes in fortitúdine ejus.

    3. Their waters roared and were troubled: * the mountains were troubled with his strength.

  3. Flúminis ímpetus lætíficat civitátem Dei: * sanctificávit tabernáculum suum Altíssimus.

    4. The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful: * the most High hath sanctified his own tabernacle.

  4. Deus in médio ejus, non commovébitur: * adjuvábit eam Deus mane dilúculo.

    5. God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved: * God will help it in the morning early.

  5. Conturbátæ sunt Gentes, et inclináta sunt regna: * dedit vocem suam, mota est terra.

    6. Nations were troubled, and kingdoms were bowed down: * he uttered his voice, the earth trembled.

  6. Dóminus virtútum nobíscum: * suscéptor noster Deus Jacob.

    7. The Lord of armies is with us: * the God of Jacob is our protector.

  7. Veníte, et vidéte ópera Dómini, † quæ pósuit prodígia super terram: * áuferens bella usque ad finem terræ.

    8. Come and behold ye the works of the Lord: what wonders he hath done upon earth, * making wars to cease even to the end of the earth.

  8. Arcum cónteret, et confrínget arma: * et scuta combúret igni.

    9. He shall destroy the bow, and break the weapons: * and the shield he shall burn in the fire.

  9. Vacáte, et vidéte quóniam ego sum Deus: * exaltábor in Géntibus, et exaltábor in terra.

    10. Be still and see that I am God; * I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.

  10. Dóminus virtútum nobíscum: * suscéptor noster Deus Jacob.

    11. The Lord of armies is with us: * the God of Jacob is our protector.

  11. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

    12. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

  12. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

    13. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Our God * is our helper in troubles.

Psalmus 47

Great is the Lord * and exceedingly to be praised in the city of our God. ‡

Quæ non repetitur in Psalmo

Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised * in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

  1. Fundátur exsultatióne univérsæ terræ mons Sion, * látera Aquilónis, cívitas Regis magni.

    2. With the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion founded, * on the sides of the north, the city of the great king.

  2. Deus in dómibus ejus cognoscétur: * cum suscípiet eam.

    3. In her houses shall God be known, * when he shall protect her.

  3. Quóniam ecce reges terræ congregáti sunt: * convenérunt in unum.

    4. For behold the kings of the earth assembled themselves: * they gathered together.

  4. Ipsi vidéntes sic admiráti sunt, † conturbáti sunt, commóti sunt: * tremor apprehéndit eos.

    5. So they saw, and they wondered, they were troubled, they were moved: * trembling took hold of them.

  5. Ibi dolóres ut parturiéntis: * in spíritu veheménti cónteres naves Tharsis.

    6. There were pains as of a woman in labour; * with a vehement wind thou shalt break in pieces the ships of Tharsis.

  6. Sicut audívimus, sic vídimus in civitáte Dómini virtútum, † in civitáte Dei nostri: * Deus fundávit eam in ætérnum.

    7. As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: * God hath founded it for ever.

  7. Suscépimus, Deus, misericórdiam tuam, * in médio templi tui.

    8. We have received thy mercy, O God, * in the midst of thy temple.

  8. Secúndum nomen tuum, Deus, † sic et laus tua in fines terræ: * justítia plena est déxtera tua.

    9. According to thy name, O God, so also is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: * thy right hand is full of justice.

  9. Lætétur mons Sion, et exsúltent fíliæ Judæ: * propter judícia tua, Dómine.

    10. Let mount Sion rejoice, and the daughters of Juda be glad; * because of thy judgments, O Lord.

  10. Circúmdate Sion, et complectímini eam: * narráte in túrribus ejus.

    11. Surround Sion, and encompass her: * tell ye in her towers.

  11. Pónite corda vestra in virtúte ejus: * et distribúite domos ejus, ut enarrétis in progénie áltera.

    12. Set your hearts on her strength; and distribute her houses, * that ye may relate it in another generation.

  12. Quóniam hic est Deus, Deus noster in ætérnum et in sǽculum sǽculi: * ipse reget nos in sǽcula.

    13. For this is God, our God unto eternity, and for ever and ever: * he shall rule us for evermore.

  13. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

    14. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

  14. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

    15. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Great is the Lord * and exceedingly to be praised in the city of our God. ‡

Psalmus 48 (2,13)

My mouth shall speak * wisdom: and the meditation of my heart understanding.

Hear these things, all ye nations: * give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.

  1. Quique terrígenæ, et fílii hóminum: * simul in unum dives et pauper.

    2. All you that are earthborn, and you sons of men: * both rich and poor together.

  2. Os meum loquétur sapiéntiam: * et meditátio cordis mei prudéntiam.

    3. My mouth shall speak wisdom: * and the meditation of my heart understanding

  3. Inclinábo in parábolam aurem meam: * apériam in psaltério propositiónem meam.

    4. I will incline my ear to a parable; * I will open my proposition on the psaltery.

  4. Cur timébo in die mala? * iníquitas calcánei mei circúmdabit me:

    5. Why shall I fear in the evil day? * the iniquity of my heel shall encompass me.

  5. Qui confídunt in virtúte sua: * et in multitúdine divitiárum suárum gloriántur.

    6. They that trust in their own strength, * and glory in the multitude of their riches,

  6. Frater non rédimit, rédimet homo: * non dabit Deo placatiónem suam.

    7. No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: * he shall not give to God his ransom,

  7. Et prétium redemptiónis ánimæ suæ: * et laborábit in ætérnum, et vivet adhuc in finem.

    8. Nor the price of the redemption of his soul: * and shall labour for ever, and shall still live unto the end.

  8. Non vidébit intéritum, cum víderit sapiéntes moriéntes: * simul insípiens, et stultus períbunt.

    9. He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying: * the senseless and the fool shall perish together:

  9. Et relínquent aliénis divítias suas: * et sepúlcra eórum domus illórum in ætérnum.

    10. And they shall leave their riches to strangers: * and their sepulchres shall be their houses for ever.

  10. Tabernácula eórum in progénie et progénie: * vocavérunt nómina sua in terris suis.

    11. Their dwelling places to all generations: * they have called their lands by their names.

  11. Et homo, cum in honóre esset, non intelléxit: * comparátus est juméntis insipiéntibus, et símilis factus est illis.

    12. And man when he was in honour did not understand; * he is compared to senseless beasts, and is become like to them.

  12. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

    13. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

  13. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

    14. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

My mouth shall speak * wisdom: and the meditation of my heart understanding.

Psalmus 48 (14,21)

Be not thou afraid * the things which made him rich, or his glory shall not descend with him to the sepulchre.

This way of theirs is a stumbling block to them: * and afterwards they shall delight in their mouth.

  1. Sicut oves in inférno pósiti sunt: * mors depáscet eos.

    2. They are laid in hell like sheep: * death shall feed upon them.

  2. Et dominabúntur eórum justi in matutíno: * et auxílium eórum veteráscet in inférno a glória eórum.

    3. And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning; * and their help shall decay in hell from their glory.

  3. Verúmtamen Deus rédimet ánimam meam de manu ínferi: * cum accéperit me.

    4. But God will redeem my soul from the hand of hell, * when he shall receive me.

  4. Ne timúeris, cum dives factus fúerit homo: * et cum multiplicáta fúerit glória domus ejus.

    5. Be not thou afraid, when a man shall be made rich, * and when the glory of his house shall be increased.

  5. Quóniam cum interíerit, non sumet ómnia: * neque descéndet cum eo glória ejus.

    6. For when he shall die he shall take nothing away; * nor shall his glory descend with him.

  6. Quia ánima ejus in vita ipsíus benedicétur: * confitébitur tibi cum beneféceris ei.

    7. For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: * and he will praise thee when thou shalt do well to him.

  7. Introíbit usque in progénies patrum suórum: * et usque in ætérnum non vidébit lumen.

    8. He shall go in to the generations of his fathers: * and he shall never see light.

  8. Homo, cum in honóre esset, non intelléxit: * comparátus est juméntis insipiéntibus, et símilis factus est illis.

    9. Man when he was in honour did not understand: * he hath been compared to senseless beasts, and made like to them.

  9. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

    10. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

  10. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

    11. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Be not thou afraid * the things which made him rich, or his glory shall not descend with him to the sepulchre.

Psalmus 49 (1,6)

The God of gods, * the Lord hath spoken. ‡

Quæ non repetitur in Psalmo

The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken: * and he hath called the earth.

  1. A solis ortu usque ad occásum: * ex Sion spécies decóris ejus.

    2. From the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof: * out of Sion the loveliness of his beauty.

  2. Deus maniféste véniet: * Deus noster et non silébit.

    3. God shall come manifestly: our God shall come, * and shall not keep silence.

  3. Ignis in conspéctu ejus exardéscet: * et in circúitu ejus tempéstas válida.

    4. A fire shall burn before him: * and a mighty tempest shall be round about

  4. Advocábit cælum desúrsum: * et terram discérnere pópulum suum.

    5. He shall call heaven from above, * and the earth, to judge his people.

  5. Congregáte illi sanctos ejus: * qui órdinant testaméntum ejus super sacrifícia.

    6. Gather ye together his saints to him: * who set his covenant before sacrifices.

  6. Et annuntiábunt cæli justítiam ejus: * quóniam Deus judex est.

    7. And the heavens shall declare his justice: * for God is judge.

  7. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

    8. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

  8. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

    9. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The God of gods, * the Lord hath spoken. ‡

Psalmus 49 (7,15)

Offer to God * the sacrifice of praise.

Hear, O my people, and I will speak: O Israel, and I will testify to thee: * I am God, thy God.

  1. Non in sacrifíciis tuis árguam te: * holocáusta autem tua in conspéctu meo sunt semper.

    2. I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices: * and thy burnt offerings are always in my sight.

  2. Non accípiam de domo tua vítulos: * neque de grégibus tuis hircos.

    3. I will not take calves out of thy house: * nor he goats out of thy flocks.

  3. Quóniam meæ sunt omnes feræ silvárum: * juménta in móntibus et boves.

    4. For all the beasts of the woods are mine: * the cattle on the hills, and the oxen.

  4. Cognóvi ómnia volatília cæli: * et pulchritúdo agri mecum est.

    5. I know all the fowls of the air: * and with me is the beauty of the field.

  5. Si esuríero, non dicam tibi: * meus est enim orbis terræ, et plenitúdo ejus.

    6. If I should be hungry, I would not tell thee: * for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

  6. Numquid manducábo carnes taurórum? * aut sánguinem hircórum potábo?

    7. Shall I eat the flesh of bullocks? * or shall I drink the blood of goats?

  7. Immola Deo sacrifícium laudis: * et redde Altíssimo vota tua.

    8. Offer to God the sacrifice of praise: * and pay thy vows to the most High.

  8. Et ínvoca me in die tribulatiónis: * éruam te, et honorificábis me.

    9. And call upon me in the day of trouble: * I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

  9. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

    10. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

  10. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

    11. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Offer to God * the sacrifice of praise.

Psalmus 49 (16,23)

Understand these things, * you that forget God.

But to the sinner God hath said: * Why dost thou declare my justices, and take my covenant in thy mouth?

  1. Tu vero odísti disciplínam: * et projecísti sermónes meos retrórsum:

    2. Seeing thou hast hated discipline: * and hast cast my words behind thee.

  2. Si vidébas furem, currébas cum eo: * et cum adúlteris portiónem tuam ponébas.

    3. If thou didst see a thief thou didst run with him: * and with adulterers thou hast been a partaker.

  3. Os tuum abundávit malítia: * et lingua tua concinnábat dolos.

    4. Thy mouth hath abounded with evil, * and thy tongue framed deceits.

  4. Sedens advérsus fratrem tuum loquebáris, † et advérsus fílium matris tuæ ponébas scándalum: * hæc fecísti, et tácui.

    5. Sitting thou didst speak against thy brother, and didst lay a scandal against thy mother’s son: * these things hast thou done, and I was silent.

  5. Existimásti, iníque, quod ero tui símilis: * árguam te, et státuam contra fáciem tuam.

    6. Thou thoughtest unjustly that I should be like to thee: * but I will reprove thee, and set before thy face.

  6. Intellígite hæc, qui obliviscímini Deum: * nequándo rápiat, et non sit qui erípiat.

    7. Understand these things, you that forget God; * lest he snatch you away, and there be none to deliver you.

  7. Sacrifícium laudis honorificábit me: * et illic iter, quo osténdam illi salutáre Dei.

    8. The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me: * and there is the way by which I will shew him the salvation of God.

  8. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

    9. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

  9. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

    10. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Understand these things, * you that forget God.

Versus

Pater

Pater noster, qui es in cælis, sanctificétur nomen tuum: advéniat regnum tuum: fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra. Panem nostrum cotidiánum da nobis hódie: et dimítte nobis débita nostra, sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris:


℣. Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem:
℟. Sed líbera nos a malo.

Absolutio. A vínculis peccatórum nostrórum absólvat nos omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus.
℟. Amen.
Benedictio:

Evangélica léctio sit nobis salus et protéctio.

Lectio 1
Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Ioánnem
Ioannes 9:1-38

In illo témpore: Prætériens Iesus, vidit hóminem cæcum a nativitáte: et interrogavérunt eum discípuli eius: Rabbi, quis peccávit, hic, aut paréntes eius, ut cæcus nascerétur? Et réliqua.

At that time, Jesus, passing by, saw a man, who was blind from his birth. And so on.

Homilía sancti Augustíni Epíscopi
Tract. 44 in Ioannem, circa initium

Ea quæ fecit Dóminus noster Iesus Christus, stupénda atque miránda, et ópera, et verba sunt: ópera, quia facta sunt: verba, quia signa sunt. Si ergo quid signíficet hoc quod factum est, cogitémus: genus humánum est iste cæcus. Hæc enim cǽcitas cóntigit in primo hómine per peccátum, de quo omnes oríginem dúximus, non solum mortis, sed étiam iniquitátis. Si enim cǽcitas est infidélitas, et illuminátio fides: quem fidélem, quando venit Christus, invénit? Quandóquidem Apóstolus natus in gente prophetárum dicit: Fúimus et nos aliquándo natúra fílii iræ, sicut et céteri. Si fílii iræ, fílii vindíctæ, fílii pœnæ, fílii gehénnæ: quómodo natúra, nisi quia peccánte primo hómine vítium pro natúra inolévit? Si vítium pro natúra inolévit, secúndum mentem omnis homo cæcus natus est.

Dread and wondrous are all the things which our Lord Jesus Christ did, both His works and His words; the works, because He wrought them; the words, because they are deep. If, therefore, we consider the meaning of this work of His, we see that that man which was blind from his birth was a figure of mankind. This spiritual blindness was the consequence of the sin of the first man, from whom we all inherit by birth, not death only, but depravity also. For if blindness be unbelief, and faith, light, whom, when Christ came, did He find faithful? May, the Apostle who had himself been born of the race of which the Prophets came, saith: We also were by nature children of wrath, even as others. (Eph. ii. 3.) And if children of wrath, then children also of vengeance, children of damnation, children of hell. And wherefore so by nature, unless it were that the sin of the first man had made all his descendants to be born in sin, in that they partook of his nature? If, then, our nature bring sin with it, all men, according to the spirit, are born blind.

Benedictio:

Divínum auxílium máneat semper nobíscum.

Lectio 2

Venit Dóminus: quid fecit? Magnum mystérium commendávit. Exspuit in terram, de salíva sua lutum fecit: quia Verbum caro factum est, et inúnxit óculos cæci. Inúnctus erat, et nondum vidébat. Misit illum ad piscínam, quæ vocátur Síloë. Pertínuit autem ad Evangelístam commendáre nobis nomen huius piscínæ, et ait: Quod interpretátur Missus. Iam quis sit missus agnóscitis. Nisi enim ille fuísset missus, nemo nostrum esset ab iniquitáte dimíssus. Lavit ergo óculos in ea piscína, quæ interpretátur Missus; baptizátus est in Christo. Si ergo quando eum in seípso quodámmodo baptizávit, tunc illuminávit: quando inúnxit, fortásse catechúmenum fecit.

The Lord came; and what did He? He set before us a great mystery. Jesus spat on the ground, and made clay of the Spittle for the Word was made flesh. And He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay but yet that man saw not. He was anointed, indeed, but yet still he saw not. And He said unto him: Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam. Now, it was the duty of the Evangelist to impress upon us the name of this Pool, and therefore he saith Siloam, which is, by interpretation, Sent. Ye, my brethren, know Who is signified where it is written: (The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a law-giver from his loins, until) He that shall be Sent cometh. (Gen. xlix. 10.) Yea, He it is, Who, if He had not been sent, we had never been sent loose out of the prison-house of sin. The blind man went his way therefore, and washed his eyes in that Pool, which is, by interpretation, Sent in other words, he was baptized in Christ. When, therefore, he had figuratively been baptized in Him Whom the Father hath Sent into the world, he came seeing. When he was anointed, he was perchance made a figure of a Catechumen.

Benedictio:

Ad societátem cívium supernórum perdúcat nos Rex Angelórum.

Lectio 3

Audístis grande mystérium. Intérroga hóminem: Christiánus es? Respóndet tibi: Non sum. Si pagánus es, aut Iudǽus? Si autem díxerit, Non sum: adhuc quæris ab eo, Catechúmenus, an fidélis? Si respónderit tibi, Catechúmenus: inúnctus est, nondum lotus. Sed unde inúnctus? Quære, et respóndet. Quære ab illo, in quem credat? Eo ipso quo catechúmenus est, dicit: In Christum. Ecce modo loquor et fidélibus et catechúmenis. Quid dixi de sputo et luto? Quia Verbum caro factum est; hoc catechúmeni áudiunt: sed non eis súfficit ad quod inúncti sunt: festínent ad lavácrum, si lumen inquírunt.

We have heard this great mystery. Ask of a man: Art thou a Christian? He answereth thee: I am not. Then, if thou ask him: Art thou a pagan then, or a Jew? And he still saith unto thee Nay and thou say Art thou then a Catechumen, though not yet one of the faithful? and he saith Yea, a Catechumen then there thou seest a man anointed, but not yet washed. With what hath he been anointed? Ask of him, and he will tell thee. Ask of him in Whom he believeth, and, being a Catechumen, he will say: In Christ. But, behold, I speak before both Faithful and Catechumens. What said I touching the. Spittle and the clay? I said for 'the Word was made flesh.' This the Catechumens hear, but it is not enough for them to be anointed; they must make haste to the washing, if they would have their eyes opened.

Reliqua omittuntur, nisi Laudes separandæ sint.

Oratio

Orémus.

Deus, qui et iustis prǽmia meritórum, et peccatóribus per ieiúnium véniam præbes: † miserére supplícibus tuis; * ut reátus nostri conféssio indulgéntiam váleat percípere delictórum.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: † qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, * per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.

O God, Who by mean of fasting dost give unto the righteous the reward of their good works, and unto sinners pardon; have mercy upon us, we beseech thee, and grant that we, humbly confessing our guiltiness, may so be enabled to obtain thy forgiveness.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

Conclusio