The second Nocturn for Holy Saturday focuses on the announcement of the reopening of heaven to the dead in Hades, conveyed most powerfully by Handel's setting of the key verse of this psalm:
"Lift up your gates, O princes, and be lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in."
Lift up ye gates
Since Adam's sin, heaven has been closed to mankind. Yet Christ the all-powerful now descends into hell (Hades) to preach the good news to the just dead: the way is reopened.
The original historical context for this psalm was probably the conquest of Jerusalem by King David, which allowed him to bring the Arc of the Covenant into the city in solemn procession.
Now we too are invited to join this holy procession, and move towards the gates of heaven, waiting to come in.
Yet we must first examine our conscience, the psalm informs us, for only "The guiltless in act, the pure in heart; one who never set his heart on lying tales, or swore treacherously to his neighbour' will receive the mercy and blessing of the Lord.
Psalm 23: Dómini est terra
Vulgate
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Douay-Rheims
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Prima sabbati. Psalmus David.
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Dómini est
terra, et plenitúdo ejus: * orbis terrárum, et univérsi qui hábitant in eo.
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The earth is
the Lord's and the
fullness thereof: the world, and all they that dwell therein.
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2 Quia
ipse super mária fundávit eum: * et super flúmina præparávit eum.
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2 For he
has founded it upon the seas; and has prepared it upon the rivers.
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3 Quis
ascéndet in montem Dómini? * aut quis stabit in loco sancto ejus?
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3 Who
shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: or who shall
stand in his holy
place?
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4 Innocens
mánibus et mundo corde, * qui non accépit in vano ánimam suam, nec jurávit in
dolo próximo suo.
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4 The
innocent in hands, and clean of heart, who has not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn
deceitfully to his neighbour.
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5 Hic
accípiet benedictiónem a Dómino: * et misericórdiam a Deo, salutári suo.
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5 He shall
receive a blessing
from the Lord, and
mercy from God his
Saviour.
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6 Hæc
est generátio quæréntium eum, * quæréntium fáciem Dei Jacob.
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6 This is
the generation of
them that seek him, of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.
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7 Attóllite
portas príncipes vestras, et elevámini portæ æternáles: * et introíbit Rex
glóriæ.
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7 Lift up
your gates, O princes, and be lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of
Glory shall enter in.
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8 Quis
est iste Rex glóriæ? * Dóminus fortis et potens : Dóminus potens in prælio.
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8 Who is
this King of Glory? The Lord
who is strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle.
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9 Attóllite
portas príncipes vestras, et elevámini portæ æternáles: * et introíbit
Rex glóriæ.
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9 Lift up
your gates, O princes, and be lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of
Glory shall enter in.
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10 Quis
est iste Rex glóriæ? * Dóminus virtútum ipse est Rex glóriæ.
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10 Who is
this King of Glory? The Lord
of hosts, he is the
King of Glory.
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NT Refs: 1 Cor 10:26 (1); Mt 5:8 (4); 1 Cor 2:8
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RB
cursus
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: Sunday Matins I, 4
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Monastic/(Roman)
feasts etc
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Nativity; Holy Sat
Tenebrae, II, 2;Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity, All Saints, Christ the
King, Assumption, Common of BVM, Common of Virgins, Common of Several
Martyrs,
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Roman
pre 1911
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Sunday matins; Post
trent, Monday Prime
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Ambrosian
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Brigittine
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Sat matins
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Maurist
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Thesauris
schemas
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A:
; B: ; C: ; D:
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Roman
post 1911
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1911-62:
Monday Prime . 1970: Invitatory (opt); Sunday matins wk 4; Tuesday Lauds wk 1
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Mass
propers (EF)
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Palm Sunday Procession/blessing; Passion Monday CO (10)
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Nocturn I: Psalms 4, 14, 15
Nocturn II: Psalms 23, 26*, 29
Nocturn III: Psalms 53*, 75*, 87*
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