The Third Nocturn of Tenebrae for Holy Saturday is entirely composed of psalms we have already looked at earlier in this series (viz Psalms 53, 75 and 87), so today we move onto the Lauds section of Tenebrae for Holy Saturday.
In the pre-1911 version of Tenebrae, the variable psalm for the hour was Psalm 42, arguably far more apt for Holy Saturday. But Psalm 91 probably seemed an obvious pick for Holy Saturday since its title suggests that in the Jewish tradition it was said on the Sabbath (ie Saturday), and it is believed that it was said while the Sabbath sacrifice of the lamb took place. The Old Roman Office (ie pre-1911) retained that position for it in the ferial psalter; interestingly though, St Benedict actually places it at Lauds on Friday instead, as a symbol that it is on Fridays that the saving sacrifice of Christ occurs.
It is, though, one of those psalms that encompasses several different messages, and is, on the whole, a rather upbeat hymn that points to the coming Resurrection.
In this psalm, I think we are called on to contemplate the deep mystery of God’s plan (vs 5). The fool, the psalmist states in verse 6, fails to understand: to him, St Paul points out, the Cross is a scandal.
Yet the Cross enables all of us to be reconciled to God through Christ. Indeed, the Fathers interpreted verse 10, talking about the exaltation of the horn of the unicorn, as a direct reference to Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Horned animals were sacrificed to God, as Our Lord became the Lamb of God on the Cross.
Psalm 91
Psalm 91 (92): Bonum est confiteri Dominum
Vulgate
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Douay-Rheims
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Psalmus cantici, in die sabbati.
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A psalm of a
canticle on the sabbath day.
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1 Bonum est
confitéri dómino: * et psállere nómini tuo, altíssime.
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It is good to give praise to
the Lord: and to
sing to your name, O
most High.
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2 Ad
annuntiándum mane misericórdiam tuam: * et veritátem tuam per noctem
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3 To show
forth your mercy in the morning, and your truth in the night:
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3 In
decachórdo, psaltério: * cum cántico, in cíthara.
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4 Upon an
instrument of ten strings, upon the psaltery: with a canticle upon the harp.
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4. Quia
delectásti me, Dómine, in factúra tua: * et in opéribus mánuum tuárum
exsultábo.
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5 For you
have given me, O Lord,
a delight in your doings: and in the works of your hands I shall rejoice.
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5 Quam
magnificáta sunt ópera tua, Dómine! * nimis profúndæ factæ sunt cogitatiónes
tuæ
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6 O Lord, how great are
your works! your thoughts are exceeding deep.
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6 Vir
insípiens non cognóscet: * et stultus non intélliget hæc.
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7 The
senseless man shall
not know: nor will
the fool understand these things.
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7 Cum
exórti fúerint peccatóres sicut fœnum: * et apparúerint omnes, qui operántur
iniquitátem.
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8 When the
wicked shall spring
up as grass: and all the workers of iniquity shall appear:
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8 Ut
intéreant in sæculum sæculi: * tu autem Altíssimus in ætérnum, Dómine.
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That they may
perish for ever and ever: 9 But you, O Lord, are most high for
evermore.
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9 Quóniam
ecce inimíci tui, Dómine, quóniam ecce inimíci tui períbunt: * et
dispergéntur omnes, qui operántur iniquitátem.
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10 For
behold your enemies, O lord, for behold your enemies shall perish: and all
the workers of iniquity
shall be scattered.
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10. Et
exaltábitur sicut unicórnis cornu meum: * et senéctus mea in misericórdia
úberi.
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11 But my
horn shall be exalted like that of the unicorn: and my old age in plentiful
mercy.
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11 Et
despéxit óculus meus inimícos meos: * et in insurgéntibus in me malignántibus
áudiet auris mea.
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12 My eye
also has looked down upon my enemies: and my ear shall hear of the downfall
of the malignant that rise up against me.
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12 Justus,
ut
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13 The just shall flourish
like the palm tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus.
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13 Plantáti
in domo Dómini, * in átriis domus Dei nostri florébunt.
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14 They
that are planted in the house
of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God.
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14 Adhuc
multiplicabúntur in senécta úberi: * et bene patiéntes erunt, ut
annúntient:
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15 They
shall still increase in a fruitful old age: and shall be well treated,
16 that they may show,
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15
Quóniam rectus Dóminus, Deus noster: * et non est iníquitas in eo.
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That the Lord our God is
righteous, and there is no iniquity in him.
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Tenebrae of Holy Saturday
Nocturn I: Psalms 4, 14, 15
Nocturn II: Psalms 23, 26, 29
Nocturn III: Psalms 53*, 75*, 87*
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