Why doesn't your Cathedral/parish offer Vespers (!)?

c14th Howard Book of Hours

One of the more positive reforms of the Vatican II was the encouragement of the laity to say the Divine Office.  But also one of the most neglected!

Spirit of Vatican IIism

The emphasis on the importance of the Divine Office in the documents of Vatican II was not an innovation: rather it reflected the recovery of a practice that was extremely popular in the late Middle Ages, when 'books of hours' were far and away the most popular book going. 

The decline in its use by the laity reflected a number of factors: the restriction of the official delegation to say the Office to priests and religious because of concerns over use of unorthodox texts and congregationalist theologies associated with the rise of protestantism; the influence of the Jesuits who did not say the choral Office; and the suppression of many of the earlier forms of the Office that had been particularly popular.

The early twentieth century saw a considerable revival in lay interest in the Office, courtesy of the Liturgical Movement, and the creation of many 'short breviaries' appropriate to the laity.  Vatican II's encouragement of this trend, and revival of the permission for the laity to say the Office liturgically, even in the absence of clerics or religious, should then have met fertile ground.

Alas, it is one of those inconvenient bits of text that has been mostly been quietly forgotten about, and whose implementation has largely been subverted by the butchery of the liturgy that is the modern Liturgy of the Hours.

Now for the real renewal?

Nonetheless, as genuine liturgical renewal gains ground, some churches are introducing Sunday Vespers, and late last year Pope Benedict XVI once again encouraged all Catholics to pray the Office, saying:

"I would then like to renew to you all the invitation to pray with the Psalms, even becoming accustomed to using the Liturgy of the Hours of the Church, Lauds in the morning, Vespers in the evening, and Compline before retiring. Our relationship with God cannot but be enriched with greater joy and trust in the daily journey towards him."

The Pope's words merely echoe the actual words - as opposed to the spirit of - Vatican II's Sacrosanctum Concilium, which says, inter alia:

"Pastors of souls should see to it that the principal hours, especially Vespers, are celebrated in common in church on Sundays and on the more common feasts.  The laity, too, are encouraged to recite the divine office, either with the priests, or among themselves, or even individually." (SC 100)

These days in Australia and many other countries, you will be very lucky indeed to find Vespers offered in a major metropolitan cathedral, let alone elsewhere! 

And as for the instruction  that 'In accordance with the age-old tradition of the Latin rite, the Latin language is to be retained by clerics in the divine office.' (SC1010)!

The psalms of Sunday vespers

Nonetheless, for the benefit of those who do want to pray this hour in Latin, or are already saying it and want to understand what they are saying in greater depth, I am going to resume my series aimed at penetrating the meaning of the psalms with a look at the psalms of Sunday Vespers.


I'm working primarily from the traditional Benedictine Office, that means Psalms 109 (110), 110 (111), 111 (112) and 112 (113).  The theme of the Sunday in the Office is, of course, the Resurrection, and these four psalms are particularly pertinent to this theme.


By way of a footnote, in the traditional Roman Office, Psalm 113 (114/115) is also said.  St Benedict's decision to omit that psalm has, I think, to do partly with symmetry, partly with the thematic structure of his Office, and partly to do with keeping the hour short.   In this context, it is worth noting the point on symmetry: the first of the variable psalms said at Lauds in the Benedictine Office on Sunday is Psalm 117, which is the last of the 'hallel' psalms, sung on the great Jewish feasts.  At Vespers we end on the first of the Hallel psalms, Psalm 112.  The Liturgy of the Hours also draws on these core psalms, repeating Psalm 109 each week, and uses Psalm 110, 111 and 113 (split in two).  Curiously, it omits Psalm 112 altogether.

In any case, on to Psalm 109.

Who stole Epiphanytide? Notes on Psalm 96

Flemish c16th

I want to take a brief look today, at the psalm featured used for the Introit and Alleluia of the (Third &) Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, Psalm 96.

Epiphanytide?

Dom Gueranger's famous series The Liturgical Year starts the volume on the four Sundays after Epiphany with an essay dealing with the idea that in this period we are still in Christmastide; alas, due to the reforms of 1955 (Pius XII) and 1962 (John XXIII) this is no longer actually the case!

The 1962 calendar did, however, retain the traditional Mass and Office texts set for these Sundays. 

The result is that though we are technically in time 'throughout the year' or 'time before Septuagesimatide', in practice the forty days between the nativity and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin  retain a focus on the early manifestations of Our Lord's divinity during his mission on earth.

Fourth Sunday

Today's Gospel (the calming of the storm at sea) deals with the early part of Our Lord's ministry.  And the psalm that is particularly featured in the propers is Psalm 96, which speaks of the joyous message of Our Lord's coming.

Here is the full text of the psalm, first in Latin then in English:

Dóminus regnávit exsúltet terra: * læténtur ínsulæ multæ.
Nubes, et calígo in circúitu ejus: * justítia, et judícium corréctio sedis ejus.
Ignis ante ipsum præcédet: * et inflammábit in circúitu inimícos ejus.
Illuxérunt fúlgura ejus orbi terræ: * vidit et commóta est terra.
Montes, sicut cera fluxérunt a fácie Domini: * a fácie Dómini omnis terra.
Annuntiavérunt cæli justítiam ejus: * et vidérunt omnes pópuli glóriam ejus.
Confundántur omnes, qui adórant sculptília: * et qui gloriántur in simulácris suis.
Adoráte eum, omnes Angeli ejus: * audívit, et lætáta est Sion.
Et exsultavérunt fíliæ Judæ: * propter judícia tua, Dómine:
Quóniam tu Dóminus Altíssimus super omnem terram: * nimis exaltátus es super ones deos.
Qui dilígitis Dóminum, odite malum: * custódit Dóminus ánimas sanctórum suórum, de manu peccatóris liberábit eos.
Lux orta est justo, * et rectis corde lætítia.
Lætámini, justi in Dómino: * et confitémini memóriæ sanctificatiónis ejus.

The Lord has reigned, let the earth rejoice: let many islands be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him: justice and judgment are the establishment of his throne.
A fire shall go before him, and shall burn his enemies round about.
His lightnings have shone forth to the world: the earth saw and trembled.
The mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens declared his justice: and all people saw his glory.
Let them be all confounded that adore graven things, and that glory in their idols.
Adore him, all you his angels:
Sion heard, and was glad.
And the daughters of Juda rejoiced, because of your judgments, O Lord.
For you are the most high Lord over all the earth: you are exalted exceedingly above all gods.
You that love the Lord, hate evil: the Lord preserves the souls of his saints, he will deliver them out of the hand of the sinner.
Light is risen to the just, and joy to the right of heart.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord: and give praise to the remembrance of his holiness.

The literal meaning

St Robert Bellarmine, in his commentary on this psalm, suggests that it can be interpreted at the literal level two ways: firstly as speaking of God's kingdom 'absolutely', that is, of his continuing governance of the world invisibly; and secondly, of Christ after the Resurrection. 

But in fact, I would suggest, the Church here gives it a third level of meaning, referring back to the nativity and the epiphany. 

At the nativity, after all, we have the adoration and rejoicing of the angels (Adoráte eum, omnes Angeli ejus); the shepherds, representing the people of Israel (audívit, et lætáta est Sion), and the Magi (læténtur ínsulæ multæ).  The link to the Magi is also reinforced by the use of Psalm 101 in the Gradual, which refers to the kings of the earth fearing the Lord's glory.

The Spiritual meaning

The texts remind us then to retain our Christmas joy, to reflect that joy in the worship of him, and above all, to put our trust in his saving power.

But above all, the series of Gospel's speaking of the manifestation of divine power should remind us of our own duty to manifest Christ to others.  If we truly believe in heaven, then we will want to do everything possible to reach it ourselves.  And we will also want others to be there with us - particularly our friends and family, but also the whole world. Thus we are all called upon to evangelise through prayer, actions and words.

Other liturgical and Scriptural uses of the psalm

NT references	Rev 11:5 (3); Heb 1:6 (8); Lk1:74 (11)
RB cursus	Friday Matins;
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc	Nativity, Epiphany, Ascension, Trinity, Sacred Heart, Transfiguration, Christ the King, All Saints, Common of Apostles, Common of BVM, Common of Virgins
Roman pre 1911	Friday Matins
Ambrosian
Brigittine
Maurist
Thesauris schemas	A: ; B: ; C: ; D:
Roman post 1911	1911-62:Wed Lauds  . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)

Propers for the Third Sunday of Advent: Psalm 84

Creation and the expulsion from paradise
Giovanni di Paulo 1445

The verse for today’s Introit, as well as the Offertory come from Psalm 84, which prophesies our redemption. St Alphonsus Liguori explains:

“The psalmist goes to show us, on the one hand, the Jewish people delivered from slavery; on the other hand, mankind redeemed from the slavery of Satan. He enumerates, moreover, the fruits of the Redemption.”

A cause for rejoicing indeed!



Introit and Offertory text

The verses used in the propers for the Third Sunday of Advent are:

Benedixísti, Dómine, terram tuam: avertísti captivitátem Jacob (Introit, Offertory).
Lord, you have blessed your land: you have turned away the captivity of Jacob.

Remisísti iniquitátem plebis tuæ (Offertory only)
You have forgiven the iniquity of your people

Through Christ comes forgiveness of sins

As is often the case with the propers, the full significance of it depends on knowing what comes next.

Though the psalm can in part be taken as a reference to God leading his people out of Exile in Egypt, and numerous other deliverances, it is clear from the text here that the liberation talked about is primarily spiritual.

In fact the second half of the second verse is the key: ‘you have covered all their sins’, as Our Lord did through the Cross.  St Augustine explains this verse as follows:

"Behold how He has turned away their captivity, in that He has remitted iniquity: iniquity held them captive; your iniquity forgiven, you are freed. Confess therefore that you are in captivity, that you may be worthy to be freed: for he that knows not of his enemy, how can he invoke the liberator? You have covered all their sins. What is, You have covered? So as not to see them. How did You not see them? So as not to take vengeance on them. You were unwilling to see our sins: and therefore You saw them not, because You would not see them: You have covered all their sins."

The psalm goes on to explain the context for the Incarnation, albeit in a rather anthropomorphic way:

You have mitigated all your anger: you have turned away from the wrath of your indignation.



Advent is a call to conversion

The psalm then reminds of the purpose of Advent, namely the call to continuing conversion:

“Convert us, O God our saviour: and turn off your anger from us.
Will you be angry with us for ever: or will you extend your wrath from generation to generation?”

Yet through we wait and prepare, we know the outcome:

“You will turn, O God, and bring us to life: and your people shall rejoice in you."

Show us, O Lord, your mercy; and grant us your salvation.”

The psalm then speaks of Christ and the fruits of his redeeming mission more directly:

I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me: for he will speak peace unto his people:
And unto his saints: and unto them that are converted to the heart.
Surely his salvation is near to them that fear him: that glory may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth have met each other: justice and peace have kissed.
Truth is sprung out of the earth: and justice has looked down from heaven.
For the Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit.
Justice shall walk before him: and shall set his steps in the way.

Here is the Latin:

1 Benedixísti, Dómine, terram tuam: * avertísti captivitátem Jacob.
2 Remisísti iniquitátem plebis tuæ: * operuísti ómnia peccáta eórum.
3 Mitigásti omnem iram tuam: * avertísti ab ira indignatiónis tuæ.
4 Convérte nos, Deus, salutáris noster: * et avérte iram tuam a nobis.
5 Numquid in ætérnum irascéris nobis? * aut exténdes iram tuam a generatióne in generatiónem?
6 Deus, tu convérsus vivificábis nos: * et plebs tua lætábitur in te.
7 Osténde nobis, Dómine, misericórdiam tuam: * et salutáre tuum da nobis.
8 Audiam quid loquátur in me Dóminus Deus: * quóniam loquétur pacem in plebem suam.
9 Et super sanctos suos: * et in eos, qui convertúntur ad cor.
10 Verúmtamen prope timéntes eum salutáre ipsíus: * ut inhábitet glória in terra nostra.
11 Misericórdia, et véritas obviavérunt sibi: * justítia, et pax osculátæ sunt.
12 Véritas de terra orta est: * et justítia de cælo prospéxit.
13 Etenim Dóminus dabit benignitátem: * et terra nostra dabit fructum suum.
14 Justítia ante eum ambulábit: * et ponet in via gressus suos.

Propers of the Second Sunday of Advent: Psalm 49

The Gradual for this Sunday's Mass is taken from Psalm 49, a psalm which prophesies the second coming of Christ according to St Alphonsus Liguori:

"This psalm describes the second coming of Jesus Christ, which will be public and full of majesty, in contrast with his first coming, which was humble and hidden."

The verses around the text used in the Gradual give the psalm some important context pointing to God's coming as judge, so here they are, first in the Vulgate, then the Douay-Rheims, with the Gradual text bolded:

Deus deórum, Dóminus locútus est: * et vocávit terram,
A solis ortu usque ad occásum: * ex Sion spécies decóris ejus.
Deus maniféste véniet: * Deus noster et non silébit.
Ignis in conspéctu ejus exardéscet: * et in circúitu ejus tempéstas válida.
Advocábit cælum desúrsum: * et terram discérnere pópulum suum.
Congregáte illi sanctos ejus: * qui órdinant testaméntum ejus super sacrifícia.
Et annuntiábunt cæli justítiam ejus: * quóniam Deus judex est.

The God of gods, the Lord has spoken: and he has called the earth.
From the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof: Out of Sion the loveliness of his beauty.
God shall come manifestly: our God shall come, and shall not keep silence.
A fire shall burn before him: and a mighty tempest shall be round about him.
He shall call heaven from above, and the earth, to judge his people.
Gather together his saints to him: who set his covenant before sacrifices.
And the heavens shall declare his justice: for God is judge.
Hear, O my people, and I will speak: O Israel, and I will testify to you: I am God, your God.

The verses set for the day also refer to the beauty of God, a reminder that beauty is not entirely a cultural construct, and to the extent that it is, it is one that can be guided by God, both through the talents he gives to men, and the inspirations he gives directly and indirectly, including through nature.  The chant is a good example of this!

Other Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

NT references	1 Cor 10:26 (13); Heb 13:15 (15, 24); Roms 2: 17-24 (17)
RB cursus	Tuesday Matins I, 5
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc	-
Roman pre 1911	Tuesday Matins
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Wednesday Matins  . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)	Advent2: GR

Text of the psalm

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Psalmus Asaph.
1  Deus deórum, Dóminus locútus est: * et vocávit terram,	The God of gods, the Lord has spoken: and he has called the earth.
2  A solis ortu usque ad occásum: * ex Sion spécies decóris ejus.	From the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof: 2 Out of Sion the loveliness of his beauty
3  Deus maniféste véniet: * Deus noster et non silébit.	3 God shall come manifestly: our God shall come, and shall not keep silence.
4  Ignis in conspéctu ejus exardéscet: * et in circúitu ejus tempéstas válida.	A fire shall burn before him: and a mighty tempest shall be round about him.
5  Advocábit cælum desúrsum: * et terram discérnere pópulum suum.	4 He shall call heaven from above, and the earth, to judge his people.
6  Congregáte illi sanctos ejus: * qui órdinant testaméntum ejus super sacrifícia.	5 Gather together his saints to him: who set his covenant before sacrifices.
7  Et annuntiábunt cæli justítiam ejus: * quóniam Deus judex est.	6 And the heavens shall declare his justice: for God is judge.
8  Audi, pópulus meus, et loquar :  Israël, et testificábor tibi: * Deus, Deus tuus ego sum.	7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak: O Israel, and I will testify to you: I am God, your God.
9  Non in sacrifíciis tuis árguam te: * holocáusta autem tua in conspéctu meo sunt semper.	8 I will not reprove you for your sacrifices: and your burnt offerings are always in my sight.
10  Non accípiam de domo tua vítulos: * neque de grégibus tuis hircos.	9 I will not take calves out of your house: nor he goats out of your flocks.
11  Quóniam meæ sunt omnes feræ silvárum: * juménta in móntibus et boves.	10 For all the beasts of the woods are mine: the cattle on the hills, and the oxen.
12  Cognóvi ómnia volatília cæli: * et pulchritúdo agri mecum est.	11 I know all the fowls of the air: and with me is the beauty of the field.
13  Si esuríero, non dicam tibi: * meus est enim orbis terræ, et plenitúdo ejus.	12 If I should be hungry, I would not tell you: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.
14  Numquid manducábo carnes taurórum? * aut sánguinem hircórum potábo?	13 Shall I eat the flesh of bullocks? Or shall I drink the blood of goats?
15  Immola Deo sacrifícium laudis: * et redde Altíssimo vota tua.	14 Offer to God the sacrifice of praise: and pay your vows to the most High.
16  Et ínvoca me in die tribulatiónis: * éruam te, et honorificábis me.	15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
17  Peccatóri autem dixit Deus: * Quare tu enárras justítias meas, et assúmis testaméntum meum per os tuum?	16 But to the sinner God has said: Why do you declare my justices, and take my covenant in your mouth?
18  Tu vero odísti disciplínam: * et projecísti sermónes meos retrórsum:	17 Seeing you have hated discipline: and have cast my words behind you.
19  Si vidébas furem, currébas cum eo: * et cum adúlteris portiónem tuam ponébas.	18 If you saw a thief you ran with him: and with adulterers you have been a partaker
20  Os tuum abundávit malítia: * et lingua tua concinnábat dolos.	19 Your mouth has abounded with evil, and your tongue framed deceits.
21  Sedens advérsus fratrem tuum loquebáris, et advérsus fílium matris tuæ ponébas scándalum: * hæc fecísti, et tácui.	20 Sitting you spoke against your brother, and laid a scandal against your mother's son: 21 These things have you done, and I was silent.
22  Existimásti, iníque, quod ero tui símilis: * árguam te, et státuam contra fáciem tuam.	You thought unjustly that I should be like to you: but I will reprove you, and set before your face.
23  Intellígite hæc, qui obliviscímini Deum: * nequándo rápiat, et non sit qui erípiat.	22 Understand these things, you that forget God; lest he snatch you away, and there be none to deliver you.
24  Sacrifícium laudis honorificábit me: * et illic iter, quo osténdam illi salutáre Dei.	23 The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me: and there is the way by which I will show him the salvation of God.

Where to next?

I'd appreciate any feedback you may have on this series, particularly on issues such as:

• how many verses to cover in a post - was it too much t do two or more at a time as I did with Psalm 137?
• is the level of detail on the Latin about right, or would you like more parsing (starting what case/tense etc is being used), alternative translations?
• are the commentaries helpful?
• are the Latin study hints posts helpful or not?

Any other more general comments or reactions are also welcome.

I'd also be particularly interested in hearing how you are using this series.  Has anyone taken up my suggestion to use the Simplicissimus course for example?  Is anyone sitting down systematically and trying to learn these psalms phrase by phrase, or are you just reading through the notes and absorbing what you can as you go?  Are you more interested in the Latin or the context/commentary material?

Psalm 137: Latin study hints Part B

By way of a tag to the mini-series on Psalm 137, some materials to help you with your Latin studies.

Grammar

If you are keeping up with the Simplicissimus Reading Latin Course (see link to the materials in the sidebar), you will hopefully have reached unit 8, which deals with the present indicative perfect tense ('I have _') . One thing to look out for in the Vulgate are contracted forms of the perfect tense (ie dropping a letter or two), of which there are a couple of examples in this psalm. There is no difference in meaning in these cases.

I’ve bolded the examples of the perfect to look out for in Psalm 137:

1. Confitébor tibi, Dómine, in toto corde meo: * quóniam audísti [audio, contracted form] verba oris mei.
2. In conspéctu Angelórum psallam tibi: * adorábo ad templum sanctum tuum, et confitébor nómini tuo.
3. Super misericórdia tua, et veritáte tua: * quóniam magnificásti [magnifico, contracted form] super omne, nomen sanctum tuum.
4. In quacúmque die invocávero te, exáudi [exaudio] me: * multiplicábis in ánima mea virtútem.
5 Confiteántur tibi, Dómine, omnes reges terræ: * quia audiérunt [contracted] ómnia verba oris tui.
6. Et cantent in viis Dómini: * quóniam magna est glória Dómini.
7. Quóniam excélsus Dóminus, et humília réspicit: * et alta a longe cognóscit.
8. Si ambulávero in médio tribulatiónis, vivificábis me: * et super iram inimicórum meórum extendísti [extendo] manum tuam, et salvum me fecit déxtera tua.
9. Dóminus retríbuet pro me: * Dómine, misericórdia tua in sæculum: ópera mánuum tuárum ne despícias.

Looking up words in the dictionary

And this seems a good point at which to point to a very handy online dictionary tool.

As you may have noticed, Latin words, especially (but not exclusively) verbs, sometimes change form in uses such that it is sometimes hard to recognize the root word, or find it in a dictionary.

A quick solution to this problem is the excellent Perseus Latin Headword Search Tool.
It allows you to type in any word, and searches for it in a dictionary (generally Lewis and Short). If the word is in its most common form, it will take you to straight to the dictionary entry. But if it is inflected, it gives you the option of using the ‘word study tool’: click on the word and it will parse the word for you.

So to use an example from the list above, type in audio, and you get a short definition (to hear), a link to the full dictionary entry, and some frequency statistics t tell you how common a verb it is.

Type in audierunt, however, and you will be told your search turned up no results, but you can try the word study tool. Do that, and it will link you to ‘audio’ and tell you that audierunt is [a] verb 3rd [person] pl [plural] perf[ect] ind[icative] act[ive].

It does require you to know a little grammar, but hopefully you will have picked that up from your reading of Simplicissimus in any case…

Vocabulary

And finally, here is the complete vocab list for Psalm 137, in alphabetical order:

adoro, avi, atum, are, to worship, adore
altus deep (=deceitful), high (=proud)
ambulo, avi, atum, are to walk; the manner in which one orders one's life;
angelus, i, m.an angel, spirit, messenger.
anima, ae, f soul
audio, ivi or li, Itum, ire to hear; to hear gladly; sound forth, utter, announce; hear favorably, to grant,
canto, avi, atum, are to sing, to praise in song
cognosco, gnovi, gnitum, ere 3, to know, see, learn, perceive, be come acquainted with.
confiteor, fessus sum, eri 2 to praise, give thanks; to confess, acknowledge one's guilt.
conspectus, us, m. sight, presence;
cor, cordis, n., the heart, regarded as the seat of the faculties, feelings, emotions, passions; the mind, the soul.
despicio, spexi, spectum, ere 3 to look away from, not to look at, to slight; to despise; to look down upon
dexter, tera, terum; the right hand.
dies, ei, m. and /.; fem. a day, the natural day
exaudio, ivi, Itum, ire, to hear, hearken to, listen to, give heed to; to regard, answer.
excelsus, a, um high, august, sublime, towering aloft ; uplifted; heights, high places; billows, high waves
extendo, tendi, tentum, ere 3, to stretch out or forth; to extend, prolong, protract, continue;
gloria, ae, /. glory, honor, majesty
humilia, the lowly, God's people and their affairs.
inimicus, i, m., a foe, enemy
invoco, avi, atum, are, to invoke, call upon (God); to put trust in
ira, ae, f., anger, wrath
longe, adv. far off, at a distance; as a substantive with a and de, afar off, from afar.
magnifico, avi, atum, are to praise, glorify, extol, magnify
magnus, a, um, great, mighty; elders
manus, us, f, the hand
medius, a, um in the middle, midst
misericordia, ae,, mercy, kindness, favor, compassion, loving-kindness.
multiplico, avi, atum, are to multiply, increase; to grow, flourish
nomen, mis, n. name; God himself; the perfections of God, His glory, majesty, wisdom, power, goodness
omnis, e, all, each, every; subst., all men, all things, everything
opus, eris, n., work.
os, oris, n., the mouth.
pro, prep, with abl., for; instead of, in lieu of; because of, on account of
psallo, ere 3 to sing to the accompaniment of a stringed instrument,; to sing the praises of God.
quacumque - by whatever way, wherever, wheresoever
quoniam, conj., for, because, since, seeing that, whereas.
respicio, spexi, spectum, ere 3 to look upon, behold, consider; take thought for, heed, have regard to;
retribuo, tribui, tributum, ere 3, to repay, requite, reward, recompense, render; give back, return; make requital for
rex, regis, m. a king, ruler, lawgiver
saeculum, i, n., a lifetime, generation, age; an indefinite period of time; forever, eternity; from of old, i.e., in ages past.
salvum facere, to save, keep safe, preserve from harm..
sanctus, a, um, holy, holy person
super +acc=above, upon, over, in, on;+abl= about, concerning; with, on, upon, for, because of.
templum, i, n. the Sanctuary or new Tabernacle on Mount Sion; a temple-like structure; heaven; a palace.
terra, ae, f. (1) the earth, in both a lit. and a fig. sense. (a) orbis terrae, the world. (2) a country, esp. the Land of Israel
totus a um, the whole, entire
tribulatio, onis, f. , trouble, distress, anguish, affliction, tribulation
verbum, i, n.,word, command, edict, also a promise; saying, speech; Law, the Eternal Son.
veritas, atis, truth. grace, kindness ,goodness, fidelity to promises, Faithfulness
via, ae, a way, road, path, street. God's way, God's policy, way of life
virtus, utis, f strength, power, might; an army, host; the angels.; the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon, and stars
vivifico, avi, atum, are to quicken, give life to, vivify.

Psalm 137/5: God's saving help

Death before his judge, c15th

Today a look at the last two verses of Psalm 137, which take us back to the central themes of the Office of the Dead. Pope Benedict comments on them:

“After calling into question national leaders worldwide, not only those of that time but of all times, the person praying returns to his personal prayer of praise. Turning his gaze to his future life, he implores God for help also for the trials that existence may still have in store for him. And we all pray like this, with this prayerful person of that time. He speaks in concise terms of the "anger of the foes", a sort of symbol of all the hostilities that may spring up before the righteous person on his way through history. But he knows, and with him we also know, that the Lord will never abandon him and will stretch out his hand to save and guide him.”

Here are the two verses in question:

8. Si ambulávero in médio tribulatiónis, vivificábis me: * et super iram inimicórum meórum extendísti manum tuam, et salvum me fecit déxtera tua.
If I shall walk in the midst of tribulation, you will quicken me: and you have stretched forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies: and your right hand has saved me.

9. Dóminus retríbuet pro me: * Dómine, misericórdia tua in sæculum: ópera mánuum tuárum ne despícias.
The Lord will repay for me: your mercy, O Lord endures for ever: O despise not the works of your hands.

In the midst of trouble

Verse 8 very much echoes that famous verse of Psalm 22, ye though I walk in the shadow of death:

Si ambulávero in médio tribulatiónis = if I [will] walk in the midst of tribulations

ambulo, avi, atum, are to walk; the manner in which one orders one's life;
medius, a, um in the middle, midst
tribulatio, onis, f. , trouble, distress, anguish, affliction, tribulation

vivificábis me = you will revive me (ie restore/keep me alive spiritually and/or physically)

vivifico, avi, atum, are to quicken, give life to, vivify.

et super iram =and upon/against the anger

super +acc=above, upon, over, in, on
ira, ae, f., anger, wrath

inimicórum meórum =of my enemies

inimicus, i, m., a foe, enemy

extendísti manum tuam = you have extended/stretched out your hand

extendo, tendi, tentum, ere 3, to stretch out or forth; to extend, prolong, protract, continue;
manus, us, f, the hand

et salvum me fecit déxtera tua = and your right hand saves me [=has saved me]

salvum facere, to save, keep safe, preserve from harm..
dexter, tera, terum; the right hand.

St John Chrysostom notes on this verse that the promise here is rescue, not freedom from trouble in the first place! He says:

“He did not say, You will get rid of the tribulation, but You will give me life while remaining in the very midst of troubles, you will succeed in rescuing me after falling into the dangers themselves - something really remarkable and unexpected, when harm is pressing and circumventing, to establish the one beset by it in a state of security…You will be able, in other words, he is saying, both to rescue me while in the midst of troubles, and also to humble and repress those seething and raging and breathing fire…that is, your power, your strength: God is well equipped with ways and means, and capable of leading to salvation from a desperate situation.”

The Lord redeems us

The final verse of the psalm reminds us that we can never merit salvation, but only be granted it through God’s goodness and mercy, and thus Christ’s saving sacrifice.

Dóminus retríbuet pro me = the Lord will make payment for me

retribuo, tribui, tributum, ere 3, to repay, requite, reward, recompense, render; give back, return; make requital for
pro + abl., for; instead of, in lieu of; because of, on account of

Dómine, misericórdia tua in sæculum = O Lord your mercy [is/endures] forever

misericordia, ae,, mercy, kindness, favor, compassion, loving-kindness.
saeculum, i, n., a lifetime, generation, age; an indefinite period of time; forever, eternity; from of old, i.e., in ages past.

ópera mánuum tuárum ne despícias =the works of your hands you will not despise

opus, eris, n., work.
despicio, spexi, spectum, ere 3 to look away from, not to look at, to slight; to despise; to look down upon

Psalm 137

1. Confitébor tibi, Dómine, in toto corde meo: * quóniam audísti verba oris mei.
2. In conspéctu Angelórum psallam tibi: * adorábo ad templum sanctum tuum, et confitébor nómini tuo.
3. Super misericórdia tua, et veritáte tua: * quóniam magnificásti super omne, nomen sanctum tuum.
4. In quacúmque die invocávero te, exáudi me: * multiplicábis in ánima mea virtútem.
5 Confiteántur tibi, Dómine, omnes reges terræ: * quia audiérunt ómnia verba oris tui.
6. Et cantent in viis Dómini: * quóniam magna est glória Dómini.
7. Quóniam excélsus Dóminus, et humília réspicit: * et alta a longe cognóscit.
8. Si ambulávero in médio tribulatiónis, vivificábis me: * et super iram inimicórum meórum extendísti manum tuam, et salvum me fecit déxtera tua.
9. Dóminus retríbuet pro me: * Dómine, misericórdia tua in sæculum: ópera mánuum tuárum ne despícias.

And that's the end of this mini-series, and indeed of this November series on the Office of the Dead.

There is one tag to the series still to come - tomorrow I'll put some more Latin learning notes on Psalm 137, including a consolidated vocabulary list for it.

But if you have any comments on the substance, content or other aspects of these notes, please do let me know.