Monday, April 15, 2013

Tenebrae/33 - Psalm 91



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
Douay-Rheims
Psalmus cantici, in die sabbati.
A psalm of a canticle on the sabbath day.
1 Bonum est confitéri dómino: * et psállere nómini tuo, altíssime.
It is good to give praise to the Lord: and to sing to your name, O most High.
2  Ad annuntiándum mane misericórdiam tuam: * et veritátem tuam per noctem
3 To show forth your mercy in the morning, and your truth in the night:
3  In decachórdo, psaltério: * cum cántico, in cíthara.
4 Upon an instrument of ten strings, upon the psaltery: with a canticle upon the harp.
4. Quia delectásti me, Dómine, in factúra tua: * et in opéribus mánuum tuárum exsultábo.
5 For you have given me, O Lord, a delight in your doings: and in the works of your hands I shall rejoice.
5  Quam magnificáta sunt ópera tua, Dómine! * nimis profúndæ factæ sunt cogitatiónes tuæ
6 O Lord, how great are your works! your thoughts are exceeding deep.
6  Vir insípiens non cognóscet: * et stultus non intélliget hæc.
7 The senseless man shall not know: nor will the fool understand these things.
7  Cum exórti fúerint peccatóres sicut fœnum: * et apparúerint omnes, qui operántur iniquitátem.
8 When the wicked shall spring up as grass: and all the workers of iniquity shall appear:
8  Ut intéreant in sæculum sæculi: * tu autem Altíssimus in ætérnum, Dómine.
That they may perish for ever and ever: 9 But you, O Lord, are most high for evermore.
9  Quóniam ecce inimíci tui, Dómine, quóniam ecce inimíci tui períbunt: * et dispergéntur omnes, qui operántur iniquitátem.
10 For behold your enemies, O lord, for behold your enemies shall perish: and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
10. Et exaltábitur sicut unicórnis cornu meum: * et senéctus mea in misericórdia úberi.
11 But my horn shall be exalted like that of the unicorn: and my old age in plentiful mercy.
11  Et despéxit óculus meus inimícos meos: * et in insurgéntibus in me malignántibus áudiet auris mea.
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.
12  Justus, ut palma florébit: * sicut cedrus Líbani multiplicábitur.
13 The just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus.
13  Plantáti in domo Dómini, *  in átriis domus Dei nostri florébunt.
14 They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God.
14  Adhuc multiplicabúntur in senécta úberi: * et bene patiéntes erunt,  ut annúntient:
15 They shall still increase in a fruitful old age: and shall be well treated, 16 that they may show,
15  Quóniam rectus Dóminus, Deus noster: * et non est iníquitas in eo.
That the Lord our God is righteous, and there is no iniquity in him.

Tenebrae of Holy Saturday

Nocturn I: Psalms 4, 14, 15
Nocturn II: Psalms 23, 26, 29
Nocturn III: Psalms 53*, 75*, 87*
Lauds: 50*, 91, 63, [Is 38], 150

And for the next part in this series, go here.

Tenebrae/32 - Psalm 29



The title of Psalm 29 alludes to the dedication of David's house, but as Pope John Paul II pointed out in his General Audience given on it, it has always been interpreted, in the Christian tradition, as a paschal hymn.

The psalm opens with Christ thanking his Father for his deliverance, and looks forward to the Resurrection, as the sixth century commentator Cassiodorus nicely sums up:

"In the first section the Lord Christ our King gives thanks to the Father after His glorious resurrection, because the Father freed Him from the hostility of this world. He orders the saints to announce praise of the Lord, since all things lie in His power. In the second section He says that He is not to be shifted from His steadfast pur­pose, and further adds that praise of the Deity is to be discharged by the living and not by the dead. In the third section He joyfully and delightedly returns to His resurrection, for having laid aside the frailty of the flesh He continues in the undying glory of His majesty. In his usual fashion He describes as past what He knew would come."

St Alphonsus Liguori draws out the lesson from it for us:


"This psalm is very suitable to every Christian who, having been assailed by his passions, is in danger of falling into temptations."

It teaches, Pope John Paul II, suggests that

"...we must never let ourselves be ensnared by the dark confusion of despair, when it seems that everything is already lost. Nor, of course, is there any need to fall into the illusion that we can save ourselves with our own resources." 

Rather, we must cry out to God for help, and then thank him when it comes.

Psalm 29 Exaltabo te Domine
Vulgate
Douay-Rheims
Psalmus cantici, in dedicatione domus David.
A psalm of a canticle, at the dedication of David's house.
1 Exaltábo te, Dómine, quóniam suscepísti me: * nec delectásti inimícos meos super me.
I will extol you, O Lord, for you have upheld me: and have not made my enemies to rejoice over me.
2  Dómine, Deus meus, clamávi ad te, * et sanásti me.
3 O Lord my God, I have cried to you, and you have healed me.
3  Dómine, eduxísti ab inférno ánimam meam: * salvásti me a descendéntibus in lacum.
4 You have brought forth, O Lord, my soul from hell: you have saved me from them that go down into the pit.
4  Psállite Dómino, sancti ejus: * et confitémini memóriæ sanctitátis ejus.
5 Sing to the Lord, O you his saints: and give praise to the memory of his holiness.
5  Quóniam ira in indignatióne ejus: * et vita in voluntáte ejus.
6 For wrath is in his indignation; and life in his good will.
6  Ad vésperum demorábitur fletus: * et ad matutínum lætítia.
In the evening weeping shall have place, and in the morning gladness.
7 Ego autem dixi in abundántia mea: * Non movébor in ætérnum.
7 And in my abundance I said: I shall never be moved.
 8  Dómine, in voluntáte tua, * præstitísti decóri meo virtútem.
8 O Lord, in your favour, you gave strength to my beauty.
9 Avertísti fáciem tuam a me, * et factus sum conturbátus.
You turned away your face from me, and I became troubled.
10  Ad te, Dómine, clamábo: * et ad Deum meum deprecábor.
9 To you, O Lord, will I cry: and I will make supplication to my God.
11  Quæ utílitas in sánguine meo, * dum descéndo in corruptiónem?
10 What profit is there in my blood, whilst I go down to corruption?
12  Numquid confitébitur tibi pulvis, * aut annuntiábit veritátem tuam?
Shall dust confess to you, or declare your truth?
13  Audívit Dóminus, et misértus est mei: * Dóminus factus est adjútor meus.
11 The Lord has heard, and has had mercy on me: the Lord became my helper.
14  Convertísti planctum meum in gáudium mihi: * conscidísti saccum meum, et circumdedísti me lætítia:
12 You have turned for me my mourning into joy: you have cut my sackcloth, and have compassed me with gladness:
15  Ut cantet tibi glória mea, et non compúngar: * Dómine, Deus meus, in ætérnum confitébor tibi.
13 To the end that my glory may sing to you, and I may not regret: O Lord my God, I will give praise to you for ever.

Tenebrae of Holy Saturday

Nocturn I: Psalms 4, 14, 15
Nocturn II: Psalms 23, 26, 29
Nocturn III: Psalms 53*, 75*, 87*
Lauds: 50*, 91, 63, [Is 38], 150 

Other liturgical uses of the psalm

NT references
-
RB cursus
Sunday Matins II, 4
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc
Holy Sat Tenebrae, II, 3; Easter, Ascension
Roman pre 1911
Monday Matins
Roman post 1911
1911-62: Monday Matins . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)
Ash Wednesday OF (1-2);
Friday after Ash Wednesday, IN (1, 13);
Saturday after Ash Wednesday IN (2, 13);
Passion Wednesday, GR (1-3); PP 11 (1-2).



For the next part in this series, go here.  If you want to look at the notes on Psalm 53, covered earlier in this series, go here.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Tenebrae 31/ Psalm 23



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
Douay-Rheims
Prima sabbati. Psalmus David.

Dómini est terra, et plenitúdo ejus: * orbis terrárum, et univérsi qui hábitant in eo.
The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof: the world, and all they that dwell therein.
2  Quia ipse super mária fundávit eum: * et super flúmina præparávit eum.
2 For he has founded it upon the seas; and has prepared it upon the rivers.
3  Quis ascéndet in montem Dómini? * aut quis stabit in loco sancto ejus?
3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: or who shall stand in his holy place?
4  Innocens mánibus et mundo corde, * qui non accépit in vano ánimam suam, nec jurávit in dolo próximo suo.
4 The innocent in hands, and clean of heart, who has not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour.
5  Hic accípiet benedictiónem a Dómino: * et misericórdiam a Deo, salutári suo.
5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Saviour.
6  Hæc est generátio quæréntium eum, * quæréntium fáciem Dei Jacob.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.
7  Attóllite portas príncipes vestras, et elevámini portæ æternáles: * et introíbit Rex glóriæ.
7 Lift up your gates, O princes, and be lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in.
8  Quis est iste Rex glóriæ? * Dóminus fortis et potens : Dóminus potens in prælio.
8 Who is this King of Glory? The Lord who is strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle.
9  Attóllite portas príncipes vestras,  et elevámini portæ æternáles: * et introíbit Rex glóriæ.
9 Lift up your gates, O princes, and be lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in.
10  Quis est iste Rex glóriæ? * Dóminus virtútum ipse est Rex glóriæ.
10 Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory.

NT Refs: 1 Cor 10:26 (1); Mt 5:8 (4); 1 Cor 2:8

RB cursus
:  Sunday Matins I, 4
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc
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,
Roman pre 1911
Sunday matins; Post trent, Monday Prime
Ambrosian

Brigittine
Sat matins
Maurist
Thesauris schemas
A: ; B: ; C: ; D:
Roman post 1911
1911-62: Monday Prime . 1970: Invitatory (opt); Sunday matins wk 4; Tuesday Lauds wk 1
Mass propers (EF)
Palm Sunday Procession/blessing; Passion Monday CO (10)


Tenebrae of Holy Saturday

Nocturn I: Psalms 4, 14, 15
Nocturn II: Psalms 23, 26*, 29
Nocturn III: Psalms 53*, 75*, 87*
Lauds: 50*, 91, 63, [Is 38], 150

For the next part in this series, on Psalm 29, go here.  Alternatively, if you want to take a look at Psalm 26 (covered earlier in the series) go here.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Tenebrae/30 - Psalm 15






Church of St Apollonia, c1447

Today's psalm moves us along in the narration to the harrowing of hell, for its key verse is: "Because you will not leave my soul in hell; nor will you give your holy one to see corruption."

Indeed, both SS Peter and Paul cite this psalm in sermons reported in Acts (Chapter 2&13), in preaching about Christ’s crucifixion, descent into hell, and resurrection:

"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know -- this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, `I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will dwell in hope.  For thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let thy Holy One see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy presence.  Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,  he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.” Acts 2:22-32

This psalm is one of several Scriptural references for the statement we regularly affirm in the Apostle’s Creed, that Christ descended into hell.  It is worth teasing out briefly what it actually means, not least because it has been the subject of considerable theological debate in recent years.

It is important to understand what is meant by the term hell in this context.  Before the resurrection, due to Original Sin, no one could enter heaven: so Sheol or Hades included dimensions for both the condemned and the just.  The Old Testament saints, in other words, had to wait in a kind of limbo, often called the limbo of the Fathers.

The harrowing of hell, in essence, refers to the descent of Our Lord’s human soul (unified to his divine person) into this limbo.

You can find more on this psalm here.

Tenebrae of Holy Saturday

Nocturn I: Psalms 4, 14, 15
Nocturn II: Psalms 23, 26, 29
Nocturn III: Psalms 53*, 75*, 87*
Lauds: 50*, 91, 63, [Is 38], 150

And you can find the next part of this series here.

Psalm 15
Vulgate
Douay-Rheims
Tituli inscriptio, ipsi David.
The inscription of a title to David himself

Consérva me, Dómine, quóniam sperávi in te. † Dixi Dómino: Deus meus es tu, * quóniam bonórum meórum non eges.
Preserve me, O Lord, for I have put my trust in you. I have said to the Lord, you are my God, for you have no need of my goods.
Sanctis, qui sunt in terra eius, * mirificávit omnes voluntátes meas in eis.
To the saints, who are in his land, he has made wonderful all my desires in them.
Multiplicátæ sunt infirmitátes eórum: * póstea acceleravérunt.
Their infirmities were multiplied: afterwards they made haste.
Non congregábo conventícula eórum de sanguínibus, * nec memor ero nóminum eórum per lábia mea.
I will not gather together their meetings for blood offerings: nor will I be mindful of their names by my lips.
Dóminus pars hereditátis meæ, et cálicis mei: * tu es, qui restítues hereditátem meam mihi.
The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: it is you that will restore my inheritance to me.
Funes cecidérunt mihi in præcláris: * étenim heréditas mea præclára est mihi.
The lines are fallen unto me in goodly places: for my inheritance is goodly to me.
Benedícam Dóminum, qui tríbuit mihi intelléctum: * ínsuper et usque ad noctem increpuérunt me renes mei.
I will bless the Lord, who has given me understanding: moreover, my reins also have corrected me even till night.
Providébam Dóminum in conspéctu meo semper: * quóniam a dextris est mihi, ne commóvear.
I set the Lord always in my sight: for he is at my right hand, that I be not moved.
Propter hoc lætátum est cor meum, et exsultávit lingua mea : * ínsuper et caro mea requiéscet in spe.
Therefore my heart has been glad, and my tongue has rejoiced: moreover, my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Quóniam non derelínques ánimam meam in inférno: * nec dabis sanctum tuum vidére corruptiónem.
Because you will not leave my soul in hell; nor will you give your holy one to see corruption.
Notas mihi fecísti vias vitæ, † adimplébis me lætítia cum vultu tuo: * delectatiónes in déxtera tua usque in finem.
You have made known to me the ways of life, you shall fill me with joy with your countenance: at your right hand are delights even to the end.
Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Other Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

NT references
Acts 2:25-28 (v8ff), Mk 1:24; Acts 2:31, 13:35 (v10), Mt 7:14 (v11)
RB cursus
Friday Prime;
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc
Pre-1911 Roman:. MM: Holy Saturday Tenebrae I, 3, Easter, Corpus Christi, Common of several martyrs;
Roman pre 1911
Sunday Matins
Roman post 1911
1911-62: Tuesday Compline . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)
Lent 2, Monday OF (7-8),
 Lent 3 Wed CO (11),
PP 5, OF (7-8);
Other: vs 5 used for first tonsure ceremony.






Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Tenebrae Psalms/29 - Psalm 14




This psalm opens with two questions: Lord, who shall dwell in your tabernacle? Or who shall rest in your holy hill?

The antiphon set for Holy Saturday provides us with the answer: Christ will dwell in the tabernacle, and will rest on the holy hill.

The Fathers interpret the tabernacle here as referring to God’s presence dwelling amongst the Israelites during their forty years in the desert and in the Temple; but also to the new tabernacle of the Eucharist instituted on Maundy Thursday for us as a source of grace.

The Church as the Tabernacle

St Augustine suggests that the psalm alludes to the refreshment offered in the midst of our battle against the devil, and St Thomas Aquinas built on this idea by suggesting that the tabernacle also represents the Church as it struggles on this earth.  The holy hill, or temple mount, St Thomas suggests, refers to the Church Triumphant in heaven.

The psalm points to Our Lord’s action as high priest, making it possible for us to follow him into heaven despite our sinful natures.  It is a salutary reminder that it is not enough to have faith, or pray: we must also render justice to others.  Yet the psalm also reminds us that our ability to act justly depends entirely on the work of God’s grace in us, not our own efforts.

Psalm 14

Psalm 14 (15): Domine quis habitabit 

Vulgate
Douay-Rheims
Psalmus David.
A psalm for David
Dómine, quis habitábit in tabernáculo tuo? * aut quis requiéscet in monte sancto tuo?
Lord, who shall dwell in your tabernacle? Or who shall rest in your holy hill?
2  Qui ingréditur sine mácula, * et operátur justítiam
He that walks without blemish, and works justice
3  Qui lóquitur veritátem in corde suo, * qui non egit dolum in lingua sua :
He that speaks truth in his heart, who has not used deceit in his tongue
4  Nec fecit próximo suo malum, * et oppróbrium non accépit advérsus próximos suos.
Nor has done evil to his neighbour: nor taken up a reproach against his neighbours.
5  Ad níhilum dedúctus est in conspéctu ejus malígnus: * timéntes autem Dóminum gloríficat
In his sight the malignant is brought to nothing: but he glorifies them that fear the Lord.
6  Qui jurat próximo suo, et non décipit, + qui pecúniam suam non dedit ad usúram, *et múnera super innocéntem non accépit.
He that swears to his neighbour, and deceives not; he that has not put out his money to usury, nor taken bribes against the innocent:
7  Qui facit hæc: * non movébitur in ætérnum.
He that does these things, shall not be moved for ever


NT Scripture refs: Acts 10:34-5 (vs2), 1 Jn 2:10 (vs 7)

RB cursus
Thursday Prime
Monastic/(Roman) feasts etc
Holy Saturday Tenebrae, I, 2; Common of several martyrs; All Souls
Roman pre 1911
Sunday Matins
Ambrosian

Brigittine
Sunday Office of the Holy Spirit
Maurist
Tuesday Prime
Thesauris schemas
A: ; B: Sat Compline; C: ; D:
Roman post 1911
1911-62: Monday Matins . 1970: Monday Vespers wk1
Mass propers (EF)
Lent 3, Tues CO (1-2)\


Tenebrae of Holy Saturday

Nocturn I: Psalms 4, 14, 15
Nocturn II: Psalms 23, 26, 29
Nocturn III: Psalms 53*, 75*, 87*
Lauds: 50*, 91, 63, [Is 38], 150

You can find some short summaries of this psalm by following this link.

And for the next part in this series go here.