
|
The
Office of the Passion of the Lord
Introduction
Here begin the psalms, which our most blessed
Father Francis ordained for the reverence and memory and praise of
the Passion of the Lord. Which are to be said throughout every
hour of the day and night as one single Office. And these
psalms begin from Compline of Good Friday, for the reason that on
that night Our Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed and seized. And
note, that blessed Francis used to say this office thus: First he
used to say the prayer, which the Lord and Master taught us:
Most Holy Our Father etc. with the praises, namely:
Holy, Holy, Holy, as is contained above. With the praises
finished, with the prayer he used to begin this antiphon, namely:
Holy Virgin Mary. He used to say the psalms of Holy Mary
first; afterwards he used to say other psalms which he had
selected, and at the end of all the psalms, which he used to say,
he used to say the psalms of the Passion. With the psalm
finished, he used to say this antiphon, namely: Holy Virgin
Mary. With the antiphon finished, the Office had been
completed.
Part I: For the Sacred Triduum of Holy Week and weekdays
throughout the year
At Compline
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm I
God, my life have I
announced to Thee + Thou has set my tears in Thy sight. All
my enemies against me were thinking evil things for me + and
they took counsel together. And they set against me evil in
place of Thee + and hatred in place of my love. In as much
as they loved me, they were disparaging me + however I was
praying. My Holy Father, King of Heaven and Earth, do not
withdraw from me + since tribulation is my neighbor and there
is none to help. Let my enemies be turned in retreat + on
whatever day I will have invoked Thee, behold I know that Thou art
my God. My friends and my neighbors against me drew near and
stood + and my neighbors stood from afar. Afar Thou has made
my acquaintances to stand from me + they have set me as an
abomination to themselves, I have been betrayed and I used to go
not out. Holy Father, do not distance Thy help from me + My
God look back to help me. Stretch to my assistance + Lord
God of my salvation.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: As
it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, unto the ages
of ages. Amen.
Antiphon:
Holy Virgin Mary, there is none like unto Thee born in the world
among women· Daughter and Handmaid of the Most High, the Highest
King, the heavenly Father, Mother of Our Most Holy Lord Jesus
Christ, Spouse of the Holy Spirit: pray on our behalf with St.
Michael the Archangel and all the Virtues of Heaven and all the
Saints before Thy Most Holy Beloved Son, the Lord and Master.
Glory to the Father. As it was.
Note,
that this abovesaid antiphon is said at all hours; and it is said
in place of the antiphon, chapter, hymn, versicle and prayer; and
similarly at Matins and at all the hours. Nothing other did he
used to say at these hours except this antiphon with these
psalms.
To conclude the Office blessed Francis used to
say:
Let
us bless the Lord God, living and true; let us always return unto
Him praise, glory, honor, blessing and all good things. Amen.
Amen. Let it be. Let it be.
At Matins
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm II
Lord God of my salvation + at day I shout and at
night before Thee. Let there enter into Thy sight my pleading
+ incline Thy ear to my prayer. Stretch to my soul and
free her + on account of my enemies rescue me. Since Thou
art He who have drawn me from the womb, my hope from my mother's
breasts + upon Thee have I been cast forth from the
womb. From my mother's womb Thou art my God + do not
withdraw from me. Thou know my reproach and my confusion
+ and my reverence. In Thy sight are all, who oppress me
+ reproach did my heart expect and misery. And I endured,
one who would be made sad at the same time and he was not
+ and one who would console me, and I found him not. God,
the iniquitous have risen up against me + and the synagogue
of powers sought my soul and they did not set Thee forth in
their own sight. I have been reckoned with those who are
descending into the lake + I have been made free as a man
without assistance among the dead. Thou art my Most Holy
Father + my King and my God. Stretch to my assistance
+
Lord God of my salvation.
At Prime
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm III
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me + since
in Thee does my soul trust. And in the shadow of Thy wings
shall I hope + until iniquity passes over. I shall shout
to my Most Holy Father the Most High + Lord, who does good to
me He sent from Heaven and He freed me + and He gave up
to opprobrium those trampling upon me. God sent His mercy and
His truth + He rescued my soul from my strongest enemies and
from those, who hate me, who had been comforted on my
account. A snare they have prepared for my feet + and they
have bent my soul over. They dug before my face a ditch
+ and they fell into it. My heart has been prepared, God,
my heart has been prepared + I will sing and speak a
psalm. Rise up, my Glory, rise up psaltery and kitara + I
will rise up at the dawn. I will confess Thee among the
peoples, Lord + and I will speak a psalm to Thee among the
nations. Since magnified unto the heavens is Thy mercy
+ and unto the clouds Thy truth. Be exalted above the
heavens, God + and above every land Thy glory.
Note, that the abovesaid psalm is always said at
Prime.
At Terce
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm IV
Have mercy on me, God, since man has trampled upon
me + attacking all the day, he has oppressed me They have
trampled upon me, my enemies, all the day + since many were
warring against me. All my enemies against me were thinking
evil things for me + a iniquitous word did they established
against me. Those who were guarding my soul + took counsel
together. They used to go outside + and they were speaking
for that very purpose. All seeing me derided me + they
spoke with lips and moved (their) head. However I am a worm
and no man + the reproach of men and the outcast of the
people. Above all my enemies I have been made a strong
reproach to my neighbors + and an object of fear to my
acquaintances. Holy Father do not distance Thy help from me
+ look thoroughly to my defense. Stretch to My assistance
+ Lord God of my salvation.
At Sext
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm V
With my voice I shouted to the Lord + with my
voice I have beseeched the Lord. I pour out in Thy sight my
pleading + and my tribulation I pronounce before
Him. Poised to desert me is my spirit + and Thou knew my
path. In this way in which I used to walk + the proud hid
a snare for me. I was surveying the right and looking
+ and there was none who knew me. Flight perished from me
+ and there is none who looks after my soul. Since for Thy
sake I have endured reproach + confusion covers my face. A
stranger have I been made to my brothers + and a pilgrim to
my mother's sons. Holy Father, zeal for Thy house consumes me
and the reproaches of those upbraiding Thee have fallen upon
me. And against me they have been glad and have come together
+ gathered together over me are whips and I did not know
it. They have been multiplied more than the hairs of my head
+ those who hate me without cause. They have been
comforted, who persecuted me, my enemies, unjustly + those
whom I did not plunder I then unbound. Iniquitous witnesses
rising up + who did not know me, were interrogating
me. They were paying me back evil things for good and they
were disparaging me + since I was pursuing goodness. Thou
art my Most Holy Father + my King and my God. Stretch to
my assistance + Lord God of my salvation.
At Nones
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm VI
O all you, who pass by the way + attend and see,
if there is a sorrow like my sorrow. Since many dogs have
surrounded me + a council of the malignant besieges
me. They indeed have considered and inspected me + they
have divided for themselves my vestments and upon my garment
they have cast lots. They have pierced my hands and my feet
+ and they have numbered out all my bones. They have
opened above me their mouth + as a lion seizing and
roaring. As water have I been poured out + and all my
bones have been dispersed. And my heart has become like
molten wax + in the middle of my belly. Dried up as an
earthen pot is my virtue + and my tongue adhered to my
throat. And they gave me gall for my food + and in my
thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. And into the dust of
death they have lead me + and upon the sorrow of my wounds
they have added sorrow. I slept and I rose + and my Most
Holy Father took me up with glory. Holy Father Thou has held
my right hand, and in Thy will Thou has led me + and with
glory Thou has assumed me. For what is there for me in Heaven
+ and apart from Thee what have I wanted on earth? See,
see that I am God, says the Lord + I shall be exalted among
the nations and I shall be exalted on the Earth. Blessed be
the Lord God of Israel, who redeems the souls of His servants
from His very own Most Holy Blood + and does not forsake all
who hope in Him. And we know, that He comes + that He
comes to judge with justice.
At Vespers
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm VII
All nations clap hands + raise a shout of joy to
God in a voice of exultation. Since the Lord is exalted
+ the terrible great King over every land. Because the
Most Holy Father of Heaven, Our King before the ages + sent
His Beloved Son from on high and He wrought salvation in the
midst of the Earth. Let the heavens be glad and the earth
exalt, let the sea be shaken and its fullness + the fields
will rejoice and all, which is in them. Sing to Him a new song
+ sing to the Lord every land. Since the Lord is great and
exceedingly praiseworthy + terrible above all gods. Bring
to the Lord you fatherlands of the nations, bring to the Lord
glory and honor + bring to the Lord the glory of His
Name. Lift up your bodies, and bear His Holy Cross + and
follow until the end His most holy precepts. Let all the
Earth be shaken by His face + tell among the nations, that the
Lord reigned from a tree.
Thus far is said each day from Good Friday until
the Feast of the Ascension. But on the feast of the Ascension
these verses are to be added:
And He ascended to heaven and He sits at the right
hand of the Most Holy Father in Heaven,be exalted above the
heavens, God + and above every land Thy glory. And we know
that He comes + that He will come to judge with
justice.
And note, that from the Ascension to the Advent
of the Lord this psalm is to be said each day in the same manner,
namely: All nations with the abovesaid verses by saying the
Glory be there where the psalm finishes, namely after that He
will come to judge with justice.
Note that these abovesaid psalms are to be said
from Good Friday till the Sunday of the Resurrection. In the same
manner they are to be said from the octave of Pentecost till the
Advent of the Lord and from the octave of Epiphany till the Sunday
of the Resurrection, excepting the Sundays and principle feasts,
on which they are not said; but on other days they are to be said
daily.
Part II: For the Paschal Season
On Holy Saturday, namely with the day of Saturday
completed
At Compline
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm VIII
God stretch to my assistance + Lord make haste to
help me. Let them be confounded and reverent + who seek my
soul. Let them be turned backwards and blush + who will
evil things for me. Let them be turned away on the spot,
those blushing + who say to Me: Well done, well done. Let
them exult and be glad in Thee, all who seek Thee + and let
them always say: May the Lord be magnified: who love Thy
salvation. But I am destitute and poor + God, help
me. My helper and liberator are Thee + Lord do not
delay.
At Matins on the Sunday of the Resurrection
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm IX
Sing to the Lord a new song + because He has
worked wonders. He has sacrificed His Beloved Son with his
right hand + and holy is His arm. The Lord has made known
His salvation + in the sight of the nations He has revealed
His justice. On that day the Lord commanded His mercy
+ and at night His song. This is the day, which the Lord
has made + let us exult and be glad in it. Blessed is He
who comes in the Name of the Lord + the Lord God, and He has
shined upon us. Let the heavens be glad and the earth exult ~
let the sea be shaken and its fullness + the fields will
rejoice and all which is in them. Bring to the Lord you
fatherlands of the nations, bring to the Lord glory and honor
+ bring to the Lord the glory of His Name.
Thus far is said each day from the Sunday of the
Resurrection till the Feast of the Ascension at all hours besides
Vespers and Compline and Prime. But on the night of the Ascension
these verses are added:
Kingdoms of the Earth sing to God + sing a psalm
to the Lord. Sing a psalm to God, who ascends above the
heaven of heavens + to the east. Behold He will give His
voice a voice of virtue ~ give glory to God over Israel + His
magnificence and His virtue (are) in the clouds. God is
wonderful in His saints + the God of Israel Himself shall
give virtue and fortitude to His people, blessed be God.
Glory.
And note, that this psalm is said each day from
the Ascension of the Lord till the octave of Pentecost with the
abovesaid verses at Matins and Terce and Sext and Nones, by saying
the Glory be there where the Blessed be God is said and not
elsewhere.
Likewise note, that in the same manner it is to
be said only at Matins on Sundays and the principle feasts from
the octave of Pentecost till the Advent of the Lord, and from the
octave of Epiphany till the Thursday of the Lord's Supper, because
on that very day the Lord ate the Passover with His disciples; or
another psalm can be said at Matins or at vespers, when one wants,
namely: I will exalt Thee, Lord, as is had in the Psalter;
and this from the Sunday of the Resurrection till the Feast of the
Ascension, and not further.
At Prime
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
The Psalm: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on Me
as above Ps III
At Terce, Sext and Nones
is said the Psalm: Sing as above Ps IX
At Vespers
The Psalm: All nations as above Ps VII
Part III: For Sundays and the principal
festivities
Here begins the other psalms, which our most
blessed Father Francis ordained, which are to be said in place of
the abovesaid psalms of the Passion of the Lord on Sundays and on
the principal festivities from the octave of Pentecost till Advent
and from the octave of Epiphany till the Thursday of the Lord's
Supper; you are to understand correctly, that they are said on
that day, because it is the Passover of the Lord.
At Compline
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
The Psalm God stretch to my assistance as is had in
the Psalter Ps VIII
At Matins
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
The Psalm: Sing as above Ps IX
At Prime
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
The Psalm: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy as
above Ps III
At Terce
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm X
Raise a shout of joy to the Lord every land, speak a
psalm to His Name + give glory as His praise. Say to God,
how terrible are all Thy works, Lord + in the multitude of
Thy virtue Thy enemies will lie to Thee. Let every land adore
Thee and sing a psalm to Thee + let it speak a psalm to Thy
Name. Come, hear and I will tell, all you who fear the Lord
+ how great the Lord made my soul. To Him with my mouth I
shouted + and I exulted with my tongue. And He listened
from His holy temple to my voice + and my shout was in His
sight. Bless Our Lord, you nations + and make your voice
heard as His praise. And blest in Him shall be all the tribes
of the Earth + all nations shall magnify Him. Blessed be
the Lord God of Israel + who alone works great
wonders. And blessed be the Name of His majesty forever
+ and with His majesty every land shall be filled, let it be,
let it be.
At Sext
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm XI
May the Lord listen to you on the day of tribulation
+ may the Name of the God of Jacob protect you. May He
send you help from the Holy Place + and from Sion may He keep
you safe. May He be mindful of your every sacrifice + and
may your holocaust be made fatty. May He grant unto you
according to your heart + and may He confirm your every
counsel. We shall be glad in Thy salvation + and in the
Name of the Lord Our God we shall be magnified. May the Lord
fulfill all your petitions ~ now I know, that the Lord has sent
Jesus Christ His Son + and that He will judge the peoples in
justice. And the Lord has been made the refuge of the poor,
the Helper in the occasions of tribulation + and let them
hope in Thee who know Thy Name. Blessed be the Lord my God,
because He has become my supporter and my refuge + on the day
of my tribulation. My helper, to Thee will I sing a psalm,
because God my supporter, + my God, my mercy.
At Nones
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm XII
In Thee, Lord, have I hoped, I shall not be
confounded forever + in Thy justice free me and rescue
me. Incline Thy ear to me + and save me. Be for me as
God the protector, and as a fortified place + to save
me. Since Thou art my patience Lord + Lord, my hope from
my youth. In Thee I have I been strengthened from the womb,
from the womb of my mother Thou art my protector + in Thee is
my singing always. May my mouth be filled with praise, that I
may sing Thy glory + all the day Thy greatness. Listen to
me, Lord, since kind is Thy mercy + according to the
greatness of Thy mercy look back upon me. And do not turn Thy
face from Thy boy + since I am oppressed, quickly listen to
me. Blessed be the Lord my God, because He has become my
supporter and my refuge + on the day of my tribulation. My
helper, to Thee will I sing a psalm, because God my supporter
+ my God, my mercy.
At Vespers
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
The Psalm: All nations as above Ps VII
Part IV: For the season of the Advent of the
Lord
Here begin the other psalms, which our most
blessed Father Francis similarly ordained, which are to be said in
place of the abovesaid psalms of the Passion of the Lord from the
Advent of the Lord till the vigil of the Nativity and not
further.
At Compline
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm XIII
Until when, Lord, will Thou forget me to the end?
+ until when will Thou turn Thy face from Me? How long
will I set counsels in my soul + sorrow in my heart
throughout the day? Until when will my enemy be exalted above
me? + Look back, and listen to me, Lord, my God. Illumine
my eyes, so that I may never fall asleep in death + so that
my enemy may never say: I have prevailed against Him. They
who oppress me, will exult if I will have moved + however I
in Thy mercy have hoped. My heart shall exalt in Thy
salvation; I will sing to the Lord, who grants good things to me
+ and I will sing a psalm to the Name of the Lord, the Most
High.
At Matins
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm XIV
I will confess, Thee, Lord, the Most Holy Father,
King of Heaven and Earth + since Thou has consoled
me. Thou art God my savior + I will go faithfully and I
will not fear. My fortitude and my praise is the Lord
+ and He has been made into my salvation. Thy right hand,
Lord, has been magnified in fortitude ~ Thy right hand, Lord,
has struck the enemy + and in the multitude of Thy glory Thou
has deposed my adversaries. Let the poor see and be glad
+ seek God and may thy soul live. Let them praise Him,
heavens and Earth + the sea and all creeping things in
them. Since God shall save Sion + and they will rebuild
the cities of Judah. And they will inhabit that place
+ and as an inheritance they will acquire her. And the
seed of His servants shall posses her + and those who love
His Name shall dwell in her.
At Prime
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
The Psalm: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy as
above Ps III
At Terce
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
The Psalm: Raise a shout of joy to God as above Ps
X
At Sext
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
The Psalm: May the Lord listen to you as above Ps
XI
At Nones
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
The Psalm: In Thee, Lord, have I hoped as above Ps
XII
At Vespers
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
The Psalm: All nations as above Ps VII
Note also, that the entire psalm is not said, but
only as far as the verse, namely: Let all the Earth be shaken
by His face; you are to understand correctly, that the entire
verse is said: Lift up your bodies. With this verse
finished there is said: Glory to the Father and so this
psalm is said daily at Vespers from Advent till the vigil of the
Nativity.
Part V: For the season of the Nativity of the Lord
until the octave of Epiphany
At Vespers on the Nativity of the Lord
Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary
Psalm XV
Exult God our helper + raise a shout of joy to
the Lord God living and true in a voice of exultation. Since
the Lord is exalted + the terrible great King over every
land. Because the Most Holy Father of Heaven, Our King before
the ages, sent His Beloved Son from on high + and He was born
of the Blessed Virgin, Holy Mary. He Himself invoked Me: Thou
art my Father + and I will set Him as my firstborn, exalted
before the kings of the Earth. On that day the Lord commanded
His mercy + and at night His song. This is the day, which
the Lord has made + let us exalt and be glad in
it. Because the Most Holy Beloved Boy has been given to us,
and He has been born on our behalf on the road and placed in the
manger + because there was no place in the inn. Glory in
the highest to the Lord God + and on earth peace to men of
good will. Let the heavens be glad and the earth exalt, let
the sea be shaken and its fullness + the fields will rejoice
and all, which is in them. Sing to Him a new song + sing
to the Lord every land. Since the Lord is great and
exceedingly praiseworthy + terrible above all gods. Bring
to the Lord you fatherlands of the nations, bring to the Lord
glory and honor + bring to the Lord the glory of His
Name. Lift up your bodies, and bear His Holy Cross + and
follow until the end His most holy precepts.
Note, that this psalm is said from the Nativity
of the Lord until the octave of Epiphany at all hours. If one
wants to say this Office of blessed Francis, let him say it thus:
first say the Our Father with the praises, namely: Holy, Holy,
Holy. With the praises finished with the prayer as above the
antiphon is begun: Holy Virgin Mary with the psalm, which
has been established for each hour of the day and night. And let
it be said with great reverence.
|