voice was heard: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye Him. A cloud overshadowed them, and the Father's voice was heard in thunder. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye Him. Reader.-Sir, be pleased to bless us. Benediction 3. Minister. The grace of the Holy Ghost enlighten our thoughts and hearts. Amen. Lesson 3. 2 Pet. i. 18-20. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Thanks be to God. Response 3. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us: that we should be called the sons of God. We know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. That we should be called the sons of God. That we should be called the sons of God. NOCTURN II. (g) Antiphon. Thou art of more honour and might than the hills of the robbers: the proud are robbed. [Illuminans tu mirabiliter à montibus æternis, &c.] Psalm 76. (4) In Jewry is God known: his name is great in Israel. At Salem is his tabernacle: and his dwelling in Sion. There brake he the arrows of the bow: the shield, the sword, and the battle. Thou art of more honour and might: than the hills of the robbers. The proud are robbed, they have slept their sleep: and all the men, whose hands were mighty, have found nothing. At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob: both the chariot and horse are fallen. Thou, even thou art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry? Thou didst cause thy judgment to be heard from heaven: the earth trembled, and was still. When God arose to judgment: and to help all the meek uponearth. The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise: and the fierce. ness of them shalt thou refrain. Promise unto the Lord your God, and keep it, all ye that are round about him: bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. He shall refrain the spirit of princes: and is wonderful among the kings of the earth. Glory be, &c. (g) Antiphon. Thou art of more honour and might than the hills of (h) Antiphon. One day in thy courts is better than a thousand. Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest, where she may lay her young, even thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be alway praising thee. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee: in whose heart are thy ways. Who going through the vale of misery use it for a well: and the pools are filled with water. They will go from strength to strength: and unto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Sion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: hearken, O God of Jacob. Behold, O God our defender and look upon the face of thine Anointed. For one day in thy courts: is better than a thousand. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God: than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness. Glory be, &c. (h) Antiphon. One day in thy courts is better than a thousand. (i) Antiphon. Very excellent things are spoken of thee, thou city of God. Psalm 87. (6) Her foundations are upon the holy hills: the Lord loveth the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Very excellent things are spoken of thee, thou city of God. I will think upon Rahab and Babylon: with them that know me. Behold ye the Philistines also: and they of Tyre, with the Mo. rians: lo, there was he born. And of Sion it shall be reported, that he was born in her; and the Most High shall stablish her. The Lord shall rehearse it, when he writeth up the people that he was born there. The singers also and trumpeters shall he rehearse: all my fresh springs shall be in thee. Glory be, &c. (i) Antiphon. Very excellent things are spoken of thee, thou city of God. (j) Verse and Response. Thou crownest Him with glory and worship. And makest Him to have dominion of the works of thy hands. The Lord's prayer (privately.) Our Father, &c. And lead us not into temptation. Absolution 2. His pity and mercy succour us, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, world without end. Amen. Reader.-Sir, be pleased to bless us. Benediction 4. Minister. -God, the Father Almighty, be favourable and gracious unto us. Amen. Lesson 4. (Sermon of St. Leo, Pope.) The Lord revealed His glory be. fore certain chosen witnesses, and brightens that bodily form which He had in common with others with such splendour, that His face was like to the sun's blaze, and His raiment all one with the snow's whiteness. In which Transfiguration this was the chief design, to remove from the hearts of the disciples the scan. dal of the cross, that their faith might be proof against the lowli. ness of His voluntary passion, by the revelation of the excellence of His hidden dignity. And it was no less a providence, that here. by the hope of the Holy Church has a sure stay, by knowing how high a change is in store for the whole body of Christ, so that the honour first shown in the Head, might be shared in anticipation by the members. Thou then, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Response 4. They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house : and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures, as out of the river. For with Thee is the well of life, and in thy light shall we see light. And Thou shalt give them drink of Thy pleasures, as out of the river. Reader.-Sir, be pleased to bless us. Benediction 5. Minister. - Christ grant to us the joys of endless life. Amen. Lesson 5. (Sermon continued.) To confirm the Apostles and instruct them in all knowledge, that miracle contained a further lesson. For Moses and Elias, that is, the Law and the Prophets, appeared conversing with the Lord: that by the presence of five men might be most fully accomplished what is written, "By two or three witnesses, every word shall be established." What can be more stable, more firmly fixed, than that word, which was heralded by the trumpet, both of the Old and the New Testament, by the in. struments of the ancient message in unison with the Evangelical teaching? For the pages of each covenant witness either to other, and the brightness of the present glory does but disclose Him manifest and clear, whom foregoing wonders had promised under the veil of Mysteries. But thou then, O Lord, have mercy upon us. 1 Response 5. Master, it is good to be here; and let us make here three tabernacles, one for Thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he knew not what he said. And let us make here three tabernacles, one for Thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias. Reader.-Sir, be pleased to bless us. Benediction 6. Minister. -God kindle the fire of His love in our hearts. Lesson 6. (Sermon continued.) Therefore stirred by these disclosures in outward tokens, the Apostle Peter, in scorn of things of the world, and in disgust of what was earthly, was carried away by a sort of transport into the longing after things eternal; and filled with joy at all that vision, he desired to dwell with Jesus there, where he was enjoying the manifestation of His glory. Wherefore he said, "Lord, it is good to be here: and, if Thou wilt, let us build here three tabernacles, one for Thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias." The Lord, however, answered not to this proposal, inti. mating, not that it was presumptuous, but that it was unbecoming to make it; seeing the world could not be saved but by Christ's death, and that in the Lord's pattern faith should find its calling, not to doubt of the promises of future blessedness, but withal to understand that amid the trials of this life we must ask for patience rather than for glory. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Thanks be to God. Response 6. If the ministration of death, written and engraven in stme, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done away: much more shall the ministration of the Spirit, which abideth, be giorious. For Christ was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inas. much as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. Much more shall the ministration of the Spirit, which abideth, be glorious. Glory be to the Father, &c. Much more shall the ministration of the Spirit, which abideth, be glorious. NOCTURN III. (k) Antiphon- Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Thy Name, Thou hast a mighty arm. Psalm 89. (7) My song shall be alway of the loving-kindness of the Lord: with my mouth will I ever be showing thy truth from one generation to another. For I have said, Mercy shall be set up for ever: thy truth shalt thou establish in the heavens. I have made a covenant with my chosen: I have sworn unto David my servant; Thy seed will I stablish for ever: and set up thy throne from one generation to another. O Lord, the very heavens shall praise thy wondrous works: and thy truth in the congregation of the saints. For who is he among the clouds: that shall be compared unto the Lord? And what is he among the gods: that shall be like unto the Lord ? God is very greatly to be feared in the council of the saints: and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about him. O Lord God of hosts, who is like unto thee: thy truth, most mighty Lord, is on every side. Thou rulest the raging of the sea: thou stillest the waves there. of when they arise. Thou hast subdued Egypt, and destroyed it: thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arm. The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: thou hast laid the foundation of the round world, and all that therein is. Thou hast made the north and the south: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy Name. Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Righteousness and equity are the habitation of thy seat: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Blessed is the people, O Lord, than can rejoice in thee: they shall walk in the light of thy countenance. Their delight shall be daily in thy Name: and in thy righteous. ness shall they make their boast. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy loving kindness thou shalt lift up our horns. For the Lord is our defence: the Holy One of Israel is our King. Thou spakest sometime in visions unto thy saints, and saidst : I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant: with my holy oil have I anoint. ed him. My hand shall hold him fast: and my arm shall strengthen him. wickedness shall not hurt him. I will smite down his foes before his face: and plague them that hate him. My truth also and my mercy shall be with him: and in my Name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his dominion also in the sea: and his right hand in the floods. He shall call me, Thou art my Father: my God, and my strong salvation. And I will make him my first-born: higher than the kings of the earth. |