HOW MANY PSALMS ARE TO BE SAID IN THE NIGHT-HOURS.

1

In winter, having first said the verse, "O God incline unto mine aid, O Lord make haste to help me," 1 the words, "O Lord open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise," 2 are next to be repeated three times. After this the third Psalm is said, with a "Glory be to the Father," at the end. Then the ninety-fourth Psalm is to be recited or sung with an antiphon. Let a hymn * follow next, and then six psalms with antiphons. These being said, and a versicle added, let the Abbot give a blessing,

* The Hymn was called Ambrosianum, either because St. Ambrose was the author of many of them, or because they were first sung during his Episcopate, in the Church of Milan.

80 Quot Psalmi dicendi sunt in nocturnis horis.

soria sine "Gloria" dicantur. Post tertiam vero Lectionem qui cantat, dicat "Gloria;" quam, dum incipit Cantor dicere, mox omnes de sedilibus surgant ob honorem et reverentiam sanctissimæ Trinitatis.

Codices autem legantur in Vigiliis, tam veteris Testamenti, quam novi divinæ auctoritatis; sed et expositiones earum, quæ a nominatissimis, et orthodoxis, et catholicis Patribus factæ sunt. Post has vero tres Lectiones cum Responsoriis suis, sequantur reliqui sex psalmi cum Alleluia cantandi. Post hos Lectio Apostoli sequatur, ex corde recitanda, et Versus, et supplicatio Litaniæ, id est, "Kyrie eleison." Et sic finiantur Vigiliæ nocturnæ.

and then, all being seated, let three lessons be read by the Brethren in turns, from the book lying on the lectern. After every lesson, let a responsory be sung. Let two of them be without a "Gloria," but after the third let it be added by the Cantor, and as soon as he has begun it, let all rise from their seats out of honour and reverence to the Holy Trinity.

Let the divinely inspired books, both of the Old and New Testament, be read at Matins, together with the expositions made upon them by the most famous, orthodox, and Catholic Fathers. After these three lessons and their responsories, let six other psalms follow, to be sung with an Alleluia. Then let a lesson from the Apostle be said by heart, and after that a verse and the supplication of the Litanies, that is," Kyrie eleison." And thus let the Matins or Night-watches be brought to an end.

13 Junii

12 Feb. A PASCHA autem usque ad Kalendas 18 Oct. Novembris (ut supra dictum est) omnis Psalmodiæ quantitas teneatur: excepto, quod Lectiones in codice, propter brevitatem noctium, minime legantur, sed pro ipsis tribus Lectionibus, una de veteri Testamento memoriter dicatur, quam breve Responsorium subsequatur, et reliqua omnia (ut dictum est) impleantur, id est, ut nunquam minus a duodecim Psalmorum quantitate ad Vigilias nocturnas dicatur, exceptis tertio et nonagesimo quarto Psalmo.

HOW MATINS, OR NIGHT-OFFICE, IS TO BE CELEBRATED IN SUMMER.

FROM Easter till the first of November, let the same number of psalms be recited, as we have before appointed; but let not the lessons be read, because of the shortness of the nights. Instead of these three lessons, let one out of the Old Testament be said by heart, followed by a short responsory, and let all the rest be performed as we have before arranged, so that without counting the third, and the ninetyfourth psalms, there be never fewer than twelve psalms said at Matins.