And they all went marching into the ark to get out of the rain...

This week of Sexagesima, being nearly wholly ferial (but for commemoration of St Simeon, Bishop & Martyr, at Lauds to-day, and the Saturday Office of Our Lady still to come), is a good chance to prepare oneself for the sombre penance of Lent by drinking from the spiritual font of the Breviary Hours.  (As a private devotion, while out walking in the evening I've used the former preces and so forth to get myself into a bit more prayer.)

All week, we place ourselves under St Paul's protection, we who trust not in our own works (as the Collect of Sexagesima declares); and this week, at Matins (covering Genesis v to xi), the account of Noë, his Ark, and the Flood is read, to instruct us that the only escape from the deluge of God's punishment of sin - for all flesh has gone astray, "had corrupted its way" (Gen. vi, 12) - is to hie oneself to the Church, the Ark of Salvation borne upon the cleansing flood (an image of baptism, slaying the old man): extra Ecclesiam nulla salus. As was sung at first Vespers of Sexagesima, at the Magnificat:

Dixit Dóminus ad Noë: Finis univérsæ carnis venit coram me: fac tibi arcam de lignis lævigátis, ut salvétur univérsum semen in ea.

(The Lord said unto Noah: The end of all flesh is come before me: make thee an ark of wood, that thereby the seed of all flesh may be saved.)

Then, "In that ark a few, that is, eight souls were saved through water.  Its counterpart, Baptism, now saves you also..." (I Peter iii, 20f).  I've been humming that old children's song, as I half-remember it, "The animals went in two by two, hurrah, hurrah... And they all went marching into the ark to get out of the rain."  Quite symbolic!  (I recall those silly jokes about the unicorns and dinosaurs refusing to go aboard... absurd: everyone knows mediæval knights and damsels ran into unicorns and dragons!)

On Friday, the Tower of Babel is put before us, as an image of the sundering of man from man to be healed only at Pentecost when the one Gospel is proclaimed in all tongues to unite all men in the one Church; and on Saturday, Noë's descendants down to Abram are given, shewing how the history of salvation advances toward's God's next dealing with His people after the Noachic Covenant.

Here are the stirring historiæ, that is, the Matins responsories for this week - the first five detail the Flood, the last five, the Covenant God makes with Noë that He not destroy the world with water (no, it shall perish by fire):

R. Dixit Dóminus ad Noë: Finis univérsæ carnis venit coram me: repléta est terra iniquitáte eórum, * Et ego dispérdam eos cum terra.

V. Fac tibi arcam de lignis lævigátis mansiúnculas in ea fácies. * Et ego dispérdam eos cum terra.

(R. The Lord said unto Noah: The end of all flesh is come before me: for all the earth is filled with violence and wickedness: * And behold I will destroy mankind with the earth.

V. Make thee an ark of wood; rooms shalt thou make in it. * And behold I will destroy mankind with the earth.)  [Genesis vi, 13f]

R. Noë, vir justus atque perféctus, cum Deo ambulávit: * Et fecit ómnia quæcúmque præcépit ei Deus.

V. Fecit sibi arcam, ut salvarétur univérsum semen. * Et fecit ómnia quæcúmque præcépit ei Deus.

(R. Noah was a just man and perfect, and Noah walked with God: * According to all that God commanded him, so did he.

V. And Noah made him an ark of wood, that a seed of every sort might be saved alive. *  According to all that God commanded him, so did he.)  [Genesis vi, 9. 22 etc.]

R. In artículo diéi illíus ingréssus est Noë in arcam et fílii ejus, * Uxor illíus et uxóres filiórum ejus.

V. Deléta sunt univérsa de terra, remánsit autem solus Noë, et qui cum eo erant in arca. * Uxor illíus et uxóres filiórum ejus.

(R. In the selfsame day entered Noah into the ark, * His sons, and his wife, and the wives of his sons.

V. All flesh died that moved upon the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. * His sons, and his wife, and the wives of his sons.)  [Genesis vii, 13. 21. 23]

R. Recordátus Dóminus Noë, addúxit spíritum super terram, et imminútæ sunt aquæ: * Et prohíbitæ sunt plúviæ de cælis.

V. Reversæque sunt aquæ de terra eúntes et redeúntes, et cœpérunt mínui post centum quinquagínta dies. * Et prohíbitæ sunt plúviæ de cælis.

(R. And God remembered Noah, and made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged: * And the rain from heaven was restrained.

V. The waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. * And the rain from heaven was restrained.)  [Genesis viii, 1. 2. 3]

R. Quadragínta dies et noctes apérti sunt cæli, et ex omni carne habénte spíritum vitæ ingréssa sunt in arcam: * Et clausit a foris óstium Dóminus.

V. In artículo diéi illíus ingréssus est Noë in arcam et fílii ejus, et uxor illíus et uxóres filiórum ejus. * Et clausit a foris óstium Dóminus.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. * Et clausit a foris óstium Dóminus.

(R. Forty days and forty nights were the heavens opened; and two of all flesh went in unto Noah into the ark: * And the Lord shut them in.

V. In the selfsame day entered Noah into the ark, his sons, and his wife, and the wives of his sons. * And the Lord shut them in.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. * And the Lord shut them in.)  [Genesis vii, 12. 13. 15. 16]

R. Ædificávit Noë altáre Dómino, ófferens super illud holocáustum: odoratúsque est Dóminus odórem suavitátis, et benedíxit ei, dicens: * Créscite, et multiplicámini, et repléte terram.

V. Ecce ego státuam pactum meum vobíscum, et cum sémine vestro post vos. * Créscite, et multiplicámini, et repléte terram.

(R. Noah builded an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings thereon: and the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and blessed him, saying: * Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth.

V. Behold, I establish my Covenant with you, and with your seed after you. * Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth.)  [Genesis viii, 20. 21; ix, 1. 7. 9]

R. Ponam arcum meum in núbibus cæli, dixit Dóminus ad Noë: * Et recordábor fœderis mei, quod pépigi tecum.

V. Cumque obdúxero núbibus cælum, apparébit arcus meus in núbibus. * Et recordábor fœderis mei, quod pépigi tecum.

(R. The Lord said unto Noah: I do set my bow in the clouds of heaven, * And I will remember the Covenant betwixt God and man.

V. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the heaven, that my bow shall be seen in the cloud. * And I will remember the Covenant betwixt God and man.)  [Genesis ix, 13f]

R. Per memetípsum jurávi, dicit Dóminus, non adjíciam ultra aquas dilúvii super terram: pacti mei recordábor * Ut non perdam aquis dilúvii omnem carnem.

V. Arcum meum ponam in núbibus, et erit signum fœderis inter me et inter terram. *  Ut non perdam aquis dilúvii omnem carnem.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. * Ut non perdam aquis dilúvii omnem carnem.

(R. By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, that I will not again bring the flood of destruction upon the whole earth; for I will remember my Covenant: * And the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

V. I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a Covenant betwixt me and the earth. * And the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. * And the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.)  [Genesis ix, 15. 13 etc.]

R. Benedíxit Deus Noë, et fíliis ejus, et dixit ad eos: * Créscite, et multiplicámini, et repléte terram.

V. Ecce ego státuam pactum meum vobíscum, et cum sémine vestro post vos. * Créscite, et multiplicámini, et repléte terram.

(R. God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them: * Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth.

V. Behold I establish my Covenant with you, and with your seed after you. * Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth.)  [Genesis ix, 1. 9]

R. Ecce ego státuam pactum meum vobíscum, et cum sémine vestro post vos: * Neque erit deínceps dilúvium díssipans terram.

V. Arcum meum ponam in núbibus, et erit signum fœderis inter me et inter terram. * Neque erit deínceps dilúvium díssipans terram.

(R. Behold I establish my Covenant with you, and with your seed after you : * Neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

V. I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a Covenant betwixt me and the earth. *  Neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.)  [Genesis ix, 9. 11. 13]

[I trust my pinching of these translations from The Roman Breviary website's Lessons at Matins in Septuagesimatide will be acceptable!]

Historia for the Books of Kings

There are as many as eleven weeks (as this year) between the Monday after Trinity and the Saturday before the first Sunday of August, and for this period the Church appoints the four books of Kings (that's 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings in the Protestant reckoning) to be read at Matins. Of course, various feasts and solemnities supervene, such as Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart, SS Peter & Paul, etc., but on all days not of 1st or 2nd class these passages are read. To accompany them there are some twelve responsories based on select verses from the Books of Kings, and these responsories (and also their equivalents for other books) are called historia, being designed to provide a reflection upon the message highlighted. As there are only twelve, these recur regularly throughout each week, and the medievals highly prized them. (In passing, it may be noted that their small number and repetition would make the chanting of them to their elaborate melodies much easier.)

I calculate that between Monday the 19th of May and Saturday the 2nd of August this year, these responsories will have been read or sung 138 times, so they are certainly noteworthy.

The first is the admonition of Samuel the prophet to all Israel, that they must cleave to the Lord alone (a warning that went unheeded, with disastrous consequences); the next five, and the eighth, all relate to different portions of the history of King David, whom Scripture and the Church present as a type or foreshadowing of Our Lord; the seventh is taken from the famous but apocryphal prayer of the wicked King Manasses (cf. I Paral. (Chron.) xxxiii, 1-10), upon his repentance (cf. I Paral. (Chron.) xxxiii, 12-13. 19); the nineth to eleventh are all prayers of Solomon, that God would hear and heed his people's cry when they prayed before His Temple (but again, owing to their unrepentant hearts in the end their prayers were spurned); and the twelfth images the great prophet Elias, another type of Our Lord, being taken up to Paradise (foreshadowing the Ascension), as his disciple Eliseus looks on.

Here, then, are the current historia:

1st Responsory. (Cf. I Kings (Sam.) vii. 3.) [Samuel to the whole of Israel]

[Sunday R/. i & Thursday R/. i]

R/. Præparáte corda vestra Dómino, et servíte illi soli: * Et liberábit vos de mánibus inimicórum vestrórum.
V/. Convertímini ad eum in toto corde vestro, et auférte deos aliénos de médio vestri. * Et liberábit vos de mánibus inimicórum vestrórum.

R/. Prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve Him Only; * and He will deliver you out of the hand of your enemies.
V/. Return unto Him with all your hearts, and put away the strange gods from among you. * And He will deliver you out of the hand of your enemies.

2nd Responsory. (I Kings (Sam.) xvii. 37.) [King David]

[Sunday R/. ii & Thursday R/. ii]

R/. Deus ómnium exaudítor est: ipse misit Angelum suum, et tulit me de óvibus patris mei: * Et unxit me unctióne misericórdiæ suæ.
V/. Dóminus, qui erípuit me de ore leónis, et de manu béstiæ liberávit me. * Et unxit me unctióne misericórdiæ suæ.


R/. God, Which heareth all, even He sent His Angel, and took me from keeping my father’s sheep, * and anointed me with the oil of His mercy.
V/. The LORD That delivered me out of the mouth of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, * And anointed me with the oil of His mercy.

3rd Responsory. (Cf. I Kings (Sam.) xvii. 37a. Ps. Ivi. 4a-5b.) [David to Saul about Goliath]

[Sunday R/. iii & Thursday R/. iii]

R/. Dóminus, qui erípuit me de ore leónis, et de manu béstiæ liberávit me, * Ipse me erípiet de mánibus inimicórum meórum.
V/. Misit Deus misericórdiam suam et veritátem suam: ánimam meam erípuit de médio catulórum leónum. * Ipse me erípiet de mánibus inimicórum meórum.
Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. * Ipse me erípiet de mánibus inimicórum meórum.

R/. The LORD That delivered me out of the mouth of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear * He will deliver me out of the hand of mine enemies.
V/. God hath sent forth His mercy and His truth, and delivered my soul from among the lion’s whelps. * He will deliver me out of the hand of mine enemies.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
* He will deliver me out of the hand of mine enemies.

4th Responsory. (Cf. 1 Kings (Sam.) xviii. 7a, xvii. 26, xviii. 6, 7.) [From the women’s song on the death of Goliath.]

[Sunday R/. iv & Friday R/. i]

R/. Percússit Saul mille, et David decem míllia: * Quia manus Dómini erat cum illo : percússit Philisthæum, et ábstulit oppróbrium ex Israël.
V/. Nonne iste est David, de quo canébant in choro, dicéntes: Saul percússit mille, et David decem millia? * Quia manus Dómini erat cum illo : percússit Philisthæum, et ábstulit oppróbrium ex Israël.

R/. Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. * Because the hand of the Lord was with him, he smote the Philistine, and took away the reproach from Israel.
V/. Is not this David? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying: Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? * Because the hand of the Lord was with him, he smote the Philistine, and took away the reproach from Israel.

5th Responsory. (Cf. II Kings (Sam.) i. 21a, 19b.) [From David’s poem on the death of Saul and Jonathan.]

[Sunday R/. v & Friday R/. ii]

R/. Montes Gélboë, nec ros nec plúvia véniant super vos, * Ubi cecidérunt fortes Israël.
V/. Omnes montes, qui estis in circúitu ejus, vísitet Dóminus: a Gélboë autem tránseat. * Ubi cecidérunt fortes Israël.

R/. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you for there are the mighty of Israel fallen!
V/. All ye mountains that stand round about, the Lord look upon you! but let Him pass by Gilboa! * For there are the mighty of Israel fallen!

6th Responsory. (Cf. II Kings (Sam.) vii. 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 16.) [The Lord to King David]

[Sunday R/. vi & Tuesday R/. iii & Friday R/. iii]

R/. Ego te tuli de domo patris tui, dicit Dóminus, et pósui te páscere gregem pópuli mei: * Et fui tecum in ómnibus ubicúmque ambulásti, firmans regnum tuum in ætérnum.
V/. Fecíque tibi nomen grande, juxta nomen magnórum, qui sunt in terra : et réquiem dedi tibi ab ómnibus inimícis tuis. * Et fui tecum in ómnibus ubicúmque ambulásti, firmans regnum tuum in ætérnum.
Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. * Et fui tecum in ómnibus ubicúmque ambulásti, firmans regnum tuum in ætérnum.

R/. Thus saith the LORD: I took thee out of thy father’s house, and appointed thee to be ruler over My people, over Israel. * And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, to establish thy kingdom for ever.
V/. And I have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth; and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. * And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, to establish thy kingdom for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
* And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, to establish thy kingdom for ever.

7th Responsory. (Prex Manasses; Ps. l. 5, 6a.) [The Lament of the wicked King Manasses]

[Sunday R/. vii & Wednesday R/. i & Saturday R/. i]

R/. Peccávi super númerum arénæ maris, et multiplicáta sunt peccáta mea: et non sum dignus vidére altitúdinem cæli præ multitúdine iniquitátis meæ : quóniam irritávi iram tuam, * Et malum coram te feci.
V/. Quóniam iniquitátem meam ego cognósco: et delíctum meum contra me est semper, quia tibi soli peccávi. * Et malum coram te feci.

R/. My sins are many, yea, they are more in number than the sands of the sea; I am not worthy to look up toward heaven because of the multitude of my iniquities; for I have provoked Thee to anger, * and done evil in Thy sight.
V/. For I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is ever before me, for against Thee only have I sinned, * And done evil in Thy sight.

“8th” Responsory. (Cf. II Kings (Sam.) xxiv. 17; i Par. (Chron.) xxi. 17.) [David's prayer for forgiveness upon ordering a census and bringing destruction upon Israel]

[Monday R/. i]

R/. Recordáre, Dómine, testaménti tui, et dic Angelo percutiénti: Cesset jam manus tua, * Ut non desolétur terra, et ne perdas omnem ánimam vivam.
V/. Ego sum qui peccávi, ego qui iníque egi: isti qui oves sunt, quid fecérunt? Avertátur, óbsecro, furor tuus, Dómine, a pópulo tuo. * Ut non desolétur terra, et ne perdas omnem ánimam vivam.

R/. Remember, O Lord, Thy covenant, and say unto the destroying Angel: Stay now thine hand, * that the land be not utterly laid waste, and that thou destroy not every living soul.
V/. Even I it is that have sinned, and done evil indeed: but these sheep what have they done ? I pray Thee, O LORD, Let Thine anger be turned away from Thy people. * That the land be not utterly laid waste, and that Thou destroy not every living soul.


“9th” Responsory. (Cf. III (I) Kings viii. 23b.) [Founded on Solomon’s Prayer at the Dedication of the Temple.]

[Monday R/. ii & Wednesday R/. ii & Saturday R/. ii]

R/. Exaudísti, Dómine, oratiónem servi tui, ut ædificárem templum nómini tuo: * Bénedic et sanctífica domum istam in sempitérnum, Deus Israël.
V/. Dómine, qui custódis pactum cum servis tuis, qui ámbulant coram te in toto corde suo. * Bénedic et sanctífica domum istam in sempitérnum, Deus Israël.

R/. O Lord, Thou hast hearkened unto the prayer of Thy servant, that I might build a temple unto Thy Name, * O God of Israel, bless Thou, and hallow this house for ever!
V/. O Lord, Who keepest covenant with Thy servants that walk before Thee in all their heart. * O God of Israel, bless Thou, and hallow this house for ever!

“10th” Responsory. (Cf. II Par. (Chron.) vi. 19-21, 30, 39,40; III (I) Kings viii. 28-29.) [From Solomon’s Prayer at the Dedication of the Temple.]

[Monday R/. iii & Wednesday R/. iii & Saturday R/. iii]

R/. Audi, Dómine, hymnum et oratiónem, quam servus tuus orat coram te hódie, ut sint óculi tui apérti, et aures tuæ inténtæ, * Super domum istam die ac nocte.
V/. Réspice, Dómine, de sanctuário tuo, et de excélso cælórum habitáculo. * Super domum istam die ac nocte.
Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. * Super domum istam die ac nocte.

R/. Hearken, O LORD, unto the cry and to the prayer which Thy servant prayeth before Thee to-day, that Thine eyes may be open and Thine ears attent * toward this house day and night.
V/. Look down from Thine high and holy place, O LORD, even from heaven Thy dwelling, * Toward this house, day and night.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. * Toward this house day and night.

“11th” Responsory. (Cf. III (I) Kings viii. 33-34.) [Based upon Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple.]

[Tuesday R/. i]

R/. Dómine, si convérsus fúerit pópulus tuus, et oráverit ad sanctuárium tuum: * Tu exáudies de cælo, Dómine, et líbera eos de mánibus inimicórum suórum.
V/. Si peccáverit in te pópulus tuus, et convérsus égerit pœniténtiam, veniénsque oráverit in isto loco. * Tu exáudies de cælo, Dómine, et líbera eos de mánibus inimicórum suórum.

R/. Lord, when Thy people shall turn again to Thee, and shall pray unto Thee in this house, * then hear Thou in heaven, O Lord, and deliver them out of the hand of their enemies.
V/. If Thy people sin against Thee, and turn again, and repent, and come and pray unto Thee in this house. * Then hear Thou in heaven, O Lord, and deliver them out of the hand of their enemies.

“12th” Responsory. (IV (II) Kings ii. 11, 12.) [Elias taken up - Elias cries out]

[Tuesday R/. ii]

R/. Factum est, dum tólleret Dóminus Elíam per túrbinem in cælum, * Eliséus clamábat, dicens: Pater mi, pater mi, currus Israël, et auríga ejus.
V/. Cumque pérgerent, et incedéntes sermocinaréntur, ecce currus ígneus et equi ígnei divisérunt utrúmque, et ascéndit Elías per túrbinem in cælum. * Eliséus clamábat, dicens: Pater mi, pater mi, currus Israël, et auríga ejus.

R/. And it came to pass when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind; * Elisha cried, and said: My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
V/. And as they still went on, and talked, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. * Elisha cried, and said: My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.