The Original Verses of the Attende Domine

Attende Domine serves well as a motet in Lent. Owing to a reference I found online, I discovered that the Attende Domine was originally a neo-Gallican paraliturgical composition of the early nineteenth century, while the verses (together with their music) with which we are familiar (Ad te, Rex summe, etc.) were inserted about the turn of the twentieth century (when Solesmes restored the Gregorian chant) from the Mozarabic Rite, in place of the original verses (and their music), which had been derived from Scripture.

A quick search online revealed that the earliest book containing the original verses was dated 1811, and the latest, 1918.

Having finally found the original verses (and their music in Le paroissien romain... (1854), pp. 371-374) online, it is obvious that the Attende Domine was composed in imitation of the Rorate cæli; the clearest textual parallel is in verse 3 of the Rorate cæli, the relevant words being ut auferat jugum captivitatis nostræ, significantly enough not found in Scripture, but deriving from an Advent Magnificat antiphon, while others are in verse 2 (Peccavimus... ...iniquitatis nostræ) and verse 4 (popule meus... Dominus Deus tuus... Redemptor tuus).

Here are the original verses of the Attende Domine, in Latin and English, with the Scriptural references added:

R. Attende, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. (Cf. Bar. 3, 2)

R. Attende, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. (Cf. Bar. 3, 2)

1. Recordare, Domine, quid acciderit nobis (Lam. 5, 1); peccavimus cum patribus nostris, injuste egimus (Ps. 105, 6); multiplicatæ sunt super capillos capitis iniquitates nostræ (cf. Ps. 39, 13).

R. Attende, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. (Cf. Bar. 3, 2)

2. Contristati sumus in exercitatione nostra et conturbati sumus a voce inimici et a tribulatione peccatorum (cf. Ps. 54, 3-4): in proximo est perditio nostra, et non est qui adjuvet (cf. Ps. 21, 12); formido mortis cecidit super nos (cf. Ps. 54, 5).

R. Attende, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. (Cf. Bar. 3, 2)

3. Cor contritum et humiliatum ne despicias, Domine (cf. Ps. 50, 19): in jejunio et fletu (Joël 2, 12) te deprecamur nos (cf. 2 Par. 6, 37). Eleemosynam concludimus in sinu pauperum, et ipsa exorabit te pro nobis (cf. Eccli. 29, 15): convertimur ad te, quoniam multus es ad ignoscendum (cf. Is. 55, 7).

R. Attende, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. (Cf. Bar. 3, 2)

4. Audi, popule meus, et considera (cf. Ps. 80, 9): vinea mea electa (cf. Jer. 2, 21), domus Israël (cf. Is. 5, 7): Ego te plantavi, quomodo facta est in amaritudinem? (Cf. Jer. 2, 21) expectavi ut faceres judicium, et ecce iniquitas, et justitiam, et ecce clamor (cf. Is. 5, 7).

R. Attende, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. (Cf. Bar. 3, 2)

5. Revertere, revertere (cf. Eccli. 17, 23) ad Dominum Deum tuum (cf. Os. 14, 2), et auferam jugum captivitatis tuæ (cf. Magn. Aña., F. II infra Hebd. II Advent.); redimam te (Jer. 15, 21); lavabo iniquitates tuas in sanguine meo (cf. Apoc. 1, 5); et ero victima tua (?), et Redemptor tuus (Is. 41, 14; 49, 26; 54, 5; 60, 16).

R. Attende, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. (Cf. Bar. 3, 2)

******

R. Look down on us, O Lord, and take pity; for we have sinned against thee. (Cf. Bar. 3, 2)

R. Look down on us, O Lord, and take pity; for we have sinned against thee. (Cf. Bar. 3, 2)

1. Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us (Lam. 5, 1); we have sinned with our fathers: we have acted unjustly (Ps. 105, 6); and our iniquities are multiplied above the hairs of our head (cf. Ps. 39, 13).

R. Look down on us, O Lord, and take pity; for we have sinned against thee. (Cf. Bar. 3, 2)

2. We are grieved in our exercise; and we are troubled at the voice of the enemy, and at the tribulation of sinners (cf. Ps. 54, 3-4): our perdition is at hand, for there is no one to help us (cf. Ps. 21, 12); and the fear of death is fallen upon us (cf. Ps. 54, 5).

R. Look down on us, O Lord, and take pity; for we have sinned against thee. (Cf. Bar. 3, 2)

3. A contrite and humbled heart do not despise, O Lord (cf. Ps. 50, 19); in fasting and weeping (Joël 2, 12) we pray to thee (cf. 2 Par. 6, 37). Alms we will shut up in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help for us from thee (cf. Eccli. 29, 15). We return to thee; for thou art bountiful to forgive (cf. Is. 55, 7).

R. Look down on us, O Lord, and take pity; for we have sinned against thee. (Cf. Bar. 3, 2)

4. Hearken, O my people, and consider (cf. Ps. 80, 9), my chosen vineyard (cf. Jer. 2, 21), O house of Israel (cf. Is. 5, 7): I planted thee: how then art thou turned into bitterness? (Cf. Jer. 2, 21) And I looked that thou shouldst do judgement, and behold iniquity: and do justice, and behold a cry (cf. Is. 5, 7).

R. Look down on us, O Lord, and take pity; for we have sinned against thee. (Cf. Bar. 3, 2)

5. Return, O return (cf. Eccli. 17, 23) to the Lord thy God (cf. Os. 14, 2), and I shall take away the yoke of thy captivity (cf. Magn. Aña., F. II infra Hebd. II Advent.); I shall redeem thee (Jer. 15, 21), and wash thy iniquities in my Blood (cf. Apoc. 1, 5); and I shall be thy Victim (?), and thy Redeemer (Is. 41, 14; 49, 26; 54, 5; 60, 16).

R. Look down on us, O Lord, and take pity; for we have sinned against thee. (Cf. Bar. 3, 2)

Evolution of a Collect

On Thursday, I head off to join the Christus Rex Pilgrimage; Thursday, "Birthday of the Chalice", is the Day of the Institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood – and reminds us that Christ is Priest as well as King: the One Eternal High Priest, and the King of the Universe.

While it was Pius XI who had a Votive Mass of Christ the Priest drawn up and inserted into the Roman Missal in 1935, and in many places (mainly Hispanophone) a Feast of Christ the Priest on the Thursday after Pentecost has been inserted into the modern Roman Calendar, with a revised proper most recently confirmed under Benedict XVI in 2012, this celebration of the Priesthood of Christ has a prehistory – for it is found as far back as 1686 in France, and featured prominently in the many different Neo-Gallican Breviaries and Missals.

The French Feast of the Priesthood of Our Lord Jesus Christ was, of course, not assigned to the Thursday after Pentecost, because in those happier days that was part of the Octave of Pentecost (though the Mass of Whit Thursday largely repeated that of Whitsunday, unlike the other days in the Octave): instead, it was assigned to the Octave Day of Corpus Christi, quite sensibly.  (In a few French dioceses, however, Christ the Priest was celebrated on the 2nd or 3rd Sunday of October – in one case, that of the diocese of Tréguier in Brittany, with an Octave.)

The Collect of the modern Feast of Christ the Priest (not that of the Votive in the Roman Missal, which is disfigured with a different and rather generic petition) is almost identical to the Collect of the 1935 Votive, but for the addition of three words (Spiritu Sancto largiente) and the omission of eumdem in the conclusion.

However, this Collect has its own prehistory: for it can be found in various stages of development in old French Breviaries – rather as fossils may tell a tale (please, no digs at evolutionary theories, that's so Protestant) – and it also illustrates the Neo-Gallican tendency to produce orations out of snippets of Holy Scripture (in this case, mainly from Hebrews, though the modern festal collect quotes instead from 1 Cor. iv, 1-2: "ministros Christi, et dispensatores mysteriorum Dei... ut fidelis quis inveniatur"). 

Here are a succession of collects demonstrating their development, with new phrases in each stage underlined; I supply a painfully literal translation of my own poor devising for each prayer:

Form 2D (2012 Feast (OF))

Collect [=EF, with one addition, and deletion of eumdem]

Deus, qui ad majestatis tuæ gloriam et generis humani salutem, Unigenitum tuum Summum atque Æternum constituisti Sacerdotem, præsta, ut, Spiritu Sancto largiente, quos ministros et mysteriorum surorum dispensatores elegit, in accepto ministerio adimplendo fideles inveniantur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia sæcula sæculorum.

(O God, Who to the glory of Thy Majesty and for the salvation of the human race didst constitute Thine Only-Begotten supreme and eternal Priest: grant, by the bountiful Holy Spirit, that those whom He hath chosen as ministers and stewards of His mysteries be found faithful in fulfilling the ministry they have received. Through...)

Form 2C (1962 = 1935 Votive (EF))

Collect

Deus, qui ad majestatis tuæ gloriam et generis humani salutem, Unigenitum tuum summum atque æternum constituisti Sacerdotem: præsta; ut quos ministros et mysteriorum suorum dispensatores elegit in accepto ministerio adimplendo fideles inveniantur. Per eumdem...

(O God, Who to the glory of Thy Majesty and for the salvation of the human race didst constitute Thine Only-Begotten supreme and eternal Priest: grant; that those whom He hath chosen as ministers and stewards of His mysteries be found faithful in fulfilling the ministry they have received. Through the same...)

Form 2B (1770 Prop. Trecorensis)

Collect

Deus, qui ad majestatis tuæ gloriam et generis humani salutem unigenitum tuum summum constituisti sacerdotem: præsta ut quos mysteriorum suorum elegit cooperatores et dispensatores, ministerium quod acceperunt fideliter impleant. Per eumdem.

(O God, Who to the glory of Thy Majesty and for the salvation of the human race didst constitute Thine Only-Begotten the high Priest: grant; that those whom He hath chosen as co-workers and stewards of His mysteries, faithfully fulfil the ministry which they have received. Through the same...)

Form 2A (1784 Brev. Aniciense, but presumably earlier, as 2B derives from it)

Collect

Deus, qui ad majestatis tuæ gloriam, et generis humani salutem, Unigenitum tuum summum constituisti Sacerdotem: eique ad sacrificandum tibi hostiam mundam Sacerdotes ministros sociasti: præsta, ut omnes qui vocatione tam sancta dignati sunt, altari tuo devote ministrent, et seipsos hostiam vivam et sanctam offerre mereantur; Per eumdem.

(O God, Who to the glory of Thy Majesty and for the salvation of the human race didst constitute Thine Only-Begotten the high Priest: and didst associate with Him ministers, Priests to sacrifice unto Thee a pure victim; grant; that all who are worthy of such a holy calling, devoutly minister at Thine altar, and deserve to offer themselves as a living and holy victim. Through the same...)

Form 2 (1740 Diurnale Sagiense) [last phrase only derived from Form 1]

Collect

Deus, qui Unigenitum tuum dedisti summum Sacerdotem, eique ad sacrificandum tibi hostiam mundam sacerdotes ministros sociasti: quæsumus, ut omnes qui vocatione tam sancta dignati sunt, altari tuo devote ministrent, et seipsos hostiam vivam et sanctam offerre mereantur. Per eumdem.

(O God, Who didst constitute Thine Only-Begotten the high Priest: and didst associate with Him ministers, Priests to sacrifice unto Thee a pure victim; we beseech, that all who are worthy of such a holy calling, devoutly minister at Thine altar, and deserve to offer themselves as a living and holy victim. Through the same...)

Form 1 (1686 Cluniac Breviary)

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui “autorem [sic; lege auctorem] salutis” (Heb 2:10) Pontificem nostrum, “per passionem consummari” (Heb 2:10) voluisti; “conscientiam nostram” (Heb 9:14), quæsumus, “per” ejus “sanguinem” (Heb 9:13), “ab operibus mortuis” “emunda”, ut tibi “Deo viventi” digne “servire” (Heb 9:14), ac “nosmetipsos hostiam vivam ac sanctam” (cf. Rom 12:1) offerre mereamur; Per eumdem.

(Almighty everlasting God, Who didst will to perfect the author of salvation, our High Priest, by suffering: cleanse our conscience, we beseech, by his blood, from dead works, that we may deserve worthily to serve Thee, the living God, and to offer ourselves as a living and holy victim. Through the same...)

******

For comparison, here is the Collect for the 5th Sunday of Lent from the abortive 1689 Proposed BCP, shewing how liturgical developments on both sides of the Channel were so strangely moving in parallel:

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast sent thy Son Christ to be a high priest of good things to come (cf. Heb. 9:11), and by his own blood to enter once into the holy place, having obtained an eternal redemption for us (cf. Heb. 9:12); Mercifully look upon thy people; that by the same blood of our Saviour, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot unto thee, our consciences may be purged from dead works, to serve thee the living God (cf. Heb. 9:14), that we may receive the promise of eternal inheritance (cf. Heb. 9:15); through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Neo-Gallican Thanksgiving

If it ain't Baroque...

Browsing online through the dozens of Neo-Gallican Breviaries produced in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (as one does), I was struck by the common appearance therein, not of the usual prayers of thanksgiving after Mass as in the traditional Roman Missal and Breviary, but of a different Gratiarum Actio post Missam, evidently composed in the eighteenth century (one surmises, by the revisers who compiled the famous 1736 Paris Breviary).

It principally consists of three psalms: Ps 22, Dominus regit me (a.k.a. "The Lord is my shepherd"); Ps 33, Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore ("I shall bless the Lord at all times"); and Ps 102 Benedic, anima mea, Domino, et omnia ("Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me").  These are accompanied with a suitable antiphon, being the Magnificat antiphon for 1st Vespers of Corpus Christi, O quam suavis est (which, incidentally, has the same tune as the great anthem to St Dominic, O lumen Ecclesiæ).

To this psalmody are added preces consisting of the usual threefold Kyrie, Lord's Prayer and versicles, followed by five collects (taken from the Gelasian Sacramentary and other sources) and a final, longer prayer, evidently for priests alone, taken from the 4th book of The Imitation of Christ, chapter 11.  In some French Breviaries, above all the Lyonnaise, to all this is prefixed the Te Deum for good measure.

I am still working on the English of the collects, but I find these psalms at least to be good to say in thanksgiving after Holy Communion, and indeed used this little Latin office (in length, about the same as one of the Little Hours), both with and without Te Deum to begin with, after Communion at morning Mass yester-day and to-day.

GRATIARUM ACTIO POST MISSAM.

Te Deum laudámus: * te Dominum confitémur.

Te ætérnum Patrem, * omnis terra venerátur.

Tibi omnes Ángeli, * tibi Cæli et universæ Potestátes:

Tibi Chérubim et Séraphim * incessábili voce proclámant:

Sanctus: Sanctus: Sanctus * Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.

Pleni sunt cæli et terra * majestátis glóriæ tuæ.

Te gloriósus * Apóstolorum chorus,

Te Prophetárum * laudábilis númerus,

Te Mártyrum candidátus * laudat exércitus.

Te per orbem terrárum * sancta confitétur Ecclésia:

Patrem * imménsæ majestátis;

Venerándum tuum verum * et unícum Fílium;

Sanctum quoque * Paráclitum Spíritum.

Tu Rex glóriæ, * Christe.

Tu Patris * sempitérnus es Fílius.

Tu, ad liberándum susceptúrus hóminem, * non horruísti Vírginis úterum.

Tu, devícto mortis acúleo, * aperuísti credéntibus regna cælórum.

Tu ad déxteram Dei sedes, * in glória Pátris.

Judex créderis * esse ventúrus.

Sequens versus dicitur flexis genibus

Te ergo quæsumus, tuis famúlis subveni, * quos pretióso sánguine redemísti.

Ætérna fac cum Sanctis tuis * in glória numerári.

Salvum fac pópulum tuum, Dómine, * et bénedic heréditati tuæ.

Et rege eos, * et extólle illos usque in ætérnum.

Per síngulos dies * benedícimus te;

Et laudámus nomen tuum in sæculum, * et in sæculum sæculi.

Dignáre, Dómine, die isto * sine peccáto nos custodíre.

Miserére nostri, Dómine, * miserére nostri.

Fiat misericórdia tua, Dómine, super nos, * quemádmodum sperávimus in te.

In te, Dómine, sperávi: * non confúndar in ætérnum.

Ps. 22.

Dominus regit me, et nihil mihi deerit: * in loco pascuæ ibi me collocavit.

Super aquam refectionis educavit me: * animam meam convertit.

Deduxit me super semitas justitiæ, * propter nomen suum.

Nam, et si ambulavero in medio umbræ mortis, non timebo mala: * quoniam tu mecum es.

Virga tua, et baculus tuus: * ipsa me consolata sunt.

Parasti in conspectu meo mensam, * adversus eos, qui tribulant me.

Impinguasti in oleo caput meum: * et calix meus inebrians quam præclarus est!

Et misericordia tua subsequetur me * omnibus diebus vitæ meæ:

Et ut inhabitem in domo Domini, * in longitudinem dierum.
Gloria Patri, et Filio: * et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper: * et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

Ps. 33.

Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore: * semper laus ejus in ore meo.

In Domino laudabitur anima mea: * audiant mansueti, et lætentur.

Magnificate Dominum mecum: * et exaltemus nomen ejus in idipsum.

Exquisivi Dominum, et exaudivit me: * et ex omnibus tribulationibus meis eripuit me.

Accedite ad eum, et illuminamini: * et facies vestræ non confundentur.

Iste pauper clamavit, et Dominus exaudivit eum: * et de omnibus tribulationibus ejus salvavit eum.

Immittet Angelus Domini in circuitu timentium eum: * et eripiet eos.

Gustate, et videte quoniam suavis est Dominus: * beatus vir, qui sperat in eo.

Timete Dominum, omnes sancti ejus: * quoniam non est inopia timentibus eum.

Divites eguerunt et esurierunt: * inquirentes autem Dominum non minuentur omni bono.

Venite, filii, audite me: * timorem Domini docebo vos.

Quis est homo qui vult vitam: * diligit dies videre bonos?

Prohibe linguam tuam a malo: * et labia tua ne loquantur dolum.

Diverte a malo, et fac bonum: * inquire pacem, et persequere eam.

Oculi Domini super justos: * et aures ejus in preces eorum.

Vultus autem Domini super facientes mala: * ut perdat de terra memoriam eorum.

Clamaverunt justi, et Dominus exaudivit eos: * et ex omnibus tribulationibus eorum liberavit eos.

Juxta est Dominus iis, qui tribulato sunt corde: * et humiles spiritu salvabit.

Multæ tribulationes justorum: * et de omnibus his liberabit eos Dominus.

Custodit Dominus omnia ossa eorum: * unum ex his non conteretur.

Mors peccatorum pessima: * et qui oderunt justum, delinquent.

Redimet Dominus animas servorum suorum: * et non delinquent omnes qui sperant in eo.

Gloria Patri, et Filio: * et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper: * et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

Ps. 102.

Benedic, anima mea, Domino: * et omnia, quæ intra me sunt, nomini sancto ejus.

Benedic, anima mea, Domino: * et noli oblivisci omnes retributiones ejus.

Qui propitiatur omnibus iniquitatibus tuis: * qui sanat omnes infirmitates tuas.

Qui redimit de interitu vitam tuam: * qui coronat te in misericordia et miserationibus.

Qui replet in bonis desiderium tuum: * renovabitur ut aquilæ juventus tua:

Faciens misericordias Dominus: * et judicium omnibus injuriam patientibus.

Notas fecit vias suas Moysi, * filiis Israël voluntates suas.

Miserator, et misericors Dominus: * longanimis, et multum misericors.

Non in perpetuum irascetur: * neque in æternum comminabitur.

Non secundum peccata nostra fecit nobis: * neque secundum iniquitates nostras retribuit nobis.

Quoniam secundum altitudinem cæli a terra: * corroboravit misericordiam suam super timentes se.

Quantum distat ortus ab occidente: * longe fecit a nobis iniquitates nostras.

Quomodo miseretur pater filiorum, misertus est Dominus timentibus se: * quoniam ipse cognovit figmentum nostrum.

Recordatus est quoniam pulvis sumus: * homo, sicut fœnum dies ejus, tamquam flos agri sic efflorebit.

Quoniam spiritus pertransibit in illo, et non subsistet: * et non cognoscet amplius locum suum.

Misericordia autem Domini ab æterno, * et usque in æternum super timentes eum.

Et justitia illius in filios filiorum, * his qui servant testamentum ejus:

Et memores sunt mandatorum ipsius, * ad faciendum ea.

Dominus in cælo paravit sedem suam: * et regnum ipsius omnibus dominabitur.

Benedicite Domino, omnes Angeli ejus: * potentes virtute, facientes verbum illius, ad audiendam vocem sermonum ejus.

Benedicite Domino, omnes virtutes ejus: * ministri ejus, qui facitis voluntatem ejus.

Benedicite Domino, omnia opera ejus: * in omni loco dominationis ejus, benedic, anima mea, Domino.

Gloria Patri, et Filio: * et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper: * et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

Aña. O quam suavis est, Domine, Spiritus tuus! qui, ut dulcedinem tuam in filios demonstrares, pane suavissimo de cœlo præstito, esurientes reples bonis, divites dimittens inanes. Sap. 12 et 16. Luc. 1.

Preces.

Kyrie, eleison. Christe, eleison. Kyrie, eleison.

Pater noster secreto usque ad

V/. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem:

R/. Sed libera nos a malo.

V/. Memoriam fecit mirabilium suorum misericors et miserator Dominus:

R/. Escam dedit timentibus se. Ps. 110.

V/. Quid est homo, quod memor es ejus?

R/. Aut filius hominis, quoniam visitas eum? Ps. 8.

V/. Sicut adipe et pinguedine repleatur anima mea;

R/. Et labiis exsultationis laudabit os meum. Ps. 62.

V/. Non nobis, Domine, non nobis;

R/. Sed nomini tuo da gloriam. Ps. 113.

V/. Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum, in pace;

R/. Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum. Luc. 2.

V/. Domine, exaudi orationem meam;

R/. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. Ps. 101.

Oremus. (Sacr. Gelas. &c.)

Visita, quæsumus, Domine, familiam tuam: et corda sacris dicata mysteriis pervigili tuere pietate; ut remedia salutis æternæ, quæ te miserante percipiunt, te protegente custodiant.

Quæsumus, Domine, Deus noster, ut quos divina tribuis participatione gaudere, humanis non sinas subjacere periculis.

Cognoscimus, Domine, tuæ circa nos clementiæ largitatem: et ideo fiducialius imploramus, ut quos pascere non desinis immeritos, et digne tibi servire perficias, et donis uberioribus prosequaris.

Majestatem tuam, Domine, suppliciter exoramus, ne perire patiaris quibus tanta remedia providisti; sed cum divini frequentatione mysterii crescat nostræ salutis effectus.

Actiones nostras, quæsumus, Domine, aspirando præveni, et adjuvando prosequere; ut cuncta nostra oratio et operatio a te semper incipiat, et per te cœpta finiatur.

[Adjuvet nos gratia tua, omnipotens Deus; ut qui officium sacerdotale suscepimus, digne ac devote tibi in omni puritate et conscientia bona famulari valeamus: et si non possumus in tanta innocentia vitæ conversari ut debemus, concede nobis tamen digne flere mala quæ gessimus, et in spiritu humilitatis, ac bonæ voluntatis proposito tibi ferventius de cetero deservire; (Imit. Christi. IV. xi, 8.)] Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R/. Amen.

The last prayer, being directly from the Imitation of Christ, I now quote from an old translation:

Assist us with Thy grace, O Almighty God, that we who have taken upon us the priestly office, may be able to converse worthily and devoutly with Thee in all purity and good conscience. And if we are not able to have our conversation in such innocency of life as we ought, yet grant unto us worthily to lament the sins which we have committed, and in the spirit of humility and full purpose of a good will, to serve Thee more earnestly for the future.

Breviary Tidbits

Having been looking in Breviaries lately, one of my strange habits, I came across these Neo-Gallican little chapters for Prime and Compline, different to the Roman ones, in various French Breviaries of old:

1.  At Prime:

Breviarium Parisiense 

For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord.  Walk then as children of the light; for the fruit of the light is in all goodness, and justice, and truth; proving what is well pleasing to God.  

(Ephesians v, 8-10)

...or this, from a Neo-Gallican Monastic Breviary:

Breviarium monasticum juxta regulam s. patris Benedicti, ad usum Congregationis ss. Vitoni et Hydulphi Ad usum congregationis SS. Vitoni et Hydulphi. Pars Hyemalis-Autumnalis. By Benedictines

See, brethren, how you walk circumspectly: not as unwise, but as wise: redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

(Ephesians v, 15-16)

2.  At Compline:

Breviarium Parisiense 

All you are the children of light, and children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep, as others do; but let us watch, and be sober.

(I Thessalonians v, 5-6)

Good texts to chew over...