Ecce Dominus Veniet

 Ecce Dominus veniet, et omnes Sancti ejus cum eo et erit in die illa lux magna, alleluia.

Behold, the Lord shall come, and all His saints with Him, and it shall come to pass in that day that the light shall be great. Alleluia!

It is with this and other antiphons brimming with joyful hope that from time immemorial Christians in Rome and throughout the Latin West, in grand cathedrals and noble basilicas, in local parishes and convent chapels, in rural monasteries and secret hiding places, have begun again and again that cycle of prayer and celebration known as the liturgical year.

For just as Christ the King, Regem venturum as He is hailed in the Matins Invitatory, shall come and all His saints with Him, so do He and all His saints with Him worship God His Heavenly Father through His Mystical Body the Church, offering His Holy Sacrifice and unceasing prayer with words and gestures divinely inspired by the Holy Ghost over centuries to form a unified sum of many parts greater than could ever be devised by any human individual or committee, no matter how clever, scholarly, or well-intentioned.

This liturgical cycle is historical. It was formed over the course of history. It marks calendars and celebrates historical events. Perhaps the exact date of some is not certain, but the reality of the celebrated event is. This is particularly true of the real Event the Advent of which opens the liturgical year: the Coming of the Savior.

The Coming of the Savior is historical, a real event that marks calendars. The Coming of the Savior is prophesy. Foretold to our first parents, in prophetic visions, by voices crying in deserts, by angels, and by the Savior Himself. The Coming of the Savior Who brings salvation is nearer than when we believed, Saint Paul affirms in the Epistle, and the Church exults in joyful anticipation:

In illa die stillabunt montes dulcedinem, et colles fluent lac et mel, alleluia.

In that day the mountains shall drop down sweetness, and the hills shall flow with milk and honey. Alleluia.

Ecce nomen Domini venit de longinquo, et claritas ejus replet orbem terrarum.

Behold, the Name of the Lord cometh from afar, and His glory fills the whole earth.

This joyful anticipation is not some form of triumphalism or the specious attitude of 'once saved, always saved.' It is tempered by the concurrent expectation of the distress of nations and of the rebellion and corruption of those who once were the People of God but have gone the way of Sodom and Gomorrah, leaving the Lord a very small remnant, as foretold by the Prophet Isaiah in the First Nocturn at Matins.

"Our Lord and Savior wishes to find us ready at His Second Coming. Therefore He tells us what will be the evils of the world as it grows old, that He may wean our hearts from worldly affections," Saint Gregory the Great teaches in the Second Nocturn at Matins. So, during Advent the Church looks as much at the clear and present danger of material excess and worldly affairs, about which Saint Leo warns in the Second Nocturn at Matins, as it does to the Coming of the Savior. Now is the hour, the Church insists with Saint Paul in the Epistle, to cast off the works of darkness, to walk honestly, to prepare for the Coming of the Savior.

Whereas Lent is a season of penitence, the emphasis of the Advent season is preparation and readiness. Both involve purification and setting things aright, but Advent looks more forward than back.

Looking forward to the Coming of the Savior. Looking for signs: in the heavens, in nature, in history, in the Church. 

For the powers of heaven shall be moved. And then they shall see the Son of man, coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand. 

Later the Apostles would be asked why they were looking up and they would be told that the same Savior Who was taken up into Heaven would so come as they had seen Him going into Heaven.

Last Sunday the same Savior foretold: "For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

So, in preparation and readiness, and looking forward to the Coming of the Savior with great power and majesty, in their liturgies Christians of all rites have from time immemorial always looked towards the east, whence lightning cometh.

From time immemorial Christians have confessed their sins and adopted proper dispositions in preparation for the Coming of the Savior, Whose Real Presence they adore upon the altars of their churches and receive lovingly in Holy Communion.

From time immemorial Christians have lifted up their souls to the Savior Whose Coming they await and put their trust in Him, to be rescued by His power from the threatening danger of their sins and saved by His deliverance.

From time immemorial Christians have resumed the Advent season of a new liturgical year not merely as a repetition but as an advance closer to the approach of the Coming of the Savior.

Let us therefore, dear Christian Faithful, renew our hope in the promise repeated thrice at Holy Mass this First Sunday of Advent:

None of them who wait on Thee shall be confounded.

Dominica I Adventus

Per Horas	Antiphons
In illa die * stillábunt montes dulcédinem, et colles fluent lac et mel, allelúia.	In that day the mountains shall drop down sweetness, and the hills shall flow with milk and honey. Alleluia.
Jucundáre * fília Sion, et exsúlta satis fília Jerusalem, allelúia.	Be glad, O daughter of Zion, and rejoice exceedingly, O daughter of Jerusalem. Alleluia.
Ecce Dóminus véniet, * et omnes Sancti ejus cum eo et erit in die illa lux magna, allelúia.	Behold, the Lord shall come, and all His saints with Him; and there shall be a great light on that day. Alleluia.
Omnes * sitiéntes veníte ad aquas quǽrite Dóminum, dum inveníri potest, allelúia.	All ye who thirsteth come to the waters: seek ye the Lord while He may be found. Alleluia.
Ecce véniet * Prophéta magnus, et ipse renovábit Jerúsalem, allelúia.	Behold, a great Prophet shall arise, and He shall build up a new Jerusalem. Alleluia.
In Vesperis	Hymn
Cónditor alme síderum, Ӕtérna lux credéntium, Christe, Redémptor ómnium, Exáudi preces súpplicum.  Qui cóndolens intéritu Mortis períre sæculum, Salvásti mundum lánguidum, Donans reis remédium,  Vergénte mundi véspere, Uti sponsus de thálamo, Egréssus honestíssima Vírginis Matris cláusula.  Cuius forti poténtiæ Genu curvántur ómnia; Cæléstia, terréstria Nutu faténtur súbdita.  Te deprecámur, hágie, Ventúre iudex sǽculi, Consérva nos in témpore Hostis a telo pérfidi.  Laus, honor, virtus, glória Deo Patri, et Fílio Sancto simul Paráclito, In sæculorum sǽcula. Amen.	Bright builder of the heavenly poles, Eternal light of faithful souls, Jesus, Redeemer of mankind, Our humble prayers vouchsafe to mind.  Who, lest the fraud of hell’s black king Should all men to destruction bring, Didst, by an act of generous love, The fainting world’s physician prove.  Who, that Thou mightst our ransom pay And wash the stains of sin away, Wouldst from a Virgin’s womb proceed And on the Cross a victim bleed.  Whose glorious power, whose saving Name No sooner any voice can frame, But heaven and earth and hell agree To honour them with trembling knee.  Thee, Christ, Who at the latter day Shalt be our Judge, we humbly pray Such arms of heavenly grace to send As may Thy Church from foes defend.  Be glory given and honour done To God the Father and the Son And to the Holy Ghost on high, From age to age eternally. Amen.
In I Vesperis	Magnificat Antiphon
Ecce nomen Dómini * venit de longínquo, et cláritas ejus replet orbem terrárum.	Behold, the Name of the Lord cometh from afar, and His glory fills the whole earth.
Ad Matutinum	Hymn
Verbum supérnum, pródiens A Patre olim éxiens, Qui natus orbi súbvenis, Cursu declívi témporis:  Illúmina nunc péctora, Tuóque amóre cóncrema; Audíto ut præcónio Sint pulsa tandem lúbrica.  Judéxque cum post áderis Rimári facta péctoris, Reddens vicem pro ábditis, Justísque regnum pro bonis.  Non demum arctémur malis Pro qualitáte críminis; Sed cum beátis cómpotes Simus perénnes cǽlibes.  Laus, honor, virtus, glória Deo Patri, et Fílio, Sancto simul Paráclito, In sæculórum sǽcula. Amen.	High Word of God, who once didst come, Leaving Thy Father and Thy home, To succour by Thy birth our kind, When, towards Thine advent, time declined.  Pour light upon us from above, And fire our hearts with Thy strong love, That, as we hear Thy Gospel tread, All fond desires may flee in dread;  That, when Thou comest from the skies, Great Judge, to open Thine assize, To give each hidden sin its smart, And crown as kings the pure in heart.  We be not set at Thy left hand, Where sentence due would bid us stand. But with the Saints Thy face may see, Forever wholly loving Thee.  Praise to the Father and the Son, Through all the ages as they run; And to the holy Paraclete Be praise with Them and worship meet. Amen.
Nocturn I	Isaias 1: 1-9
Vísio Isaíæ fílii Amos, quam vidit super Judam et Jerúsalem, in diébus Ozíæ, Jóatham, Achaz, et Ezechíæ, regum Juda. Audíte, cæli, et áuribus pércipe, terra, quóniam Dóminus locútus est : Fílios enutrívi, et exaltávi : ipsi autem sprevérunt me. Cognóvit bos possessórem suum, et ásinus præsépe dómini sui : Israël autem me non cognóvit, et pópulus meus non intelléxit. Væ genti peccatríci, pópulo gravi iniquitáte, sémini nequam, fíliis scelerátis : dereliquérunt Dóminum, blasphemavérunt Sanctum Israël, abalienáti sunt retrórsum. Super quo percútiam vos ultra, addéntes prævaricatiónem? Omne caput lánguidum, et omne cor mœrens. A planta pedis usque ad vérticem non est in eo sánitas : vulnus, et livor, et plaga tumens non est circumligáta, nec curáta medicámine, neque fota óleo. Terra vestra desérta, civitátes vestræ succénsæ igni : regiónem vestram coram vobis aliéni dévorant, et desolábitur sicut in vastitáte hóstii. Et derelinquétur fília Sion ut umbráculum in vínea, et sicut tugúrium in cucumerário, et sicut cívitas quæ vastátur. Nisi Dóminus exercítuum reliquísset nobis semen, quasi Sódoma fuissémus, et quasi Gomórrha símiles essémus.	The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? Ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. And the daughter of Sion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
Nocturn II	Sancti Leónis Papæ, Sermo XIX de jejunio decimi mensis VIII, cap. 1
Cum de advéntu regni Dei, et de mundi fine ac témporum, discípulos suos Salvátor instrúeret, totámque Ecclésiam suam in Apóstolis erudíret : Cavéte, inquit, ne forte gravéntur corda vestra in crápula, et ebrietáte, et cogitatiónibus sæculáribus. Quod útique præcéptum, dilectíssimi, ad nos speciálius pertinére cognóscimus, quibus denuntiátus dies, etiámsi est occúltus, non dubitátur esse vicínus. Ad cujus advéntum omnem hóminem cónvenit præparári : ne quem aut ventri déditum, aut curis sæculáribus invéniat implicátum. Quotidiáno enim, dilectíssimi, experiménto probátur, potus satietáte áciem mentis obtúndi, et cibórum nimietáte vigórem cordis hebetári ; ita ut delectátio edéndi étiam córporum contrária sit salúti, nisi rátio temperántiæ obsístat illécebræ, et quod futúrum est óneri, súbtrahat voluptáti. Quamvis enim sine ánima nihil caro desíderet, et inde accípiat sensus, unde sumit et motus : ejúsdem tamen est ánimæ, quædam sibi súbditæ negáre substántiæ, et interióri judício ab inconveniéntibus exterióra frenáre : ut a corpóreis cupiditátibus sæpius líbera, in aula mentis possit divínæ vacáre sapiéntiæ : ubi omni strépitu terrenárum silénte curárum, in meditatiónibus sanctis, et in delíciis lætétur ætérnis.	When the Saviour gave instruction to His disciples concerning the coming of the Kingdom of God, and of the end of space and time, He was teaching His whole Church through the Apostles. By this means He is even now saying unto us: Take heed lest your hearts wax gross with an excess of meat and drink and worldly affairs. And we know, beloved, that to us this warning specially appertaineth. For the day of the Lord hath already been proclaimed; and even if we know not its very hour, at least we know it is nigh at hand. Wherefore let every man make himself ready against the Advent of the Lord, lest it take him unaware, whilst he is given over to gluttony or worldly affairs. For it is a matter of every-day experience, beloved, how fulness of drink dulleth the mind, and how excess of eating weakeneth the will. To eat as much as one may desire is even bad for the bodily health. Wherefore desire should be withstood by temperance; or at least the gluttonous pleasure of the moment should be checked by the thought of the discomfort which followeth hard upon over-eating. The body without the soul could not conceive desire. The body’s power to enjoy cometh from the same source as its power to choose. Hence it is the duty of the soul to deny something to its subject, (to wit, to the lower nature,) and thereby keep back the outer man from things unseemly. Then will the soul be less hindered by fleshly cravings, and have leisure in the inner court of the mind to dwell on the wisdom of God. There, when the turmoil of earthly care is stilled, will the soul feed on holy thoughts, and be entertained with the expectation of everlasting joy.
Nocturn III	Saint Luke 21:25-33
In illo tempore: Dixit Jesus discipulis suis: Erunt signa in sole, et luna, et stellis, et in terris pressura gentium. Et reliqua.	In that time Jesus said to His disciples: And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations. And so on.
Sancti Gregórii Papæ, Homilia 1 in Evangelia	Pope Saint Gregory the Great, First Homily on the Gospels
Dóminus ac Redémptor noster parátos nos inveníre desíderans, senescéntem mundum quæ mala sequántur denúntiat, ut nos ab ejus amóre compéscat. Appropinquántem ejus términum quantæ percussiónes prævéniant, innotéscit : ut, si Deum metúere in tranquillitáte nólumus, saltem vicínum ejus judícium vel percussiónibus attríti timeámus. Huic étenim lectióni sancti Evangélii, quam modo vestra fratérnitas audívit, paulo supérius Dóminus præmísit, dicens : Exsúrget gens contra gentem, et regnum advérsus regnum : et erunt terræmótus magni per loca, et pestiléntiæ, et fames. Et quibúsdam interpósitis, hoc, quod modo audístis, adjúnxit : Erunt signa in sole, et luna, et stellis, et in terris pressúra géntium præ confusióne sónitus maris, et flúctuum. Ex quibus profécto ómnibus ália jam facta cérnimus, ália in próximo ventúra formidámus. Nam gentem contra gentem exsúrgere, earúmque pressúram terris insístere, plus jam in nostris tempóribus cérnimus, quam in codícibus légimus. Quod terræmótus urbes innúmeras óbruat, ex áliis mundi pártibus scitis quam frequénter audívimus. Pestiléntias sine cessatióne pátimur. Signa vero in sole, et luna, et stellis, adhuc apérte mínime vídimus : sed quia et hæc non longe sint, ex ipsa jam áëris immutatióne collígimus.	Our Lord and Saviour wisheth to find us ready at His Second Coming. Therefore He telleth us what will be the evils of the world as it groweth old, that He may wean our hearts from worldly affections. Here we read what great convulsions will go before the end, that, if we will not fear God in our prosperity, we may at least be scourged into fearing His judgement when it is at hand. Immediately before the passage which hath just been read from the holy Gospel, are found the following words of our Lord: Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and pestilences and famines. Then, after a few more verses, cometh today’s Gospel. There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring. Now some of these things are come to pass already, and we fear the others are not far off. In these our days we see nation rise against nation, and their distress over all the earth, more than we read in books hath ever come to pass of old time. Ye know also how often we hear of earthquakes overwhelming countless cities in other parts of the world. As for pestilences, we suffer from them ourselves, with hardly any intermission. As yet we do not see signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; but the changes of seasons and climates warn us that we may look for these also before long.
Ad Laudes	Hymn
Vox clara ecce íntonat, Obscúra quæque íncrepat: Pellántur éminus sómnia; Ab ǽthre Christus prómicat.  Mens iam resúrgat tórpida Quæ sorde exstat sáucia; Sidus refúlget iam novum, Ut tollat omne nóxium.  E sursum Agnus míttitur Laxáre gratis débitum; Omnes pro indulgéntia Vocem demus cum lácrimis,  Secúndo ut cum fúlserit Mundúmque horror cínxerit, Non pro reátu púniat, Sed nos pius tunc prótegat.  Laus, honor, virtus, glória Deo Patri, et Fílio, Sancto simul Paráclito, In sæculórum sǽcula. Amen.	Hark, a herald voice is calling; “Christ is nigh,” it seems to say; “Cast away the dreams of darkness, O ye children of the day.”  Startled at the solemn warning, Let the earth-bound soul arise; Christ, her sun, all sloth dispelling, Shines upon the morning skies.  Lo, the Lamb, so long expected, Comes with pardon down from heaven; Let us haste, with tears of sorrow, One and all to be forgiven.  So when next He comes with glory, Wrapping all the earth in fear, May He then as our defender On the clouds of heaven appear.  Honour, glory, virtue, merit, To the Father and the Son, With the co-eternal Spirit, While eternal ages run. Amen.
Ad Laudes	Benedictus Antiphon
Spíritus sanctus * in te descéndet, María: ne tímeas, habébis in útero Fílium Dei, allelúia.	The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, O Mary; fear not, thou shalt bear in thy womb the Son of God. Alleluia.
Introitus	Psalm 24:1-3
Ad te levávi ánimam meam: Deus meus, in te confído, non erubéscam: neque irrídeant me inimíci mei: étenim univérsi, qui te exspéctant, non confundéntur. Psalm 24:4 Vias tuas, Dómine, demónstra mihi: et sémitas tuas édoce me. V. Glória Patri.	To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul. In Thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me not be ashamed. Neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them who wait on Thee shall be confounded. Psalm 24:4. Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me, and teach me Thy paths. V. Glory be.
Oratio
Éxcita, quǽsumus, Dómine, poténtiam tuam, et veni: ut ab imminéntibus peccátorum nostrórum perículis, te mereámur protegénte éripi, te liberánte salvári: Qui vivis.	Stir up Thy power, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and come; that from the threatening dangers of our sins, by Thy protection we may deserve to be rescued, and be saved by Thy deliverance; Who livest.
Lectio	Romans 13: 11-14
Fratres: Sciéntes, quia hora est jam nos de somno súrgere. Nunc enim própior est nostra salus, quam cum credídimus. Nox præcéssit, dies autem appropinquávit. Abjiciámus ergo ópera tenebrárum, et induámur arma lucis. Sicut in die honéste ambulémus: non in comessatiónibus, et ebrietátibus, non in cubílibus, et impudicítiis, non in contentióne, et æmulatióne; sed induímini Dóminum Jesum Christum.	Brethren, knowing that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is passed and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy: but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Graduale	Psalm 24:3; 24:4
Univérsi, qui te exspéctant, non confundéntur, Dómine. V. Vias tuas, Dómine, notas fac mihi: et sémitas tuas édoce me.	None of them who wait on Thee shall be confounded, Lord. Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me, and teach me Thy paths.
Allelúia, allelúia, Psalm 84:8. V. Osténde nobis, Dómine, misericórdiam tuam: et salutáre tuum da nobis. Allelúia.	Alleluia, alleluia. Psalm 84:8. V. Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy; and grant us Thy salvation. Alleluia.
Evangelium	Saint Luke 21:25-33
In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus discípulis suis: Erunt signa in sole, et luna, et stellis, et in terris pressúra géntium præ confusióne sónitus maris, et flúctuum: arescéntibus homínibus præ timóre et exspectatióne, quæ supervénient univérso orbi: nam virtútes cælórum movebúntur. Et tunc vidébunt Fílium hóminis veniéntem in nube cum potestáte magna, et majestáte. His autem fíeri incipiéntibus, respícite, et leváte cápita vestra: quóniam appropínquat redémptio vestra. Et dixit illis similitúdinem: Vidéte ficúlneam, et omnes árbores: cum prodúcunt jam ex se fructum, scitis quóniam prope est æstas. Ita et vos cum vidéritis hæc fíeri, scitóte quóniam prope est regnum Dei. Amen dico vobis, quia non præteríbit generátio hæc, donec ómnia fiant. Cælum et terra transíbunt: verba autem mea non transíbunt.	At that time Jesus said to His disciples: There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: men withering away for fear and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved. And then they shall see the Son of man, coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand. And He spoke to them a similitude: See the fig tree and all the trees: when they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh. So you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Offertorium	Psalm 24: 1-3
Ad te levávi ánimam meam: Deus meus, in te confíde, non erubéscam: neque irrídeant me inimíci mei: étenim univérsi, qui te exspéctant, non confundéntur.	To thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul. In Thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me not be ashamed. Neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them who wait on Thee shall be confounded.
Secreta
Hæc sacra nos, Dómine poténti virtúte mundátos, ad suum fáciant purióres veníre princípium. Per Dóminum.	May these holy Mysteries, O Lord, cleanse us by their powerful efficacy, and enable us to come with greater purity to Him who is their foundation. Through our Lord.
Præfatio	For Advent
Vere dignum et iustum est, ǽquum et salutáre, nos tibi semper et ubíque grátias ágere : Dómine, sancte Pater, omnípotens ætérne Deus : per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Quem pérdito hóminum géneri, Salvatórem miséricors et fidélis promisísti : cuius véritas instruéret ínscios, sánctitas iustificáret ímpios, virtus adiuváret infírmos. Dum ergo prope est ut véniat quem missúrus es, et dies affúlget liberatiónis nostræ, in hac promissiónum tuárum fide piis gáudiis exsultámus. Et ídeo cum Angelis et Archángelis, cum Thronis et Dominatiónibus, cumque omni milítia cæléstis exércitus, hymnum glóriæ tuæ cánimus, sine fine dicéntes:	It is truly fitting and proper, right and profitable to salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to Thee, Lord, holy Father, Almighty and everlasting God, through Christ our Lord. For Thou hast Him, O faithful and merciful One, as a Savior for the lost human race; so that His truth might instruct the ignorant, His holiness might sanctify sinners, and His power might strengthen the weak. Since, therefore, the time of His coming is near, and the day of our liberation is dawning, we trust in Thy promises and exult with joyous love. And, therefore, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with the whole host of the heavenly army, we sing a hymn to Thy glory, saying without ceasing:
Communio	Psalm 84:13
Dóminus dabit benignitátem: et terra nostra dabit fructum suum.	The Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit.
Postcommunio
Suscipiámus, Dómine, misericórdiam tuam in médio templi tui; ut reparatiónis nostra ventúra solémnia cóngruis honóribus præcedámus. Per Dóminum.	May we receive Thy mercy, O Lord, in the midst of Thy temple; that we may with becoming honour prepare for the approaching solemnities of our redemption. Through our Lord.
In II Vesperis	Magnificat Antiphon
Ne tímeas María, * invenísti enim grátiam apud Dóminum: ecce concípies, et páries fílium, allelúia.	Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with the Lord; behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son. Alleluia.