Occurring Scripture for the Hour of Matins
First Week of October
If the first Sunday in October falls on October 1 to 3, the month has five Sundays.
Otherwise, it has only four Sundays, and Occurring Scripture for the third week is omitted.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayLesson i
Here begins the First Book of Machabees
I Machabees 1:1-7Now it came to pass, after that Alexander the son of Philip the Macedonian, who first reigned in Greece, coming out of the land of Cethim, had overthrown Darius king of the Persians and Medes: He fought many battles, and took the strongholds of all, and slew the kings of the earth: And he went through even to the ends of the earth, and took the spoils of many nations: and the earth was quiet before him. And he gathered a powerful, and a very strong army: and his heart was exalted and lifted up. And he subdued countries of nations, and princes: and they became tributaries to him. And after these things, he fell down upon his bed, and knew that he would die. And he called his servants, the nobles that were brought up with him from his youth: and he divided his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.
Lesson ii
I Machabees 1:8-12And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died. And his servants made themselves kings every one in his place: And they all put crowns upon themselves after his death, and their sons after them many years, and evils were multiplied in the earth. And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus the Illustrious, the son of king Antiochus, who had been a hostage at Rome: and he reigned in the hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks. In those days there went out of Israel wicked men, and they persuaded many, saying: "Let us go, and make a covenant with the heathens that are round about us: for since we departed from them, many evils have befallen us."
Lesson i
I Machabees 1:13-16And the word seemed good in their eyes. And some of the people determined to do this, and went to the king: and he gave them license to do after the ordinances of the heathens. And they built a place of exercise in Jerusalem, according to the laws of the nations: And they made themselves prepuces, and departed from the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathens, and were sold to do evil.
Lesson iv
From the Book on Duties of Saint Ambrose, Bishop
Book i, Chapter 40.There may be some who are so blinded by the glory of war as to think that there is no valor but warlike valor, and that the reason why I have taken up other subjects is that among us there is no warlike valor of which to speak. But what was the valor of Josue the son of Nun, when in one battle he laid low five nations, and took their kings as prisoners when he was fighting against the Gibeonites—and fearing that the closing in of night would cut short his victory, he cried aloud in the greatness of his mind and of his faith? And he said, in the sight of Israel: "Sun, stand still over against Gibeon, and Moon over against the valley of Ajalon." And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies (Josue 10:12, 13). Gideon, with three hundred men, won the victory over the vast people, and the savage enemy (Judges 7:6 ff.). The lad Jonathan waxed valiant in fight (1 Kings 14:12 ff.).
Lesson v
Shall I speak of the Maccabees? But before I speak of them, I will speak of their fathers, even of them who, when they were ready to fight for the Temple of God and for their own rights, were assailed by a trick of their enemies upon the Sabbath day, and were willing rather to offer their bodies naked to the sword than to strike back again and break the Sabbath, and so they gave themselves up gladly to death. But when the Maccabees thought that the whole nation might perish this way, avenged the innocent blood of their brethren even on the Sabbath day when they were provoked to battle, and afterward, when King Antiochus had been stirred up to make war on them by his generals, even Lysias and Nicanor and Gorgias, he and his Eastern and Assyrian forces were so crushed that forty and eight thousand were laid low on the field by three thousand.
Lesson vi
What was the valor of Judas the Maccabean leader we may judge by the type of one of his men. When Eleazar saw an elephant bigger than the rest, and adorned with the King's harness, he thought that the King was riding on it, and he threw himself into the midst of the enemy, and cast away his shield and slew men on either hand until he had come to the beast, and ran underneath it, and killed it with his sword, and so the beast fell upon Eleazar and crushed him, and he died. What valor was here? To begin with, he feared not to die, and when the enemy surrounded him he cast himself into the midst of their ranks, pierced their column, and becoming all the fiercer through his mockery of death, he threw away his shield and upheld with both hands the huge bulk of the wounded monster beneath which he had gone the better to slay it, so that when he died with it he might well have been said not so much to be crushed as to be swallowed up in victory.
Lesson i
A reading from the First Book of Machabees
I Machabees 1:17-20And the kingdom was established before Antiochus, and he had a mind to reign over the land of Egypt, that he might reign over two kingdoms. And he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots and elephants, and horsemen, and a great number of ships: And he made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt, but Ptolemee was afraid at his presence, and fled, and many were wounded unto death. And he took the strong cities in the land of Egypt: and he took the spoils of the land of Egypt.
Lesson ii
I Machabees 1:21-23And after Antiochus had ravaged Egypt in the hundred and forty-third year, he returned and went up against Israel. And he went up to Jerusalem with a great multitude. And he proudly entered into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof, and the table of proposition, and the pouring vessels, and the vials, and the little mortars of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, and the golden ornament that was before the temple: and he broke them all in pieces.
Lesson iii
I Machabees 1:24-29And he took the silver and gold, and the precious vessels: and he took the hidden treasures which he found: and when he had taken all away he departed into his own country. And he made a great slaughter of men, and spoke very proudly. And there was great mourning in Israel, and in every place where they were. And the princes, and the ancients mourned, and the virgins and the young men were made feeble, and the beauty of the women was changed. Every bridegroom took up lamentation: and the bride that sat in the marriage bed, mourned: And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.
Lesson i
A reading from the First Book of Machabees
I Machabees 2:1-6In those days arose Mathathias the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem, and he abode in the mountain of Modin. And he had five sons: John who was surnamed Gaddis: And Simon, who was surnamed Thasi: And Judas, who was called Machabeus: And Eleazar, who was surnamed Abaron: and Jonathan, who was surnamed Apphus. These saw the evils that were done in the people of Juda, and in Jerusalem.
Lesson ii
I Machabees 2:7-10And Mathathias said: "Woe is me, why was I born to see the ruin of my people, and the ruin of the holy city, and to dwell there, when it is given into the hands of the enemies? The holy places are come into the hands of strangers: her temple is become as a man without honor. The vessels of her glory are carried away captive: her old men are murdered in the streets, and her young men are fallen by the sword of the enemies. What nation has not inherited her kingdom, and gotten of her spoils?"
Lesson iii
I Machabees 2:14-16And Mathathias and his sons rent their garments, and they covered themselves with haircloth, and made great lamentation. And they that were sent from king Antiochus came thither, to compel them that had fled into the city of Modin, to sacrifice, and to burn incense, and to depart from the law of God. And many of the people of Israel consented, and came to them: but Mathathias and his sons stood firm.
Lesson i
A reading from the First Book of Machabees
I Machabees 2:19-22Then Mathathias answered, and said with a loud voice: "Although all nations obey king Antiochus, so as to depart every man from the service of the law of his fathers, and consent to his commandments: I and my sons, and my brethren will obey the law of our fathers. God be merciful unto us: it is not profitable for us to forsake the law, and the justices of God: We will not hearken to the words of king Antiochus, neither will we sacrifice, and transgress the commandments of our law, to go another way."
Lesson ii
I Machabees 2:23-26Now as he left off speaking these words, there came a certain Jew in the sight of all to sacrifice to the idols upon the altar in the city of Modin, according to the king's commandment. And Mathathias saw and was grieved, and his reins trembled, and his wrath was kindled according to the judgment of the law, and running upon him he slew him upon the altar: Moreover the man whom king Antiochus had sent, who compelled them to sacrifice, he slew at the same time, and pulled down the altar. And showed zeal for the law, as Phinees did by Zamri the son of Salomi.
Lesson iii
I Machabees 2:27-30And Mathathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: "Every one that has zeal for the law, and maintains the testament, let him follow me." So he, and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that they had in the city. Then many that sought after judgment, and justice, went down into the desert: And they abode there, they and their children, and their wives, and their cattle: because afflictions increased upon them.
Lesson i
A reading from the First Book of Machabees
I Machabees 2:49-54Now the days drew near that Mathathias should die, and he said to his sons: "Pride and chastisement have gotten strength, and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation: Now therefore, my sons, be zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers. They yielded not the horn: That is, they suffered not the power of Antiochus, that man of sin, to abolish the law and religion of God. And call to remembrance the works of the fathers, which they have done in their generations: and you shall receive great glory, and an everlasting name. Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was reputed to him unto justice? Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and he was made lord of Egypt. Phinees our father, by being fervent in the zeal of God, received the covenant of an everlasting priesthood."
Lesson ii
I Machabees 2:55-63"Jesus [Joshua], whilst he fulfilled the word, was made ruler in Israel. Caleb received an inheritance for bearing witness before the congregation. David by his mercy obtained the throne of an everlasting kingdom. Elias, while he was full of zeal for the law, was taken up into heaven. Ananias and Azarias and Misael by believing, were delivered out of the flame. Daniel in his innocence was delivered out of the mouth of the lions. And thus consider through all generations: that none that trust in him fail in strength. And fear not the words of a sinful man, for his glory is dung, and worms: Today he is lifted up, and tomorrow he shall not be found, because he is returned into his earth; and his thought has come to nothing."
Lesson iii
I Machabees 2:64-69"You therefore, my sons, take courage, and behave manfully in the law: for by it you shall be glorious. And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel: give ear to him always, and he shall be a father to you. And Judas Machabeus who is valiant and strong from his youth up, let him be the leader of your army, and he shall manage the war of the people. And you shall take to you all that observe the law: and revenge the wrong of your people. Render to the Gentiles their reward, and take heed to the precepts of the law." And he blessed them, and was joined to his fathers.
Lesson i
A reading from the First Book of Machabees
I Machabees 2:70; 3:1-6And he died in the hundred and forty-sixth year: and he was buried by his sons in the sepulchres of his fathers in Modin, and all Israel mourned for him with great mourning. Then his son Judas, called Machabeus, rose up in his stead. And all his brethren helped him, and all they that had joined themselves to his father, and they fought with cheerfulness the battle of Israel. And he got his people great honour, and put on a breastplate as a giant, and girt his warlike armor about him in battles, and protected the camp with his sword. In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion's whelp roaring for his prey. And he pursued the wicked and sought them out, and them that troubled his people he burnt with fire: And his enemies were driven away for fear of him, and all the workers of iniquity were troubled: and salvation prospered in his hand.
Lesson ii
I Machabees 3:7-12And he grieved many kings, and made Jacob glad with his works, and his memory is blessed for ever. And he went through the cities of Juda, and destroyed the wicked out of them, and turned away wrath from Israel. And he was renowned even to the utmost part of the earth, and he gathered them that were perishing. And Apollonius gathered together the Gentiles, and a numerous and great army from Samaria, to make war against Israel. And Judas understood it, and went forth to meet him: and he overthrew him, and killed him: and many fell down slain, the rest fled away. And he took their spoils, and Judas took the sword of Apollonius, and fought with it all his lifetime.
Lesson iii
I Machabees 3:25-28And the fear of Judas and of his brethren, and the dread of them fell upon all the nations round about them. And his fame came to the king, and all nations told of the battles of Judas. Now when king Antiochus heard these words, he was angry in his mind: and he sent and gathered the forces of all his kingdom, an exceedingly strong army. And he opened his treasury, and gave out pay to the army for a year: and he commanded them, that they should be ready for all things.
Lesson i
A reading from the First Book of Machabees
I Machabees 3:42-45And Judas and his brethren saw that evils were multiplied, and that the armies approached to their borders: and they knew the orders the king had given to destroy the people and utterly abolish them. And they said every man to his neighbor: "Let us raise up the low condition of our people, and let us fight for our people, and our sanctuary." And the assembly was gathered that they might be ready for battle: and that they might pray, and ask mercy and compassion. Now Jerusalem was not inhabited, but was like a desert: there was none of her children that went in or out: and the sanctuary was trodden down: and the children of strangers were in the castle, there was the habitation of the Gentiles: and joy was taken away from Jacob, and the pipe and harp ceased there.
Lesson ii
I Machabees 3:46-55And they assembled together, and came to Maspha over against Jerusalem: for in Maspha was a place of prayer heretofore in Israel. And they fasted that day, and put on haircloth, and put ashes upon their heads: and they rent their garments: And they laid open the books of the law, in which the Gentiles searched for the likeness of their idols: And they brought the priestly ornaments, and the first-fruits and tithes, and stirred up the Nazarites that had fulfilled their days: And they cried with a loud voice toward heaven, saying: "What shall we do with these, and whither shall we carry them? For Thy holies are trodden down, and are profaned, and Thy priests are in mourning, and are brought low. And behold the nations are come together against us to destroy us: Thou know what they intend against us. How shall we be able to stand before their face, unless Thou, O God, help us?" Then they sounded with trumpets, and cried out with a loud voice. And after this Judas appointed captains over the people, over thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over tens.
Lesson iii
I Machabees 3:56-60And he said to them that were building houses, or had betrothed wives, or were planting vineyards, or were fearful, that they should return every man to his house, according to the law. So they removed the camp, and pitched on the south side of Emmaus. And Judas said: "Gird yourselves, and be valiant men, and be ready against the morning, that you may fight with these nations that are assembled against us to destroy us and our sanctuary. For it is better for us to die in battle, than to see the evils of our nation, and of the holies: Nevertheless as it shall be the will of God in heaven so be it done."
If the third lesson is to be taken from the Saturday Office of the Blessed Virgin or from a simplex feast of a Saint, Lessons ii and iii above are concatenated.
