Occurring Scripture for the Hour of Matins
Second Week of October
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayLesson i
A reading from the First Book of Machabees
I Machabees 4:36-40Then Judas, and his brethren said: "Behold our enemies are discomfited: let us go up now to cleanse the holy places and to repair them." And all the army assembled together, and they went up into mount Sion. And they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates burnt, and shrubs growing up in the courts as in a forest, or on the mountains, and the chambers joining to the temple thrown down." And they rent their garments, and made great lamentation, and put ashes on their heads: And they fell face down to the ground on their faces, and they sounded with the trumpets of alarm, and they cried towards heaven.
Lesson ii
I Machabees 4:41-45Then Judas appointed men to fight against those that were in the castle, till they had cleansed the holy places. And he chose priests without blemish, whose will was set upon the law of God: And they cleansed the holy places, and took away the stones that had been defiled into an unclean place. And he considered about the altar of holocausts that had been profaned, what he should do with it. And a good counsel came into their minds, to pull it down: lest it should be a reproach to them, because the Gentiles had defiled it; so they threw it down.
Lesson iii
I Machabees 1:46-51And they laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple in a convenient place, till there should come a prophet to give an answer concerning them. Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a new altar according to the former: And they built up the holy places, and the things that were within the temple: and they sanctified the temple, and the courts. And they made new holy vessels, and brought in the candlestick, and the altar of incense, and the table into the temple. And they put incense upon the altar, and lighted the lamps that were upon the candlestick, and they gave light in the temple. And they set the loaves upon the table, and hung up the veils, and finished all the works that they had begun to make.
Lesson iv
From the City of God of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Book 18. chapter 45The Jewish nation no doubt became worse after it ceased to have prophets, just at the very time when, on the rebuilding of the temple after the captivity in Babylon, it hoped to become better. For so, indeed, did that carnal people understand what was foretold by Haggai the prophet, saying, The glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former" (Aggeus 2:10). Now, that this is said of the new testament, he showed a little above, where he says, evidently promising Christ, "And I will move all nations, and the desired One shall come to all nations" (Aggeus 2:8).
Lesson v
For by such chosen ones of the nations there is built, through the new testament, with living stones, a house of God far more glorious than that temple was which was constructed by king Solomon, and rebuilt after the captivity. For this reason, then, that nation had no prophets from that time, but was afflicted with many plagues by kings of alien race, and by the Romans themselves, lest they should fancy that this prophecy of Haggai was fulfilled by that rebuilding of the temple. For not long after, on the arrival of Alexander, it was subdued, when, although there was no pillaging, because they dared not resist him, and thus, being very easily subdued, received him peaceably, yet the glory of that house was not so great as it was when under the free power of their own kings.
Lesson vi
Then Ptolemy son of Lagus, after Alexander's death carried them captive into Egypt. His successor, Ptolemy Philadelphus, most benevolently dismissed them; and by him it was brought about, as I have narrated a little before, that we should have the Septuagint version of the Scriptures. Then they were crushed by the wars which are explained in the books of the Maccabees. Afterward they were taken captive by Ptolemy king of Alexandria, who was called Epiphanes. Then Antiochus king of Syria compelled them by many and most grievous evils to worship idols, and filled the temple itself with the sacrilegious superstitions of the Gentiles. Yet their most vigorous leader Judas, who is also called Maccabæus, after beating the generals of Antiochus, cleansed it from all that defilement of idolatry.
Lesson i
A reading from the First Book of Machabees
I Machabees 4:52-55And they arose before the morning on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month (which is the month of Casleu) in the hundred and forty-eighth year. And they offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of holocausts which they had made. According to the time, and according to the day wherein the heathens had defiled it, in the same was it dedicated anew with canticles, and harps, and lutes, and cymbals. And all the people fell upon their faces, and adored, and blessed up to heaven, Him that had prospered them.
Lesson ii
I Machabees 4:56-59And they kept the dedication of the altar eight days, and they offered holocausts with joy, and sacrifices of salvation, and of praise. And they adorned the front of the temple with crowns of gold, and escutcheons, and they renewed the gates, and the chambers, and hanged doors upon them. And there was exceeding great joy among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was turned away. And Judas, and his brethren, and all the church of Israel decreed, that the day of the dedication of the altar should be kept in its season from year to year for eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, with joy and gladness.
Lesson iii
I Machabees 4:60-61They built up also at that time mount Sion, with high walls, and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should at any time come, and tread it down as they did before. And he placed a garrison there to keep it, and he fortified it to secure Bethsura, that the people might have a defense against Idumea.
Lesson i
A reading from the First Book of Machabees
I Machabees 5:1-5Now it came to pass, when the nations round about heard that the altar and the sanctuary were built up as before, that they were exceeding angry. And they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that were among them, and they began to kill some of the people, and to persecute them. Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea, and them that were in Acrabathane: because they beset the Israelites around about, and he made a great slaughter of them. And he remembered the malice of the children of Bean: who were a snare and a stumbling block to the people, by lying in wait for them in the way. And they were shut up by him in towers, and he set upon them, and devoted them to utter destruction, and burnt their towers with fire, and all that were in them.
Lesson ii
I Machabees 5:6-9Then he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a mighty power, and many people, and Timotheus was their captain: And he fought many battles with them, and they were discomfited in their sight, and he smote them: And he took the city of Gazer and her towns, and returned into Judea. And the Gentiles that were in Galaad, assembled themselves together against the Israelites that were in their quarters to destroy them: and they fled into the fortress of Datheman.
Lesson iii
I Machabees 5:10-13And they sent letters to Judas and his brethren, saying, The heathens that are round about are gathered together against us, to destroy us: And they are preparing to come, and to take the fortress into which we are fled: and Timotheus is the captain of their host. Now therefore come, and deliver us out of their hands, for many of us are slain. And all our brethren that were in the places of Tubin, are killed: and they have carried away their wives, and their children, captives, and taken their spoils, and they have slain there almost a thousand men.
Lesson i
A reading from the First Book of Machabees
I Machabees 5:55-58Now in the days that Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad, and Simon his brother in Galilee before Ptolemais, Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias captain of the soldiers, heard of the good success, and the battles that were fought. And he said: "Let us also get us a name, and let us go fight against the Gentiles that are round about us." And he gave charge to them that were in his army, and they went towards Jamnia.
Lesson ii
I Machabees 5:59-62And Gorgias and his men went out of the city, to give them battle. And Joseph and Azarias were put to flight, and were pursued unto the borders of Judea: and there fell, on that day, of the people of Israel about two thousand men, and there was a great overthrow of the people: Because they did not hearken to Judas, and his brethren, thinking that they should do manfully. But they were not of the seed of those men by whom salvation was brought to Israel.
Lesson iii
I Machabees 5:63-68And the men of Juda were magnified exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and of all the nations where their name was heard. And people assembled to them with joyful acclamations. Then Judas and his brethren went forth and attacked the children of Esau, in the land toward the south, and he took Chebron, and her towns: and he burnt its walls and the towers all around it. And he moved his camp to go into the land of the aliens, and he went through Samaria. In that day some priests fell in battle, while desiring to do manfully they went out unadvisedly to fight. And Judas turned to Azotus into the land of the strangers, and he threw down their altars, and he burnt the statues of their gods with fire: and he took the spoils of the cities, and returned into the land of Juda.
Lesson i
A reading from the First Book of Machabees
I Machabees 6:1-6Now king Antiochus was going through the higher countries, and he heard that the city of Elymais in Persia was greatly renowned, and abounding in silver and gold. And that there was in it a temple, exceeding rich: and coverings of gold, and breastplates, and shields which king Alexander, son of Philip the Macedonian that reigned first in Greece, had left there. Lo, he came, and sought to take the city and to pillage it: But he was not able, because his plan was known to those who were in the city. And they rose up against him in battle, and he fled away, and departed with great sadness, and returned towards Babylonia. And whilst he was in Persia, there came one that told him, how the armies that were in the land of Juda were put to flight: And that Lysias went with a very great power, and was put to flight before the face of the Jews, and that they were grown strong by the armor, and power, and store of spoils, which they had gotten out of the camps which they had destroyed:
Lesson ii
I Machabees 6:6-9And that they had thrown down the abomination which he had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls as before, and Bethsura also his city. And it came to pass when the king heard these words, that he was struck with fear, and exceedingly moved: and he laid himself down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not fallen out to him as he imagined. And he remained there many days: for great grief came more and more and more upon him, and he made account that he should die.
Lesson iii
I Machabees 6:10-13And he called for all his friends, and said to them: "Sleep is gone from my eyes, and I have fallen away, and my heart is cast down with anxiety. And I said in my heart: 'Into how much tribulation have I come, and into what floods of sorrow, wherein now I am: I that was pleasant and beloved in my power!' But now I remember the evils that I have done in Jerusalem, from whence also I took away all the spoils of gold, and of silver that were in it, and I sent to destroy the inhabitants of Juda without cause. I know therefore that for this cause these evils have found me: and behold I perish with great grief in a strange land.
Lesson i
A reading from the First Book of Machabees
I Machabees 7:1-7In the hundred and fifty-first year Demetrius the son of Seleucus departed from the city of Rome, and came up with a few men into a city of the sea coast, and reigned there. And it came to pass, as he entered into the house of the kingdom of his fathers, that the army seized upon Antiochus, and Lysias, to bring them to him. And when he knew it, he said: Let me not see their face. [4] So the army slew them. And Demetrius sat upon the throne of his kingdom: And there came to him the wicked and ungodly men of Israel: And Alcimus was at the head of them, who desired to be made high priest. And they accused the people to the king, saying: "Judas and his brethren have destroyed all your friends, and he has driven us out of our land. Now therefore send some man whom you trust, and let him go, and see all the havoc he has made amongst us, and in the king's lands: and let him punish all his friends and their helpers.
Lesson ii
I Machabees 7:8-11Then the king chose Bacchides, one of his friends that ruled beyond the great river in the kingdom, and was faithful to the king: and he sent him to see the havoc that Judas had made: and the wicked Alcimus he made high priest, and commanded him to take revenge upon the children of Israel. And they arose, and came with a great army into the land of Juda: and they sent messengers, and spoke to Judas and his brethren with peaceable words deceitfully. But they gave no heed to their words: for they saw that they were come with a great army.
Lesson iii
I Machabees 7:12-17Then there assembled to Alcimus and Bacchides a company of the scribes to require things that are just: And first the Assideans that were among the children of Israel, and they sought peace of them. For they said: "One that is a priest of the seed of Aaron is come, he will not deceive us." And he spoke to them peaceably: and he swore to them, saying: "We will do you no harm nor your friends." And they believed him. And he took threescore of them, and slew them in one day, according to the word that is written: "The flesh of Thy saints, and the blood of them they have shed round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them."
Lesson i
A reading from the First Book of Machabees
I Machabees 8:1-4Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they are powerful and strong, and willingly agree to all things that are requested of them: and that whosoever have come to them, they have made amity with them, and that they are mighty in power. And they heard of their battles, and their noble acts, which they had done in Galatia, how they conquered them, and brought them under tribute: And how great things they had done in the land of Spain, and that they had brought under their power the mines of silver and of gold that are there, and had gotten possession of all the place by their counsel and patience: And had conquered places that were very far off from them, and kings that came against them from the ends of the earth, and had overthrown them with great slaughter: and the rest pay them tribute every year.
Lesson ii
I Machabees 8:16-20And that they committed their government to one man every year, to rule over all their country, and they all obey one, and there is no envy, nor jealousy amongst them. So Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of Jacob, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and he sent them to Rome to make a league of amity and confederacy with them. And that they might take off from them the yoke of the Grecians, for they saw that they oppressed the kingdom of Israel with servitude. And they went to Rome, a very long journey, and they entered into the senate house, and said: "Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the people of the Jews have sent us to you, to make alliance and peace with you, and that we may be registered your confederates and friends."
Lesson iii
I Machabees 8:21-27And the proposal was pleasing in their sight. And this is the copy of the writing that they wrote back again, graven in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it might be with them there for a memorial of the peace and alliance. "GOOD SUCCESS BE TO THE ROMANS, and to the people of the Jews, by sea and by land for ever: and far be the sword and enemy from them. But if there come first any war upon the Romans, or any of their confederates, in all their dominions: The nation of the Jews shall help them according as the time shall direct, with all their heart: Neither shall they give them, while they are fighting, or furnish them with wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it seemed good to the Romans: and they shall obey their orders, without taking any thing of them. In like manner also if war shall come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as the time shall permit them."
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.
