Occurring Scripture for the Hour of Matins
Fifth Week of October
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayThe last Sunday of October is the Feast of Jesus Christ the King, which has a proper Mass and Office,
and Sunday after Pentecost is commemorated only at Mass and Lauds.Lesson i
A reading from the Second Book of Machabees
II Machabees 6:18-22Eleazar one of the chief of the scribes, a man advanced in years, and of a comely countenance, was pressed to open his mouth to eat swine's flesh. But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment. And considering in what manner he was come to it, patiently bearing, he determined not to do any unlawful things for the love of life. But they that stood by, being moved with wicked pity, for the old friendship they had with the man, taking him aside, desired that flesh might be brought, which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might make it look as if he had eaten, as the king had commanded of the flesh of the sacrifice: That by so doing he might be delivered from death: and for the sake of their old friendship with the man they did him this courtesy.
Lesson ii
II Machabees 6:23-28But he began to consider the dignity of his age, and his ancient years, and the inbred honor of his grey head, and his good life and conversation from a child: and he answered without delay, according to the ordinances of the holy law made by God, saying, that he would rather be sent into the other world. "For it does not become our age," said he, "to dissemble: whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, at the age of fourscore and ten years, was gone over to the life of the heathens: And so they, through my dissimulation, and for a little time of a corruptible life, should be deceived, and hereby I should bring a stain and a curse upon my old age. For though, for the present time, I should be delivered from the punishments of men, yet would I not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive nor dead. Therefore by departing manfully out of this life, I shall show myself worthy of my old age: And I shall leave an example of fortitude to young men, if with a ready mind and constancy I suffer an honorable death, for the most venerable and most holy laws." And having spoken thus, he was forthwith carried to execution.
Lesson iii
II Machabees 7:1-6It came to pass also, that seven brethren, together with their mother, were apprehended, and compelled by the king to eat swine's flesh against the law, for which end they were tormented with whips and scourges. But one of them, who was the eldest, said thus: "What would you ask, or learn of us? we are ready to die rather than to transgress the laws of God, received from our fathers." Then the king being angry commanded frying pans, and brazen caldrons to be made hot: which forthwith being heated, he commanded to cut out the tongue of he who had spoken first: and the skin of his head being drawn off, to chop off also the extremities of his hands and feet, the rest of his brethren, and his mother, looking on. And when he was now maimed in all parts, he commanded him, being yet alive, to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the frying pan: and while he was suffering long torments, the rest, together with the mother, exhorted one another to die manfully, saying: "The Lord God will look upon the truth, and will take pleasure in us, as Moses declared in the profession of the canticle: And in His servants He will take pleasure.
Lesson i
A reading from the Second Book of Machabees
II Machabees 7:7-12So when the first was dead after this manner, they brought the next to make him a, mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair, they asked him if he would eat, before he were punished throughout the whole body in every limb. But he answered in his own language, and said: "I will not do it." Therefore he also in the next place, received the torments of the first: And when he was at the last gasp, he said: "You indeed, O most wicked man, destroy us out of this present life: but the King of the world will raise us up, who die for His laws, in the resurrection of eternal life." After him the third was made a mocking stock, and when he was required, he quickly put forth his tongue, and courageously stretched out his hands: And said with confidence: "These I have from heaven, but for the laws of God I now despise them: because I hope to receive them again from Him." So that the king, and they that were with him, wondered at the young man's courage, because he esteemed the torments as nothing.
Lesson ii
II Machabees 7:13-19And after he was thus dead, they tormented the fourth in like manner. And when he was now ready to die, he spoke thus: "It is better, being put to death by men, to look for hope from God, to be raised up again by Him: But you shall have no resurrection unto life." And when they had brought the fifth, they tormented him. But he looking upon the king, said: "Whereas you have power among men, though you are corruptible, you do what you will: but think not that our nation is forsaken by God. But stay patiently a while, and you shall see His great power, in what manner He will torment you and your seed." After him they brought the sixth, and he being ready to die, spoke thus: "Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things for ourselves, having sinned against our God, and things worthy of admiration are done to us: But do not think that you shall escape unpunished, for you attempted to fight against God.
Lesson iii
II Machabees 7:20-23Now the mother was to be admired above measure, and worthy to be remembered by good men, who beheld seven sons slain in the space of one day, and bore it with a good courage, for the hope that she had in God: And she bravely exhorted every one of them in her own language, being filled with wisdom: and joining a man's heart to a woman's thought, she said to them: "I know not how you were formed in my womb: for I neither gave you breath, nor soul, nor life, neither did I frame the limbs of every one of you. But the Creator of the world, that formed the nativity of man, and that found out the origin of all, He will restore to you again in His mercy, both breath and life, as now you despise yourselves for the sake of His laws."
Lesson i
A reading from the Second Book of Machabees
II Machabees 7:24-27Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and withal despising the voice of the up- braider, when the youngest was yet alive, did not only exhort him by words, but also assured him with an oath, that he would make him a rich and a happy man, and, if he would turn from the laws of his fathers, would take him for a friend, and furnish him with things necessary. But when the young man was not moved with these things, the king called the mother, and counseled her to deal with the young man to save his life. And when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised that she would counsel her son. So bending herself towards him, mocking the cruel tyrant, she said in her own language: "My son, have pity upon me, that bore thee nine months in my womb, and gave thee suck three years, and nourished thee, and brought thee up unto this age."
Lesson ii
II Machabees 7:28-33"I beseech you, my son, look upon heaven and earth, and all that is in them: and consider that God made them out of nothing, and mankind also: So you shall not fear this tormentor, but being made a worthy partner with your brethren, receive death, that in that mercy I may receive you again with your brethren." While she was yet speaking these words, the young man said: "For whom do you stay? I will not obey the commandment of the king, but the commandment of the law, which was given us by Moses. But you who have been the author of all mischief against the Hebrews, shall not escape the hand of God. For we suffer thus for our sins. And though the Lord our God is angry with us a little while for our chastisement and correction: yet He will be reconciled again to his servants."
Lesson iii
II Machabees 7:34-41But you, O wicked and of all men most violent, be not lifted up without cause with vain hopes, while you rage against His servants. For you have not yet escaped the judgment of the almighty God, Who beholds all things. For my brethren, having now undergone a short pain, are under the covenant of eternal life: but you by the judgment of God shall receive just punishment for your pride. But I, like my brethren, offer up my life and my body for the laws of our fathers: calling upon God to be speedily merciful to our nation, and that you by torments and stripes may confess that He alone is God. But in me and in my brethren the wrath of the Almighty, which has justly been brought upon all our nation, shall cease." Then the king being incensed with anger, raged against him more cruelly than all the rest, taking it grievously that he was mocked. So this man also died undefiled, wholly trusting in the Lord. And last of all, after the sons, the mother also was consumed.
Lesson i
A reading from the Second Book of Machabees
II Machabees 9:1-4At that time Antiochus returned with dishonor out of Persia. For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and attempted to rob the temple, and to oppress the city: but the multitude running together to arms, put them to flight: and so it fell out that Antiochus being put to flight returned with disgrace. Now when he was come about Ecbatana, he received the news of what had happened to Nicanor and Timotheus. And swelling with anger he thought to revenge upon the Jews the injury done by them that had put him to flight. And therefore he commanded his chariot to be driven, without stopping in his journey, the judgment of heaven urging him forward, because he had spoken so proudly, that he would come to Jerusalem, and make it a common burying place of the Jews.
Lesson ii
II Machabees 9:5-7But the Lord the God of Israel, Who sees all things, struck him with an incurable and invisible plague. For as soon as he had ended these words, a dreadful pain in his bowels came upon him, and bitter torments of the inner parts. And indeed very justly, seeing he had tormented the bowels of others with many and new torments, nonetheless he ceased not from his malice. Moreover being filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and commanding the matter to be hastened, it happened as he was going with violence that he fell from the chariot, so that his limbs were much pained by a grievous bruising of the body.
Lesson iii
II Machabees 9:8-10Thus he that seemed to himself to command even the waves of the sea, being proud above the condition of man, and to weigh the heights of the mountains in a balance, now being cast down to the ground, was carried in a litter, bearing witness to the manifest power of God in himself: So that worms swarmed out of the body of this man, and whilst he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell off, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to the army. And the man that thought a little before he could reach to the stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry, for the intolerable stench.
Lesson i
A reading from the Second Book of Machabees
II Machabees 10:1-5But Machabeus, and they that were with him, by the protection of the Lord, recovered the temple and the city again. But he threw down the altars, which the heathens had set up in the streets, as also the temples of the idols. And having purified the temple, they made another altar: and taking fire out of the fiery stones, they offered sacrifices after two years, and set forth incense, and lamps, and the loaves of proposition. And when they had done these things, they besought the Lord, lying prostrate on the ground, that they might no more fall into such evils; but if they should at any time sin, that they might be chastised by him more gently, and not be delivered up to barbarians and blasphemous men. Now upon the same day that the temple had been polluted by the strangers, on the very same day it was cleansed again, to wit, on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu.
Lesson ii
II Machabees 10:24-27But Timotheus who before had been overcome by the Jews, having called together a multitude of foreign troops, and assembled horsemen out of Asia, came as though he would take Judea by force of arms. But Machabeus and those who were with him, when he drew near, prayed to the Lord, sprinkling earth upon their heads and girding their loins with haircloth, and lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, besought him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law says. And so after prayer taking their arms, they went forth further from the city, and when they were come very near the enemies they rested.
Lesson iii
II Machabees 10:28-32But as soon as the sun was risen both sides joined battle: the one part having with their valor the Lord for a surety of victory and success: but the other side making their rage their leader in battle. But when they were in the heat of the engagement there appeared to the enemies from heaven five men upon horses, comely with golden bridles, conducting the Jews: two of whom took Machabeus between them, and covered him on every side with their arms, and kept him safe: but cast darts and fireballs against the enemy, so that they fell down, being both confounded with blindness, and filled with trouble. And there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, and six hundred horsemen. But Timotheus fled into Gazara a strong hold, where Chereas was governor.
Lesson i
A reading from the Second Book of Machabees
II Machabees 15:7-11But Machabeus ever trusted with all hope that God would help them. And he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the nations, but to remember the help they had received from heaven before, and now to hope for victory from the Almighty. And speaking to them out of the law, and the prophets, and with these putting them in mind of the battles they had fought before, he made them more cheerful: Then after he had encouraged them, he showed withal the falsehood of the Gentiles, and their breach of oaths. So he armed every one of them, not with defense of shield and spear, but with very good speeches and exhortations, and told them a dream worthy to be believed, in which all of them rejoiced.
Lesson ii
II Machabees 15:12-19Now the vision was in this manner: Onias who had been high priest, a good and virtuous man, modest in his looks, gentle in his manners, and graceful in his speech, and who from a child was exercised in virtues, holding up his hands, prayed for all the people of the Jews: After this there appeared also another man, admirable for age, and glory, and environed with great beauty and majesty: Then Onias answering, said: "This is a lover of his brethren, and of the people of Israel: this is he who prays much for the people, and for all the holy city, Jeremias the prophet of God." Whereupon Jeremias stretched forth his right hand, and gave to Judas a sword of gold, saying: "Take this holy sword a gift from God, with which you shall overthrow the adversaries of my people Israel." Thus being exhorted with the words of Judas, which were very good, and proper to stir up the courage, and strengthen the hearts of the young men, they resolved to fight, and to set upon them manfully: that valor might decide the matter, because the holy city and the temple were in danger. For their concern was less for their wives, and children, and for their brethren, and kinsfolk: but their greatest and principal fear was for the holiness of the temple. And also those who were in the city, had great concern for those that were to be engaged in battle.
Lesson iii
II Machabees 15:20-24And now when all expected what judgment would be given, and the enemies were at hand, and the army was set in array, the beasts and the horsemen ranged in convenient places, Machabeus considering the coming of the multitude, and the divers preparations of armor, and the fierceness of the beasts, stretching out his hands to heaven, called upon the Lord, Who works wonders, Who gives victory to those who are worthy, not according to the power of their arms, but as it seems good to Him. And in his prayer he said: "Thou, O Lord, Who sent Thine angel in the time of Ezechias king of Juda, and killed a hundred and eighty-five thousand of the army of Sennacherib: send now also, O Lord of heaven, Thy good angel before us, for the fear and dread of the greatness of Thine arm, they may be afraid, who come with blasphemy against Thine holy people." And thus he concluded his prayer.
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.
