Fragmenda

Scripture

Psalms 120 · Psalms 122–124 · Psalms 127–129

Psalms 120

Levavi oculos. God is the keeper of his servants. A gradual canticle.

1 

I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from whence help shall come to me.

2 

My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

3 

May he not suffer thy foot to be moved: neither let him slumber that keepeth thee.

4 

Behold he shall neither slumber nor sleep, that keepeth Israel.

5 

The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy protection upon thy right hand.

6 

The sun shall not burn thee by day: nor the moon by night.

7 

The Lord keepeth thee from all evil: may the Lord keep thy soul.

8 

May the Lord keep thy coming in and thy going out; from henceforth now and for ever.


Psalms 122

Ad te levavi. A prayer in affliction, with confidence in God. A gradual canticle.

1 

To thee have I lifted up my eyes, who dwellest in heaven.

2 

Behold as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, As the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress: so are our eyes unto the Lord our God, until he have mercy on us.

3 

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us: for we are greatly filled with contempt.

4 

For our soul is greatly filled: we are a reproach to the rich, and contempt to the proud.


Psalms 123

Nisi quia Domini. The church giveth glory to God for her deliverance, from the hands of her enemies. A gradual canticle.

1 

If it had not been that the Lord was with us, let Israel now say:

2 

If it had not been that the Lord was with us, When men rose up against us,

3 

Perhaps they had swallowed us up alive. When their fury was enkindled against us,

4 

Perhaps the waters had swallowed us up.

5 

Our soul hath passed through a torrent: perhaps our soul had passed through a water insupportable.

6 

Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us to be a prey to their teeth.

7 

Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we are delivered.

8 

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.


Psalms 124

Qui confidunt. The just are always under God’s protection. A gradual canticle.

1 

They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion: he shall not be moved for ever that dwelleth

2 

In Jerusalem. Mountains are round about it: so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth now and for ever.

3 

For the Lord will not leave the rod of sinners upon the lot of the just: that the just may not stretch forth their hands to iniquity.

4 

Do good, O Lord, to those that are good, and to the upright of heart.

5 

But such as turn aside into bonds, the Lord shall lead out with the workers of iniquity: peace upon Israel.


Psalms 127

Beati omnes. The fear of God is the way to happiness. A gradual canticle.

1 

Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.

2 

For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.

3 

Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house. Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table.

4 

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

5 

May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayst thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

6 

And mayst thou see thy children’s children, peace upon Israel.


Psalms 128

Saepe expugnaverunt. The church of God is invincible: her persecutors come to nothing. A gradual canticle.

1 

Often have they fought against me from my youth, let Israel now say.

2 

Often have they fought against me from my youth: but they could not prevail over me.

3 

The wicked have wrought upon my back: they have lengthened their iniquity.

4 

The Lord who is just will cut the necks of sinners:

5 

Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion.

6 

Let them be as grass upon the tops of houses: which withereth before it be plucked up:

7 

Who with the mower filleth not his hand: nor he that gathereth sheaves his bosom.

8 

And they that passed by have not said: The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.


Psalms 129

De profundis. A prayer of a sinner, trusting in the mercies of God. The sixth penitential psalm. A gradual canticle.

1 

Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord:

2 

Lord, hear my voice. Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

3 

If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it.

4 

For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on his word:

5 

my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

6 

From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.

7 

Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption.

8 

And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Catechism

Catechism of the Council of Trent, Part 2, Chapter 1, Sections 11-12

Form of Baptism

Having carefully explained the matter, which is one of the two parts of which Baptism consists, pastors must show equal diligence in explaining the form, which is the other essential part. In the explanation of this Sacrament a necessity of increased care and study arises, as pastors will perceive, from the circumstance that the knowledge of so holy a mystery is not only in itself a source of pleasure to the faithful, as is generally the case with regard to religious knowledge, but also very desirable for almost daily practical use. As we shall explain in its proper place, circumstances often arise where Baptism requires to be administered by the laity, and most frequently by women; and it therefore becomes necessary to make all the faithful, indiscriminately, well acquainted with whatever regards the substance of this Sacrament.

Words Of The Form

Pastors, therefore, should teach, in clear, unambiguous language, intelligible to every capacity, that the true and essential form of Baptism is: I baptise thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. For so it was delivered by our Lord and Saviour when, as we read in St. Matthew He gave to His Apostles the command: Going, . . . teach ye all nations: baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

By the word baptising, the Catholic Church, instructed from above, most justly understood that the form of the Sacrament should express the action of the minister; and this takes place when he pronounces the words, I baptise thee.

Besides the minister of the Sacrament, the person to be baptised and the principal efficient cause of Baptism should be mentioned. The pronoun thee, and the distinctive names of the Divine Persons are therefore added. Thus the complete form of the Sacrament is expressed in the words already mentioned: I baptise thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Baptism is the work not of the Son alone, of whom St. John says, He it is that baptizeth, but of the Three Persons of the Blessed Trinity together. By saying, however, in the name, not in the names, we distinctly declare that in the Trinity there is but one Nature and Godhead. The word name is here referred not to the Persons, but to the Divine Essence, virtue and power, which are one and the same in Three Persons.