03-07-2021, 02:41 PM
Chapter X (Continued)
When the signal has been given for Matins, and the inclinations or prostrations, according to the time, have been made, stand erect, without reclining in any way, and sing the psalms; being thus in the presence of God, let your body do homage to Him as well as your soul. Sing His divine praise with joy, thinking of the presence of the angels, and of the obligation you are under of showing the utmost respect to them who continually behold the face of your heavenly Father, which you are only permitted to see in this life, as it were, ‘through a glass darkly” (1 Cor 13:12). Spare not your voice in singing; yet let it be regulated with exact moderation. Mit no portion of the Office, neither psalms, versicles, words, syllables, notes, or anything which ought to be sung. If your voice be not so strong as that of others, sing in a low tone; but use, as often as possible, a book from which to sing the psalms, hymns, and prayers, so that your mind may be more fully intent thereon, and you may derive greater consolation.
It behooves you, while singing God’s praises, to let nothing appear in your exterior, whether in the gestures of the body or in the tone of voice, which may indicate levity; on the contrary, this act, which is spiritual, should be performed with all the gravity and decorum possible. The interior joy of the spirit would sometimes change levity, were it not repressed by moderation, which is a check upon it. Make every effort, therefore, to sing with heart, and spirit, since, without this, the tone of voice is of little account. It is no small labor, especially for beginners, who are not yet strengthened in God’s grace, to restrain the wanderings of the mind while occupied in singing the divine praises.
Be always at your post in choir, and keep ordinarily in the same place, at least when there is no one present to whom it may be proper to yield it. When you observe any fault committed in choir, endeavor to supply it, either yourself, or through some one else. It will be most pleasing to God if you previously glance at the rubrics and all that is to be performed in choir, as also to be ready to repair any mistakes that others may make. Be careful, should any dispute arise with respect to what should be said or sung, not to break the silence; let this be settled elsewhere, for many dispute about trifling things. It is a lesser evil to allow a fault to pass, than to enter into dispute concerning it.
If, however, you can remedy the mistake by a single sword, do so, especially if you are the eldest; but should you feel a spirit of impatience rising within you, it will be better to strive to calm this agitation than to think of correcting others. Should any one fail to sing well, or do what is not to the purpose, neither complain of him, nor reprove him; for such a correction would denote a species of pride. Observe the same rule during the reading of the lessons; however grating and offensive may be the manner in which it is performed, pay no attention to it, since that would be a sign of a proud spirit.
When several persons attempt at the same time to supply an omission, leave them to do it without meddling therein. But if no one offers to do it, then do so yourself with all modesty. It will, nevertheless, be always better to foresee such a fault than to correct it when committed.
Recite not two lessons, nor two responsories, one after the other, especially in large communities, unless many of the religious are absent. If you are young, be not forward in supplying what the elders ought to do.
Suffer not your eyes to wander in search of what others do; but lower them towards the earth, raise them to heaven, close them altogether, or let them rest on your book.
Whenever you assist at the divine Office, standing or sitting, rest not your face on your hands; rather place the hands under the cappa or scapular, which it will be always more becoming to cover with the cappa.
Let not your feet rest upon each other, nor the legs be crossed or stretched out; but let your whole person breathe forth an air of modesty befitting the presence of God.
Guard against touching the nose; there are many who amuse themselves with this unseemly habit, who are led into it by the devil, in order to withdraw their attention from the Office, and so render them guilty of great in devotion.
There is infinity or such like things, which it is impossible to particularize; but if you have humility and a perfect charity, the unction of the Holy Ghost will teach you how to comport yourself in everything.
And here I must caution the reader not to attach himself too much to the practices which I have set forth, and which may be varied in many ways according to circumstances, such as censuring another mode of acting, as for example, when some one speaks in choir, when a fault is committed which it becomes an older religious to correct. It should ever be borne in mind that it is unbecoming a servant of God to dispute in choir. It is, as I have said, a lesser evil to patiently allow a fault to pass unnoticed than to engage in disedifying contentions, which distract the attention and trouble the peace and tranquility of the soul. In like manner, when I observe that if is fitting that we should always sing or recite the Office in choir, I do not conceal from myself the fact that there may be certain moments when the spirit of fervor is such, that the chant would have the effect of retarding it; in such cases it would be better to say one’s Office quietly, especially in communities where the brethren are sufficiently numerous to sustain the chant. The same may be said with regard to many other things which the Most High will teach you better than I, if, having despised all things to cleave to Him, you consult Him in the depth and simplicity of your heart. But we ought not easily to apply to our own individual case what is here spoken of with respect to departure form the usual customs of the community, unless, through a long practice of every virtue, we have acquired the spirit of discretion.
When the signal has been given for Matins, and the inclinations or prostrations, according to the time, have been made, stand erect, without reclining in any way, and sing the psalms; being thus in the presence of God, let your body do homage to Him as well as your soul. Sing His divine praise with joy, thinking of the presence of the angels, and of the obligation you are under of showing the utmost respect to them who continually behold the face of your heavenly Father, which you are only permitted to see in this life, as it were, ‘through a glass darkly” (1 Cor 13:12). Spare not your voice in singing; yet let it be regulated with exact moderation. Mit no portion of the Office, neither psalms, versicles, words, syllables, notes, or anything which ought to be sung. If your voice be not so strong as that of others, sing in a low tone; but use, as often as possible, a book from which to sing the psalms, hymns, and prayers, so that your mind may be more fully intent thereon, and you may derive greater consolation.
It behooves you, while singing God’s praises, to let nothing appear in your exterior, whether in the gestures of the body or in the tone of voice, which may indicate levity; on the contrary, this act, which is spiritual, should be performed with all the gravity and decorum possible. The interior joy of the spirit would sometimes change levity, were it not repressed by moderation, which is a check upon it. Make every effort, therefore, to sing with heart, and spirit, since, without this, the tone of voice is of little account. It is no small labor, especially for beginners, who are not yet strengthened in God’s grace, to restrain the wanderings of the mind while occupied in singing the divine praises.
Be always at your post in choir, and keep ordinarily in the same place, at least when there is no one present to whom it may be proper to yield it. When you observe any fault committed in choir, endeavor to supply it, either yourself, or through some one else. It will be most pleasing to God if you previously glance at the rubrics and all that is to be performed in choir, as also to be ready to repair any mistakes that others may make. Be careful, should any dispute arise with respect to what should be said or sung, not to break the silence; let this be settled elsewhere, for many dispute about trifling things. It is a lesser evil to allow a fault to pass, than to enter into dispute concerning it.
If, however, you can remedy the mistake by a single sword, do so, especially if you are the eldest; but should you feel a spirit of impatience rising within you, it will be better to strive to calm this agitation than to think of correcting others. Should any one fail to sing well, or do what is not to the purpose, neither complain of him, nor reprove him; for such a correction would denote a species of pride. Observe the same rule during the reading of the lessons; however grating and offensive may be the manner in which it is performed, pay no attention to it, since that would be a sign of a proud spirit.
When several persons attempt at the same time to supply an omission, leave them to do it without meddling therein. But if no one offers to do it, then do so yourself with all modesty. It will, nevertheless, be always better to foresee such a fault than to correct it when committed.
Recite not two lessons, nor two responsories, one after the other, especially in large communities, unless many of the religious are absent. If you are young, be not forward in supplying what the elders ought to do.
Suffer not your eyes to wander in search of what others do; but lower them towards the earth, raise them to heaven, close them altogether, or let them rest on your book.
Whenever you assist at the divine Office, standing or sitting, rest not your face on your hands; rather place the hands under the cappa or scapular, which it will be always more becoming to cover with the cappa.
Let not your feet rest upon each other, nor the legs be crossed or stretched out; but let your whole person breathe forth an air of modesty befitting the presence of God.
Guard against touching the nose; there are many who amuse themselves with this unseemly habit, who are led into it by the devil, in order to withdraw their attention from the Office, and so render them guilty of great in devotion.
There is infinity or such like things, which it is impossible to particularize; but if you have humility and a perfect charity, the unction of the Holy Ghost will teach you how to comport yourself in everything.
And here I must caution the reader not to attach himself too much to the practices which I have set forth, and which may be varied in many ways according to circumstances, such as censuring another mode of acting, as for example, when some one speaks in choir, when a fault is committed which it becomes an older religious to correct. It should ever be borne in mind that it is unbecoming a servant of God to dispute in choir. It is, as I have said, a lesser evil to patiently allow a fault to pass unnoticed than to engage in disedifying contentions, which distract the attention and trouble the peace and tranquility of the soul. In like manner, when I observe that if is fitting that we should always sing or recite the Office in choir, I do not conceal from myself the fact that there may be certain moments when the spirit of fervor is such, that the chant would have the effect of retarding it; in such cases it would be better to say one’s Office quietly, especially in communities where the brethren are sufficiently numerous to sustain the chant. The same may be said with regard to many other things which the Most High will teach you better than I, if, having despised all things to cleave to Him, you consult Him in the depth and simplicity of your heart. But we ought not easily to apply to our own individual case what is here spoken of with respect to departure form the usual customs of the community, unless, through a long practice of every virtue, we have acquired the spirit of discretion.