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Exsúrge, Dómine – Arise, O God, Judge Thy Own Cause

Exsúrge, Dómine - Arise, O Lord
Exsúrge, Dómine - Arise, O Lord
Exsúrge, Dómine – Arise, O God, judge Thy own cause. Standard of the Inquisition in Spain, which features a cross, an olive branch (representing clemency), and a sword (representing justice).

“Arise, O Lord, and judge your own cause. Remember your reproaches to those who are filled with foolishness all through the day. Listen to our prayers, for foxes have arisen seeking to destroy the vineyard whose winepress you alone have trod.” ~ Pope Leo X.

The Israelites cried “Arise, O Lord” in confident expectation of victories over all their enemies through God’s intervention. Therefore, no matter how perilous the circumstances may be, and no matter how powerful the enemies of the Mystical Body of Christ are (which is the Church), the Lord will arise for the sake of Christendom if we call upon Him in truth with the expectation of victory. As you call upon God today, your expectation shall not be disappointed in Jesus’ Name.

Even when you are at peace, you must remember that the devil, who goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour, is never at rest. He is ever ready to take advantage of anyone who is careless, carefree or without protection. The devil will not devour you in Jesus’ Name.

Our Church Fathers – true guardians of the sacred tradition – have established the intellectual and doctrinal foundations of Christianity. Throughout the year, the Traditional Latin Mass offers a number of liturgical texts beginning with the words Exsurge Domine (“Arise, O Lord”). The Liber usualis lists the following:

  • Exsúrge, quare obdormis Dómine?, the introit for Sexagesima based on Psalm 43:23-26;
  • Exsúrge, Dómine, non praevaleat homo, the gradual for Lent;
  • Exsúrge, Dómine, et judica causam meam, the third antiphon in the second nocturn of Maundy Thursday tenebrae;
  • Exsúrge, Dómine, ádiuva …Deus auribus nostris, antiphon during Rogation Days processional litanies, and at Candlemas.

Antiphon: Exsúrge, Dómine. Schola Cantorum Sancta Cecilia

Exsúrge, Dómine, ádiuva nos

Ant. Exsúrge, Dómine, ádiuva nos: et líbera nos propter nomen tuum.
Ps. Deus, áuribus nostris audívimus: patres nostri annuntiavérunt nobis.
V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculórum. Amen
Ant. Exsúrge, Dómine, ádiuva nos: et líbera nos propter nomen tuum.		Ant. Arise, O Lord, help us and deliver us for Thy Name’s sake.
Ps. God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have announced to us.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Arise, O Lord, help us and deliver us for Thy Name’s sake.

The antiphon Exsúrge, Dómine have been taken out of the Candlemas ceremony around 1961 without any explanation, and consequently omitted from the 1962 missal for Candlemas. It appears in Liber Usualis, but does not appear in the 1962 Missale Romanum, or in the 1961 Solesmes Graduale Romanum, but can be found in the official Graduale Romanum, Vatican, 1908 Edition, p. 232, p. 374.

Exsúrge, Dómine, non confortétur homo 

VulgateDouay-Rheims
Exsúrge, Dómine, non confortétur homo: * judicéntur Gentes in conspéctu tuo.Arise, O Lord, let not man be strengthened: let the Gentiles be judged in your sight.
2 Constítue, Dómine, legislatórem super eos: * ut sciant Gentes quóniam hómines sunt.Appoint, O Lord, a lawgiver over them: that the Gentiles may know themselves to be but men.
3 Ut quid, Dómine, recessísti longe, * déspicis in opportunitátibus, in tribulatióne?Why, O Lord, have you retired afar off? Why do you slight us in our wants, in the time of trouble?
4 Dum supérbit ímpius, incénditur pauper: * comprehendúntur in consíliis quibus cógitant.Whilst the wicked man is proud, the poor is set on fire: they are caught in the counsels which they devise.
5 Quóniam laudátur peccátor in desidériis ánimæ suæ: * et iníquus benedícitur.For the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul: and the unjust man is blessed.
6Exacerbávit Dóminum peccátor, * secúndum multitúdinem iræ suæ non quæret.The sinner has provoked the Lord, according to the multitude of his wrath, he will not seek him:
7 Non est Deus in conspéctu ejus: * inquinátæ sunt viæ illíus in omni témpore.God is not before his eyes: his ways are filthy at all times.
8Auferúntur judícia tua a fácie ejus: * ómnium inimicórum suórum dominábitur.Your judgments are removed form his sight: he shall rule over all his enemies.
9 Dixit enim in corde suo: * Non movébor a generatióne in generatiónem sine malo.For he has said in his heart: I shall not be moved from generation to generation, and shall be without evil.
10 Cujus maledictióne os plenum est, et amaritúdine, et dolo: * sub lingua ejus labor et dolor.His mouth is full of cursing, and of bitterness, and of deceit: under his tongue are labour and sorrow.
11Sedet in insídiis cum divítibus in occúltis: * ut interfíciat innocéntem.He sits in ambush with the rich, in private places, that he may kill the innocent.
12 Oculi ejus in páuperem respíciunt: * insidiátur in abscóndito, quasi leo in spelúnca sua.His eyes are upon the poor man: he lies in wait, in secret, like a lion in his den.
13 Insidiátur ut rápiat páuperem: * rápere páuperem, dum áttrahit eum.He lies in ambush, that he may catch the poor man: so catch the poor, whilst he draws him to him.
 14 In láqueo suo humiliábit eum: * inclinábit se, et cadet, cum dominátus fúerit páuperum.In his net he will bring him down, he will crouch and fall, when he shall have power over the poor.
15 Dixit enim in corde suo: Oblítus est Deus, * avértit fáciem suam ne vídeat in finem.For he has said in his heart: God has forgotten, he has turned away his face, not to see to the end.
16 Exsúrge, Dómine Deus, exaltétur manus tua: * ne obliviscáris páuperum.Arise, O Lord God, let your hand be exalted: forget not the poor.  
17 Propter quid irritávit ímpius Deum? * dixit enim in corde suo: Non requíret.Wherefore has the wicked provoked God? For he has said in his heart: He will not require it.  
18 Vides quóniam tu labórem et dolórem consíderas: * ut tradas eos in manus tuas.You see it, for you consider labour and sorrow: that you may deliver them into your hands.
19 Tibi derelíctus est pauper: * órphano tu eris adjútor.To you is the poor man left: you will be a helper to the orphan.  
20 Cóntere bráchium peccatóris et malígni: * quærétur peccátum illíus, et non inveniétur.Break the arm of the sinner and of the malignant: his sin shall be sought, and shall not be found. 
21 Dóminus regnábit in ætérnum, et in sæculum sæculi: * períbitis, Gentes, de terra illíus.The Lord shall reign to eternity, yea, for ever and ever: you Gentiles shall perish from his land.  
22 Desidérium páuperum exaudívit Dóminus: * præparatiónem cordis eórum audívit auris tua.The Lord has heard the desire of the poor: your ear has heard the preparation of their heart.
23 Judicáre pupíllo et húmili, * ut non appónat ultra magnificáre se homo super terram.To judge for the fatherless and for the humble, that man may no more presume to magnify himself upon earth.

For 2,000 years, Christians Eastern and Western had been praying the Psalter of David in its full integrity. In 1970, the Novus Ordo handed an expurgated version to Catholics, but it would be more profitable for the soul to follow interpretations of the Psalms given to us by the Holy fathers and Doctors of the Church (such as Saint Ephrem the Syrian, Saint Athanasius, Saint Robert Bellarmine), as well as their advice and guidance regarding the reading of the psalms.

Arise, O Lord, help us and redeem us for thy name’s sake. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

Sacramentals
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