Original

437
the antiphon of the Magnificat at the first Vespers is
taken from the book of Proverbs, and describes the
work of Wisdom, which symbolizes Jesus Christ and
His Church. Saint Ambrose, in his commentary on the
sacred text, teaches us that to be truly wise we must be
governed in all our actions by filial fear of the Lord,
without which the fruit of the divine teaching is quickly
lost. On the second Sunday of tne same month, the anti
phon of the Magnificat at first Vespers
reminds us that
our divine Lord, the Incarnate Wisdom, dwells in the
highest heavens, and that all our desires, our aspira
tions must be directed towards Him.
The LESSONS FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY are taken from
the Book of ECCLESIASTES, an exposition of high phi
losophy in which king Solomon tells us that all is vanity
here on earth. Fear God and keep His commandments :
this is the whole duty of man. Such, says Saint Chrysostom,
is the excellence of our destiny that it raises
us above all transitory things. The antiphon for the
Magnificat of first Vespers on the third Sunday teaches
us that God alone is the source of all true wisdom.
The LESSONS FOR THIS THIRD SUNDAY are from the
BOOK OF WISDOM ; they urge
us to seek the Lord in all
the simplicity of a soul that trusts in Him. Let the
edifice of your holiness, says Saint Ambrose, be founded
on Jesus Christ and His Church under which He pre
remember that according to His
sents Himself to you ;
promises, in the Church He prays ; in the Church He
acts ; and in her He suffers. On the fourth Sunday, at
the first Vespers the antiphon of the Magnificat is a press
Christ who is Wisdom itself.
ing invitation from Jesus
If you love true Wisdom, He says to us, come to Me and
when you have found Me, you will have found happi
ness. The antiphon on the fifth Sunday sums up the