Chapter 6 (Friday of the First Week of Advent)

Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures call out, as with a voice of thunder, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer.

When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, ‘Come!’ And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword.

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand, and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a day’s pay, and three quarts of barley for a day’s pay, but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!’

When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, ‘Come!’ I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the wild animals of the earth.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for the testimony they had given; they cried out with a loud voice, ‘Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?’ They were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number would be complete both of their fellow-servants and of their brothers and sisters, who were soon to be killed as they themselves had been killed.

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and there came a great earthquake; the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree drops its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll rolling itself up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the magnates and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’

Commentary

Be you, too, faithful unto death, and fight you, too, the good fight, whose crown the apostle [Paul] feels so justly confident has been laid up for him. The angelalso, as he goes forth on a white horse, conquering and to conquer, receives a crown of victory; and anotheris adorned with an encircling rainbow (as it were in its fair colours)—a celestial meadow. In like manner, the elders sit crowned around, crowned too with a crown of gold, and the Son of Man Himself flashes out above the clouds. If such are the appearances in the vision of the seer, of what sort will be the realities in the actual manifestation?  Look at those crowns. Inhale those odours. Why condemn you to a little chaplet, or a twisted headband, the brow which has been destined for a diadem? For Christ Jesus has made us even kings to God and His Father. (Tertullian of Carthage)

O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And unto every one of them were given white robes; and it was said to them, that they should rest still for a short time, until the number of their fellow-servants, and of their brethren, should be fulfilled, and they who shall afterwards be slain, after their example.". Therefore, beloved brethren, although this is altogether of the Lord's promise and gift, and although it is given from on high, and is not received except by His will, and moreover, can neither be expressed in words nor described by speech, nor can be satisfied by any kind of powers of eloquence, still such will be your benevolence, such will be your charity and love, as to be mindful of me when the Lord shall begin to glorify martyrdom in your experience. (St. Cyprian of Carthage)

In the Apocalypse, are the words of the Martyrs, and long-suffering is enjoined them until the number of their brethren be fulfilled. The body of Christ then is asking concerning its days, what they are to be in this world, and that no man might suppose that the Church would cease to exist here before the end of the world came, and that some time would elapse in this world, while the Church was now no more on earth; therefore, when he had enquired concerning the days, he added also respecting the judgment, showing indeed that the Church would exist on earth until the judgment, when vengeance shall fall upon Her persecutors. (St. Augustine of Hippo)

Musical Selections

Sub altáre Dei audívi voces occisórum dicéntium: * Quare non deféndis sánguinem nostrum? Et accepérunt divínum respónsum: Adhuc sústinete módicum tempus, donec impleátur númerus fratrum vestrórum.
Vidi sub altáre Dei ánimas interfectórum propter verbum Dei, et propter testimónium quod habébant, et clamábant voce magna, dicéntes.
Quare non deféndis sánguinem nostrum? Et accepérunt divínum respónsum: Adhuc sústinete módicum tempus, donec impleátur númerus fratrum vestrórum.

I heard under the altar the voices of them that were slain, saying:
* How long dost Thou not avenge our blood? And it was said unto them from God: Rest yet for a little season, until the number of your brethren be fulfilled.
I saw under the altar of God the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held, and they cried with a loud voice, saying:
How long dost Thou not avenge our blood? And it was said unto them from God: Rest yet for a little season, until the number of your brethren be fulfilled.

Ergo agnus veri Dei, Magne magnus dator spei, Qui tollis peccata, Qui peccata, Mundi tollis, Lege lata, Penas mollis, Et emendas fata.

Miserere miserator, Verus vere legis lator Leva pacis facem;

Miserator, Miserere,

Legis lator, Verus vere

Dona nobis pacem.

Therefore, Lamb of the true God, Great giver of mighty faith. Who bearest away sins, Who the sins Of the world dost bear away, With the Law repealed, Lighten our punishment, And emend our destiny.

Take pity, pitying one, True law-giver of the true law, Lift up the torch of peace;

O pitying one, Have mercy; True giver Of the true law

Grant us thy peace.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain,
and hath redeemed us to God by His blood,
to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength,
and honor, and glory, and blessing.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain,
and hath redeemed us to God, to God by His blood,
to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength,
and honor, and glory, and blessing.

Blessing and honor, glory and power, be unto Him, be unto him
that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb,

Blessing and honor, glory and power, be unto Him, be unto him
that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb,

For ever and ever and ever and ever. Amen.

Blessing and honor, glory and power, be unto Him, be unto him
that sitteth upon the throne, that sittenth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb,

Blessing and honor, glory and power, be unto Him, be unto him
that sitteth upon the throne, that sittenth upon the throne, that sittenth upon the throne, forever

Blessing and honor, glory and power, be unto Him, forever

Blessing and honor, glory and power, be unto Him, be unto him
Blessing and honor, glory and power, be unto Him, be unto him
Blessing! Honor! Glory! And power, be unto Him!
that sitteth upon the throne, that sitteth upon the throne
Forever and ever, Forever and ever.
Forever and ever, Forever and ever.
Forever and ever, Forever and ever.
Forever and ever, Forever and ever.
Forever and ever.
Forever and ever.

Amen... (Handel)

COLLECT

Stir up your power, we pray, O Lord, and come,
that with you to protect us,
we may find rescue
from the pressing dangers of our sins,
and with you to set us free,
we may be found worthy of salvation.
Who live and reign with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.