Antiphons at Lauds - Psalms of Sunday of the 1st week

1. This day on the mount the face of our Lord Jesus Christ shone like the sun, and his garments became white as snow.

2. This day the Lord was transfigured and the Father’s voice gave witness about him; Moses and Elijah were seen in glory talking about the last days of his life.

3. Moses was the law-giver and Elijah the prophet; they were seen shining in glory on the mount talking with Jesus.

The Angel carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God; and the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Brethren, if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done away, how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excels. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious.

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech. Not as Moses did, when he put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded, for until this day the same veil remains there, untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not, but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Yet if our gospel be hidden, it is hidden to them that are lost, in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The transfiguration had long been solemnized as a feast of the on the 6^th August, in different churches of the East and West. To commemorate the victory which arrested, near Belgrade in 1456, the invading tide of Islam, and which was announced at Rome on the 6^th August, Callistus III extended the feast to the whole Church.

It is the feast of many churches under the title of St. Saviour and the old title of the Cathedral of Rome, St. John Lateran. It was in the year 324 that Pope Sylvester consecrated it, in the first public consecration of a church after the Edict of Milan, under the name of Basilica of St. Saviour. A long time after, under Lucius II in the 12^th century, it was dedicated to St John the Baptist, whose name had been given to the adjoining baptistry. Wherefore it has been given nowadays the title of St John Lateran.

In this basilica and the adjoining palace were held, from the 4^th to the 16^th centuries more than 25 councils, five of which were ecumenical. During Lent soon after its consecration, Holy Orders were conferred there, penitents were reconciled, catechumens were baptized on Easter Day, and as neophytes they came there in procession during the whole octave leading to Saturday in Albis.

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