84

CECILIA O’BRIEN

turn to leave the Stanza and this literary maze, we face the School of Athens and see
Ptolemy holding a globe marked with constellations. Do the mute philosophers also
contribute to a discourse on intellectual and political renovado! Is this, the most
famous yet paradoxically silent, conversation in Western culture, all about Julius II
and his stars?65

65 I am especially grateful to Vera Vines for the invaluable advice and encouragement she has given
me during the preparation of this article. Thanks are also due to Judith Collard and Russell Staiff, who
commented on it earlier while in draft form.

RAPHAEL’S DISPUTA

85

Appendix

Feast Day of All Saints: Responses to Matins Lessons
First Nocturn

1st Response66

In dedicatione temple decantabant populus laudem. Et in ore eorum dulcis resonabat
sonus (“At the dedication of the temple the people sang songs of praise. And the
sweet music resounded in their mouths”).

Versicle

Fundata est domus Domini supra verticem montium, et veniet ad earn omnes gentes
(“The House of the Lord is established on top of the mountains, and to it all nations
shall come”).

2nd Response67

Vidi Dominum sedentem super solium excelsum et elevatum et plena erat omnis
terra maiestate eius. Et ea, quae sub ipso erant, replebant templum (“I saw the Lord
sitting upon a high and lofty throne, and all the earth was full of his majesty. And
that which was beneath him filled the temple”).

Versicle

Seraphim stabant super illud: sex ale uni: et sex ale alteri (“The Seraphim were
standing above that: one had six wings and so did the other”).

3rd Response68

Sancta et immaculata virginitas quibus te laudibus efferam nescio. Quia quern celi
capere non poterant tuo gremio contulisti (“Holy and immaculate Virginity, I know
not how to offer your praises. For you carried in your womb the One whom the
heavens are not able to contain’ ’).

Versicle

Benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructus ventris tui. (“Blessed art thou
among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”)

Second Nocturn

1st Response69

In conspectu Angelorum psallam tibi et adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum. Et
confitebor nomini tuo, Domine. (“In the presence of the angels I will sing your
praise; I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name, О Lord.”)

66 Source: Office for the Dedication of a Church.

67 Source: Office for the First Sunday of November.

68 Source: Office for Christmas Day.

69 Source: Office for the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel (Sept. 29).