Thursday, October 4, 2018

St. Francis of Assisi: Lauds and Vespers


Unknown 15th century:
In cælésti collégio
Francíscus fulget glória,
insígni privilégio
Christi portans insígnia.

Hic cœtus apostólici
est factus consors páuperis,
crucem in se domínici
signum repórtans fœderis.

Hic martyr desidério
crucem post Iesum báiulat,
quem mártyrum consórtio
Christus in cælis cópulat.

Crucem per abstinéntiam
Francíscus ferens iúgiter,
iam confessórum glóriam
adéptus est felíciter.

Candens decóre níveo,
passum hic sequens Dóminum,
nunc castitátis præmio
gaudet in choro vírginum.

Pater, Natus cum Flámine
nos per Francísci vúlnera
lustrent divíno lúmine,
ætérna dantes múnera. Amen.

In the heavenly assembly
Francis shines with glory
By a marked privilege
Bearing the marks of Christ.

This man was made a consort
Of the band of apostolic poverty
Bearing in himself
The sign of the dominical covenant

This man, a martyr by desire
Carried the Cross after Jesus
Whom Christ joined to the consort
Of martyrs in heaven.

The Cross through abstinence
Francis ever carrying
Now happily he has been taken
Into the glory of the Confessors.  

White, adorned like snow
Following the outstretched Lord
Now with the reward of chastity
he rejoices in the chorus of Virgins.

May the Father, the Son with the Flaming Spirit
Through the wounds of Francis
Shine upon us with divine light
Granting eternal gifts.  Amen. 

From Greg Rogers

In Heaven’s blest community
St Francis shines among the stars
With humble marks of unity
He bears the crucifixion scars

He carried in himself the sign
That marks the sacrificial tree
And showed, with apostolic shine
The wealth of blessed poverty

This man, who sought a martyr’s crown
And bore the wounds most joyfully
Was joined to martyr’s of renown
In heaven’s joyful company

With pain he suffered for his cross
Abstaining from the world’s delight
To hold the Good that bears no loss
Confessing to that glory bright

With beauty white like virgin snow
A  lamb who heard the Masters voice
Both chaste and chastened he did go
To add to Virgin’s choir his voice

May God so shine a holy light
Through those sweet wounds that Francis bore
A gift of flame so pure and bright
Both here and now and evermore
Amen

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