Fortem Virili Pectore

This hymn sufficed nicely for Vespers and Lauds in the Common of Holy Women before the reform of the Breviary. Silvio Cardinal Antoniano, 16th C.,

Fortem virili pectore
Laudemus omnes feminam,
Quae sanctitatis gloria
Ubique fulget inclita.

Haec Christi amore saucia,
Dum mundi amorem noxium
Horrescit, ad caelestia
Iter peregit arduum.

Carnem domans ieiuniis,
Dulcique mentem pabulo
Orationis nutriens,
Caeli potitur gaudiis.

Rex Christe virtus fortium,
Qui magna solus efficis,
Huius precatu, quaesumus,
Audi benignus supplices.

Deo Patri sit gloria,
Eiusque soli Filio,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito,
Et nunc, et in perpetuum. Amen.

tr. Fr. Edward Caswall, C.O., 1849.

High let us all our voices raise,
In that heroic woman’s praise;
Whose name, with saintly glory bright,
Shines in the starry realms of light.

Fill’d with a pure celestial glow,
She spurn’d all love of things below;
And heedless here on earth to stay,
Climb’d to the skies her toilsome way.

With fasts her body she subdued;
But fill’d her soul with prayers’ sweet food;
In other worlds she tastes the bliss,
For which she left the joys of this.

O Christ, the strength of all the strong!
To whom all our best deeds belong!
Through her prevailing prayers on high,
In mercy hear thy people’s cry.

To God the Father, with the Son,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One,
Be glory while the ages flow,
From all above, and all below.