DOMINI NOSTRI IESU CHRISTI UNIVERSORUM REGIS

 

 

At I & II Vespers: Victorius Genovesi

 

[The first] stanza lauds a fourfold kingship in Christ. (a) The kingship of time (sæculorum). "To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever" (l Tim. l: 17). (b) The kingship of nations (gentium). "Who shall not fear Thee, O King of nations?" (Jer. 10:7.) (c) The kingship of human souls, wills (mentium). "Shall not my soul be subject to God? For from Him is my salvation" (Ps. 61:2). (d) The kingship of human hearts (cordium). "For Thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion forever" (Ps. 72:26). "There never was, nor ever will be, a man loved so much and so universally as Jesus Christ" (Encyclical Quas Primas) Aquinas Byrnes OP.

 

Te sæculórum príncipem,

te, Christe, regem géntium,

te méntium, te córdium

unum fatémur árbitrum.

 

Quem prona adórant ágmina

hymnísque laudant cælitum,

te nos ovántes ómnium

regem suprémum dícimus.

 

O Christe, princeps pácifer,

mentes rebélles súbice,

tuóque amóre dévios

ovíle in unum cóngrega.

 

Ad hoc cruénta ab árbore

pendes apértis brácchiis,

diráque fossum cúspide

cor igne flagrans éxhibes.

 

Ad hoc in aris ábderis

vini dapísque imágine,

fundens salútem fíliis

transverberáto péctore.

 

Iesu, tibi sit glória,

qui cuncta amóre témperas,

cum Patre et almo Spíritu

in sempitérna sæcula. Amen.

 

 

We acknowledge you, O Christ, Ruler of the ages, King of the nations, only Judge of minds and hearts. You before whom the hosts of heaven fall down, worship and laud with hymns, while we salute you as supreme King of all. O Christ, Prince of peace, you make subject rebellious minds and by your love gather to one fold those who wandered away. For this with open arms you hung upon the bloody tree and revealed a heart burning with love and pierced with the harsh spear. For this you hide on altars under the form of wine and food, pouring out from your pierced side salvation for your sons. O Jesus, to you be glory, who moderates all things in your love, with the Father and nourishing Spirit, through all ages. Amen.

 

At the Office of Readings: 12^th – 13^th Centuries (Formerly Matins of the Holy Name)

 

Iesu, rex admirábilis,

et triumphátor nóbilis,

dulcédo ineffábilis,

totus desiderábilis:

 

Rex virtútum, rex glóriæ,

rex insígnis victóriæ,

Iesu, largítor grátiæ,

honor cæléstis cúriæ:

 

Te cæli chorus prædicat

et tuas laudes réplicat.

Iesus orbem lætíficat

et nos Deo pacíficat.

 

Iesus in pace ímperat,

quæ omnem sensum súperat,

hanc semper mens desíderat

et illo frui próperat.

 

Iam prosequámur láudibus

Iesum, hymnis et précibus,

ut nos donet cæléstibus

cum ipso frui sédibus.

 

Iesu, flos matris vírginis,

amor nostræ dulcédinis,

laus tibi sine términis,

regnum beatitúdinis. Amen.

 

O Jesus, wondrous King and noble victor, ineffable sweetness, all that can be desired.  King of hosts, King of glory, King of great victory, Giver of grace, Jesus, the pride of the heavenly courts. The choir of heaven proclaims you and repeats your praises. Jesus makes glad the world and reconciles us to God. Jesus reigns in the peace, which passes all understanding; this the mind desires and longs to enjoy. Let us follow Jesus with praise, hymns and prayers that he may grant us to enjoy with him the heavenly habitations. O Jesus, Flower of the Virgin Mother, the sweetness of our love, praise be to you without end in the kingdom of the blessed.  Amen.

 

At Lauds: Victorius Genovesi 1967 (Formerly Matins of Christ the King)

 

Ætérna imágo Altíssimi,

Lumen, Deus, de Lúmine,

tibi, Redémptor, glória,

honor, potéstas régia.

 

Tu solus ante sæcula

spes atque centrum témporum;

tibi voléntes súbdimur,

qui iure cunctis ímperas.

 

Tu flos pudícæ Vírginis,

nostræ caput propáginis,

lapis cadúcus vértice

ac mole terras óccupans.

 

Diro tyránno súbdita,

damnáta stirps mortálium

per te refrégit víncula

sibíque cælum víndicat.

 

Doctor, sacérdos, légifer,

præfers notátum sánguine

in veste «Princeps príncipum

regúmque rex altíssimus».

 

Patri, tibi, Paráclito

sit, Christe, perpes glória,

qui nos redémptos sánguine

ad regna cæli pértrahis. Amen.

 

Eternal Image of the Most high God, Light from Light, to you, O Redeemer, glory, honor, power and rule.  You alone are before the ages, the hope and very center of time; we desire to be subject to you,  who rule all things by right. You are the flower of the humble Virgin, the head of our race, the stone that fell from on high and filled the earth with your greatness.  The condemned line of mortal men, subject to a harsh tyrant, through you broke the chains and claimed heaven for themselves.  Teacher, Priest, and Lawgiver, bearing on your garment the notice written in blood: “Prince of princes, King of kings most high. To you, O Christ, to the Father and the Comforter, be endless glory, who redeemed us by your blood, and lead us to the kingdom of heaven. Amen. 

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

 

Office of Readings: 13-14th Century:

 

Salve, mater misericórdiæ,

mater spei et mater véniæ,

mater Dei et mater grátiæ,

mater plena sanctæ lætítiæ.

  (O María.)

 

Vallis vernans virtútum líliis,

tota fluens summis delíciis,

mater sancta, tuis suffrágiis

condescénde nostris misériis.

  (O María.)

 

Te creávit Pater ingénitus,

obumbrávit te Unigénitus,

fecundávit te Sanctus Spíritus:

ipsis honor ex corde pénitus.

  (O María.) Amen.

 

Hail, Mother of mercy, Mother of hope, Mother of pardon, Mother of God, Mother of grace, Mother filled with holy joy, O Mary. Abounding with the virtues in the valley of the lilies, overflowing with the highest delights, Holy Mother, with your prayers, condescend to hear our misery. (O Mary) The unbegotten Father created you, the Only-begotten overshadowed you, the Holy Spirit made you fruitful: honor from the inner heart to the Trinity. (O Mary)

 

 

At Lauds: 12^th – 13^th Centuries

 

María, virgo régia,

sponsa regis et fília,

te Dei sapiéntia

elégit ante sæcula.

 

Puélla carens mácula,

Dei domus ebúrnea,

te dedicávit cælitus

missus ab eo Spíritus.

 

Caritátis signáculum,

totíus boni spéculum,

auróra veri lúminis,

arca divíni séminis,

 

In domo summi príncipis

tu áffluis delíciis;

virga Iesse florígera,

repléris Dei grátia.

 

O margaríta cándida

et stella mundi spléndida,

fac puris esse móribus

nos vera templa Spíritus.

 

Sit Trinitáti glória,

o Virgo nobilíssima,

quæ te suórum múnerum

thesáurum dat magníficum. Amen.

 

Mary, royal Virgin, spouse and daughter of the King, the wisdom of God chose you before the ages. A young girl without spot. the ivory house of God, the Holy Spirit sent from above set you apart. Sign of love, Mirror of every good, dawn of the true Light, Ark of the divine seed. In the house of the highest Ruler you overflow with delights, the flourishing rod of Jesse, you are filled with the grace of God. O shining Pear, radiant Star of the world, grant that by living purely we may become temples of the Spirit. To the Trinity glory, O Virgin most noble, who gave you such a great treasury of gifts. Amen

 

Vespers: from the Common of the BVM

 

Ave, maris stella,

Dei mater alma,

atque semper virgo,

felix cæli porta.

 

Sumens illud «Ave»

Gabriélis ore,

funda nos in pace,

mutans Evæ nomen.

 

Solve vincla reis,

profer lumen cæcis,

mala nostra pelle,

bona cuncta posce.

 

Monstra te esse matrem,

sumat per te precem

qui pro nobis natus

tulit esse tuus.

 

 

Virgo singuláris,

inter omnes mitis,

nos culpis solútos

mites fac et castos.

 

Vitam præsta puram,

iter para tutum,

ut vidéntes Iesum

semper collætémur.

 

Sit laus Deo Patri,

summo Christo decus,

Spirítui Sancto

honor, tribus unus. Amen.

 

Hail, Star of the Sea, loving Mother of God and ever virgin, fair gate of heaven. You who received the “Ave’ from the mouth of Gabriel, establish us in peace, reversing the name of “Eva”. Break the chains of sin, give light to the blind, drive away our evil, ask for us all that is good. Show yourself a mother, may he who was born for us and humbled himself to be your Son, receive our prayer through you.  Virgin alone, meek beyond all others, cause our sins to be absolved, make us meek and chaste. Make our life unsullied, our journey safe, that we may see Jesus and with you praise him forever. Amen.

Tears, Sign of the Cross, Faith, Hope, Love, and Creeping Things: Friday: Weeks 1 & III

 

 

When the Office of Readings is said in the daytime: The Venerable Bede

 

Used in the Mozarabic Breviary.

 

Adésto, Christe, córdibus,

celsa redémptis cáritas;

infúnde nostris férvidos

fletus, rogámus, vócibus.

 

Ad te preces, piíssime

Iesu, fide profúndimus;

dimítte, Christe, quæsumus,

factis malum quod fécimus.

 

Sanctæ crucis signáculo,

tuo sacráto córpore,

defénde nos ut fílios

omnes, rogámus, úndique.

 

NB: alliteration between Christe and cordibus in the first line, between celsa and caritas in the second, between in-funde and fervidos in the third, and between fletus and vocibus. Manuel pratique de latin médiéval by Dag Norberg (Paris, 1980)

 

O Christ, the heavenly love which redeems, be present in our hearts; fill our voices, we pray, with fervent tears. Most holy Jesus, to you we faithfully pour forth prayers; forgive, O Christ, we beseech you, the evil deeds we have done. By the sign of the holy Cross, by sacred body, we ask, defend us all as sons in very circumstance.

 

 

Lauds: The 7^th-8^th Century:

Walpole: This is the hymn for Lauds on Fridays at ferial seasons. This hymn is alphabetic. Notice that the C-stanza is duplicated and that the alphabetic sequence does not go beyond T ; The Latin alphabet contained 23 letters and the redoubling of particular lines is common in these acrostic hymns. The revised version does not entirely preserve the acrostic pattern.

 

Ætérna cæli glória, (1)

beáta spes mortálium,

celsi Paréntis Unice

castæque proles Vírginis,

 

Da déxteram surgéntibus,

exsúrgat et mens sóbria

flagrans et in laudem Dei

grates repéndat débitas.

 

Ortus refúlget lúcifer (2)

ipsámque lucem núntiat,

cadit calígo nóctium, (3)

lux sancta nos illúminet, (4)

 

Manénsque nostris sénsibus

noctem repéllat sæculi (5)

omníque fine témporis (6)

purgáta servet péctora.

 

Quæsíta iam primum fides (7)

radícet altis sénsibus, (8)

secúnda spes congáudeat;

tunc maior exstat cáritas.

 

1.       The hymn is addressed to Christ; gloria and spes are vocatives. The thought in this line

seems to be that of Christ as the subject of the praises sung by the heavenly choirs.

2.      Lucifer morning star, not sun, as is usually the case.

3.      Noctem ‘of night’ not ‘of the night just past’.

4.      Here begins the spiritual application of the hymn.

5.      ‘the night of the world’ the darkness of sin.

6.      ‘preserve from any close of day’

7.      The three theological virtues.

8.     Radicet ‘take root’

 

 

 

Eternal glory of heaven, blest hope of mortal men, Only-begotten of the Father, offspring of a chaste Virgin: give your right hand to those who are rising, let a sober mind arise, anxious to praise God and give him the thanks he is due. The morning star rising and shining announces the Light himself, the cloud of night falls, may holy light shine upon us. Abiding upon our senses may this light drive away the night of the world and until the end of time purify and preserve our hearts. Seek first the faith which is rooted in our minds; second let hope rejoice; then stands love, the greater virtue.

 

Vespers: St. Gregory the Great ?

 

Appointed for Vespers on Friday, based on Gen. i. 24-31, the sixth day of creation.

 

Plasmátor hóminis, Deus, (1)

qui, cuncta solus órdinans,

humum iubes prodúcere

reptántis et feræ genus; (2)

 

Qui magna rerum córpora, (3)

dictu iubéntis vívida, (4)

ut sérviant per órdinem

subdens dedísti hómini:

 

Repélle a servis tuis

quicquid per immundítiam (5)

aut móribus se súggerit,

aut áctibus se intérserit.

 

Da gaudiórum præmia,

da gratiárum múnera; (6)

dissólve litis víncula, (7)

astrínge pacis fœdera.

 

1.       Plasmator ‘creator’ ‘maker’.

2.      ‘the race of the creeping thing and of the beast’

3.      Contrasts the great bulk of beasts with their subservience to men.

4.      Dictu ‘at the bidding’

5.      This hymn rather unkindly views these creatures as unclean.

6.      Gratiarum ‘of grace’ as often plural for singular.

7.      ‘Free from the power of strife’.

O God, the fashioner of man, who alone orders all things, you command the earth to bring forth creeping things and wild beasts. By word of your command the huge animals have life that you might subdue and give them to man to serve him according to their order. Drive from your servants whatever is unclean, which either seduces our habits or inserts itself in our actions, grant the rewards of gladness, give the gift of grace, loosen the chains of strife, strengthen the bonds of peace.

 

 

 

Thursday: Week I & III

 

When the Office of Readings is said in the daytime: 7-8^th century

 

Walpole provides a hymn with the same incipit, but the rest of that hymn is entirely different. However, in #50 under a different incipit, Diei luce reddita, beginning with the fourth stanza all the verses of the hymn in the revised Breviary may be found.

 

Christe, precámur ádnuas

orántibus servis tuis,

iníquitas hæc sǽculi (1)

ne nostram captívet fidem.

 

Non cogitémus ímpie,

invideámus némini,

læsi non reddámus vicem,

vincámus in bono malum. (2)

 

Absit nostris e córdibus

ira, dolus, supérbia;

absístat avarítia,

malórum radix ómnium.

 

Consérvet pacis fœ́dera

non simuláta cáritas; (3)

sit illibáta cástitas

credulitáte pérpeti.

 

Sit, Christe, rex piíssime,

tibi Patríque glória

cum Spíritu Paráclito,

in sempitérna sǽcula. Amen.

 

1.       'Grant... that this iniquity of the world may not bring our faith into captivity.'

2.      Rom. xii. 21.

3.      Cf. 2 Cor vi. 6; 1 Tim i.5.

O Christ, we ask, favor your servants as they pray and let not the wickedness of the world take our faith captive. Let us not think in evil ways, let us envy no one, wounded let us not repay each other, let us conquer ill with good. May anger, deceit, and pride be absent from our hearts, may greed, the root of all evils, depart. May the bond of peace be preserved and love not be a pretense, chastity maintain purity through perpetual faith. Glory to you, O Christ, most holy King, and to the Father, with the Spirit Paraclete for eternal ages. Amen.

 

At Lauds: Prudentius

Sol ecce surgit ígneus: (1)

piget, pudéscit, pænitet,

nec teste quisquam lúmine

peccáre constánter potest.

 

Tandem facéssat cæcitas,

quæ nosmet in præceps diu

lapsos sinístris gréssibus

erróre traxit dévio.

 

Hæc lux serénum cónferat (2)

purósque nos præstet sibi;

nihil loquámur súbdolum,

volvámus obscúrum nihil.

 

Sic tota decúrrat dies,

ne lingua mendax, ne manus

oculíve peccent lúbrici,

ne noxa corpus ínquinet.

 

Speculátor astat désuper,

qui nos diébus ómnibus

actúsque nostros próspicit

a luce prima in vésperum.

 

Deo Patri sit glória

eiúsque soli Fílio

cum Spíritu Paráclito,

in sempitérna sæcula. Amen.

 

1.       original = Lux ecce surgit aurea. 2. Walpole: "this hymn also comes from Cathemerinon II. 2. haec lux =Christ

 

Behold the fiery sun arises, which grieves, shames and causes repentance and by the witness of this light no one can continue to sin. Finally blindness gives way, which for long had kept us on edge and dragged the fallen with evil steps and devious error. This Light brings peace and renders us pure; May we speak no fraud, nor hatch devious plots. So may our whole day pass with no deceit of tongue that hands and wandering eyes may not sin, no harmful things corrupt the body. The divine watchman sees from above, who observes our deeds all our days from first light to evening. To God the Father be glory and to his only Son, with th Spirit Paraclete, in eternal ages. Amen.

At Vespers: St. Gregory the Great (?):

Magnæ Deus poténtiæ,

qui ex aquis ortum genus (1)

partim remíttis gúrgiti,

partim levas in áera,

 

Demérsa lymphis ímprimens,

subvécta cælis irrogans,

ut, stirpe una pródita,

divérsa répleant loca:

 

Largíre cunctis sérvulis,

quos mundat unda sánguinis, (2)

nescíre lapsus críminum

nec ferre mortis tædium,

 

Ut culpa nullum déprimat,

nullum levet iactántia,

elísa mens ne cóncidat,

eláta mens ne córruat.

 

Præsta, Pater piíssime,

Patríque compar Unice,

cum Spíritu Paráclito

regnans per omne sæculum. Amen.

 

1. Genesis 1:21:  Creavitque Deus cete grandia, et omnem animam viventem atque motabilem, quam produxerant aquæ in species suas, et omne volatile secundum genus suum.

2. John 19:34: sed unus militum lancea latus ejus aperuit, et continuo exivit sanguis et aqua.

O God of great power, who of those born from the waters, part you return to the depths, part you raise up into the air. You press down those submerged in the sea and raise up to the skies from those brought from below in order that coming from one source they may fill different places. Grant to all your servants, whom the flow of blood has cleansed, to know no fall into crime, nor to bear the weariness of death. That guilt may depress none, nor haughtiness exalt any, lest the despondent mind be overcome, the proud mind be corrupted. Grant, O Father most holy, only Son equal to the Father, with the Spirit Paraclete, ruling through all time. Amen. 

Dedication of the Basilicas of SS. Peter and Paul:

 

 Lauds and Vespers: 8^th-9^th Centuries

 

Iam, bone pastor, Petre, clemens áccipe

vota precántum, et peccáti víncula

resólve, tibi potestáte trádita,

qua cunctis cælum verbo claudis, áperis.

 

Doctor egrégie, Paule, mores ínstrue

et mente polum nos transférre sátage,

donec perféctum largiátur plénius,

evacuáto quod ex parte gérimus.

 

Sit Trinitáti sempitérna glória,

honor, potéstas atque iubilátio,

in unitáte, cui manet impérium

ex tunc et modo per ætérna sæcula. Amen

 

Now, good shepherd, Peter, mercifully accept the intentions of our prayers and loosen the chains of sin by the power handed over to you, through which with a word you close and open heaven. Exceptional doctor, Paul, guide our life and mind that we be set on the path to heaven until what is limited and passing is more fully perfected. Glory be to the eternal Trinity, honor, power and praise in the Unity, whose authority abides now and for eternal ages. Amen.

 

 

From Milfull p. 377

Excellent teacher Paul, teach us morals and strive to carry us in spirit to heaven until the prefect one shall give more fully that which is made vain, because we do it imperfectly.  

Other manuscripts:

Excellent teacher Paul, teach us moral behavior and strive to carry us in spirit to heaven against that time  when that which is perfect shall be granted more fully and that which we do imperfectly shall be superseded.

 

 

The Office of Readings: novus

 

O sempitérnæ cúriæ

regis supremi príncipes,

quos ipse Iesus édocens

donávit orbi Apóstolos,

 

Supérna vos Ierúsalem,

lucérna cuius Agnus est,

gemmas micántes póssidet,

præclára vos fundámina.

 

Vos et celébrat grátulans

nunc sponsa Christi Ecclésia,

quam sermo vester éxciit,

quam consecrástis sánguine.

 

Cadéntibus cum sæculis

iudex Redémptor séderit,

qua laude vos sedébitis,

senátus altæ glóriæ!

 

Nos ergo vestra iúgiter

prex adiuvándo róboret,

fudístis ut quæ sémina

in grana cæli flóreant.

 

Ætérna Christo glória,

qui fecit esse núntios

vos Patris, atque Spíritus

replévit almo númine. Amen.

 

O highest Princes of the supreme King of the eternal court, the Apostles whom Jesus taught and gave to the world.  The spiritual Jerusalem, whose lamp is the Lamb, possessed you, sparkling jewels, as her bright foundation.  Now the Church, the bride of Christ, which your word inspires and your blood consecrated, hails and celebrates you. When the world ends and the Judge, the Redeemer, sits enthroned, in whose praise you will also sit, O assembly of glory. Wherefore now may your prayer ever aid and strengthen us that the seeds which you have planted may flourish in the grain of heaven. Eternal glory to Christ, you made you messengers of the Father and the Spirit who filled you with divine love. Amen. 

Penitential Truth about myself in Dangerous Days: from Padre Pio

Consider yourself, what you really are: a nothing . . . the epitome of feebleness, a fountain of perversity without limit or bounds, capable of converting good to evil, of abandoning good for evil, of ascribing goodness to yourself and justifying yourself in evil, and for the love of the same evil, despising the Supreme Good.  

 

            Never be pleased with yourself. 

            Do not complain about offenses perpetrated against you.  

            Forgive everyone with Christian charity  

            Always groan as a poor wretch before your God. 

Never marvel at your weakness, but recognize yourself for what you are; blush over your inconstancy and faithlessness to God, and confide in him, tranquilly abandoning yourself to the arms of the heavenly Father like a babe in the arms of his mother. 

Never exult in any way in any virtues, but ascribe everything to God, and give him all the glory and honor.