All Saints: Lauds & Vespers

I Vespers: Helisachar:  9^th Century

Amalarius of Metz: Prologue of the Antiphonary: Helisachar, Abbot of St. Maximin in Trier

Upon the verses which one shall find scarcely altered if perchance he considers it worth his while to consult the present volume, the priest of God Helisachar—a person with excellent education, most zealous in reading and divine worship, and the first among the first men of the most excellent emperor Louis—labored and sweated. And not only did he labor mightily in this present business but whomsoever he was able to assemble around himself from his students.

Christe, redémptor ómnium,

consérva tuos fámulos,

Beátæ semper Vírginis

placátus sanctis précibus.

Beáta quoque ágmina

cæléstium spirítuum,

prætérita, præséntia,

futúra mala péllite.

Vates ætérni iúdicis

apostolíque Dómini,

supplíciter expóscimus

salvári vestris précibus.

Mártyres Dei íncliti

confessorésque lúcidi,

vestris oratiónibus

nos ferte in cæléstibus.

Chori sanctárum vírginum

monachorúmque ómnium,

simul cum sanctis ómnibus

consórtes Christi fácite.

Sit Trinitáti glória,

vestrásque voces iúngite

ut illi laudes débitas

persolvámus alácriter. Amen.

O Christ, redeemer of all, may it please you to preserve your servants by the holy prayers of the blessed Ever-Virgin. And through the blessed hosts of heavenly spirits drive away past, present and future evils. Prophets of the eternal Judge and Apostles of the Lord we humbly ask to be saved by your prayers. Illustrious Martyrs of God and brightly shining Confessors by your intercession carry us up into heaven. Choirs of holy Virgins and all monks with all the saints make us to share in Christ. Glory to the Trinity, that with your voices joined we may eagerly offer to Him due praises. Amen.

Lauds & II Vespers: 10^th Century

Iesu, salvátor sǽculi,

redémptis ope súbveni

et, pia Dei Génetrix,

salútem posce míseris.

Cœtus omnes angélici,

patriarchárum cúnei

ac prophetárum mérita

nobis precéntur véniam.

Baptísta tui prǽvius

et cláviger æthéreus

cum céteris apóstolis

nos solvant nexu críminis.

Chorus sacrátus mártyrum,

sacerdótum conféssio

et virginális cástitas

nos a peccátis ábluant.

Monachórum suffrágia

omnésque cives cǽlici

ánnuant votis súpplicum

et vitæ poscant prǽmium.

Sit, Christe, tibi glória

cum Patre et Sancto Spíritu,

quorum luce mirífica

sancti congáudent pérpetim. Amen.

O Jesus, Savior of the world, come to the aid of the redeemed, and holy Mother of God pray for the salvation of the wretched. May all  the angelic hosts, the merits of the cohort of patriarchs and prophets pray for our pardon. May the Baptist your forerunner and Peter the heavenly key bearer with the other apostles undo the bonds of our sins. The holy choir of martyrs, the praise of the priests, the chastity of virgins wash us from our sins. The intercessions of monks and of all the citizens of heaven favor the prayers of the humble and seek for us the reward of life. O Christ to you be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, by whose wondrous light the saints rejoice forever. Amen.

Sunday: Weeks I & III

 

Lauds : St. Ambrose

Ætérne rerum cónditor,

noctem diémque qui regis,

et témporum das témpora

ut álleves fastídium,

Præco diéi iam sonat,

noctis profúndæ pérvigil,

noctúrna lux viántibus

a nocte noctem ségregans.

Hoc excitátus lúcifer

solvit polum calígine;

hoc omnis errónum chorus

vias nocéndi déserit.

Hoc nauta vires cólligit

pontíque mitéscunt freta;

hoc, ipse Petra Ecclésiæ,

canénte, culpam díluit.

Iesu, labántes réspice

et nos vidéndo córrige;

si réspicis, lapsus cadunt

fletúque culpa sólvitur.

Tu, lux, refúlge sénsibus

mentísque somnum díscute;

te nostra vox primum sonet

et vota solvámus tibi.

Eternal Creator of things, you who rule night and day, and give the
time of the seasons that you may relieve our boredom. The cock, the watchman through the deep of night, now sounds, a nocturnal light for travelers, separating one from another. By this the morning star is aroused, the sky is parted from the darkness; by this every band of errors  abandons its harmful ways. By this the sailor regains his strength and the raging sea is calmed; by this Peter himself, the rock of the Church, by song washes away his guilt. O Jesus, look upon those who are falling, for by one glance you correct; if you see us, our lapses fall and crime is absolved by tears. You, O Light, shine on our senses, may sleep of our souls depart; our voices sing to you and our promises to you are kept.

When the Office of Readings is read in the daytime: Aron 12^th Century?

Dies ætásque céteris

octáva splendet sánctior

in te quam, Iesu, cónsecras,

primítiæ surgéntium.

Tu tibi nostras ánimas

nunc primo conresúscita;

tibi consúrgant córpora

secúnda morte líbera.

Tibíque mox in núbibus,

Christe, ferámur óbviam

tecum victúri pérpetim:

tu vita, resurréctio.

Cuius vidéntes fáciem,

configurémur glóriæ;

te cognoscámus sicut es,

lux vera et suávitas.

Regnum, cum Patri tráditos,

plenos septéno chrísmate,

in temet nos lætíficas,

consúmmet Sancta Trínitas. Amen.

The eighth day is more holy and brighter than other days, which you, O Jesus, consecrated as the first fruits of the resurrection.  First now raise our souls together with you; then may our bodies rise free from the second death. O Christ, may we soon be carried to meet you in the clouds, with you conquering forever: for you are life and resurrection. Seeing your face, may we be transfigured into glory; may we know you as you are: true light and goodness. May the Holy Trinity bring the kingdom to fulfillment: making us glad in Christ, handed over to the Father and filled with the seven-fold anointing.  Amen.

Vespers: St. Gregory the Great ?

Lucis creátor óptime,

lucem diérum próferens,

primórdiis lucis novæ

mundi parans oríginem;

Qui mane iunctum vésperi

diem vocári prǽcipis:

tætrum chaos illábitur;

audi preces cum flétibus.

Ne mens graváta crímine

vitæ sit exsul múnere,

dum nil perénne cógitat

seséque culpis ílligat.

Cælórum pulset íntimum,

vitále tollat prǽmium;

vitémus omne nóxium,

purgémus omne péssimum.

Greatest Creator of light, providing and fashioning the first beginnings of new light at the start of the world; You who bid morning joined to evening to be called day: now dark disorder falls upon us: hear our prayers with tears. Let not our minds heavy with sin be deprived of the rewards of life and bind ourselves to sin with no thought for things eternal. May our soul knock at the door of heaven, carry away the prize of life; let us shun everything harmful, let us purge all that is evil.

 

Saturday: Weeks II & IV

 

Lauds : 7th -8th Centuries: early hymn appointed for Saturday at Matins with six additional verses.

Diei luce reddita,

laetis gratisque vocibus

Dei canamus gloriam,

Christi fatentes gratiam,

Per quem creator omnium

diem noctemque condidit,

aeterna lege sanciens

ut semper succedant sibi.

Tu vera lux fidelium,

quem lex veterna non tenet,

noctis nec ortu succidens,

aeterno fulgens lumine.

Praesta, Pater ingenite,

totum ducamus iugiter

Christo placentes hunc diem

Sancto repleti Spiritu. Amen

As the light of day is returned, with joyful and grateful voices let us sing of God’s glory, confessing the grace of Christ. Through whom the creator of all made day and night, ordaining by an eternal law that one should succeed the other. True light of the faithful, whom the ancient law could not restrain, nor could the rising of the night, he who glows with eternal light.  Grant, O great Father, that we pass this whole day ever pleasing Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

When the Office of Readings is said in the daytime: 14th Century (?)

Deus de nullo véniens,

Deus de Deo pródiens,

Deus ab his progrédiens,

in nos veni subvéniens.

Tu nostrum desidérium,

tu sis amor et gáudium;

in te nostra cupíditas

et sit in te iucúnditas.

Pater, cunctórum Dómine,

cum Génito de Vírgine,

intus et in circúitu

nos rege Sancto Spíritu.

Meménto, Sancta Trínitas,

quod tua fecit bónitas,

creándo prius hóminem,

recreándo per sánguinem.

Nam quos creávit Unitas,

redémit Christi cáritas;

patiéndo tunc díligens,

nunc díligat nos éligens.

Tríadi sanctæ gáudium,

pax, virtus et impérium,

decus, omnipoténtia,

laus, honor, reveréntia. Amen.

God from nothing coming forth, God begotten of God, God proceeding from both, come to help us. You are our desire, you are love and joy, may our yearning be for you and our happiness be in you. Father, Lord of all, with the Offspring of the Virgin, by the Holy Spirit govern us inwardly and outwardly. Remember, Holy Trinity, what your goodness has created, first by creating man, then by redeeming him with your blood. For what Unity created, the love of Christ redeemed, once loving us by showing patience, now loving us by choosing us. Joy to the Holy Trinity, peace, strength, and authority, respect, almighty power, praise, honor and reverence. Amen.

Vespers : St. Ambrose

Deus, creátor ómnium

políque rector, véstiens

diem decóro lúmine,

noctem sopóris grátia,

Artus solútos ut quies

reddat labóris úsui

mentésque fessas állevet

luctúsque solvat ánxios,

Grates perácto iam die

et noctis exórtu preces,

voti reos ut ádiuves,

hymnum canéntes sólvimus.

Te cordis ima cóncinant,

te vox canóra cóncrepet,

te díligat castus amor,

te mens adóret sóbria,

Ut cum profúnda cláuserit

diem calígo nóctium,

fides ténebras nésciat

et nox fide relúceat.

Christum rogámus et Patrem,

Christi Patrísque Spíritum;

unum potens per ómnia,

fove precántes, Trínitas. Amen.

O God, Creator of all, Ruler of the sky, vesting the day with beauteous light, night with the grace of rest. That quiet might loosen limbs and restore us for work and relieve weary minds, relax anxious grief. Grateful for the day that has passed and urged by the prayers of night, we sing and offer you a hymn that you would help us keep our vows. May our inmost hears sing to you, tuneful voice resound, chaste desire love you, sober minds adore you. That when the deep darkness of night covers the day, faith may know no darkness and night may sparkle with faith. We ask this of Christ and his Father and the Spirit of Christ and the Father, one power through all things, O Trinity, favor those who pray. Amen.

Common of the Apostles

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 princes of the heavenly court of the supreme King, the Apostles, whom Jesus himself taught and gave to the whole world.  The heavenly Jerusalem, whose lamp is the Lamb possessed you as sparkling jewels and as its glorious foundation. The Church, the bride of Christ, whom your word inspired and your blood consecrated, now celebrates you and rejoices with you. When the end of the ages comes, the Redeemer as Judge will be enthroned, in praise also you will sit in the senate of  highest glory.  May your prayer, therefore, ever help and strengthen us that the seeds which you have planted may grow into a heavenly harvest. Eternal glory to Christ, who made you heralds of the Father and filled you with the nourishing power of the Spirit. Amen.

Vespers: 10^th Century

Exsúltet cælum láudibus,

resúltet terra gáudiis:

Apostolórum glóriam

sacra canunt sollémnia.

Vos, sæcli iusti iúdices

et vera mundi lúmina,

votis precámur córdium,

audíte preces súpplicum.

Qui cælum verbo cláuditis

serásque eius sólvitis,

nos a peccátis ómnibus

sólvite iussu, quæsumus.

Quorum præcépto súbditur

salus et languor ómnium,

sanáte ægros móribus,

nos reddéntes virtútibus,

Ut, cum iudex advénerit

Christus in fine sæculi,

nos sempitérni gáudii

fáciat esse cómpotes.

Deo sint laudes glóriæ,

qui dat nos evangélicis

per vos doctrínis ínstrui

et prósequi cæléstia. Amen.

Let heaven rejoice with praises, let earth resound with gladness; Holy feast sing of the Apostles’ glory. You, the just judges of the earth and true lights of the world, we ask with prayers of the heart; hear our humble petitions. You, who close heaven and open its bars  by a word, we ask that by your order you absolve us from all sin.  Health and sickness are subject to your command; heal the sick and restore to us the virtues; that, when Christ the Judge shall come at the end of time, he may make us to share in eternal joys. To God be praise and glory,  who through you grants that we be taught the doctrine of the Gospel and attain unto heaven. Amen.

Richard Mant 1906

Let the round world with songs rejoice;

let heaven return the joyful voice;

all mindful of the Apostles' fame,

let heaven and earth their praise proclaim.

Ye servants who once bore the light

of Gospel truth o'er heathen night,

still may your work that light impart,

to glad our eyes and cheer our heart.

O God, by whom to them was given

the key that shuts and opens heaven,

our chains unbind, our loss repair,

and grant us grace to enter there;

for at thy will they preached the word

which cured disease, which health conferred:

O may that healing power once more

our souls to grace and health restore:

that when thy Son again shall come,

and speak the world's unerring doom,

he may with them pronounce us blessed,

and place us in thy endless rest.

To thee, O Father; Son, to thee;

to thee, blessed Spirit, glory be!

So was it ay for ages past,

so shall through endless ages last.