SOLLEMNITAS SANCTÆ DEI GENETRICIS MARIÆ

 

Vesperas I & II: Prudentius

Corde natus ex Paréntis

ante mundi exórdium,

Alpha et Omega vocátus,

ipse fons et cláusula

ómnium quæ sunt, fuérunt

quæque post futúra sunt.

  

Córporis formam cadúci,

membra morti obnóxia

índuit, ne gens períret

primoplásti ex gérmine,

mérserat quam lex profúndo

noxiális tártaro.

O beátus ortus ille,

Virgo cum puérpera

édidit nostram salútem

feta Sancto Spíritu,

et puer redémptor orbis

os sacrátum prótulit.

Ecce, quem vates vetústis

concinébant sæculis,

quem prophetárum fidéles

páginæ spopónderant,

émicat promíssus olim:

cuncta colláudent eum!

Glóriam Patri melódis

personémus vócibus;

glóriam Christo canámus,

matre nato vírgine,

inclitóque sempitérnam

glóriam Paráclito. Amen.

Born from the heart of the Father before the beginning of the world, called Alpha and Omega, himself the source and the end of all which exist, have existed and which afterwards shall exist. Clothed in the form of the frail body, his members subject to death, that the people not perish from the seed of the first born Adam whom the law of death submerged in deepest hell.  O blessed birth from the childbearing Virgin,  made fertile by the Holy Spirit, which brought forth our salvation and the Child,  the  Redeemer of the world revealed his face. Behold him of whom the ancient seers sang through the centuries, him whom before the writing of the faithful prophets had promised, let all things praise him.  With melodious voices let us sing the glory of the Father, chant glory to Christ, born of a Virgin Mother and eternal glory to the great Paraclete. Amen.

Officium lectionis: saec. VII-VIII

Radix Iesse flóruit

et virga fructum édidit;

fecúnda partum prótulit

et virgo mater pérmanet.

Præsæpe poni pértulit

qui lucis auctor éxstitit;

cum Patre cælos cóndidit,

sub matre pannos índuit.

Legem dedit qui sæculo,

cuius decem præcépta sunt,

dignándo factus est homo

sub legis esse vínculo.

Iam lux salúsque náscitur,

nox díffugit, mors víncitur;

veníte, gentes, crédite:

Deum María prótulit.

The root of Jesse has flowered and the branch has given forth fruit; the fertile Mother has borne a Son, yet remains a Virgin. He endures the manger, he who is the Creator of light; with his Father he created the heavens but he is clothed in diapers by his Mother. He who gave the Law to the world, the ten commandments, condescends to be made man, to be constrained  by the chain of the Law.  Now light and salvation are born, night flees and death is conquered; come, you nations, believe: Mary has given birth to God.

Laudes: saec. IX

Fit porta Christi pérvia

omni reférta grátia,

transítque rex, et pérmanet

clausa, ut fuit, per sæcula.

Summi Paréntis Fílius

procéssit aula Vírginis,

sponsus, redémptor, cónditor

suæ gigas Ecclésiæ:

Honor matris et gáudium,

imménsa spes credéntium,

lapis de monte véniens

mundúmque replens grátia.

Exsúltet omnis ánima,

quod nunc salvátor géntium

advénit mundi Dóminus

redímere quos cóndidit.

Christo sit omnis glória,

quem Pater Deum génuit,

quem Virgo mater édidit

fecúnda Sancto Spíritu. Amen.

A path is made through the gate of Christ, Mary full of all grace, through her the King has passed and she remains closed, as it was and ever shall be. The Son of the most high Father came forth from the Virgin’s womb, Bridegroom, Redeemer, Giant of his Church.  The honor and joy of his Mother, the great hope of  believers, the stone falling down from the mountain, filling the world with grace. Let every soul exult, for now the Savior of the nations, the Lord of the world comes to redeem what he created. To Christ be all glory, whom the Father begot, whom the Virgin Mother brought forth,  herself made fertile by the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

SANCTÆ FAMILIÆ IESU, MARIÆ ET IOSEPH

 

Vespers I & II: Pope Leo XIII

O lux beáta cælitum

et summa spes mortálium,

Iesu, cui doméstica

arrísit orto cáritas;

María, dives grátia,

o sola quæ casto potes

fovére Iesum péctore,

cum lacte donans óscula;

Tuque ex vetústis pátribus

delécte custos Vírginis,

dulci patris quem nómine

divína Proles ínvocat:

De stirpe Iesse nóbili

nati in salútem géntium,

audíte nos, qui súpplices

ex corde vota fúndimus.

Qua vestra sedes flóruit

virtútis omnis grátia,

hanc detur in domésticis

reférre posse móribus.

Iesu, tuis obœdiens

qui factus es paréntibus,

cum Patre summo ac Spíritu

semper tibi sit glória. Amen.

O blessed Light of heaven’s saints and highest hope of mortal men, Jesus, upon whose birth  domestic love smiled.  Mary, rich in grace, who alone feed Jesus from a pure heart, giving him kisses with the milk. And you, O Joseph, one of the old patriarchs, chosen Guardian of the Virgin,  whom your Offspring addressed with the divine and sweet name of ‘father’. From the noble line of Jesse, born to save the nations, hear us humbly pouring out our prayers to you.  Your home flourished with the grace of every virtue; may this be given to our domestic life. To Jesus, made obedient to your parents, with the most high Father and the Spirit, to you be glory for evermore. Amen.

Office of Readings: Pope Leo XIII

Dulce fit nobis memoráre parvum

Názaræ tectum tenuémque cultum;

éxpedit Iesu tácitam reférre

  cármine vitam.

Arte qua Ioseph húmili excoléndus,

ábdito Iesus iuvenéscit ævo,

seque fabrílis sócium labóris

  ádicit ultro.

Assidet nato pia mater almo,

ássidet sponso bona nupta, felix

si potest curas releváre lassis

  múnere amíco.

O neque expértes óperæ et labóris,

nec mali ignári, míseros iuváte;

quotquot implórant cólumen, benígno

  cérnite vultu.

Sit tibi, Iesu, decus atque virtus,

sancta qui vitæ documénta præbes,

quique cum summo Genitóre et almo

  Flámine regnas. Amen.

It is sweet for us to remember the little house at Nazareth and its simple life and to sing of the hidden life that Jesus spent there. In the hidden time Jesus grew and learned the humble skill of Joseph and as a carpenter also made himself a companion of those who work. The holy Mother sits next to  her loving Son like a good wife with her spouse, happy to relieve the worries of the weary  with the gift of love. O you who surely knew of  work and trouble and were not ignorant of evil, come to the aid of the wretched; look upon those who beg your support with a kindly countenance. To you, O Jesus, honor and strength, you who give us life in the Holy Scriptures, you who rule with almighty Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lauds: novus

Christe, splendor Patris,

Dei mater Virgo,

Ioseph, tam sacrórum

pígnorum servátor,

Nitet vestra domus

flóribus virtútum,

unde gratiárum

fons prománat ipse.

Angeli stupéntes

Natum Dei cernunt

servi forma indútum

servis famulántem.

Imus præes, Ioseph,

humilísque iubes;

iubes et María

et utríque servis.

Cunctis præstant aulis

hæc egéna sæpta,

salus unde cœpit

géneris humáni.

Iesu, Mater, Ioseph,

mansiónis vestræ

nostras date sedes

donis frui sanctis.

Tibi laudes, Christe,

spem qui nobis præbes,

tuos per paréntes

cæli adíre domum. Amen.

O Christ, the splendor of the Father, O Virgin Mother of God, O Joseph,  protector of the holy family bond.  Your home shines forth with the flowers of the virtues, from which is derived the Fount of graces Himself. Seeing the birth of God angels are amazed, he clothed in the form of a servant, and subject to his family. The lowly and humble head of the family Joseph commands, Mary also orders, and you, Jesus, obey both. This lowly impoverished home surpasses all royal halls, because from here began the salvation of the human race. Jesus, Mother, and Joseph, grant to our homes the holy gifts of your home.  Praise, O Christ, to you, who gives hope to us, through your two parents, to reach the home of heaven. Amen.

 

SS. INNOCENTIUM, MARTYRUM

Office of Readings: the Venerable Bede

Hymnum canéntes mártyrum

dicámus Innocéntium,

quos terra deflens pérdidit,

gaudens sed æthra súscipit;

Quos rex perémit ímpius,

pius sed Auctor cólligit,

secum beátos cóllocans

in luce regni pérpetis.

Præclára Christo splénduit

mors ínnocens fidélium;

cælis ferébat ángeli

bimos et infra párvulos.

O quam beáta cívitas,

in qua Redémptor náscitur,

natóque primæ mártyrum

in qua dicántur hóstiæ!

Astant niténtes fúlgidis

eius throno nunc véstibus,

stolas suas qui láverant

Agni rubéntes sánguine.

Let us sing a hymn of the Innocent Martyrs, at whose destruction the earth weeps but heaven rejoices to receive them. A wicked king destroyed them but a loving Creator gathered them to himself, these blessed ones he gathered in the light of his eternal kingdom. In the presence of Christ the innocent death of the faithful brightly shone; the angels bring to heaven the little ones two years and under. O blessed city, where the Redeemer was born and by that birth is declared the first sacrifices of the martyrs.  Now before the throne they stand brightly  in shining vestments, those who wash their stoles in the red blood of the Lamb. 

Lauds: Prudentius

Audit tyránnus ánxius

adésse regum príncipem,

qui nomen Israel regat

teneátque David régiam.

Exclámat amens núntio:

«Succéssor instat, péllimur;

satélles, i, ferrum rape,

perfúnde cunas sánguine!».

Quo próficit tantum nefas?

Quid crimen Heródem iuvat?

Unus tot inter fúnera

impúne Christus tóllitur.

Salvéte, flores mártyrum,

quos lucis ipso in límine

Christi insecútor sústulit

ceu turbo nascéntes rosas.

Vos prima Christi víctima,

grex immolatórum tener,

aram sub ipsum símplices

palma et corónis lúditis.

The tyrant anxiously hears that the King of kings is coming, he  who is named to rule Israel and govern the kingdom of David. Outraged he cries to the messenger: “a successor is at hand; we will be cast out: men,  grab your swords: fill the cradles with blood.” What is the benefit of such  an offense? How will such a crime help Herod? Christ alone among so many  dead  escapes safely. Hail, flowers of the martyrs, those on the very threshold of life; the persecutor of Christ destroys them like fresh roses in the wind. You the first offerings of Christ, the tender flock of the sacrificed, under the altar you innocently play with palms and crowns.

S. IOANNIS, APOSTOLI ET EVANGELISTÆ

 

St. Peter Damian described Hildebrand, Pope Gregory VII, as his "Holy Satan" because he prevented St. Peter from living the ascetical life: plus domino papae quam domno pareo papae: 'I am more obedient to the Lord of the pope than to the lord pope." 

Office of Readings:  St. Peter Damian

Vírginis virgo veneránde custos,

præco qui Verbi cóleris fidélis,

terge servórum fácinus tuórum,

  sancte Ioánnes.

Fonte prorúmpens flúvius perénni

curris, aréntis satiátor orbis;

hausit ex pleno, modo quod propínat,

  péctore pectus.

Tu, decus mundi iubar atque cæli,

ímpetra nostris véniam ruínis;

da sacraméntum penetráre summum,

  quod docuísti.

Patris arcánum speculándo Verbum

grátiam fundis fídei per orbem;

nos ad ætérnam spéciem fruéndam,

  dux bone, transfer.

Sit decus summo sine fine Christo,

sancta quem virgo génuit María,

qui Patri compar Flaminíque Sancto

  regnat in ævum. Amen.

Venerable Virgin, Guardian of the Virgin, you are honored as the faithful  herald of the Word, purge the wickedness of your servants, holy John. As a river breaking forth from a perennial spring you run to satisfy a thirsty world;  Your heart  draws from the heart of Christ the waters, which you now pour out. You, the ray of light shining upon earth and heaven, pray pardon for our ruined souls; grant that we pay penetrate the highest mystery which you taught. In meditating on the hidden Word of the Father you pour out upon the world the grace of faith: O good leader, grant we may enjoy everlasting beauty. Honor unending be to the most high Christ, born of the holy Virgin Mary, who equal to the Father and Holy Spirit, reigns for ever. Amen.

Lauds: Carolus Rosa: 18^th Century

Cohors beáta Séraphim

quem Christus arcte díligit

laudet, chorúsque cánticis

noster resúltet æmulis.

Hic discit, almus édocet

hic unde Verbum pródeat,

sinúmque matris ímpleat,

sinum Patris non déserens.

Felix Ioánnes, déligit

et te Magíster próvidus,

ut clara Thabor lúmina

hortíque cernas tædia.

Tu, raptus in sublímia,

arcána cæli cónspicis,

Agni sed et mystéria

Ecclesiæque pércipis.

O digne fili Vírgine,

succéssor alti nóminis,

nos adde Matri fílios,

nos conde Christi in péctore.

Verbo sit ingens glória,

caro quod est et créditur,

cum Patre et almo Spíritu

in sempitérna sæcula. Amen.

May the blessed company of Seraphim praise him whom Christ loved so strongly, and our choir too resound with the same songs. This man learned and lovingly taught the Word going forth, filled by his mother’s breast without abandoning the Father’s bosom. O Blessed John, the providential Master chose you to see both the bright light of Mt. Tabor and the suffering of the garden.  Caught up into the heights you revealed the secrets of heaven, but also you grasped the mysteries of the Lamb and the Church. O worthy son of the Virgin, inheriting the most sublime name,  add us as sons of your Mother, treasured in the heart of Christ. To the mighty Word be glory, confessed to have been made flesh, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, through endless ages. Amen.