IN ASSUMPTIONE BEATÆ MARIÆ VIRGINIS

Ad I  &  II  Vesperas: Petrus Damianus

Gáudium mundi, nova stella cæli,

prócreans solem, páriens paréntem,

da manum lapsis, fer opem cadúcis,

  virgo María.

Te Deo factam liquet esse scalam

qua tenens summa petit Altus ima;

nos ad excélsi remeáre cæli

  cúlmina dona.

Te beatórum chorus angelórum,

te prophetárum et apostolórum

ordo prælátam sibi cernit unam

  post Deitátem.

Laus sit excélsæ Tríadi perénnis,

quæ tibi, Virgo, tríbuit corónam,

atque regínam statuítque nostram

  próvida matrem. Amen.

Joy of the world, new star of heaven, giving birth to the sun, giving birth to  your parent, give your hand to those slipping, help the fallen, O Virgin Mary. God made you to be a ladder, that the Highest keeping its height could seek the lowest; grant that we may return to the summit of highest heaven.  The choir of blessed angels, the order of prophets and apostles acknowledge you singularly favored, after God.  Everlasting praise to the Trinity on high, who granted you, O Virgin, a crown, and established you as our queen and watchful mother. Amen.

Ad Officium lectionis: Petrus Damianus

Auróra velut fúlgida,

ad cæli meat cúlmina

ut sol María spléndida,

tamquam luna pulchérrima.

Regína mundi hódie

thronum conscéndit glóriæ,

illum eníxa Fílium

qui est ante lucíferum.

Assúmpta super ángelos

omnésque choros cælitum,

cuncta sanctórum mérita

transcéndit una fémina.

Quem fóverat in grémio,

locárat in præsépio,

nunc regem super ómnia

Patris videt in glória.

Pro nobis, Virgo vírginum,

tuum depósce Fílium,

per quam nostra suscéperat,

ut sua nobis præbeat.

Sit laus Patri cum Fílio

et Spíritu Paráclito,

qui te præ cunctis cælica

exornavérunt glória. Amen.

As the glittering dawn Mary arises to the height of heaven, sparkling like the sun, most beautiful like the moon.  Today the Queen of the world ascends to her throne of glory, she who gave birth to that Son, who was before the daystar. This one women is taken above the angels and over all the heavenly hosts; she surpasses the merits of all of the saints. Him, whom she has cherished, she puts in a manger; now she sees him King over all in the glory of the Father. O Virgin of virgins, pray to your Son for us, through you he received what is ours that he might give to us what is his.  Praise to the Father with the Son and Comforter Spirit, who before all adorned you with heavenly glory. Amen.

Ad Laudes matutinas: Victorius Genovesi

Solis, o Virgo, rádiis amícta,

bis caput senis redimíta stellis,

luna cui præbet pédibus scabéllum,

  ínclita fulges.

Mortis, inférni domitríxque culpæ,

ássides Christo studiósa nostri,

teque regínam célebrat poténtem

  terra polúsque.

Asseclas diæ fídei tuére;

díssitos adduc ad ovíle sacrum;

quas diu gentes tegit umbra mortis

  úndique coge.

Sóntibus mitis véniam precáre,

ádiuva flentes, ínopes et ægros,

spes mica cunctis per acúta vitæ

  certa salútis.

Laus sit excélsæ Tríadi perénnis,

quæ tibi, Virgo, tríbuit corónam,

atque regínam statuítque nostram

  próvida matrem. Amen.

O Virgin, clothed with the radiant sun, your head crowned with twice six stars, the moon serving  as her footstool, you gloriously shine.  Ruling over death and the guilt of hell, anxious for our good you are enthroned next to  Christ, earth and heaven celebrate you as their mighty queen.  Watch over the divine faith of your children, bring back the lost to the holy fold; gather from all the nations those covered by the shadow of death. With gentle prayers implore pardon, help the mourning, the needy and the sick, shine on all in the difficulties of life the sure hope of salvation. Everlasting praise to the Trinity on high, who granted you, O Virgin, a crown, and established you as our queen and watchful mother. Amen.

S. LAURENTII, DIACONI ET MARTYRIS

Ad Laudes matutinas: Prudentius

To give Prudentius credit for this hymn is no great favor to such an accomplished, learned and skillful poet. This hymn is pieced together from various lines from Prudentius’ Peristephanon II with, one suspects, some tinkering from Dom Anselmo’s team. The result is a very obscure and difficult to translate hymn. I might note a perennial problem: the verse translations of this hymn, even the best, e.g. The Benedictine Sisters of St. Cecilia, have very little in common with the Latin.  However, Walpole’s suggestion (noted on a somewhat different centoization)  is helpful: "The first two lines are explained by the preceding passage of the original, the sense of which is: the one glory formerly lacking to Rome, now given up to Christ, was the final subjugation of foul Jove, not by the turbulent might of Cossus, Camillus, or Caesar, but by the not bloodless strife of the martyr Lawrence”  (Early Latin Hymns p. 138).  Would that this notion were more clearly expressed in the present office hymn. St. Peter Damian, as to be expected, gives us a picture of St. Laurence as an ascetic.

In mártyris Lauréntii

non incruénto prœlio,

armáta pugnávit Fides

próprii cruóris pródiga.

Hic primus e septem viris

qui stant ad aram próximi,

levíta sublímis gradu

et céteris præstántior.

Hic dímicans fortíssimus

non ense præcínxit latus,

hostíle sed ferrum retro

torquens in auctórem tulit.

Sic, sancte Laurénti, tuam

nos passiónem quærimus;

quod quisque supplex póstulat,

fert impetrátum próspere,

Dum cæli inenarrábili

alléctus urbi múniceps,

ætérnæ in arce cúriæ

gestas corónam cívicam.

Honor Patri cum Fílio

et Spíritu Paráclito,

qui nos tuis suffrágiis

ditent perénni láurea. Amen.

In the martyrdom of Laurence, not a bloodless strife, armed with faith he fought, his blood prodigally shed.  He was the first of seven men, standing next to the altar, a lofty deacon by rank, surpassing all the others. This most courageous fighter girded no sword at his side, but taking the enemy’s hot iron on his back, bore the torture with calm authority.  Thus, O holy Laurence, we seek a passion like yours; may, what each humble soul asks of you, succeed and prosper.  Chosen a fellow-citizen of the city of the ineffable heaven,  in height of the eternal court you wear a civic crown. Honor to the Father with the Son and Spirit Paraclete, who by your prayers, O Laurence, enriches us with eternal laurels.  Amen.

Ad Officium lectionis & Vesperas: Petrus Damianus

Mártyris Christi cólimus triúmphum,

dona qui mundi peritúra spernit,

fert opem nudis, aliménta, nummos

  tradit egénis.

Igne torquétur, stábili tenóre

cordis accénsus súperat mináces

ígnium flammas in amóre vitæ

  semper opímæ.

Spíritum sumpsit chorus angelórum,

íntulit cælo bene laureándum,

ut scelus laxet hóminum, precándo

  omnipoténtem.

Súpplici voto rogitámus ergo

ómnibus, martyr, véniam precéris,

cordis ardóres, fídei tenácem

  usque vigórem.

Glóriam Patri resonémus omnes,

eius et Nato modulémur apte,

cum quibus regnat simul et creátor

  Spíritus almus. Amen.

We celebrate the triumph of a martyr of Christ, who spurned the transitory gifts of the world and brought help to the naked, handed over to the needy food and money.  Tortured by fire, he stood strong, his heart enkindled, overcoming the menacing flames of fire, for the sake of his love for eternal and abundant life. The choir of angels receives his spirit, he wears the victory laurels rightly given by heaven to loosen the sins of men by praying to God almighty. Therefore, O martyr, we humbly ask that you pray pardon for all sins, for fervent hearts, tenacious faith, and strength. Let us all sound glory to the Father and sing rightly of his Son, with whom the holy Spirit Creator rules. Amen.

S. DOMINICI, PRESBYTERl

Ad Laudes matutinas et Vesperas: Constantinus Medici

Constantine Medici, ascendant of the famous house, Dominican, Bishop of Orvieto, biographer of St. Dominic and compiler of his Office. XIIIth Century.

Novus athléta Dómini

collaudétur Domínicus,

qui rem confórmat nómini,

vir factus evangélicus.

Consérvans sine mácula

virginitátis lílium,

ardébat quasi fácula

pro zelo pereúntium.

Mundum calcans sub pédibus

accínxit cor ad prœlia,

nudus occúrrens hóstibus,

Christi suffúltus grátia.

Pugnat verbo, miráculis,

missis per orbem frátribus,

crebros adiúngens sédulis

fletus oratiónibus.

Sit trino Deo et símplici

laus, honor, decus, glória,

qui nos prece Domínici

ducat ad cæli gáudia. Amen.

May Dominic, a new athlete of the Lord, be praised, who conformed his life to his name and was made a man of the Gospel. Persevering without stain, a lily of virginity, he was enkindled like a torch in his zeal to oppose heresy. Crushing worldliness under his feet, he girdled himself for battle, naked he encountered the enemy,  supported only by the grace of Christ. He fought with words and miracles, his brothers sent throughout the world, often joining tears to diligent prayers.  To the Triune and One God, praise, dignity, glory, may He lead us to the joys of heaven by the prayer of Dominic. Amen.