IN NATIVITATE S. IOANNIS BAPTISTÆ

 

Ad I & II Vesperas: Paulus Diaconus?

Ut queant laxis resonáre fibris

mira gestórum fámuli tuórum,

solve pollúti lábii reátum,

  sancte Ioánnes.

Núntius cælo véniens suprémo,

te patri magnum fore nascitúrum,

nomen et vitæ sériem geréndæ

  órdine promit.

Ille promíssi dúbius supérni

pérdidit promptæ módulos loquélæ;

sed reformásti génitus perémptæ

  órgana vocis.

Ventris obstrúso pósitus cubíli

sénseras regem thálamo manéntem;

hinc parens nati méritis utérque

  ábdita pandit.

Láudibus cives célebrant supérni

te, Deus simplex paritérque trine;

súpplices ac nos véniam precámur:

  parce redémptis. Amen.

That your servants might sing with clear voices the wonders of your deeds, O holy John, loosen their lips from the corruption of guilt. A messenger came from heaven high and told your father that in due course you would be born, your name and the course of your life.  Your father doubting the heavenly promise, lost the means of ready speech, but once you were born you restored his lost means of speech. While placed in the hidden room of your mother’s womb, you recognized the King abiding in the wedding chamber. Wherefore both parents by virtue of their son’s merits revealed hidden mysteries. May the citizens of heaven praise you, God simple and equally three; but we humbly pray pardon: spare the redeemed. Amen.

Ad Officium lectionis: Paulus Diaconus

Antra desérti téneris sub annis,

cívium turmas fúgiens, petísti,

ne levi saltem maculáre vitam

  fámine posses.

Præbuit hirtum tégimen camélus

ártubus sacris, stróphium bidéntes,

cui latex haustum, sociáta pastum

  mella locústis.

Céteri tantum cecinére vatum

corde præságo iubar affutúrum;

tu quidem mundi scelus auferéntem

  índice prodis.

Non fuit vasti spátium per orbis

sánctior quisquam génitus Ioánne,

qui nefas sæcli méruit lavántem

  tíngere lymphis.

Láudibus cives célebrant supérni

te, Deus simplex paritérque trine;

súpplices ac nos véniam precámur:

  parce redémptis. Amen.

Fleeing the teeming city dwellers, while still young you sought to live in desert caves, that you could avoid even the slightest stain of  a sin of speech. A camel provided you with rough clothing for your holy limbs, sheep your girdle. water your drink, honey and locusts mixed your food.  All the other prophets had foretold that there would a light in the future; but you pointed out with your finger him, who would take away the wickedness of the world. There was not anyone born in the whole world holier than John, who was worthy to baptize him who washes away sin.  May the citizens of heaven praise you, God simple and equally three; but we humbly pray pardon: spare the redeemed. Amen.

Ad Laudes matutinas: Paulus Diaconus

O nimis felix meritíque celsi,

nésciens labem nívei pudóris,

præpotens martyr eremíque cultor,

  máxime vatum.

Nunc potens nostri méritis opímis

péctoris duros lápides repélle,

ásperum planans iter, et refléxos

  dírige calles,

Ut pius mundi sator et redémptor,

méntibus pulsa mácula polítis,

rite dignétur véniens sacrátos

  pónere gressus.

Láudibus cives célebrant supérni

te, Deus simplex paritérque trine;

súpplices ac nos véniam precámur:

  parce redémptis. Amen.

O mighty martyr, cultivator of solitude, greatest of the prophets, exceedingly blessed and worthy of heaven, knowing no fall from your snow-white purity. Now powerful in your great merits, drive away the hard stones of our hearts, making its way smooth and its crooked paths straight.  That when the holy Creator and Redeemer of the world comes, in souls polished and stain removed, he might make his holy way rightly and worthily.   May the citizens of heaven praise you, God simple and equally three; but we humbly pray pardon: spare the redeemed. Amen