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.
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