TEMPUS QUADRAGESIMÆ

Ad Vesperas: in Officio dominicali: Gregorius Magnus?

Audi, benígne Cónditor,

nostras preces cum flétibus,

sacráta in abstinéntia

fusas quadragenária.

Scrutátor alme córdium,

infírma tu scis vírium;

ad te revérsis éxhibe

remissiónis grátiam.

Multum quidem peccávimus,

sed parce confiténtibus,

tuíque laude nóminis

confer medélam lánguidis.

Sic corpus extra cónteri

dona per abstinéntiam,

ieiúnet ut mens sóbria

a labe prorsus críminum.

Præsta, beáta Trínitas,

concéde, simplex Unitas,

ut fructuósa sint tuis

hæc parcitátis múnera. Amen.

O Kind Creator, hear our prayers mixed with tears poured out in this holy forty-day fast.  O sustaining Searcher of hearts, you know the weakness of our strength; show to us who have turned back to you the remission of our sins. Indeed we have sinned much but spare those who confess their sins; to the praise of your name grant healing to the sick. Grant that our bodies may be outwardly broken through abstinence that a temperate mind may fast from falling headlong into sin. Grant, O Blessed Trinity, give, O simple Unity, to those who are yours the fruitful rewards of fasting. Amen.

In Officio feriali: saec. X

Iesu, quadragenáriæ

dicátor abstinéntiæ,

qui ob salútem méntium

præcéperas ieiúnium,

Adésto nunc Ecclésiæ,

adésto pæniténtiæ,

qua supplicámus cérnui

peccáta nostra dílui.

Tu retroácta crímina

tua remítte grátia

et a futúris ádhibe

custódiam mitíssime,

Ut, expiáti ánnuis

compunctiónis áctibus,

tendámus ad paschália

digne colénda gáudia.

Te rerum univérsitas,

clemens, adóret, Trínitas,

et nos novi per véniam

novum canámus cánticum. Amen.

O Jesus, who established these forty days of abstinence, who decreed this fast for the salvation of souls: Be present with thy Church, assist our penitence, by which,  we humbly pray, that  our sins may be washed away. By your grace forgive us our past sins and gently guard us against future sins.: that cleansed by these yearly acts of contrition we may be prepared to celebrate Easter with worthy joy.  All things worship you, O merciful Trinity, and made new by your pardon we sing a new song. Amen.

 Ad Officium lectionis: in Officio dominicali: Gregorius Magnus?

Ex more docti mýstico

servémus abstinéntiam,

deno diérum círculo

ducto quater notíssimo.

Lex et prophétæ prímitus

hanc prætulérunt, póstmodum

Christus sacrávit, ómnium

rex atque factor témporum.

Utámur ergo párcius

verbis, cibis et pótibus,

somno, iocis et árctius

perstémus in custódia.

Vitémus autem péssima

quæ súbruunt mentes vagas,

nullúmque demus cállido

hosti locum tyránnidis.

Præsta, beáta Trínitas,

concéde, simplex Unitas,

ut fructuósa sint tuis

hæc parcitátis múnera. Amen.

Instructed by the spiritual life we persevere in abstinence in the familiar cycle of four times ten days. The Law and the Prophets first taught this; afterwards Christ himself sanctified it, he who is the ruler and creator of all things. Therefore let us use sparingly words, food and drink, sleep and jokes and be more careful in keeping guard. Let us shun wicked things, which sabotage our wandering minds and not give place to our crafty enemy in his tyranny. Grant, O Blessed Trinity, give, O simple Unity, to those who are yours the fruitful rewards of fasting. Amen.

In Officio feriali: saec. X

Nunc tempus acceptábile

fulget datum divínitus,

ut sanet orbem lánguidum

medéla parsimóniæ.

Christi decóro lúmine

dies salútis émicat,

dum corda culpis sáucia

refórmat abstinéntia.

Hanc mente nos et córpore,

Deus, tenére pérfice,

ut appetámus próspero

perénne pascha tránsitu.

Te rerum univérsitas,

clemens, adóret, Trínitas,

et nos novi per véniam

novum canámus cánticum. Amen.

Now the acceptable time, given by God,  flashes forth to heal the infirm world with the remedy  of frugality. The day of salvation glimmers with the beautiful light of Christ, while abstinence restores hearts wounded by guilt. O God, keep us perfect in soul and body, that we may ever hunger for the coming of the happy paschal feast. All things worship you, O merciful Trinity, and made new by your pardon we sing a new song. Amen.

Ad Laudes matutinas: in Officio dominicali: Gregorius Magnus?

Precémur omnes cérnui,

clamémus atque sínguli,

plorémus ante iúdicem,

flectámus iram víndicem:

Nostris malis offéndimus

tuam, Deus, cleméntiam;

effúnde nobis désuper,

remíssor, indulgéntiam.

Meménto quod sumus tui,

licet cadúci, plásmatis;

ne des honórem nóminis

tui, precámur, álteri.

Laxa malum quod fécimus,

auge bonum quod póscimus,

placére quo tandem tibi

possímus hic et pérpetim.

Præsta, beáta Trínitas,

concéde, simplex Unitas,

ut fructuósa sint tuis

hæc parcitátis múnera. Amen.

Let us all pray on bended knee and each of us cry out, imploring and weeping before the angry and avenging judge. With our evil ways we have offended your mercy, O God; O Redeemer pour out on us your pardon from above.  Remember that we belong to you, although we are weak, you made us; we pray do not give the honor of your name to another.  Forgive the evil we have done, increase the good we seek and by which we are able to please you here and always.  Grant, O Blessed Trinity, give, O simple Unity, to those who are yours the fruitful rewards of fasting. Amen.

In Officio feriali: saec. VI

Iam, Christe, sol iustítiæ,

mentis dehíscant ténebræ,

virtútum ut lux rédeat,

terris diem cum réparas.

Dans tempus acceptábile

et pænitens cor tríbue,

convértat ut benígnitas

quos longa suffert píetas;

Quiddámque pæniténtiæ

da ferre, quo fit démptio,

maióre tuo múnere,

culpárum quamvis grándium.

Dies venit, dies tua,

per quam reflórent ómnia;

lætémur in hac ut tuæ

per hanc redúcti grátiæ.

Te rerum univérsitas,

clemens, adóret, Trínitas,

et nos novi per véniam

novum canámus cánticum. Amen.

Now, O Christ, Sun of righteousness,  let the darkness of the mind be rent,  that the light of the virtues may return, when you restore day to the world. You grant the acceptable time; give us  a penitent heart, that your kindness may convert those whom your love has long endured. Grant us to bear some penitential severity that our sin, however great, be removed by your greater gift. The day comes, your day, through which all things flourish; we rejoice in that day through which we are returned to your grace.  All things worship you, O merciful Trinity, and made new by your pardon we sing a new song. Amen.

Ad Tertiam: saec. VIII

Dei fide, qua vívimus,

qua spe perénni crédimus,

per caritátis grátiam

Christi canámus glóriam,

Qui ductus hora tértia

ad passiónis hóstiam,

crucis ferens suspéndia

ovem redúxit pérditam.

Precémur ergo súbditi,

redemptióne líberi,

ut éruat a sæculo

quos solvit a chirógrapho.

Christum rogámus et Patrem,

Christi Patrísque Spíritum;

unum potens per ómnia,

fove precántes, Trínitas. Amen.

Faith in God, by which we live, in eternal hope by which we believe, through the grace of love we sing the glory of Christ.  Who was lead at the third hour to the sacrifice of the passion,  bearing the gibbet of the cross he returned the lost sheep.  We humbly pray therefore that delivered by his redemption he would rescue from the world those he freed from the charge. We ask Christ and the Father and the Spirit of Christ and the Father, one power through all things, O Trinity, cherish those who pray to you. Amen.

Ad Sextam: saec. VIII

Qua Christus hora sítiit

crucem vel in qua súbiit,

quos præstat in hac psállere

ditet siti iustítiæ.

Simul sit his esúries,

quam ipse de se sátiet,

crimen sit ut fastídium

virtúsque desidérium.

Charísma Sancti Spíritus

sic ínfluat psalléntibus,

ut carnis æstus frígeat

et mentis algor férveat.

Christum rogámus et Patrem,

Christi Patrísque Spíritum;

unum potens per ómnia,

fove precántes, Trínitas. Amen.

The hour when Christ thirsted or submitted himself to the cross, when he grants those who sing this hour to be enriched with a thirst for righteousness.  At the same time may they hunger that Christ might fill them with himself that wearied by sin they may desire virtue.  May the gifts of the Holy Spirit so pour down upon those who praise you that the heat of flesh may grow cold and cold souls might  become fervent.  We ask Christ and the Father and the Spirit of Christ and the Father, one power through all things, O Trinity, cherish those who pray to you. Amen.

Ad Nonam: saec. VIII

Ternis ter horis númerus

nobis sacrátus pánditur,

sanctóque Iesu nómine

munus precémur véniæ.

Latrónis, en, conféssio

Christi merétur grátiam;

laus nostra vel devótio

mercétur indulgéntiam.

Mors per crucem nunc ínterit

et post tenébras lux redit;

horror dehíscat críminum,

splendor nitéscat méntium.

Christum rogámus et Patrem,

Christi Patrísque Spíritum;

unum potens per ómnia,

fove precántes, Trínitas. Amen.

The holy number of the third of the hours is reached and by the holy name of Jesus we beg the gift of pardon. Behold the confession of the thief merited the grace of Christ; may our praise and devotion purchase forgiveness. Now death perishes through the cross and after darkness light returns;  the fear of sin is purged, the splendor of souls shines.  We ask Christ and the Father and the Spirit of Christ and the Father, one power through all things, O Trinity, cherish those who pray to you. Amen.