Annunciation

Ad I Vesperas: saec VII-VIII

Agnóscat omne sæculum

venísse vitæ præmium;

post hostis ásperi iugum

appáruit redémptio.

Isaías quæ præcinit

compléta sunt in Vírgine;

annuntiávit Angelus,

Sanctus replévit Spíritus.

María ventre cóncipit

verbi fidélis sémine;

quem totus orbis non capit,

portant puéllæ víscera.

Adam vetus quod pólluit,

Adam novus hoc ábluit;

tumens quod ille déicit,

humíllimus hic érigit.

Christo sit omnis glória,

Dei Paréntis Fílio,

quem Virgo felix cóncipit

Sancti sub umbra Spíritus. Amen.

May every age know the reward of life has come; after the yoke of the harsh enemy redemption appeared. What Isaiah proclaimed has been accomplished in the Virgin; the Angel announced, the Holy Spirit filled. Mary conceived in her womb by the seed of the faithful word; what the whole world could not hold a young’ girl's womb carried. What the old Adam corrupted the new Adam washed clean; what the prideful one cast down the humble one raised up. All glory be to Christ, the Son of God the Father, whom the blessed Virgin conceived by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Ad Officium lectionis: Prudentius

Iam cæca vis mortálium

vénerans inánes nænias,

vel æra vel saxa álgida

vel ligna credébat Deum.

Hæc dum sequúntur pérfidi,

prædónis in ius vénerant

et mancipátam fúmido

vitam baráthro immérserant.

Stragem sed istam non tulit

Christus cadéntum géntium;

impúne ne forsan sui

Patris períret fábrica,

Mortále corpus índuit

ut, excitáto córpore,

mortis caténam frángeret

hominémque portáret Patri.

Hic ille natális dies,

quo te Creátor árduus

spirávit et limo índidit,

Sermóne carnem glútinans.

O quanta rerum gáudia

alvus pudíca cóntinet,

ex qua novéllum sæculum

procédit et lux áurea!

Iesu, tibi sit glória,

qui natus es de Vírgine,

cum Patre et almo Spíritu,

in sempitérna sæcula. Amen.

When mortal men were  blind, they worshiped empty myths, they trusted  as God bronze or cold stone or wood.  While the faithless  followed these things, they came under the  rule of the devil and lived the life of a slave plunged down into a dark abyss. But Christ  could not bear this slaughter of fallen peoples; he would not let the work of his Father perish with impunity. He put on a mortal body that, when the body had been raised, he might break the chains of death and carry man to the Father. This is the birthday, when the Creator breathed on you and from the mud caused the flesh to be joined to the Word. O what joys for all things the pure womb contains, from which comes forth a new world and golden light.  To you, O Jesus, be glory, born of the Virgin, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for eternal ages. Amen.

Ad Laudes matutinas: novus

O lux, salútis núntia,

qua Vírgini fert Angelus

complénda mox orácula

et cara terris gáudia.

Qui Patris ætérno sinu

ætérna Proles náscitur,

obnóxius fit témpori

matrémque in orbe séligit.

Nobis piándis víctima

nostros se in artus cólligit,

ut innocénti sánguine

scelus nocéntum díluat.

Concépta carne Véritas,

umbráta velo Vírginis,

puris vidénda méntibus,

imple tuo nos lúmine.

Et quæ modésto péctore

te dicis ancíllam Dei,

regína nunc cæléstium,

patróna sis fidélium.

Iesu, tibi sit glória,

qui natus es de Vírgine,

cum Patre et almo Spíritu,

in sempitérna sæcula. Amen.

O Light, O tidings of salvation,  which the Angel bore to the Virgin, the prophecies soon to be fulfilled and dear joys upon the earth.  The eternal Son who rests forever in the Father’s bosom is born, becomes subject to time and chooses a mother in this world. Victim for our atonement, he joins  himself to our bodies that by innocent blood he might wash away the wickedness of our sins.  O truth conceived in the flesh and shaded by the Virgin’s veil, but seen by pure minds, fill us with your light. And you who humbly call yourself the handmaid of God, now the Queen of the saints in heaven, be the patron of the faithful.  To you, O Jesus, be glory, born of the Virgin, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for eternal ages. Amen.

Ad II Vesperas:

Ave, maris stella,

Dei mater alma,

atque semper virgo,

felix cæli porta.

Sumens illud «Ave»

Gabriélis ore,

funda nos in pace,

mutans Evæ nomen.

Solve vincla reis,

profer lumen cæcis,

mala nostra pelle,

bona cuncta posce.

Monstra te esse matrem,

sumat per te precem

qui pro nobis natus

tulit esse tuus.

Virgo singuláris,

inter omnes mitis,

nos culpis solútos

mites fac et castos.

Vitam præsta puram,

iter para tutum,

ut vidéntes Iesum

semper collætémur.

Sit laus Deo Patri,

summo Christo decus,

Spirítui Sancto

honor, tribus unus. Amen.

Hail, Star of the Sea, loving Mother of God and ever a virgin, fair gate of heaven. You who received the “Ave’ from the mouth of Gabriel, establish us in peace, reversing the name of “Eva”. Break the chains of sin, give light to the blind, drive away our evil, ask for us all that is good. Show yourself a mother, may he who was born for us and humbled himself to be your Son, receive our prayer through you.  Virgin alone, meek beyond all others, cause our sins to be absolved, make us meek and chaste. Make our life unsullied, our journey safe, that we may see Jesus and with you praise him forever. Amen.