Mozarabic Hymns 2: Terce, Sext, None in Lent: Prudentius

 

Feria secunda: Ad tertiam in Quadragesima

In the Durham Hymnal this hymn is used at Compline. The collectar specifies it for the 3^rd and 4^th Saturdays and the 3^rd Sunday of Lent. The Anglo-Saxon version does not have the third stanza, nor the same doxology. It is taken from Prudentius, Cathemerinon  VII. 

 

O Nazarene, lux Bethlehem, Verbum Patris.

Quem partus alvi Virginalis protulit,

Adesto castis, Christe, parsimoniis,

Festumque nostrum rex serenus adspice,

Jejuniorum dum litamus victimam.

 Nil hoc profecto purius mysterio,

Quo fibra cordis expiatur vividi,

Intemperata quo domantur viscera,

Arvina putrem ne resudans crapulam

Obstrangulatae mentis ingenium premat.

 Hinc subjugatur luxus, et turpis gula,

Vini atque somni degener socordia,

Libido sordens, inverecundus lepos,

Variaeque pestes languidorum sensuum

Parcam subactae disciplinam sentiunt.

 Nam si licenter diffluens potu et cibo,

Jejuna rite membra non coerceant:

Sequitur, frequenti marcida oblectamine,

Scintilla mentis ut tepescat nobilis,

Animusque pigris stertat ut praecordiis.

   Amen. Honor, potestas, etc.

O man of Nazareth. Light of Bethlehem, the Word of the Father, whom the birth from a virginal womb brought forth, assist us, O Christ, in this season of chaste abstinence and as a  peaceful king watch over our observance, while we offer up the sacrifice of fasting. Nothing is more cleansing than carrying out this mystery, by which the very fiber of the living heart is cleansed, through which the intemperance within us is conquered, lest unbridled fat and sordid drunkenness be not restrained and the natural capacity of the  strangled  mind be strangled and oppressed.  In this way luxury and base gluttony are brought low, degenerate sloth of wine and sleep, filthy lust and foolish wit and the various plagues of sick feelings are subjected and made to feel the discipline of restraint. For if drink and food flow freely, the  body is not coerced with proper fasting, it follows that, exhausted by continual amusement, the noble spark of the mind grows tepid and the soul sleeps from the laziness of the  inmost heart. 

 Feria secunda: Ad sextam in Quadragesima

  

Referre prisci stemma nunc jejunii

Libet, fideli proditum volumine,

Ut diruendae Civitatis incolis

Fulmen benigni mansuefactum Patris

Pie repressis ignibus pepercerit.

 Gens insolenti praepotens jactantia

Pollebat olim, quam fluentem nequiter

Corrupta vulgo solverat lascivia:

Et inde bruto contumax fastidio,

Cultum superni negligebat Numinis.

 Offensa tandem jugis indulgentiae

Censura, justis excitatur motibus,

Dextram perarmat rhomphaeali incendio;

Nimbos crepantes et fragosos turbines

Vibrans, tonantum nube flammarum quatit.

 Sed poenitendi dum datur diecula,

Si forte vellent improbam libidinem,

Veteresque nugas, condomare ac frangere,

Suspendit ictum terror exorabilis,

Paulumque dicta substitit sententia.

   Honor, potestas, etc

I would now tell the ancient origin of the fast, passed down in that trustworthy book, how the good of the Father softening his thunderbolt, repressing his fire by love, did not attack the inhabitants of a city that deserved to be destroyed. Once a powerful people flourished with insolent pride, in which, opulent and dissolute, their corrupted lasciviousness had caused general dissipation, and so, obstinate in  foolish disdain, they disregarded the worship of the heavenly God. After a long indulgence, the divine justice so offended is indignant and armed his hand with a sword of fire. Dark clouds burst out with a crash; Livid and thunderous fires shake the vault of heaven on the head of the guilty. But, they are given time to repent; He is still free to censure  the course of their shameful debaucheries; They may, if they will, arrest the disorders in which they have grown old; The merciful vengeance deigns to suspend its blows; and for a brief space the sentence already issued was suspended.

Feria secunda:  Ad nonam in Quadragesima

  

Sed cur vetustae gentis exemplum loquor?

Pridem caducis cum gravatus artubus

Jesus, dicato corde jejunaverit;

Praenuncupatus ore qui prophetico.

Emmanuel est, sive nobiscum Deus?

Qui corpus istud molle naturaliter,

Captumque laxo sub voluptatum jugo,

Virtutis arcta lege fecit liberum,

Emancipator servientis plasmatis,

Regnantis ante victor et cupidinis.

Inhospitali namque secretus loco,

Quinis diebus octies labentibus,

Nullam ciborum vendicavit gratiam,

Firmans salubri, scilicet, jejunio

Vas appetendis imbecillum gaudiis.

   Honor, potestas. Etc.

But what does the example of an ancient people tell us? When Jesus himself, long since  weighted down with a perishable body, fasted with a dedicated heart; he who was long before named by the mouth of  prophecy ‘Emmanuel’, or, ‘God with us’. He, who had a weak body according to nature and yet loosened  from the captivity of the yoke of pleasure,  made free by the strong law of virtue, deliverer of created slaves, victor over the concupiscence which previously ruled them.For hidden in an inhospitable place, in the course of five times eight days, he did not demand the grace of any food, strengthening with a healthy fast the weak vessel for the joys sought.