St. Catherine of Sienna: Dominican Breviary Hymns I

 

Fr. Aquinas Byrnes: “The three hymns of St. Catherine's Office give some basis to Dom Gueranger's severe, but too general, criticism that Dominican Offices are marked by "an accent of triumph and pomp of language" (Orate Fratres, February 23, 1930). We could wish, for the sake of this great saint, that the poet, whether Pius II or Schifaldo, had been less humanistic and more Christian in singing her praises”. Pope Pius II, if he is the author, at least has the excuse of being from Sienna and naturally was carried away somewhat with a local saint.The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music argues that the Dominican philologist,  Thomasso Schifaldo of Marsala, wrote the office requested by the Dominican Superior to do so. The hymns nowhere mentions the Dominican Order but they also do not refer much to Sienna. Schifaldo also claims the office as his own work, although most of the manuscripts attribute it to Pope Pius II.  Perhaps the sophistication of the meter does point to Schifaldo's expertise. 

Vespers:

Haec tuae Virgo monumenta laudis,

Quae tuis laeti Catharina sacris

Hoc quidem pacto modulamur omnes,

Perfer Olympo.

Si satis digne nequeant referri,

Annuas nobis veniam, precamur:

Non sumus tanti ingenii, fatemur,

Optima Virgo.

Quis fuit dignas modulatus unquam

Virginis laudes? Quis in orbe toto

Feminae invictae peritura nunquam

Carmina pandet?

Praedita exemplis Catharina claris,

Moribus praestans, sapiens abunde,

Temperans, fortis, pia, justa, prudens,

Aethera scandis.

Quem latet virtus facinusque clarum,

Quo nequit dici sanctius per orbem?

Vulnerum formam miserara Christi

Exprimis ipsa.

Nam brevis, maesta: miseraeque vita:

Et malis cunctis penitus refertae

Fortiter spernens pretiosa quaeque

Sidera adisti.

Gratias summas habeamus omnes

Filio magni Genitoris almo:

Spiritum sanctum veneremur, et sit

Laus tamen una. Amen.

O Virgin Catherine, these are the memorials of your praises, which we all gladly sing on your holy day, with this provision, that you carry them to heaven. If they are not sufficiently worthy to be so offered, we pray that you favor us with pardon: we confess that we are not of such genius, O noble Virgin. Who is ever worthy to sing the praises of a virgin? Who in all the world can sing in merely perishable hymns of an invincible woman? O Catherine, revealing bright examples, outstanding habits, abundant wisdom, temperance, bravery, holy, just, prudent, you climbed up to heaven. To whom is hidden your virtue and glorious deeds, by which no one can be called more holy throughout the world? You in mercy revealed the pattern of the wounds of Christ. That which was temporary, sad and wretched in life, completely filled with all evils, you bravely spurned and drew near to the stars.  Let us all give highest thanks to the Son of the mighty Father, let us worship the Holy Spirit, with equal praise. Amen.