Holy Family

Vespers I & II: Pope Leo XIII

O lux beáta cælitum

et summa spes mortálium,

Iesu, cui doméstica

arrísit orto cáritas;

María, dives grátia,

o sola quæ casto potes

fovére Iesum péctore,

cum lacte donans óscula;

Tuque ex vetústis pátribus

delécte custos Vírginis,

dulci patris quem nómine

divína Proles ínvocat:

De stirpe Iesse nóbili

nati in salútem géntium,

audíte nos, qui súpplices

ex corde vota fúndimus.

Qua vestra sedes flóruit

virtútis omnis grátia,

hanc detur in domésticis

reférre posse móribus.

Iesu, tuis obœdiens

qui factus es paréntibus,

cum Patre summo ac Spíritu

semper tibi sit glória. Amen.

O blessed Light of heaven’s saints and highest hope of mortal men, Jesus, upon whose birth domestic love smiled.  Mary, rich in grace, who alone feed Jesus from a pure heart, giving him kisses with the milk. And you, O Joseph, one of the old patriarchs, chosen Guardian of the Virgin,  whom your Offspring addressed with the divine and sweet name of ‘father’. From the noble line of Jesse, born to save the nations, hear us humbly pouring out our prayers to you.  Your home flourished with the grace of every virtue; may this be given to our domestic life. To Jesus, made obedient to your parents, with the most high Father and the Spirit, to you be glory for evermore. Amen.

Office of Readings: Pope Leo XIII

Dulce fit nobis memoráre parvum

Názaræ tectum tenuémque cultum;

éxpedit Iesu tácitam reférre

  cármine vitam.

Arte qua Ioseph húmili excoléndus,

ábdito Iesus iuvenéscit ævo,

seque fabrílis sócium labóris

  ádicit ultro.

Assidet nato pia mater almo,

ássidet sponso bona nupta, felix

si potest curas releváre lassis

  múnere amíco.

O neque expértes óperæ et labóris,

nec mali ignári, míseros iuváte;

quotquot implórant cólumen, benígno

  cérnite vultu.

Sit tibi, Iesu, decus atque virtus,

sancta qui vitæ documénta præbes,

quique cum summo Genitóre et almo

  Flámine regnas. Amen.

It is sweet for us to remember the little house at Nazareth and its simple life and to sing of the hidden life that Jesus spent there. In the hidden time Jesus grew and learned the humble skill of Joseph and as a carpenter also made himself a companion of those who work. The holy Mother sits next to  her loving Son like a good wife with her spouse, happy to relieve the worries of the weary  with the gift of love. O you who surely knew of  work and trouble and were not ignorant of evil, come to the aid of the wretched; look upon those who beg your support with a kindly countenance. To you, O Jesus, honor and strength, you who give us life in the Holy Scriptures, you who rule with almighty Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lauds: novus

Christe, splendor Patris,

Dei mater Virgo,

Ioseph, tam sacrórum

pígnorum servátor,

Nitet vestra domus

flóribus virtútum,

unde gratiárum

fons prománat ipse.

Angeli stupéntes

Natum Dei cernunt

servi forma indútum

servis famulántem.

Imus præes, Ioseph,

humilísque iubes;

iubes et María

et utríque servis.

Cunctis præstant aulis

hæc egéna sæpta,

salus unde cœpit

géneris humáni.

Iesu, Mater, Ioseph,

mansiónis vestræ

nostras date sedes

donis frui sanctis.

Tibi laudes, Christe,

spem qui nobis præbes,

tuos per paréntes

cæli adíre domum. Amen.

O Christ, the splendor of the Father, O Virgin Mother of God, O Joseph,  protector of the holy family bond.  Your home shines forth with the flowers of the virtues, from which is derived the Fount of graces Himself. Seeing the birth of God angels are amazed, he clothed in the form of a servant, and subject to his family. The lowly and humble head of the family Joseph commands, Mary also orders, and you, Jesus, obey both. This lowly impoverished home surpasses all royal halls, because from here began the salvation of the human race. Jesus, Mother, and Joseph, grant to our homes the holy gifts of your home.  Praise, O Christ, to you, who gives hope to us, through your two parents, to reach the home of heaven. Amen.

IN NATIVITATE DOMINI

 

Vespers I & II: 6^th Century

Christe, redémptor ómnium,

ex Patre, Patris Unice,

solus ante princípium

natus ineffabíliter,

Tu lumen, tu splendor Patris,

tu spes perénnis ómnium,

inténde quas fundunt preces

tui per orbem sérvuli.

Salútis auctor, récole

quod nostri quondam córporis,

ex illibáta Vírgine

nascéndo, formam súmpseris.

Hic præsens testátur dies,

currens per anni círculum,

quod solus a sede Patris

mundi salus advéneris;

Hunc cælum, terra, hunc mare,

hunc omne quod in eis est,

auctórem advéntus tui

laudat exsúltans cántico.

Nos quoque, qui sancto tuo

redémpti sumus sánguine,

ob diem natális tui

hymnum novum concínimus.

O Christ, Redeemer of all, the Father’s only Son, alone begotten ineffably before world began. You the light and splendor of the Father, You the eternal hope of all men, attend to the prayers which thy servants pour forth in all the world. Remember, O Author of our salvation, that once you took the form of our body and were born from the spotless Virgin. This present day gives witness in the passing cycle of the year that you alone came from the throne of the Father as the salvation of the world.  Him sky, earth, Him sea, Him all that is in them praise , exulting in song the coming of their creator. We too, who have been redeemed by your holy blood, on the day of your birth together sing a new hymn.

The Office of  Readings: novus

Candor ætérnæ Deitátis alme,

Christe, tu lumen, vénia atque vita

ádvenis, morbis hóminum medéla,

  porta salútis.

Intonat terræ chorus angelórum

cælicum carmen, nova sæcla dicens,

glóriam Patri, generíque nostro

  gáudia pacis.

Qui iaces parvus dóminans et orbi,

Virginis fructus sine labe sanctæ,

Christe, iam mundo potiáris omni,

  semper amándus.

Násceris cælos pátriam datúrus,

unus e nobis, caro nostra factus;

ínnova mentes, trahe caritátis

  péctora vinclis.

Cœtus exsúltans canit ecce noster,

ángelis læto sociátus ore,

et Patri tecum parilíque Amóri

  cántica laudis. Amen.

Loving Splendor of eternal Divinity, O Christ, you come as light, pardon and life, healing the sickness of men, the gate of salvation.  O earth the choir of angels thunder a heavenly song, proclaiming a new age, glory to the Father and the joy of peace to our race. You who lie but a baby rule the world, the fruit of the holy Virgin without sin, O Christ,  ever-loved, now you rule all the world.  You are born to giver us heaven as our fatherland, one of us, made our flesh, lead our hearts with chains of love. Behold our assembly rejoicing sings gladly with the angels a canticle of praise  to the Father with you, O Christ, and equally to the Spirit, the Bond of Love. Amen.

Lauds: Sedulius

A solis ortus cárdine

adúsque terræ límitem

Christum canámus príncipem,

natum María Vírgine.

Beátus auctor sæculi

servíle corpus índuit,

ut carne carnem líberans

non pérderet quod cóndidit.

Clausæ paréntis víscera

cæléstis intrat grátia;

venter puéllæ báiulat

secréta quæ non nóverat.

Domus pudíci péctoris

templum repénte fit Dei;

intácta nésciens virum

verbo concépit Fílium.

Eníxa est puérpera

quem Gábriel prædíxerat,

quem matris alvo géstiens

clausus Ioánnes sénserat.

Feno iacére pértulit,

præsépe non abhórruit,

parvóque lacte pastus est

per quem nec ales ésurit.

Gaudet chorus cæléstium

et ángeli canunt Deum,

palámque fit pastóribus

pastor, creátor ómnium.

From the point of the rising sun to the end of the earth we sing of the Christ the Prince born of the Virgin Mary. The blessed Maker of the world took our servile body that delivering flesh by flesh that what he had created would not be destroyed. Heavenly grace inters  and is enclosed within the womb of his Mother; the girl’s stomach bears mysteries which does not understand. The home of a pure heart suddenly becomes the temple of God; she untouched and knowing not man, conceived the Son by a word. She brought forth by human birth him, whom Gabriel had foretold, the one whom John enclosed in his mother’s womb leaping for joy acknowledged. The child endured the bed of hay, he did not abhor the manger and he, who lets not the birds hunger is feed with a little milk.  The choir of heavenly beings rejoice and angels sing to God and before the shepherds there is the Shepherd, the Creator of all.

 

Advent: December 17th-24th:

Lauds:

Magnis prophétæ vócibus

veníre Christum núntiant,

lætæ salútis prævia,

qua nos redémit, grátia.

Hinc mane nostrum prómicat

et corda læta exæstuant,

cum vox fidélis pérsonat

prænuntiátrix glóriæ.

Advéntus hic primus fuit,

puníre quo non sæculum

venit, sed ulcus térgere,

salvándo quod períerat.

At nos secúndus præmonet

adésse Christum iánuis,

sanctis corónas réddere

cælíque regna pándere.

Ætérna lux promíttitur

sidúsque salvans prómitur;

iam nos iubar præfúlgidum

ad ius vocat cæléstium.

Te, Christe, solum quærimus

vidére, sicut es Deus,

ut perpes hæc sit vísio

perénne laudis cánticum. Amen.

With mighty  voices the prophets proclaim that Christ is coming, the preceding grace of our glad salvation by which he redeemed us. Wherefore our morning sparkles and hearts grow warm with joy, when the faithful voice sounds, the forerunner of glory. That first Advent he came not to punish the world but to wipe away tears by saving what was perishing. But the second coming warns that Christ is at the door to reward the saints with crowns and open the kingdom of heaven. Eternal light is promised and a saving star foretold, now a brightly shining ray of heaven calls us to judgement.  You, O Christ, alone we seek to see as God that this never-ending  vision may be sung with eternal praises. Amen.

Office of Readings: St. Ambrose

Veni, redémptor géntium,

osténde partum Vírginis;

mirétur omne sæculum:

talis decet partus Deum.

Non ex viríli sémine,

sed mýstico spirámine

Verbum Dei factum est caro

fructúsque ventris flóruit.

Alvus tuméscit Vírginis,

claustrum pudóris pérmanet,

vexílla virtútum micant,

versátur in templo Deus.

Procédat e thálamo suo,

pudóris aula régia,

géminæ gigas substántiæ

alácris ut currat viam.

Æquális ætérno Patri,

carnis tropæo cíngere,

infírma nostri córporis

virtúte firmans pérpeti.

Præsépe iam fulget tuum

luménque nox spirat novum,

quod nulla nox intérpolet

fidéque iugi lúceat.

Come, O Redeemer of the nations, reveal your virgin birth; all the world marvels that such a birth befits God. Not from the seed of man but from mystical breath the Word of God was made flesh and the fruit of the womb flourished. The Virgin’s womb grows large, the enclosure remains pure, the banners of the virtues shine, God enters his temple. He goes forth from the wedding chamber, the royal halls of modesty, a hero of twofold substance, he swiftly runs his course. Equal to the eternal Father, girded with the trophy of the flesh,  strengthening the weakness of our bodies with infinite power. Even now your manger shines and night breathes a new light, which no night may interrupt,

and shines with the highest faith.

Vespers: 10^th Century

Verbum salútis ómnium,

Patris ab ore pródiens,

Virgo beáta, súscipe

casto, María, víscere.

Te nunc illústrat cælitus

umbra fecúndi Spíritus,

gestes ut Christum Dóminum,

æquálem Patri Fílium.

Hæc est sacráti iánua

templi seráta iúgiter,

soli suprémo Príncipi

pandens beáta límina.

Olim promíssus vátibus,

natus ante lucíferum,

quem Gábriel annúntiat,

terris descéndit Dóminus.

Læténtur simul ángeli,

omnes exsúltent pópuli:

excélsus venit húmilis

salváre quod períerat.

The Word of the salvation of all, proceeding from the mouth of the Father, receive, O blessed Virgin Mary, in your chaste womb. Now the heavenly, fertile Spirit has overshadowed you with light that you might give birth to Christ the Lord, to the Son equal to  the Father.  This gate of the holy temple, long closed, now its blessed threshold is opened by the only supreme Ruler. Once promised through the prophets, born before the morning star, Gabriel announced, the Lord who descends to earth.  Let angels rejoice together, all the people exult; the Most High comes in humility to save that which has been lost.