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.