Tuesday, August 6, 2019

S. DOMINICI, PRESBYTERl



Ad Laudes matutinas et Vesperas: Constantinus Medici

Constantine Medici, ascendant of the famous house, Dominican, Bishop of Orvieto, biographer of St. Dominic and complier of his Office. XIIIth Century.

Novus athléta Dómini
collaudétur Domínicus,
qui rem confórmat nómini,
vir factus evangélicus.

Consérvans sine mácula
virginitátis lílium,
ardébat quasi fácula
pro zelo pereúntium.

Mundum calcans sub pédibus
accínxit cor ad prœlia,
nudus occúrrens hóstibus,
Christi suffúltus grátia.

Pugnat verbo, miráculis,
missis per orbem frátribus,
crebros adiúngens sédulis
fletus oratiónibus.

Sit trino Deo et símplici
laus, honor, decus, glória,
qui nos prece Domínici
ducat ad cæli gáudia. Amen.


Commentary: Aquinas Byrnes OP, The Hymns of the Dominican Missal and Breviary

Use: Matins. 1.  "Let Dominic, the new champion of the Lord, be extolled; for he conforms his life to his name,' being made an evangelical man." Athleta. The saints are the recognized champions of God, since they dedicated themselves to battling for God and His teachings. "Labor as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim. 2:3). Rem nomini. Play on the similarity of the words Dominus (the Lord) and Dominicus (of the Lord). The sense would be that, being named after the Lord, Dominicus conformed his life (rem) or character to that of our Lord; chiefly in doing the Lord's work of spreading the gospel tidings (evangelicus). "Whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of His Son' (Rom. 1:9). The same sort of play on words, a favorite with the medieval poets, is made in the case of St. Pius. Another well-known play on St. Dominic's name is the basis of the phrase "watchdog Of the Lord" (Domini and canis).

2. "Preserving without stain the lily of his virginity, he burned like a torch with zeal for the perishing." Lilium. Because of its whiteness, the lily is symbolic of purity, "As the lily among the thorns,. so is my love among the daughters" (Cant, 2:2). Facula. "And Elias the prophet stood up, as a fire, and his word burnt like a torch" (Ecclus. 48: l). Pereuntium, the spiritually perishing. “I became all things to all men, that I might save all" (l Cor. 9:22).

3. "Treading the world under his feet, he strove for the stronger things; unprotected he meets his foes, being sustained by the grace of Christ." Pedibus, "He hath subjected all things under His feet" (Eph. 1:22). Fortia, the more endurable, higher things. NB this line is different than the LH: manum misit ad fortia.   "I press toward the mark, to the prize of the supernal vocation of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. g: 14). Nudus, i.e., unarmed, naked of material help. Hostibus, very probably the Albigensian heretics, by whom he had often been threatened and at whose hands he hoped for martyrdom. "For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for Thou art With me" (Ps. 22:4).

4. "He battles by his preaching, his miracles, and his brethren scattered throughout the world, joining frequent tears to his constant prayers." Verbo, etc. While the stanza is in praise of Dominic, it may aptly be applied to the Order after his time. Dominic's aim was the salvation of souls by means of learned preaching. Hardly had the Order been approved when he dispersed his small band to different countries, in imitation of Christ (Mark 16:15). ' 'Bu,t they going forth, preached everywhere: the Lord working withal, and confirming the word with signs (miraculis) that followed" (Mark 16:20). Fletus. We are told that Dominic always prayed and wept for the sinners of every town where he preached. "I have heard thy prayers, and I have seen thy tears" (4 Kings 20:5).


May Dominic, a new athlete of the Lord, be praised, who conformed his life to his name and was made a man of the Gospel. Persevering without stain, a lily of virginity, he was enkindled like a torch in his zeal to oppose heresy. Crushing worldliness under his feet, he girdled himself for battle, naked he encountered the enemy, supported by the grace of Christ. He fought with words and miracles, his brothers sent throughout the world, often joining tears to diligent prayers.  To the Triune and One God, praise, dignity, glory, may He lead us to the joys of heaven by the prayer of Dominic. Amen.

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