St. Scholastica: Monastic Breviary: 1962 (translations: DOM PROSPER GUÉRANGER)

St. Scholastica: Monastic Breviary: 1962 (translations: DOM PROSPER GUÉRANGER)

Matins/Office of Readings & Vespers

Te beata sponsa Christi,

Te columba virginum,

Siderum tollunt coloni

Laudibus, Scholastica:

Nostra te laetis salutant

Vocibus praecordia.

Sceptra mundi cum coronis

Docta quondam spernere,

Dogma fratris insecuta

Atque sanctae regulm,

Ex odore gratiarum,

Astra nosti quaerere.

O potens virtus amoris!

O decus victoriae!

Dum fluentis lacrymarum

Cogis imbres currere,

Ore Nursini parentis

Verba coeli suscipis.

Luce fulges expetita

 In polorum vertice.

Clara flammis charitatis

Cum nitore gratiae :

Juncta Sponso conquiescis

In decore gloriae.

 Nunc benigna pelle nubes

Cordibus fidelium,

Ut serena fronte splendens

Sol perennis luminis,

Sempiternae claritatis

Impleat nos gaudiis.

Gloriam Patri canamus

Unicoque Filio;

Par tributum proferamus

Inclyto Paraclito,

Nutibus cujus creantur,

Et reguntur saecula. Amen.

O Scholastica, blessed bride of Christ! O dove of the cloister! the citizens of heaven proclaim thy merits, and we, too, sing thy praises with joyful, hymns and loving hearts.

Thou didst scorn the honors and glory of the world; thou didst follow the teaching of thy brother and his holy rule; and, rich in the fragrance of every grace, thou carest for heaven alone.

Oh! what power was in thy love, and how glorious thy victory, when thy’ tears drew rain from the skies, and forced the patriarch of Nursia to tell thee what he knew of the land above!

And now thou shinest in heaven’s longed – for light; thou art as a seraph in thy burning love, beautiful in thy bright grace; and united with thy divine. Spouse, thou art reposing in the splendour of glory.

Have pity on us the faithful of Christ, and drive from us the miseries which cloud our hearts; that thus the Sun of light eternal may sweetly shine upon us, and fill us with the joys of his everlasting beams.

Let us sing a hymn of glory to the Father, and to his only Son; let us give an equal homage of our praise to the blessed Paraclete: yea, to God, the Creator and Ruler of all, be glory without end. Amen.

Lauds

Jam noctis umbrae concidunt,

Dies cupita nascitur,

Qua virgini Scholasticae

Sponsus perennis jungitur.

Brumae recedit taedium,

Fugantur imbres nubibus,

Vernantque campi siderum

Aeternitatis floribus.

Amoris auctor evocat,

Dilecta pennas induit;

Ardens ad oris oscula

Columba velox evolat.

Quam pulchra gressum promoves,

O chara proles Principis!

Nursinus Abbas aspicit,

Grates rependit Numini.

Amplexa Sponsi dextera,

Metit coronas debitas,

Immersa rivis gloriae,

Deique pota gaudiis.

Te, Christe, flos convallium,

Patremque cum Paraclito,

Cunctos per orbis cardines

Adoret omne saeculum. Amen.

The shades of night are passing away: the longed-for day is come, when the virgin Scholastica is united to her God, her Spouse.

Winter’s tedious gloom is over; the rainy clouds are gone; and the Spring of the starry land yields its eternal flowers.

The God of love bids his beloved come; and she, taking the wings of a dove, flies swiftly to the embrace so ardently desired.

How beautiful is thy soaring, dear daughter of the King! Thy brother, the abbot, sees thee, and fervently thanks his God.

Scholastica receives the embrace of her Spouse, and the crown her works have won ; inebriated with the torrent of glory, she drinks of the joys of her Lord.

May the world-wide creation of every age adore thee, O Jesus, sweet Flower of the vale, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost. Amen.