Monastic Hymns: St. Mary Magdalene

St. Mary Magdalene: Vespers: St. Robert Bellarmine, S.J. (1542-1621).

Pater superni luminis,

Cum Magdalenam respicis,

Flammas amoris excitas,

Geluque solvis pectoris.

Amore currit saucia

Pedes beatos ungere,

Lavare fletu, tergere

Comis, et ore lambere.

Astare non timet Cruci,

Sepulcro inhæret anxia:

Truces nec horret milites,

Pellit timorem caritas.

O vera, Christe, caritas,

Tu nostra purga crimina,

Tu corda reple gratia,

Tu redde cæli præmia.

Patri, simulque Filio,

Tibique Sancte Spiritus,

Sicut fuit, sit iugiter

Sæclum per omne gloria. Amen.

Monastic Diurnal

O FATHER of celestial rays,

When thou on Magdalene dost gaze,

The flame of burning love appears,

Her icy heart dissolves

in tears.

Wounded by love, she hastens o'er

The feet of Christ her tears to pour,

Anoints them, wipes them with her hair,

And prints adoring kisses there.

Fearless, the Cross she will not leave:

And grieving, to the Tomb doth cleave: 

No ruthless soldiers cause her dread:

For from her love all fear hath fled.

O Christ, true Charity thou art;

Purge thou the foulness of our heart,

Fill every soul with grace and love,

And give us thy rewards above.

All laud to God the Father be;

All praise, eternal Son, to thee;

All glory, as is ever meet,

To God the Holy Paraclete. Amen.

Matins: att. St. Gregory the Great

Nardo Maria pistico

Unxit beatos Domini

Pedes, rigando lacrimis,

Et detergendo crinibus.

Honor, decus, imperium,

Sit Trinitati unicæ,

Patri, Nato, Paraclito,

Per infinita sæcula. Amen.

His sacred feet with tears of agony

She bathes; and prostrate on the earth adores;

Steeps them in kisses chaste, and wipes them dry

With her own hair; then forth her precious ointment pours.

Praise in the highest to the Father be;

Praise to the mighty coeternal Son;

And praise, O Spirit Paraclete, to Thee,

While ages upon everlasting ages run.

 Lauds: attr. St. Odo of Cluny, (878-942).

Æterni Patris Unice,

Nos pio vultu respice,

Qui Magdalenam hodie

Vocas ad thronum gloriæ.

In thesauro recondita

Regis est drachma perdita,

Gemmaque lucet inclita

Ex luto luci reddita.

Iesu dulce refugium,

Spes una pœnitentium,

Per peccatricis meritum

Peccati solve debitum.

*Nos vitiorum stimuli

Iugi vexant instantia,

Et blandimentis sæculi

Corrumpunt lenocinia.

*Libet, nec licet libere

Tibi pro voto psallere,

Dum mens ægra sub miseræ

Carnis gemiscit onere.

Pia mater et humilis,

Naturæ memor fragilis,

Nos rege tuis precibus

In huius vitæ fluctibus.

Uni Deo sit gloria

Pro multiformi gratia,

Qui culpas et supplicia

Remittit, et dat præmia. Amen.

*Verses omitted in monastic texts and translations.

THOU only Son of God on high,

Regard us with a gracious eye,

Who weeping Magdalene dost own

And call unto thy glorious throne.

Lo! In the royal coffers laid

Again, the long lost coin displayed;

The noble gem of sparkling sheen,

From mire recovered, glows serene.

Jesu, our refuge sure and sweet,

Thee, hope of penitents, we greet;

Forgive the hearts that fain would break,

For that repentant sinner's sake.

And may that Mother kind and meek

Think on our nature frail and weak,

And raise her prayer that we may gain

A passage safe o'er life's rough main.

To God alone be honor paid

For grace so manifold displayed:

Their guilt he pardons who repent,

And gives reward for punishment. Amen