S. Gregory the Great: Homily 17 on Luke

 

 

WE ought to consider, that since a teacher cannot at one time admonish all with one and the same word of exhortation, he should strive to instruct men one by one, in so far as he is able, and to edify them with conferences in private. For we ought constantly to ponder what is said to the holy Apostles and through the Apostles to us, Ye are the salt of the earth. If, therefore, we are salt, we ought to season the minds of the faithful.

YOU, therefore, who are pastors, reflect that you feed the flock of God. Concerning which flock it is said to God through the Psalmist, thy congregation shall dwell therein. And often we see that a piece of rock salt is set before brute beasts, that they may lick it and be healed. As the rock salt among brute beasts, so must the priest be among his people. For the priest must take care what he says to each one, and how he admonishes each; that whosoever has contact with the priest may be seasoned with the flavor of eternal life, as with the touch of salt.

WE are not the salt of the earth if we season not the hearts of our hearers. For he truly applies salt to his neighbor who does not withhold the word of preaching. And we do indeed preach what is right to others if we illustrate our words by our deeds and example. Beloved brethren, I believe that God suffers no greater damage from men than he does from priests: when he sees those whom he has set for the correction of others setting examples of wickedness: when we ourselves sin, who ought to correct sin. Seeking to gain no souls, every day we have leisure for our own pursuits: we lust after earthly things: with eager mind we snatch at worldly glory. And for the very reason that we have been set over others we have the greater license to do whatever we will: we turn the ministry of blessing that we have received to the ends of self-seeking. We desert the cause of God, and we are free to engage in worldly affairs. We accept the position of holiness, and we are involved in the business of the world.

S. GREGORII MAGNI, PAPÆ ET ECCLESIÆ DOCTORIS

 

 

St. Peter Damian wrote the two customary hymns for St. Gregory the Great. In the Monastic Breviary “Anglórum iam apóstolus” is used for Vespers and “Mella cor obdulcantia” for Lauds. The LH uses only “Anglórum iam apóstolus” for Laudes and Vespers with a hymn from the Common of Doctors, “Aeterne sol, qui lumine” for the Office of Readings.

 

Ad Laudes matutinas & ad vesperas: Petrus Damianus

 Anglórum iam apóstolus,

nunc angelórum sócius,

ut tunc, Gregóri, géntibus,

succúrre iam credéntibus.

 

Tu largas opum cópias

omnémque mundi glóriam

spernis, ut inops ínopem

Iesum sequáris príncipem.

 

Te celsus Christus póntifex

suæ præfert Ecclésiæ;

sic Petri gradum pércipis,

cuius et normam séqueris.

 

Scriptúræ sacræ mýstica

mire solvis ænígmata,

excélsaque mystéria

te docet ipsa Véritas.

 

O póntifex egrégie,

lux et decus Ecclésiæ,

non sinas in perículis

quos tot mandátis ínstruis.

 

Sit Patri laus ingénito,

sit decus Unigénito,

sit utriúsque párili

maiéstas summa Flámini. Amen.

Once the Apostle to the English, now the companion of the angels, as you did then, now come to help the nations of believers. You spurned abundant riches and all the glory of the world, that poor you might follow the Lord Jesus who was poor. You the heavenly Christ selected as Pontiff over his Church; so, you obeyed the way of Peter and followed his example. You wondrously unraveled the spiritual enigmas of holy Scripture and taught the great mysteries of the Truth. O great Pontiff, light and honor of the Church, do not leave in danger those whom you have instructed so well in the commandments.  Praise to the Unbegotten Father, honor to Only-begotten Son, and equal to both, majesty to the most high Spirit. Amen.

 

St. Peter Damian: Hymn for Lauds: St Gregory the Great: Lauds

 Mella cor obdulcantia

Tua distillant labia,

Fragrantum vim aromatum

Tuum vincit eloquium.

 

Scripturæ sacræ mystica

Mire solvis ænigmata,

Theorica mysteria

Te docet ipsa Veritas.

 

Tu nactus apostolicam

Vicem simul et gloriam,

Nos solve culpæ nexibus,

Redde polorum sedibus.

 

O Pontifex egregie,

Lux et decus Ecclesiæ,

Non sinas in periculis,

Quos tot mandatis instruis.

 

Sit Patri laus ingenito,

Sit decus Unigenito,

Sit utriusque parili

Majestas summa Flamini. Amen.

 

From Thy lips there flows honey that brings sweetness to the heart. Thy words are more fragrant than the richest perfume.  Admirably dost thou solve the obscure figures of Sacred Writ. The divine mysteries are taught thee by Him that is the very Truth. O thou that hast the office and the glory of the Apostles, pray for us, that we may be loosened from the bonds of sin, and obtain the thrones prepared for us above. O excellent Pontiff! Light and ornament of the Church! Thou hast so richly instructed us,—assist us in our dangers. To the unbegotten Father, and to his Only Begotten Son, and to the Spirit of them both, be praise and highest kingship. Amen.

Back to the Future

I thought that I might need more time to make up my mind, but really for me it is an easy choice: I am returning from the LH back to the Monastic Office. My first reason is that I really prefer the Vulgate Psalter. I do not think that the Neo-Vulgate Psalter is useless but I think that the Vulgate is better. The offices in the LH are simply too short. There are too many hymns in the LH and too many inferior hymns. The collects are a mess, difficult to understand, often theologically skimpy, in many cases ugly and do not reflect the best liturgical traditions of the Roman Church.

I can understand why people are drawn to the LH and if I was ordained and had the obligation of the Office, I could certainly use the LH. But I am under no obligation to use the most recent breviary. (We should remember that the more ancient offices are perfectly legal and approved.) 

Finally, with the traditional Mass and Office under attack, I would want to encourage the use of these rites and the understanding of them.

I will still post materials pertinent to the Novus Ordo and the LH..

 

 

Posts: few and far between!

 Nihil operi Dei praeponatur

IN PASSIONE S. IOANNIS BAPTISTÆ

 

 IN PASSIONE S. IOANNIS BAPTISTÆ

Ad Officium lectionis & Ad Vesperas: Beda Venerabilis

 

Præcéssor almus grátiæ

et veritátis ángelus,

lucérna Christi et pérpetis

evangelísta lúminis,

 

Prophetíæ præcónia,

quæ voce, vita et áctibus

cantáverat, hæc ástruit

mortis sacræ signáculo.

 

Nam nascitúrum sæculis,

nascéndo quem prævénerat,

sed et datórem próprii

monstráverat baptísmatis,

 

Huiúsce mortem innóxiam,

qua vita mundo est réddita,

signat sui præságio

baptísta martyr sánguinis.

 

Præsta, Pater piíssime,

sequi Ioánnis sémitas,

metámus ut pleníssime

ætérna Christi múnera. Amen.

 

Loving forerunner of grace and angel of truth, lamp of Christ and preacher of perpetual light, the proclamation of prophecy, which he sang in voice, life and deeds, he confirmed by the sign of a holy death. For he was to be born to the world John preceded in birth and also revealed as the giver of   his own baptism. The martyr Baptist  by his blood prefigures the innocent death  by which life is restored to the world. Grant us , O Father most holy, to follow the path of John, that we may reap fully the eternal gifts of Christ. Amen.

 

Ad Laudes matutinas: Paulus Diaconus

 

O nimis felix meritíque celsi,

nésciens labem nívei pudóris,

præpotens martyr eremíque cultor,

  máxime vatum.

 

Nunc potens nostri méritis opímis

péctoris duros lápides repélle,

ásperum planans iter, et refléxos

  dírige calles,

 

Ut pius mundi sator et redémptor,

méntibus pulsa mácula polítis,

rite dignétur véniens sacrátos

  pónere gressus.

 

Láudibus cives célebrant supérni

te, Deus simplex paritérque trine;

súpplices ac nos véniam precámur:

  parce redémptis. Amen.

 

O mighty martyr, cultivator of solitude, greatest of the prophets, exceedingly blessed and worthy of heaven, knowing no fall from your snow-white purity. Now powerful in your great merits, drive away the hard stones of our hearts, making its way smooth and its crooked paths straight.  That when the holy Creator and Redeemer of the world comes, in souls polished and with stains removed, he might make his holy way rightly and worthily.   May the citizens of heaven praise you, God simple and equally three; but we humbly pray pardon: spare the redeemed. Amen

S. AUGUSTINI, EPISCOPI ET ECCLESIÆ DOCTORIS

 

 

Ad Laudes matutinas & ad vesperas: Eckbertus schonaugiensis, saec. XII: Dom Anselmo Lentini alt.

 

Apparently a hymn originally for St. Gregory the Great but altered to fit St. Augustine. The last two line of the second stanza are new and particularly refer to St. Augustine. The doxology is also new.

 

Fulget in cælis célebris sacérdos,

stella doctórum rútilat corúsca,

lumen intáctum fídei per orbis

  clímata spargens.

 

Cive tam claro, Sion o supérna,

læta dic laudes Dómino salútis,

qui modis miris sibi vinxit ipsum

  lúmine complens.

 

Hic fidem sacram vigil usque firmat,

arma et errórum súbigit poténter,

sórdidos mores lavat et repéllit

  dógmate claro.

 

Qui, gregis Christi speculátor almus,

énites clero monachísque forma,

tu Dei nobis fáciem benígnam

  fac prece semper.

 

Laus, honor, virtus Triádi beátæ,

cuius in terris studuísti amánter

alta scrutári nitidáque in astris

  luce potíris. Amen.

A renowned bishop shines in heaven, the ruddy star of the doctors sparkles, scattering the unwavering light of faith throughout the whole world.  O heavenly Zion, gladly sing praises to the God of your salvation, for your illustrious citizen, who in a wondrous way, filled with light, has exercised self-control. This man guards and strengthens the holy faith and powerfully subdues the weapons of error, he repels and washes away the disreputable ways of living by dogmatic clarity. You, who were a careful watchman over the flock of Christ, a shining example for the clergy and the monks alike, ever pray for us before the goodly face of God.  Laud, honor and power to the blessed Trinity, whose depths you lovingly and enthusiastically searched out on earth and whose brilliant light you now possess among the stars.  Amen.

 

St. Monica: Common of Holy Women

 

 

Office of Readings: 15^th Century?

Hæc fémina laudábilis

et honoráta méritis,

ut sanctis pollet móribus,

triúmphat sic cum ángelis.

 

Ex corde devotíssimo

orans Deum cum lácrimis,

vigíliis, ieiúniis

hærébat hæc assíduis.

 

Contémnens mundi glóriam

ac mente semper íntegra,

perféctam post iustítiam

migrávit super sídera.

 

Quæ sanctitátis áctibus

sua ditávit límina,

lætátur nunc perpétuis

cæléstis ædis præmiis.

 

Laus uni ac trino Dómino,

qui nos eius precátibus,

perácto vitæ término,

coniúngat cæli cívibus. Amen.

 

This woman was so praiseworthy, so honored for her merits, so strong in her holy devotions that she triumphed with the angels. From a devoted heart she prayed to God with tears and continually adhered to vigils and fasting. Rejecting the glory of the world and with a mind ever pure, after she had perfected virtue, she passed beyond the stars. With holy deeds she enriched her home and now   she rejoices perpetually in the rewards of a heavenly home. Praise to the One and Triune Lord who  by her prayers, when this life is done, joins us to the citizens of heaven. Amen.

 

Vespers: Silvius Antoniano 1603

Fortem viríli péctore

laudémus omnes féminam,

quæ sanctitátis glória

ubíque fulget ínclita.

 

Hæc sancto amóre sáucia,

huius cadúca sæculi

dum calcat, ad cæléstia

iter perégit árduum.

 

Carnem domans ieiúniis,

dulcíque mentem pábulo

oratiónis nútriens,

cæli potítur gáudiis.

 

Rex Christe, virtus fórtium,

qui magna solus éfficis,

huius precátu, quæsumus,

audi benígnus súpplices.

 

Iesu, tibi sit glória,

qui nos beátæ sérvulæ

speráre das suffrágia

et sempitérna præmia. Amen.

 

High let us all our voices raise

In that heroic woman's praise

Whose name, with saintly glory bright,

Shines in the starry realms of light.

 

Filled with a pure celestial glow,

She spurned all love of things below;

And heedless here on earth to stay,

Climbed to the skies her toilsome way.

 

With fasts her body she subdued,

But filled her soul with prayer's sweet food:

In other worlds she tastes the bliss

For which she left the joys of this.

 

O Christ, the strength of all the strong;

To whom our holiest deeds belong!

Through her prevailing prayers on high,

In mercy hear thy people's cry!

 

Hymns of glory, songs of praise,

Father, unto Thee we raise;

Risen Lord, all praise to Thee,

Ever with the Spirit be

Amen.

Let us all praise this strong woman brave in heart, who bright with the glory of holiness shines in all places. She, wounded by holy love and weak in the eyes of the world, while she walked the earth, she made the hard road that leads to heaven. Ruling the flesh by fasting, the mind with sweet food, nourished by prayers, she drank the praises of heaven. O Christ the King, the strength of the brave, who alone works great things: by her prayers, we beseech you, kindly hear our supplications. O Jesus to you be glory, grant that by the suffrages of your blessed servant we may hope for eternal rewards. Amen.

 

 

Collects: St. Bartholomew

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui huius diéi venerándam sanctámque lætítiam in beáti Apóstoli tui Bartholomǽi festivitáte tribuísti: da Ecclésiæ tuæ, quǽsumus; et amáre quod crédidit, et prædicáre quod dócuit.

 

O Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us this day to be a day worshipful, and holy, and joyful, because of the Feast of thy blessed Apostle Bartholomew, grant, we beseech thee, unto thy Church both to love that which he believed, and to preach that which he taught.

 

Róbora in nobis, Dómine, fidem, qua Fílio tuo beátus Bartholomǽus, apóstolus, sincéro ánimo adhǽsit, et præsta, ut, ipso deprecánte, Ecclésia tua cunctis géntibus salútis fiat sacraméntum.

 

Strengthen in us, O Lord, the faith, by which blessed Bartholomew adhered sincerely to your Son, and grant that, by his intercession, your Church may be the mystery of salvation for all nations. 

Common of the Apostles

 

 

The Office of Readings: novus

 

O sempitérnæ cúriæ

regis supremi príncipes,

quos ipse Iesus édocens

donávit orbi Apóstolos,

 

Supérna vos Ierúsalem,

lucérna cuius Agnus est,

gemmas micántes póssidet,

præclára vos fundámina.

 

Vos et celébrat grátulans

nunc sponsa Christi Ecclésia,

quam sermo vester éxciit,

quam consecrástis sánguine.

 

Cadéntibus cum sæculis

iudex Redémptor séderit,

qua laude vos sedébitis,

senátus altæ glóriæ!

 

Nos ergo vestra iúgiter

prex adiuvándo róboret,

fudístis ut quæ sémina

in grana cæli flóreant.

 

Ætérna Christo glória,

qui fecit esse núntios

vos Patris, atque Spíritus

replévit almo númine. Amen.

 

O highest Princes of the supreme King of the eternal court, the Apostles whom Jesus taught and gave to the world.  The spiritual Jerusalem, whose lamp is the Lamb, possessed you, sparkling jewels, as her bright foundation.  Now the Church, the bride of Christ, which your word inspires and your blood consecrated, hails and celebrates you. When the world ends and the Judge, the Redeemer, sits enthroned, in whose praise you will also sit, O assembly of glory. Wherefore now may your prayer ever aid and strengthen us that the seeds which you have planted may flourish in the grain of heaven. Eternal glory to Christ, who made you messengers of the Father and the Spirit who filled you with divine love. Amen.

 

 

Vespers: 10^th Century? Or at Lauds and Vespers (LofH)

 

Exsúltet cælum láudibus,

resúltet terra gáudiis:

Apostolórum glóriam

sacra canunt sollémnia.

 

 Vos, sæcli iusti iúdices

et vera mundi lúmina,

votis precámur córdium,

audíte preces súpplicum.

 

Qui cælum verbo cláuditis

serásque eius sólvitis,

nos a peccátis ómnibus

sólvite iussu, quæsumus.

 

Quorum præcépto súbditur

salus et languor ómnium,

sanáte ægros móribus,

nos reddéntes virtútibus,

 

Ut, cum iudex advénerit

Christus in fine sæculi,

nos sempitérni gáudii

fáciat esse cómpotes.

 

Deo sint laudes glóriæ,

qui dat nos evangélicis

per vos doctrínis ínstrui

et prósequi cæléstia. Amen.

 

May heaven exult with praises, earth resound with joy: holy solemnities sing the glory of the Apostles. Who with a word close the doors to heaven and loosen its bars: we beseech you at your command absolve us from all our sins. By your decree ill health and the sickness are subdued: heal the sick and restore us to strength of life. That when Christ the Judge will come at the end of time, he will grant us to share in everlasting joys. Praises of glory be to God, who granted that through you we be instructed in the teaching of the Gospel and attain heaven. Amen.

S. BARTHOLOMÆI, APOSTOLI

 

 

 

Ad Laudes matutinas: novus

 Relúcens inter príncipes

imménsæ Dei cúriæ,

Bartholomæe, láudibus

nostrísque inténde précibus.

 

In te convértit Dóminus

dilectiónis óculos,

quem pura insígnem cónspicit

sinceritáte péctoris.

 

Prophétæ quem cecínerant,

quem longa clamant témpora,

Messías en mirífice

tibi lætánti próditur.

 

Teque sibi conglútinat

sequélæ talis fœdere,

qua petat crucis áspera,

cæli sedes retríbuat.

 

Christi, qui sæclis ímperat,

amícus et apóstolus,

Magístro vivis, hómines

Magístri vita réfoves.

 

Sit ipsi laus et glória,

qui, te iuvánte méritis,

ætérnis nos in pátria

frui concédat gáudiis. Amen.

 

Resplendent among the princes in the eternal court of God, O Bartholomew, attend to our praises and prayers. The Lord turned his eyes upon you, in whom he saw a notable purity and sincerity of heart. He, whom the prophets foretold, the one desired for so long, behold him, the Messiah marvelously revealed himself to you.  He bound you to himself by such a covenant that you followed him, even when he sought the harshness of the cross and gave thrones in heaven. Friend and Apostle to Christ, who rules the ages, by the Master you lived, by your life restore men to the Master. Praise and glory be to him, who by the help of your merits grants us to enjoy eternal joys in our fatherland. Amen.

Thomas Merton: The Invitatory

 

The Invitatorium—Psalm 94— {is} a psalm of processional entrance to the Temple {and} prostration before the Holy of Holies. Here the office really begins. This whole idea is probably an original invention of St. Benedict. The two invitators stand at the presbytery step, before the dark sanctuary—a most solemn reminder of the presence of the All-holy God.

 

The Invitatory sets the tone for the whole office; and that tone is invariably one of praise, but also secondarily of repentance and compunction, and preparation for a day of holiness. Praise is primary: Exultemus Domino; Jubilemus Deo salutari nostro (the rock of our salvation). We come to stand before Him "in confessione"  confessio laudis above all. Why do we praise Him? because of His greatness (Deus magnus Dominus ); because of His mercy (Non repellet Dominus plebem suam ); because of His power as our Creator (In manu ejus sunt omnesfines terrae. . . Ipsius est mare.. . ).

Penance {is also important}: in view of the greatness and holiness and goodness of God, we are also aware of our own nothingness and misery, our need to cast ourselves down, to adore, to implore Him (Ploremus coram Domino qui fecit nos) Yet our prayer is confident and full of love, for we recognize that we are His people and "the sheep of His pasture." Hence {we show} vigilance. The last two sections are in effect a call to spiritual alertness and attention to God and a recalling to mind of the faults of the Fathers in the desert who did not understand His wonders. Attention to His will {is required}—not to be one of those who "errant corde." (For the temptation in the desert, see Exodus 1 7:1-7 and Numbers 20:2-13.) All these things will be recounted in the psalms. In reciting the psalter we implore Him (tion. The seed is sown and springs up in our heart.

In reciting the psalter we will be spiritually passing through the Red Sea and the desert; we must be alert to the "great works" of God, and forge ahead in our journey to enter into His rest. Parsch says:

 “The invitatory is a cry to wake up. It is the herald, announcing tersely what the feast is about. {This focuses on} the kerygmatic character of the liturgy a statement of a glorious fact that calls for our acclamation today (hodie) God reveals Himself to us anew each day (cf. St. Benedict, Prologue ). We hail God our Savior as our Lord and our King. This acclamation of the Divine Word is a great work of salvation.

Dom Hilaire Duesberg says, "Chanting the invitatory psalm is not a job for lazy people and those with heart trouble should be persuaded not to undertake it, because in it one picks up the whole world to carry it away into the cycle of sacred praise."

Thomas Merton, Monastic Observances: Lauds

 

 

I am old enough to remember when Thomas Merton was the official monk of the New York Times Review of Books and have lived long enough to know that his personal behavior was somewhat less than what one would expect of a  monk. What do I know? May be he went to Confession. I read many, if not all of his books and learned more from them about Thomas Merton than about the life he was living as a Cistercian. One could also learn about how to get your own way in a monastery. However, I have always thought that his best writings were the teaching he was assigned in obedience to his superiors to train novices. This is the source of Monastic Observances.

 

The spirit of lauds is a spirit of contemplative praise. Lauds {is} the Church's ancient morning prayer, the most beautiful and solemn of all morning prayers. Note that the Church has two morning prayers and two evening prayers: lauds and prime, vespers and compline. Lauds and vespers are the ancient morning and evening prayer; prime and compline though still ancient by our standards, are a relatively new morning and evening prayer. Both are due in large part to matutinorum solemnitas the solemnity of matins. (In our office the night office is vigils, and lauds is "matins." This is as it should be. Matins means "morning office.") The name lauds {comes} from the term laudes applied to the last three psalms (148, 149 and 150), which are invariably sung and invariably give this office a dominant note of praise. Vigils are deeply reflective, filled with compunction and prayer; lauds {is} clear and joyous, {filled with} triumphant confidence in God (although there are also many psalms of "compunction" here also); {for} prime, {the} dominant note is of petition for grace in preparation for the day's work. Prime {is} an eminently practical morning prayer; lauds, on the other hand {is} a contemplative climax in the day's office.

"I like to compare Lauds and Vespers to the first three petitions of the Lord's Prayer. These look to the increase and expansion of God's kingdom. Prime and Compline are more like the last three petitions, since they are concerned with deliverance from sin" (Parsch). And Parsch goes on, quite beautifully: "I am tempted to say that Adam could well have prayed Lauds and Vespers in the Garden of Paradise; but only after his fall, in exile on this earth, could he pray Prime and Compline" (idem ).

What is the source of the character of lauds as a prayer of praise? It unites the waking of creation with the mystery of Christ's resurrection. Christ is the "sol justitiae" Who, rising from death, illumines the world with the justice and truth and mercy of God. The material sun which rises in the morning is to us the symbol of the Lord triumphant over the darkness of sin, ignorance and death. This is particularly clear in lauds of Sundays (and great feasts). Lauds is above all a festive hour. It is always a celebration of the resurrection. But on feasts it also strongly brings out the celebration of the feast itself. Lauds and vespers are {the} two hours which keynote most strongly the character of the feast {being} celebrated. (Vigils of course with its long lessons and many antiphons, responsories, etc. is in a class by itself in this respect.) Prime and compline with us have little (prime) or nothing (compline) to do with the theme of the feast celebrated. "In Lauds, the theme of the feast and the thought of the hour are intrinsically related" (Parsch ). Parsch concludes: "The themes of the feast and the hour coin after his fall, in exile on this earth, could he pray Prime and Compline" (idem ).

BEATÆ MARIÆ VIRGINIS REGINÆ

 

 Ad Officium lectionis: Victorius Genovesi

Vittorio Genovesi (1887-1967) was a Jesuit priest, who won three times the golden medal  poeticum Hoeufftianum – Latin poetry contest.

 

Rerum suprémo in vértice

regína, Virgo, sísteris,

exuberánter ómnium

ditáta pulchritúdine.

 

Princeps opus tu cétera

inter creáta prænites,

prædestináta Fílium,

qui prótulit te, gígnere.

 

Ut Christus alta ab árbore

rex purpurátus sánguine,

sic passiónis párticeps

tu mater es vivéntium.

 

Tantis decóra láudibus,

ad nos ovántes réspice,

tibíque sume grátulans

quod fúndimus præcónium.

 

Patri sit et Paráclito

tuóque Nato glória,

qui veste te mirábili

circumdedérunt grátiæ. Amen.

You are enthroned at the highest summit of all, O Virgin Queen, enriched with beauty more abundantly than all.  Preeminent in your work you outshine all other creatures, predestined to give birth to the Son, who brought you forth. As Christ high upon the tree was a King stained royal purple by his blood, so you are the Mother of all the living by sharing in his passion. Decked with such high praises, behold us who celebrate you, and gladly receive the lauds we pour out to you. To the Father and Paraclete and to you, the Son, glory, who wondrously adorned and surrounded you with grace. Amen.

 

Ad Laudes matutinas: saec. IX

In Breviarium Sacri Ordinis Cisterciensis this hymn was sung at Terce on all solemnities of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It is interesting that this hymn appears in the Liturgica horarm not because Mary is called a ‘queen’ but solely because of the reference to her Davidic descent.

 

O quam glorífica luce corúscas,

stirpis Davídicæ régia proles,

sublímis résidens, virgo María,

supra cælígenas ætheris omnes.

 

Tu, cum virgíneo mater honóre,

cælórum Dómino péctoris aulam

sacris viscéribus casta parásti;

natus hinc Deus est córpore Christus:

 

Quem cunctus vénerans orbis adórat,

cui nunc rite genu fléctitur omne,

a quo te pétimus subveniénte

abiéctis ténebris gáudia lucis.

 

Hoc largíre, Pater lúminis omnis,

Natum per próprium, Flámine Sancto,

qui tecum nítida vivit in æthra

regnans ac móderans sæcula cuncta. Amen.

 

O with what glorious light you shine, royal offspring of the branch of David, enthroned on high, O Virgin Mary, over all the heavenly born. You, a mother honored with virginity, your heart a palace for the Lord of heaven, you prepared a place for him within your holy womb, there the God-Christ was born in a body. He whom all the world worships and adores. Before whom every knee is rightly bended, from whom, we ask you that by your intervention you dispel the darkness with the joy of light. Grant this, O Father of all light, through your Son in the Holy Spirit, who with you lives in heavenly brightness, ruling and governing all things. Amen.

 

1. O how glorious art thou, dazzling with light,

stock of David, royal offspring!

Thou dwellest in a sublime height, O Virgin Mary,

Looking down on all the heavenly regions.

 

2. Thou, with the honor of being a virgin and mother,

hast prepared for the Lord of Angels thy bosom

as a sacred palace, thy most holy womb,

from whence God took flesh, and was born Christ.

 

3. Thou, whom the whole world venerates and pays homage,

before whom all now rightfully bend the knee,

To whom we humbly beseech in our misery and darkness,

coming before thee surrounded by the joy of pure light.

 

4. O Father of all lights, through this sacred Flame

give unto us thy only Begotten Son,

who with Thee reigns brilliantly in the heavens,

ruling and governing for all ages.

Amen.

 

Ad Vesperas: saec. XII

 

Mole graváti críminum

ad te, regína cælitum,

confugiéntes, póscimus

nostris ut adsis précibus.

 

Ætérnæ vitæ iánua,

aurem nobis accómmoda,

per quam spes vitæ rédiit,

quam Eva peccans ábstulit.

 

Tu princeps, mater Príncipis,

vitam depósce fámulis,

et pæniténdi spátia

nobis indúlgens ímpetra.

 

Oránte te, sanctíssima,

sanctórum orant ágmina;

tuis, regína, précibus

conciliétur Dóminus.

 

Regnátrix mater ómnium,

vota comple fidélium,

ac vitam nos post frágilem

ad veram perduc réquiem.

 

Sit laus Patri cum Fílio

et Spíritu Paráclito,

qui te præ cunctis cælica

exornavérunt glória. Amen.

 

Weighted down by the burden of our sins, fleeing to you, O Queen of heaven, we ask that you hear our prayers. Door of eternal life, turn your ears to us, though whom the hope of life returned, which Eve in sin had lost.  You, the Princess, Mother of the Prince, give life to your servants and room for repentance, prayer for our forgiveness. When you pray, O Most Holy, the whole company of the saints pray; by your prayers we are reconciled to God. Queen, Mother of all people, fulfill the prayers of the faithful, and after this fragile life lead us to true rest.  Praise be to the Father with the Son, and to the Spirit the Comforter, who has adorned with heavenly glory beyond all others. Amen.