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.