IN ASSUMPTIONE BEATÆ MARIÆ VIRGINIS-updated

 

 

Two of the hymns for the Assumption in the LH are from St. Peter Damian. Fr. Owen Blum, OFM, (St. Peter Damian, His teaching on the Spiritual Life) says that the hymn for Lauds is the best of his hymns, but “of a didactic character and showing little of the fervent appeal of St. Bernard”. But his prose is superb (from a Homily on the Nativity of Mary):

whatever is said of you by mortal man does not equal the merits of your dignity. For human frailty cannot worthily aspire to proclaim her whom an exceeding grace has raised above the angels. We beseech you, most loving Mother of goodness and mercy, that we who rejoice in singing your praises here on earth, may merit to have the aid of your intercession in heaven ; that, as through you the Son of God deigned to come down to us, so may we be able through you to come to union with Him.

 

Ad I  &  II  Vesperas: Petrus Damianus

 Gáudium mundi, nova stella cæli,

prócreans solem, páriens paréntem,

da manum lapsis, fer opem cadúcis,

  virgo María.

Te Deo factam liquet esse scalam

qua tenens summa petit Altus ima;

nos ad excélsi remeáre cæli

  cúlmina dona.

 

Te beatórum chorus angelórum,

te prophetárum et apostolórum

ordo prælátam sibi cernit unam

  post Deitátem.

Laus sit excélsæ Tríadi perénnis,

quæ tibi, Virgo, tríbuit corónam,

atque regínam statuítque nostram

  próvida matrem. Amen.

Joy of the world, new star of heaven, giving birth to the sun, bearing the parent, give your hand to those slipping, help the fallen, O Virgin Mary. God made you to be the certain ladder, by which the Highest keeping its height could seek the lowest; grant that we may return to the summit of highest heaven.  The choir of Blessed angels, the order of prophets and apostles acknowledge you singularly favored before themselves, after God.  Everlasting praise to the Trinity on high, who granted you, O Virgin, a crown, and established you as our queen and watchful mother. Amen.

 

Ad Officium lectionis: Petrus Damianus

 Auróra velut fúlgida,

ad cæli meat cúlmina

ut sol María spléndida,

tamquam luna pulchérrima.

Regína mundi hódie

thronum conscéndit glóriæ,

illum eníxa Fílium

qui est ante lucíferum.

 

Assúmpta super ángelos

omnésque choros cælitum,

cuncta sanctórum mérita

transcéndit una fémina.

 

Quem fóverat in grémio,

locárat in præsépio,

nunc regem super ómnia

Patris videt in glória.

 

Pro nobis, Virgo vírginum,

tuum depósce Fílium,

per quam nostra suscéperat,

ut sua nobis præbeat.

Sit laus Patri cum Fílio

et Spíritu Paráclito,

qui te præ cunctis cælica

exornavérunt glória. Amen.

As the glittering dawn Mary arises to the height of heaven, sparkling like the sun, most beautiful like the moon.  Today the Queen of the world ascends to her throne of glory, she who gave birth to that Son, who was before the daystar. This women alone is taken above the angels and over all the heavenly hosts; she surpasses the merits of all of the saints. Him, whom she has cherished at her bosom, she puts in a manger; now she sees him King over all in the glory of the Father. O Virgin of virgins, pray to your Son for us, through you he received what is ours that he might give to us what is his.  Praise to the Father with the Son and Comforter Spirit, who before all adorned you with heavenly glory. Amen.

 

Ad Laudes matutinas: Victorius Genovesi

Connelly: “As with other modern hymns, the studied effects of the Humanists replace the lyricism and inspiration of the older hymns”.

 

 

Solis, O Virgo, rádiis amícta,

bis caput senis redimíta stellis,

luna cui præbet pédibus scabéllum,

  ínclita fulges.

 

Mortis, inférni domitríxque culpæ,

ássides Christo studiósa nostri,

teque regínam célebrat poténtem

  terra polúsque.

 

Asseclas diæ fídei tuére;

díssitos adduc ad ovíle sacrum;

quas diu gentes tegit umbra mortis

  úndique coge.

 

Sóntibus mitis véniam precáre,

ádiuva flentes, ínopes et ægros,

spes mica cunctis per acúta vitæ

  certa salútis.

 

Laus sit excélsæ Tríadi perénnis,

quæ tibi, Virgo, tríbuit corónam,

atque regínam statuítque nostram

  próvida matrem. Amen.

 

O Virgin, clothed with the radiant sun, her head garlanded with twice six stars, the moon serving her as a footstool, you gloriously shine.  Ruling over death and guilty hell, anxious for our good you are enthroned next to Christ, earth and heaven celebrate you as their mighty queen.  Watch over your children by godly faith, bring back the scattered to the holy fold; gather from all the nations those so long covered by the shadow of death. With gentle prayers implore pardon for the guilty, help those who weep, the needy and the sick, shine on all in the difficulties of life the sure hope of salvation. Everlasting praise to the Trinity on high, who granted you, O Virgin, a crown, and established you as our queen and watchful mother. Amen.

 

 

O quam glorifica: another medieval Assumption Hymn

Milfull: Hymn sung on the Assumption and assigned to Vespers; also at Vespers for Nativity BVM in collector of H;  Hours of Our Lady Vespers, Lauds and Compline.

 

O quam glorifica luce coruscas,

Stirpis Davidicae regia proles!

Sublimis residens, Virgo Maria,

Supra caeligenas aetheris omnes.

 

Tu cum virgineo mater honore,

Caelorum Domino pectoris aulam

Sacris visceribus casta parasti;

Natus hinc Deus est corpore Christus.

 

Quem cunctus venerans orbis adorat,

Cui nunc rite genuflectitur omne;

A quo te, petimus, subveniente,

Abjectis tenebris, gaudia lucis.

 

Hoc largire Pater luminis omnis,

Natum per proprium, Flamine sacro,

Qui tecum nitida vivit in aethra

Regnans, ac moderans saecula cuncta.

  Amen.

 

O how you shine with glorious light, royal offspring of the David’s stock, O Virgin Mary, dwelling above, above all the citizens of heaven.

 You, a mother with virginal honor, chastely ready in your holy womb, the court of your heart for heaven’s Lord; thus was born Christ, God in the flesh:

 He Whom all the world adores with veneration, to Whom now every knee is rightly bent;with your help we implore from Him the joys of light, with all darkness dispelled.

 Grant this, O Father of all light, through Your own Son, in the Holy Spirit, Who lives with You in the shining heavens, ruling and governing all the ages. Amen.