Monday, September 28, 2020

S. Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, Virgin & Doctor



 

The Office of Readings: SECOND READING: From the autobiography of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (MS B, f. 3r-3v: ed. J. Clarke 1975, pp. 193-94)

 

My desires caused me a veritable martyrdom, and I opened the Epistles of Saint Paul to find some kind of answer. Chapters Twelve and Thirteen of the First Epistle to the Corinthians fell under my eyes. I read there, in the first of these chapters, that all cannot be apostles, prophets, doctors, etc., that the Church is composed of different members, and that the eye cannot be the hand at one and the same time. The answer was clear, but it did not fulfill my desires and gave me no peace. Without becoming discouraged, I continued my reading, and this sentence consoled me: Yet strive after the better gifts, and I point out to you a yet more excellent way. And the Apostle explains how all the most perfect gifts are nothing without Love. That Charity is the excellent way that leads most surely to God. I finally had rest. Considering the mystical body of the Church, I had not recognized myself in any of the members described by Saint Paul, or rather I desired to see myself in them all. Charity gave me the key to my vocation. I understood that if the Church had a body composed of different members, the most necessary and most noble of all could not be lacking to it, and so I understood that the Church had a heart and that this heart was burning with love. I understood it was love alone that made the Church’s members act; that if love ever became extinct, apostles would not preach the Gospel and martyrs would not shed their blood. I understood that love comprised all vocations, that love was everything, that it embraced all times and places... in a word, that it was eternal! Then, in the excess of my delirious joy, I cried out, “O Jesus, my Love... my vocation, at last I have found it... My vocation is Love!” Yes, I have found my place in the Church and it is you, O my God, who have given me this place; in the heart of the Church, my Mother, I shall be love. Thus I shall be everything, and thus my dream will be realized.

 

 

Vespers

 

Nomen decusque concinant

Teresiae almae virginis

Qui sancta divi Parvuli

Credunt amantque munera.

 

Carmeli summos vertices

Patrona Mater deligit:

Teresia illuc advolat,

Sponsi premens vestigial.

 

Afflata Jesu numine

Secreta pundit gratiae;

Magistra mundo simplices

Infantium docet vias.

 

Virtutis ipsa flosculos

Olent sacrata limina,

Quae casta virgo, ut angelus

Immissus e caelo, colit.

 

At jubilum non exprimit

Omnes amoris impetus;

Nec septa magnos claudere

Eius valent anhelitus.

 

Laus, honor, virtus, Gloria

Deo Patri et Filio,

Sancto simul Paraclito

In saeculorum saecula.

Amen.

 


 

Lauds

 

Immensa Christi caritas

Maiora cogit aggredi

Apostolorum et Martyrum

Actam corona viginum.

 

Optans amóris víctima

Ex igne adúri mlstico,

Sponsum precátur últimas

Flammas vorántes éxcitet.

 

Aeternitátis núntia

Optáta mors iam pérvenit:

Hac íngemens : Te díligo !

Terésia ad Christum émigrat.

 

Caeléstibus nunc gáudiis

Fruens, ab arce síderum,

Quas lárgiter promíseras,

Rosas meménto spárgere.

 

Tu corde Rex mitíssime,

Qui párvulis regnum paras,

Nos hanc secútos ingredi

Prasta beáta hmina.

 

Laus, honor, virtus, glória

Deo Patri et Filio,

Sancto simul Paráclito

In saculórum sécula. Amen.

 

The immense charity of Christ pressed this virgin adorned with a crown to climb to the height of the Apostles and martyrs. Desiring to be a victim of love, she was consumed by the mystical fire, she prays her groom to stir up the flames which devour her. The herald of eternity, the longed- for death now comes: She sighs ‘I love you!’ Therese is brought to Christ. You now tasting the celestial joys of heaven from the castle of the stars, remember to spread the abundant roses that you have promised.  And you, King of a most gentle heart, prepare a kingdom for the little ones, bring us who have followed this saint to a blessed entrance (into heaven).  Laud, honor, might, glory to God the Father and the Son, and holy Paraclete, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

 

Common of Virgins: LH

 

Lauds: 14th Century

 

Aptáta, virgo, lámpade

ad núptias ingréssa es

ætérni regis glóriæ,

quem laudant turbæ cælicæ.

 

Grata convíva súperis,

cælésti sponso iúngeris

ampléxu casti fœderis,

pudóris dives méritis.

 

Normam vivéndi ínstrue,

nos prece tua cónfove,

possímus ut resístere

hostis nostri versútiæ.

 

Exémplar vitæ vírginum,

María roget Fílium,

ut eius adiutórium

nos iuvet per exsílium.

 

Sit Deitáti glória

per infiníta sæcula

pro vírginis victória,

qua gaudet cæli cúria. Amen.

 

With your lamp prepared, O Virgin, you enter the wedding feast of the King of eternal glory, whom the heavenly hosts praise. Happy companion of the saints you are joined to the heavenly Spouse embraced in a chaste covenant, rich in the merits of purity. Instruct us in pattern of life, bless us by your prayers, that we might be able to resist the craftiness of our enemy.  Mary, model of the virgins' life, pray to your Son, that he may aid us by his help through our exile. Glory  to the Divine Godhead through endless ages for the victory of this virgin for which the heavenly courts rejoice. Amen

 

 

 

The Office of Readings: 15th Century

 

Dulci deprómat cármine

devóta plebs sollémnia,

dum in cælórum cúlmine

hæc virgo micat glória.

 

Virgo, quæ Christi láudibus

vacávit iam viríliter,

sanctórum nunc agmínibus

coniúngitur felíciter.

 

Vicit per pudicítiam

infírmæ carnis vítium;

sprevit mundi blandítiam

Christi sequens vestígium.

 

Per hanc nos, Christe, dírige

servans a cunctis hóstibus;

culpárum lapsus córrige

nos ímbuens virtútibus.

 

Iesu, tibi sit glória,

qui natus es de Vírgine,

cum Patre et almo Spíritu,

in sempitérna sæcula. Amen.

 

The devout people celebrate this solemnity with a sweet hymn, while in the heights of heaven this virgin shines in glory. The virgin, who once was free bravely to sing the praises of Christ, now is happily joined to the company of the saints. She conquered through purity the faults of weak flesh, she spurned the flattery of the world, following in the steps of Christ.  Through her, O Christ, direct us, saving us from all enemies, correct our lapses into sin, filling us with the virtues. Jesus, to you be glory, born of a Virgin, with the Father and loving Spirit, through eternal ages. Amen.

 

Vespers: St. Ambrose?

 

Iesu, coróna vírginum,

quem Mater illa cóncipit

quæ sola virgo párturit,

hæc vota clemens áccipe,

 

Qui pascis inter lília

sæptus choréis vírginum,

sponsus decórus glória

sponsísque reddens præmia.

 

Quocúmque pergis, vírgines

sequúntur, atque láudibus

post te canéntes cúrsitant

hymnósque dulces pérsonant.

 

Te deprecámur, lárgius

nostris adáuge méntibus

nescíre prorsus ómnia

corruptiónis vúlnera.

 

O Jesus, crown of virgins, whom that Mother conceived, the virgin who alone gave birth, mercifully receive our prayers. You who feed among the lilies, safe with the choirs of virgins, the beautiful bridegroom in glory, who grants rewards to his brides. Wherever, O Christ, you go, the virgins follow also with their praises, they run after you singing, making sweet hymns resound. We pray to you, increase our mind’s understanding that may never experience the wounds of corruption. 

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