Ad Officium lectionis: Alfanus
I salernensis: Saint Alfanus I or Alfano I (died 1085) was the Archbishop of
Salerno from 1058 to his death. He was famed as a translator, writer,
theologian, and medical doctor in the eleventh century. He was a physician
before he became archbishop, one of the earliest great doctors of the Schola
Medica Salernitana.
Igne
divíni rádians amóris
córporis
sexum superávit Agnes,
et
super carnem potuére carnis
claustra pudícæ.
Spíritum
celsæ cápiunt cohórtes
cándidum,
cæli super astra tollunt;
iúngitur
Sponsi thálamis pudíca
sponsa beátis.
Virgo,
nunc nostræ miserére sortis
et,
tuum quisquis célebrat tropæum,
ímpetret
sibi véniam reátus
atque salútem.
Redde
pacátum pópulo precánti
príncipem
cæli dominúmque terræ,
donet
ut pacem pius et quiétæ
témpora vitæ.
Láudibus
mitem celebrémus Agnum,
casta
quem sponsum sibi legit Agnes,
astra
qui cæli moderátur atque
cuncta gubérnat. Amen.
Radiating with the fire of divine love. Agnes overcame the sex of her body, and
rising above her flesh was enclosed in pure flesh. The heavenly cohorts take
her bright spirit and carry her beyond the stars; the pure bride is united to
the wedding chamber of the Bridegroom. O Virgin, now have mercy on our lot and,
for those who celebrate your triumph, seek pardon for our sins and salvation.
Make peaceful the people who entreat the Prince of heaven and Lord of earth
that He in love may give us times of of a restful life. With praises let us celebrate
the gentle Lamb, who chaste Agnes chose as her bridegroom, He who governs the
stars of heaven and guides all things. Amen.
Ad Laudes matutinas &
ad Vesperas: Ambrosius
WALSH AND HUSCH: The
close correspondence between the content of this hymn and Ambrose's De
virginibus, which incorporates a sermon delivered on the feast of Saint
Agnes, sufficiently justifies the ascription of this hymn to Ambrose. . . he
drew upon oral accounts of the martyrdom of the saint, who was executed
probably in the persecution of Diocletian in 304—5. It is the birthday of St. Agnes, i.e. the day
of her death.
Agnes
beátæ vírginis (1)
natális
est, quo spíritum
cælo
refúdit débitum,
pio
sacráta sánguine.
Matúra
martýrio fuit (2)
matúra
nondum núptiis;
prodíre
quis nuptum putet,
sic
læta vultu dúcitur.
Aras
nefándi núminis (3)
adolére
tædis cógitur;
respóndet:
«Haud tales faces
sumpsére
Christi vírgines.
Hic
ignis extínguit fidem,
hæc
flamma lumen éripit;
hic,
hic feríte, ut prófluo (4)
cruóre
restínguam focos».
Percússa
quam pompam tulit!
Nam
veste se totam tegens,
terram
genu flexo petit
lapsu
verecúndo cadens.
1. Agnes. . . natalis: Agnes is a Greek
genitive, literally meaning "of the pure one." 2. matura nondum
nuptiis: She is said to have been twelve years old, the minimum age for
marriage according to Roman law. 3. According to Prudentius the deity was
Minerva.
4. Agnes offers her breast to the sword, but she
is decapitated.
It is the birthday of the blessed virgin, Agnes,
when she paid the debt owed heaven with her loving and holy blood. She was
old enough to die a martyr, but not to wed; but one would think that she was
going to her wedding with such a joyful countenance was she led. Compelled to
lite the altar of the profane and loathsome god, she responded: “torches such
as these the virgins of Christ have never borne. This fire extinguishes faith, this flame
removes the light; strike here, here, that my blood may put out the torch.” Struck
she displayed a noble character, covering herself with her robe, on bended knee
she seeks the ground, but even falling she maintains her modesty.
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