Sunday: Weeks II & IV

 

 

Vespers I: Mozarabic?

 

Walsh & Husch: God’s incessant activity in keeping in being the wonders of creation is to be the spur to us to be similarly active in pursuit of the virtues, and thus to win our reward at the judgement.

Rerum, Deus, fons ómnium,

qui, rebus actis ómnibus,

totíus orbis ámbitum

censu replésti múnerum,

 

Ac, mole tanta cóndita, (1)

tandem quiétem díceris

sumpsísse, dans labóribus

ut nos levémur grátius:

 

Concéde nunc mortálibus

deflére vitæ crímina, (2)

instáre iam virtútibus

et munerári prósperis,

 

Ut cum treméndi iúdicis

horror suprémus cœperit,

lætémur omnes ínvicem

pacis repléti múnere.

 

1.       This verse replaces the original (from Walpole):

 

non actibus fessus manens,

laboribus non saucius,

cunctis quietem das, aegris

curis ruant ne morbidi

O God, the source of all, who, when all things had been created, you filled completely the whole circle of the world with the wealth of your gifts. And, when such an enormous mass had been created, at last you decreed a time of rest be taken, granted to laborers graciously that we be raised up. Grant now to mortal men that they weep for the sins of life, strive for the virtues, and be rewarded with prosperity. That when the final fear of the terrible judge shall begin, each of us will rejoice to be filled with the gift of peace. 

Walsh & Husch:

Yours deeds leave you unwearied still,

Your toils have not disabled you,

And you grant rest to all, lest they

Be stricken with enfeebling cares.

 

In my opinion the original is much better than the new.

 

2.      deflere vitae crimina replaces laboribus non saucius.

 O God, the source of all, who, when all things had been created,  filled completely the whole circle of the world with the wealth of your gifts. And, when such an enormous mass had been created, at last you decreed a time of rest be taken, granted to laborers graciously that we be raised up. Grant now to mortal men that they weep for the sins of life, strive for the virtues, and be rewarded with prosperity. That when the final fear of the terrible judge shall begin, each of us will rejoice to be filled with the gift of peace.

 

Office of Readings: nocturne

Sunday: 5^th Century

Walsh & Husch: [In the Liturgy of the Hours] stanzas 1-6 and 13 are sung . . . The hymn celebrates the importance of the midnight hour in the history of Israel (stanzas 3-5) linked with the need for vigilance by the new Israel (6-10), and in the liberation of Paul and Silas (11) linked with our need to be liberated from the prison of sin (12).

Médiæ noctis tempus est

prophética vox ádmonet (1)

dicámus laudes ut Deo

Patri semper ac Fílio,

 

Sancto quoque Spirítui:

perfécta enim Trínitas 

uniúsque substántiæ (2)

laudánda nobis semper est.

 

Terrórem tempus hoc habet, (3)

quo, cum vastátor ángelus

Ægýpto mortem íntulit,

delévit primogénita. (4)

 

Hæc iustis hora salus est,

quos tunc ibídem ángelus

ausus puníre non erat,

signum formídans sánguinis. (5)

 

Ægýptus flebat fórtiter

tantórum diro fúnere;

solus gaudébat Israel

agni protéctus sánguine.

 

Nos verus Israel sumus:

lætámur in te, Dómine,

hostem spernéntes et malum,

Christi defénsi sánguine.

 

Dignos nos fac, rex óptime,

futúri regni glória,

ut mereámur láudibus

ætérnis te concínere. Amen.

 

1.       W: ' The voice of the prophet ' is that of the Psalmist; the reference is to Ps. cxviii (cxix): media nocte surgebam ad confitendum tibi super iudicia iustificationis tuae.

2.      W&H: Augustine De Trinitate 1:4: “all catholic interpreters before us who have written about the Trinity had this purpose, to teach in accordance with the Scriptures that Father, Son and Holy Spirit constitute a divine unity of one and the same substance.”

3.      Terrórem tempus hoc habet: see Exodus 12;

4.      delévit primogénita: Exodus 12:29: in noctis medio percussit Dominus omne primogenitum in terra Aegypti.

5.      signum formídans sánguinis: Exodus 12:13: erit autem sanguis vobis in signum  . . .videbo sanguinem ac transibo vos.

 

The midnight hour is here, the prophet’s voice warns that we ever sing praises to God the father and his Son. Also to the Holy Spirit: for the whole Trinity of one substance is always to be lauded by us. This time of night is fearful for us, when the destroying angel brought death to Egypt and destroyed the firstborn. For the just this is the hour of salvation, whom the angel did not dare punish fearing the sign of blood.  Egypt deeply wept over the harsh death of so many; Israel alone was glad, protected by the blood of the lamb. We are the true Israel: we rejoice in you, O Lord, spurning the evil host and defended by the blood of Christ. Make us, O great King, meet of the glory of kingdom to come that we may worthily sing your eternal praises. Amen.

 

Office of readings: Adam of St. Victor (died 1146)

Salve dies, diérum glória,

dies felix Christi victória,

dies digna iugi lætítia,

dies prima.

 

Lux divína cæcis irrádiat,

in qua Christus inférnum spóliat,

mortem vincit et reconcíliat

summis ima.

 

Sempitérni regis senténtia

sub peccáto conclúsit ómnia;

ut infírmis supérna grátia

subveníret,

 

Dei virtus et sapiéntia

temperávit iram cleméntia,

cum iam mundus in præcipítia

totus iret.

 

Resurréxit liber ab ínferis

restaurátor humáni géneris,

ovem suam repórtans úmeris

ad supérna.

 

Angelórum pax fit et hóminum,

plenitúdo succréscit órdinum,

triumphántem laus decet Dóminum,

laus ætérna.

 

Harmoníæ cæléstis pátriæ

vox concórdet matris Ecclésiæ,

«Allelúia» frequéntet hódie

plebs fidélis.

 

Triumpháto mortis império,

triumpháli fruámur gáudio;

in terra pax, et iubilátio

sit in cælis. Amen.

Day worthy of perpetual joy, the first day. The judgement of the eternal King closes all things under sin: That supernatural grace may aid the weak. May divine light shine on the blind, when Christ  despoils hell, conquers death, and reconciles The lowest with the highest. Hail day, the glory of days,

Day happy by the victory of Christ the strength and wisdom of God Tempered anger with mercy, When the whole world had come To the edge. Free he rose from the dead The Restorer of the human race. Carrying his lamb on his shoulders To heaven. Peace between angels and men is made, The fullness of the orders grows, Praise, eternal praise, is fitting to The triumphant Lord. The voice of Mother Church agrees With the harmony of the heavenly fatherland The faithful people repeat today “Alleluia”. Since the rule of death has been conquered, May we enjoy triumphant joy; May there be peace on earth And rejoicing in heaven. Amen.

 

Lauds: Alcuin? 8^th to 9^th Centuries

Walpole: The Matins hymn which replaces Aeterne rerum conditor  during the summer.

Ecce iam noctis tenuátur umbra,

lucis auróra rútilans corúscat; (1)

nísibus totis rogitémus omnes

  cunctipoténtem.

 

Ut Deus, nostri miserátus, omnem

pellat angórem, tríbuat salútem,

donet et nobis pietáte patris

  regna polórum.

 

Præstet hoc nobis Déitas beáta

Patris ac Nati, paritérque Sancti

Spíritus, cuius résonat per omnem

  glória mundum. Amen.

 

1.       rutilans = ‘bushing’.   

Behold now the shadows of the night grow thin: the blushing dawn of light gleams; with great effort we all ask Almighty God: that he have mercy on us, drive away anxiety, grant salvation and by his fatherly love give us the kingdom of heaven. Grant this to us, O blessed Divinity, Father and Son and equally Holy Spirit, whose glory resounds throughout the world. Amen.

 

Vespers II: 7^th to 8^th Centuries

Sometimes attributed to St. Ambrose.

O lux, beáta Trínitas (1)

et principális Unitas, (2)

iam sol recédit ígneus:

infúnde lumen córdibus.

 

Te mane laudum cármine,

te deprecémur véspere;

te nostra supplex glória (3)

per cuncta laudet sæcula.

 

Christum rogámus et Patrem,

Christi Patrísque Spíritum;

unum potens per ómnia,

fove precántes, Trínitas. Amen.

O Light, O blessed Trinity and princely Unity, now that the fiery sun departs, pour light into our hearts. In the morning we sang a hymn of praise to you, at evening we pray to you; may our lowly glory you through all ages. We ask Christ and the Father and the Spirit of Christ and the Father favor us we pray, O Trinity. Amen.

 

(1)   Note the apostrophe: beata refers to Trínitas, not to lux.

(2)   Principalis: princely, royal, although Walpole and WH: it is possible in the sense of ‘primal’ or ‘fundamental’.

(3)   Supplex Gloria: ‘may our humble praise’ or ‘may our glory prostate before thee’.