St. Justin Martyr

 

The Office of Readings: Prudentius

Beáte (Beáta) martyr, próspera

diem triumphálem tuum,

quo sánguinis merces tibi

coróna vincénti datur.

 

Hic (Hæc) te ex tenébris sæculi,

tortóre victo et iúdice,

evéxit ad cælum dies

Christóque ovántem réddidit.

 

Nunc angelórum párticeps

collúces insígni stola,

quam testis indomábilis

rivis cruóris láveras.

 

Adésto nunc et óbsecra,

placátus ut Christus suis

inclínet aurem prósperam,

noxas nec omnes ímputet.

 

Paulísper huc illábere

Christi favórem déferens,

sensus graváti ut séntiant

levámen indulgéntiæ.

 

Honor Patri cum Fílio

et Spíritu Paráclito,

qui te coróna pérpeti

cingunt in aula glóriæ. Amen.

 

O blessed martyr, bless us who keep the day of your triumph, when at the cost of your blood you were given a crown of victory. Today you entered heaven and left behind the darkness of the world, victorious over torturer and judge, returning praise to Christ. Now with the angels you wear the noble stole which in your indomitable witness you washed with your streaming blood.  Be with us now and plead that it may please Christ favorably to hear and not count against us any faults.  Shine upon here but a little while, bringing the favor of Christ that those heavy with the sense of sin may feel the consolation of pardon. . Honor to the Father with the Son and the Spirit Paraclete, who crowned you with an eternal crown in the courts of glory. Amen.

 

 

 

Lauds: 9^th Century

Martyr Dei, qui (quæ) únicum

Patris sequéndo Fílium

victis triúmphas hóstibus,

victor (victrix) fruens cæléstibus.

 

Tui precátus múnere

nostrum reátum dílue,

arcens mali contágium,

vitæ repéllens tædium.

 

Solúta sunt iam víncula

tui sacráti córporis;

nos solve vinclis sæculi

amóre Fílii Dei.

 

Honor Patri cum Fílio

et Spíritu Paráclito,

qui te coróna pérpeti

cingunt in aula glóriæ. Amen.

 

O victorious martyr of God, now enjoying heaven, by following the only Son of the Father, you triumphed and conquered the enemy. Through the gift of your prayers wash away our guilt, defending us from the contagion of evil and repelling the weariness of life. Now the chains that held your holy body have been loosened; by the love of God free us from the chains of the world. Honor to the Father with the Son and the Spirit Paraclete, who crowned you with an eternal crown in the courts of glory. Amen.

 

 

Vespers: 5^th-7^th Centuries

Deus, tuórum mílitum

sors et coróna, præmium,

laudes canéntes mártyris

absólve nexu críminis.

 

Hic (Hæc) testis ore prótulit

quod cordis arca crédidit,

Christum sequéndo répperit

effusióne sánguinis.

 

Hic (Hæc) nempe mundi gáudia

et blandiménta nóxia

cadúca rite députans,

pervénit ad cæléstia.

 

Pœnas cucúrrit fórtiter

et sústulit viríliter;

pro te refúndens sánguinem,

ætérna dona póssidet.

 

Ob hoc precátu súpplici

te póscimus, piíssime;

in hoc triúmpho mártyris

dimítte noxam sérvulis.

 

Ut consequámur múneris

ipsíus et consórtia,

lætémur ac perénniter

iuncti polórum sédibus.

 

God, the lot, crown and reward of your soldiers, loosen from the bounds of sin those who sing praises to this martyr. By mouth he bore witness to what he believed in treasury of his heart; When his blood was poured out, he found Christ by following him.  Indeed rightly judging the joys of the world and its dangerous flattery to be fleeting, he entered into heaven.  Bravely he met punishment and strongly he persevered; pouring out his blood for your sake he attained eternal gifts. For this reason, O most loving God, on the triumph day of the martyr, we ask in humble supplication, drive away danger from your servants.  That we too may have a share in his graces and rejoice forever to be seated in heaven.

Beatæ Mariæ Virginis Reginæ: The Roman Breviary

 

Beatæ Mariæ Virginis Reginæ: The Roman Breviary

 

Sermon of St. Peter Canisius, Priest

On the Incomparable Virgin Mary, Mother of God

If we follow St. John Damascene, St. Athanasius and others, are we not forced to call Mary Queen, since her father David received the highest praise in Scripture as a renowned king, and her son as King of kings and Lord of lords, reigning forever? She is Queen, moreover, when compared with the Saints who reign like kings in the heavenly kingdom, co-heirs with Christ, the great King, placed on the same throne with him, as the Scripture saith. And as Queen she is second to none of the elect, but in dignity is raised so high above both Angels and men that nothing can be higher or holier than she, who alone hath the same Son as God the Father, and who sees above her only God and Christ, and below her creatures other than herself.

 

The great Athanasius said clearly: Mary is not only the Mother of God, but also can be properly and truly called Queen and Lady, since in fact the Christ who was born of the Virgin Mother is God and Lord and also King. It is to this Queen, therefore, that the Psalmist's words are applied: The Queen taketh her place at thy right hand in garments of gold. Thus, Mary is rightly called Queen, not only of heaven, but also of the heavens, as the Mother of the King of Angels, and as the Bride and beloved of the King of the heavens. O Mary, most august Queen and most faithful Mother, to whom no one prays in vain who prays devoutly, and to whom all mortal men are bound by the enduring memory of so many benefits, again and again reverently I beseech thee to accept and be pleased with every evidence of my devotion to thee, to value the poor gift I offer according to the zeal with which it is offered, and to recommend it to thine all-powerful Son.

 

From the Encyclical Letter of Pope Pius XII

Ad cæli Reginam, diei 11 Octobris 1954

From the documents of ancient Christianity, from the prayers of the liturgy, from the innate religious sense of the Christian people, from works of art, from all sides we gather witnesses which assert that the Virgin Mother of God excels in queenly dignity. And we have set forth the reasons which sacred theology deduces from the treasury of divine faith to confirm the same truth. All these witnesses form a sort of chorus, proclaiming far and wide the supreme queenly honor granted to the Mother of God and man, who is above all created things and exalted over the choirs of Angels to reign in heaven. Thus, it is that after mature and thoughtful consideration we have been persuaded that great benefits would flow to the Church if, like a light that illumines more brightly when placed in its stand, this solidly proved truth were to shine out more clearly to all, and so, by Our Apostolic Authority, we decree and institute the feast of Mary, Queen, which is to be celebrated every year on the thirty-first day of May throughout the world.

 

Homily of St. Bonaventure, Bishop

Sermon on the Royal Dignity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of the great King by reason of a noble kind of conception, according to the message given her by the Angel. Behold, he said, thou shalt conceive and shalt bring forth a son; and again, the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he shall be king over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. This is as if to say in so many words, Thou wilt conceive and bear a son who is King, eternally reigning on the royal throne, and as Queen thou wilt be seated on the royal throne. For if it becometh a son to give honor to his mother, it is also fitting that he share his royal throne with her; and so the Virgin Mary, because she conceived him on whose thigh was written, King of kings and Lord of lords, was Queen not only of earth but also of heaven as soon as she conceived the Son of God. This is indicated in the Apocalypse where it saith: A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.

 

Mary the Queen is also the distributor of grace. This is indicated in the book of Esther, where it is said: The little spring which grew into a river and was turned into a light and into the sun. The Virgin Mary, under the type of Esther, is compared to the outpouring of a spring and of light, because of the diffusion of grace for two uses, that is, for action and for contemplation. For the grace of God, which is a healing for the human race, descends to us through her as if through an aqueduct, since the dispensing of grace is attributed to the Virgin not as to its beginning, but because of her position through merit. By position the Virgin Mary is a most excellent Queen towards her people: she obtains forgiveness, overcomes strife, distributes grace, and thereby she leadeth them to glory.

Ss. Corporis et Sanguinis Christi

 

 

Ad I & II Vesperas: St. Thomas Aquinas

 

W&H: This, the best known of Aquinas's Corpus Christi hymns, was and is appointed to be sung at First Vespers; but it is also the processional hymn on Holy Thursday, when, following celebration of the Eucharist, the consecrated hosts are borne to the Altar of Repose to be distributed on Good Friday. The final two stanzas are familiar to many as the second hymn in Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

 

Pange, lingua, gloriósi (1)

córporis mystérium, (2)

sanguinísque pretiósi,

quem in mundi prétium

fructus ventris generósi (3)

Rex effúdit géntium.

 

Nobis datus, nobis natus

ex intácta Vírgine,

et in mundo conversátus,

sparso verbi sémine,

sui moras incolátus

miro clausit órdine. (4)

 

In suprémæ nocte cenæ

recúmbens cum frátribus, (5)

observáta lege plene (6)

cibis in legálibus, (7)

cibum turbæ duodénæ

se dat suis mánibus.

 

Verbum caro panem verum

verbo carnem éfficit, (8)

fitque sanguis Christi merum,

et, si sensus déficit,

ad firmándum cor sincérum (9)

sola fides súfficit.

 

Tantum ergo sacraméntum

venerémur cérnui,

et antíquum documéntum

novo cedat rítui;

præstet fides suppleméntum

sénsuum deféctui.

 

Genitóri Genitóque

laus et iubilátio,

salus, honor, virtus quoque

sit et benedíctio;

procedénti ab utróque

compar sit laudátio. Amen.

 

 

W&H: 1. Pange, lingua, gloriosi: echoes the opening words of the celebrated hymn of Fortunatus .

2. mysterium: The Greek word, Eph 5:32, is rendered in the Latin Vulgate as sacramentum.

3.  fructus ventris generosi: So Elizabeth at Lk 1:42: "Benedictus fructus ventris cui" (Blessed is the fruit of your womb). The word generosi may bear the double sense of "highborn" (following the genealogy at Mt and "noble" in the moral sense.

4.  miro clausit ordine: That is, the ''wondrous ordering" of Last Supper, Passion, and Crucifixion.

5.  recumbens: The ancients typically ate meals lying on their sides on couches.

6.  observata legeplene cibis in legalibus: Jesus observed the Law fully by celebrating the Passover at the prescribed time, and by consuming the paschal lamb (cibis in legalibus).

7.  cibus: The play in cibis/cibus reminds us that Christ is become the paschal Iamb.

8.  verbo carnem efficit: Referring to the biblical formula of the consecration (Mt

9. adfirmandum: That is, to strengthen hearts in belief in the Real Presence. 5-3   documentum: An "example serving as precedent" (so OLD) of the Passover.

 

Sing, O tongue,  the mystery of the glorious body and precious blood,  which, the fruit of a noble womb, the King of nations shed as the price of the world. Given to us, born for us from the Virgin Mary, dwelling in the world, having sprinkled the seed of the word, living among us a short while, in a wondrous order he finished his course. In the night of the last supper, reclining with his brothers, observing the law completely, with the food the law decreed, with his own hands he gave himself as food to the twelvefold band. Word made flesh he makes true bread flesh by his word, even if senses fail to see, faith alone is sufficient to strengthen sincere hearts.  Therefore on bended knee we worship such a great sacrament, and the ancient scripture gives place to a new rite. To the Father and to the Son be praise and exultation, salvation, honor, power and blessing. To the one who proceeds from both equal praise.  Amen.

 

 

Ad Officium lectionis: St. Thomas Aquinas

 

Sacris sollémniis iuncta sint gáudia, (1)

et ex præcórdiis sonent præcónia;

recédant vétera, nova sint ómnia, (2)

corda, voces et ópera.

 

Noctis recólitur cena novíssima, (3)

qua Christus créditur agnum et ázyma (4)

dedísse frátribus iuxta legítima (5)

priscis indúlta pátribus.

 

Dedit fragílibus córporis férculum,

dedit et trístibus sánguinis póculum,

dicens: «Accípite quod trado vásculum;

omnes ex eo bíbite».

 

Sic sacrifícium istud instítuit,

cuius offícium commítti vóluit

solis presbýteris, quibus sic cóngruit,

ut sumant et dent céteris.

 

Panis angélicus fit panis hóminum; (6)

dat panis cælicus figúris términum. (7)

O res mirábilis: mandúcat Dóminum

servus pauper et húmilis.

 

Te, trina Déitas únaque, póscimus; (8)

sic nos tu vísitas sicut te cólimus:

per tuas sémitas duc nos quo téndimus

ad lucem quam inhábitas. Amen.

 

 

1. solemniis; from solemnium, a non-classical, Christian word.

2. vetera. The rites of the old Law, but also habits of sin, the leaven of malice and wickedness, 1 Cor. 5, 3. Nova; the new Law and habits informed by grace. novissima, last. But the last is also the newest, novissima, and the idea of newness is not far from St Thomas's mind. Nova sint omnia he had just written.

4. creditur. This fact is implied, but not stated, in the Scriptures; cf. Lk. 22, 8.

5. fratribus; cf. Pange, linqua: our Lord’s name for his apostles and the Church’s echo in Orate, fratres.

6. angelicus and caelicus: Et panem caeli dedit eis. Panem angelorum manducavit homo, Ps. 77, 24—Angelorum esca nutrivisti popglum tuum; et paratum panem de caelo praestitisti illis sine labore, omne delectamentum in se habentem, Wisdom 16, 20. These texts are about the manna which was 'heavenly' because of its origin and 'angelic' because of its ministers. They are then applied to the Eucharist, the living bread from heaven, John 6, 51, and the bread of angels in that the angels feast spiritually on Christ by their direct vision of Him in heaven; cf. ST. 3, 80, 2. They figure prominently in this Office by quotation, as in the versicle at Vespers and the second antiphon at Lauds, and by allusion, as in this hymn.

7.figuris, types; but in Adoro te Devote (possibly not by St. Thomas) figuris means appearances. Terminum, because all types, the manna, the unleavened bread, the paschal lamb etc., gave way to the reality at this Supper when Christ made all things new.

8. trina deitas, St Thomas did not share the scruples of Raban and Hincmar about this phrase.

 

 

 

On this holy solemnity may our joy be enjoined and from our inmost hearts praise resound. May the old recede and may all things become new, hearts, voices, deeds. That night at the last supper is recalled, when, it is believed, Christ gave to his brothers the lamb and unleavened bread in accordance with the law given to their fathers in former times. He gave to those weak apostles the food of his body, he gave to the sad the drink of blood, saying “receive this chalice which give, all of yo7u drink from it.” Thus he instituted this sacrifice, which he desired to be work of priests alone, so it is  right that they receive themselves first and then administer to others.  The bread of angels becomes the bread of men, the heavenly bread which puts an end to types. O how wondrous is this! The poor and lowly servant feeds on his Lord. We beseech you, O triune Deity, that you visit us, as we worship you; direct us on your paths by which we tend to the light in which you dwell. Amen. 

 

Ad Laudes matutinas: St. Thomas Aquinas

 

Verbum supérnum pródiens (1)

nec Patris linquens déxteram,

ad opus suum éxiens

venit ad vitæ vésperam.

 

In mortem a discípulo (2)

suis tradéndus æmulis,

prius in vitæ férculo

se trádidit discípulis.

 

Quibus sub bina spécie

carnem dedit et sánguinem,

ut dúplicis substántiæ (3)

totum cibáret hóminem.

 

Se nascens dedit sócium,

convéscens in edúlium,

se móriens in prétium,

se regnans dat in præmium. (4)

 

O salutáris hóstia,

quæ cæli pandis óstium, (5)

bella premunt hostília:

da robur, fer auxílium.

 

Uni trinóque Dómino

sit sempitérna glória,

qui vitam sine término

nobis donet in pátria. Amen.

 

W&H: 1. Verbum supernum prodiens: Aquinas here exploits the exordium of a pre-Carolingian hymn, Verbum supernum prodiens / a patre olim exiens (on which, see Walpole, 302—4). In that hymn reference is to the procession of Son from the Father, and not to the descent of the Son in the Incarnation, as here.

2. discipulo . . . tradendus . . . se tradidit discipulis: Contrast between betrayal by Judas and Jesus's self-giving is accentuated by the repetition of the verb in tradendus . . . se tradidit; self-giving precedes (prius) betrayal.

 3. ut. totum cibaret hominem: The theme of self-giving continues ("feeding them with his whole human person, consisting of the double substance"). This is the correct sense of totum hominem, not "the whole of mankind."

4. in praemium: The reward is the conferment of the Eucharist.

5.  hostia, quae caeli pandis ostium: Note the play hostia . . . ostium. In the tradition of the Latin Fathers, emphasis is laid on the Redemption as the expiation of sins through Christ's sacrificial death.

The heavenly Word coming forth, yet not leaving the Father’s right hand, going out to his work, he came to his life’s evening tide.  When he was about to be handed to death at the hands of his enemies, he first handed over himself as the bread of life to his disciples. He gave his flesh and blood under two species that he might feed them the whole man in double substance. Beingborn he gave himself as our companion, at the meal he gave himself to be eaten;  dying he gave himself to pay the price, ruling he gives himself as man’s prize. O saving Victim, who opens the gate of heaven, hostile wars oppress us, grant us strength, grant us help. Eternal glory be to the triune Lord: may he grant to us life without end in our fatherland. Amen.

St. Bernard: Visitation of the blessed Virgin Mary

Elizabeth marveled that so great a person should come to see her and she asked: How have I deserved to be thus visited by the mother of my Lord? She went on to commend Mary for her words of greeting. As soon as ever the voice of thy greeting sounded in my ears, she said, the child in my womb leaped for joy.  And in praise of her faith she said: Blessed art thou for thy believing. High praise indeed was this. But Mary's utter humility would not allow her to keep anything for herself; it only made her the more eager to refer all the credit to God, for it was his blessings that were being praised in her.

"You magnify me", she might have said, "because I am the Lord's mother; but my soul magnifies the Lords himself. You say that your child leaped for joy when he heard my voice; but my spirit has found joy in God, who is my Savior, and your son too rejoices at hearing the bridegroom's voice, for he is the bridegroom's friend You call me blessed because I have believed; but the reason why I believed and am blessed is that the merciful God looked down upon me from on high. If all generations are to count me blessed, it is because God has looked graciously upon his poor and lowly handmaid."

We must not therefore think, brethren, must we, that holy Elizabeth was mistaken when she said what the Spirit had told her to say? Of course, we must not. Obviously, Mary was blessed both because God had looked graciously upon her and because of her believing. That God looked graciously upon her had its effect, and a great effect it was. The Holy Spirit came upon her and by means beyond all telling contrived that her great humility should meet in the depths of her virginal heart with equally great magnanimity. Each gained luster from the mutual contact; neither was diminished by the other. Although she was so humble in estimating her own worth, she was magnanimous in believing the promise made to her. Thinking herself to be but a poor little servant, she yet never doubted that she had been chosen to accomplish an inscrutable mystery; she believed that in very truth she would soon be the mother of the God-man.

It is the prerogative of divine grace so to work in the hearts of the elect that humility does not make them pusillanimous or magnanimity arrogant. The two virtues collaborate. Thus, magnanimity cannot serve as a cloak for pride; in fact, it greatly increases humility and makes men fear God and be grateful to the Giver of their gifts. In the same way, humility affords no entry to pusillanimity. The less a man relies on his own powers, even in the smallest things, the more does he lean on God's strength whenever he has some great enterprise in hand.

IN VISITATIONE BEATÆ MARIÆ VIRGINIS

 

Ad Officium lectionis: saec. XIV

Veni, præcélsa Dómina;

María, tu nos vísita,

quæ iam cognátæ dómui

tantum portásti gáudii.

 

Veni, iuvámen sæculi,

sordes aufer piáculi,

ac visitándo pópulum

pœnæ tolle perículum.

 

Veni, stella, lux márium,

infúnde pacis rádium;

rege quodcúmque dévium,

da vitam innocéntium.

 

Veni, precámur, vísites

nobísque vires róbores

virtúte sacri ímpetus,

ne fluctuétur ánimus.

 

Veni, virga regálium,

reduc fluctus errántium

ad unitátem fídei,

in qua salvántur cælici.

 

Veni, tecúmque Fílium

laudémus in perpétuum,

cum Patre et Sancto Spíritu,

qui nobis dent auxílium. Amen.

Come, O heavenly Lady, O Mary, visit us, who once carried such great joy to the house of your kinswoman. Come, O help of the world, remove the evil squalor, and by visiting the people, take away the threat of punishment.  Come, O star, O light of the seas, pour out the brightness of peace, steer the wandering back to innocence of life.  Come, visit us, we pray, and strengthen us with your power, by the force of your holy virtue prevent our souls from wavering. Come, O royal scepter, lead back the wave of errors to the unity of faith, by which the saints are saved. Come, let us eternally praise you and your Son, with the Father and Holy Spirit, who are our help. Amen.

 

Ad Laudes matutinas: saec. XVI?

 

Véniens, mater ínclita,

cum Sancti dono Spíritus,

nos ut Ioánnem vísita

in huius carnis sédibus.

 

Procéde, portans párvulum,

ut mundus possit crédere

et tuæ laudis títulum

omnes sciant extóllere.

 

Salúta nunc Ecclésiam,

ut tuam vocem áudiens

exsúrgat in lætítia,

advéntum Christi séntiens.

 

María, levans óculos,

vide credéntes pópulos:

te quærunt piis méntibus,

his opem feres ómnibus.

 

O veræ spes lætítiæ,

nostræ portus misériæ,

nos iunge cæli cúriæ

ornátos stola glóriæ.

 

Tecum, Virgo, magníficat

ánima nostra Dóminum,

qui laude te nobílitat

et hóminum et cælitum. Amen.

 

Hastening, O noble mother, with the gift of the Holy Spirit, visit us in our fleshly abode as you once visited John. Go forth, carrying the little baby that the world might believe and all may know to praise your name. Greet now the Church, that hearing your voice she may rise to gladness, knowing the coming of Christ. Mary, raise your eyes, see the people who believe; they seek you with dutiful souls you who bring help to all.  O hope of true joy, the safe port for our misery, join us to the heavenly courts and adorn us with the robes of glory. With you, O Virgin, our souls magnify the Lord, we, who ennoble you with the praise of men and of the heavenly hosts. Amen.

 

Ad Vesperas: novus

 

Cóncito gressu petis alta montis,

Virgo, quam matrem Deus ipse fecit,

ut seni matri studiósi amóris

  pígnora promas.

 

Cum salutántis capit illa vocem,

ábditus gestit puer exsilíre,

te parens dicit dóminam, salútat

  teque beátam.

 

Ipsa prædícis fore te beátam

Spíritu fervens pénitus loquénte,

ac Deum cantu célebras amœno

  magna operántem.

 

Teque felícem pópuli per orbem

semper, o mater, récitant ovántes

atque te credunt Dómini favórum

  esse minístram.

Quæ, ferens Christum, nova semper affers

dona, tu nobis fer opes salútis,

qui pie tecum Tríadem supérnam

  magnificámus. Amen.

 

Quickly you search out the hill country, O Virgin, whom God has made a mother, anxious to relate to the older mother the pledge of love. When she hears the voice of your greeting, the boy hiding in her womb eagerly leaps, calls you lady and greeting you as blessed. She foretells that you will be blessed, the fiery Spirit speaking to her inwardly and you celebrate with a pleasing canticle the One who does great things.  The people throughout the world greet you and proclaim you happy, O Mother, and believe that you serve in the favor of the Lord. You, bearing Christ, ever bring new gifts, advancing the work of salvation for us, who with you lovingly magnify the heavenly Trinity. Amen.

 

From the Roman Breviary: The Holy Trinity:

 

 

Matins/Office of Readings

 

Summæ Parens cleméntiæ,

Mundi regis qui máchinam,

Uníus et substántiæ,

Trinúsque persónis Deus:

 

Da déxteram surgéntibus,

Exsúrgat et mens sóbria,

Flagrans et in laudem Dei

Grates repéndet débitas.

 

Deo Patri sit glória,

Natóque Patris único,

Cum Spíritu Paráclito,

In sempitérna sǽcula.

Amen.

 

O God, by whose command is swayed

This ordered world which thou hast made;

Parent of heavenly clemency,

In nature One, in persons Three;

 

Assist us while our minds we raise,

Inflamed with thy immortal praise;

That with our sober thoughts, we may

Forever our thanksgiving pay.

 

May age by age thy wonders tell,

Eternal praise thy works reveal,

And sing with the celestial host

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

 

Lauds

 

Tu, Trinitátis Unitas,

Orbem poténter quæ regis,

Atténde laudis cánticum,

Quod excubántes psállimus.

 

Ortus refúlget Lúcifer,

Præítque solem núntius:

Cadunt ténebræ nóctium:

Lux sancta nos illúminet.

 

Deo Patri sit glória,

Eiúsque soli Fílio,

Cum Spíritu Paráclito,

Nunc, et per omne sǽculum.

Amen.

 

O thou, who dost all nature sway,

Dread Trinity in Unity,

Accept the trembling praise we pay

To thy eternal majesty.

 

The star that heralds in the dawn

Is slowly fading in the skies;

The darkness melts; O thou true light,

Upon our darkened souls arise.

 

To God the Father glory be,

And to the sole-begotten Son,

And Holy Ghost co-equally,

While everlasting ages run.

Amen.

 

Vespers

 

Iam sol recédit ígneus:

Tu, lux perénnis, Únitas,

Nostris, beáta Trínitas,

Infúnde lumen córdibus.

 

Te mane laudum cármine,

Te deprecámur véspere;

Dignéris ut te súpplices

Laudémus inter cǽlites.

 

Patri, simúlque Fílio,

Tibíque, Sancte Spíritus,

Sicut fuit, sit iúgiter

Sæclum per omne glória.

Amen.

 

As fades the glowing orb of day,

To thee, great source of light, we pray;

Blest Three in One, to every heart

Thy beams of life and love impart.

 

At early dawn, at close of day,

To thee our vows we humbly pay;

May we, mid joys that never end,

With thy bright saints in homage bend.

 

To God the Father, and the Son,

And Holy Spirit, Three in One,

Be endless glory, as before

The world began, so evermore.

Amen.

From the Book on the Faith by S. Fulgentius, Bishop, to Peter

 

 

THE Faith which the holy Patriarchs and Prophets received before the Incarnation of the Divine Son of God, which the holy Apostles also heard from the same Lord clothed in flesh, the Faith which the holy Apostles were instructed by their Divine teacher, the Holy Spirit, not only to preach verbally, but also to leave in writing for the saving instruction of those who should come after them; this Faith proclaims one God in Trinity, that is, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

BUT there would not be a true Trinity if one and the same Person were called Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost. For if, just as the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one Substance, they were likewise one Person, then in no wise could it be called a true Trinity. Then again it could be called a Trinity, but could not be said to be one God, if, in the same way that the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are each distinct as to their difference of Person, so they were also unlike as regards diversity of nature.

NONE is in any way without the others: for none came before the others in eternity, nor was greater in majesty, nor mightier in power. As concerning the Unity of the Divine Nature, the Father is neither greater nor before the Son; neither is it possible for the eternity and immensity of the Son to be either greater or before the eternity and immensity of the Holy Ghost, or to precede or to exceed it.

Holy Trinity

All the hymns for Trinity Sunday are new and all were composed by Dom Anselmo Lentini.  However accomplished Dom Anselmo may have been, very accomplished, one has to say, he had a vast number of traditional hymns for the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, which he could have used instead.

Ad I & II Vesperas

Imménsa et una, Trínitas,

cuius potéstas ómnia

facit regítque témpora

et exstat ante sæcula,

Tu sola pleno súfficis

tibi beáta gáudio;

tu pura, simplex, próvida

cælos et orbem cóntines.

Omnis, Pater, fons grátiæ,

Lumen patérnæ glóriæ,

Sancte utriúsque Spíritus

intermináta cáritas,

Ex te supréma orígine,

Trias benígna, prófluit

creáta quicquid sústinet,

quicquid decóre pérficit.

Quos et coróna múneras

adoptiónis íntimæ,

nos templa fac niténtia

tibi placére iúgiter.

O viva lux, nos ángelis

da iungi in aula cælica,

ut grati amóris láudibus

te concinámus pérpetim. Amen.

You are boundless and one, O Trinity, whose power creates and governs all time, and exists before the ages. You alone are blessed in yourself are sufficient for the fullness of joy; you are perfect, simple, providentially holding in existence the heavens and all the world. O Father, the source of all grace, O light of the Father’s splendor, O Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son, endless love. From you the first cause, O good Trinity, flows that which sustains created things, that which perfects them in beauty. Those whom you have crowned with the gifts of  adoption as sons, make shining temples ever pleasing to you.  O living light, grant that we may  be united to the angels in the heavenly courts that we may forever gratefully sing of you in loving praise. Amen.

Ad Officium lectionis

Te Patrem summum genitúmque Verbum

Flamen ac Sanctum Dóminum faténtur

únicum, quotquot paradísi  

  hortus adúnat.

Quam modis miris, Trias alma, vivas

pércipit nemo, tamen usque in ævum

cælites vultu sátias, alácri

  voce canéntes.

Te canunt mundi statuísse molem,

Lúmine ætérno régere univérsa,

ígnibus celsi refovére Amóris

  corda tuórum.

Mente permísti súperum catérvis,

iam choris illis sociámus hymnos,

qui tua optámus fore sempitérna

  pace beáti. Amen.

You most high Father and Word to the nations are confessed to be one Lord; may as many as are gathered in the pleasant garden of paradise acknowledge you. No one understands  how wondrous you are, O loving Trinity, but forever you satisfy the inhabitants of heaven with the vision of your countenance, as they sing to you with joyful voices.  They sing that you created the great mass of the world, that you rule all things with eternal light, that you warm with the fire of heavenly love those who belong to you.  Even now you allow us in our souls to sing hymns with the gathered choirs of heaven, the blessed, whom we hope to join in your peace. Amen.

Ad Laudes matutinas

Trínitas, summo sólio corúscans,

glóriæ carmen tibi sit perénne,

quæ tenes nostri veheménti amóre

  péctoris ima.

Cónditor rerum, Pater, alma virtus,

quos tuæ vitæ facis atque formæ

esse consórtes, fídei fac usque

  dona meréri.

Candor ætérnæ speculúmque lucis

Nate, quos dicis sociásque fratres,

pálmites viti tibi nos inésse

  da viridántes.

Cáritas, ignis, píetas, poténti

lúmine ac blando móderans creáta,

Spíritus, mentem rénova, fovéto

  íntima cordis.

Hospes o dulcis, Trias obsecránda,

nos tibi iugi fac amóre nexos,

pérpetes donec modulémur hymnos

  teque fruámur. Amen.

O Trinity resplendent on your lofty throne, may a hymn of glory be sung to you forever, you who hold the strongest love deep within our hearts.  Creator of all things, Father, loving power, who make us to share in your image and life, make us worthy of such gifts of faith.  O Son, splendor and mirror of eternal light, you call us and make us your brothers, grant that we may be flourishing branches of your vine.  Love, fire, goodness, you govern all created things with powerful and peaceful light; O Spirit, renew minds, nurture the inner the inner most parts of the heart.  O sweet host, Trinity worthy of all our homage, make us to be joined to you by the bond of love until at last we enjoy you and sing hymns to you forever. Amen.