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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