All Saints

 

 

I Vespers: Helisachar or Rabanus Maurus:  9th Century

 

Amalarius of Metz: Prologue of the Antiphonary: Helisachar, Abbot of St. Maximin in Trier

 

Upon the verses which one shall find scarcely altered if perchance he considers it worth his while to consult the present volume, the priest of God Helisachar—a person with excellent education, most zealous in reading and divine worship, and the first among the first men of the most excellent emperor Louis—labored and sweated. And not only did he labor mightily in this present business but whomsoever he was able to assemble around himself from his students.

 

Christe, redémptor ómnium,

consérva tuos fámulos,

Beátæ semper Vírginis

placátus sanctis précibus.

 

Beáta quoque ágmina

cæléstium spirítuum,

prætérita, præséntia,

futúra mala péllite.

 

Vates ætérni iúdicis

apostolíque Dómini,

supplíciter expóscimus

salvári vestris précibus.

 

Mártyres Dei íncliti

confessorésque lúcidi,

vestris oratiónibus

nos ferte in cæléstibus.

 

Chori sanctárum vírginum

monachorúmque ómnium,

simul cum sanctis ómnibus

consórtes Christi fácite.

 

Sit Trinitáti glória,

vestrásque voces iúngite

ut illi laudes débitas

persolvámus alácriter. Amen.

 

O Christ, redeemer of all, may it please you to preserve your servants by the holy prayers of the blessed Ever-Virgin. And through the blessed hosts of heavenly spirits drive away past, present and future evils. Prophets of the eternal Judge and Apostles of the Lord we humbly ask to be saved by your prayers. Illustrious Martyrs of God and brightly shining Confessors by your intercession carry us up into heaven. Choirs of holy Virgins and all monks with all the saints make us to share in Christ. Glory to the Trinity, that with your voices joined we may eagerly offer to Him due praises. Amen.

 

Ad Officium lectionis: 10^th Century

 

Christe, cælórum habitátor alme,

vita sanctórum, via, spes salúsque,

hóstiam clemens, tibi quam litámus,

  súscipe laudis.

 

Omnium semper chorus angelórum

in polo temet benedícit alto,

atque te sancti simul univérsi

  láudibus ornant.

 

Vírginis sanctæ méritis Maríæ

atque cunctórum páriter piórum,

cóntine pœnam, pie, quam merémur

  daque medélam.

 

Hic tuam præsta celebráre laudem,

ut tibi fidi valeámus illam

prósequi in cælis Tríadi canéntes

  iúgiter hymnos. Amen.

 

O Christ, loving dweller in the heavens, the life of the saints, their way and hope of salvation, mercifully receive the sacrifice, which we offer unto you. The choir of all the holy angels ever bless you in the height of heaven, and all the saints together adorn you with praises. By the merits of the holy Virgin Mary and equally the prayers of all the holy ones, check the punishment, O holy one, which we deserve and grant us healing. Here may we faithfully celebrate your praise and in the heavens ever sing hymns to the Trinity. Amen.

 

Lauds & II Vespers: 10th Century

 

Iesu, salvátor sǽculi,

redémptis ope súbveni

et, pia Dei Génetrix,

salútem posce míseris.

 

Cœtus omnes angélici,

patriarchárum cúnei

ac prophetárum mérita

nobis precéntur véniam.

 

Baptísta tui prǽvius

et cláviger æthéreus

cum céteris apóstolis

nos solvant nexu críminis.

 

Chorus sacrátus mártyrum,

sacerdótum conféssio

et virginális cástitas

nos a peccátis ábluant.

 

Monachórum suffrágia

omnésque cives cǽlici

ánnuant votis súpplicum

et vitæ poscant prǽmium.

 

Sit, Christe, tibi glória

cum Patre et Sancto Spíritu,

quorum luce mirífica

sancti congáudent pérpetim. Amen.

 

O Jesus, Savior of the world, come to the aid of the redeemed, and holy Mother of God pray for the salvation of the wretched. May all the angelic hosts, the merits of the cohort of patriarchs and prophets pray for our pardon. May the Baptist your forerunner and Peter the heavenly key bearer with the other apostles undo the bonds of our sins. The holy choir of martyrs, the praise of the priests, the chastity of virgins wash us from our sins. May the intercessions of monks and of all the citizens of heaven favor the prayers of the humble and seek for us the reward of life. O Christ to you be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, by whose wondrous light the saints rejoice forever. Amen.

SS. Simon and Jude: Roman Breviary

 

Sermon of St. Gregory, Pope: Sermon 30 on the Gospels

 

It is written: By His Spirit the Lord hath adorned the heavens. Job xxvi. 13. Now the ornament of the heavens are the godly powers of preachers, and this ornament, what it is, Paul teaches us thus To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another diverse kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.

 

So much power then as have preachers, so much ornament have the heavens. Wherefore again it is written By the word of the Lord were the heavens made. Ps. xxxii. 6. For the Word of the Lord is the Son of the Father. But, to the end that all the Holy Trinity may be made manifest as the Maker of the heavens, that is, of the Apostles, it is straightway added touching God the Holy Ghost: you and all the host of them by the Breath of His mouth. Therefore, the might of the same heavens is the might of the Spirit, for they had not braved the powers of this world, unless the strength of the Holy Ghost had comforted them.

 

For we know what manner of men the Teachers of the Holy Church were before the coming of this Spirit and since He came we see in Whose strength they are made strong. Verily, if we ask of the damsel that kept the door, she will tell us what was the measure of weakness and of strength in that Shepherd 3 of the Church nigh to whose most holy body we are now sitting, before that the Spirit came. He was so stricken by the words of one woman, that for fear of death, he denied Life.

 

Homily by St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo: 87th Tract on John

 

In the reading from the Gospel, the last before this, the Lord had said: Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go, and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you. And here He says These things I command you, that ye love one another. And by this it is that we must understand what fruit from us it is, whereof He saith I have chosen, that ye should go, and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain, and so the words added.

 

That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you. He will give unto us when we love one another, since this (mutual love) is itself the gift of Him Who hath chosen us when as yet we were fruitless, since it hath not been we who have chosen Him, (but He Who hath chosen us,) and ordained us, that we should go, and bring forth fruit, that is to say, should love one another. Love then, is the fruit which we should bring forth, and the Apostle Paul tells us 1 Tim. i. 5 that this love is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. This is the love wherewith we love our neighbor, the love wherewith we love God, for we do not really love our neighbor unless we love God. For if any man loves God, he loveth his neighbor as himself, since he that loveth not God loveth not himself. For on these two commandments hang all the law and the Prophets. Love, then, is the fruit which we should bring forth.

 

And concerning this fruit, the Lord giveth us this commandment These things (saith He) I command you, that ye love one another. Hence also the Apostle Paul Gal. v. 22 when he is about praising up the fruits of the Spirit as opposed to the works of the flesh, saith first of all: The fruit of the Spirit is love. And from that as the beginning he draws out a string of other fruits, as thence begotten and thereto bound, namely, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, chastity.

 

Who is really joyful that loveth not the cause of his joy? Who can really be at one with another, unless he loveth that other? Who is cheerful under long toil for a good work, unless he loveth the aim? Who is kind, unless he loves the object of his tenderness? Who is good, unless by the persuasion of love? Who is truly faithful, unless by the faith which worketh by love? Who is gentle to any use, unless love move him? Who turns away from baseness unless he loves honor? Well, then, doth the Good Master so often command us to love, as though that commandment was all-sufficient, for love is that gift without which all other good things avail nothing, and which cannot be without having every other good gift which makes a good man good.

SS. Simon and Iuda, Apostoli

 

 

At Lauds: Anselmo Lentini, OSB

 

Commúne vos, apóstoli,

extóllat hymni iúbilum,

quos ádvocat par grátia,

corónat una glória.

 

Ardóre pulsus cælico,

Christi premis vestígia,

Simon, et illum núntias

zelo peráctus ímpigro.

 

Tu carne frater, ássecla

fratérque Christi spíritu,

Iuda, Magístrum prædicas

scriptísque fratres érudis.

 

Nec pertiméscit sánguinem

utérque purum fúndere,

ut veritátis énitens

sit testis atque víctima.

 

O summa cæli sídera,

nos detis ut per áspera,

fide valéntes íntegra,

tendámus ad cæléstia.

 

Patri per ævum glória

Natóque cum Paráclito,

quorum supérnis gáudiis

simul fruémur pérpetim. Amen.

 

Let the shared joy of a hymn praise you both, O Apostles, whom equal grace called, whom one glory crowned. Moved by heavenly ardor, O Simon, in the footsteps of Christ you pressed on and proclaimed him, aroused with unfailing zeal. You, O Jude, brother in the flesh, follower and brother of Christ in spirit, you proclaimed the Master and instructed the brethren with the scriptures. Both of you did not fear to pour forth your pure blood that there might be a resplendent witness and sacrificial victim of the truth.  O loftiest stars of the sky, grant that we through harsh things might courageously keep the whole faith all the way to heaven. To the Father glory forever and the Son with the Paraclete, whose heavenly gladness may we enjoy always.  Amen.

 

 

The Office of Readings: novus

 

O sempitérnæ cúriæ

regis supremi príncipes,

quos ipse Iesus édocens

donávit orbi Apóstolos,

 

Supérna vos Ierúsalem,

lucérna cuius Agnus est,

gemmas micántes póssidet,

præclára vos fundámina.

 

Vos et celébrat grátulans

nunc sponsa Christi Ecclésia,

quam sermo vester éxciit,

quam consecrástis sánguine.

 

Cadéntibus cum sæculis

iudex Redémptor séderit,

qua laude vos sedébitis,

senátus altæ glóriæ!

 

Nos ergo vestra iúgiter

prex adiuvándo róboret,

fudístis ut quæ sémina

in grana cæli flóreant.

 

Ætérna Christo glória,

qui fecit esse núntios

vos Patris, atque Spíritus

replévit almo númine. Amen.

 

O highest Princes of the supreme King of the eternal court, the Apostles whom Jesus taught and gave to the world.  The spiritual Jerusalem, whose lamp is the Lamb, possessed you, sparkling jewels, as her bright foundation.  Now the Church, the bride of Christ, which your word inspires and your blood consecrated, hails and celebrates you. When the world ends and the Judge, the Redeemer, sits enthroned, in whose praise you will also sit, O assembly of glory. Wherefore now may your prayer ever aid and strengthen us that the seeds which you have planted may flourish in the grain of heaven. Eternal glory to Christ, you made you messengers of the Father and the Spirit who filled you with divine love. Amen.

 

 

Vespers: 10th Century?

 

Exsúltet cælum láudibus,

resúltet terra gáudiis:

Apostolórum glóriam

sacra canunt sollémnia.

 

 

Vos, sæcli iusti iúdices

et vera mundi lúmina,

votis precámur córdium,

audíte preces súpplicum.

 

Qui cælum verbo cláuditis

serásque eius sólvitis,

nos a peccátis ómnibus

sólvite iussu, quæsumus.

 

Quorum præcépto súbditur

salus et languor ómnium,

sanáte ægros móribus,

nos reddéntes virtútibus,

 

Ut, cum iudex advénerit

Christus in fine sæculi,

nos sempitérni gáudii

fáciat esse cómpotes.

 

Deo sint laudes glóriæ,

qui dat nos evangélicis

per vos doctrínis ínstrui

et prósequi cæléstia. Amen.

 

May heaven exult with praises, earth resound with joy: holy solemnities sing the glory of the Apostles. Who with a word close the doors to heaven and loosen its bars: we beseech you at your command absolve us from all our sins. By your decree ill health and the sickness are subdued: heal the sick and restore us to strength of life. That when Christ the Judge will come at the end of time, he will grant us to share in everlasting joys. Praises of glory be to God, who granted that through you we be instructed in the teaching of the Gospel and attain heaven. Amen.

St. Luke

This is one of the first hymns I translated and I have never much cared for it. It would be greatly improved by a Marian stanza. No doubt that idea was rejected because it rests on the 'myth' of St. Luke painting a picture of Our Lady. Not biblical! But of course it is biblical that Luke gives us the most complete account of Our Lady!

Pláusibus, Luca, cánimus, triúmphum

quo nites fuso rútilo cruóre,

atque præcélsis méritis adéptam

  rite corónam.

Luke, with applause, we sing the triumph

by which you shine forth in shedding crimson blood

and the excelling merits

which rightly earned you a crown.

Spíritus ductu, studiósus orbi

mira quæ pastor dócuit supérnus

Christus ac fecit míserans amóre,

  tradis amánter.

Lead by the Spirit, full of zeal, you lovingly handed over

to an amazed world what Christ the supreme Pastor

taught and did in merciful love.

Próvidus chartis pérhibes venústis

gesta quæ Iesu célebrant alúmnos,

eius et gentis nova quæ patéscunt

  in nova sæcla.

Looking ahead to a new age you put forth in beautiful pages

the deeds which celebrate the disciples of Jesus

and which reveal to the nations new things.

O comes Pauli, speculátor alti

cordis illíus sed et æmulátor,

cáritas Christi fac ut usque nostrum

  pectus adúrat.

O companion of Paul, observer and imitator of his

heart, may the charity of Christ also set fire

to our hearts. 

Tu malis nostris médicus fer artem,

confer et lætum fídei levámen,

ut Deo tandem potiámur, ipsi

  semper ovántes. Amen.

You, a doctor, bring  healing to our

ills and confer  the glad relief of faith

that we may obtain to God

rejoicing in him always.  Amen.

S. TERESIÆ A IESU, VIRGINIS ET ECCLESIÆ DOCTORIS

 

These hymns were composed by Urban VIII (1568-1644).  His pontificate is famous because of the Galileo controversy. No pope since has taken the name Urban, not because of Galileo but because he left the Papacy in deep debt. Urban was an excellent Classical Latinist and decided that the hymns of the Breviary were in very poor Latin. He gathered a committee to do the revision, always a bad idea. Whatever else you may say about the Liturgica Horarum, they (another damned committee) did restore the original versions of the hymns of St. Ambrose and Prudentius. In any case these hymns for St. Teresa are perfectly fine and to the point. Note that Dom Anselmo got his revenge on Urban in the third stanza: Urban: Alverni, a very Virgilian word for hell; Liturgica Horarum: inferni, a perfectly pedestrian word for hell.

 

 

 

Ad Laudes matutinas: In the Roman Breviary used for Vespers and Matins

 

Regis supérni núntia
domum patérnam déseris,
terris, Terésa, bárbaris
Christum datúra aut sánguinem.

Sed te manet suávior
mors, pœna poscit dúlcior:
divíni amóris cúspide
in vulnus icta cóncides.

O caritátis víctima,
tu corda nostra cóncrema,
tibíque gentes créditas
inférni ab igne líbera.

Te, sponse, Iesu, vírginum,
beáti adórent órdines,
et nuptiáli cántico
laudent per omne sæculum. Amen.

 

O herald of the heavenly King, you leave your father’s house, Teresa, to give to barbarian lands Christ or your own blood. But a more tender death remains for you, a sweeter punishment is sought, by the spear of divine love, you are pierced and wounded. O victim of love, set our hearts on fire and deliver the nations entrusted to you from the fire of hell. May the blessed order of virgins worship you, O Jesus, their Bride-groom and praise you forever with a nuptial hymn. Amen.

 

O herald of the heavenly King,

She left her father’s house to bring

Her message, Christ, to foreign lands,

Or shed her blood upon their sands.

 

But kindlier death, Teresa waits

To claim thee. Love, that compensates

The longing heart, will wound and smite

Thee down, yet all thy love requite.

 

O sacrifice of love divine,

Set all our hearts on fire, like thine;

And pray that we may be kept free

From flames of hell, who call on thee.

 

Praise to the Father, with the Son

And Paraclete, forever One:

To thee, O Holy Trinity,

Be praise for all eternity.

Amen.

 

 

Ad Vesperas: In the Roman Breviary used for Lauds.

 

Hæc est dies, qua cándidæ
instar colúmbæ, cælitum
ad sacra templa spíritus
se tránstulit Terésiæ,

Sponsíque voces áudiit:
«Veni, soror, de vértice
Carméli ad Agni núptias;
veni ad corónam glóriæ».

Te, sponse, Iesu, vírginum,
beáti adórent órdines,
et nuptiáli cántico
laudent per omne sæculum. Amen.

 

This is the day when Teresa’s soul in the likeness of a white dove was taken to the sacred temples above; this is the day when the voice of the Bridegroom s heard: ‘come, o sister, from Carmel’s peak to the nuptials of the Lamb; come to your crown of glory.’  May the blessed order of virgins worship you, O Jesus, their Bride-groom and praise you forever with a nuptial hymn. Amen.

 

Haec est dies

This is the day, when, filled with love,

And shining like a heavn’ly dove,

The spirit of Teresa flies

To temples high above the skies.

 

And then she hears the bridegroom’s voice:

“The wedding of the Lamb, rejoice!

Come, sister, from Mount Carmel’s height.

Come to your crown of glory bright.”

 

May all the virgins blest adore

O Bridegroom Jesus, evermore,

And sing you wedding songs of praise

Throughout the everlasting days.

  

Our Lady of the Rosary

 

This feast has a rich hymnography in English as well as Latin. If you use the LH:

No 1st Vespers

Lauds: Te gestientem gaudis

Office of Readings: Quem terra, pontus

Vespers: Ave, maris stella

Vespers I:

This hymn is used for I Vespers on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary/Our Lady of Victory in the Extraordinary Form.

Cælestis aulæ nuntius,
Arcana pandens Numinis,
Plenam salutat gratia
Dei Parentem Virginem.

Virgo propinquam sanguine
Matrem Ioannis visitat,
Qui clausus alvo gestiens
Adesse Christum nuntiat.

Verbum, quod ante sæcula
E mente Patris prodiit,
E Matris alvo Virginis
Mortalis Infans, nascitur.

Templo puellus sistitur,
Legique paret Legifer
Hic se Redemptor paupere
Pretio redemptus immolat.

Quem iam dolebat perditum,
Mox læta Mater invenit
Ignota doctis mentibus
Edisserentem Filium.

Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre et Sancto* Spiritu,
In sempiterna sæcula. Amen.

The Messenger from God’s high throne
His secret counsel making known
Hails Mary, child of David’s race,
God’s Virgin Mother, full of grace.

The Mother-Maid with joyous feet
Her friend, John’s mother, goes to greet;
He, stirring in the enclosing womb,
Declares that Christ his Lord has come.

The Word, who ere the worlds began,
From God the Father’s thought forth ran,
Of Mary, Virgin undefiled,
For us is born a mortal child.

Christ to the Temple courts they bring;
The King’s own law subjects the King;
The world’s Redeemer for a price
Is there redeemed, our sacrifice.

The joyful Mother finds once more
The Son she mourned as lost before;
While doctors by His speech were shown
The mysteries they had never known.

To God the Three in One be praise,
Who through these holy mysteries;
Grants grace to those who seek in prayer,
The glory of His bliss to share.

This hymn is used for Lauds on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary/Our Lady of Victory in the Extraordinary Form.

Iam morte, victor, obruta
Ab inferis Christus redit,
Fractisque culpæ vinculis,
Cæli recludit limina.

Visus satis mortalibus
Ascendit ad cælestia,
Dexteræque Patris assidet
Consors paternæ gloriæ.

Quem iam suis promiserat,
Sanctum daturus Spiritum,
Linguis amoris igneis
Mœstis alumnis impluit.

Soluta carnis pondere
Ad astra Virgo tollitur,
Excepta caeli iubilo,
Et angelorum canticis.

Bis sena cingunt sidera
Almæ parentis verticem:
Throno propinqua Filii
Cunctis creatis imperat.

Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
Qui natus es de Vírgine,
Cum Patre et almo Spíritu,
In sempiterna sæcula. Amen.

Now Christ, the Conqueror of death,
Breaks sin’s enslaving chain,
And rising from the tomb returns,
And opens heaven again.

Awhile beheld by mortal men,
He rises from their sight;
Ascending to the Father’s throne,
He reigns in equal light.

His promised gift unto His own
He sends forth from above,
And rains the Holy Spirit down
In fiery tongues of love.

The Virgin, freed of mortal weight,
Is borne than stars yet higher,
And with glad melody is hailed
By each Angelic choir.

Our Mother’s gentle brow now shines
With crown in starry sheen,
As nigh her Son, in light enthroned,
She reigns creation’s Queen.

O Jesu, born of Virgin bright,
All glory be to Thee,
With Father and with Paraclete,
Through all eternity.

Previously used at Second Vespers

Fr. Thomas A. Ricchini, O.P. (1695-1779)

Te gestiéntem gáudiis,

te sáuciam dolóribus,

te iugi amíctam glória,

o Virgo Mater, pángimus.

Ave, redúndans gáudio

dum cóncipis, dum vísitas,

et edis, offers, ínvenis,

mater Beáta, Fílium.

Ave, dolens et íntimo

in corde agónem, vérbera,

spinas crucémque Fílii

perpéssa, princeps mártyrum.

Ave, in triúmphis Fílii,

in ígnibus Parácliti,

in regni honóre et lúmine

regína fulgens glória.

Veníte, gentes, cárpite

ex his rosas mystériis

et pulchri amóris ínclitæ

matri corónas néctite.

Iesu, tibi sit glória,

qui natus es de Vírgine,

cum Patre et almo Spíritu,

in sempitérna sǽcula. Amen.

O Virgin Mother, we sing of you:

Bearing joys,
Wounded by sorrows,
Clothed with eternal glory.

Hail! Blessed Mother,

Overflowing with joy,
While you conceived, visited,
Fed, offered, and found the Son.

Hail Queen of Martyrs, suffering too within

In agony of heart, the blows,
the thorns and the Cross of your Son
you endured.

Hail, in the victories of your Son,

In the fires of the Paraclete,
In the kingdom
The Queen bright with honor, light
and glory.

Come, you nations, pluck

Roses from these mysteries
And wreath crowns
For the glorious Mother of fair love.

Jesus, to you be glory,
You, who were born of the Virgin,
With the Father and nourishing Spirit,
For eternal ages. Amen.

From the Monastic Diurnal: Winfred Douglas?

THY joys exultant we relate,

Thy wounding sorrows celebrate;

Thy glory, robed in endless light,

We sing, 0 Virgin Mother bright.

Hail, joyous Mother, blest indeed

When thou conceivedst, and in need

Didst visit; and thy Son for men

Didst bear, present,and find again.

Hail, first of martyrs; in thy pure

And anguished heart, thou didst endure

The agony, the scourge, the thorn,

The bitter Cross thy Son hath borne.

Hail, shining Queen, in triumphs won

Forever by thy glorious Son,

Who sent in flame the Holy Ghost,

Who throned thee o'er the heavenly host.

Come, all ye nations, from this vine

Of mysteries the roses twine

In garlands for your Queen above,

The glorious Mother of fair love.

Praise to the Holy Trinity,

Whose grace, bestowed on them that pray,

Leads by each sacred Mystery

To brightness of eternal day. Amen.