Homily by S. Bernard, Abbot, in Praise of the Virgin Mary

Mary addressed the Son, God and Lord of Angels, saying, Son, why have you so dealt with us? Who among the Angels would thus dare? It is enough for them, and more than enough, that, while they are spirits by creation, by grace they are both made and called Angels, as David witnesses: Who makes his Angels spirits. But Mary, knowing herself to be his Mother, with confidence named this Majesty, Son, he whom they serve with reverence: neither did God disdain to be called what he had deigned to become. For a little later it is written: And he was subject unto them. Who, unto whom? God to man, God, I say, unto whom Angels are subject, whom Principalities and Powers adore, he was subject to Mary.

Come and marvel at these things and say which is the greater wonder, the infinite loving-kindness of the Son, or the pre-eminent honor of the parents. Each is amazing, each is marvelous: that God should comply with man is an unparalleled example of humility; that man should have dominion over God is a unique exaltation. In special praise of virgins, we sing that they follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes. What praise would you deem worthy for the one who leads him? Learn, O man, to obey; learn, O earth, to submit; learn, O dust, to comply. The Evangelist is speaking of the Creator, and he says, And he was subject unto them: there is no question of doubt: to Mary and to Joseph. Then blush, you creature of ashes! God humbles himself, do you exalt yourself? God subjects himself to men, and do you want to lord it over them, to set yourself over your Creator?

Vesperas I & II: Prudentius

A.S. Walpole: Cathemerinon IX, from which 23 is a cento, is entitled hymnus omnis horae. At every hour of every day should a believer be mindful of Christ, who is the A and O, the beginning and the end. Prudentius therefore praises Him as the creator of all things, as the everlasting Son of the Father's love begotten. He then briefly but graphically relates the chief wonders of His earthly life.  

Milfull: (in the English tradition): This hymn was in use at Christmas and Candlemas . . . for 1^st Vespers of St. Stephen and Compline of the Octave of Christmas, the Vigil of Epiphany, the Vigil of the Purification and the Purification itself.

Corde natus ex Paréntis

ante mundi exórdium,

Alpha et Omega vocátus,

ipse fons et cláusula

ómnium quæ sunt, fuérunt

quæque post futúra sunt.

  

Córporis formam cadúci,

membra morti obnóxia

índuit, ne gens períret

primoplásti ex gérmine,

mérserat quam lex profúndo

noxiális tártaro.

O beátus ortus ille,

Virgo cum puérpera

édidit nostram salútem

feta Sancto Spíritu,

et puer redémptor orbis

os sacrátum prótulit.

Ecce, quem vates vetústis

concinébant sæculis,

quem prophetárum fidéles

páginæ spopónderant,

émicat promíssus olim:

cuncta colláudent eum!

Glóriam Patri melódis

personémus vócibus;

glóriam Christo canámus,

matre nato vírgine,

inclitóque sempitérnam

glóriam Paráclito. Amen.

Born from the heart of the Father before the beginning of the world, called Alpha and Omega, himself the source and the end of all which exist, have existed and which afterwards shall exist. Clothed in the form of the frail body, his members subject to death, that the people not perish from the seed of the firstborn Adam whom the law of death submerged in deepest hell.  O blessed birth from the childbearing Virgin, made fertile by the Holy Spirit, which brought forth our salvation and the Child, the Redeemer of the world revealed his face. Behold him of whom the ancient seers sang through the centuries, him whom before the writing of the faithful prophets had promised, let all things praise him.  With melodious voices let us sing the glory of the Father, chant glory to Christ, born of a Virgin Mother and eternal glory to the great Paraclete. Amen.

Officium lectionis: saec. VII-VIII

The first part of this hymn, under the title Agnoscat omne saeculum (attributed by some to Fortunatus), was and is used for 2nd Vespers for the Annunciation. 

Radix Iesse flóruit

et virga fructum édidit;

fecúnda partum prótulit

et virgo mater pérmanet.

Præsæpe poni pértulit

qui lucis auctor éxstitit;

cum Patre cælos cóndidit,

sub matre pannos índuit.

Legem dedit qui sæculo,

cuius decem præcépta sunt,

dignándo factus est homo

sub legis esse vínculo.

Iam lux salúsque náscitur,

nox díffugit, mors víncitur;

veníte, gentes, crédite:

Deum María prótulit.

The root of Jesse has flowered and the branch has given forth fruit; the fertile Mother has borne a Son, yet remains a Virgin. He endures the manger, he who is the Creator of light; with his Father he created the heavens but he is clothed in diapers by his Mother. He who gave the Law to the world, the ten commandments, condescends to be made man, to be constrained by the chain of the Law.  Now light and salvation are born, night flees and death is conquered; come, you nations, believe: Mary has given birth to God.

Laudes: saec. IX

Walpole: a fragment of an alphabetical hymn the rest of which has been lost. In the Mozarabic use, to judge by the rubric: in alia festivitate non dicitur, only on die sanctae Mariae.

Fit porta Christi pérvia

omni reférta grátia,

transítque rex, et pérmanet

clausa, ut fuit, per sæcula.

Summi Paréntis Fílius

procéssit aula Vírginis,

sponsus, redémptor, cónditor

suæ gigas Ecclésiæ:

Honor matris et gáudium,

imménsa spes credéntium,

lapis de monte véniens

mundúmque replens grátia.

Exsúltet omnis ánima,

quod nunc salvátor géntium

advénit mundi Dóminus

redímere quos cóndidit.

Christo sit omnis glória,

quem Pater Deum génuit,

quem Virgo mater édidit

fecúnda Sancto Spíritu. Amen.

A path is made through the gate of Christ, Mary full of all grace, through her the King has passed and she remains closed, as it was and ever shall be. The Son of the most-high Father came forth from the Virgin’s womb, Bridegroom, Redeemer, Giant of his Church.  The honor and joy of his Mother, the great hope of believers, the stone falling down from the mountain, filling the world with grace. Let every soul exult, for now the Savior of the nations, the Lord of the world comes to redeem what he created. To Christ be all glory, whom the Father begot, whom the Virgin Mother brought forth, herself made fertile by the Holy Spirit. Amen.