Sunday: Weeks II & IV
Vespers I: Later Hymnal: 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
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, 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.
Office of Readings: nocturne
Sunday: 5th 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 detah 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.
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? 8th to 9th Centuries
Walpole: The Matins hymn which replaced 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: 7th to 8th 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 pray to 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.
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