Ex more docti mýstico

 

Generally appointed for Nocturns, sometimes Vespers (Walpole). 

Ex more docti mýstico (1)

servémus abstinéntiam, (2)

deno diérum círculo

ducto quater notíssimo.

Lex et prophétæ prímitus (3)

hanc prætulérunt, póstmodum

Christus sacrávit, ómnium

rex atque factor témporum.

Utámur ergo párcius 

verbis, cibis et pótibus,

somno, iocis et árctius

perstémus in custódia.

Vitémus autem péssima

quæ súbruunt mentes vagas,

nullúmque demus cállido  

hosti locum tyránnidis.

Præsta, beáta Trínitas, (6) 

concéde, simplex Unitas,

ut fructuósa sint tuis

hæc parcitátis múnera. Amen.

1. Ex more = ‘by the custom’ (Walpole); mystico because the forty days of Lent are associated with cleansing and purifying: the forty days of the flood, Moses fasting forty days before meeting God, Elijah’s fast and that of Jesus ((Walsh and Husch). 

2. Rule of St. Benedict 49: abstention from food, drink, sleep, conversation, joking

3. Four stanzas are omitted from the original: 

Instructed by the spiritual life we persevere in abstinence in the familiar cycle of four times ten days. The Law and the Prophets first taught this; afterwards Christ himself sanctified it, he who is the ruler and creator of all things. Therefore, let us use sparingly words, food and drink, sleep and jokes and be more careful in keeping guard. Let us shun wicked things, which sabotage our wandering minds and not give place to our crafty enemy in his tyranny. Grant, O Blessed Trinity, give, O simple Unity, to those who are yours the fruitful rewards of fasting. Amen.