Feast of St. Benedict
Since he was, obviously, the guy who created the Benedictine order, it seems pretty appropriate to celebrate his feast in the way his children do. It's a great opportunity for those of you who haven't gotten into the Divine Office/LotH yet to get your feet wet, too.
Even if you don't have the inclination to say the entire office, there's a collect for the day set out at the bottom, and the rest of it is also perhaps worth looking through, since it does contain some very pretty stuff in parts. Oh, and there's one link to some real monks singing one of the hymns, which is worth listening to, at least.
I'll start by posting the raw information right from the diurnal for those of you who know how to parse it, and then add some more explanation at the end. I'll post it in both Latin and English -- note that the Latin is the version with full approvals, so you can be certain that it counts as liturgical prayer, while the English is on somewhat less solid footing.
If you're a beginner, scroll down to the end first, and then look at the stuff right below here. It'll be less scary that way.
First Vespers
Everything as at second vespers, except for:
Versicle of hymn:
V. Amavit eum Dominus, et ornavit eum. R. Stolam gloriae induit eum.
V. The Lord loved him and adorned him. R. He clothed him with a robe of glory.
Magnificat antiphon:
Exsultet omnium turba fidelium pro gloria almi Patris Benedicti: laetentur praecipue catervae monachorum, celebrantes eius Solemnitatem in terris, de cuius societate Sancti congaudent in caelis
Let the whole multitude of the faithful exult in the glory of our beloved Father Benedict; but most of all let that army of monks be glad who on earth are celebrating the feast of him with whom the Saints in heaven are rejoicing
Lauds
Antiphons
Latin
Vir Dei Benedictus signum crucis edidit, et vas pestiferi potus ita confractum est, ac si pro signo lapidem dedisset
Completa oratione, tres petras in loco posuit; et omnipotens Deus in montis excelsa rupe aquam produxit
Gloriosus Confessor Domini, orationem faciens, benedictionem dedit; et lapis, super quem antiquus hostis sedebat, subito levatus est
Regrediente anima, corpusculum pueri contremuit, et sub oculis omnium, qui aderant, vivus apparuit
Cum Placidus ex aqua traheretur, vidit super caput suum Abbatis melotem, qui eum ab unda reducebat
English
The man of God, Benedict, made the sign of the Cross; and the glass containing the deadly drink was broken into pieces, as if a stone had been hurled against it.
When he had finished his prayer, he set up three stones to mark the spot; and almighty God supplied water on the rocky heights.
After the glorious confessor of the Lord had said a prayer, he gave a blessing; and the stone on which the ancient enemy had been sitting was raised immediately.
When the soul returned, the body of the stripling trembled, and, before the eyes of all present, appeared living.
When Placidus was carried out of the water, he saw above his head the robe of the Abbot, who was rescuing him from the waves
Chapter:
[Ecclesiasticus 50:6-7 Vulg] [Ecclesiasticus 50:6-7]
Short responsory:
Amavit eum Dominus, et ornavit eum. Amavit eum Dominus, et ornavit eum. Stolam gloriae induit eum, et ornavit eum. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Amavit eum Dominus, et ornavit eum.
The Lord loved him, and adorned him. The Lord loved him, and adorned him. He clothed him with a robe of glory, and adorned him. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. The Lord loved him, and adorned him.
Hymn:
Aurora Surgit Aurea. YouTube of it. Beautiful, right?
Latin text:
Aurora surgit aurea
Festa restaurans annua,
Cum Benedictus arduum
Caeli scandit palatium.
Quanta in summis accipit,
Qui sic in imis claruit,
Cuius micant prodigia
Per ampla mundi climata!
Eius carentum gratia
Tellus vomit cadavera,
Devotis unda liquida
Sicca lambit vestigia.
Totius orbis ambitum
Per solis videt radium,
Mens in auctore posita
Subiecta cernit omnia.
Te, Pater alme, petimus
Pronae mentis visceribus,
Ut caelum des ascendere,
Quos terrain doces spernere.
Deo Patri sit gloria,
eiusque soli Filio,
cum Spiritu Paraclito,
et nunc, et in perpetuum.
Amen.
(Untranscribed English translation.)
Versicle:
V. Iustus deduxit Dominus per vias rectas R. Et ostendit illi regnum Dei
Benedictus antiphon:
Sanctissime Confessor Domini, monachorum Pater et Dux Benedicte, intercede pro nostra omniumque salute
O most holy Confessor of the Lord, Benedict, father and guide of monks, intercede for the salvation of us and everyone
Minor hours
Prime has the first antiphon of Lauds, Terce the second, and so on. Terce has the same chapter as at Lauds, Sext has [Ecclesiasticus 50:3-4 Vulg] [Ecclesiasticus 50:3-4], and None has [Ecclesiasticus 50:10-11,13-14 Vulg] [Ecclesiasticus 50:10-11,13-14].
Second vespers
Antiphons:
Antiphons 1-3 and 5 from Lauds.
Chapter:
[Ecclesiasticus 50:6-7 Vulg] [Ecclesiasticus 50:6-7]
Short responsory:
Sancte Pater Benedicte, intercede pro nobis. Sancte Pater Benedicte, intercede pro nobis. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi, intercede pro nobis. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sancte Pater Benedicte, intercede pro nobis.
O holy Father Benedict, intercede for us. O holy Father Benedict, intercede for us. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ, intercede for us. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. O holy Father Benedict, intercede for us.
Hymn:
Gemma caelestis pretiosa Regis. Link has both Latin and English version, though the English translation is different from the one in my book. Also a slightly different doxology, my book says:
Gloria Patri, Genitaeque Proli,
et tibi, compar utriusque semper,
Spiritus alme, Deus unus, omni
tempore saecli.
Amen.
I was unfortunately unable to find a recording of this hymn. Perhaps someone else has one?
Versicle:
As at Lauds.
Magnificat antiphon:
O caelestis norma vitae, Doctor et Dux Benedicte, cuius cum Christo spiritus exsultat in caelestibus: gregem, Pastor alme, serva, sancta prece corrobora, via caelos clarescente fac, te duce, penetrare.
O pattern of heavenly life, our guide and teacher Benedict, whose soul is now rejoicing with Christ in heaven: protect thy flock, dear shepherd, and by thy holy prayer support them; with thyself as leader showing that brightened way, make them enter the heavens.
Collect:
Deus, qui beatissimum Confessorem tuum Benedictum omnium iustorum spiritu replere dignatus es: concede nobis famulis tuis, eius Solemnitatem celebrantibus; ut, eiusdem spiritu repleti, quod te donante promisimus, fideliter adimpleamus. Der Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
O God, Who didst fill Thy most blessed Confessor Benedict with the spirit of all the righteous, grant unto Thy servants who celebrate his solemnity, that filled with his spirit we may faithfully accomplish by Thy assistance that which we have promised. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who with thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Which psalms to use?
If you're a complete beginner, go for the ones you get naturally from the below heading. You'll have to use the rest of the info there anyway, and it's pointless to overcomplicate things.
Otherwise, the rubrics provide for this feast being interpreted as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd class, or even just a commemoration. For the 1st or 2nd class feast, use the Common of Apostles, which has Lauds with Psalms 92, 99, 62, then the Benedicite, and then Psalms 148-150. Vespers has Psalms 109-112.
For the 2nd & 3rd class feast, there's no 1st vespers, and you use psalms of the day. Lauds with psalms 50 and 142, division in 142 after Non avertas faciem tuam a me, et similis ero descendentibus in lacum, the Canticle of Ecclesiasticus, and finally psalms 148-150. Second vespers has psalm 144 starting after (not including) Suavis Dominus universis, et miserationes eius super omnia opera eius, then 145-147.
If you say it as a commemoration, you say the office as usual, but after the collect and before the 2nd Domine exaudi, you say first the the Benedictus antiphon, then versicle of Lauds, and then finally the collect of St. Benedict. After that, continue with Domine exaudi and so on until the end.
You should probably go for the 1st or 2nd class scheme.
(All psalm numbers are according to the vulgate numbering here.)
How to compile all this stuff, for the beginner
Essentially, you just look at this site for the divine office (set to the 1960 rubrics), and replace the antiphons and so on according to the things written here. I've set them out in the order in which they appear in the Office, so it should be relatively straightforward. The only major difference I can see is that the responsory seems to be missing from vespers there -- it goes between the chapter and the hymn. If it seems difficult, this site has a lot of information on the office which may be helpful. Or you could ask in the comments here, since I think I've figured out how to say it.
No comments:
Post a Comment