S. MATTHIÆ, APOSTOLI: Ad Officium lectionis

Matthía, sacratíssimo
Apostolórum cœtui
quam miro tu consílio
ascríptus es divínitus!

Abscésserat discípulus,
tristi miser suspéndio
magni gradum fastígii
Christíque amórem dénegans.

En Christi te diléctio
ad eius transfert glóriam,
Petri movénte lábia
sortésque Sancto Spíritu.

Tanto dicátus múneri,
lucem revélas géntibus
ad mortem usque, strénuus
Iesum conféssus sánguine.

Da nos, beáte Apóstole,
lætis promptísque córdibus
almus quascúmque Spíritus
vias demónstrat, pérsequi.

Sit Trinitáti glória,
quæ nobis ad cæléstia
per te concédat scándere
hymnósque ætérnos dícere. Amen.

O Matthias, by a wondrous plan, you were appointed by God to the most holy band of the Apostles. The horrid disciple had departed by a sad hanging, denying the place of high honor and the love of Christ. Behold the love of Christ brings you to his glory, moved by the Holy Spirit in the words of Peter and the casting of lots. Commanded to such a great vocation, you reveal the light to the gentiles even to death, powerfully giving witness to Jesus by your blood. Grant to us, O blessed Apostle, with glad and prompt hearts, that we may follow whatever way the gracious Spirit shoes us. Glory to the Trinity, that through you  God may grant us to scale heavenly heights and sing eternal hymns. Amen.

This hymn was used for Lauds on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians in appendices to the Roman Breviary of the 19th Century in certain regions.

Te Redemptoris, Dominique nostri

Dicimus Matrem, speciosa Virgo,

Christianorum decus, et levamen –

Rebus in arctis.

Sæviant portæ licet inferorum,

Hostis antiquus fremat, et minaces

Ut Deo, sacrum populetur agmen,

Suscitet iras.

Nil truces possunt furiæ nocere

Mentibus castis, prece quas vocata

Annuens Virgo fovet, et superno

Robore firmat.

Tanta si nobis faveat Patrona,

Bellici cessat sceleris tumultus,

Mille sternuntur, fugiuntve turmæ,

Mille cohortes.

Tollit ut sancta caput in Sione

Turris, arx firmo fabricata muro,

Civitas David, clypeis, et acri

Milite tuta.

Virgo sic fortis Domini potenti

Dextera, cæli cumulata donis,

A piis longe famulis repellit

Dæmonis ictus.

Te per æternos veneremur annos

Trinitas, summo celebranda plausu,

Te fide mentes, resonoque linguæ

Carmine laudent. Amen.

Mother of our Lord and Saviour!
First in beauty as in power!
Glory of the Christian nations!
Ready help in trouble’s hour!

Though the gates of Hell against us
With profoundest fury rage;
Though the ancient Foe assault us,
And his fiercest battle wage;

Nought can hurt the pure in spirit,
Who upon thine aid rely;
At thy hand secure of gaining
Strength and mercy from on high.

Safe beneath thy mighty shelter,-
Though a thousand hosts combine,
All must fall or flee before us,
Scatter’d by an arm divine.

Firm as once on holy Sion,
David’s tower rear’d its height;
With a glorious rampart girded,
And with glistening armour bright:

So th’ Almighty’s Virgin Mother
Stands in strength for evermore;
From Satanic hosts defending
All who her defence implore.

Through the everlasting ages,
Blessed Trinity to Thee!
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
Praise and endless glory be.

Amen.

Te Mater Alma Numinis: Lauds on the Feast of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Extraordinary Form: Anonymous Latin, 18th Century

Te, Mater alma Numinis,

Oramus omnes supplices,

A fraude nos ut dæmonis

Tua sub umbra protegas.

Ob perditum nostrum genus

Primi parentis crimine,

Ad inclitum Matris decus

Te Rex supremus extulit.

Clementer ergo prospice

Lapsis Adami posteris:

A te rogatus Filius

Deponat iram vindicem.

Iesu, tibi sit gloria,

Qui natus es de Vírgine,

Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,

In sempiterna sæcula. Amen.

Loving Mother of God, we all humbly pray to you, that you protect us and shade us from the fraud of the demons. For the sake of our race lost in the sin of our first parent, the King supreme raised you up to the great glory of being his mother. Therefore, show your mercy to the fallen posterity of Adam, and at your intercession may your Son put aside his avenging anger.

IN NATIVITATE BEATÆ MARIÆ VIRGINIS

Ad Officium lectionis & ad vesperas: Petrus Damianus

Beáta Dei génetrix,

nitor humáni géneris,

per quam de servis líberi

lucísque sumus fílii;

María, virgo régia,

David stirpe progénita,

non tam patérna nóbilis

quam dignitáte súbolis,

Tu nos, avúlso véteri,

complánta novo gérmini;

per te sit genus hóminum

regále sacerdótium.

Tu nos culpárum néxibus

sacris absólve précibus;

tua proméntes mérita

ad cæli transfer præmia.

Sit Trinitáti glória,

o Virgo nobilíssima,

quæ te suórum múnerum

thesáurum dat magníficum. Amen.

O blessed Mother of God, splendor of the human race, through whom we are freed from slavery and made sons of light.  O Mary, O royal Virgin, born from the branch of David, noble not so much from your forefather as from the dignity of your offspring.  Take away from us what is old, plant in us a new seed; through you the race of men becomes a royal priesthood. By your holy prayers untie the bounds of our sins; by your merits making us worthy lead us to heavenly rewards. To the Trinity be glory, O most noble Virgin, who gave you such a magnificent treasury of their gifts. Amen.

St. Peter Damian: HYMNVS SANCTAE MARIAE AD VESPERVM.

1. Sidus, Maria, splendidum,

Te laudat omne saeculum,

Ex qua sub mundi uespere

Sol ortus est iustitiae.

2. Da cor tenebris eripi,

Da uera luce perfrui,

Quae noctem uitae ueteris

Nouis illustret meritis.

3. Per te purgemur uitiis,

Soluamur culpae uinculis,

Mens uulsis spinis eruta

Virtutum ferat germina.

4. Gloria tibi, Domine

O Mary, shining star, every age praises you, from you arises the Sun of Justice, in the evening of the world. Grant that our hearts be rescued from darkness, grant that we enjoy true light, which shines with new merits on the night of our old life. Through you may sins be purged, the chains of guilt be loosened, May our souls be weeded from thorns, that the seed of the virtues may flourish.

Matins on the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, May 31

The privilege of honoring Mary as mediatrix of all graces with a proper Office was granted to Belgium in 1921 at the instance of the late Cardinal Mercier. It was given a place in the Dominican liturgy in 1939, having been petitioned by the General Chapter of Rome, 1938.

“There is no fruit of grace in the history of salvation that does not have as its necessary instrument the mediation of Our Lady.” – Pope Benedict XVI, on the day of his resignation.

Christus, humani generis misertus,

Morte nos ictos merita, supernam

Rursus ad vitam genuit, suoque

Sanguine tersit.

O pium flumen, scelus omne purgans!

O inexhaustum pelagus bonorum,

Unde septeno fluit usque fonte,

Vita salusque!

Hos tamen sacros latices redemptis

Quis ministrabit? Datur hoc Maria:

Munus, ut divae moderetur undae,

Arbitra, cursum.

Cuncta, quae nobis meruit Redemptor,

Dona partitur genitrix Maria,

Cujus ad votum sua fundit ultro

Munera Natus,

Te per aeternos veneremur annos,

Trinitas, summa celebranda plausu:

Te fide mentes, resonoque linguae

Carmine laudent.

Christ, having mercy on the human race, gave birth to us anew in a heavenly life, we who were struck by a deserved death and washed in his own blood.  O loving river that cleanses every sin!  O inexhaustible sea of goodness, from which flows out a sevenfold fountain, life and salvation.!  But who will apply these sacred waters to the redeemed?   Mary is given for this: that she, the arbiter might direct the course of the divine wave. All the gifts which the Redeemer merited for us, Mary the mother distributes, at whose prayer her Son pours forth freely His gifts.  O Trinity, worthy to be venerated with the highest praise, may we adore you through the eternal years; may our souls praise you with faith and our tongue with the resounding hymn. 

Adesto, Christi, vocibus: Bede

1. Adesto, Christe, vocibus,

Inesto nostris mentibus,

Tua benignus dextera

Choros canentum protege.

2. Qui natus es de Virgine

Nostræ salutis gratia,

Da pura nobis pectora,

Da membra casta corporis.

3. Et tu, beata præ omnibus,

Virgo Maria, feminis,

Dei Genitrix inclita,

Nostris faveto laudibus.

10. Cujus rogatu mysticas

Christus sedens ad nuptias,

Aquas in alma transtulit

Vini rubentis pocula.

16. Laudem Deo quam supplices,

Christo canentes, reddimus,

Christi Genitrix, et tua

Commendet intercessio.

 17. Hymnos sacræ quos Virgini,

Matrique castæ dicimus,

Emmanuel, tu suscipe,

Tuamque plebem libera.

Gloria tibi, Domine,

Qui natus es de Virgine,

Cum Patre, et Sancto Spiritu,

In sempiterna sæcula. Amen.

Hear our voices, O Christ, abide in our souls, kindly protect with your right hand, the singing choir. You born from a virgin, by the grace of our salvation, grant us pure hearts, grant chaste bodies. And you, blessed beyond all women, O Virgin Mary, the great Mother of God, receive our fervent praise. By whose prayer, Christ seated at the mystical wedding feast, transformed water into gracious drink of ruby wine. The praise of God, which we offer, singing to Christ, O Mother of Christ, we commend to your intercession. These hymns, which we offer to the chaste, holy Virgin Mother, receive, O Immanuel, and set your people free.