S. IACOBI, APOSTOLI

Ad Laudes matutinas: novus

Te nostra lætis láudibus,

Iacóbe, tollunt cántica,

quem Christus arte ex rétium

ad tanta vexit cúlmina.

Ipso vocánte, cóncitus

cum fratre linquis ómnia,

ipsíus et fis nóminis

verbíque præco férvidus.

Testis poténtis déxteræ

præclárus alta cónspicis,

in monte celsam glóriam,

tristes in horto angústias.

Qui promptus exstas, póscitur

cum passiónis póculum,

tu primus ex apóstolis

pro Christi amóre plécteris.

Iesu fidélis ássecla

satórque lucis cælicæ,

mentes fide claréscere,

da spe fovéri péctora.

Christi sequi da sédulos

præcépta nos in sæculo,

hymnos ut olim glóriæ

fundámus illi pérpetim. Amen.

Our hymns with joyful praises are raised up to you, O James, whom Christ carried away from the work of the nets up to such heights.  At his call you with your brother rose quickly forsaking everything that you might be a fervent preacher of his name and his word.  A glorious witness of his powerful right hand, you contemplated lofty matters: on the mountain his heavenly glory; in the garden his sad anguish.  You bravely stood ready to drink the cup of his passion; you are the first of the apostles to be punished for the love of Christ.  Faithful follower of Jesus and sower of heavenly light, grant that our souls may shine with faith, our hearts with burning hope.  Grant us diligently to follow the precepts of Christ in this world that we in heaven pour forth hymns of glory to him forever. Amen.

From the Sermons of Pope St. Gregory the Great: St. Mary Magdalene 25th on the Gospels

Mary Magdalen, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, through love of the truth, washed away in her tears the defilement of her sins, and the words of the Truth are fulfilled which He spake Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much. She who had remained chilly in sin, became fiery through love. When even His disciples went away again unto their own home, Mary still stood without at the sepulchre of Christ, weeping. She sought Him Whom her soul loved, but she found Him not. She searched for Him with tears; she yearned with strong desire for Him Who, she believed, had been taken away. And thus it befell her, that being the only one who had remained to seek Him, she was the only one that saw Him. It is the truth that the backbone of a good work is perseverance.

St. Mary Magdalene: Monastic Diurnal

St. Mary Magdalene: Monastic Diurnal 

Vespers: St. Robert Bellarmine, S.J. (1542-1621).

Pater superni luminis,

Cum Magdalenam respicis,

Flammas amoris excitas,

Geluque solvis pectoris.

Amore currit saucia

Pedes beatos ungere,

Lavare fletu, tergere

Comis, et ore lambere.

Astare non timet Cruci,

Sepulcro inhæret anxia:

Truces nec horret milites,

Pellit timorem caritas.

O vera, Christe, caritas,

Tu nostra purga crimina,

Tu corda reple gratia,

Tu redde cæli præmia.

Patri, simulque Filio,

Tibique Sancte Spiritus,

Sicut fuit, sit iugiter

Sæclum per omne gloria. Amen.

Monastic Diurnal

O FATHER of celestial rays,

When thou on Magdalene dost gaze,

The flame of burning love appears,

Her icy heart dissolves

in tears.

Wounded by love, she hastens o'er

The feet of Christ her tears to pour,

Anoints them, wipes them with her hair,

And prints adoring kisses there.

Fearless, the Cross she will not leave:

And grieving, to the Tomb doth cleave: 

No ruthless soldiers cause her dread:

For from her love all fear hath fled.

O Christ, true Charity thou art;

Purge thou the foulness of our heart,

Fill every soul with grace and love,

And give us thy rewards above.

All laud to God the Father be;

All praise, eternal Son, to thee;

All glory, as is ever meet,

To God the Holy Paraclete. Amen.

Lauds: attr. St. Odo of Cluny, (878-942).

Æterni Patris Unice,

Nos pio vultu respice,

Qui Magdalenam hodie

Vocas ad thronum gloriæ.

In thesauro recondita

Regis est drachma perdita,

Gemmaque lucet inclita

Ex luto luci reddita.

Iesu dulce refugium,

Spes una pœnitentium,

Per peccatricis meritum

Peccati solve debitum.

*Nos vitiorum stimuli

Iugi vexant instantia,

Et blandimentis sæculi

Corrumpunt lenocinia.

*Libet, nec licet libere

Tibi pro voto psallere,

Dum mens ægra sub miseræ

Carnis gemiscit onere.

Pia mater et humilis,

Naturæ memor fragilis,

Nos rege tuis precibus

In huius vitæ fluctibus.

Uni Deo sit gloria

Pro multiformi gratia,

Qui culpas et supplicia

Remittit, et dat præmia. Amen.

*Verses omitted in monastic texts and translations.

THOU only Son of God on high,

Regard us with a gracious eye,

Who weeping Magdalene dost own

And call unto thy glorious throne.

Lo! In the royal coffers laid

Again, the long lost coin displayed;

The noble gem of sparkling sheen,

From mire recovered, glows serene.

Jesu, our refuge sure and sweet,

Thee, hope of penitents, we greet;

Forgive the hearts that fain would break,

For that repentant sinner's sake.

And may that Mother kind and meek

Think on our nature frail and weak,

And raise her prayer that we may gain

A passage safe o'er life's rough main.

To God alone be honor paid

For grace so manifold displayed:

Their guilt he pardons who repent,

And gives reward for punishment. Amen

S. MARIÆ MAGDALENÆ

Ad Officium lectionis & ad Vesperas: novus

Mágdalæ sidus, múlier beáta,

te pio cultu venerámur omnes,

quam sibi Christus sociávit arcti

  fœdere amóris.

Cum tibi illíus pátefit potéstas

dæmonum vires ábigens treménda,

tu fide gaudes potióre necti

  grata medénti.

Hæret hinc urgens tibi caritátis

vis ut insístas pédibus Magístri,

férvidis illum comitáta semper

  sédula curis.

Tuque complóras Dóminum, crucíque

ímpetu flagrans pietátis astas;

membra tu terges studiósa et ungis

  danda sepúlcro.

Quos amor Christi péperit, triúmphis

nos fac adiúngi sócios per ævum,

atque Dilécto simul affluénter

  pángere laudes. Amen.

O Star of Magdala, blessed woman, all venerate you with holy reverence, whom Christ united to himself in a strong bond of love. When he manifested to you his power, driving away fears, the forces of the demons, you rejoiced in stronger faith in the one who had healed you. Wherefore the power of love keep you and urged you to follow the steps of the Master, ever his companion, fervently dedicated to caring for him.  And you wept for your Lord as you stood under the cross, struck by burning love and you anxiously wiped and anointed his body laid in the tomb.  Make us companions of those to whom Christ’s love has given birth, joined to those who have triumphed forever, and abundantly to sing praises to the Beloved. Amen.

Ad Laudes matutinas: novus

Auróra surgit lúcida

Christi triúmphos áfferens,

cum corpus eius vísere,

María, vis et úngere.

Anhéla curris; ángelus

at ecce lætus prædocet

mortis refráctis póstibus

redísse quem desíderas.

Sed te manet iucúndius

intácti amóris præmium,

cum, voce pulsans vílicum,

tuum Magístrum cónspicis.

Quæ cum dolénti Vírgine

hæsísti acérbo stípiti,

tu prima vivi ab ínferis

es testis atque núntia.

O flos venúste Mágdalæ,

o Christi amóre sáucia,

tu caritátis ígnibus

fac nostra corda férveant.

Da, Christe, tantæ sérvulæ

dilectiónem pérsequi,

et nos tu in cæléstibus

tibi canámus glóriam. Amen.

The sparkling dawn arises, bringing the victories of Christ, when Mary desires to see his body and anoint him. Out of breath you run, but a glad angel proclaims “behold the one whom you desire has broken the doors of death and returned.  But there remains for you the happier reward of chaste love, when by the sound of the gardener’s voice you recognize your Master.  You with the sorrowful Virgin clinging to the bitter tree are the first witness and herald of the one who live from the dead. O lovely flower of Magdala, wounded by love of Christ, make our hearts to burn with the fires of love. Grant us, O Christ, to follow the love of such a great servant and also grant that we may sing your glory in heaven. Amen.

Whether the active life is more excellent than the contemplative?

Summa Theologiae > Second Part of the Second Part > Question 182: Article 1. 

Nothing prevents certain things being more excellent in themselves, whereas they are surpassed by another in some respect. Accordingly, we must reply that the contemplative life is simply more excellent than the active: and the Philosopher proves this by eight reasons (Ethic. x, 7,8). The first is, because the contemplative life becomes man according to that which is best in him, namely the intellect, and according to its proper objects, namely things intelligible; whereas the active life is occupied with externals. Hence Rachael, by whom the contemplative life is signified, is interpreted "the vision of the principle," [Or rather, 'One seeing the principle,' if derived from rah and irzn; Cf. Jerome, De Nom. Hebr.] whereas as Gregory says (Moral. vi, 37) the active life is signified by Lia who was blear-eyed. The second reason is because the contemplative life can be more continuous, although not as regards the highest degree of contemplation, as stated above (II-II:180:8 ad 2; II-II:181:4 ad 3), wherefore Mary, by whom the contemplative life is signified, is described as "sitting" all the time "at the Lord's feet." Thirdly, because the contemplative life is more delightful than the active; wherefore Augustine says (De Verb. Dom. Serm. ciii) that "Martha was troubled, but Mary feasted." Fourthly, because in the contemplative life man is more self-sufficient, since he needs fewer things for that purpose; wherefore it was said (Luke 10:41): "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and art troubled about many things." Fifthly, because the contemplative life is loved more for its own sake, while the active life is directed to something else. Hence it is written (Psalm 36:4): "One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may see the delight of the Lord." Sixthly, because the contemplative life consists in leisure and rest, according to Psalm 45:11, "Be still and see that I am God." Seventhly, because the contemplative life is according to Divine things, whereas active life is according to human things; wherefore Augustine says (De Verb. Dom. Serm. civ): "'In the beginning was the Word': to Him was Mary hearkening: 'The Word was made flesh': Him was Martha serving." Eighthly, because the contemplative life is according to that which is most proper to man, namely his intellect; whereas in the works of the active life the lower powers also, which are common to us and brutes, have their part; wherefore (Psalm 35:7) after the words, "Men and beasts Thou wilt preserve, O Lord," that which is special to man is added (Psalm 35:10): "In Thy light we shall see light."

Our Lord adds a ninth reason (Luke 10:42) when He says: "Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her," which words Augustine (De Verb. Dom. Serm. ciii) expounds thus: "Not—Thou hast chosen badly but—She has chosen better. Why better? Listen—because it shall not be taken away from her. But the burden of necessity shall at length be taken from thee: whereas the sweetness of truth is eternal."

\Yet in a restricted sense and in a particular case one should prefer the active life on account of the needs of the present life. Thus too the Philosopher says (Topic. iii, 2): "It is better to be wise than to be rich, yet for one who is in need, it is better to be rich . . ."

Collect: The 16th Sunday

This collect is not found in the Roman liturgy before the 20^th Century, but comes from Sacramentarium Bergomense, the Liturgy of Northern Italy, transmitted in a 9^th Century manuscript, which reflects the early usage of the Ambrosian Liturgy.  

Propitiare, Domine, famulis tuis, et clementer gratiae tuae  super eos dona multiplica, ut, spe, fide, et caritate ferventes, semper in mandatis tuis vigili custodia perseverent.

Be gracious, O Lord, to your servants, and mercifully multiply upon them the gifts of your grace, that fervent in faith, hope and love, they may ever persevere vigilantly in keeping your commandments.  

Traditional Sequence for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Flos Carmeli,
vitis florigera,
splendor caeli,
virgo puerpera
singularis.

Mater mitis
sed viri nescia
Carmelitis
da privilegia
Stella Maris.

Radix Jesse
germinans flosculum
nos ad esse
tecum in saeculum
patiaris.

Inter spinas
quae crescis lilium
serva puras
mentes fragilium
tutelaris.

Armatura
fortis pugnantium
furunt bella
tende praesidium
scapularis.

Per incerta
prudens consilium
per adversa
iuge solatium
largiaris.

Mater dulcis
Carmeli domina,
plebem tuam
reple laetitia
qua bearis.

Paradisi
clavis et ianua,
fac nos duci
quo, Mater, gloria
coronaris.
Amen.

Flower of Carmel,

Tall vine blossom laden;

Splendour of heaven,

Childbearing yet maiden.

None equals thee.

Mother so tender,

Who no man didst know,

On Carmel's children

Thy favours bestow.

Star of the Sea.

Strong stem of Jesse,

Who bore one bright flower,

Be ever near us

And guard us each hour,

who serve thee here.

Purest of lilies,

That flowers among thorns,

Bring help to the true heart

That in weakness turns

and trusts in thee.

Strongest of armour,

We trust in thy might:

Under thy mantle,

Hard press'd in the fight,

we call to thee.

Our way uncertain,

Surrounded by foes,

Unfailing counsel

You give to those

who turn to thee.

O gentle Mother

Who in Carmel reigns,

Share with your servants

That gladness you gained

and now enjoy.

Hail, Gate of Heaven,

With glory now crowned,

Bring us to safety

Where thy Son is found,

true joy to see.

Amen. (Alleluia.)