IN NATIVITATE DOMINI

IN NATIVITATE DOMINI

Vespers I & II: 6^th Century

Christe, redémptor ómnium,

ex Patre, Patris Unice,

solus ante princípium

natus ineffabíliter,

Tu lumen, tu splendor Patris,

tu spes perénnis ómnium,

inténde quas fundunt preces

tui per orbem sérvuli.

Salútis auctor, récole

quod nostri quondam córporis,

ex illibáta Vírgine

nascéndo, formam súmpseris.

Hic præsens testátur dies,

currens per anni círculum,

quod solus a sede Patris

mundi salus advéneris;

Hunc cælum, terra, hunc mare,

hunc omne quod in eis est,

auctórem advéntus tui

laudat exsúltans cántico.

Nos quoque, qui sancto tuo

redémpti sumus sánguine,

ob diem natális tui

hymnum novum concínimus.

O Christ, Redeemer of all, the Father’s only Son, alone begotten ineffably before world began. You the light and splendor of the Father, You the eternal hope of all men, attend to the prayers which thy servants pour forth in all the world. Remember, O Author of our salvation, that once you took the form of our body and were born from the spotless Virgin. This present day gives witness in the passing cycle of the year that you alone came from the throne of the Father as the salvation of the world.  Him sky, earth, Him sea, Him all that is in them praise , exulting in song the coming of their creator. We too, who have been redeemed by your holy blood, on the day of your birth together sing a new hymn.

The Office of  Readings: novus

Candor ætérnæ Deitátis alme,

Christe, tu lumen, vénia atque vita

ádvenis, morbis hóminum medéla,

  porta salútis.

Intonat terræ chorus angelórum

cælicum carmen, nova sæcla dicens,

glóriam Patri, generíque nostro

  gáudia pacis.

Qui iaces parvus dóminans et orbi,

Virginis fructus sine labe sanctæ,

Christe, iam mundo potiáris omni,

  semper amándus.

Násceris cælos pátriam datúrus,

unus e nobis, caro nostra factus;

ínnova mentes, trahe caritátis

  péctora vinclis.

Cœtus exsúltans canit ecce noster,

ángelis læto sociátus ore,

et Patri tecum parilíque Amóri

  cántica laudis. Amen.

Loving Splendor of eternal Divinity, O Christ, you come as light, pardon and life, healing the sickness of men, the gate of salvation.  O earth the choir of angels thunder a heavenly song, proclaiming a new age, glory to the Father and the joy of peace to our race. You who lie but a baby rule the world, the fruit of the holy Virgin without sin, O Christ,  ever-loved, now you rule all the world.  You are born to giver us heaven as our fatherland, one of us, made our flesh, lead our hearts with chains of love. Behold our assembly rejoicing sings gladly with the angels a canticle of praise  to the Father with you, O Christ, and equally to the Spirit, the Bond of Love. Amen.

Lauds: Sedulius

A solis ortus cárdine

adúsque terræ límitem

Christum canámus príncipem,

natum María Vírgine.

Beátus auctor sæculi

servíle corpus índuit,

ut carne carnem líberans

non pérderet quod cóndidit.

Clausæ paréntis víscera

cæléstis intrat grátia;

venter puéllæ báiulat

secréta quæ non nóverat.

Domus pudíci péctoris

templum repénte fit Dei;

intácta nésciens virum

verbo concépit Fílium.

Eníxa est puérpera

quem Gábriel prædíxerat,

quem matris alvo géstiens

clausus Ioánnes sénserat.

Feno iacére pértulit,

præsépe non abhórruit,

parvóque lacte pastus est

per quem nec ales ésurit.

Gaudet chorus cæléstium

et ángeli canunt Deum,

palámque fit pastóribus

pastor, creátor ómnium.

From the point of the rising sun to the end of the earth we sing of the Christ the Prince born of the Virgin Mary. The blessed Maker of the world took our servile body that delivering flesh by flesh that what he had created would not be destroyed. Heavenly grace inters  and is enclosed within the womb of his Mother; the girl’s stomach bears mysteries which does not understand. The home of a pure heart suddenly becomes the temple of God; she untouched and knowing not man, conceived the Son by a word. She brought forth by human birth him, whom Gabriel had foretold, the one whom John enclosed in his mother’s womb leaping for joy acknowledged. The child endured the bed of hay, he did not abhor the manger and he, who lets not the birds hunger is feed with a little milk.  The choir of heavenly beings rejoice and angels sing to God and before the shepherds there is the Shepherd, the Creator of all.

December 17th-24th: Collects

 

Advent IV: Sunday

Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde, ut qui, Angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem eius et crucem ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur.

Pour, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, who have known  the Incarnation of Christ your Son by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought into the glory of his Resurrection.

Dec. 17

Deus, humanae conditor et redemptor naturae, qui Verbum tuum in utero perpetuae virginitatis carnem assumere voluisti, respice propitius ad preces nostras, ut Unigenitus tuus, nostra humanitate suscepta, nos divino suo consortio sociare dignetur.

O God, Creator and Redeemer of human nature, who willed that your Word should take flesh in an ever-virgin womb, look with favor on our prayers, that your Only Begotten Son, having taken to himself our humanity, may be pleased to grant us a share in his divinity.

Dec. 18

Concede, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut, qui sub peccati iugo ex vetusta servitute deprimimur, exspectata Unigeniti tui nova nativitate liberemur.

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who are weighed down from of old by slavery beneath the yoke of sin, may be set free by the newness of the long-awaited Nativity of your Only Begotten Son.

Dec. 19

Deus, qui splendorem gloriae tuae per sacrae Virginis partum mundo dignatus es revelare, tribue, quaesumus, ut tantae incarnationis mysterium et fidei integritate colamus, et devoto semper obsequio frequentemus.

O God, who through the child-bearing of the holy Virgin graciously revealed the radiance of your glory to the world, grant, we pray, that we may venerate with integrity of faith the mystery of so wondrous an Incarnation and always celebrate it with due reverence.

Dec. 20

Deus, aeterna maiestas, cuius ineffabile Verbum, Angelo nuntiante, Virgo immaculata suscepit, et, domus divinitatis effecta, Sancti Spiritus luce repletur, quaesumus, ut nos, eius exemplo, voluntati tuae humiliter adhaerere valeamus.

O God, eternal majesty, whose ineffable Word the immaculate Virgin received through the message of an Angel and so became the dwelling-place of divinity, filled with the light of the Holy Spirit, grant, we pray, that by her example we may in humility hold fast to your will.

Dec. 21

Preces populi tui, quaesumus, Domine, clementer exaudi, ut, qui de Unigeniti tui in nostra carne adventu laetantur, cum venerit in sua maiestate, aeternae vitae praemium consequantur.

Hear in kindness, O Lord, the prayers of your people, that those who rejoice at the coming of your Only Begotten Son in our flesh may, when at last he comes in glory, gain the reward of eternal life

Dec. 22

Deus, qui, hominem delapsum in mortem conspiciens, Unigeniti tui adventum redimere voluisti, praesta, quaesumus, ut qui humili eius incarnationem devotione fatentur, ipsius etiam Redemptoris consortia mereantur.

O God, who, seeing the human race fallen into death, willed to redeem it by the coming of your Only Begotten Son, grant, we pray, that those who confess his Incarnation with humble fervor may merit his company as their Redeemer.

Dec. 23

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, nativitatem Filii tui secundum carnem propinquare cernentes, quaesumus, ut nobis indignis famulis tuis misericordiam praestet Verbum, quod ex Virgine Maria dignatum est caro fieri, et in nobis habitare Iesus Christus, Dominus noster.

Almighty ever-living God, as we see how the Nativity of your Son according to the flesh draws near, we pray that to us, your unworthy servants, mercy may flow from your Word, who chose to become flesh of the Virgin Mary and establish among us his dwelling, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dec. 24

Festina, quaesumus, ne tardaveris, Domine Iesu, ut adventus tui consolationibus subleventur, qui in tua pietate confidunt. Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.

Come quickly, we pray, Lord Jesus, and do not delay, that those who trust in your compassion may find solace and relief in your coming.

The O Antiphons: The Golden Legend

 

William Granger Ryan, trans. Jacobus de Voragine, The Golden Legend, Princeton

The Lord's advent was timely because he came in the fullness of time: "When the fullness of time was come, God sent his Son. " Augustine says: "There are many who ask why Christ did not come sooner. It was because by the will of him who made all things in time, the fullness of time had not arrived. When that fullness had come, the One came who freed us from time, and, freed from time, we are to come to that eternity in which there will be no time." Thirdly, the whole world was wounded and ailing, and since the disease was universal it was the moment for a universal medicine to be applied. Augustine: "The great physician came when throughout the world mankind lay like a great invalid. "

In the seven antiphons that are sung before the Lord's birthday, shows the multiplicity of our ills and for each of them begs a remedy of the physician. Before the Son of God came in the flesh, we were ignorant or blind, liable to eternal punishment, slaves of the devil, shackled with sinful habits, enveloped in darkness, exiles driven from our true country. Therefore, we had need of a teacher, a redeemer, a liberator, an emancipator, an enlightener, and a savior.

Because we were ignorant and needed to be taught by him, we call out in the first antiphon: "O Wisdom, you came forth from the mouth of the Most high, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly. Come, and teach us the way of prudence!"

Yet it would be of little profit if we were taught but not redeemed, so we ask to be redeemed by him when we cry to God in the second antiphon: "O Adonai and leader of the house of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the flames of the burning bush, and on Sinai gave him the Law. Come, stretch out your arm and redeem us. "

And what good would it do if we were instructed and redeemed, if after redemption we were still held captive? Therefore, we pray to be set free, when we plead in the third antiphon: "O Root of Jesse, you are raised as a banner to the peoples. Before you kings shall remain silent, with you all nations will plead for help. Come to set us free, do not delay!"

Yet of what use would it be to captives if, being redeemed and given their freedom, their shackles were still not stricken from them so that they could be under their own control and go freely wherever they wished? So, it would do us little good if he redeemed and freed us but left us in chains. Therefore, in the fourth antiphon we pray to be delivered of all the bonds of sin: "O Key of David, you open and no one closes, you close and no one opens. Come, and from the prison house release man enchained and sitting in the shadow of death!"

But because the eyes of those who have been in prison for a long time grow dim and they no longer see clearly, even after we are set free from prison, we still have to have our eyes opened to the light, so that we may see where we ought to go. Therefore, in the fifth antiphon we pray: "O rising Dawn, splendor of light eternal and sun of justice! Come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.”  

And if we were taught, redeemed, freed from all enemies, and enlightened, how would it benefit us unless we were to be saved? So, in the next two antiphons we beg for the gift of salvation, saying: "O King of the Gentiles, for whom they long, O Headstone who make the two one! Come and save man, whom you formed out of the slime of the earth. " And likewise, "O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, awaited by the nations and their savior! Come and save us, O Lord our God!" So first we plead for the salvation of the pagans, saying, "O King of the Gentiles," and then pray for the salvation of the Jews, to whom God gave the Law.

Advent: December 17th-24th: Beginning this year, 2020, Thursday.

 

 

Lauds:

According to the book by Dom Anselm Lentini "De decet hymnus" this hymn is by an unknown author and from an uncertain century and it's taken from the Breviarium Gothicum (Musica Sacra)

 

Magnis prophétæ vócibus

veníre Christum núntiant,

lætæ salútis prævia,

qua nos redémit, grátia.

 

Hinc mane nostrum prómicat

et corda læta exæstuant,

cum vox fidélis pérsonat

prænuntiátrix glóriæ.

 

Advéntus hic primus fuit,

puníre quo non sæculum

venit, sed ulcus térgere,

salvándo quod períerat.

 

At nos secúndus præmonet

adésse Christum iánuis,

sanctis corónas réddere

cælíque regna pándere.

 

Ætérna lux promíttitur

sidúsque salvans prómitur;

iam nos iubar præfúlgidum

ad ius vocat cæléstium.

 

Te, Christe, solum quærimus

vidére, sicut es Deus,

ut perpes hæc sit vísio

perénne laudis cánticum. Amen.

 

With mighty voices the prophets proclaim that Christ is coming, the preceding grace of our glad salvation by which he redeemed us. Wherefore our morning sparkles and hearts grow warm with joy, when the faithful voice sounds, the forerunner of glory. That first Advent he came not to punish the world but to wipe away tears by saving what was perishing. But the second coming warns that Christ is at the door to reward the saints with crowns and open the kingdom of heaven. Eternal light is promised and a saving star foretold, now a brightly shining ray of heaven calls us to judgement.  You, O Christ, alone we seek to see as God that this never-ending vision may be sung with eternal praises. Amen.

 

 

Office of Readings: St. Ambrose

 

Milfull: Winchester Hymnal at Christmas Matins; Canterbury on Advent 3^rd, 4^th and Christmas Vigil; “This is Ambrose’s Christmas hymn Indende qui regis without the first verse."

 

Veni, redémptor géntium,

osténde partum Vírginis;

mirétur omne sæculum:

talis decet partus Deum.

 

Non ex viríli sémine,

sed mýstico spirámine

Verbum Dei factum est caro

fructúsque ventris flóruit.

 

Alvus tuméscit Vírginis,

claustrum pudóris pérmanet,

vexílla virtútum micant,

versátur in templo Deus.

 

Procédat e thálamo suo,

pudóris aula régia,

géminæ gigas substántiæ

alácris ut currat viam.

 

Æquális ætérno Patri,

carnis tropæo cíngere,

infírma nostri córporis

virtúte firmans pérpeti.

 

Præsépe iam fulget tuum

luménque nox spirat novum,

quod nulla nox intérpolet

fidéque iugi lúceat.

 

 

Come, O Redeemer of the nations, reveal your virgin birth; all the world marvels that such a birth befits God. No from the seed of man but from mystical breath the Word of God was made flesh and the fruit of the womb flourished. The Virgin’s womb grows large, the enclosure remains pure, the banners of the virtues shine, God enters his temple. He goes forth from the wedding chamber, the royal halls of modesty, a hero of twofold substance, he swiftly runs his course. Equal to the eternal Father, girded with the trophy of the flesh, strengthening the weakness of our bodies with infinite power. Even now your manger shines and night breathes a new light, which no night may interrupt,

and shines with the highest faith.

 

 

Vespers: 10^th Century

 

Verbum salútis ómnium,

Patris ab ore pródiens,

Virgo beáta, súscipe

casto, María, víscere.

 

Te nunc illústrat cælitus

umbra fecúndi Spíritus,

gestes ut Christum Dóminum,

æquálem Patri Fílium.

 

Hæc est sacráti iánua

templi seráta iúgiter,

soli suprémo Príncipi

pandens beáta límina.

 

Olim promíssus vátibus,

natus ante lucíferum,

quem Gábriel annúntiat,

terris descéndit Dóminus.

 

Læténtur simul ángeli,

omnes exsúltent pópuli:

excélsus venit húmilis

salváre quod períerat.

 

The Word of the salvation of all, proceeding from the mouth of the Father, receive, O blessed Virgin Mary, in your chaste womb. Now the heavenly, fertile Spirit has overshadowed you with light that you might give birth to Christ the Lord, to the Son equal to the Father.  This gate of the holy temple, long closed, now its blessed threshold is opened by the only supreme Ruler. Once promised through the prophets, born before the morning star, Gabriel announced, the Lord who descends to earth.  Let angels rejoice together, all the people exult; the Most High comes in humility to save that which has been lost.

Alternative Reading for St. John of the Cross: Office of Readings

 

ALTERNATIVE SECOND READING From The Spiritual Canticle by Saint John of the Cross (Red. B, st. 1,4 — ed. Kavanaugh-Rodriguez 1979, pp. 434-45) Traces of the divine beauty in creation Created things in themselves, as Saint Augustine declares, give testimony to God’s grandeur and excellence. For God created all things with remarkable ease and brevity, and in them he left some trace of who he is, not only in giving all things being from nothing, but even by endowing them with innumerable graces and qualities, making them beautiful in a wonderful order and unfailing dependence on one another. All of this he did through his own wisdom, the Word, his only begotten Son by whom he created them. Saint Paul says: The Son of God is the splendor of his glory and the image of his substance. It should be known that only with this figure, his Son, did God look at all things, that is he communicated to them their natural being and many natural graces and gifts, and made them complete and perfect, as is said in Genesis: God looked at all things that he made, and they were very good. To look and behold that they were very good was to make them very good in the Word, his Son. Not only by looking at them did he communicate natural being and graces, as we said, but also with this image of his Son alone, he clothed them in beauty by imparting to them supernatural being. This he did when he became man and elevated human nature in the beauty of God and consequently all creatures, since in human nature he was united with them all. Accordingly, the Son of God proclaimed: If I be lifted up from the earth, I will elevate all things to me. And in this elevation of all things through the incarnation of his Son and through the glory of his resurrection according to the flesh, the Father did not merely beautify creatures partially, but rather we can say, clothed them wholly in beauty and dignity.

St. John of the Cross: OCD: Supplement Liturgy of the Hours

 

EVENING PRAYER I

Soldier of the King eternal,

Valiant warrior, hail to thee!

Column raised to heights supernal

In unshaken majesty.

We revere thy glorious merits

And the tide of homage wells

From the fountain of our spirits,

Heav’nward rising as it swells.

 

Thou hast felt the strong protection

Of the Virgin Mother’s power,

Saving thee with sweet election

In the dread and dangerous hour.

Since thy youth she never swerveth

In her watchful care of thee,

And forever she preserveth

Him who vowed her slave to be.

 

Chosen offspring of our Mother,

In her labors thou didst share,

Aiding her, as son and brother,

Carmel’s beauty to repair;

Ruined shrine and temple raising

From the dust of slow decay,

Mary’s honor meetly praising,

In the dawn of fairer day.

 

Lo, the Cross thy weapon glorious,

As on Calvary’s height of yore,

When our Jesus reigned victorious,

Fallen nature to restore;

So thy burning love retrieveth

Glory of an ancient race,

And by suffering achieveth

Marvels of renewing grace.

 

Praise unto thy God be given

For the grace, O John, conferred,

When with chalice raised to Heaven,

Thine entreating prayer was heard:

In that first rapt celebration

Of the sacrifice divine,

Pledge of thine assured salvation

He hath deigned in love to sign.

Regis aeterni generose miles

 

OFFICE OF READINGS

O John, rejoice this hallowed day

The triumph of the Cross to hail,

Whereon with Christ ‘twas thine to stay,

Transfixed with pang of spear and nail!

 

Nor insults, scorn, nor cruel scourge,

Bondage, nor hunger can restrain

The love thy panting soul doth urge

To taste the bitter draught of pain.

 

Thine only joy, thy sole reward,

The boon for which thy spirit sighed,

To mirror here thy suffering Lord,

Like Him in anguish crucified.

 

While thou dost search the mystic night,

Through darkness gleams a radiant star,

And Carmel’s camp is all alight,

With flame that leads to heights afar.

 

Let them that dwell in bliss above

Praise Thee, O Christ, with joyful lay,

Let them that run to Thee in love

Pursue, like John, the thorn-strewn way.

Diem Ioannes advenit

 

MORNING PRAYER

Bearing His Cross, the gentle Lord drew nigh,

Offering the crown by merit richly won.

O Love! to quaff Thy cup and with Thee die,

Low answers John.

 

To live despised, in suffering and alone,

The one insatiate yearning of his breast;

To die devoid of honor, and unknown,

His heart’s request.

 

Death yielded triumph of the Cross at last,

While dazzling globes of fire from Heav’n descend,

And o’er his deeds the light of glory cast

To cheer his end.

 

His dying couch, with light irradiate,

Dims with celestial beam earth’s fitful flame,

Perfumes exhale, breathing of heavenly state

And saintly fame.

 

Honor supreme be to the Father given,

To Word and Paraclete in praise unite,

Upon whose Triune flame the hosts of Heaven

Feed with delight.

Dum crucem gestat Dominus, Ioanni

 

EVENING PRAYER II

Saint of the eagle eye,

Gazing enrapt on high

Mid dread abysses of Divinity;

Martyr by heart’s intent,

Virgin yet penitent,

Prophet and guide in realms of mystery.

 

Oft in thy life, ’tis told

Sweet converse thou didst hold

With the pure Virgin and her Son divine;

Thence came the wondrous light

Flooding with glory bright

Thy mystic page, for wisdom there did shine.

 

Clearly thou dost reveal

Secrets the clouds conceal

For thou hast seeped thy soul in rays above,

Pondering the mountain height,

Darkness of faith’s long night

And the reviving flame of mystic love.

 

When by God’s holy will

Thou dost His word instill,

Wondrous the marvels by the soul divined,

Like Him evoking light

From chaos deep as night,

Cheering with healthful beams the darkened mind.

 

O John, thy praise intone

Prostrate before the throne!

Thee hath the Father signed with light most true,

Gifts of the Spirit shine

And the meek Lamb divine

Openeth the book of life to thy pure view.

O satis felix! Speculator alti

Advent III: Collects

 

 

Deus, qui cónspicis pópulum tuum nativitátis domínicæ festivitátem fidéliter exspectáre, præsta, quǽsumus, ut valeámus ad tantæ salútis gáudia perveníre et ea votis sollémnibus álacri semper lætítia celebráre.

O God, who see your people faithfully awaiting the Lord’s Nativity, grant us, we pray, that we may attain the joys of so great a salvation, and eagerly to celebrate them always with solemnity and gladness.

Monday

Voci nostrae, quaesumus, Domine, aures tuae pietatis accommoda, et cordis nostri tenebras gratia Filii tui nos visitantis illustra.

With a merciful ear receive our voice, we beseech you, O Lord, and shine the light of your Son’s visitation upon the darkness of our hearts.

 Tuesday

Deus, qui novam creaturam per Unigenitum tuum nos esse fecisti, in opera misericordiae tuae propitius intuere, et in adventu Filii tui ab omnibus nos maculis vetustatis emunda.

O God, who through your Only-Begotten Son have made us a new creation, look graciously upon the works of your mercy, and at your Son’s coming cleanse us from every stain of the old way of life.

Wednesday

Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut Filii tui ventura sollemnitas et praesentis nobis vitae remedia largiatur, et praemia aeterna concedat.

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the coming solemnity of your Son may grant us health in our present life and eternal rewards.

Thursday

Indignos, quaesumus, Domine, nos famulos tuos, quos actionis propriae culpa contristat, Unigeniti tui adventu salutari laetifica.

We your unworthy servants, do beseech you, O Lord, saddened by the guilt of our own actions, may rejoice in the saving advent of your Only-begotten Son.

Friday

Praeveniat nos, omnipotens Deus, tua gratia semper atque subsequatur, ut, qui adventum Unigeniti tui summo cordis desiderio sustinemus, et praesentis vitae subsidia et futurae pariter consequamur.

Almighty God, may your grace ever go before us and after us, that we, who await with the highest desire of the heart for the advent of your Only-begotten Son, may attain your assistance now and equally in the life to come.

Saturday

Placare, Domine, quaesumus, nostrae precibus humilitatis et hostiis, et, ubi nulla suppetunt suffragia meritorum, tuae nobis indulgentiae succurre praesidiis.