Thursday, January 29, 2009

Memento rerum Conditor

Herewith, the hymn at the Little Hours in the Little Office; it repays careful thought, with its emphasis on the Incarnation of Christ as the ground of our hope, on the Mother of God, therefore the mother of Grace and Mercy, as our protection from evil and refuge at death, and on adoration of the Trinity, One of Whom took flesh for us:
Memento, rerum Conditor,
Nostri quod olim corporis,
Sacrata ab alvo Virginis
Nascendo formam sumpseris.

(Remember, Maker of [all] things,
That once the form of our flesh, 
From the Virgin's sacred womb
Being born, thou didst assume.)

Maria, Mater gratiæ,
Dulcis parens clementiæ,
Tu nos ab hoste protege
Et mortis hora suscipe.

(Mary, Mother of grace,
Sweet parent of clemency,
Thou protect us from the enemy
And receive us at the hour of death.)

Jesu, tibi sit gloria,
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre, et almo Spiritu,
In sempiterna sæcula. Amen.

(Jesu, to Thee be glory,
Who wast born of the Virgin,
With the Father, and the loving Spirit,
Unto sempiternal ages.  Amen.)

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