Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Dormition of the Theotokos

The 15th of August once more appears, the Day of the Great Lady, as the Hungarians know it – for this is the great celebration of her translation from earth to heaven, verily in both body and soul, after her falling asleep in the Lord, that is, in Christ, her Son: of her above all it is truly said, "For you are dead: and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col. iii, 3). As she prayed all her life, and at her own passing from this life, into the true life of the world to come, so may she intercede for us restless sinners, now and at the hour of our death, that we be found meet to be granted a perfect ending, and rest in peace evermore.

Readers will forgive this scribe's eccentric piety in providing for mediævalists and liturgically-minded devotees the following extract from the Breviarium Ordinis Dormitionis Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, providing a singular form of Office for this feast; but first, a vernacular rendering of the last three Matins lessons, drawn from the sermons of Bl Guerric of Igny, possessing as they do a most apt and apposite message:

A Sermon of Abbot Guerric.


“In all I sought rest.” (Ecclus 24:11) Rest is welcome to the weary. Therefore while we celebrate the rest of God’s holy Mother not only may our bodies be refreshed by this rest but also our hearts may draw breath in remembrance and love of that eternal rest. Mary, too, like any faithful soul, sought rest in all her actions; but today at last she has found it, when at length today she can say: “’Turn, my soul, into your rest, for the Lord has done well to you.’ (Ps 114:7) He who created me, was created from me and found rest in the tent (cf. Ecclus 24:12) of my body; he will not be able to refuse me the rest of his heaven. He heaps up grace for others as a free gift: how should he not return like for like to his Mother?” Rest, then, happy that you are, in the arms of the Bridegroom. He will recall to you amid embraces and kisses, if I am not mistaken, how pleasantly he rested in the tent of your body, how with greater delight he dwelt in the inner chamber of your heart. 

Happy is he who in all his labours and in all his ways seeks blessed rest, always hastening, as the Apostle exhorts, to enter into that rest (cf. Heb 4:11). For desire of it he afflicts his body, but already prepares and disposes his spirit for that rest, being at peace with all men (cf. Rom 12:18) as far as it lies with him. Giving the preference, where his will is concerned, to the rest and the leisure of Mary, to the extent that necessity demands he accepts the toil and the business of Martha, yet does this with as much peace and quiet of spirit as he can, and always brings himself back from that manifold distraction to the one thing necessary (Lk 10:42). 
For I say this, brethren: unless the Lord finds with us the rest he is seeking, we shall not find in him the rest we desire. “Upon whom will I rest,” he says, “if not with the humble and the quiet and him who fears my words?” (Is 66:2) In order then, my brethren, that he who loves quiet and bestows it may rest in you, make a point, as the Apostle advises, of being quiet. “If you turn back and become quiet, you shall be saved.” (Is 30:15) Let us all then together so make a point of being quiet (cf. 1 Thess 4:11) that in our quiet we may always be occupied with meditation on eternal quiet. May the blessed Mother of God, whose rest we are celebrating, obtain this for us by her prayers from him who rested in the tabernacle (cf. Ecclus 24:12) of her body and her heart. He is eternal rest, Christ Jesus, to whom be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Herewith, the Office in extenso (save the Psalms being listed by number only) as promised; note the second psalm at first Vespers, the twelve at Matins, and the ninth psalm at Lauds; also mark the proper Marian benedictions at Matins, and the prolix responsories at both Vespers:


IN FESTO DORMITIONIS BEATÆ MARIÆ VIRGINIS
Brev. O. Dorm.

IN I VESPERIS

Aña. O beatiſſima dormitio glorioſiſſimæ Deiparæ.

Pss 112, 134, 145, 146, 147

Cap.                                                                                                        Eccli. 24, 11b-12
In omnibus requiem quæſivi, et in hæreditate Domini morabor. Tunc præcepit, et dixit mihi Creator omnium: et qui creavit me, requievit in tabernaculo meo. R/. Deo gratias.

Ps 54, 7; Luc. 1, 48b-49a
R/. Quis dabit mihi pennas ſicut columbæ, et volabo, et requieſcam?  V/. Beatam me dicent omnes generationes: quia fecit mihi magna qui potens eſt. * Et volabo, et requieſcam. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. * Et volabo, et requieſcam.

Hymnus (Comm. B.M.V.)
Ave, maris ſtella,
Dei Mater alma,
Atque ſemper Virgo,
Felix cæli porta.

Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
Funda nos in pace,
Mutans nomen Hevæ.

Solve vincla reis,
Profer lumen cæcis,
Mala noſtra pelle,
Bona cuncta poſce.

Monſtra te eſſe matrem:
Sumat per te preces,
Qui pro nobis natus
Tulit eſſe tuus.

Virgo ſingularis,
Inter omnes mitis,
Nos culpis ſolutos
Mites fac et caſtos.

Vitam præſta puram,
Iter para tutum:
Ut videntes Jeſum
Semper collætemur.

Sit laus Deo Patri,
Summo Chriſto decus,
Spiritui Sancto,
Tribus honor unus.  Amen.

V/. Hodie obdormivit.
R/. Quæ in ſuis ulnis Chriſtum conſopivit.

Ad Magn. Aña. Nigra ſum, ſed formoſa, filiæ Jeruſalem; ideo dilexit me Rex, et introduxit me in cubiculum ſuum.

Oratio. Veneranda nobis, Domine, hujus diei feſtivitas opem conferat ſalutarem, in qua ſancta Dei Genitrix mortem ſubiit temporalem, nec tamen mortis nexibus deprimi potuit, quæ Filium tuum Dominum noſtrum de ſe genuit incarnatum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia ſæcula ſæculorum.  R/.  Amen.


NB In place of the Collect Veneranda normally used in the Commemoration of the Dormition at Lauds & Vespers, which on this feast is employed as the Collect of the Day, instead is used (as at Sext on the feast of the Assumption in the Carthusian Breviary):

Concede, miſericors Deus, fragilitati noſtræ ſubſidium: ut qui ſanctæ Dei Genetricis requiem celebramus, interceſſionis ejus auxilio a noſtris iniquitatibus reſurgamus. Per eumdem…

AD MATUTINUM

Invit.  Maria introivit * In requiem meam.
Psalmus 94.
Venite, exsultemus Domino, jubilemus Deo, salutari nostro: præoccupemus faciem ejus in confessione, et in psalmis jubilemus ei.
            Maria introivit in requiem meam.
V/. Quoniam Deus magnus Dominus, et Rex magnus super omnes deos: quoniam non repellet Domino plebem suam: quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, et altitudinem montium ipse conspicit.
            In requiem meam.
V/. Quoniam ipsius est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et aridam fundaverunt manus ejus: venite, adoremus, et procidamus ante Deum: ploremus coram Domino, qui fecit nos, quia ipse est Dominus Deus noster; nos autem populus ejus et oves pascuæ ejus.
            Maria introivit in requiem meam.
V/. Hodie, si vocem ejus audieritis, nolite obdurare corda vestra, sicut in exacerbatione secundum diem tentationis in deserto: ubi tentaverunt me patres vestri, probaverunt et viderunt opera mea.
            In requiem meam.
V/. Quadraginta annis proximus fui generationi huic, et dixi: Semper hi errant corde; ipsi vero non cognoverunt vias meas: quibus juravi in ira mea: Si introibunt in requiem meam.
            Maria introivit in requiem meam.
V/. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.  Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum.  Amen.
            In requiem meam.
            Maria introivit in requiem meam.

Hymnus (Comm. B.M.V.)
Quem terra, pontus, æthera
Colunt, adorant, prædicant,
Trinam regentem machinam
Clauſtrum Mariæ bajulat.

Cui luna, ſol, et omnia
Deſerviunt per tempora,
Perfuſa cæli gratia,
Geſtant puellæ viſcera.

Beata Mater munere,
Cujus ſupernus Artifex,
Mundum pugillo continens,
Ventris ſub arca clauſus eſt.

Beata cæli nuntio,
Fecunda Sancto Spiritu,
Deſideratus gentibus
Cujus per alvum fuſus eſt.

Maria, mater gratiæ,
Mater miſericordiæ,
Tu nos ab hoſte protege,
Et hora mortis ſuſcipe.

Gloria tibi, Domine,
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
In ſempiterna ſæcula.  Amen.

Aña.  Adjuvabit eam Deus vultu ſuo: Deus in medio ejus non commovebitur.

Pss 8, 18, 23, 44, 45, 47, 84, 86, 95, 96, 97, 98.

V/. O beatiſſima dormitio.
R/. Glorioſiſſimæ Deiparæ.

Pater noster.

Bened. i. Per ejus Virginem Matrem concedat nobis Dominus requiem. R/. Amen.

De libro Ecclesiaſtici.
Lectio i.                                                                                                       Eccli. 24, 1-7
Sapientia laudabit animam ſuam, et in Deo honorabitur, et in medio populi ſui gloriabitur, et in eccleſiis Altiſſimi aperiet os ſuum, et in conſpectu virtutis illius gloriabitur, et in medio populi ſui exaltabitur, et in plenitudine ſancta admirabitur, et in multitudine electorum habebit laudem, et inter benedictos benedicetur, dicens: Ego ex ore Altiſſimi prodivi, primogenita ante omnem creaturam. Ego feci in cælis ut oriretur lumen indeficiens, et ſicut nebula texi omnem terram. Ego in altiſſimis habitavi, et thronus meus in columna nubis. Tu autem, Domine, miſerere noſtri. R/. Deo gratias.
Ps 4, 9-10
R/. i. In pace in idipſum * Dormiam, et requieſcam. V/. Quoniam tu, Domine, ſingulariter in ſpe conſtituiſti me. * Dormiam, et requieſcam.

Bened. ii. Tranquillitatem mentis et corporis tribuat nobis Filius Virginis. R/. Amen.

Lectio ii.                                                                                                    Eccli. 24, 8-13
Gyrum cæli circuivi ſola, et profundum abyſſi penetravi: in fluctibus maris ambulavi. Et in omni terra ſteti: et in omni populo, et in omni gente primatum habui: et omnium excellentium et humilium corda virtute calcavi. Et in his omnibus requiem quæſivi, et in hæreditate Domini morabor. Tunc præcepit, et dixit mihi Creator omnium: et qui creavit me, requievit in tabernaculo meo, et dixit mihi: In Jacob inhabita, et in Iſraël hæreditare, et in electis meis mitte radices. Tu autem, Domine, miſerere noſtri. R/. Deo gratias.
Ps 131, 8 & 9b. 14
R/. ii. Surge, Domine, in requiem tuam, tu et arca ſanctificationis tuæ; * Et ſancti tui exſultent. V/. Hæc requies mea in ſæculum ſæculi: hic habitabo quoniam elegi eam. * Et ſancti tui exſultent.

Bened. iii. Precibus ſuæ Matris det nobis Dominus spiritum soporis. R/. Amen.

Lectio iii.                                                                                                Eccli. 24, 14-16
Ab initio et ante ſæcula creata ſum, et uſque ad futurum ſæculum non deſinam: et in habitatione ſancta coram ipſo ministravi. Et ſic in Sion firmata ſum, et in civitate ſanctificata ſimiliter requievi, et in Jeruſalem poteſtas mea. Et radicavi in populo honorificato, et in parte Dei mei hæreditas illius, et in plenitudine ſanctorum detentio mea. Tu autem, Domine, miſerere noſtri. R/. Deo gratias.
3 Regum 8, 6; Apoc. 11, 19a
R/. iii. Intulerunt ſacerdotes arcam fœderis Domini in locum ſuum, in oraculum templi, * In Sanctum ſanctorum ſubter alas cherubim. V/. Et apertum eſt templum Dei in cælo: et viſa est arca teſtamenti ejus in templo ejus. * In Sanctum ſanctorum ſubter alas cherubim.

Bened. iv. Oret pro nobis Stella maris ut dormiamus in ſomno pacis. R/. Amen.

Lectio iv.                                                                                                Eccli. 24, 17-23
Quaſi cedrus exaltata ſum in Libano, et quaſi cypreſſus in monte Sion: quaſi palma exaltata ſum in Cades, et quaſi plantatio roſæ in Jericho: quaſi oliva ſpecioſa in campis, et quaſi platanus exaltata ſum juxta aquam in plateis. Sicut cinnamomum et balſamum aromatizans odorem dedi; quaſi myrrha electa dedi ſuavitatem odoris. Et quaſi ſtorax, et galbanus, et ungula, et gutta, et quaſi Libanus non inciſus vaporavi habitationem meam, et quaſi balſamum non miſtum odor meus. Ego quaſi terebinthus extendi ramos meos, et rami mei honoris et gratiæ. Ego quaſi vitis fructificavi ſuavitatem odoris: et flores mei fructus honoris et honeſtatis.  Tu autem, Domine, miſerere noſtri. R/. Deo gratias.

R/. iv. Elegit eam Deus, et præelegit eam: * In tabernaculo ſuo habitare facit eam. V/. Deus in medio ejus non commovebitur. * In tabernaculo ſuo habitare facit eam.

Bened. v. Ad requiem ſine fine perducat nos Filius Mariæ. R/. Amen.

Lectio v.                                                                                                 Eccli. 24, 24-31
Ego mater pulchræ dilectionis, et timoris, et agnitionis, et ſanctæ ſpei. In me gratia omnis viæ et veritatis: in me omnis ſpes vitæ et virtutis. Tranſite ad me, omnes qui concupiſcitis me, et a generationibus meis implemini: ſpiritus enim meus ſuper mel dulcis, et hæreditas mea ſuper mel et favum. Memoria mea in generatione ſæculorum. Qui edunt me, adhuc eſurient, et qui bibunt me, adhuc ſitient. Qui audit me non confundetur, et qui operantur in me non peccabunt: qui elucidant me, vitam æternam habebunt. Tu autem, Domine, miſerere noſtri. R/. Deo gratias.
Ps 131, 14; Ps 4, 9
R/. v. Hæc requies mea in ſæculum ſæculi: * Hic habitabo quoniam elegi eam. V/. In pace in idipſum dormiam, et requieſcam. * Hic habitabo quoniam elegi eam.

Bened. vi. Alma Virgo Virginum intercedat pro requie ad Dominum. R/. Amen.

Lectio vi.                                                                                                Eccli. 24, 40-47
Ego ſapientiam effudi flumina: ego quaſi trames aquæ immenſæ de fluvio: ego quaſi fluvii dioryx, et ſicut aquæductus exivi de paradiso. Dixi: Rigabo hortum meum plantationum, et inebriabo prati mei fructum. Et ecce factus eſt mihi trames abundans, et fluvius meus appropinquavit ad mare: quoniam doctrinam quaſi antelucanum illumino omnibus, et enarrabo illam uſque ad longinquum. Penetrabo omnes inferiores partes terræ, et inſpiciam omnes dormientes, et illuminabo omnes ſperantes in Domino. Adhuc doctrinam quaſi prophetiam effundam, et relinquam illam quærentibus ſapientiam, et non deſinam in progenies illorum uſque in ævum ſanctum. Videte quoniam non ſoli mihi laboravi, ſed omnibus exquirentibus veritatem. Tu autem, Domine, miſerere noſtri. R/. Deo gratias.
Ps 54, 7; Luc. 1, 48b-49a
R/. vi. Quis dabit mihi pennas ſicut columbæ, et volabo, et requieſcam? V/. Beatam me dicent omnes generationes: quia fecit mihi magna qui potens eſt. * Et volabo, et requieſcam.

Bened. vii. Nos cum requie pia benedicat Virgo Maria. R/. Amen.

Lectio vii.
Sermo Guerrici Abbatis.
Sermo 49, 1. 3
In omnibus requiem quæſivi. Grata quies feſſis. Dum ſanctæ Dei Genitricis requiem celebramus, non ſolum corpora recreentur hac quiete, ſed etiam corda reſpirent in recordationem et amorem illius æternæ quietis. Maria, ſicut et quælibet fidelis anima, in omnibus actionibus ſuis requiem quæſivit; ſed hodie demum invenit, cum tandem hodie dicere datum eſt ei: Convertere, anima, in requiem tuam, quia Dominus benefecit tibi. Qui creavit me, creatus ex me, requievit in tabernaculo corporis mei, negare non poterit mihi requiem cœli ſui. Qui enim gratiam ultro cumulat aliis, par pari quomodo non referet matri? Requieſce igitur, o felix, inter brachia Sponſi. Replicabit tibi ni fallor, inter amplexus et oscula, quam ſuaviter requieverit in tabernaculo corporis tui, quam ſuavis in cubiculo cordis tui. Tu autem, Domine, miſerere noſtri. R/. Deo gratias.
Luc. 1, 28b. 30b
R/. vii. Benedicta tu in mulieribus; * Inveniſti enim gratiam et requiem apud Deum. V/. Ave, Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. * Inveniſti enim gratiam et requiem apud Deum.

Bened. viii. Maria Virgo Virginum ſopiat nos in æternum. R/. Amen.

Lectio viii.                                                                                                     Sermo 49, 2
Felix qui in omnibus laboribus et viis ſuis requiem quærit beatam: ſemper feſtinans ingredi, ut Apoſtolus monet, in illam requiem, ejus deſiderio corpus affligens, animum autem jam illi requiei parans et componens: cum omnibus hominibus, quod ex ipſo eſt, pacem habens; requiem et otium Mariæ voluntate præeligens, laborem autem et negotium Marthæ neceſſitate quidem ſuſcipiens; ſed quanta prævalet pace et quiete ſpiritus adimplens, et ſemper ad illud unum neceſſarium de illa multiplici distractione ſeſe recolligens. Tu autem, Domine, miſerere noſtri. R/. Deo gratias.
Eccli. 24, 11b. 12. 15a
R/. viii. In omnibus requiem quæſivi. Tunc præcepit, et dixit mihi Creator omnium: * Et qui creavit me, requievit in tabernaculo meo. V/. Et ſic in Sion firmata ſum, et in civitate ſanctificata ſimiliter requievi. * Et qui creavit me, requievit in tabernaculo meo.

Bened. ix. Perducat nos Regina cælorum ad somnum in sæcula sæculorum. R/. Amen.

Lectio ix.                                                                                                Sermo 49, 4. 5. 6
Hoc enim dico, fratres, niſi Dominus requiem quam quærit, invenerit apud nos, nec nos optatam requiem inveniemus in illo. Super quem autem requieſcam, inquit, niſi ſuper humilem, et quietum, et trementem verba mea? Ut ergo requieſcat in vobis, o fratres mei, amator ille largitorque quietis, date operam, juxta conſilium Apoſtoli, ut quieti ſitis. Si revertamini, et quieſcatis, ſalvi eritis. Omnes ergo pariter ſic operam demus, ut quieti ſimus, ut in quiete noſtra ſemper in meditatione æternæ quietis occupemur. Hoc nobis impetret beata Dei Genitrix, cujus requiem celebramus, ab eo qui requievit in tabernaculo corporis et cordis ejus. Ipſe eſt requies æterna Chriſtus Jeſus; cui eſt honor, et gloria per omnia ſæcula ſæculorum. Amen. Tu autem, Domine, miſerere noſtri. R/. Deo gratias.

R/. ix. Stirps Jeſſe virgam produxit, virgaque florem: * Et ſuper hunc florem † Requieſcit Spiritus almus. V/. Virgo Dei Genitrix virga eſt, flos Filius ejus. * Et ſuper hunc florem. † Requieſcit Spiritus almus. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. † Requieſcit Spiritus almus.

Te Deum.

V/. ante Laudes:

V/. Ego dormivi.
R/. Et ſoporatus ſum. (Ps 3:6a)

AD LAUDES

Aña. O beatiſſima dormitio glorioſiſſimæ Deiparæ.

Pss 92, 99, 62 & 66; Benedicite; Pss 148-150 & 116 

Cap.                                                                                                        Eccli. 24, 11b-12
In omnibus requiem quæſivi, et in hæreditate Domini morabor. Tunc præcepit, et dixit mihi Creator omnium: et qui creavit me, requievit in tabernaculo meo. R/. Deo gratias.

Hymnus (Comm. B.M.V.)
O glorioſa Domina,
Excelſa ſupra ſidera:
Qui te creavit provide
Lactaſti ſacro ubere.

Quod Heva triſtis abſtulit
Tu reddis almo germine:
Intrent ut aſtra flebiles,
Cæli feneſtra facta es.

Tu Regis alti janua
Et porta lucis fulgida:
Vitam datam per Virginem,
Gentes redemptæ, plaudite.

Maria, mater gratiæ,
Mater miſericordiæ,
Tu nos ab hoſte protege,
Et hora mortis ſuſcipe.

Gloria tibi, Domine,
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
In ſempiterna ſæcula. Amen.

V/. Obdormivit.
R/. In Domino.

Ad Bened. Aña. Ante thorum hujus Virginis, frequentate nobis dulcia cantica dramatis.

AD PRIMAM

Aña. O beatiſſima dormitio glorioſiſſimæ Deiparæ.

R/. Jesu Christe, Fili Dei vivi, * Miserere nobis.
R/. Jesu Christe, Fili Dei vivi, * Miserere nobis.
V/. Qui dediſti requiem Matri tui.* Miserere nobis.
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.
R/. Jesu Christe, Fili Dei vivi, * Miserere nobis.

AD TERTIAM

Aña. Hodie obdormivit, quæ in ſuis ulnis Chriſtum conſopivit.

Cap.                                                                                                        Eccli. 24, 11b-12
In omnibus requiem quæſivi, et in hæreditate Domini morabor. Tunc præcepit, et dixit mihi Creator omnium: et qui creavit me, requievit in tabernaculo meo. R/. Deo gratias.

R/. Obdormivit * In Domino.
R/. Obdormivit * In Domino.
V/. Ejuſque dormitionem celebramus. * In Domino.
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.
R/. Obdormivit * In Domino.

V/. O beatiſſima dormitio.
R/. Glorioſiſſimæ Deiparæ.

AD SEXTAM

Aña. Obdormivit in Domino.

Cap.                                                                                                               Eccli. 24, 15
Et ſic in Sion firmata ſum, et in civitate ſanctificata ſimiliter requievi, et in Jeruſalem poteſtas mea.  R/.  Deo gratias.

R/. O beatiſſima dormitio * Glorioſiſſimæ Deiparæ.
R/. O beatiſſima dormitio * Glorioſiſſimæ Deiparæ.
V/. Dormitionem celebramus. * Glorioſiſſimæ Deiparæ.
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.
R/. O beatiſſima dormitio * Glorioſiſſimæ Deiparæ.

V/. Hodie obdormivit.
R/. Quæ in ſuis ulnis Chriſtum conſopivit.

AD NONAM

Aña. Dormitionem celebramus.

Cap.                                                                                                               Eccli. 24, 16
Et radicavi in populo honorificato, et in parte Dei mei hereditas illius, et in plenitudine ſanctorum detentio mea.  R/.  Deo gratias.

R/. Hodie obdormivit, * Quæ in ſuis ulnis Chriſtum conſopivit.
R/. Hodie obdormivit, * Quæ in ſuis ulnis Chriſtum conſopivit.
V/. O beatiſſima dormitio glorioſiſſimæ Deiparæ. * Quæ in ſuis ulnis Chriſtum conſopivit.
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.
R/. Hodie obdormivit, * Quæ in ſuis ulnis Chriſtum conſopivit.

V/. Obdormivit.
R/. In Domino.

IN II VESPERIS

Aña. O beatiſſima dormitio glorioſiſſimæ Deiparæ.

Pss 109, 112, 121, 126, 147

Cap.                                                                                                        Eccli. 24, 11b-12
In omnibus requiem quæſivi, et in hæreditate Domini morabor. Tunc præcepit, et dixit mihi Creator omnium: et qui creavit me, requievit in tabernaculo meo. R/. Deo gratias.

R/. Stirps Jeſſe virgam produxit, virgaque florem: * Et ſuper hunc florem † Requieſcit Spiritus almus. V/. Virgo Dei Genitrix virga eſt, flos Filius ejus. * Et ſuper hunc florem. † Requieſcit Spiritus almus. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. † Requieſcit Spiritus almus.

Hymnus (Comm. B.M.V.) 
Ave, maris ſtella,
Dei Mater alma,
Atque ſemper Virgo,
Felix cæli porta.

Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
Funda nos in pace,
Mutans nomen Hevæ.

Solve vincla reis,
Profer lumen cæcis,
Mala noſtra pelle,
Bona cuncta poſce.

Monſtra te eſſe matrem:
Sumat per te preces,
Qui pro nobis natus
Tulit eſſe tuus.

Virgo ſingularis,
Inter omnes mitis,
Nos culpis ſolutos
Mites fac et caſtos.

Vitam præſta puram,
Iter para tutum:
Ut videntes Jeſum
Semper collætemur.

Sit laus Deo Patri,
Summo Chriſto decus,
Spiritui Sancto,
Tribus honor unus.  Amen.

V/. Hodie obdormivit.
R/. Quæ in ſuis ulnis Chriſtum conſopivit.

Aña. Magnificamus te, intemerata Mater Chriſti Dei noſtri, et laudamus glorioſiſſimam Dormitionem tuam.

2 comments:

Rubricarius said...

That is quite magnificent. Thank you for sharing the Office.

Joshua said...

It is a labour of love to transcribe such curiosities from certain items in my possession.

(Even the Neo-Gallican Breviaries - to whose use of Scripture this Office shews some resemblance, though otherwise drawing antiphons and such from Eastern sources – were not without some artistic merit, leaving aside any Jansenistic taint, and it may be argued that the jus liturgicum of the French bishops still permitted them to license such items.)

Would that those Vatican would resist the pleas of those tempted to innovate, let alone those wishing to trample upon our rights to the rites of our fathers, and instead peacefully allowed the revival of the many immemorial rites fallen into desuetude!

That said, it is insane madness and the height of folly to dare presume to invent strange, new-fangled forms of worship, let alone to mock at sacred things by spewing forth parodies and worse.

The perfectly lovely Roman Office of the Assumption, before the unhappy modifications with it under Pius XII, are a case in point. Just because he delighted all Catholics by proclaiming the dogma of the Assumption did not mean that idle hands in the Curia (of which there are many) somehow needed to tamper with the Breviary and introduce into the Office of the Assumption a rather banal set of new propers - as your own esteemed blog so magisterially points out.

If I have time, I will post a few more such gems...