A beautiful if partly cloudy morning...

And the third day within the Octave of Saint Lawrence; it is the feast of Saint Clare Virgin and disciple of Saint Francis who founded and gave the regula vitae to the Second Order of Saint Francis, 'the Poor Clares' as we say now. At Saint-Eugène her Mass Dilexísti iustítiam will begin in about half an hour.






Dilexísti justítiam, et odísti iniquitátem: proptérea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, óleo lætítiæ præ consórtibus tuis. (Psalm 44,8)

Eructávit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego ópera mea Regi. (Psalm 44,2)

V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

Dilexísti justítiam, et odísti iniquitátem: proptérea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, óleo lætítiæ præ consórtibus tuis.

 

 






Such a lovely Introit, indeed. The Gradual is Spécie tua et pulchritúdine tua inténde and the Alleluia Adducéntur Regi vírgines post eam.






The Offertory antiphon is Fíliæ regum in honóre tuo, ástitit regína a dextris tuis in vestítu deauráto, circúmdata varietáte, i.e. Psalm 44,10, 'Daughters of kings come out to meet thee; at thy right hand stands the queen, in Ophir gold arrayed' (Mons Knox).




And the antiphona ad Communionem is Quinque prudéntes vírgines accepérunt óleum in vasis suis cum lampádibus: média autem nocte clamor factus est: Ecce, sponsus venit: exíte óbviam Christo Dómino i.e. the Gospel according to Saint Matthew 25, 4 et 6 (from the Gospel lesson, which is the beginning of chapter 25 through verse 13): 'But those who were wise took oil in the vessels they carried, as well as the lamps... and at midnight the cry was raised, Behold, the bridegroom is on his way; go out to meet him'. 




There seems to be a glitch in the streaming, however, tsk, although this was resolved so that we could hear the Gospel. Vigilate itaque, quia nescitis diem neque horam, keep watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. A divine admonition meant for all of us, not only Religious but all of us. 


In illo témpore : Dixit Iesus discípulis suis parábolam hanc : Simile erit regnum cælórum decem virgínibus : quæ, accipiéntes lámpades suas, exiérunt óbviam sponso et sponsæ. Quinque autem ex eis erant fátuæ, et quinque prudéntes : sed quinque fátuæ, accéptis lampádibus, non sumpsérunt óleum secum : prudéntes vero accepérunt óleum in vasis suis cum lampádibus. Moram autem faciénte sponso, dormitavérunt omnes et dormiérunt. Média autem nocte clamor factus est : Ecce, sponsus venit, exíte óbviam ei. Tunc surrexérunt omnes vírgines illæ, et ornavérunt lámpades suas. Fátuæ autem sapiéntibus dixérunt : Date nobis de óleo vestro : quia lámpades nostræ exstinguúntur. Respondérunt prudéntes, dicéntes : Ne forte non suffíciat nobis et vobis, ite pótius ad vendéntes, et émite vobis. Dum autem irent émere, venit sponsus : et quæ parátæ erant, intravérunt cum eo ad núptias, et clausa est iánua. Novíssime vero véniunt et réliquæ vírgines, dicéntes : Dómine, Dómine, áperi nobis. At ille respóndens, ait : Amen, dico vobis, néscio vos. Vigiláte ítaque, quia nescítis diem neque horam.


One of the afflictions of our age is the notion that somehow the All-Merciful Omnipotent is obliged to respond to our incessant whining and self-ignorant chattering because that is what 'niceness' is. Pft. Amen dico vobis, nescio vos.


LDVM


 


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