Today, some practicing before Advent begins...

on





The Alma Redemptoris Mater, for the conclusion of the Hours, and then the Advent hymns for Vespers, Matins, and Lauds. 

Just glanced at Eleanor Parker's Patreon article for tomorrow-- they seem to be arriving Saturday afternoons these days-- and she begins by quoting the venerable Abbot Aelfric's Letter to the Monks of Eynsham: 


In Advent at Vespers [we sing] 'Conditor alme siderum', at Nocturns 'Verbum supernum', at Lauds 'Vox clara'... In Advent we read Isaiah until Christmas, and in the first week we sing 'I look from afar'.


It is a consolation in these latter days to know that I'm singing, today and throughout the Advent season, the same hymns Aelfric and company sang in Anno Domini 1005. (I'm pretty certain that the 'I look from afar' is the English version of the 1st responsorium at Matins in the morning, Aspíciens a longe, ecce vídeo Dei poténtiam veniéntem.)






For Vespers.

Cónditor alme síderum,
Ætérna lux credéntium,
Christe, Redémptor ómnium,
Exáudi preces súpplicum.

Qui cóndolens intéritu
Mortis períre sǽculum,
Salvásti mundum lánguidum,
Donans reis remédium,

Vergénte mundi véspere,
Uti sponsus de thálamo,
Egréssus honestíssima
Vírginis matris cláusula.

Cujus forti poténtiæ
Genu curvántur ómnia;
Cæléstia, terréstria
Nutu faténtur súbdita.

Te deprecámur, hágie,
Ventúre judex sǽculi,
Consérva nos in témpore
Hostis a telo pérfidi.

Laus, honor, virtus, glória,
Deo Patri, et Fílio,
Sancto simul Paráclito,
In sæculórum sǽcula.
Amen.





For Matins.

Verbum supérnum, pródiens
A Patre olim éxiens,
Qui natus orbi súbvenis,
Cursu declívi témporis.

Illúmina nunc péctora,
Tuóque amóre cóncrema;
Audíto ut præcónio
Sint pulsa tandem lúbrica.

Judéxque cum post áderis
Rimári facta péctoris,
Reddens vicem pro ábditis,
Justísque regnum pro bonis.

Non demum arctémur malis
Pro qualitáte críminis;
Sed cum beátis cómpotes
Simus perénnes cælibes.

Laus, honor, virtus, glória,
Deo Patri, et Fílio,
Sancto simul Paráclito,
In sæculórum sǽcula.
Amen.






For Lauds.

Vox clara ecce íntonat,
Obscúra quæque íncrepat:
Pellántur éminus sómnia;
Ab æthre Christus prómicat.

Mens jam resúrgat tórpida
Quæ sorde exstat sáucia;
Sidus refúlget jam novum,
Ut tollat omne nóxium.

E sursum Agnus míttitur
Laxáre gratis débitum:
Omnes pro indulgéntia
Vocem demus cum lácrimis,

Secúndo ut cum fúlserit,
Mundúmque horror cínxerit,
Non pro reátu púniat,
Sed nos pius tunc prótegat.

Laus, honor, virtus, glória,
Deo Patri, et Fílio,
Sancto simul Paráclito,
In sæculórum sǽcula.
Amen.





LDVM




Comments

Post a Comment