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Regem venturum Dominum, De Isaia Propheta. Prope est ut veniat tempus |
Come, let us adore the King our Lord, who is to come. From the Prophet Isaias. Her time is near at hand, |
Thy ruin, 0 Lucifer, is irreparable ! Thou refusedst to humble thyself before God, and thou wast cast into hell. Thy pride then sought a compensation for this thy deep humiliation, and thou causedst the ruin of the human race, out of hatred for God and His creatures. Thou didst succeed in inspiring him, who was formed out of dust, with that same pride which had caused thine own destruction. By thee sin came into this world, and by sin death: the human race seemed now a victim which never could escape thy vengeance. Forced to give up thy hopes of a heavenly royalty, thou aimedst at reigning in hell and destroying the creatures of God as they came from His creating love. But again thou art foiled and conquered. Thy reign was in pride; pride alone could form thy court and give thee subjects; now, see how the sovereign Lord of all things uproots thy kingdom: He Himself comes to teach His creatures humility; and He teaches it, not by laws given with awful majesty, as once on Sinai, but by Himself meekly practising that heavenly humility, which alone can raise up them that had fallen by pride. Tremble, proud spirit, thy sceptre is to be broken!
In thy haughty wisdom, thou disdainest this humble and lowly Virgin of Nazareth, who holds within herself, in adoring silence, the mystery of thy ruin and our salvation. The Child whom she carries in her womb, and who is so soon to be born, has long since been the object of thy contempt. Know, then, that God does not disdain this unborn Child, for this Child is also God! And a single act of adoration and devotedness to His Father, which He is making in the womb of Mary, gives more glory to the Divinity than all thy pride could rob it of, even were thy pride to increase for eternity. Henceforth, men, taught by the lessons of a God the immense power of humility, will have recourse to it as their great remedy. Instead of exalting themselves, as thou didst, by a mad and guilty pride, they will humble themselves with love and pleasure: the lower they humble themselves, the higher will God raise them: the poorer they own themselves, the richer will He make them. It is the glorious Virgin that tells us this in her exquisite canticle. May she be ever blessed, Mother so gentle and sweet to her children, and so terrible to thee, Lucifer! that writhest beneath her as she crushes and conquers thee.
PROSE FOR THE TIME OF ADVENT
(Composed in the eleventh century, and taken from the ancient Roman-French missals)
| Regnantem sempiterna per saecla susceptura Concio, devote concrepa: Factori redde debita.Quem jubilant agmina caelica, ejus vultu exhilarata. Quem exspectant omnia Districtum ad judicia, Influens salus vera, effuga Omnia ut sint munda, tribue Qui regnas saecula per |
Ready to receive him who reigneth for ever and ever, Devoutly sing, 0 Christian people; pay thy homage to thy Creator. The heavenly hosts, who enjoy the beauty of his countenance, are every praising him in jubilation. All earthly things, which are to be examined before his face, are in expectation his of him. Him so severe in judgement, So merciful in power. Save us in thy mercy, 0 Christ, for whom thou didst suffer so cruel a passion. Raise us up to the bright stars of heaven, 0 thou that dost take away the sins of the earth. True upon Saviour, descending as dew upon us, drive all dangers from us. Purify all that is about us, make all in peace; That here protected by thy mercy, we may ascend, hereafter, into the kingdom of heaven in gladness. Who livest and reignest for endless ages. Amen. |
FROM THE GALLICAN SACRAMENTARY
(Mass for Christmas Eve)
| Misericors ac piissime Deus, cujus voluntate ac munere Dominus noster Jesus Christus ad hoc se humiliavit, ut totum genus exaltaret humanum, et ideo ad ima descenderet, ut humilia sublimaret: ac propterea Deus homo nascitur per Virginem, ut in homine perditam coelestem reformaret imaginem: da ut plebs haec tibi adhaereat, ut quam redemisti tuo munere, tibi semper devota placeat servitute. |
0 merciful and most loving God, by whose will and bounty our Lord Jesus Christ humbled himself that he might exalt the whole human race, and came down to what was lowest that he might raise up the humble : who, being God, did become man, born of a Virgin, to the end that he might re-form in man the heavenly image that had been corrupted ; grant that this thy people may cling to thee, and that they, whom thou hast redeemed by thy bounty, may ever please thee by devoted service. |
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