Ad Jesum per Mariam 2023: 7/33

The Psalms of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

By way of preparation for the Annunciation, we are posting daily a commentary on each of the Psalms of the Little Office. Click on the links below to read a PDF incorporating the text of a treatise compiled by Father Ethelred L.Taunton and published in 1903.

👉   Psalm 8

👉   Psalm 18

👉   Psalm 23

👉   Psalm 44

👉   Psalm 45

👉   Psalm 86

👉   Psalm 94

King David, author of the Psalms, by Willem Vrelant (early 1460s), Bruges, Belgium.

Prayers for renewal of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

• Veni Creator Spiritus

[To see a booklet (PDF) with translations of this hymn to the Holy Spirit, click here

 👉 Veni Creator Spiritus]

• Ave Maris Stella
• Magnificat
• Gloria

De Imitatione Christi

From the Autobiography of Saint Thérèse

Depuis longtemps je me nourrissais de «la pure farine» contenue dans l'Imitation, c'était le seul livre qui me fît du bien, car je n'avais pas encore trouvé les trésors cachés dans l'Evangile. Je savais par cœur presque tous les chapitres de ma chère Imitation, ce petit livre ne me quittait jamais ; en été, je le portais dans ma poche, en hiver, dans mon manchon, aussi était-il devenu traditionnel ; chez ma Tante on s'en amusait beaucoup et l'ouvrant au hasard, on me faisait réciter le chapitre qui se trouvait devant les yeux.

For  a  long  time  I  nourished  my  spiritual  life  with  the  "fine  flour" contained  in  the 'Imitation  of  Christ.' It  was  the  only  book  which  did  me good,  for  I  had  not  yet  discovered the  treasures  hidden  in  the  Holy  Gospels.  I knew by heart nearly every chapter in my beloved 'Imitation'. The little volume never left my side. In summer, I kept it in my pocket; in winter, in it was in my  muff. It had become a custom with my aunt to open it at any page and ask me to recite by heart the chapter she had chanced upon.

From Chapter V of the Autobiography of a Soul, by Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. See here on our sister blog and here for copies of her manuscripts.

Liber Primus: Admonitiónes ad spirituálem vitam útiles:

Cap. 18. De exémplo Sanctórum Patrum

Quam húmiles et patiéntes!
How humble and patient they were!

4. Mundo erant aliéni, sed Deo próximi, ac familiáres amíci. Sibi ipsis videbántur tanquam níhili, et huic mundo dispécti, sed erant in óculis Dei prætiósi, et delécti. In vera humilitáte stabant, in símplici obediéntia vivébant, in caritáte et patiéntia ambulábant, et ideo quotídie proficiébant, et magnam apud Deum obtinébant grátiam. Dati sunt in exémplum ómnibus Religiósis et plus provocáre nos debent ad bene proficiéndum, quam tepidórum númerus ad relaxándum.
4. They were strangers to the world, but unto God they were as kinsmen and friends. They seemed unto themselves as of no reputation, and in the world's eyes contemptible; but in the sight of God they were precious and beloved. They stood fast in true humility, they lived in simple obedience, they walked in love and patience; and thus they waxed strong in spirit, and obtained great favour before God. To all religious men they were given as an example, and they ought more to provoke us unto good livings than the number of the lukewarm tempteth to carelessness of life.

Eórum fervor imitándus
Their fervour to be imitated

5. O, quantus fervor ómnium Religiosórum in princípio suæ sanctæ institutiónis fuit; o, quanta devótio oratiónis, quanta æmulátio virtútis, quam magna disciplína víguit, quanta reveréntia et obediéntia sub régula in ómnibus flóruit. Testántur adhuc vestígia derelícta, quod vere viri sancti et perfécti fuérunt, qui tam strénue militántes, mundum suppeditavérunt. Jam magnus útique putatur, si quis transgréssor non fuerit, si quis quod accépit cum patiéntia toleráre potúerit.
5. O how great was the love of all religious persons at the beginning of this sacred institution! O what devoutness of prayer! what rivalry in holiness! what strict discipline was observed! what reverence and obedience under the rule (of the master/founder) showed they in all things! The traces of them that remain until now testify that they were truly holy and perfect men, who fighting so bravely trod the world underfoot. Now a man is counted great if only he be not a transgressor, and if he can only endure with patience what he hath undertaken.

Negligéntia vitánda
Negligence to be avoided

6. O, tepor et negligéntia status nostri, quod tam cito declinámus a pristíno fervóre et jam tædet vívere præ lassitúdine et tepóre. Utinam in te pénitus non dormítet proféctus virtútum, qui multa sæpius exémpla vidísti devotórum.
6. O the coldness and negligence of our times, that we so quickly decline from the former love, and it is become a weariness to live, because of sloth and lukewarmness. May progress in holiness not wholly fall asleep in thee, who many times hast seen so many examples of devout men!

Notes on Latin vocab

dormitet: 3rd pers sing pres subj act, from dormīto, āvi, 1, v. freq. n. [id.], to be sleepy, drowsy, to begin to sleep, fall asleep
penitus: adv. (cf. penes), inwardly, far within, deep, deeply, 1.200; wholly, entirely,

prōfectus, ūs, m. proficio,advance, progress, effect, increase, growth, profit, success

simplici: abl sing fem: from simplex, ĭcis (abl., regul. simplici; simplice)  simple, plain, uncompounded, unmixed

strenue: strēnŭē, adv., v. strenuus. in an active or energetic manner, vigorously, boldly, industriously;

suppeditaverunt: 3rd pers plural perf indic active, from suppĕdĭto (subp-), āvi, ātum, 1, v. freq. n. and a. Neutr., to be fully supplied or in abundance, to be at hand, be in store:Act., to give, furnish, afford, supply, or procure in abundance, To tread under foot (from sub pede)?

taedet: taedet , taeduit or taesum est, 2, impers. a.: it irks, wearies, disgusts me, thee, etc.; I (thou, he, etc.) am wearied, tired,

tanquam: tam-quam and tanquam, adv., as much as, so as, just as, like as, as if, as it were, so to speak,

utique: ŭtĭ-quĕ, adv. ut, I., and therefore, prop., in whatever way, be it as it may;

viguit: 3rd pers sing perf indic active from vigeō, 2, n.: to be active, lively, vigorous; to flourish, be strong,

Prayers

Veni Creator Spiritus
Ave Maris Stella
Magnificat
Gloria

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam