Author Topic: Prayers from the Bridgetine Breviary (Read 1528 times)

Hobbledehoy · « **on:** March 26, 2011, 10:25:18 PM »

Hello everybody:

The Bridgettine Breviary is unique amongst the Medieval usages of the Roman Rite in its grand emphasis upon the importance and eminence of Blessed Mary ever-Virgin in the designs of Divine Providence. For example, the lessons for Matins are furnished by the Sermo Angelicus, the revelations that an Angel gave to St. Bridget at Rome concerning the eternal election, Immaculate Conception and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, together with the blessed life she shared with her Divine Son, culminating in her Assumption into Heaven. It is the only instance of which I know wherein the actual text of private revelations was officially incorporated as part of Sacred Liturgy.

Here are some prayers from this wonderful book.

After all the Canonical Hours, the consecrated Virgins of the Order of the Most Holy Savior, founded by St. Bridget of Sweden, said the following Collects:

Almighty and everlasting God, Who didst deign for us to be born of the most chaste Virgin: make us, we pray, to serve Thee with a chaste body, and please Thee with an humble mind.

We also pray thee, O most loving Virgin Mary, Queen of the world and of the Angels, that thou mayest procure refreshment for them whom the fires of Purgatory try, for sinners indulgence, for the just perseverance in good, and that thou also mayest defend us [who are] fragile from present perils. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

The first Collect is addressed to the Divine Person of the Son and recalls the Incarnation and the perpetual and integral virginity of the His Blessed Mother, earnestly petitioning for the inestimable virtues of purity and humility. The Homily of Pope St. Gregory in the Common Office for Feasts of Virgins in the Roman Breviary demonstrates how these two virtues cannot exist without each other. The second Collect is addressed to the Blessed Virgin and recalls the universal scope of her role as Mediatress of all graces, and the utter dependence of all rational creatures upon her intercession. Saint Alphonsus and Saint Louis Marie, together with many other Saints and esteemed authors, have written upon this beautiful teaching of Holy Mother Church

Attached is the actual Latin text scanned from the tome, Breviarium Sacrarum Virginum Ordinis Sanctissimi Salvatoris, vulgo Santæ Birgittæ; horas Deiparæ Virginis per ferias distributas continens opus pium et omnibus eidem Virgini devotis ob Sermones Angelicos accommodatissimum; jussu Illustrissimi et Reverendissimi Domini Episcopi Plymuthensis, Monasterii de Syon Ordinarii denuo typis impressum [Breviary of the Sacred Virgins of the Order of the Most Holy Saviour, Generally known as that of Saint Bridget; The Hours of the Virgin Mother of God Distributed throughout the Ferias, Containing the Loving Work the Same Virgin Adapted from the devout Angelical Discourses; Printed Anew by the Printing Press of the Ordinary of the Monastery of Sion by Order of the Most Illustrious and Reverend Lord Bishop of Plymouth], (Rome, Tournai, Paris: Desclée & Socii, 1908).

Hopefully I can post more prayers from this Breviary soon, God and circuмstances permitting.

Hobbledehoy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2011, 01:23:11 AM »

Here's another treat from the Bridgettine Breviary.

After Terce, according to the Rule of the Order of the Most Holy Savior, the Nuns were to recite every day before an open sepulcher full of earth the Psalm De profundis with the following Collect:

Psalm cxxix.

From the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord: * Lord, hear my voice.
Let thine ears be intent: * to the voice of my petition.
If thou shalt observe iniquities, O Lord: * Lord who shall sustain it?
Because with thee there is propitiation: * and for thy law I have expected thee, O Lord.
My soul hath expected in his words: * my soul hath hoped in our Lord.
From the morning watch even until night: * let Israel hope in our Lord.
Because with our Lord there is mercy: * and with him plenteous redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel: * from all his iniquities.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall it be, * world without end.

Let us pray.

O Lord, Holy Father, Who didst conserve unharmed in the tomb and didst raise up incorrupt the Body which Thou didst choose for Thy Son of the Virgin Mary: keep, we pray, our bodies pure and spotless in Thy most holy service; and direct our way in this [present] time, that when the great and terrible Day of Judgment cometh, we may be resurrected amongst Thy Saints, and our souls may eternally rejoice with Thee and may merit to be associated with Thine Elect. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Psalm De profundis is the eminent Psalm whereby we may offer fitting suffrage of the faithful departed, but it seems that is here used by way of memento mori, as the use of the earth-filled sepulcher shows. The allegorical and tropological interpretations of the Psalm are admirably many and various, but here it seems to recall the Resurrection of Our Lord and the pledge of eternal life that it has given to the members of the Mystical Body of the same Lord. The Collect calls to mind the fact that this same glorious Body that vanquished death is the same as that which the Blessed Virgin Mary bore and nourished.

Just as the fact that the only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father and of the Virgin Mary humbly submitted Himself to an ignominious death and deigned to dwell thereafter in a sepulcher reminded the devout Religious that their own body would one day dwell in a sepulcher, so the sacred Mystery of the Resurrection reminded them that they themselves would arise at Doomsday from the same sepulcher. The Collect contains a beautiful summary of the eschatological doctrines of Holy Mother Church regarding the certainty of the Dies irae and of the final resurrection of the just.

These Mysteries only reminded the Nuns of the absolute importance and centrality of the virginal purity which they had sealed with a vow, and of their utter helplessness in preserving the same without the grace of God, for which the Collect prays.

Attached is the original Latin text.

Sigismund · « **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2011, 05:53:13 PM »

Really interesting. Thanks for posting this.

Hobbledehoy · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2011, 10:59:11 PM »

Quote from: Sigismund

Really interesting. Thanks for posting this.

You're welcome. More to come in the future. Stay tuned...

Hobbledehoy · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2011, 03:15:15 PM »

The consecrated Virgins of the Order of St. Bridget were wont to offer a lovely and sublime token of devotion to the Blessed Virgin by interpolating the venerable text of the Canticle of the Three Children Benedicite―found in Office of Sunday and Festal Lauds and taken from the Prophecy of Daniel (ch. iii. 57-88, 56)―with the words Pro honóre et glória digníssimæ creatúræ Vírginis Maríæ, Matris Dei,“For the honor and glory of the most worthy creature, Mary the Virgin Mother of God.” In doing so, they adapted the Canticle’s invitation of praise addressed to all creation so that the object of this universal laud is the ineffable and unfathomable loving-kindness and charity wherewith the Lord God Almighty predestined the Blessed Mary to be the ever-Virgin Mother of the Word Incarnate, and consequentially elected her to a plenitude of glory and grace superior to that of all other created or creatable persons, whether Angelic or human. Such should also be our prayer: suffused in a spirit of pious gratitude and reverent dread whilst contemplating the unspeakable and unparalleled excellencies that the Lord has been pleased to work in the Blessed Virgin Mary; at the same time, petitioning Almighty God―Who surpasses the merits and desires of His suppliants (Collect, Sunday XI after Pentecost, Roman Missal)―to lavish upon us the graces necessary for the cultivation of the interior life through the patronage and tutelage of she whom He has constituted as Mediatress of All Graces, and offering reparation for any offense wherewith we may have injured the august majesty of our sweet Mother and Queen.

According to the rubrics of the Bridgettine Breviary, the Benedicamus Domino being sung at Vespers on the Feasts of the Blessed Virgin, the following versicle is recited by the main chantress,

V. Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecuм.

The Choir responds,

R. Benedícta tu in muliéribus, et benedíctus fructus ventris tui Jesus Christus.

Then the Chantresses begin the Canticle of the Three Children,

All works of the Lord bless ye the Lord: * praise and superexalt Him forever.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Bless the Lord ye Angels of the Lord: * ye heavens bless the Lord

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

All waters that are above the heavens, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord all ye powers of the Lord.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Sun and moon bless ye the Lord: * stars of heavens bless ye the Lord.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Every shower and dew bless ye the Lord: * all spirits of God bless ye the Lord.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Fire and heat bless ye the Lord: * cold and heat bless ye the Lord.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Dews and hoarfrost bless ye the Lord: * frost and cold bless ye the Lord.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Ice and snow bless ye the Lord: * nights and days bless ye the Lord.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Light and darkness bless ye the Lord: * lightnings and clouds bless ye the Lord.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Let the earth bless the Lord: * praise and superexalt Him forever.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Mountains and little hills bless ye the Lord: * all things that spring in the earth bless ye the Lord.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Bless the Lord ye fountains: * seas and rivers bless the Lord.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Whales and all things that move in the waters bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord all ye fowls of heaven.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

All beasts and cattle bless ye the Lord: * sons of men bless ye the Lord.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Let Israel bless the Lord: * praise and superexalt Him forever.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Priests of the Lord bless ye the Lord: * servants of the Lord bless ye the Lord.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Spirits and souls of the just bless ye the Lord: * holy and humble of heart bless ye the Lord.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: * praise and superexalt Him forever.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Let us bless the Father and the Son together with the Holy Ghost: * let us praise and superexalt Him forever.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven: * and laudable and glorious and superexalted forever.

For the honour and glory of the worthiest creature, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

And thou, blessed above all creatures, deign to commend us and our place unto Thy Son, O Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

Then the following antiphon and Collects are said,

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus Christ, forever.

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, Who didst deign for us to be born of the most chaste Virgin: make us, we pray, to serve Thee with a chaste body, and please Thee with an humble mind.
We also pray thee, O most loving Virgin Mary, Queen of the world and of the Angels, that thou mayest procure refreshment for them whom the fires of Purgatory try, for sinners indulgence, for the just perseverance in good, and that thou also mayest defend us [who are] fragile from present perils. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
R. Amen.

The original Latin texts are attached.

Hobbledehoy · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2011, 02:22:47 PM »

Vespers in the Bridgettine Breviary begins in a rather interesting form.

According to the Rubrics,, the Minor Doxology and the Kyries being said, together with the Pater and Ave, the Hymn Ave maris stella is chanted, with the verse Monstra te esse Matrem, &c., said thrice, and the following vesicles, responses and Collects are said,

V. Pray for us, O Virgin Mary, holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.
V. Peace be made in thy strength.
R. And abundance in thy towers. (Ps. cxxi. 7).

Let us pray

Protect, O Lord, Thy servants with the helps of peace, and trusting in the patronage of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, we may be rendered safe from all enemies and dangers.
O God from Whom come holy desires, right counsels, and good works: grant unto Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give: so that, [with] our hearts given over unto Thy commandments and the formidable enemy being subdued, the times may be tranquil by Thy protection. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

Then the right half of the Choir recites the following antiphon with their heads inclined and with a loud voice,

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb Jesus Christ.

Do ye forgive us, for the sake of God and of His most loving Mother Mary, if we have offended you in word, or act, or sign, or nod: for we most cheerfully forgive [you], if there is any transgression on your part against us.

And the other side of the Choir does the same thing, and then they proceed to Vespers.

This is a beautiful example of what Our Lord has said, “And when you shall stand to pray, forgive if you have aught against any man, that also your Father who is in heaven may forgive you your sins” (St. Mark, ch. xi., 25). This He again taught, saying, “If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath aught against thee: leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother, and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift” (St. Matt., ch. v., 23-24). For it is as He had always taught, as we shall be reminded in the beautiful Ubi caritas that shall be chanted on Maundy Thursday, “In this all men shall know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another” (St. John, ch. xiii., 25).