Virgin

Double

Common

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

First Vespers

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Veni, Sponsa Christi, * áccipe corónam, quam tibi Dóminus præparávit in ætérnum.

Ant. on Magnif:  Come, thou bride of Christ, * receive the crown which the Lord hath prepared for thee for ever.

Oremus.
Exáudi nos, Deus, salutáris noster : ut, sicut de beátæ Claræ Vírginis tuæ festivitáte gaudémus ; ita piæ devotiónis erudiámur afféctu.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation : that, like as we do rejoice in the festival of blessed Clare thy holy Virgin ; so we may learn to follow her in all godly and devout affections.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

Matins

The first part of Matins is in the Ordinary

Invitatory and Hymn

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn

First Nocturn

The Lessons for the First Nocturn are taken from the occurrent Scripture.  If, however, they are to be taken from the Common, they are read from that of Virgins, De virginibus.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of Virgins

Second Nocturn

Absolutio: Ipsíus píetas et misericórdia nos ádjuvet, qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculórum.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  May his loving-kindness and mercy assist us.  Who, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, for ever and ever.
R.  Amen.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 4: Deus Pater omnípotens sit nobis propítius et clemens.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 4:  May God the Father Almighty shew us his mercy and pity.
R.  Amen.

St. Francis and St. Clare

Clara nóbilis virgo, Assísii nata in Umbria, sanctum Francíscum concívem suum imitáta, cuncta sua bona in eleemósynas et páuperum subsídia distríbuit et convértit.  De sæculi strépitu fúgiens, in campéstrem declinávit ecclésiam, ibíque ab eódem beáto Francísco recépta tonsúra, consanguíneis ipsam redúcere conántibus fórtiter réstitit.  Et dénique ad ecclésiam sancti Damiáni fuit per eúmdem addúcta, ubi ei Dóminus plures sócias aggregávit ; et sic ipsa sacrárum sorórum collégium instítuit, quarum régimen, nímia sancti Francísci devícta importunitáte, recépit.  Suum monastérium sollícite ac prudénter, in timóre Dómini ac plena órdinis observántia, annis quadragínta duóbus mirabíliter gubernávit ; ejus enim vita erat áliis erudítio et doctrína, unde céteræ  vivéndi régulam didicérunt.

The noble maiden Clare was born at Assisi in Umbria.  In imitation of her holy fellow-citizen Francis, she distributed all her goods among the poor and needy.  She fled from the din of the world, and betook herself to a church in the fields, where blessed Francis cut her hair.  She stoutly resisted the efforts of her family to make her come back, and after a while Francis took her to the Church of St. Damian, where the Lord gathered around her several companions.  Thus she founded an holy Sisterhood, which, at the earnest entreaty of holy Francis, she governed.  For two-and-forty years she directed her monastery with wonderful care and wisdom in the fear of the Lord and the full keeping of the Rule.  Her own life was an instruction and teaching for the rest, whence others learnt to order their own.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Propter veritátem, et mansuetúdinem, et justítiam : * Et dedúcet te mirabíliter déxtera tua.
V.  Spécie tua et pulchritúdine tua inténde, próspere procéde, et regna.
R.  Et dedúcet te mirabíliter déxtera tua.

R.  Ride on because of the Word of truth, of meekness, and righteousness : * And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
V.  In thy comeliness, yea, in thy beauty, go forth, ride prosperously, and reign.
R.  And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 5: Christus perpétuæ det nobis gáudia vitæ.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 5: May Christ bestow upon us the joys of life eternal.
R.  Amen.

Ut, carne depréssa, spíritu convalésceret, nudam humum et intérdum sarménta pro lecto habébat, et pro pulvinári sub cápite durum lignum.  Una túnica cum mantéllo de vili et híspido panno utebátur, áspero cilício nonnúmquam adhíbito juxta carnem.  Tanta se frenábat abstinéntia, ut longo témpore tribus in hebdómada diébus nihil pénitus pro sui córporis aliménto gustáverit ; réliquis autem diébus tali se cibórum parvitáte restríngens, ut áliæ, quómodo subsístere póterat, miraréntur.  Binas quotánnis (ántequam ægrotáret) quadragésimas, solo pane et aqua refécta, jejunábat.  Vigíliis ínsuper et oratiónibus assídue dédita, in his præcípue dies noctésque expendébat.  Diútinus perpléxa languóribus, cum ad exercítium corporále non posset súrgere  per se ipsam, sorórum suffrágio levabátur ; et, fulciméntis ad tergum appósitis, laborábat própriis mánibus, ne in suis étiam esset infirmitátibus otiósa.  Amátrix præcípua paupertátis, ab ea pro nulla umquam necessitáte discéssit ; et possessiónes pro sorórum sustentatióne a Gregório nono oblátas constantíssime recusávit.

That she might wax stronger in spirit by keeping the body down, she made her bed on the bare ground, sometimes with little twigs, and with hard wood for a pillow.  Her dress was a gown and cloak of mean and rough cloth, and she sometimes wore hair-cloth next to the skin.  She bridled herself with such abstinence, that for a long time she took no bodily nourishment whatever upon three days in the week.  Upon the remaining days she ate so little that the others wondered how she lived.  As long as her health allowed it, she kept two Lents every year, during which she fasted upon bread and water.  Moreover, she was instant in watching and prayer, wherein she chiefly spent both her days and nights.  She suffered from constant illnesses, and when she could not herself rise to bodily work, she sat up with the help of the sisters, and with her back propped, worked with her hands, that she might not be idle even in the midst of her weaknesses.  She was an eminent lover of poverty, from which no need ever made her swerve, and she persistently refused the possessions which were offered to the sisters by Gregory IX for their support.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Dilexísti justítiam, et odísti iniquitátem : * Proptérea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, óleo lætítiæ.
V.  Propter veritátem, et mansuetúdinem, et justítiam.
R.  Proptérea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, óleo lætítiæ.

R.  Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity : * Wherefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness.
V.  Because of the Word of truth, of meekness, and of righteousness.
R.  Wherefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 6: Ignem sui amóris accéndat Deus in córdibus nostris.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 6: May God enkindle in our hearts the fire of his holy love.
R.  Amen.

Multis et váriis miráculis virtus suæ sanctitátis effúlsit.  Cuídam de soróribus sui monastérii loquélam restítuit expedítam ; álteri aurem surdam apéruit ; laborántem febre, tuméntem hydrópisi, plagátam fístula, aliásque áliis oppréssas languóribus liberávit.  Fratrem de órdine Minórum ab insániæ passióne sanávit.  Cum óleum in monastério totáliter defecísset, Clara accépit úrceum atque lavit, et invéntus est óleo, benefício divínæ largitátis, implétus.  Uníus panis medietátem ádeo multiplicávit, ut soróribus quinquagínta suffécerit.  Saracénis Assísium obsidéntibus et Claræ monastérium invádere conántibus, ægra se ad portam afférri vóluit, unáque vas in quo sanctíssimum Eucharístiæ sacraméntum erat inclúsum, ibíque orávit : Ne tradas, Dómine, béstiis ánimas confiténtes tibi, et custódi fámulas tuas, quas pretióso sánguine redemísti.  In cujus oratióne ea vox audíta est : Ego vos semper custódiam.  Saracéni autem partim se fugæ mandárunt, partim, qui murum ascénderant, capti óculis, præcípites cecidérunt.  Ipsa dénique Virgo, cum in extrémis ágeret, a cándido beatárum Vírginum cœtu (inter quas una eminéntior ac fulgídior apparébat) visitáta, ac sacra Eucharístia sumpta, et peccatórum indulgéntia ab Innocéntio quarto ditáta, tértio Idus Augústi ánimam Deo réddidit.  Post óbitum vero quam plúrimis miráculis resplendéntem, Alexánder quartus inter sanctas Vírgines rétulit.

The power of her holy life shone forth in many and divers miracles.  She restored the use of speech to one of the sisters in her convent ; for another she opened a deaf ear ; she healed one sick with fever, one swollen with dropsy, one troubled with an hollow oozing ulcer, and others afflicted with divers ailments.  She cured a brother of the Order of Friars Minors of raging madness.  Once when all the oil in the house was spent, she took the vessel and washed it, and it was found filled with oil by the goodness of God.  She multiplied half a loaf till it was enough to satisfy fifty sisters.  When the Saracens attacked Assisi, and were fain to break into Clare's monastery, she being sick, caused herself to be carried to the door, and likewise the vessel in which was held the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, and there she prayed, saying : O Lord, deliver not unto beasts the souls of them that praise thee, but preserve thine handmaids whom thou hast redeemed with the Precious Blood.  Whereupon a voice was heard which said : I will always preserve you.  Some of the Saracens took to flight, and others who had mounted the wall became blind and fell down headlong.  When Clare herself was at the point of death she beheld a white multitude of blessed Virgins, with one among them nobler and brighter than the rest.  Having received the Holy Eucharist, and a Plenary Indulgence from Innocent IV, she resigned her soul to God upon the 12th day of August.  After her death she became illustrious for very many miracles, and Alexander IV enrolled her name among those of the Holy Virgins.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Afferéntur Regi vírgines post eam, próximæ ejus * Afferéntur tibi in lætítia et exsultatióne.
V.  Spécie tua et pulchritúdine tua inténde, próspere procéde, et regna.
R.  Afferéntur tibi in lætítia et exsultatióne.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Afferéntur tibi in lætítia et exsultatióne.

R.  After her shall virgins be brought unto the King : * Her fellows shall be brought unto thee with gladness and rejoicing.
V.  In thy comeliness, yea, in thy beauty, go forth, ride prosperously, and reign.
R.  Her fellows shall be brought unto thee with gladness and rejoicing.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Her fellows shall be brought unto thee with gladness and rejoicing.

If this Feast be reduced to the rank of Simple, and Lesson IX of this Feast is to be said according to the Rubrics, the following abbreviated version may be used.

Clara nóbilis virgo, Assísii nata in Umbria, sanctum Francíscum concívem suum imitáta, cuncta sua bona in eleemósynas et páuperum subsídia distríbuit.  De sæculi strépitu fúgiens, in campéstrem declinávit ecclésiam, ibíque ab eódem beáto Francísco recépta tonsúra consanguíneis ipsam redúcere conántibus fórtiter réstitit.  Deínde ad ecclésiam sancti Damiáni per eúmdem addúcta, sacrárum sorórum collégium instítuit, quarum régimen, nímia sancti Francísci devícta importunitáte recépit.  Suum monastérium sollícite ac prudénter annis quadragínta duóbus mirabíliter gubernávit.  Saracénos monastérium invádere conántes, cum sanctíssimum Sacraméntum deférri jussísset, humíllime orans, pénitus fugávit.  Evolávit in cælum prídie Idus Augústi, et ab Alexándro Papa quarto inter sanctas Vírgines est reláta.

Clare was a virgin of noble birth, born at Assisi in Umbria.  Imitating St. Francis, her fellow-citizen, she gave all her goods in alms to aid the poor.  Fleeing from the noise of the world, she went to a country chapel and there received the tonsure from St. Francis, strongly resisting her kindred who were trying to bring her back.  Then he led her to the church of St. Damian, where she founded an Order of nuns, the government of which she undertook, yielding to the repeated requests of St. Francis.  She governed her monastery with care and prudence for forty-two years.  When the Saracens tried to invade it, she commanded that the Blessed Sacrament be brought and prayed most humbly, and they at once took to flight.  She went to heaven on the 12th day of August, and was enrolled among the holy Virgins by Pope Alexander IV.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

After the conclusion of the Second Nocturn, the Third Nocturn is begun according to the current weekday, as given in the table below.

Third Nocturn

In the Third Nocturn, the Gospel Homily Simile erit regnum cælorum is read from the Common of Virgins, Series 1.

Gospel Homily from Common of Virgins

Lauds

V.  Diffúsa est grátia in lábiis tuis.
R.  Proptérea benedíxit te Deus in ætérnum.

V.  Full of grace are thy lips.
R.  Because God hath blessed thee for ever.

Ad Bened. Ant:  Símile est regnum cælórum * hómini negotiatóri quærénti bonas margarítas : invénta una pretiósa, dedit ómnia sua, et comparávit eam.

Ant. on Bened:  The kingdom of heaven * is like unto a merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

THE BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Exáudi nos, Deus, salutáris noster : ut, sicut de beátæ Claræ Vírginis tuæ festivitáte gaudémus ; ita piæ devotiónis erudiámur afféctu.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation : that, like as we do rejoice in the festival of blessed Clare thy holy Virgin ; so we may learn to follow her in all godly and devout affections.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

Second Vespers

V.  Diffúsa est grátia in lábiis tuis.
R.  Proptérea benedíxit te Deus in ætérnum.

V.  Full of grace are thy lips.
R.  Because God hath blessed thee for ever.

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Veni, Sponsa Christi, * áccipe corónam, quam tibi Dóminus præparávit in ætérnum.

Ant. on Magnif:  Come, thou bride of Christ, * receive the crown which the Lord hath prepared for thee for ever.

Oremus.
Exáudi nos, Deus, salutáris noster : ut, sicut de beátæ Claræ Vírginis tuæ festivitáte gaudémus ; ita piæ devotiónis erudiámur afféctu.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation : that, like as we do rejoice in the festival of blessed Clare thy holy Virgin ; so we may learn to follow her in all godly and devout affections.  Through.