The Presentation of the
Blessed Virgin Mary

Greater Double

Everything as in the
Common
except that which followeth

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

2nd Vespers

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Oremus.
Deus, qui beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, Spíritus Sancti habitáculum, hodiérna die in templo præsentári voluísti : præsta, quæsumus ; ut, ejus intercessióne, in templo glóriæ tuæ præsentári mereámur.  Per Dóminum... in unitáte ejúsdem Spíritus Sancti Deus.

Let us pray.
O God, who on this day didst vouchsafe that blessed Mary Ever-Virgin, the dwelling-place of the Holy Ghost, should be presented in the Temple : grant, we beseech thee ; that by her intercession we may be found worthy to be presented unto thee in the temple of thy glory.  Through... in the unity of the same.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

First Vespers

V.  Dignáre me laudáre te, Virgo sacráta.
R.  Da mihi virtútem contra hostes tuos.

V.  My praise by thee accepted be, O hallowed Virgin.
R.  Obtain for me strength against thine enemies.

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Beáta Dei Génitrix, María, * Virgo perpétua, templum Dómini, sacrárium Spíritus Sancti, sola sine exémplo placuísti Dómino nostro Jesu Christo, allelúja.

Ant. on Magnif:  O ever-blessed Mother of God, * Mary Ever-Virgin, temple of the Godhead, hallowed shrine of the Holy Spirit; thou only, above all others, wast acceptable to our Lord Jesus Christ, alleluia.

Oremus.
Deus, qui beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, Spíritus Sancti habitáculum, hodiérna die in templo præsentári voluísti : præsta, quæsumus ; ut, ejus intercessióne, in templo glóriæ tuæ præsentári mereámur.  Per Dóminum... in unitáte ejúsdem Spíritus Sancti Deus.

Let us pray.
O God, who on this day didst vouchsafe that blessed Mary Ever-Virgin, the dwelling-place of the Holy Ghost, should be presented in the Temple : grant, we beseech thee ; that by her intercession we may be found worthy to be presented unto thee in the temple of thy glory.  Through... in the unity of the same.

Ant:  Hic vir, despíciens mundum et terréna, triúmphans, divítias cælo cóndidit ore, manu.

Ant:  Lo, a servant of God, who esteemed as naught all things earthly, and by word and work laid him up treasures in heaven.

V.  Justum dedúxit Dóminus per vias rectas.
R.  Et osténdit illi regnum Dei.

V.  The Lord guided the righteous in right paths.
R.  And shewed him the kingdom of God.

Oremus.
Deus, qui beátum Felícem Confessórem tuum ex erémo ad munus rediméndi captívos cælitus vocáre dignátus es : præsta, quæsumus ; ut per grátiam tuam ex peccatórum nostrórum captivitáte, ejus intercessióne, liberáti, ad cæléstem pátriam perducámur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who by thy heavenly inspiration didst call blessed Felix thy Confessor from the desert to the work of the ransoming of prisoners and captives : grant, we beseech thee ; that, through thy grace, we may, at his intercession, be delivered from the captivity of our sins, and be brought in the end to our country in heaven.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

Sunday Compline

Compline

Matins

The first part of Matins is in the Ordinary

Invitatory and Hymn

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn

First Nocturn

The Psalms with their Antiphons, as well as the V. and R., the Lessons and Responds are taken from the Common of Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Second Nocturn

If this Feast should be reduced to the rank of a Simple, and the Ninth Lesson is to be taken from the Feast, the following Lesson iv alone is read.

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.

Jóachim lectíssimam illam ac summis láudibus dignam mulíerem Annam matrimónio sibi copulávit.  Verum, quemádmodum prisca illa Anna, cum sterilitátis morbo laboráret, per oratiónem ac promissiónem, Samuélem procreávit ; eódem modo hæc étiam, per obsecratiónem et promissiónem, Dei Genitrícem a Deo accépit, ut ne hic quoque cuíquam ex illústribus matrónis céderet.  Itaque grátia (nam hoc sonat Annæ vocábulum) Dóminam parit (id enim Maríæ nómine significátur).  Vere étenim rerum ómnium conditárum Dómina facta est, cum Creatóris Mater éxstitit.  In lucem autem éditur in domo probáticæ Jóachim, atque ad templum addúcitur.  Ac deínde, in domo Dei plantáta atque per Spíritum sagináta, instar olívæ frugíferæ virtútum ómnium domicílium effícitur ; ut quæ vidélicet ab omni hujúsce vitæ et carnis concupiscéntia mentem abstraxísset, atque ita vírginem una cum córpore ánimam conservásset, ut eam decébat, quæ Deum sinu suo exceptúra erat.

Joachim took to wife that most eminent and praiseworthy woman, Anne.  And even as the holy Hannah, being stricken with barrenness, by prayer and promise became the mother of Samuel, so likewise this holy Anne, through prayer and promise, received from God the Mother of God, that in fruitfulness she might not be behind any of the famous matrons.  And thus Grace (for such is the signification of the name of Anne) is mother of the Lady (for such is the signification of the name of Mary).  And indeed this child of grace became the Lady of every creature, since she hath been Mother of the Creator.  She first saw the light in Joachim's house, hard by the Pool of Bethesda, at Jerusalem, and was carried to the temple.  There planted in the Lord, the dew of his Spirit made her to flourish in the courts of her God, where she was like unto a green olive tree, so that all the doves of grace came and lodged in her branches.  And there she in such wise raised her mind utterly above the pride of life, and the lust of flesh, that she kept her soul virgin in her virgin body, as became her that was to receive God into her womb.

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

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

R.  Sicut cedrus exaltáta sum in Líbano, et sicut cypréssus in monte Sion : quasi myrrha elécta, * Dedi suavitátem odóris.
V.  Et sicut cinnamómum et bálsamum aromatízans.
R.  Dedi suavitátem odóris.

R.  I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as cypress tree upon the mountain of Hermon, * And I yielded a pleasant odour like the best myrrh.
V.  I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aspalathus.
R.  And I yielded a pleasant odour like the best myrrh.

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.

Talis fuit María, ut ejus uníus vita ómnium sit disciplína.  Si ígitur auctor non dísplicet, opus probémus ; ut, quæcúmque sibi ejus exóptat præmium, imitétur exémplum.  Quantæ in una vírgine spécies virtútum émicant!  Secrétum verecúndiæ, vexíllum fídei, devotiónis obséquium ; virgo intra domum, comes ad ministérium, mater ad templum.  O quantis illa virgínibus occúrret! quantas compléxa, ad Dóminum trahet, dicens : Hæc torum fílii mei, hæc thálamos nuptiáles immaculáto servávit pudóre!

Such was Mary that her single life offereth an ensample to all.  If then we be not displeased by the doer, let us applaud the deed ; if any other woman seek like reward, let her follow after like works.  In the one Virgin how many glorious examples do shine forth.  Hers was the hidden treasure of modesty, hers the high standard of faith, hers the self-sacrifice of earnestness, hers to be the pattern of maidenhood at home, of kinswomanhood in ministry, of motherhood in the temple.  O to how many virgins hath she been helpful!  How many hath she taken in her arms and presented unto the Lord, saying : Here is one who, like me, hath kept stainlessly clean the wedding chamber, the marriage-bed of my Son.

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

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

R.  Quæ est ista quæ procéssit sicut sol, et formósa tamquam Jerúsalem? * Vidérunt eam fíliæ Sion, et beátam dixérunt, et regínæ laudavérunt eam.
V.  Et sicut dies verni circúmdabant eam flores rosárum et lília convállium.
R.  Vidérunt eam fíliæ Sion, et beátam dixérunt, et regínæ laudavérunt eam.

R.  Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, clear as the sun, fair as the moon, comely as Jerusalem? * The daughters of Sion saw her and blest her ; the queens also, and they did praise her.
V.  As the flower of roses in the spring of the year, and as lilies by the rivers of waters, so did they cluster round about her.
R.  The daughters of Sion saw her and blest her ; the queens also, and they did praise her.

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.

Quid ergo éxsequar cibórum parsimóniam, officiórum redundántiam : álterum ultra natúram superfuísse, álterum pene ipsi natúræ defuísse?  Illic nulla intermíssa témpora, hic congeminátos jejúnio dies.  Et, si quando reficiéndi successísset volúntas, cibus plerúmque óbvius, qui mortem arcéret, non delícias ministráret.  Dormíre non prius cupíditas quam necéssitas fuit ; et tamen, cum quiésceret corpus, vigiláret ánimus, qui frequénter in somnis aut lecta répetit, aut somno interrúpta contínuat, aut dispósita gerit, aut gerénda prænúntiat.

Why should I go on to speak of the scantiness of her eating, or of the multiplicity of her work? how her labour seemed above human capacity, and her refreshment insufficient for human strength ; how her toil never missed a moment, and her fasting took as much as two days together?  And when she was fain to eat, she took not dainties, but whatsoever food came first to hand that would keep body and soul together.  She would not sleep till need was, and even then, while her body rested, her soul watched.  I opine that often she talked in her sleep, either repeating things that she had read, or going on with what she was doing before sleep interrupted her, or rehearsing things executed, or talking of things projected.

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

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

R.  Ornátam monílibus filiam Jerúsalem Dóminus concupívit : * Et vidéntes eam fíliæ Sion, beatíssimam prædicavérunt, dicéntes : * Unguéntum effúsum nomen tuum.
V.  Astitit regína a dextris tuis in vestítu deauráto, circúmdata varietáte.
R.  Et vidéntes eam fíliæ Sion, beatíssimam prædicavérunt, dicéntes :
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Unguéntum effúsum nomen tuum.

R.  When the Lord beheld the daughter of Jerusalem adorned with her jewels, he greatly desired her beauty : * And when the daughters of Sion saw her, they cried out that she was most blessed, saying : * Thy name is as ointment poured forth.
V.  Upon thy right hand did stand the Queen in a vesture of gold wrought about with divers colours.
R.  And when the daughters of Sion saw her, they cried out that she was most blessed, saying :
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Thy name is as ointment poured forth.

Third Nocturn

Absolutio: A vínculis peccatórum nostrórum absólvat nos omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  May the Lord Almighty and merciful break the bonds of our sins and set us free.
R.  Amen.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 7: Evangélica léctio sit nobis salus et protéctio.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 7:  May the Gospel's holy lection be our safeguard and protection.
R.  Amen.

In illo témpore : Loquénte Jesu ad turbas, extóllens vocem quædam múlier de turba dixit illi : Beátus venter qui te portávit.  Et réliqua.

At that time : It came to pass as Jesus spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him : Blessed is the womb that bare thee.  And so on, and that which followeth.

Magnæ devotiónis et fídei hæc múlier osténditur, quæ, scribis et pharisæis Dóminum tentántibus simul et blasphemántibus, tanta ejus incarnatiónem præ ómnibus sinceritáte cognóscit, tanta fiducia confitétur, ut et præséntium prócerum calúmniam, et futurórum confúndat hæreticórum perfídiam.  Nam, sicut tunc Judæi, Sancti Spíritus ópera blasphemándo, verum consubstantialémque Patri Dei Fílium negábant ; sic hærétici póstea, negándo Maríam semper Vírginem, Sancti Spíritus operánte virtúte, nascitúro cum humánis membris Unigénito Dei, carnis suæ matériam ministrásse, verum consubstantialémque matri Fílium hóminis fatéri non debére dixérunt.

It is plain that this was a woman of great earnestness and faith.  The Scribes and Pharisees were at that time both tempting and blaspheming the Lord.  Whereas she alone, of all the company there present, so clearly grasped his incarnation, and so bravely confessed both the falsehoods of the dignitaries of that moment, and the faithlessness of the hereticks yet to come.  For these Jews blasphemed the works of the Holy Ghost, and denied that the Lord was truly the Son of God, consubstantial with the Father, as did likewise the hereticks of a later day.  Which latter denied that Mary was Ever-Virgin, and that, under the operation of the Holy Ghost, she gave of her own flesh and blood in bringing forth the human body of God.  In consequence of which they did also deny that the Only-begotten of God was the true Son of Man, consubstantial with his Mother.

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

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

R.  Felix namque es, sacra Virgo María, et omni laude digníssima : * Quia ex te ortus est sol justítiæ, Christus, Deus noster.
V.  Ora pro pópulo, intérveni pro clero, intercéde pro devóto femíneo sexu : séntiant omnes tuum juvámen, quicúmque célebrant tuam sanctam Præsentatiónem.
R.  Quia ex te ortus est sol justítiæ, Christus, Deus noster.

R.  Blessed are thou, O holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise, * For out of thee arose the Sun of Righteousness, even Christ our God.
V.  Pray for the people, plead for the clergy, entreat for all women dedicated to God : let everyone that keepeth holy-day in honour of thy Presentation know the benefit of thine intercession.
R.  For out of thee arose the Sun of Righteousness, even Christ our God.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 8:  Cujus festum cólimus, ipsa Virgo vírginum intercédat pro nobis ad Dóminum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 8:  May she whose feast day we are keeping, Mary, blessed Maid of maidens, be our Advocate with God.
R.  Amen.

Sed, si caro Verbi Dei secúndum carnem nascéntis a carne Vírginis matris pronuntiátur extránea, sine causa venter qui eam portásset, úbera quæ lactássent, beatificántur.  Dicit autem Apóstolus : Quia misit Deus Fílium suum, factum ex mulíere, factum sub lege.  Neque audiéndi sunt, qui legéndum putant : Natum ex mulíere, factum sub lege, sed Factum ex mulíere ; quia concéptus ex útero virgináli, carnem non de níhilo, non aliúnde, sed matérna traxit ex carne.  Alióquin nec vere Fílius hóminis dicerétur, qui oríginem non habéret ex hómine.  Et nos ígitur, his contra Eutychen dictis, extollámus vocem cum Ecclésia cathólica, cujus hæc múlier typum gessit, extollámus et mentem de médio turbárum, dicamúsque Salvatóri : Beátus venter qui te portávit, et úbera quæ suxísti.  Vere enim beáta parens, quæ, sicut quidam ait, Eníxa est puérpera Regem, qui cælum terrámque tenet per sæcula.

Now if we shall say that the human body of the incarnate Word of God did not have its origin in the flesh of his Virgin Mother, there is no reason to bless the womb that bare him, and the paps which he hath sucked.  But the Apostle saith : God sent forth his Son, made of a Woman, made under the Law.  And foolish it is to try to make this passage read : Born of a Woman, made under the Law.  Rather, it is truly said : Made of a woman : for he was conceived in a virgin's womb.  This cannot mean that he took his flesh from nothing, nor that he took it elsewhere than from the flesh of his Mother.  Otherwise he could not with truth be called the Son of Man, since he would have had no origin from mankind.  Let us therefore, in condemnation of the heresy of Eutyches, lift up our voice with the Catholic Church, whereof this woman can be taken as a figure.  And let us not only lift up our voice from the midst of the company, but let us lift up our hearts as well, and with the whole company of Catholic Christendom say unto the Saviour : Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.  Blessed indeed is she, of whom one hath said : Hail, O Mother most holy, who didst give birth to the Monarch reigning o'er heaven and earth, world without end.

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

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

R.  Beátam me dicent omnes generatiónes, * Quia fecit mihi Dóminus magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus.
V.  Et misericórdia ejus a progénie in progénies timéntibus eum.
R.  Quia fecit mihi Dóminus magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Quia fecit mihi Dóminus magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus.

R.  All generations shall call me blessed, * For the Lord that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is his Name.
V.  And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.
R.  For the Lord that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is his Name.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  For the Lord that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is his Name.

If Lesson ix is to be taken from an occurring Feast or Sunday, it is given in its proper place, as announced in the Ordo.

Alternate Ninth Lesson

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 9: Ad societátem cívium supernórum perdúcat nos Rex Angelórum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 9: May the King of Angels give us fellowship with all the citizens of heaven.
R.  Amen.

Quinímmo beáti qui áudiunt verbum Dei et custódiunt.  Pulchre Salvátor attestatióni mulíeris ánnuit, non eam tantúmmodo quæ Verbum Dei corporáliter generáre merúerat, sed et omnes qui idem Verbum spiritáliter audítu fídei concípere, et boni óperis custódia vel in suo vel in proximórum corde párere et quasi álere studúerint, assevérans esse beátos ; quia, et éadem Dei Génitrix, et inde quidem beáta quia Verbi incarnándi minístra facta est temporális, sed inde multo beátior quia ejúsdem semper amándi custos manébat ætérna.

Yea, rather, blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it.  How nobly doth the Saviour answer his Yea to the woman's blessing!  How graciously doth he declare that not only is his Mother blessed but others also.  His Mother, saith he, is blessed in that she was meet to give bodily birth to the Word of God.  But also all others are blessed who spiritually conceive this Word by the hearing of faith ; and who keep the same through good works ; that is, who carry it ; and as it were travail and give birth to it ; and who then carefully nurture it in their own hearts, and in the hearts of their neighbours.  Yea, the Mother of God truly was blessed in that she gave flesh to the Word of God in time.  But even more blessed was she in this, that through her love she keepeth that same Word for all eternity.

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

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

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:  Beáta es, * María, quæ credidísti : perficiéntur in te, quæ dicta sunt tibi a Dómino, allelúja.

Ant. on Bened:  Blessed art thou * O Mary, for that thou hast believed, and there shall be a performance in thee of those things which were told thee from the Lord, alleluia.

THE BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Deus, qui beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, Spíritus Sancti habitáculum, hodiérna die in templo præsentári voluísti : præsta, quæsumus ; ut, ejus intercessióne, in templo glóriæ tuæ præsentári mereámur.  Per Dóminum... in unitáte ejúsdem Spíritus Sancti Deus.

Let us pray.
O God, who on this day didst vouchsafe that blessed Mary Ever-Virgin, the dwelling-place of the Holy Ghost, should be presented in the Temple : grant, we beseech thee ; that by her intercession we may be found worthy to be presented unto thee in the temple of thy glory.  Through... in the unity of the same.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

Second Vespers

V.  Dignáre me laudáre te, Virgo sacráta.
R.  Da mihi virtútem contra hostes tuos.

V.  My praise by thee accepted be, O hallowed Virgin.
R.  Obtain for me strength against thine enemies.

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Beáta Dei Génitrix, María, * Virgo perpétua, templum Dómini, sacrárium Spíritus Sancti, sola sine exémplo placuísti Dómino nostro Jesu Christo, allelúja.

Ant. on Magnif:  O ever-blessed Mother of God, * Mary Ever-Virgin, temple of the Godhead, hallowed shrine of the Holy Spirit; thou only, above all others, wast acceptable to our Lord Jesus Christ, alleluia.

Oremus.
Deus, qui beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, Spíritus Sancti habitáculum, hodiérna die in templo præsentári voluísti : præsta, quæsumus ; ut, ejus intercessióne, in templo glóriæ tuæ præsentári mereámur.  Per Dóminum... in unitáte ejúsdem Spíritus Sancti Deus.

Let us pray.
O God, who on this day didst vouchsafe that blessed Mary Ever-Virgin, the dwelling-place of the Holy Ghost, should be presented in the Temple : grant, we beseech thee ; that by her intercession we may be found worthy to be presented unto thee in the temple of thy glory.  Through... in the unity of the same.