Virginis Proles, Opifexque Matris

Mosaic from the Church of St. Agnes, Rome - Courtesy Wikipedia

Virginis Proles, Opifexque Matris is an anonymous hymn which may date back as far as the 8th century. In the Roman Breviary it is sung at Matins in the Common of Virgins.

VIRGIN PROLES, OPIFEXQUE MATRIS

1. Virginis Proles, Opifexque Matris,
Virgo quem gessit, peperitque Virgo;
Virginis partos canimus decora
Morte triumphos.

2. Haec enim palmae duplicis beata
Sorte, dum gestit fragilem domare
Corporis sexum, domuit cruentum
Caede tyrannum.

3. Unde nec mortem, nec amica mortis
Mille poenarum genera expavescens,
Sanguine effuso meruit serenum
Scandere caelum.

4. Huius oratu Deus alme nobis
Debitas poenas scelerum remitte;
Ut tibi puro resonemus almum
Pectore carmen.

5. Sit decus Patri, genitaeque Proli,
Et tibi compar utriusque virtus
Spiritus semper, Deus unus omni
Temporis aevo. Amen.

Liturgical Guide: Common of Virgins

The hymns selected for use with the Common of Virgins in the Liturgy of the Hours celebrate the holy women of the Church whose lives of consecration and fidelity to God were a fitting witness to the faith they professed. "From apostolic times Christian virgins, called by the Lord to cling only to him with greater freedom of heart, body, and spirit, have decided with the Church's approval to live in a state of virginity 'for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.'" - #933, Catechism of the Catholic Church. 


Produced by Imagine Sisters

LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)

178. Now, From the Heav'ns Descending

179. Now Let Us Praise

180. The Beatitudes

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
54. For All Thy Saints, O Lord
55. O Jesu Thou the Virgins' Crown
56. God's Blessed Spirit Moved His Virgin Saint

ROMAN BREVIARY
Iesu Co­ro­na Vir­gin­um
Jesu Co­ro­na Vir­gin­um
Virginis Proles, Opifexque Matris

Praise We the Woman

Strong in Faith and Patience

Praise We the Woman is sung in the Common of Women Saints in the Divine Office. An example of it's use, along with full lyrics to the hymn can be found in the Optional Memorial of Blessed Josepha Hendrina Stenmanns. It is set to the tune, Morning Hymn by composer, Fran­çois H. Bar­thé­lé­mon (1741-1808). It was written in 1785, at the request of an orphanage chaplain in London and was published in Hymns and Psalms used at the Asy­lum House of Ref­uge for Fe­male Or­phans. The French born Bar­thé­lé­mon spent most of his working life in England where he enjoyed a much celebrated career.


Tune: Morning Hymn

God's Blessed Spirit Moved His Virgin Saint

She Bore the Holy Spirit's Timeless Fruits

God's Blessed Spirit Moved His Virgin Saint, first published in 1974, is just one of a number of hymns written by the Benedictine Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey that are included in both the Liturgy of the Hours (ICEL, 1975) and the Divine Office (non-ICEL, 1974). A comprehensive list of the various contributions that the Sisters have made to liturgical developments in the Church over the past century can be found here. Words to the God's Blessed Spirit Moved His Virgin Saint can be found on page 3 (Hymn for Office of Readings) of the following pdf document: Proper Offices for St. Mary Domenica. It is sung to the tune Eventide, composed in 1861 by William Henry Monk (1823-1889).

O Jesu Thou the Virgins' Crown / Je­su Co­ro­na Vir­gin­um / Ie­su Co­ro­na Vir­gin­um

Adoring All Thy Chosen Brides

O Jesu Thou the Virgins' Crown is a translation of the 4th century Latin hymn, Je­su Co­ro­na Vir­gin­um (see 2nd video) attributed to St. Ambrose of Milan (c.340-397). In the Roman Breviary it is traditionally sung at Vespers and Lauds in the Common of Virgins. In the 19th century a dozen or so English translations were written, among them: the 1854 work O Jesu Thou the Virgins' Crown by Anglican priest, scholar and prolific hymn-writer, John M. Neale (1818-1866). It is sung to the tune, St. Bernard by William Henry Monk (1823-1889). An alternative tune is Tallis' Canon, as featured in the 1st video.

Tune: Tallis' Canon

O JESU, THOU THE VIRGIN'S CROWN by John M. Neale

1. O Jesu, the virgins’ Crown, do Thou
Accept us as in prayer we bow,
Born of that virgin whom alone
The mother and the maid we own.

2. Amongst the lilies Thou dost feed,
And thither choirs of virgins lead,
Adorning all Thy chosen brides
With glorious gifts Thy love provides.

3. And whither, Lord, Thy footsteps wend,
The virgins still with praise attend;
For Thee they pour their sweetest song,
And after Thee rejoicing throng.

4. O gracious Lord, we Thee implore
Thy grace on every sense to pour;
From all pollution keep us free,
And make us pure in heart for Thee.

5. All praise to God the Father be,
All praise, Eternal Son, to Thee,
Whom with the Spirit we adore
For ever and for evermore.


Sung by the Benedictine Nuns at the Abbey of Regina Laudis from the album, Women in Chant.

JESU CORONA VIRGINUM / IESU CORONA VIRGINUM

1. J(I)esu corona Virginum,
quem Mater illa concipit
quae sola Virgo parturit,
haec vota clemens accipe.

2. Qui pascis inter lilia,
septus choreis Virginum
sponsas decorans gloria,
sponsisque reddens praemia.

3. Quocumque pergis, virgines
sequuntur, atque laudibus
post te canentes cursitant
hymnosque dulces personant.

4. Te deprecamur largius
nostris adauge sensibus
nescire prorsus omnia,
corruptionis vulnera.

5. Virtus, honor, laus, gloria,
Deo Patri cum Filio,
Sancto simul Paraclito
In saeculorum saecula.

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Our Hope for Years to Come

O God, Our Help in Ages Past is one of the most well known of the 600 hymns written by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). Written in 1714 as a paraphrase of Psalm 90, it was first published in 1719 as part of his collection: The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament. It is sung to the tune, Saint Anne by William Croft (1678-1727). It was composed in 1708 while he was organist at St. Anne's Church in Soho, London. He eventually became organist at Westminster Abbey. In the Liturgy of the Hours, O God, Our Help in Ages Past is used in the Common of Holy Men and in the Common of Holy Women.

Tune: St. Anne

O GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST by Isaac Watts, 1719 (Public Domain)

1. O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home.

2. Under the shadow of thy throne,
thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.

3. Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received her frame,
rom everlasting thou art God,
to endless years the same.

4. A thousand ages in thy sight
are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.

5. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
bears all its sons away;
they fly, forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.

6. O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
be thou our guide while troubles last,
and our eternal home!

The Beatitudes

Blessed Are Those Who Suffer

The Beatitudes was written Rev. Enrico F. Garzilli. It was first published in 1970 as part of his collection, For To Those Who Love God. He remains active as a composer, writer, and performer. One his most recent works is the musical, Rage of the Heart; based on the true story of the 12th century tragic romance of Abelard and Heloise. The following video features a setting of the Miserere from that stage work. In the Liturgy of the Hours, The Beatitudes is used in the Common of Virgins and the Common of Holy Women.

Miserere from Rage of the Heart

Now Let Us Praise / Fortem Virili Pectore

A Woman Noble, Great

Now Let Us Praise is a 1967 Sr. Jane Marie Perrot (1916-1998) paraphrase of the the Latin hymn, Fortem Virili Pectore by Cardinal Silvio Antoniano (1540-1603). In the Roman Breviary, Fortem Virili Pectore was sung at Vespers and Lauds in the Common of a Holy Woman. Cardinal Antoniano was a member of the commission called by Pope Clement VIII to revise the Breviary. Sister Perrot, a Daughter of Charity was actively involved in Catholic music education and liturgical reform. In 1975 she conducted the choir at the Vatican for the canonization of Elizabeth Ann Seton, America's first native-born saint. Sr. Perrot was the first woman ever to conduct a choir for a Eucharistic liturgy at St. Peter's Basilica. After conducting for over two hours, she said: "I'm joyfully exhausted!". Now Let Us Praise is sung to the 1906 tune, Sine Nomine by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958). In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used in the Common of Holy Women, the Common of Virgins, and the Common of Doctors of the Church.



FORTEM VIRILI PECTORE by Silvio Antoniano

Fortem virili pectore
laudemus omnes feminam,
quæ sanctitatis gloria
ubique fulget inclita.

Hæc sancto amore saucia,
huius caduca sæculi
dum calcat, ad cælestia
iter peregit arduum.

Carnem domans ieiuniis,
dulcique mentem pabulo
orationis nutriens,
cæli potitur gaudiis.

Rex Christe, virtus fortium,
qui magna solus efficis,
huius precatu, quæsumus,
audi benignus supplices.

Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
qui nos beatæ servulæ
sperare das suffragia
et sempiterna præmia.


FORTEM VIRILI PECTORE (from the Roman Breviary)

1. Fortem virili pectore
Laudemus omnes feminam,
Quae sanctitatis gloria
Ubique fulget inclyta.

2. Haec sancto amore saucia,
Dum mundi amorem noxium
Horrescit, ad coelestia
Iter peregit arduum.

3. Carnem domans jejuniis,
Dulcique mentem pabulo
Orationis nutriens,
Coeli potitur gaudiis.

4. Rex Christe virtus fortium,
Qui magna solus efficis,
Hujus precatu, quaesumus,
Audi benignus supplices.

5. Deo Patri sit gloria,
Ejusque soli Filio,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito,
Nunc, et per omne saeculum.

Now, From the Heav'ns Descending

All the Saints in Glory, From Every Time and Place  

Now, from the Heav'ns Descending was written by the Scottish theologian and hymnwriter, Fr. James Quinn S.J. (1919-2010). It was first published in 1969 as part of his collection,  New Hymns for All Seasons. He composed some 300 hymns. One of the last he wrote, Let Scotland's Hills was in honor of St. John Ogilvie, Martyr (1579-1615), Scotland's first Post-Reformation saint. Fr. Quinn was vice postulator for the cause of his canonization, which happened in 1976. Now From the Heav'ns Descending is sung to the tune Aurelia, written in 1864 by Samuel S. Wesley (1810-1876), grandson of Charles Wesley. In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used in the Common of Doctors of the Church.


Tune: Aurelia