Thursday, September 8, 2011

Angelus ad Virginem

It's really a piece for March 25th, but I couldn't think of anything else for the occasion—and it seems shameful to let Our Lady's birthday go by without notice!

1.Angelus ad virginem
Gabriel the angel came
Subintrans in conclave.
To Mary's room so softly,
Virginis formidinum
Calmed the Virgin's humble fears
Demulcens inquit "Ave.
And spoke in sweetness lofty:
Ave regina virginum,
"Hail, thou of virgins blessed queen,
Coeli terraeque dominum
Heaven and earth their Lord have seen
Concipies, et paries intacta
Conceived in thee, and born from thee, a virgin,
Salutem hominum.
To save the souls of men.
Tu porta coeli facta
You are the gate of heaven
Medela criminum."
The cure for mankind's sin."

2. "Quomodo conciperem,
"How," said she, "shall I conceive
quae virum non cognovi?
Who never knew a man?
Qualiter infringerem,
How can I infringe the vow
quae firma mente vovi?"
I meant to firmly stand?"
"Spiritus sancti gratia
"God's Holy Spirit has the grace
Perficiet haec omnia;
To make to be what shall take place;
Ne timeas, sed gaudeas secura,
Be not afraid, but filled with joy most surely,
quod castimonia
Because your chastity
Manebit in te pura
Remains in you by power
Dei potentia."
Of God, who made it be."

3. Ad haec virgo nobilis
At these words the noble maid
Respondens inquit ei;
Replied him in that hour,
"Ancilla sum humilis
"I'm the humble handmaid of
Omnipotentis Dei.
The God who holds all power.
Tibi coelesti nuntio,
By your announcement writ in heaven
Tanta secreti conscio,
God's secret plans to me are given,
Consentiens et cupiens videre
And I consent, and I desire to see all
factum quod audio,
The things I've heard of done.
Parata sum parere.
I am prepared to do the will
Dei consilio."
Of God, and bear his son."

4. Angelus disparuit
Then the angel disappeared,
Et statim puellaris
And all at once the maiden's
Uterus intumuit
Womb began to swell and fill
Vi partus salutaris.
By strength of God's salvation.
Qui, circumdatus utero
He, who, protected in that flesh
Novem mensium numero,
Nine months in number, left it fresh,
Hinc exiit, et iniit conflictum
Departed hence and swift began the conflict,
Affigens humero
His shoulder fixed below
Crucem, qua dedit ictum
The cross, by which he struck the one
Hosti mortifero.
Who'd been our mortal foe.

5. Eia Mater Domini,
Therefore, Mother of the Lord,
Quae pacem reddidisti
Who brought back peace and gave us—
Angelis et homini,
Angel hosts and mankind all—
Cum Christum genuisti;
Our brother Christ to save us:
Tuum exora filium.
Pray to your son, and beg of him
Ut se nobis propitium
That he be good to those who sin,
Exhibeat, et deleat peccata
And show us how to cleanse ourselves of sinning,
Praestans auxilium
And give us help to mend,
Vita frui beata
That we may taste beatitude
Post hoc exsilium.
When earth's exile shall end.

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