These articles are shown in the Index in a chronological order, but the articles are displayed below the index in the reverse order, i.e. the newest one first, oldest one last.
Index
8-22-2016 – Notes on the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
12-12-2017 Non-liturgical devotions of the Brigittini Servitores
5-20-2018 The Brigittine Divine Office during the Octave of Pentecost
Articles
5-20-2018 The Brigittine Divine Office during the Octave of Pentecost
On Pentecost Sunday and during its Octava the hymn at ad Primam, ad Tertiam, ad Sextam and ad Nonam the hymn is the Veni Creator Spiritus on all days, except Friday where the Friday hymns are retained
Veni Creator Spiritus
Qui Prophetarum cordibus
Illapsus es ut canerent
Deum nasci de Virgine.
Qui Paraclitus diceris
Sis consolator miseris
Huius precatu Virginis
Quam castam Matrem feceris.
Come, Holy Ghost
Who into the hearts of the Prophets
Hast glided down so that they would sing
That God is born of the Virgin.
Thou who art said to be the Paraclete
Be the consoler for the wretched
For the sake of the prayer of this Virgin
Whom Thou hast made into a chaste Mother.
12-12-2017 Non-liturgical devotions of the Brigittini Servitores
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
The central part of the prayer life for contemplatives is the Divine Office, offered in the name and for the Church and the whole world. The Divine Office together with the Holy Mass and sacramental rites, constitutes the Holy Liturgy of the Church. However, it is legitimate to add some other prayers too, provided that there are not so many that the centrality of the liturgical prayers is obscured.
Seven öf the eight prayers listed below are currently in use both by the Brigittine Brothers of the Order of the Most Holy Saviour in Amity Oregon and by the Brigittini Servitores Sanctissimi Salvatoris. These two branches are the only contemplative communities of the Brigittine family in the English peaking world.
List of prayers said in common beside those of the Divine Office
- Coffin prayers after ad Tertiam
- Coffin prayers after ad Nonam
- Laus Mariae after ad Nonam.
- Indulgete prayers before ad Vesperas
- Ave Maris Stella before ad Vesperas
- O Birgitta Mater bona after ad Vesperas
- Night litany for the world before ad Completorium
- Laus Mariae after ad Completorium
The majority of these prayers (numbers 1,2,3,4,5 and 8 on the list above) were included in the original papally approved Brigittine constitution which she wrote during her Rome stay in Rome between 1350 and 1373 and were in use both at the Brigittine monastery at Vadstena in Sweden, established in 1374 and at Syon Abbey in England, established in 1415. These prayers are also found in the traditional Latin Brigittine Breviary of Syon, 1906 edition.
Ave Maris Stella (number 5 on the list above) is also found in the constitutions, but originated earlier, before the constitutions were completed. It was said by Saint Birgitta and her little group in Rome, when they felt threatened by unfriendly reaction of some of the Roman population when they became better knows, the unfriendliness disappeared, but the prayer stayed.
O Birgitta Mater bona (number 6 on the list above) is in the traditional Latin Breviary of Syon Abbey, but it is not included in the Constitutions. This is the only prayer on this list which is not in use by the Brigittine Brothers.
All these prayers were composed in Latin and originally recited in Latin, except the latest addition, Night litany for the world (number 7 on the list above). This prayer in English was added to the Horarium by Brother Benedict Kirby O.Ss.S, the founder of the Brigittine Monks (founded on 16 March, 1976, now located in Amity OR, USA) .
This prayer is also in use by the in the Carmelite Monastery of saint Joseph and Saint Anne in Philadelphia PA and circulated for general use. The origin and date of the composition is not known.
Plans are afoot to add the text of these prayers one by one. Keep checking the site!
TEXT OF PRAYERS
COFFIN PRAYERS (No.1 & 2. on the list of prayers said in common)
Incipitur -Psalmus 129
. 129:1 De profundis clamávi ad te, Dómine: * ‡ Dómine, exáudi vocem meam: 129:2 Fiant aures tuæ intendéntes, * in vocem deprecatiónis meæ. 129:3 Si iniquitátes observáveris, Dómine: * Dómine, quis sustinébit? 129:4 Quia apud te propitiátio est: * et propter legem tuam sustínui te, Dómine. 129:5 Sustínuit ánima mea in verbo eius: * sperávit ánima mea in Dómino. 129:6 A custódia matutína usque ad noctem: * speret Israël in Dómino. 129:7 Quia apud Dóminum misericórdia: * et copiósa apud eum redémptio. 129:8 Et ipse rédimet Israël, * ex ómnibus iniquitátibus eius. V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto. R. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen. .
Starting prayer – Psalm 129
129:1 Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord: * Lord, hear my voice. 129:2 Let thy ears be attentive * to the voice of my supplication. 129:3 If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: * Lord, who shall stand it. 129:4 For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness: * and by reason of Thy law, I have waited for Thee, O Lord. 129:5 My soul hath relied on his word: * my soul hath hoped in the Lord. 129:6 From the morning watch even until night, * let Israel hope in the Lord. 129:7 Because with the Lord there is mercy: * and with him plentiful redemption. 129:8 And he shall redeem Israel * from all his iniquities. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Post ad Tertiam – Oremus : Domine Sancte Pater, qui corpus, quod Filio tuo de Virgine Maria sumpsisti, illæsum in tumulo conservasti, incorruptum sucsiasti, conserva quæsumus corpora nostra munda, et immaculata in tuo sanctissimo servitio, et dirige viam nostram in hoc tempore, ut cum dies judicci, magnus et terribilis advenerit, inter Sanctos tuos resuscitentur, et animæ nostræ tecum æternaliter gaudeant, et electis tuis sociari mereantur. In Nomine Patris, et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. Amen. .
After Terce – Let us pray: O Lord, Holy Father, Who hast taken from the Virgin Mary the Body of Thy Son, preserved it unharmed in the tomb, and raised it incorrupt, we beseech Thee to preserve our bodies clean and unstained in Thy most holy service and to direct our way at this time, so that when the great and terrible day of judgment shall have arrived, we may be raised among Thy Saints, our souls may rejoice eternally with Thee, and we may merit to be united with Thine elect. In the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Post ad Nonam After None
REQUIEM aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Kyrie eleison Christe eleison; Kyrie eleison ETERNAL rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them Lord have mercy Christ have mercy; Lord have mercy Pater noster … ….et ne nos inducas in tentationem sed libera nos a malo. A porta inferi Erue, Domine, animas eorum. Requiescant in pace. Amen. Domine, exaudi orationem meam.~ Et clamor meus ad te veniat. .Deus, veniae largitor et humanae salutis amator : quaesumus clementiam Tuam; ut nostrae congregationis fratres, propinquos et benefactores, qui ex hoc saeculo transierunt, Beata Maria semper Virgine intercedente cum omnibus Sanctis Tuis, ad perpetuae beatitudinis consortium pervenire concedas. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
After None Our Father … ….and lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. From the gate of hell deliver O Lord, their souls . May they rest in peace. Amen. O Lord, hear my prayer. And let my cry come before Thee O God, giver of pardon and lover of mankind’s salvation: we beseech Thee to grant that the Brothers, relations and benefactors of our congregation, who have passed from this world, that with the Blessed Mary ever Virgin and all Thy Saints interceding for them, they arrive at the fellowship of everlasting blessedness. Though Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRO FRATRE SEU SORORE – Oramus Domine ut in bonitate tua miserere animae Fratris/Sororis nostri N. ut peregrinatione terrena perfecta fiat particeps felicitatis perpetuae tecum. Fidelium, Deus, omnium conditor et redemptor: animabus famulorum, famularumque tuarum remissionem cunctorum tribue peccatorum; ut indulgentiam, quam semper optaverunt, piis supplicationibus consequantur: Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum. Amen. REQUIEM aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis
FOR A BROTHER OR SISTER – e pray to Thee, Lord that in Thy goodness have mercy on the soul of our Brother/Sister N. Now that his earthly pilgrimage is over let him share eternal bliss with Thee. O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful: grant the remission of all the sins to the souls of Thy Servants and handmaidens: so that the pardon which they have ever desired, by our devout supplications, they may obtain. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen- ETERNAL rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them
8-22-2016 – Notes on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
On august 22nd, the Universal Church celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, introduced in 1942.
The Brigittine Office – introduced in the 14th century – has the Feast of the Most Pure Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary for today.
In these two different Offices, some of the propers are different, but when we come to the collect, the difference is only one word:
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui in Corde beatae Mariae Virginis dignum Spiritus Sancti habitaculum praeparasti: concede propitius; ut eiusdem (Roman Divine Office: immaculati, Brigittine Divine Office: purissimi) Cordis festivitatem devota mente recolentes, secundum Cor tuum vivere valeamus. Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte eiúsdem Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.Amen
Almighty everlasting God, who hast prepared in the heart of Blessed Virgin Mary a worthy dwelling of the Holy Ghost, grant favourably to us that we may keep the feast of the same (Roman Divine Office: immaculate, Roman Divine Office: most pure) Heart devoutly, and may be able to live according to thy heart. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
Amen.
Brigittini Servitores Sanctissimi Salvatoris 