22 December 2010

Magdeburg Gems for Christmas

from the Lutheran Magdeburg Cathedral Book, for Matins on Second Christmas Day:

Beata Dei genitrix Maria, cujus viscera intacta permanent.
Hodie genuit Salvatorem seculi.
Beata et venerabilis virgo, quae sine tactu pudoris inventa es Mater Salvatoris.
Hodie genuit Salvatorem seculi.

Blessed Mother of God, Mary, whose womb remains untouched,
Today bore the Savior of the world.
Blessed and venerable Virgin, who without a touch of shame art found the mother of the Savior,
Today bore the Savior of the world.

[Translation assist by Matt Carver]

Antiphon before the Suffrages at the same service:

Virgo verbo concepit,
Virgo permansit,
Virgo peperit regem omnium regum.
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto
Sicut erat in prinicipio, et nunc, et semper,
et in saecula saeculorum.  Amen.

A virgin has conceived by the Word;
A virgin she has remained,
A virgin has brought forth the King of all kings.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen!

[Translation assist by Matt Carver]

3 comments:

Jeremy Loesch said...

That is some really beautiful stuff. It strikes me as keeping the proper focus on Mary. Just right.

Merry Christmas.

Jeremy

William Weedon said...

Merry Christmas to you and yours too, Pr. Loesch!

Someday, God willing, we may yet show up at your church while on vacation.

Jeremy Loesch said...

That would be a delight! We're not that far from Montgomery County.

Blessings. Jeremy