Hymn for the Day

To the tune of Te Deum.

Te Matrem laudamus, te Virginem confitemur.
We praise thee, O Mother; we confess thee Virgin.

Te aeterni Patris, stella maris, splendor illuminat.
The splendor of the eternal Father illuminates thee, star of the sea.

Tibi omnes Angeli, tibi Caeli et universae Potestates;
To thee all Angels cry aloud, the Heavens and all the Powers therein;

Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim, humili nobiscum voce proclament;
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim, in humble voice cry aloud with us.

Virgo, virgo, virgo virginum sine exemplo!
Virgin, virgin, virgin of virgins without exemplar!

Ante partum et in partu, atque post partum.
Before giving birth, in giving birth and after giving birth.

Te gloriosam Apostoli praedicant.
The Apostles preach you glorious.

Te prophetarum, Virgo, canunt lineae.
The lines of prophets sing your praise, Virgin.

Te Martires sui Domini matrem esse testantur.
The Martyrs bear witness that you are the mother of their Lord.

Te per orbem terrarum, sancta confitetur Ecclesia,
The holy Church throughout the world confesses thee,

Matrem immensae maiestatis;
Mother of immeasurable majesty;

Venerandam Dei sponsam maritique nesciam;
Venerable bride of God, knowing no husband;

Sanctoque solam gravidam Spiritu.
Pregnant only with the Holy Spirit.

Tu es regina celi,
Thou art the queen of heaven,

Tu mundi totius es domina.
Thou art the lady of the whole world.

Tu ad liberandum hominem perditum, carne vestisti altissimi Filium.
For the liberation of lost humanity, thou clothest the Son of the Most High with flesh.

Tu, vincendo mortis aculeo, protulisti clarissimo vitam ex utero.
So as to overcome the sting of death, thou broughtest forth life from your most brilliant womb.

Tu ad dexteram Dei sedentis Filii es mater,
Thou art the mother of the Son sitting at the right hand of God,

Iudex vivorum qui est et mortuorum.
He who is the judge of the living and the dead.

Te ergo, quesumus, cunctis christicolis subveni, pretioso tui ventris germine redemptis.
We, therefore, beseech thee, help all the worshipers of Christ, redeemed by the precious seed of your womb.

Eterna fac cum sanctis cunctis gloria munerari.
Make them to be showered with eternal glory in the company of all the saints.

Salvum fac populum tuum, Domina, Christo per te hereditatem suam.
O Lady, save thy people, in Christ through you his inheritance.

Et rege eos et extolle eos usque in eternum.
And rule them and lift them up even unto eternity.

Per singulos dies benedicimus te.
Day by day we bless thee.

Et laudamus nomen Altissimi, qui te fecit altissimam.
And we praise the name of the Most High, who made you highest.

Dignare, omni laude dignissima, a nobis indignis laudari.
Deign, you who are most worthy of all praise, to be praised by us, unworthy.

Miserere nostri, Domina, mater misericordiae.
Have mercy on us, O Lady, mother of mercy.

Fiat misericordia Filii tui, Domina, super nos, ope tua qui clamamus illi.
Let the mercy of your Son, O Lady, lighten upon us, who cry to him with your help.

In te, Domine, speraui: non confundar in eternum.
In thee, O Lord, have I trusted; let me never be confounded.

--ed. Jean Leclercq, "Fragmenta Mariana," Ephemerides liturgicae 72.1 (1958): 293-94, from Charleville MS 67, fols. 138v-139; 12th century. My translation, with apologies to the Book of Common Prayer translation of the Te Deum.

P.S. If you don't get the joke, open the Wikipedia link in another window and compare the Latin texts....

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