Let us prepare our souls for the graces heaven is about to shower upon the earth in return for its homage. Tomorrow the Church will be so overflowing with joy, that she will seem to be already in possession of eternal happiness; but today she appears in the garb of penance, confessing that she is still an exile. Let us fast and pray with her; for are not we too pilgrims and strangers in this world, where all things are fleeting and hurry on to death? Year by year, as the great solemnity comes round, it has gathered from among our former companions new saints, who bless our tears and smile upon our songs of hope. Year by year the appointed time draws nearer, when we ourselves, seated at the heavenly banquet, shall receive the homage of those who succeed us, and hold out a helping hand to draw them after us to the home of everlasting happiness. Let us learn, from this very hour, to emancipate our souls; let us keep our hearts free, in the midst of the vain solicitudes and false pleasures of a strange land: the exile has no care but his banishment, no joy but that which gives him a foretaste of his fatherland.
With these thoughts in mind, let us say with the Church the Collect of the vigil.
Prayer
O Lord our God, multiply thy grace upon us; and grant us in our holy profession to follow the joy of those, whose glorious solemnity we anticipate. Through our Lord.
Domine Deus noster, multiplica super nos gratiam tuam: et, quorum prævenimus gloriosa solemnia, tribue subsequi in sancta professione lætitiam. Per Dominum.
Let us close this month, as we opened it, by homage to Mary, Queen of the holy rosary, and Queen of all the saints. The ancient Dominican missals furnish us with a formula.
Sequence
In the virginal garden, the young shoots of spring bud forth, and burst into blossom with fruitful abundance.
Verni pubent surculi
Et efflorent pulluli
Fecunda propagine.
The frost and the winter have passed away, the snow and the rain are over; and roses spring up on earth from a heavenly seed.
Nix et imber abeunt,
Rosæ in terra prodeunt
E cœlesti germine.
The rose has produced a lily; during the whole time of her exile she gathered the produce of her Son’s garden:
Hæc ex horto filii
Toto cursu exsilii
Collegit plantaria.
Joy for the just, and justification for sinners, glory for the elect, salvation for all.
Reis ad justitiam,
Electis ad gloriam
Cunctis salutaria.
The gifts Christ brought from heaven, and the sufferings he endured on earth, he bestowed upon the world when he overcame the world.
Et de terris sustulit,
Christus mundo contulit
Contra mundum prælians.
He sheltered under the rose-tree’s foliage, he was wounded by the thorns, he was crowned with its flowers; thus does he call us, purify us, reward us.
Vulneratis sentibus,
Redimitis floribus,
Vocans, purgans, præmians.
Because of the leaves and thorns and flowers of the rose, we shall enjoy the delights of that rich land, where she, the fair cultivator, resides,
Gemmis, spinis, foliis,
Affluentis patriæ
Fruemur deliciis,
Ubi satrix residet.
The empress, who joyfully presides over our militant companies, and over the nine choirs of the triple hierarchy.
Læta sodalitiis
Triplicis hierarchiæ
Ter trinis consortiis
Imperatrix residet.
Hail! thou, who by a new triumph dost repair the loss we sustained when the enemy triumphed in the first combat.
Et triumphi reparatrix
Antiqui certaminis.
See how again he threatens fierce revenge; unless thou oppose him, every Christian must perish.
Ni resistas, perit cultor
Christiani nominis.
Hail, home of the Word, sanctuary of the Holy Ghost, daughter of the most high Father!
Sancti Spiritus sacrarium,
Summi Patris filia.
In the various perils of this life, bring us unfailing assistance against the darts of the enemy.
Sub discrimen vitæ varium
Contra tela hostilia.
May lilies intertwined with roses from the garden of heaven, be our crown of victory after the combat. Amen.
Quæ fert cœli viridarium
Mixta rosis lilia.
Amen.