Monday, September 5, 2022

Ad Pretiosa - Part II

Following up on a
post from way back in 2016, I have finally made the attempt to post the text of Pretiosa in Latin and English in a blog post.  Blogger is terrible for this sort of thing, so I apologize for the terrible quality of the presentation in advance.

If you have never heard of Pretiosa, I encourage you to read the previous post at the link above.  This is a wonderful piece of Dominican tradition which highlights the Order's continual care for their dead, particularly deceased Master's General.  In the 1962 edition of the Dominican office, on ferial days, an excerpt from the Rule of St. Augustine is read.  But in older editions (like the 1909 edition) the readings were taken from the Constitutions of the Order.

Sadly, during the preparation of the 1967 English translation of the Dominican Breviary, the removal of Prime was deemed to include the removal of Pretiosa.  Nothing remains of it except some awkward rubrics in the Appendix regarding making the obit for a deceased Master General.  A great tragedy indeed.

Ad Pretiosa

Pretiosa


Finitis quae de Martyrologio pronuntianda sunt, et response Deo gratias, subiungitur:

V.  Pretiosa est in conspectus Domini.  R.  Mors Sanctorum eius.

Oratio absque  Oremus

Sancta Maria et omnes Sancti intercedant pro nobis ad Dominum: ut mereamur adiuvari ab eo, qui vivit et regnat per omnia saecula saeculorum.

R.  Amen.

Deinde dicitur ter:

V.  Deus, in adiurotium meum intende.  R.  Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina.

Postea subiungitur:

Gloria Patri.  Sicut erat.

Kyrie eleison.  Christe eleison.  Kyrie eleison.  Pater noster secreto.

Et ne nos inducas in tentationem.  R.  Sed libera nos a malo.

V.  Respice, Domine, in servos tuos et in opera tua, et dirige filios eorum.

R.  Et sit speldor Domini Dei nostri super nos, et opera manuum nostraum dirige super nos:  et opus manuum nostrarum dirige.

 Oratio absque  Oremus

Dirigere et sanctificare digneris, Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens aeterne Deus, hodie corda et corpora nostra in lege tua et in operibus mandatorum tuorum; ut hic et in aeternum, te auxiliante, simper salvi esse mereamur:  Per Christum Dominum nostrum.  R.  Amen.


Postea, dicto Iube, domine, benedicere, si de Evangelio legendum fuerit, datur benediction:

Divinum auxilium maneat simper nobiscum.

R.  Amen.

Si vero de Regula legendum fuerit, datur benediction:

Regularibus disciplinis instruat nos Magister caelestis.  R.  Amen.


Sequitur in Regula
Beati Augustini Episcopi

Feria II                                                        Lectio

 Haec igitur sunt:  quae ut observetis, praecipimus in monasterio constituti. Primum, propter quod in unum estis congregati, ut unanimes habitetis in domo et sit vobis anima una et cor unum in Deo.  Tu autem.

Feria III                                                      Lectio

Et non dicatis aliquid proprium, sed sint vobis omnia communia, et distribuatur unicuique vestrum a praeposito vestro victus et tegumentum, non aequaliter omnibus, quia non aequaliter valetis omnes, sed potius unicuique sicut cuique opus fuerit.

Feria IV                                                        Lectio

Orationibus instate horis et temporibus constitutis.  In oratorio nemo aliquid agat nisi ad quod est factum, unde et nomen accepit; ut si forte aliqui, etiam praeter horas constitutas, si eis vacat, orare voluerint, non eis sit impedimento, qui ibi aliquid agendum putaverit.  Psalmis et hymnis cum oratis Deum, hoc versetur in corde quod profertur in ore.



Feria V                                                         Lectio

Lites aut nullas habeatis, aut quam celerrime finiatis, ne ira crescat in odium, et trabem faciat de festuca, et animam faciat homicidam. Sic enim legitis: Qui odit fratrem suum homicida est.

Feria VI                                                       Lectio

Carnem vestram domate ieiuniis et abstinentia escae et potus, quantum valetudo permittit. Quando autem aliquis non potest ieiunare, non tamen extra horam prandii aliquid alimentorum sumat, nisi cum aegrotat.

Sabato                                                          Lectio

Donet Dominus, ut observetis haec omnia cum dilectione, tamquam spiritalis pulchritudinis amatores et bono Christi odore de bona conversatione flagrantes, non sicut servi sub lege, sed sicut liberi sub gratia constituti.

Finita lectione de Evangelio vel de Regula sequitur:

Commemoratio Fratrum, Sororum, Familiarium, Benefactorum defunctorum Ordinis nostri.  Requiescant in pace

R.  Amen.

Psalmus 116

Laudáte Dóminum, omnes gentes: * laudáte eum, omnes pópuli:

Quóniam confirmáta est super nos misericórdia eius: * et véritas Dómini manet in ætérnum.

Gloria Patri et Filio…Sicut erat…

V.  Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam.

R.  Et sualutare tuum da nobis.

 Oremus                                                   Oratio

Actiones nostras, quaesumus, Domine, aspirando praeveni et adiuvando prosequere:  ut cuncta nostra operatio a te simper incipiat, et per te coepta finiatur:  Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

R.  Amen

V.  Adiutorium nostrum in nomine domini.  R.  Qui fecit caelum et terram.

 Si reciatus fuerit obitus alicuius Magistrii Generalis, immediate post Fidélium ánimæ vel post V. Adiutórium nostrum, si statim sequitur aliqua Hora, dicitur pro eius anima psalmus 129 De profundis, cum versu Requiem aeternam, et in fine

.  A porta inferi.
.  Erue, Domine, animas eorum.

Dominus vobiscum.

.  Et cum spiritu tuo.

Orémus                                                  Oratio

Deus, qui inter Apostolicós sacerdótes fámulos tuum pontificáli (vel sacerdotáli) fecísti dignitáte vigére: praesta quæsumus: ut eórum quoque perpétuo aggregétur consórtio:  Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.  .  Amen.

 

Pro pluribus Magistris oratio sic dicitur:

Deus, qui inter Apostolicós sacerdótes fámulos tuos pontificáli fecísti dignitáte vigére: praesta quæsumus: ut eórum quoque perpétuo aggregéntur consórtio:  Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. .  Amen.

Post orationem dicitur: Requiéscant in pace.  .  Amen.

Si recitatum fuerit anniversarium, dicto psalmus De profundis, .  A porta inferi, Dominus vobiscum, Oremus, ut supra, sequitur oration:

Deus indulgentiárum, Dómine, da animábus famulórum famularúmque tuárum, quorum anniversárium depositiónis diem commemorámus, refrigérii sedem, quiétis beatitúdinem et lúminis claritátem: Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

.  Amen.

Requiéscant in pace.  .  Amen.

Si eadem die anniversarium et obitus inciderint, sub una conclusion dicitur utraque oratio, deinde:  Requiéscant in pace.  .  Amen.

 

 

Having finished the Martyrology , the response Thanks be to God, is added:

V.  Precious in the sight of the Lord.  R.  Is the death of his Saints.

 Then say without Let us pray

May Holy Mary and all the Saints intercede for us with the Lord, that we may obtain grace and salvation from Him who lives and reigns for ver.

R.  Amen

The is said three times:

V.  O God come to my assistance.  R.  O Lord make haste to help me.

Afterwards, is added:

Glory be to the Father.  As it was.

Lord have mercy.  Christ have mercy.  Lord have mercy.  Our Father (silently)

And lead us not into temptation.  R.  But deliver us from evil.

V.  Look down with favor on thy servants, Lord, and on the works of Thy hands, and direct their children.

R.  And may the glorious beauty of the Lord our God be upon us.  Direct he work of our hands; yes, direct the work of our hands.

 Then say without Let us pray

Direct and sanctify Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God, this day our hearts and bodies, our thoughts, words, and acts in conformity with thy law and they commandments.  Thus we shall be able to attain salvation and deliverance, O Savior of the world, who lives and reigns forever.  R.  Amen.

Afterward is said, Sir ask for a blessing, if the Gospel is to be read:

 May the Divine assistance remain always with us.

R.  Amen.

If the Rule is to be read, the blessing is given:

 May the heavenly Teacher instruct us in the discipline of the Rule.  R.  Amen.




From the Rule of
St. Augustine, Bishop

Monday                                                   Reading

 The following are the precepts we order you living in the monastery to observe.  The main purpose for your having come together is to live harmoniously in your house, intent upon God, with one heart and one soul   But you O Lord, have mercy on us.

Tuesday                                                   Reading

 Therefore call nothing your own, but let everything be yours in common. Food and clothing shall be distributed to each of you by your superior, not equally to all, for all do not enjoy equal health, but rather according to each one’s need.

Wednesday                                              Reading

Be assiduous in prayer at the hours and times appointed. In the oratory no one should do anything other than that for which it was intended and from which it also takes its name. Consequently, if there are some who might wish to pray there during their free time, even outside the hours appointed, they are not to be hindered by those who think something else should be done there.  When you pray to God in psalms and hymns, think over in your hearts the words that come from your lips.

Thursday                                                 Reading

You should avoid quarrels altogether or else put an end to them as quickly as possible; otherwise, anger may grow into hatred, making a plank out of a splinter, and turn the soul into a murderer. For so you read: “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer”.

Friday                                                       Reading

Subdue the flesh, so far as your health permits, by fasting and abstinence from food and drink. However, when some are unable to fast they should still take no food outside mealtime unless they are ill.

Saturday                                                  Reading

The Lord grant that you may observe all these precepts in a spirit of charity, as lovers of spiritual beauty, and may spread abroad the sweet odor of Christ by a good life, not as slaves living under the law, but in freedom under grace.

After the reading from the Gospel or the Rule follows:

Commemoration of the brothers, sisters, family, and benefactors of our Order.  May they rest in peace.

R.  Amen.

 Psalm 116

O praise the Lord, all ye nations*  praise him, all ye people.

For his mercy is confirmed upon us* and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.

Glory be to the Father,…As it was…

V.  Show us, O Lord, thy mercy.

R.  And grant us thy salvation.


Let Us Pray                                             Prayer

Direct, we beg Thee, O Lord, our prayers and our actions by Thy holy inspirations and carry them on by Thy gracious assistance, so that every work of ours may always begin with Thee, and through Thee come to completion.

R.  Amen.

V.  Our help is in the name of the Lord.  R.  Who made heaven and earth.

 If a Master General’s obit was read, immediately after May the souls of the faithful or after V. Our help, if any Hour immediately follows, Psalm 129 Out of the depths is said for his soul with the versicle Eternal rest.  After this, follows:

.  From the gate of hell.

Lord, deliver their souls.

 

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

Let Us Pray                                           Prayer

O God, you made your servant N. to be honored with the episcopal (or priestly) dignity among apostolic priests; grant, we beseech you, that he may be joined in fellowship with them forever.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

For many Masers General the prayer is as follows:

O God, you made your servants to be honored with the priestly dignity among apostolic priests; grant, we beseech you, that they may be joined in fellowship with them forever.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

After the prayer is said: May they rest in peace. Amen.

If an anniversary was read, when the psalm Out of the depths p. 132, with the . From the gate of hell, The Lord be with you, Let us pray, as above, has ben said, there follows the prayer:

O God, Lord of mercies, give to the souls of your servants, whose anniversary we keep, the home of refreshment, the blessedness of peace and the brightness of light.  Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

May they rest in peace.  Amen.

If an anniversary and an obit occurs on the same day, the two prayers are said under the one conclusion.  Then follows:  May they rest in peace.  Amen.