The ancients said that white was a divine colour. Daniel (7:9) depicts God as appearing clothed in white. The Evangelists tell us that at the Transfiguration the garments of Jesus were "of dazzling whiteness" (Mark 9:2). The liturgy of the feast of the Immaculate Conception applies this text to the Virgin, saying that the "garment of salvation" (Introit) with which God has clothed her is a vesture as white as snow (Second Antiphon at Vespers).
Let us with the Church ask the Blessed Virgin on her feast that we may "by her intercession be purified from all our sins" (Collect), and let us be in readiness to receive Jesus.
Tota pulchra es, María, et mácula originális non est in te.
Thou art all fair, O Mary, and there is no spot of sin in thee.
Vestiméntum tuum cándidum quasi nix, et fácies tua sicut sol.
Thy raiment is white as the snow, and thy face as the sun.
Tu glória Jerúsalem, tu laetítia Israël, tu honorificéntia pópuli nostri.
Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem, thou art the great glory of Israel, thou art the great rejoicing of our nation.
Benedícta es tu, Virgo María, a Dómino Deo excélso prae ómnibus muliéribus super terram.
Blessed art thou * O Virgin Mary, of the Most High Lord our God, above all the women upon the earth.
Trahe nos, Virgo immaculáta, post te currémus in odórem unguentórum tuórum.
Draw us, O Maiden undefiled; we will run after thee because of the savour of thy good ointments.
(Antiphons from Vespers of the Immaculate Conception)
No comments:
Post a Comment