medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
For Bill East:
For an "encore" to your series on the Great O Antiphons, would you
please do the
O Virgo Virginum?
Many of our members know that in the Use of the Anglican Catholic Church
(and amongst other "Anglicans" as well) the Great O Antiphons begin on
December 16th (instead of on Dec. 17th), because the one for December 23
is O Virgo Virginum. That antiphon had some use on the Continent, as
well. It seems to have a Gallican origin. Also, it was in use by the
Praemonstratensian Order, for one. (Also, see Allen Cabiniss' article in
the Jewish Quarterly Review.)
O Virgin of virgins, * how shall this be? for neither before thee was
any seen like thee, nor shall there be after. Daughters of Jerusalem,
why marvel ye at me? The thing which ye behold is a divine mystery.
O Virgo virginum, * quomodo fiet istud? Quia nec primam similem visa es
nec habere sequentem. Filiae Ierusalem, quid me admiramini? Divinum est
mysterium hoc quod cernitis.
We find O Virgo Virginum paraphrased in Christ I of the Advent Lyrics in
the Exeter Book.
Eala wifa wynn geond wuldres þrym,
fæmne freolicast ofer ealne foldan sceat
þæs þe æfre sundbuend secgan hyrdon,
arece us þæt geryne þæt þe of roderum cwom,
75 hu þu eacnunge æfre onfenge
bearnes þurh gebyrde, ond þone gebedscipe
æfter monwisan mod ne cuðes.
Ne we soðlice swylc ne gefrugnan
in ærdagum æfre gelimpan,
80 þæt ðu in sundurgiefe swylce befenge,
ne we þære wyrde wenan þurfon
toweard in tide. Huru treow in þe
weorðlicu wunade, nu þu wuldres þrym
bosme gebære, ond no gebrosnad wearð
85 mægðhad se micla. Swa eal manna bearn
sorgum sawað, swa eft ripað,
cennað to cwealme.
Cheers,
Terrill Heaps
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