The following texts are extracts from the liturgy of the Hours of the Roman Latin Rite. Liturgy is one of the expressions of our faith. A fundamental one. The liturgical texts are chosen and composed by exceptional persons led by their faith and experience, they express also the Living Tradition. This is why we say in Theology Lex orandi lex credendi (Latin: “the law of what is prayed [is] the law of what is believed”). Not only this, the use of the Scriptures in Liturgy allows us to enter in a deeper way in the inspired text and discover new dimensions in it, and this is not the least nourishing way of accessing the Scriptures. In this sense Liturgy is a school which teaches us how to read the Scriptures. If one is familiar with the use the New Testament makes of the Old Testament and how the Fathers of the Church read the Scriptures, one discovers a profound sense of unity between them and the use Liturgy makes of the Scriptures.
The one and only Holy Church has many Rites: Roman Latin, Byzantine, Coptic, Antiochian, Armenian, etc to name just a few. In the West we have more than one: the Milanese, the Toledan, and also we have proper liturgy for certain orders. The extracts shown below come only from the Roman Latin Rite Liturgy of the Hours. No doubt there is an immense richness in all the rites, they all have the same dignity.
These texts come from the liturgy of the 8th September, the Nativity of Our Lady. The beauty and power of these texts is that thy allow the Holy Spirit to unveil in front of our eyes new aspects of the mystery of Our Lady, of the mystery of her Nativity. God uses them to speak to us and draw us closer to Him.
Song of Songs 6:10
“Who is this that comes forth like the dawn;
as beautiful as the moon,
as resplendent as the sun,
as awe-inspiring as bannered troops?”
Even the Glory (see below) starts to have another dimension:
Mary is the New Jerusalem.
“Justly, then, do we celebrate this mystery since it signifies for us a double grace. We are led toward the truth, and we are led away from our condition of slavery to the letter of the law. How can this be? Darkness yields before the coming of the light, and grace exchanges legalism for freedom. But midway between the two stands today’s mystery, at the frontier where types and symbols give way to reality, and the old is replaced by the new. Therefore, let all creation sing and dance and unite to make worthy contribution to the celebration of this day. Let there be one common festival for saints in heaven and men on earth. Let everything, mundane things and those above, join in festive celebration. Today this created world is raised to the dignity of a holy place for him who made all things. The creature is newly prepared to be a divine dwelling place for the Creator.”
“I saw the new Jerusalem, the holy city, prepared as a bride adorned for her bridegroom” (Revelation 21:2).
“Here lives God among men. He will make his home among them” (Revelation 21:3).
“No more shall men call you “Forsaken,” or your land “Desolate,”
But you shall be called “My Delight,” and your land “Espoused.” For the Lord delights in you, and makes your land his spouse.”
“As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.
Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have stationed watchmen; Never, by day or by night, shall they be silent.”
“And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” The shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.”
“Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
“Mary is the real Ark of the Covenant. God’s dwelling Place.”
“His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.””
Luke’s Theology: believe that he can do what He says (Luke 1)
John’s Theology: “do whatever he tells you” (John 2)
“And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from although the servers who had drawn the water knew”
“Let us pray.
Father of mercy,
give your people help and strength from heaven.
The birth of the Virgin Mary’s Son
was the dawn of our salvation.”
