[Name]
Commune Virgine

[Rule]
Psalmi Dominica
Antiphonas horas

[Ant Vespera]
This is one of the wise virgins, * one chosen out of the number of the careful.;;109
This is one of the wise virgins, * whom the Lord found watching.;;112
This, is one which hath not known the sinful bed, * she shall have fruit in the visitation of holy souls.;;121
She is beautiful * among the daughters of Jerusalem.;;126

[Capitulum Vespera]
!2 Cor 10:17-18
v. Brothers: But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he who~
commendeth himself, is approved, but he, whom God commendeth.
$Deo gratias
_
R.br. God shall help her with His countenance.
R. God shall help her with His countenance.
V. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved.
R. With His countenance.
&Gloria
R. God shall help her with His countenance.

[Hymnus Vespera]
v. Jesu, the virgins' crown, do thou
Accept us as in prayer we bow;
Born of that Virgin, whom alone
The mother and the maid we own.
_
Amongst the lilies thou dost feed,
By virgin choirs accompanied;
With glory decked, the spotless brides
Whose bridal gifts thy love provides.
_
They, wheresoe'er thy footsteps bend,
With hymns and praises still attend:
In blessèd troops they follow thee,
With dance, and song, and melody.
_
We pray thee therefore to bestow
Upon our senses here below
thy grace, that so we may endure
From taint of all corruption pure.
_
* All laud to God the Father be,
All praise, eternal Son, to thee;
All glory as is ever meet,
To God, the holy Paraclete. Amen.
Amen. 

[Versum 1]
V. In thy comeliness and thy beauty.
R. Go forward, fare prosperously, and reign.

[Ant 1]
Come, Bride of Christ, and take the everlasting crown * which the Lord hath~
prepared for thee.

[Invit]
The Lord He is the King of the Virgins. * O come, let us worship Him

[Hymnus Matutinum]
v. Son of a virgin, maker of thy mother,
Thou, rod and blossom from a stem unstainèd,
Now while a virgin fair of fame we honour,
Hear our devotion!
_
Lo, on thy handmaid fell a two-fold blessing,
Who, in her body vanquishing the weakness,
In that same body, grace from heaven obtaining,
Bore the world witness.
_
Death, nor the rending pains of death appalled her;
Bondage and torment found her undefeated:
So by the shedding of her blood attained she
Heavenly guerdon.
_
Fountain of mercy, hear the prayers she offers;
Purge our offences, pardon our transgressions,
So that hereafter we to thee may render
Praise with thanksgiving.
_
Thou, the All-Father, thou, the One-Begotten,
Thou, Holy Spirit, Three in One co-equal,
Glory be henceforth thine through all the ages,
World without ending.
Amen.

[Hymnus Matutinum 1]
v. Son of a virgin, maker of thy mother,
Thou, rod and blossom from a stem unstainèd,
Now while a virgin fair of fame we honour,
Hear our devotion!
_
Fountain of mercy, hear the prayers she offers;
Purge our offences, pardon our transgressions,
So that hereafter we to thee may render
Praise with thanksgiving.
_
Thou, the All-Father, thou, the One-Begotten,
Thou, Holy Spirit, Three in One co-equal,
Glory be henceforth thine through all the ages,
World without ending.
Amen.

[Ant Matutinum]
O how lovely and glorious * is the generation of the chaste;;8
Sing for us again and again before this maiden's bed * the tender idylls of the play;;18
Return, return, O Shulammith * Return, return, that we may look upon thee;;23
In thy comeliness and thy beauty, * go forward, fare prosperously, and reign;;44
God shall help * her with His countenance is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;;45 
Many waters cannot * quench love;;47
V. In thy comeliness and thy beauty
R. Go forward, fare prosperously, and reign.
I am black but comely, * O ye daughters of Jerusalem; therefore hath the King loved me, and brought me into his chamber;;84
Draw me after thee * we will run after the savour of thy good ointments; thy name is as oil poured forth;;86
Come, Bride of Christ, * and take the everlasting crown which the Lord hath prepared for thee;;95
Thy name is as oil poured out: * therefore young maidens have loved thee.;;96
O my love, * sweet and comely as Jerusalem: terrible as an army set in array.;;97
She hath girded * her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.;;98
V. God shall help her with His countenance.
R. God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved.
And at midnight * there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him.;;249;250;251
V. God hath chosen her, and fore-chosen her.
R. He hath made her to dwell in His tabernacle.

[Lectio1]
Lesson from the first letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
!1 Cor 7:25-31
25 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give counsel,~
as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.
26 I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity, that it is~
good for a man so to be.
27 Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife?~
seek not a wife.
28 But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she~
hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I~
spare you.
29 This therefore I say, brethren; the time is short; it remaineth, that they~
also who have wives, be as if they had none;
30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as if~
they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31 And they that use this world, as if they used it not: for the fashion of this~
world passeth away.

[Responsory10]
R.br. Come, Bride of Christ, and take the everlasting crown, which the Lord hath~
prepared for thee, even for thee who for the love of Him hast shed thy blood
* And art entered with Angels into His garden.
V. Come, O My chosen one, and I will establish My throne in thee, for the King~
hath reatly desired thy beauty
R. And art entered with Angels into His garden.

[Responsory1]
R. Come, O My chosen one, and I will establish My throne in thee
* For the King hath greatly desired thy beauty.
V. In thy comeliness and thy beauty, go forward, fare prosperously, and reign.
R. For the King hath greatly desired thy beauty.

[Lectio2]
!1 Cor 7:32-35
32 But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is~
solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God.
33 But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he~
may please his wife: and he is divided.
34 And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord,~
that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married~
thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 And this I speak for your profit: not to cast a snare upon you; but for that~
which is decent, and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without~
impediment

[Responsory2]
R. Grace is poured into thy lips, therefore
*. God hath blessed thee for ever.
V. In thy comeliness and thy beauty, go forward, fare prosperously, and reign.
R. God hath blessed thee for ever.

[Lectio3]
!1 Cor 7:36-40
36 But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured, with regard to his virgin,~
for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will; he~
sinneth not, if she marry.
37 For he that hath determined being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity,~
but having power of his own will; and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his~
virgin, doth well.
38 Therefore, both he that giveth his virgin in marriage, doth well; and he that~
giveth her not, doth better.
39 A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband~
die, she is at liberty: let her marry to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40 But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel; and I~
think that I also have the spirit of God

[Responsory3]
R. In thy comeliness and thy beauty
* Go forward, fare prosperously, and reign.
V. Grace is poured into thy lips, therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
R. Go forward, fare prosperously, and reign.
&Gloria
R. Go forward, fare prosperously, and reign.


[MM Capitulum]
!2 Cor 11:2
For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God. For I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
$Deo gratias
_
V. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity
R. Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of justice.

[MM Capitulum mart]
!Eccli 51:4-5
And thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of thy name, from them that did roar, prepared to devour. Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions, which compassed me about
$Deo gratias
_
R. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity
* Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of justice.

[Lectio4]
From the Sermons of St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. 
!Book. I. on Virgins 
This day is a maiden's Birthday. The love of virginity provoketh us to say somewhat~
touching maidenhood, lest, if we pass thereby, we should seem to cast a slur on~
that which was her chief strength. Virginity is not to be praised because it is a~
grace which is poured forth in Martyrs, but because it is a grace which maketh~
Martyrs. But what understanding of man can rightly grasp this excellency which~
riseth above the laws of nature herself? What natural voice can pourtray a thing~
which is supernaturally noble? It is a reflection on earth of a glory whose home~
is in heaven. And it is but that which we may justly look for, when we see her~
who hath her Husband in heaven, live a life whose model is the life of heaven.

[Responsory4]
R. Because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness
* And thy right hand shall lead thee wonderfully.
V. In thy comeliness, and thy beauty, go forward, fare prosperously, and reign.
R. And thy right hand shall lead thee wonderfully.

[Lectio5]
It was maidenhood that pierced beyond the clouds, the atmosphere, the~
Angels, and the stars, and came upon the Word of God in the very bosom of the~
Father, and sucked Him into her heart. For who, that hath once found such~
blessedness, would leave it again "For thy name is as ointment poured forth,~
therefore do the virgins love thee," and draw thee after them. (Cant. i. 3.)~
Lastly, it is not I, but the Lord by Whom it is said that they which neither~
marry nor are given in marriage are as the angels of God in heaven. (Matth.~
xxii. 30.) Let no man therefore marvel that they which be married unto the Lord~
of angels should be likened themselves to angels.

[Responsory5]
R. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity
* Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness.
V. Because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness.
R. Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil

[Lectio6]
Who would deny that this is a life which hath come down from heaven, seeing it~
is a life whereof it is not easy to find an example before God came down to~
dwell in a Body of clay? Then was it a virgin which conceived Him in her womb,~
and the Word was made Flesh, that Flesh might be made God. Some will say~
Concerning Elias also, we find not that he shared in the lusting after a bodily~
coming-together. Yea and therefore it is that he was carried up in a fiery~
chariot into heaven therefore is it that he is seen with the Lord amid all the~
glory of the Transfiguration therefore it is that he is to come as a~
Forerunner of the Lord's coming again.

[Responsory6]
R. After her shall virgins be brought unto the King, her fellows
* They shall be brought unto thee with gladness and rejoicing.
V. In thy comeliness and thy beauty, go forward, fare prosperously, and reign.
R. They shall be brought unto thee with gladness and rejoicing.
&Gloria
R. They shall be brought unto thee with gladness and rejoicing.

[Lectio7]
From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
!Matt 25:1-13
At that time Jesus said to His disciples The Kingdom of heaven shall be~
likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the~
Bridegroom and the Bride. And so on.
_
Homily by Pope St Gregory the Great.
!12th on the Gospels.
Dearly beloved brethren oftentimes do I warn you to fly corrupt conversation,~
and to keep yourselves unspotted from the world. But the portion which is this~
day read from the Holy Gospel doth oblige me to say that even to these good~
things which ye do, ye must needs take all careful heed. Look ye well to it,~
that, when ye work righteousness, ye do it not as seeking the praise and~
admiration of men, for if the lust of praise do once creep in, that which~
seemeth so fair without, loseth its reward within. Behold how the Redeemer~
speaketh of these ten virgins. He calleth them all virgins, yet entered not all~
of them into the door of blessedness, for there were some of them who sought~
outwardly the honour of virginity, but would take no oil within their vessels~
with their lamps.

[Responsory7]
R. This is one of those wise virgins, whom the Lord found watching, for when she~
took her lamp, she took oil with her.
* And when the Lord came, she went in with him to the marriage.
V. At midnight there was a cry made Behold the Bridegroom cometh go ye out to~
meet him
R. And when the Lord came, she went in with him to the marriage.

[Lectio8]
First of all, it is for us to ask What is the kingdom of Heaven? And wherefore~
shall the same be likened unto ten virgins, whereof, albeit five were wise, yet~
five were foolish For if the kingdom of heaven be such that there shall in no~
wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh~
abomination, or maketh a lie, (Apoc. xxi. 27,) how can it be like unto five~
virgins which were foolish? But we must know that, in the word of God, the~
kingdom of heaven doth oftentimes signify the Church as she now is, touching the~
which the Lord saith in another place " The Son of Man shall send forth His~
Angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend."~
(Matth. xiii. 41.) In that kingdom of Blessedness, wherein peace shall have her~
perfect reign, there shall be nothing found that offendeth for the angels to~
gather out.

[Responsory8]
R. At midnight there was a cry made
* Behold the Bridegroom cometh go ye out to meet him.
V. Trim your lamps, O ye wise virgins.
R. Behold the Bridegroom cometh go ye out to meet him.
&Gloria
R. Behold the Bridegroom cometh go ye out to meet him.

[Lectio9]
The body of every man doth consist of five senses, and five being doubled, is~
ten. Forasmuch, therefore, as the whole body of the faithful doth consist of two~
sexes, the Holy Church is likened unto ten virgins. And forasmuch as in the~
Church the good are for the present mingled with the bad, and the reprobate with~
the elect, it is rightly said that, of the ten virgins, five are wise and five~
are foolish. There are many who have self-control, which do keep themselves from~
lusting after things outward, whose hope beareth them to things inward, who~
chastise the flesh, who long with intense home-sickness for their Fatherland~
which is in heaven, who seek an eternal reward, and who will not to receive for~
their labours the praise of men. These are they who reckon their glory, not in~
the mouths of men, but in the testimony of their own conscience. And many there~
be likewise who afflict the body by self-control, and yet who seek for their~
self-control applause from men.

[Responsory9]
R.br. Simile est regnum caelorum decem virginibus, qui accipientes lampadas suas
* Exierunt obviam sponso et sonsae
V. Quinque autem ex eis erunt fatue, et quinque prudentes
R. Exierunt obviam sponso et sonsae
&Gloria
R. Exierunt obviam sponso et sonsae

[Ant Laudes]
This is one of the wise virgins, * one chosen out of the number of the careful.
This is one of the wise virgins, * whom the Lord found watching.
This, is one which hath not known the sinful bed, * she shall have fruit in the visitation of holy souls.
Come, O my chosen one, * and I will establish My throne in thee.
She is beautiful * among the daughters of Jerusalem.

[Capitulum Laudes]
!2 Cor 10:17-18
v. Brothers: But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he who~
commendeth himself, is approved, but he, whom God commendeth.
$Deo gratias
_
R.br. God shall help her with His countenance.
R. God shall help her with His countenance.
V. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved.
R. With His countenance.
&Gloria
R. God shall help her with His countenance.

[Hymnus Laudes]
@Commune/C6:Hymnus Vespera

[Versum 2]
V. Grace is poured into thy lips.
R. Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

[Ant 2]
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman * seeking goodly pearls, who,~
when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and~
bought it.

[Oratio]
O God, Who, amidst the wondrous work of thy divine power, dost make even weak~
women to be more than conquerors in the uplifting of their testimony, mercifully~
grant unto all us which do keep the birthday of thy blessed handmaiden and~
witness N. grace to follow her steps to thee-ward.
$Per Dominum

[Lectio Prima]
!Wis 4:1
v. O how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory: for the memory thereof~
is immortal: because it is known both with God and with men

[Capitulum Tertia]
!2 Cor 10:17-18
v. Brothers: But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he who~
commendeth himself, is approved, but he, whom God commendeth.
$Deo gratias

[Responsory Tertia]
V. In thy comeliness and in thy beauty.
R. Go forward, fare prosperously, and 

[Capitulum Sexta]
!2 Cor 11:2
v. For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God. For I have espoused you to~
one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
$Deo gratias

[Responsory Sexta]
V. God shall help her with His countenance.
R. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved.

[Capitulum Nona1]
!Sir 51:13-14
v. O Lord, my God thou hast exalted my dwelling place upon the earth and I have~
prayed for death to pass away. I called upon the Lord, the father of my Lord,~
that he would not leave me in the day of my trouble, and in the time of the~
proud without help.
$Deo gratias

[Capitulum Nona]
!Wis 4:1
v. O how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory: for the memory thereof~
is immortal: because it is known both with God and with men
$Deo gratias

[Responsory Nona]
V. God hath chosen her, and fore-chosen her.
R. He hath made her to dwell in His tabernacle.

[Versum 3]
V. Grace is poured into thy lips.
R. Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

[Ant 3]
Come, Bride of Christ, and take the everlasting crown * which the Lord hath~
prepared for thee.

[Lectio11]
Lesson from the book of Ecclesiasticus
!Sir 51:1-7
1 A prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach. I will give glory to thee, O Lord, O King, and I will praise thee, O God my Saviour. 
2 I will give glory to thy name: for thou hast been a helper and protector to me. 
3 And hast preserved my body from destruction, from the snare of an unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that forge lies, and in the sight of them that stood by, thou hast been my helper. 
4 And thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of thy name, from them that did roar, prepared to devour. 
5 Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions, which compassed me about:
6 From the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt. 
7 From the depth of the belly of hell, and from an unclean tongue, and from lying words, from an unjust king, and from a slanderous tongue: 

[Lectio21]
!Sir 51:8-12
8 My soul shall praise the Lord even to death. 
9 And my life was drawing near to hell beneath. 
10 They compassed me on every side, and there was no one that would help me. I looked for the succour of men, and there was none.
11 I remembered thy mercy, O Lord, and thy works, which are from the beginning of the world. 
12 How thou deliverest them that wait for thee, O Lord, and savest them out of the hands of the nations. 

[Lectio31]
!Sir 51:13-17
13 Thou hast exalted my dwelling place upon the earth and I have prayed for death to pass away. 
14 I called upon the Lord, the father of my Lord, that he would not leave me in the day of my trouble, and in the time of the proud without help. 
15 I will praise thy name continually, and will praise it with thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard.
16 And thou hast saved me from destruction, and hast delivered me from the evil time. 
17 Therefore I will give thanks, and praise thee, and bless the name of the Lord.

[LectioE]
Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
!Matt 25:1-13
25:1 THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.
25:2 And five of them were foolish, and five wise.
25:3 But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them:
25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps.
25:5 And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept.
25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him.
25:7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
25:8 And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.
25:9 The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
25:10 Now whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.
25:11 But at last come also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us.
25:12 But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not.
25:13 Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.
$Te decet
