‘The Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary’ by St. Bonaventure – Psalms 8-13; pages 11-13
"[St. Bonaventure – XIII Century AD; Papal States/Kingdom of Burgundy-Arles]PSALM 8
O Lady, Our Lord has become our brother and our Savior.
Like the flame in the burning bush, and the dew in the fleece: the Word of God descends into thee forever.
The Holy Spirit hath made thee fruitful: the power of the Most High hath overshadowed thee.
Blessed be thy most pure conception: blessed be thy virginal bringing forth.
Blessed be the purity of thy body: blessed be the sweetness of the mercy of thy heart.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
PSALM 9
I will praise thee, O Lady, with my whole heart: and I will declare among the nations thy praise and glory.
For to thee is due glory, and thanksgiving, and the voice of praise.
May sinners find grace with God by thee, the finder of grace and salvation.
May the humble penitents hope for pardon: heal thou the bruises of their hearts.
In the beauty of peace and wealth rest: thou shalt feed us after the toil of our pilgrimage.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
PSALM 10
I trust in our Lady; because of the sweetness of the mercy of her name.
Her eyes look upon the poor: and her hands are stretched out to the orphan and the widow.
Seek after her from your youth: she will glorify you before the face of the peoples.
Her mercy will deliver us from the multitude of our sins: and will bestow on us fruitfulness of merits.
Stretch out to us thy arm, O glorious Virgin: and do not turn away from us thy glorious face.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
PSALM 11
Save me, O Mother of fair love: fount of clemency and sweetness of piety.
Thou alone makest the circuit of the earth: that thou mayst help those that call upon thee.
Beautiful are thy ways: and thy paths are peaceful.
In thee shine forth the beauty of chastity, the light of justice, and the splendor of truth.
Thou art clothed with the sunrays as with a vesture: resplendent with a shining twelvestarred crown.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
PSALM 12
How long, O Lady, wilt thou forget me and not deliver me in the day of tribulation?
How long will my enemy be exalted above me? By the might of thy strength do thou crush him.
Open the eyes of thy mercy: lest our enemy prevail against us.
We magnify thee, the finder of grace, by whom the ages of the world are restored.
Thou art exalted above the choirs of angels: pray for us before the throne of God.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
PSALM 13
Our foolish enemy hath said in his heart: I will follow after and take him, and my hand shall slay him.
Arise, O Lady, and prevent him, and supplant him: destroy all his machinations.
Thy beauty astonishes the sun and the moon; the angelic powers serve and obey thee.
By thy gentle touch the sick are healed: by thy rose-sweet fragrance the dead revive.
Virgin Mother of God, He whom the whole world cannot contain was enclosed within thee, being made Man.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Image: Guido Reni – ‘The Virgin Sewing, Accompanied by Four Angels’
Another Masterpiece by Maestro Palestrina:
Music: Palestrina – ‘Beata es Virgo Maria’ · Choir of Clare College, Cambridge · Timothy Brown
‘Beata es Virgo Maria’ = ‘Blessed are you, Virgin Mary’
>>> youtube.com/watch?v=qWyTSZLEUH0