A Liturgy of Joan of Arc
What follows is an original French and Latin Liturgy for the Solemnity of Joan of Arc, with an English translation on the side. This is taken from the Missel Vesperal(France, 1959): Les offices de tous les dimanches et de toutes les fetes de l'annee ecclesiastique: Propre des Saints, or in English, The offices of all the Sundays and all the feasts of the Church year, Proper of the Saints. French text is on the left, and the Latin translation, where available, is in italic, beneath the French. The English translation is in the column to the right.
[EDNOTE: a lot of this, the readings from Scripture, we can translate ourselves. Ps = Psalms, Exodi = Exodus, Sagesse = Wisdom, I-res = premieres, II-es = secondes; Par N.S.J.-C = shorthand for Par Notre Saveur Jesus-Christ, which is shorthand for "Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever, Amen." ]
INTROIT - Exodi, 15, 1 et 2
Chantons les louanges du Seigneur, car il a fait eclater sa gloire. Le Seigneur est ma force et l'objet de ma louange; c'est lui qui m'a sauvee. (T.P. Alleluia, alleluia.)
Psaume: Chantez au Seigneur un cantique nouveau, car il a fait des merveilles. V. Gloire au Pere.
INTROIT - Liber Exodi, 15, 1-2
Cantemus Domino: gloriose enim magnificatus est. Fortitudo mea at laus mea Dominus, et factus est mihi in salutem. (T.P. Alleluja, alleluja.)
Ps. 97, 1.
Cantate Dominuo canticum novum, quia mirabilia fecit. V. Gloria Patri.
ENTRANCE - Exodus, 15:1-2
Let us sing the praises of the Lord, because He made His glory burst forth. The Lord is my strength and the object of my praise, it is He who saved me.
Psalm 97:1
Sing to the Lord a new hymn, because He did marvelous things. Glory be to the Father.
COLLECTE
Dieu, d'une maniere admirable, vous avez suscite la bienheureuse Vierge Jeanne pour proteger la foi et la patrie : par son intercession, accordez-nous, nous vous en prions, que votre Eglise, surmount les embuches de ses ennemis, jouisse d'une paix constante. Par N. S. J.-C.
COLLECT
God, in an admirable way, you have blessed Jehanne the Virgin to protect the faith and the country: through her, permit us, us who implore you, that your church surmount the ambushes of her enemies, and enjoy a constant peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever, Amen.
EPITRE - LIVRE DE LA SAGESSE, 8, 9-15
J'ai resolu de prendre la sagesse comme compagne de ma vie, sachant qu'elle me ferait part de ses bienfaits et qu'elle serait ma consolation dans mes soucis et dans mes peines. Par elle j'obtiendrai de la gloire devant le peuple et, malgre mon jeune age, de l'honneur aupres des veillards. Dans mes jugements on reconnaitra ma penetration d'esprit; je paraitrai admirable en presence des puissants; et les princes temoigneront leur etonnement sur leurs visages. Quand je me tairai, ils attendront que je reprenne la parole; quand je parlerai, ils m'observeront attentivement; et si je prolonge mes discours, ils mettront la main sur leur bouche. C'est par elle aussi que j'aurai l'immortalite, et que je laisserai a la posterite un souvenir eternel. Je gouvernerai les peuples et les nations me seront soumises. Les rois redoutables me craindront lorsqu'ils entendront parler de moi. Je me montrerai bon pour mon peuple et vaillant a la guerre.
READING - WISDOM 8:9-15
I resolved to take wisdom as the companion of my life, knowing that she will let me know of her good deeds and that she would be my consolation in my sorrows and my pains. Through her I will obtain glory in front of my people, and in spite of my young age, honour from the old. In my judgements my spirit will be recognised; I will seem admirable in front of the powerful; and the princes will show their amazement on their faces. When I stop talking, they will be waiting for me to start again, when I talk, they will observe me attentively; and if I prolong my discourse, they will put their hands on their mouths. It is through her also that I will obtain immortality, and that I will let to posterity an eternal rememberance. I will govern people and nations will be submissive to me. The terrifying kings will fear me when they hear (someone speak) about me. I will be good for my people and valiant at war.
ALLELUIA, alleluia.
V. Vous avez agi virilement at votre coeur a ete affermi. La main du
Seigneur vous a fortifiee, et pour cela vous serez benie eternellement.
Alleluia.
V. Maintenant donc priez pour nous, car vous etes une femme sainte et
craignant Dieu. Alleluia.
V. Fecisti viriliter, et confortatum est cor tuum: manus Domini confortavit te, et ideo eris benedicta in aeternum. Alleluja.
V. Nunc ergo ora pro nobis, quoniam mulier sancta es, et timens Deum. Alleluja.
V. You have acted like a man, and your heart has been comforted: the hand of the Lord has comforted you, and thus you will be blessed in eternity.
V. Now pray for us, because you are a blessed and God-fearing woman. Hallelujah.
-- Hors du temps Pascal --
GRADUEL Le Seigneur a fait choix dans la guerre de moyens nouveaux
et il a detruit les portes ennemies.
V. Au lieu ou les chars se sont rencontres et ou l'armee des ennemis
fut aneantie, c'est la qu'on chante la justice du Seigneur et sa misericorde
envers les braves d'Israel.
V. Ubi collisi sunt currus, et hostium suffocatus est exercitus, ibi narrentur justitiae Domini, et clementia ejus in fortes Israel.
GRADUAL
The Lord has chosen new wars, and He overturns the gates of the enemy.
V. Where the chariots have been dashed to pieces, and where the army
of the enemy has been smothered, there are the justices of the Lord
told, and His mercy on the brave people of Israel.
ALLELUIA, alleluia.
V. Louez le Seigneur notre Dieu: il n'a point abandonne ceux qui esperent
en lui et, par moi, sa servante, il a realise sa misericorde envers
la maison d'Israel, selon qu'il l'avait promis. Alleluia.
V. Laudate Dominum Deum nostrum, qui non deseruit sperantes in se, et in me ancilla sua adimplevit misericordiam suam, quam promisit domui Israel. Alleluja.
V. Praise the Lord our God, who has not deserted those hoping in Him, and has fulfilled in me His servant His mercy, which He promised to the house of Israel. Hallelujah.
OFFERTOIRE
Tous la benirent unanimement, disant: Vous etes la gloire de Jerusalem, la joie d'Israel, l'honneur de notre peuple. (T.P. Alleluia.)
OFFERTORIUM
Benedixerunt eam omnes una voce, dicentes: Tu gloria Jerusalem, tu laetitia Israel, tu honorificentia populi nostri. (T.P. Alleluja.)
OFFERTORY
All have blessed her with one voice, saying: You are the glory of Jerusalem, you are the joy of Israel, you are the honor of your people.
SECRETE
Que le sacrifice sauveur, Seigneur, nous procure dans les difficultes ce courage dont la bienheureuse Jeanne donna de si brillants examples au milieu de si nimbreuses contrarietes, au point que, pour chasser les ennemis, elle n'hesita pas a s'exposer aux dangers de la guerre. Par N.S.J.-C.
SECRETE
That the sacrifice that saves, Lord, gives us in those difficult times the courage that the blessed Jehanne showed in a manner so bright in the middle of so many conflicts, to the point that, in order to chase the enemy, she did not hesitate to expose herself to the danger of war. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever, Amen.
COMMUNION Quand meme je marcherais a l'ombre de la mort, je ne craindrais aucun mal, car vous etes avec moi, Seigneur Jesus. (T.P. Alleluia.)
COMMUNIO Si ambulavero in medio umbrae mortis, non timebo mala, quoniam tu mecum es, Domine Jesu. (T.P. Alleluja.)
COMMUNION
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, because you are with me, Lord Jesus.
POSTCOMMUNION
Nous voici reconfortes par ce pain celeste qui nourrit tant de fois la bienheureuse Jeanne pour la victoire: nous vous prions, Dieu tout-puissant, faites que cet aliment sauveur nous rende victorieux de nos ennemis. Par N.S. J.-C.
POSTCOMMUNION
We are here comforted by this celestial bread who fed so many times the blessed Jehanne for her victory: we pray, God Almighty, that this precious food gives us victory over our enemies. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever, Amen.
A VEPRES ANT.
1. Voici Jeanne, la vierge simple et tres pieuse, qui craignait Dieu profondement,
et il n'y avait personne qui put dire du mal d'elle. (T. P. Alleluia.)
2 - C'est le Siegneur qui la suscita et la jeune fille revetit donc l'armure
de Dieu, afin de pouvoir s'opposer aux embuches des ennemis. (T.P. Alleluia.)
3 - Debout, les reins ceints de la verite, et revetue de la cuirasse de
la justice, elle porta le bouclier et le casque du salut. (T. P. Alleluia.)
4 - Voici qu'elle leva la main contre les etrangers et dressa l'etendard
du Seigneur en face de la foule, afin de mettre ses adversaires en fuite.
(T.P. Alleluia.)
5 - L'Ange du Seigneur l'a gardee a son depart, durant son sejour au milieu
des ennemis, et a son retour, au milieu des flammes memes, il ne l'a pas
abandonnee. (T. P. Alleluia.)
ANT.
1. Ecce Joanna, virgo simplex et piissima, quoniam timebat Dominum valde,
nec erat qui loqueretur de illa verbum malum. (T. P. Alleluja.)
2 - Suscitavit eam Dominus, et ideo puella induit armaturam Dei, ut posset
stare adversus insidias inimicorum. (T. P. Alleluja.)
3 - Stetit succincta lumbos suos in veritate, et induta loricam justitiae,
assumpsit scutum et galeam salutis. (T. P. Alleluja.)
4 - Ecce levavit ad gentes manum suam, et ad populos exaltavit signum
Domini, ut fugerent partes adversae. (T. P. Alleluja.)
5 - Custodivit eam Angelus ejus, et hinc euntem, et ibi commorantem, et
inde revertentem, atque in medio ignis non dereliquit eam. (T. P. Alleluja.)
BEFORE VESPERS
1. Behold Joan, a simple and most pious maiden, because she greatly feared
the Lord, and there was not one who spoke an ill word about her. (T.P.
Alleluja)
2 - The Lord lifted her, and thus the girl put on the whole armor of God,
that she might stand against the snares of her enemies. (T.P. Allelujah)
3 - She stood, having girded her loins in truth, and having put on the
breastplate of righteousness, she took up the shield and helmet of salvation.
(T.P. Alleluja)
4 - Behold, she has raised her hand to the nations, and born the standard
of the Lord to the people, that they might put opposing factions to flight.
(T.P. Alleluja)
5 - His angel has protected her, both going hence, and tarrying there,
and returning thence, and He did not abandon her in the midst of the fire.
CAPITULE
J'ai resolu de prendre la sagesse comme compagne de ma vie, sachant qu'elle me ferait part de ses bienfaits et qu'elle serait ma consolation dans mes soucis et dans mes peines. Par elle j'obtiendrai de la gloire devant le peuple et, malagre mon jeune age, de l'honneur aupres des vieillards.
CAPITULE
I resolved to take wisdom as my life companion, knowing that she will give me her goodness and that she will be my consolation in my hard times. From her I will obtain the glory of the people, and despite my young age, the honour of the old.
v. Par les merites et les prieres de sainte Jeanne. (Alleluia.)
r. Soyez propice, Seigneur, a votre peuple. (Alleluia.)
Stat cultrix vigilans pauperis hortuli, Annorum tredecim parvula,
nil sciens, Primas docta preces, prae sociis pia, Simplex, mitis et innocens.
Orantem Michael Angelus edocet, Quam clarae parili lumine virgines, Virtutum
meritis conspicuae simul, Crebis alloquiis fovent. Dum voces superas excipit,
expavet: Sed, fidens Domino, fortior in dies, Parens imperiis, pro patria
libens Castam se vovet hostiam. Mox dulces socias et patriam domum, Et
cum matre patrem jussa relinquere, Miles facta Dei, quo vocat Angelus,
Fertur nil trepidans eques.
Qui terras statuit, gloria sit Patri: Qui gentes redimit, gloria Filio:
Sancto Spiritui gloria, qui pias Et fortes animas facit. Amen.
r. Propitius esto, Domine, populo tuo. (Alleluja.)
FIRST VESPERS
There she cultivates her meager garden, child of 13 years of age, ignorant, taught only from prayer, but more pious, simpler, sweeter, more innocent than her friends. The angel Michael teaches her while she prays, and virgins with bright radience similar to her own, and distinguished by their virtues, talk with her. Listening to the voices from above, she is afraid, but confident in God, stronger each day, abiding to their orders, she offers herself with an open heart as an unblemished victim for the homeland. Soon she received the order to leave her siblings and the house of her father, and her father and mother; she became a soldier of God, and went as an intrepid knight everywhere the angel called her. Glory to the Father, who created the earth, and to the Son, who bought back the people; and to the Holy Spirit who keeps the souls pious and courageous. So be it.
v. Through the merits and the prayers of sainte Jehanne (Alleluia)
r. Be generous, Lord, to your people. (Alleluia)
A MAGNIFICAT ANT. - Voici Jeanne, la vierge d'Orleans; voici celle qui prie beaucoup pour son peuple et pour toute la nation francaise. (T. P. Alleluia.)
ANT. - Haec est Joanna, Puella Aurelianensis: haec est, quae multum orat pro populo, et pro universa Gallorum gente. (T. P. Alleluja.)
Aux II es Vepres: HYMNE Salut, Vierge au coeur viril, patronne de la France: en supportant de cruels supplices, vous reproduisez l'image du Christ. Docile aux voix d'en haut, remplie de la lumiere de Jesus, les juges se taisent et tremblent tandis que vous devoilez l'avenir de la patrie. Entouree de flammes, vous implorez Jesus, et embrassant courageusement la croix, vous vous envolez vers lui, a l'instar d'une colombe. Placee au milieu du choeur des vierges saintes, aidez vos concitoyens, et, qu'a votre priere, chacun d'eux obtienne la couronne de gloire. Louange soit au Pere, et au Fils, et honneur au saint Consolateur, qui blesse les coeurs de son amour et augmente les forces de ceux qui languissent. Ainsi soit-il.
v. Par les merites et par les prieres de la bienheureuse Jeanne, alleluia.
r. Seigneur, soyez propice a votre peuple, alleluia.
Salve, virilis pectoris Virgo, Patrona Galliae! Tormenta dirasustinens,
Christi refers imaginem. Voces supernas audiens, Jesu repleta lumine,
Dum fata pandis patriae, Silent paventque judices.
Oppressa flammis, clamitas Jesum, crucemque fortiter Amplexa, ad Ipsum,
simplicis Instar columbae, pervolas.
Choris beatis Virginum Adscripta, cives adjuva: Te deprecante, singulis
Detur corona gloriae.
Sit laus Patri, sit Filio: Sancto decus Paraclito, Qui corda amore sauciat,
Vires et auget languidis. Amen.
v. Meritis et precibus beatae Joannae, alleluja.
r. Propitius esto, Domine, populo tuo, alleluja.
SECOND VESPERS
Hail, virgin with a brave heart, patron of France! In enduring those cruel tortures, you resemble Christ's image. Obedient to the voices from above, full of the light of Christ, the judges are silenced and trembling as you predict the future of the nation. Oppressed by flames, you implore Jesus, and embracing the cross, you fly to him like a dove. Placed amongst blessed virgins, and through your prayer, each one obtains glory's crown. Praise to the Father, to the Son: honor to the Holy Spirit, who makes hearts ache with his love, and strengthens the one who grieves. Amen.v. Through the merits and prayers of blessed Joan, alleluia.
r. Lord, be generous to your people, alleluia.
A MAGNIFICAT ANT. - Jeanne, epouse du Christ, patronne et gardienne de la patrie, par vos instantes prieres, soyez pour vos serviteurs un mur imprenable. (T. P. Alleluia.)
ANT. - Joanna, sponsa Christi, tutrix et custos patriae, esto tuis famulis murus inexpugnabilis assiduis suffragiis. (T. P. Alleluja.)