O Intemerata was a very popular prayer during the Middle Ages and was invariably found in any Book of the Hours. The earliest known texts are from the 12th century, though it may have been composed earlier. Considerable variation exists in the text of the prayer as it appears down through the centuries. The version below is from a 15th century Book of the Hours.
|
| O INTEMERATA et in aeternum benedicta, singularis atque incomparabilis Virgo Dei Genetrix Maria, gratissimum Dei templum, Spiritus Sancti sacrarium, ianua regni caelorum, per quam post Deum totus vivit orbis terrarum. Inclina, Mater misericordiae, aures tuae pietatis indignis supplicationibus meis, et esto mihi miserrimo peccatori pia, et propitia in omnibus auxiliatrix. |
O UNSPOTTED and forever blessed, unique and incomparable virgin Mary, Mother of God, most graceful temple of God, sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, gate of the kingdom of heaven, by whom next unto God the whole world liveth, incline O Mother of Mercy thy ears of piety unto my unworthy supplications, and be merciful to me a most wretched sinner, and be unto me a helper in all things. |
| O Ioannes beatissime, Christi familiaris et amice, qui ab eodem Domino nostro Iesu Christo virgo es electus, et inter ceteros magis dilectus, atque in mysteriis caelestibus ultra omnes imbutus; Apostolus enim et Evangelista factus es praeclarissimus: Te etiam invoco cum Maria matre eiusdem Domini nostri Iesu Christi salvatoris, ut mihi opem tuam cum ipsa conferre digneris. |
O most blessed John, the beloved and friend of Christ, which by the same Lord Jesus Christ was chosen a virgin, and among the rest more beloved, above all instructed in the heavenly mysteries, for thou wast made a most worthy Apostle and Evangelist: thee also I call upon with Mary, the mother of the same Lord Jesus Christ our Savior, that thou wouldst vouchsafe to afford me thy aid with hers. |
| O duae gemmae caelestes, Maria, et Ioannes. O duo luminaria divinitus ante Deum lucentia, vestris radiis scelerum meorum effugate nubila. |
O ye two celestial jewels, Mary, and John. O ye two lights divinely shining before God. Chase away by your bright beams the clouds of my offenses. |
| Vos enim estis illi duo, in quibus Deus Pater per Filium suum specialiter aedificavit sibi domum et in quibus ipse Filius Dei unigenitus ob sincerissimae virginitatis meritum, dilectionis suae confirmavit privilegium in cruce pendens, uni vestrum ita dicens: <<Mulier ecce filius tuus>>: deinde ad alium: <<Ecce mater tua.>> |
For you are those two in whom God the Father through His own Son, specially built His own house, and in whom the only-begotten Son of God as the reward of your most sincere virginity confirmed the privilege of His love while hanging on the Cross, saying thus to one of you: "Woman, behold thy son," and then to the other, "Behold thy mother." |
| In huius ergo tam sacratissimi amoris dulcedine, qua tunc ore Dominico, velut mater et filius ad invicem coniuncti estis, vobis duobus ego miserrimus peccator commendo hodie corpus et animam meam: ut in omnibus horis atque momentis, intus et exterius firmi custodes, et pii apud Deum intercessores mihi existere dignemini. |
In the sweetness therefore of His most sacred love, through which by our Lord's own mouth, as mother and son you were joined to each other, I, a most wretched sinner, commend this day to you my body and soul, that at all hours and moments, inwardly and outwardly, you would vouchsafe to be unto me steadfast guardians and devout intercessors before God. |
| Credo enim firmiter et indubitanter fateor, quia velle vestrum velle Dei est et nolle vestrum nolle Dei est; unde et quicquid ab illo petitis sine mora obtinetis. Per hanc ergo tam potentissimam vestrae dignitatis virtutem poscite, quaeso, mihi peccatori, corporis et animae salutem. |
I indeed firmly believe and accept beyond any doubt that one who wants to be yours will belong to God and one who does not want to be yours will not belong to God, for you can obtain whatever you ask from God without delay. By virtue of your most powerful worthiness, beg, I beseech you, for the well being of my body and soul. |
| Agite, quaeso, agite vestris sacris precibus, ut cor meum invisere, et inhabitare dignetur spiritus almus, gratiarum largitor optimus, qui me a cunctis vitiorum sordibus expurget, virtutibus sacris illustret, et exornet: in dilectione Dei et proximi mei perfecte stare, et perseverare me faciat: et post huius vitae cursum ad gaudia ducat electorum suorum benignissimus paraclitus. Qui cum Deo patre et filio coaeternus et consubstantialis cum eis et in eis vivit et regnat omnipotens Deus in saecula saeculorum. Amen. |
Plead, I beseech you, plead for me by your holy prayers that the loving Spirit, the best giver of graces, may vouchsafe to visit my heart and dwell therein, the self same Spirit who may thoroughly purge me from all filth of vice, lighten and adorn me with sacred virtues: who would cause me to stand perfectly and to persevere in the love of God and my neighbor, and, after the course of this life, may this most benign comforter bring me to the joys of His elect, He, who with God the Father and the Son is co-eternal and consubstantial with them and in them, liveth and reigneth as Almighty God, forever and ever. Amen |
See also Wilmart, Auteurs Spirituels et textes devots du moyen age latin, Paris 1932. Wilmart documents the wide range of forms this prayer appears in. The above version can be found in Wilmart. Tr. MWM.
|
|