Contents Officium parvum de S. Anna, Matre B. V. Mariae
Little Office of St. Anne, Mother of B. V. Mary		 SAnna


This Little Office of St. Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is based upon three hymns to St. Anne. Little offices such as these were often crafted using the introductory prayers of the Divine Office for each hour, extracts of the hymns used for the relevant feasts, and the Collect for the feast. This particular office has its origins with the Carthusians Hymns. The Collect is from the Roman Missal, Usus Antiquor.

The first of these three hymns is ''O gloriosa Domina'' (O Glorious Lady), which in turn, is based up the Marian Hymn of the same name. Lines were modified as appropriately for St. Anne. The hymn can be found in early 16th-century hymnals ( 1505 AD Cluniac Breviary). Fr. Edward Caswall, C.O. translated this hymn as ''O Lady, high in glory''. The next hymn is ''Clara diei gaudia'', not to be confused with a hymn of a similar name ''Clarae diei gaudiis'', the later of which was also translated by Fr. Edward Caswall, C.O. (''Holy Anna, Juda's Glory''). Lastly, there is ''Anna, pia Mater, ave'', which is part of the larger hymn, ''Ave, felix mater Anna''. It can be found in Carthusian sources as well.

Ad Matutinum
Matins
Iesus, Maria, Anna! Jesus, Mary, Anne!
V. Domine labia mea aperies.
R. Et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam. 		V. O Lord, open my lips.
R. And my mouth will announce Thy praise.
V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende.
R. Domine ad adiuvandum me festina. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper; et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. 		V. O God, come to my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Hymnus.
O gloriosa Domina,
De cuius Virgo genere
Caeli regentem culmina
Lactavit sacro ubere. 		Hymn
O glorious Lady,
Heaven's High Ruler
Was suckled at thy Virgin daughter's
Sacred breast.
Quod Eva tristis abstulit,
Redditur partu Filiae,
Quae dum salutem protulit.
Caeli fenestra facta est. 		What sorrowful Eve took away
Is restored through thy Daughter's birth,
Who, while bringing forth salvation,
Became the window of heaven.
Tu Regis alti gratiam
Deposce atque veniam:
Memoriam colentibus
Tuae perennis gloria. 		Thou, seek the grace
And pardon of the Most High King:
For those honoring thy memory,
May thy eternal glory endure.
Gloria tibi, Domine,
Ex Annae nato germine
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
In sempiterna saecula. Amen. 		Glory to Thee, O Lord,
Born of Anne's lineage,
With the Father and the Holy Spirit,
Forever and ever. Amen.
V. Domine, exaudi orationem meam.
R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.
 V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Oremus. Deus, qui beatae Annae tantam gratiam conferre dignatus es, ut Genetricis unigeniti Filii tui Mater effici mereretur: concede propitius ut cuius memoriam veneramur in terris, eius apud te patrociniis adiuvemur in caelis. Per Dominum etc. Let us pray: O God, who didst bestow upon blessed Anne the grace to be mother of she who was to bring forth Thine only-begotten Son; grant, in Thy mercy, that we who keep her festival may be aided by her intercession. Through Christ Our Lord, etc.
V. Domine, exaudi orationem meam.
R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.
 V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
V. Benedicamus Domino. R. Deo gratias. V. Let us bless the Lord. R. Thanks be to God.
V. Fidelium animae per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace. R. Amen. V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. R. Amen.
Ad Primam
At Prime
Iesus, Maria, Anna! Jesus, Mary, Anne!
V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende. etc., ut supra ad Matutinum. V. O Lord, open my lips. etc. as above
Hymnus.
CLARA diei gaudia
Modolizat Ecclesia:
In Anna Christi famula
Pandens caeli miracula. 		Hymn
Of the bright joys of the day,
The Church sings:
In Anna, servant of Christ,
Heavenly wonders spread forth.
Gloria tibi, Domine,
Ex Annae nato germine
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
In sempiterna saecula. Amen. 		Glory to Thee, O Lord,
Born of Anne's lineage,
With the Father and the Holy Spirit,
Forever and ever. Amen.
V. et Oratio supra. Versicules, responses and final prayer as above.
Ad Tertiam
At Terce
Iesus, Maria, Anna! Jesus, Mary, Anne!
V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende. etc., ut supra ad Matutinum. V. O Lord, open my lips. etc. as above
Hymnus.
ALMA Regum progenies,
Et Sacerdotum suboles:
Stirpem illustrem Patribus
Suis ornavit actibus. 		Hymn
SHE, the noble offspring of kings,
And descendant of priests,
Enriched her illustrious forefathers
By the deeds of her life.
Gloria tibi, Domine,
Ex Annae nato germine
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
In sempiterna saecula. Amen. 		Glory to Thee, O Lord,
Born of Anne's lineage,
With the Father and the Holy Spirit,
Forever and ever. Amen.
V. et Oratio supra. Versicules, responses and final prayer as above.
Ad Sextam
At Sext
Iesus, Maria, Anna! Jesus, Mary, Anne!
V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende. etc., ut supra ad Matutinum. V. O Lord, open my lips. etc. as above
Hymnus.
NUPTA Dei iudicio Fideli matrimonio;
Iuxta verbum angelicum
Fructum concepit caelicum 		Hymn
WEDDED by God's decree
In faithful matrimony,
According to the angelic word
She conceived the heavenly fruit.
Gloria tibi, Domine,
Ex Annae nato germine
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
In sempiterna saecula. Amen. 		Glory to Thee, O Lord,
Born of Anne's lineage,
With the Father and the Holy Spirit,
Forever and ever. Amen.
V. et Oratio supra. Versicules, responses and final prayer as above.
Ad Nonam
At Nones
Iesus, Maria, Anna! Jesus, Mary, Anne!
V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende. etc., ut supra ad Matutinum. V. O Lord, open my lips. etc. as above
Hymnus.
INFECUNDA pio tempore
Prope marcescens corpore:
Decreto Patris luminum
Parit Reginam Virginum. 		Hymn
BARREN in her pious old age,
Her body near to withering,
By the decree of the Father of lights,
She bore the Queen of Virgins.
Gloria tibi, Domine,
Ex Annae nato germine
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
In sempiterna saecula. Amen. 		Glory to Thee, O Lord,
Born of Anne's lineage,
With the Father and the Holy Spirit,
Forever and ever. Amen.
V. et Oratio supra. Versicules, responses and final prayer as above.
Ad Vesperas
At Vespers
Iesus, Maria, Anna! Jesus, Mary, Anne!
V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende. etc., ut supra ad Matutinum. V. O Lord, open my lips. etc. as above
Hymnus.
ANNA, pia Mater, ave,
Cuius nomen est suave,
Anna sonat gratiam.
 Hymn
HAIL, loving mother Anne,
Whose name is sweet,
Anne signifies grace.
Ave Iesse Radix florens,
Quae caelestes das odores
Perennem fragrantiam. 		Hail, flowering root of Jesse,
Who gives heavenly scents,
A lasting perfume.
Ave Parens Stellae maris.
Quam tu nuptam contemplaris
Regis Regum Filio. 		Hail, mother of the Star of the Sea,
Whom thou beholdest as bride
Of the King of kings.
Tu quae sola meruisti
Parens esse Matris Christi,
Preces nostras suscipe. 		Thou, who wert alone deemed worthy
To be the mother of Christ's mother,
Receive our prayers.
Tu nos Matri atque Patri.
Regi ac Reginae poli
Commendare non desine. 		To the Mother and the Father,
To the King and Queen of heaven,
Do not cease to commend us.
Gloria tibi, Domine,
Ex Annae nato germine
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
In sempiterna saecula. Amen. 		Glory to Thee, O Lord,
Born of Anne's lineage,
With the Father and the Holy Spirit,
Forever and ever. Amen.
V. et Oratio supra. Versicules, responses and final prayer as above.
Ad Completorium
At Compline
Iesus, Maria, Anna! Jesus, Mary, Anne!
V. Converte nos, Deus salutaris noster. R. Et averte iram tuam a nobis. V. Convert us, O God, our Savior.
R. And turn away Thy wrath from us.
V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende.
R. Domine ad adiuvandum me festina. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper; et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. 		V. O God, come to my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Hymnus.
OBTENTU suae filiae
Mariae plenae gratiae:
Nobis Auctorem omnium
Reddat Anna propitium. 		Hymnus.
BY the merits of her daughter,
Mary, full of grace,
May Anne render the Creator of all
Gracious to us.
Gloria tibi, Domine,
Ex Annae nato germine
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
In sempiterna saecula. Amen. 		Glory to Thee, O Lord,
Born of Anne's lineage,
With the Father and the Holy Spirit,
Forever and ever. Amen.
V. et Oratio supra. Versicules, responses and final prayer as above.
Ad Commendatio
At Commendation
Has Horas canonicas cum devotione
Dixi, sancta Anna, tui ratione:
Ut sis mihi praesens mortis in agone,
Et vivamus iugiter in caeli regione. Amen. 		These canonical hours, I said,
Holy Anna, with devotion on thy account,
That thou be present to me at death's hour,
And that we may live forever in the heavenly abode. Amen.
From Gaudentius, ''Orate, Fratres'', 1901 pp 389-393, Tr. MWM.

Both ''Clara diei gaudia'' and ''Anna, pia Mater, ave'' can also be found in the "Nucleus Catholicae Devotionis", 1663. The Nucleus notes the antiquity of the ''Clara diei gaudia''. It claims that the ''Anna, pia Mater, ave'' is from the Hortulus Animae, but I have yet to locate this hymn in any of the copies I have. Normally I would choose a suitable English translation for the hymns, but in this case I never found a suitable one for all three. I have thus translated them myself in hopes to make the Latin clear.


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