Cantus ad Nonam
The Mystical Death at None
The soul rejects the world, dies completely at None in imitation of Christ's cry 'It is finished,' and enters a blessed death with heaven opening.
In this state she rejects anything earthly, and regards the world's comfort as poison. But when she comes to None, she dies completely, as the surge of love breaks the flesh's rein.1 For when she recalls that at the ninth hour the Lord cried out, "It is finished," and so breathed his last, she cries out—as if dying with him—that that voice has pierced her heart and torn it. Unable at last to bear such a fierce dart, she dies—as I've said—but with a blessed death, for the gates of heaven open to her at once, so that she may know herself worthy of the saints' portion.
The Martyr's Heavenly Glory
The Church responds with joyful praise rather than requiem, and the soul is extolled as a precious jewel who now rests in the Bridegroom's arms, free from tears.
We don't sing the Requiem for a soul like hers. No—the Mass introit is Gaudeamus, because if we plead with God for a martyr, as the decree declares, we detract from the saint. Oh sweet soul, sweet rose, lily of the valleys, precious jewel—you who hated the foulness of the flesh: blessed is your passing, and precious is your death. Happy one, you already enjoy the rest you longed for, sweetly asleep in the Bridegroom's arms, firmly united to His spirit; from Him you receive honey-sweet kisses. Now the eyes rest; the streams of tears run dry, for you clearly receive the fruit of your hope—because the One through whom you escaped the world's waves comforts your griefs amid His kisses.
Why Weep?
The poet directly questions the soul why it continues weeping when heaven's joys are already its own, affirming that clinging to Christ alone is everything.
Tell me, tell me, sweet soul: why would you keep weeping any longer? With heaven's joys already yours, why would you grieve? For he alone is everything—the one you cling to; and if you wanted more, you certainly wouldn't have it.2
The Call to Imitation
The poet ends the meter but immediately exhorts the reader to imitate the new martyr, make interior harp-music for Christ through tears and mourning, and keep singing this devotional song.
But now I'll end the meter, so I don't grow tedious: for if I wanted to write how delightful this state of the soul is, and how glorious, the malicious would call me deceitful and full of lies. Still, whatever others may say, dear brother, gladly imitate this new Martyr; and when you've become such, pray to Christ that the song of the Martyrs may teach you to sing. Let's keep singing this song, devout sister, so that the road of this life doesn't crush us with weariness: because after this life, Jesus and Mary receive the soul that rejoices in this melody. So then, sister, let your heart make harp-music like this: let it baptize itself with tears, and martyr itself with mourning; with all its strength let the mind make organ-song for Christ, so that afterward it may always keep festival with him.3
The Eternal Song
All sorrow ceases when the soul joins the angelic choirs as a bride of the eternal King, closing with 'Amen.'
Then the sighs and mourning of sorrows will cease, when you have been joined to the choirs of the angels; for singing, you will pass into the eternal choir as a bride of the most blessed King of ages. Amen.
Read the original Latin
In hoc statu respuit quidquid est terrenum, Mundique solatium reputat venenum. Sed ad nonam veniens moritur ad plenum, Quum amoris impetus carnis rumpit frenum.
Nam, quum Consummatum est recolit clamasse Hora nona Dominum, et sic exspirasse, Quasi simul moriens, clamat penetrasse Vocem istam suum cor, atque lacerasse.
Ferre tandem impotens iaculum tam forte, Moritur, ut dictum est, sed felici morte, Nam panduntur protinus ei coeli portae, Dignam ut intelligat se Sanctorum sorte!
Requiem pro anima tali non cantamus, Immo est introitus Missae Gaudeamus, Quia si pro Martyre Deum exoramus, Ut decretum loquitur, Sancto derogamus.
Eia, dulcis anima, eia dulcis rosa, Lilium convallium, gemma pretiosa, Cui carnis foeditas exstitit exosa, Felix tuus transitus, morsque pretiosa.
Felix, quae iam frueris requie cupita, Inter Sponsi brachia dulciter sopita, Eiusque spiritui firmiter unita, Ab eodem percipis oscula mellita.
Iam quiescunt oculi, cessant aquae ductus, Nam aperte percipis spei tuae fructus, Quia, per quem saeculi evasisti fluctus, Tuos inter oscula consolatur luctus.
Dic, dic, dulcis anima, ad quid ultra fleres? Habens coeli gaudia tecum, cur lugeres? Nam solus est omnium, cui tu adhaeres; Et si velles amplius, certe non haberes.
Sed iam metrum finio, ne sim taediosus: Nam si vellem scribere quam deliciosus Sit hic status animae, quamque gloriosus, A malignis dicerer fallax et mendosus.
Quidquid tamen alii dicant, frater care, Istum novum Martyrem libens imitare: Quumque talis fueris, Christum deprecare, Ut te cantus Martyrum doceat cantare.
Frequentemus canticum istud, soror pia, Ne nos frangat taedio vitae huius via: Nam laetantem animam in hac melodia Post hanc vitam suscipit Iesus et Maria.
Ergo, soror, tuum cor ita citharizet, Se baptizet lacrymis, planctu martyrizet; Christo totis viribus sic mens organizet, Ut cum Christo postea semper solemnizet.
Tunc cessabunt gemitus et planctus dolorum, Quum adiuncta fueris choris Angelorum; Nam cantando transies ad aeternum chorum, Nupta felicissimo Regi saeculorum. Amen.
Notes
- 1 ↩ad nonam: liturgical None / the ninth hour, preparing the next section's recollection of Christ's Consummatum est at the ninth hour.
- 2 ↩solus est omnium can be read as 'he alone is all/everything' (fullness of goods in Christ) or, more weakly, 'he alone among all is the one…'; the following line (si velles amplius) favors the fullness reading.
- 3 ↩Medieval musical verbs retained as imagery: citharizet (play the harp), organizet (play the organ / make organ-music). solemnizet is rendered 'keep festival' (solemn celebration), not modern 'solemnize a marriage.'
John Pecham (Peckham), Philomena companion
A prayer for every moment, already on your phone
Chosen Portion puts a curated historic prayer in front of you each day — so the words are there before the moment arrives.
Chosen Portion is the digital descendant of the carried prayer book: the short daily prayers this collection preserves, delivered one a day to your pocket.
- One short, memorable prayer delivered daily — build your repertoire a card at a time
- Prayers matched to real situations: fear, gratitude, decisions, grief, sleep
- Save favourites into your personal pocket collection you can open anywhere