ORATIO LIX [ol. LVIII]. AD SANCTAM VIRGINEM MARIAM. In Purificatione ejus.
The Virgin's Purity and Our Purification
Anselm praises Mary's absolute purity in body and soul, and marvels that she, though free from all transgression, willingly submits to the rite of purification as an example of humility.
O most serene Virgin, through the merits of your most holy purification, grant me strength against your enemies; most holy Virgin, most chaste in body, most beautiful in character of all. Virgin of virgins, never defiled in heart, nor in speech, but wholly beautiful, wholly without spot.✦ Undefiled Virgin in body, undefiled Virgin in mind, owing nothing to the laws, touched by no transgressions, so that in yourself you might show an example of humility, you fulfill the duty of purification appointed for polluted mothers.
The One She Brought to the Temple
Anselm contemplates Christ as the one Mary brought to the temple — the one who cleanses us through his passion, his blood on the cross, the holy mysteries of the altar, and his priestly intercession according to the order of Melchizedek.
To the temple you brought with you the one to be cleansed, who, born a man, added to you the honor of integrity. Untouched Mother, you brought with you to the temple the one to be cleansed, who, knowing our sins — because to him all things are bare and open — daily cleanses us from our hidden faults through confession and penance, and spares his servants from the sins of others through the spirit of continence.✦ To the temple you brought with you the one to be cleansed, whose blood on the cross of his passion, washing us from original contagion, daily also on the altar of the cross, through the most holy mysteries, cleanses us penitent and confessed from our crimes. To the temple you brought with you the one to be cleansed, who, made a priest for us according to the order of Melchizedek, daily suffers with our infirmities and is merciful to us, and as a faithful priest to God, propitiating the sins of the people, daily reconciles us to God the Father, and through that which as God from God he offers to God the Father daily — if we have turned and confessed our sins.✦
God's Forgiveness and Our Refuge in Mary
Anselm professes confidence that God will forgive and absolve, and in Christ's name takes refuge in the most pure Virgin.
Faithful and just and patient God will forgive us and absolve us.✦ In his name, most pure Virgin, I take refuge in you.
A Sinner's Plea for Cleansing and Intercession
Anselm flees to Mary, begging her to help him through the merits of her purification so he may be cleansed from the stains of conscience, and asks her to intercede for him as a sinner before her Son.
In his most sweet name and love, then, receive me, my most merciful Lady, as I flee to you, and help me through the merits of your most chaste purification, so that I may feel and rejoice that I am being cleansed perpetually from the stains of conscience, in such a way that I may never again grieve over being defiled by any contagion or perpetration of wickedness. Holy Mother of God, receive me and intercede for me, a sinner, before your sweet child Jesus Christ, the blessed fruit of your womb, and have mercy on me.✦
Read the original Latin
O virgo serenissima, per merita tuae piissimae purificationis da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos; Virgo sanctissima, corpore castissima, moribus omnium pulcherrima. Virgo virginum, nec corde unquam polluta, nec ore, sed tota pulchra, tota sine macula. Intemerata virgo corpore, intemerata virgo mente, nihil debens legibus, nullis tacta excessibus, ut humilitatis in te ostenderes exemplum, imples purificationis officium pollutis matribus statutum. Ad templum detulisti tecum mundandum, qui tibi integritatis decus homo genitus adauxit. Intacta genitrix ad templum detulisti tecum mundandum, qui delicta nostra intelligens, quia illi omnia nuda sunt et aperta, ab occultis nostris quotidie per confessionem et poenitentiam mundat, et ab alienis per spiritum continentiae parcit servis suis. Ad templum detulisti tecum mundandum, cujus sanguis in cruce passionis suae ab originali nos lavans contagio quotidie etiam in ara crucis per sacrosancta mysteria et nos poenitentes et confessos emundat a nostris criminibus. Ad templum detulisti tecum mundandum, qui pro nobis Pontifex factus secundum ordinem Melchisedech quotidie compatitur infirmitatibus nostris, et est misericors nobis, et Pontifex fidelis ad Deum propitiando peccata populi, quotidie nos Deo Patri reconciliat, et per id quod Deo Patri offert Deus de Deo quotidie, si conversi fuerimus et peccata nostra confessi. Fidelis et justus et patiens Deus ignoscet nobis et absolvet nos.
In nomine ejus, Virgo integerrima, confugio ad te. In ejus ergo nomine dulcissimo et amore, suscipe me, domina mea clementissima, confugientem ad te, et adjuva me per merita tuae castissimae purificationis, ut sentiam et gaudeam me a sordibus conscientiae ita perenniter purificari, ut nunquam doleam de caetero me aliqua contagione aut perpetratione sceleris coinquinari. Sancta Dei Genitrix, suscipe et intercede pro me peccatore apud tuum dulcem natum Jesum Christum benedictum fructum ventris tui, et miserere mei.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Song.4.7 — You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.
- ↩Heb.4.13 — And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
- ↩Heb.5.6;Ps.110.4 — And he says also in another place, 'You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.' Ps.110.4 — The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."
- ↩1John.1.9 — If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- ↩Luke.1.42 — And she cried out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb."
Orationes sive Meditationes — Collection for Princess Adeliza of Normandy companion
There are 90 more prayers where these came from
Chosen Portion delivers the full Anselm collection — and the wider royal devotional archive — one daily prayer at a time, free.
Anselm told Adeliza to take these prayers a little at a time, and Chosen Portion does exactly that — serving the collection as paced daily portions rather than a book to skim.
- Pray through all 97 of Anselm's prayers and meditations, one portion each day
- Each prayer is broken into short sections so a 100-sentence meditation fits a 10-minute sitting
- Morning reminder at your chosen time, so the day starts with a written prayer instead of a blank