LV. O viridissima virga (De sancta Maria)
The Branch Awakens
Mary is hailed as the green branch stirred by the saints' questioning and blossoming under the warmth of the sun.
O greenest branch, hail, who came forth in the windy breeze of the saints' questioning. When the time came for you to blossom in your branches, hail, all hail to you, because the heat of the sun sweated upon you like the fragrance of balsam.
The Flower and the Spices
A beautiful flower blossoms from Mary, renewing all dry spices and filling everything with greenness.
For in you blossomed a beautiful flower, which gave its fragrance to all the spices, and those spices that had been dry were now renewed. And all things appeared in full greenness.
Heaven's Dew and Earth's Joy
Heaven sends dew, the earth rejoices, Mary's womb brings forth grain, and birds nest in her, becoming food and joy for humanity.
Whence the heavens gave dew upon the grass, and all the earth was made joyful, because her womb brought forth grain, and because the birds of heaven made their nests in her. Then she became food for mankind, and a great joy for those who feast.
Mary's Fullness and Eve's Refusal
The sweet virgin lacks no joy, in contrast to Eve who despised all these things.
Whence, O sweet virgin, in you no joy is lacking. All these things Eve despised.
Praise to the Most High
The hymn closes with praise to the Most High.
And now, praise to the Most High.
Read the original Latin
O viridissima virga, ave, que in ventoso flabro sciscitationis sanctorum prodisti. Cum venit tempus, quod tu floruisti in ramis tuis, ave, ave sit tibi, quia calor solis in te sudavit sicut odor balsami. Nam in te floruit pulcher flos, qui odorem dedit omnibus aromatibus, que arida erant. Et illa apparuerunt omnia in viriditate plena. Unde celi dederunt rorem super gramen, et omnis terra leta facta est, quoniam viscera ipsius frumentum protulerunt, et quoniam volucres celi nidos in ipsa habuerunt. Deinde facta est esca hominibus et gaudium magnum epulantium. Unde, o suavis virgo, in te non deficit ullum gaudium. Hec omnia Eva contempsit.
Nunc autem laus sit altissimo.
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