Orationes

Preces nostras, quaesumus, Domine, clementer exaudi: atque a peccatorum vinculis absolutos, ab omni nos adversitate custodi.

"Mercifully hear our prayers, we ask you, O Lord: and, released from the bonds of sins, protect us from all adversity."

Remarks:
*This prayer presumes that we have been released from our sins; it requests protection from all (other) forms of adversity.

Da nobis, quaesumus, Domine, ut et mundi cursus pacifico nobis tuo ordine dirigatur, et Ecclesia tua tranquilla devotione laetetur.

"Grant us, we ask, O Lord, that both the course of the world may be directed for us in your peaceful order, and that your Church may rejoice in tranquil devotion."

Remarks:
*The prayer asks for peace in the world, and for a corresponding peaceful, devout joy in the Church.
*The cursus mundi refers to the unfolding of history.
*Is nobis a bit intrusive? Who else could benefit? However, the juxtaposition with tuo ordine makes the point: we benefit from your order.

Deus qui conspicis quia ex nulla nostra actione confidimus: concede propitius; ut contra adversa omnia, Doctoris gentium protectione muniamur.

"O God, who see that we can have confidence in nothing arising from our own doing, be pleased to grant that, by the protection of the Teacher of the gentiles, we may be defended against all adversities."

Remarks:
*The Mass of Sexagesima was celebrated by the Pope at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls - hence the invocation of the 'Doctor of the Gentiles' in this oration.
*There is a balance between the things we do, and in which we have no confidence, and the protection of St Paul, through which we pray for strength.

Preces populi tui, quaesumus, Domine, clementer exaudi: ut, qui iuste pro peccatis nostris affligimur, pro tui nominis gloria misericorditer liberemur.

"Hear the prayers of your people, we ask you, O Lord, in your clemency: that we who are justly cast down because of our sins, may mercifully be set free because of the glory of your name."

Remarks:
*We ask the Lord to be gentle enough to hear us, and to be merciful enough to forgive us.
*There is a contrast between iuste and misericorditer: God punishes us in his justice, but frees us in his mercy.
*In being merciful to us, God in fact adds to his own glory; in fact that is why we ask his mercy; not for our glory, but for his.

Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut semper rationabilia meditantes, quae tibi sunt placita, et dictis exsequamur, et factis.

"Grant, we ask, almighty God: that keeping our minds always on reasonable things, we may carry out by both words and deeds what is pleasing to you."

Remarks:
*Good thoughts lead to good words and deeds. The primacy of thought.
*Thoughts are good if they are in accord with reason.

Deus, qui te in rectis et sinceris manere pectoribus asseris, da nobis tua gratia tales exsistere, in quibus habitare digneris.

"O God, who declare that you dwell in upright and sincere breasts, grant us by your grace to be the kind of people in whom you may deign to live."

Remarks:
*Where exactly does God declare that?

Familiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, continua pietate custodi; ut quae in sola spe gratiae caelestis innititur, tua semper protectione muniatur.

"Guard your household, we ask, O Lord, with continual goodness; that they who rely on the hope of heavenly grace alone may always be defended by your protection."

Remarks:
*Note that there is a piety proper to God. We are expected to be pious in his regard, but he is pious in our regard. Deux prior dilexit nos.
*There is great balance between the opening imperative and the closing clause of result: continua-semper; pietate-protectione; custodi-muniatur.
*We are said to depend not on grace, but on the hope of grace. Our position is weak indeed. That is why we are in such need of God's constant care and protection.