MONSTRA TE ESSE MATREM;
Sumat per te preces,
Qui pro nobis natus
Tulit esse tuus.
Virgo singularis,
Inter omnes mitis,
Nos culpa solutos,
Mites fac et castos,
Vitam praesta puram,
Iter para tutum,
Ut videntes Jesum
Semper collaetemur.
Sit laus Deo Patri, summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto, tribus honor unus. Amen.--AEst. 597.
]
In the body of this hymn, there is undoubtedly reference to an
application to be made to the Son, &c.; but can it be fitting that such
language as is here suggested to the Virgin, for her to use, should be
addressed by a {340} mortal to God? can such a call upon her to show her
power and influence over the eternal Son of the eternal Father be
fitting--"Show that thou art a mother?" I confess that against what is
here implied, my understanding and my heart entirely revolt.[127]
[Footnote 127: At the present day some versions, contrary to the
whole drift and plain sense and meaning of the passage, have
translated it, as though the prayer was, that Mary would, by her
maternal good offices in our behalf, prove to us that she was
our mother. An instance of what I mean occurs in a work called
"Nouveau Recueil de Cantiques," p. 353.
"Monstra te esse Matrem: Faites voir que vous etes veritablement
notre mere." In an English manual, first printed in 1688, and
then called "The Prince of Wales's Manual," the lines are thus
rendered--
Shew us a Mother's care,
To Him convey our prayer,
Who for our sake put on
The title of thy Son.
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