St. Mary Magdalene

The Vesper hymn for the feast of St. Mary Magdalene is one of the most ardent and lyrical hymns of the whole Church year. 
​It beautifully expresses a key theme of our patron, St. Bernard, which Mary teaches us in her passionate devotion to the Lord: 
Pellit timorem caritas ~ Love casts out fear.

Pater superni luminis, cum Magdalenam respicis, flammas amoris excitas, geluque solvis pectoris.
Amore currit saucia pedes beatos ungere, lavare fletu, tergere comis, et ore lambere.
Astare non timet cruci:  sepulcro inhaeret anxia, truces nec horret milites:  pellit timorem caritas.

Father, source and giver of heavenly light, with a glance You lit a fire of love in the Magdalene
and thawed the icy coldness of her heart.
Wounded by love she ran to anoint Your blessed feet, to wash them with her tears, to dry them
with her hair and kiss them with her lips.
She was not afraid to stand by the Cross; in anguish of soul she stayed by Your tomb
without fear of the cruel soldiers, for love casts our fear.