THE MISSIONARIES OF AFRICA
HYMN OF THANKSGIVING

Video Sancta Maria

(open the speakers)

Sancta Maria Succurre miseris Juva pusillanimes Refove flebiles Ora pro populo Interveni pro clero Intercede pro devoto femineo sexu Sentiant omnes Tuum juvamen Quicumque celebrant tuam sanctam commemorationem

Holy Mary Come to the help of the destitute Assist the faint-hearted Console the afflicted Pray for the people Plead for the clergy Intercede for consecrated women May they experience your help and protection all those who keep your holy commemoration.

At one time, much more often than nowadays, the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) sang the 'Sancta Maria' every evening. The 1895 handbook of customary practices of the Society already mentioned it and no doubt determined a practice that was in force at the time of Cardinal Lavigerie. From where does this prayerful hymn and its words come?

In certain documents, this Marian canticle is attributed to Saint Augustine (354-430). The complete wording is found in Migne, Latin Patrology, t.39, col. 2104-07: 'Sermo CXCIU' (194), alias '18 de Sanctis': De Annuntiatione Dominica. It is also found in the Complete Works of Saint Augustine, Paris, 1893, p. 318 n°1.

The words of the 'Sancta Maria' are therefore attributed to Saint Augustine of Hippo. Nonetheless, a note in the Patrologiae Latinae Supplementum (vol. 2, Paris 1960, col. 854) asserts that the words are from Ambrose Autpert, a Benedictine who died in 784, or a compilation on a text from Ambrose.
Ultimately, it is impossible to know with certainty who is the author of the canticle, nor the date of its composition.

The words of the 'Sancta Maria'

The author firstly exalts the Virgin Mary, in whom the curse laid on Eve, the sinner, was changed into a blessing. Then he presents Mary, through whom salvation has come to us and finally, Mary, Virgin and Mother, consenting to the word of the Angel by her 'Ecce Ancilla Domini.' The author concludes with a prayer, of which the main part was taken up by the Church at Rome as an antiphon in the Office of the Common of the BVM in the breviary:

"Sancta Maria. Succurre miseris, juva pusillanimes, refove flebiles, ora pro populo, interveni pro clero, intercede pro devoto femineo sexu. Sentiant omnes tuum iuvamen, quicumque celebrant tuam sanctam commemorationem. "

 

History

Cardinal Lavigerie made it into the antiphon of the Magnificat at Vespers of the Little Office that he had celebrated in the churches of his diocese. He also chose this antiphon for prayer in common in both his Missionary Institutes. It was sung daily at the end of Evening Prayer by all communities of Missionaries of Africa and the White Sisters (Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa).

It remains to be seen how Lavigerie discovered it and why he chose it. A question mark hovers over it, as there are no clues on this subject.
In the 1895 handbook, the 'Sancta Maria' is printed under the heading 'Installation of the General', with the instruction: Antiphon to the Blessed Virgin (St Augustine, Sermo 18 de Sanctis), followed by the versicle and the prayer:
'Lord we beseech you to defend this family from all adversity by the unceasing intercession of Holy Mary, ever a Virgin; protect this family, humbly bowed before you, with your loving-kindness, gentleness and goodness from all the snares of the enemy. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord.'
It was already indicated in this 1895 handbook that the 'Sancta Maria' antiphon was sung at the end of Evening Prayer and that this antiphon was normally replaced by the Stabat Mater on Holy Thursday and Good Friday and by the Regina Cœli on Holy Saturday.

Today, the 'Sancta Maria' is sung especially on Feastdays, around the coffin of a deceased confrere or on important occasions. This hymn awakens the family spirit in Cardinal Lavigerie's Missionaries and the love of the Virgin Mary, their Holy Patroness, celebrated on the 8th December.

The Church's Feast of the Immaculate Conception although universal is peculiar to us as Msola and Mafr, as it is our Patronal Feast. Charles Cardinal Lavigerie, our Founder, desired it so, (Constitutions 52; Constitutions and Laws 54). Mother Salomé, who knew so well the mind of the Cardinal, encouraged this valued tradition among the Sisters.

Fr. Jacques Casier, M.Afr. (1921-1998 )

CASIER J., 'Sancta Maria', in Souvenirs Historiques ((N° 139), Nuntiuncula, Brussels, July-August 1999, N° 560. Text revised 2nd December 2007 by Fr. Stefaan Minnaert, MAfr.
Translated into English by Fr. Donald MacLeod M.Afr.

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