De Laudibus Sanctissimae Matris Annae

A tetrastich by Johannes Trithemius, abbot of Sponheim, on the most holy mother Anne.

Venerable Anne, mother of the gracious Virgin, excellent in merits and powerful in piety: no one goes away sad who honors and venerates you, for you bring to all the gentle aid of salvation.

Distich by the same, which he placed before the image of Saint Anne.

Whoever in adversity shall call upon Saint Anne with devout prayers, he will be well protected.

A tetrastich by Conrad Celtis Protucius, poet laureate, on Saint Anne.

Anne has never sent away anyone's prayers empty, but, bright one, has always brought the aid desired. Therefore let us heap much honor upon the pious mother, who allows no one's prayers to be empty.

A tetrastich by Theodoricus Gresemundus the Younger of Mainz to Saint Anne.

Anne, parent of the Virgin Mary, hail, auspicious one, worthy to begin the work of our salvation. Since human redemption was begun through you, I pray that you continue it, covering our crimes with your prayers.

Distich by Rodolphus Langius, canon of Münster, on Saint Anne.

Great parent Anne, hear the vows which pregnant women bring to you from a fruitful womb.

A tetrastich by Jodocus Badius of Ghent on Saint Anne.

Anne, ornament of the world, mother of the mother of Jesus, may your grandson grant the stars for the merits of his mother. Holy Anne, bearing the first-fruits of our salvation, help us with your child and with your grandson.

Rodolphus Agricola in his poem on Saint Anne, among other things, thus.

Anne, parent, most high mother, venerable mother of a parent, you who first open to peoples the path of salvation: all diseases flee you, and pallor and pain, and all harmful things that settle in soul and body. Whatever it is among men that wearies cares and hearts flees you, as clouds driven away are wont to flee the winds.

Rutgerus [unclear], regular canon of [unclear], before the image of Saint Anne.

Here pour forth devout prayers on bended knee, where Anne the parent sits blessed with her child. Do not doubt: you will obtain whatever you ask of her, for Anne shines continually, powerful in prayers.

Distich by the same on Saint Anne.

Anne, parent of the mother of Jesus Christ, hail; we ask, drive every sin away from us.

The rosary of Saint Anne by Jodocus Beissel, patrician of Aachen, to the reverend lord Father Johannes Trithemius, abbot of Sponheim, of the order of the divine father Benedict.

Whoever wishes to read this rosary in honor of the most blessed mother Anne for devotion should first say the Lord's Prayer with the salutation of Saint Anne, which he should always repeat after two verses. This salutation is as follows: Hail, venerable Anne, mother of the Mother of God, most pleasing to the Holy Trinity, honored above all women; blessed are you by the Lord, and blessed is the offspring of your womb, and Jesus Christ, the virgin-born son of your offspring. Our Father. Hail, Mother of God. Amen.

Anne, may I, wretched as I am, be permitted to utter your praises; for, if you allow it, I shall bring garlands and roses to you. Hail.

Anne, you shine, venerable offspring of the kings of Judah, and also renowned through Joachim, your pious husband. Hail.

Anne, for a long time you lamented barren loves in marriage, the one glory of weddings and the one honor. Hail.

Anne, you seek a pious child, and not for vain uses. Hail.

But that, with holy posterity, she may worship God. Hail.

Anne, a swift messenger, standing by you from the heavenly court, says, "Rejoice; behold, as a mother you will have offspring; you exult." Hail.

Anne, you will bear offspring blessed with such great virtue that, as mother, she will shine with virginal honor. Hail.

Anne, you will bear a daughter into whose chaste womb God himself, whom the world does not contain, will willingly enter. Hail.

Anne, at last from your blood will arise blood which, poured out, will always bring hope to wretched guilty ones. Hail.

Anne, so great an expectation befitted your childbirth; it is no easy thing to have the mother of the Mother of God as one's mother. Hail.

Anne, the praises of your child will fly above the stars; all ages will also proclaim you blessed. Hail.

Our Father. Hail, Mother of God.

Anne, you are believed to have conceived Mary, pure from evil, and soon to have held her holy for God. Hail.

Anne, in your womb you carry her whom figures marked out as to come, whom the holy fathers sang of. Hail.

Anne, you bear the enclosed paradise, happy with the tree of life, and sacred with every honor of the countryside. Hail.

Anne, pregnant, you bear [the garden?], which the flaming sword, Glowing night and day, a cherub guards. Hail. Anne, you bear a flower that surpasses white lilies, And lowly violets and the scarlet rose. Hail. Anne, in you the Mosaic ark is found, And the golden urn of heavenly bread lies there. Hail. Anne, you bear the bride of the true Solomon, and the house Adorned with every jewel within and without. Hail. Anne, you bear the temple whose inner sanctuaries Sweet sounds have filled, and all music rejoicing. Hail. Anne, you bear the veil under a beautiful image of the fathers, Holding in itself deeds that cover the high things of God. Hail. Anne, you bear offspring: golden Phoebus clothes her head With flame, the bright moon her snowy feet. Our Father. Hail, of God. Anne, now made possessor of the longed-for Mary, You can scarcely contain in your whole breast the joys that have arisen. Hail. Anne, at Mary newly born all the stars Applauded, and an unwonted radiance flowed from the axis of heaven. Hail. Anne, it is right to believe that at the birthday of your child You celebrated, surrounded by angelic choirs. Hail. Anne, the deep shades felt your new birth; Then a new light itself terrified the Stygian pools. Hail. Anne, parent, you hesitate to touch your child with your hands, More ruddy than the sun and the lights of heaven. Hail. Anne, why do you fear to handle the heavenly girl? She smiles at her mother; she makes no sorrow. Hail. Anne, take courage: see, your daughter reaches toward your milky breasts; She seeks them with tender hands, and seeks your neck. You receive her tender limbs in your tender bosom. Hail. Anne, you cherish your daughter, and from your breast she draws sweet juices With rosy mouth, making pleasing murmurs. Whatever deaths she may bear, you would now be none. Our Father. Hail, of God.

Anne, it is fitting for you to adorn your worthy daughter With approved morals, and to unite her to the highest God. Hail. Anne, you prepare to bring your daughter to the lofty temple, But of her own will the gracious one reached the step above. Hail. Anne, you follow her, swift, with slow step and labor; The ready little virgin comforts her weary mother. Hail. Anne, why do you marvel at strength in the tender virgin? You see not human things, but the holy signs of God. Hail. Anne, you are accustomed to give gifts to the poor and to sacred temples; Now you give that than which no woman ever gave more. Hail. Anne, where you wished your consecrated daughter to dwell, She gladly entered the cloisters and the virginal house. Hail. Anne, about to send away the pious one, you wear out your cheeks and eyes With weeping; a deep love holds you unmoved. Hail. Anne, return home; leave your daughter to the Thunderer. Let her think of nothing except the Jesus who is to come. Hail. Anne, it is enough for you to serve two Marys; They too will honor you with no small devotion. Our Father. Hail, of God. Hail. Anne, by your own weeping you have learned to come to the aid of one who weeps; Hence you too readily favor the wretched man in his vows. Hail. Anne, you are accustomed to turn the fixed laws of nature; And if you wish, let a barren woman now be a joyful mother. Hail. Anne, you also halt the gifts of fleeting fortune, So that, having slipped away suddenly, they do not flee from our bosoms. Hail. Anne, you put disgrace to flight; you give the gifts of fair fame. You relieve mourning, and love yields to you. Hail. Anne, you help either him whom hostile force terrifies, or him whom The cruel bonds of a dark prison hold. Hail. Anne, be present as a faithful relief to sick mortals; With you as guide, lost life returns to the languishing. Hail. Anne, parent, the sailor calls upon you amid the swollen wave, If winds and water toss his torn vessel. Hail. Anne, parent, you must always be feared by the black tyrant; As ice flees fire, that harmful one flees you. From you mortal hearts cannot seek in vain, And whatever you will, your daughter and God will will. Hail. Anne, therefore, blessed by merits and by so great an offspring, Anne, great parent, look upon our prayers. Hail.

Prayer to be said after the rosary. Only-begotten and most loving God, who deigned to choose blessed Anne as the mother of the begetter of your Son: mercifully grant that we who honor her memory with faithful devotion may, by her merits and prayers, obtain the aids of eternal life. Through the same our Lord.

Here ends the rosary of Jodocus Beissel, professor of both laws, patrician of Aachen, to the reverend father lord Johannes Trithemius, abbot of Sponheim of the order of Saint Benedict. From Aachen, on the third day before the Ides of April, in the year 1494.

The poem of Ada Wernher of Themar on most holy Anne. To the reverend father lord Johannes Trithemius, abbot.

We sing in praise of the renowned grandmother. Move the plectra of [unclear], dear grandson, nor you, daughter, fail the singer, chaste parent of the choir. Anne, offspring of kings, is given to a husband. Long childless, she laments herself barren; with weeping she prays for offspring, nor do the tears flow in vain. Heavenly messengers promise a child. Pregnant, joined to her husband, then in childbirth, she is proved by the child born, through whom our salvation came. Thus the venerable stock of Jesse grew green; the fertile rod came forth with fruitful shoot; refreshed by its flower, we live again, death conquered.

By this childbirth Joachim becomes worthy to stand in the shrines, removing the reproaches of the pontiff. Thus, Anna, prepare us to bring pure prayers to your grandson.

Commend us to the boy whom the pious chastity of your daughter bore; by prayer we ask this, O blessed matron. Christ denies you nothing.

To Christ, who reigns together with the Father and the Spirit, be glory through all ages. May your prayers, O Anna, grant that he be reconciled to us. Amen.

This hymn is sung to the melody of that hymn which is used by many churches on the Nativity of Saint Mary, and begins, “Rejoice in your inmost womb, mother,” etc. From Heidelberg Castle, the third day before the Kalends of February, 1494.

The song or hymn of Johannes Herst of Lauterburg concerning Saint Anna. To the Reverend Father and Lord Johannes Trithemius, abbot.

Rejoice, Anna, refuge for the wretched; we pray, we sing, we bring forth songs. On the feast be gracious, with your offspring; now we speak praises to you.

Rejoice, earth gleaming with fertile grass and, drenched, moist with dew sent from God, from which was born, purer than the ether, the virgin ignorant of sin.

Rejoice, you who had been of royal seed; now, conceived, given to a husband, you had long led a celebrated marriage, lacking offspring, and by a vow were made a mother.

Rejoice, you who, at the reproach of the pontiff, blushed and were confounded; you call upon God with tears. He hears you, and you receive your husband as he comes to meet you at the gate called Golden.

Rejoice, you who, joyful, embraced Joachim, your husband, as he came to meet you, and, taught by heavenly divinity, thus the mother of Jesus was conceived in your little womb.

Rejoice, discerning simplicity, angelic, praised by the choir and [unclear]; in three parts you divide your goods to the temple and to the poor, and a part to your servants.

Rejoice, Anna; the people of the faithful celebrate your feast, so that, as patroness for themselves, and with the Father, the Spirit, and Christ the Son, you may by your prayers render him gracious. Amen.

This hymn takes the melody of that hymn which is sung of the Ascension of the Lord, namely “Now the solemn feast,” etc., and that hymn concerning the martyrs, “By the glorious merits of the saints,” etc. From Heidelberg, the third day before the Nones of February, in the year 1494.

An elegiac poem of Rutger Venray, canon regular in Höningen, in the diocese of Worms, concerning Saint Anna.

Hail, bright mother of the virgin mother, of the splendor of the Father and of the radiance of uncreated light.

You, holy one, bore for the Lord the divine maiden, from whom came forth Jesus, the kindly light of the world.

Speak steadfastly of your grandson as the son of your daughter, though he himself made the heavens and the earth.

In the flesh Jesus himself is your grandson; he joined highest deity to flesh, for he is God and man.

Therefore, although Jesus was always above, nevertheless he desires and deigns to be called your grandson.

Do not hesitate to press such a grandson with prayers. Anna, we ask that you obtain all things asked.

If he has not bent ready ears to the first requests, turn more quickly to your daughter.

Let your daughter show her breasts to her son Christ; straightaway the gracious mother will bring what is desired.

If the matter should be very difficult to ask for, let the daughter seek help together with her mother.

My faith is firm, nor do I doubt that the Lord will at once hear both women praying with gracious ear.

Therefore, brothers, with continual prayers one ought to seek the help of Anna and Mary together.

It is certain that, if you honor the mother of the Lord’s mother, you also worship the titles of the virgin mother herself.

Again, if you venerate the mother of the Lord, it is clear that you prepare praises for the Lord in his mother.

To the son of Anna’s daughter be praise, might, and honor, and to the highest Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A Sapphic poem of Johannes Trithemius, abbot of Sponheim, on the day of Saint Anna.

Let us celebrate the feasts of consecrated Anna, the exalted mother, rich in merits, who gave birth to the parent of God the Son for the world.

Her life, always to be venerated by us, is rightly praised as blessed; rich in the gift of signs, she increases relief for wretched minds.

She heals the sick, purges all evils, makes serene with joy the hearts of the sorrowful; she composes what is fit, rules and governs, and makes rough things smooth.

Most powerful, dwelling in the court of the highest King, she wipes away stains by prayer, confers grace, and leads faithful souls to the stars.

Here, brothers who throng to your feasts, expressing vows and praying good things of you: help, preserve, refresh, and govern us, illustrious mother.

May honor and power be to the thunderer above, who, God simple and likewise threefold, bestows the crown of great glory continually on Anne. Amen.

This Sapphic hymn is sung to the melody: Ut queant laxis; Vita sanctorum; Virginis proles; Quod chorus vatum; Iste confessor; and of similar hymns, which are Sapphic only. From Sponheim, on the Nones of July, in the year of the Lord 1494.

An elegiac poem by Johannes Trithemius, abbot of Sponheim, on holy mother Anne.

What great rewards Anne brings to those who honor her, no one grasps in mind, nor can he speak with his mouth. She drives away hardships, obtains pardon, increases adornments of honor for her own, and makes them be in heaven. On the other hand, many very bitter things attend those who scorn mother Anne. She casts the powerful down from honor, crushes the proud, [unclear] and permits that great scandals often [unclear]. Therefore, men, I advise you: serve so great a patroness, and let the chorus of women be present likewise in love. It is clear also from examples that what we write is plain; let open ears take in what aids devout hearts.

From Sponheim, the sixteenth day before the Kalends of August, 1493.

A Sapphic poem by Rutgerus Sicamber, for a hymn in praise of Saint Anne.

We sing your praises, venerable Anne; favor those who praise you with measures, obtaining pardon for all, bestowing rewards of salvation.

You, Anne, parent of the mother of Christ, shining in the highest citadel of heaven, obtain whatever you ask of the Son of the Almighty.

You heal the sick, you wipe clean the stained; you make faithful servants attain their vow; at last you grant them to climb the heavenly kingdom.

By your approved ways, Anne, you bent the highest Lord, and by many prayers, that he should grant you to become the mother of so great a child in the world.

May honor and power be to the highest Father, to the heavenly Son, to the holy Spirit; brightness, virtue, devotion, and strength through all ages.

Another by the same.

Let us all resound the diligent praises of Anne, mother of the Virgin Mother, with all our strength, from the marrow of the soul, with sonorous voice.

She brought forth for the wretched race, stained with the blemish of mother Eve, a noble offspring, a radiant beam, which she gave to the world.

This light drove out the darkness of the blackening world, shining on all with heavenly light, as holy John resounds in the sacred book.

Anne, mother of the divine maiden, whose Son you call your grandson, according to the flesh only: do not despise the people that prays to you.

Virgin, through the prayers of Anne your mother, who begs for us with intent prayers, you, grandson Jesus, kindly fulfill her petition.

To the Son born of the mother Anne, with the highest God, be honor and power; to the blessed Spirit equal honor for all time.

An iambic dimeter poem by the same, which is sung to the melody of the hymns of Ambrose.

Bowing down, let us honor blessed Anne’s feast, singing due thanks with our voices and with our inmost hearts.

She is the mother of the nourishing Virgin, who brought forth the light of the world; she who, by virtues, made herself most pleasing to God.

She repels injuries; she bestows grace by her prayers. She relieves the most dreadful diseases, of body as well as of spirit.

In praise of her, king of heaven, to you with sonorous songs, together with the Son and the Spirit, we bring forth devout praises. Amen.

An Alcaic poem by the same, which is sung to the melody Crux fidelis, or Pange lingua.

This company, with voice and vows, and also with hearts, is eager to proclaim the feasts of Anne, so illustrious a mother. Be gentle, we beseech you, to those who praise you.

You are the parent of Mary’s mother; you are most pleasing to God. You preserved the ordinances of the law which Moses once delivered to the ancient fathers and to the Hebrew peoples.

You obtain wondrous, gracious gifts for the faithful by prayer pleasing to the Son of the high Father. You heal the sick and grant hearts to be chaste.

We ask you, Father, and Son, with the Spirit, that you grant joyful things to us singing the praises of the renowned, very sweet Anne, the nourishing mother of the Virgin. Amen.

A poem by Rutgerus Venral, a German regular canon of Heinsberg, on the book concerning the praises of Saint Anne.

Whoever you are, reader of this excellent book, lay aside empty fear; it contains nothing frivolous. This book, pregnant with wondrous meaning and sweet with charm, Abbot Trithemius has brought forth by his art. Keeping watch over books, guardian of the Sponheim sheepfold, he cultivates the sacred writings of the threefold tongue. You will find [unclear]; only turn it over in a devout heart. He does not follow empty and everywhere doubtful little tales; he teaches the clear streams of sacred eloquence. Therefore, I pray, read with love the worthy praises of venerable Anne, which a learned man has brought forth for you.

Printed in the noble city of Mainz by Peter Friedberg, in the year of the Virgin birth 1494, the twelfth day before the Kalends of August.