« VIRGINIS PROLES OPIFEXQUE MA-TRIS ». — Hymn of Matins in the Common of Virgins, by an unknown author, already present in manuscripts of the 10th century. It extols the fortitude of a virgin in enduring torments and sufferings for Christ.
On the feast of a non-martyr virgin, the second and third stanzas are omitted; and on that of a saint who is neither virgin nor martyr, the first three are omitted.
BIBL.: G. B. Belli, Gli inni del Breviario tradotti, Roma 1856, p. 386; G. M. Dreves, Anal. hymn. medii aevi, V, Lipsia 1888, p. 112; U. Chevalier, Poésie liturgique, Tournai 1894, p. 125. Silverio Mattei