You Heavens, Open From Above / Roráte Caéli

That Clouds May Rain the Just One

You Heavens, Open From Above is a translation by Fr. Melvin Farrell, S.S. of the ancient latin hymn for Advent, Rorate Caeli. The opening line is based upon Isaiah 45:8 : " Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just". The musical setting used in the Liturgy of the Office was first published in Paris in 1634 and attributed to P. Bourget. The version preformed in the video below is a 20th century arrangement by French organist, Jeanne Demessieux. In the Liturgy of the Hours, You Heavens, Open From Above is used during Advent.


Tune by P. Bourget, 1634

RORATE CAELI (Public Domain)

Refrain: Roráte caéli désuper,et núbes plúant jústum.

 1. Ne irascáris Dómine,
ne ultra memíneris iniquitátis:
ecce cívitas Sáncti fácta est desérta:
Síon desérta fácta est:
Jerúsalem desoláta est:
dómus sanctificatiónis túæ et glóriæ túæ,
ubi laudavérunt te pátres nóstri.

 2. Peccávimus, et fácti súmus tamquam immúndus nos,
et cecídimus quasi fólium univérsi:
et iniquitátes nóstræ quasi véntus
abstulérunt nos: abscondísti faciem túam a nóbis,
et allisísti nos in mánu iniquitátis nóstræ.

 3. Víde Dómine afflictiónem pópuli túi,
et mítte quem missúrus es:
emítte Agnum dominatórem térræ,
de Pétra desérti ad móntem fíliæ Síon:
ut áuferat ípse júgum captivitátis nóstræ.

 4. Consolámini, consolámini, pópule méus:
cito véniet sálus túa:
quare mæróre consúmeris,
quia innovávit te dólor?
Salvábo te, nóli timére,
égo enim sum Dóminus Déus túus,
Sánctus Israël, Redémptor túus.