O Gloriosa Domina / O Gloriosa Virginum

Mosaic in the Apse of the Hagia Sophia - Courtesy of Wikipedia   

O Gloriosa Domina is the second half of the hymn: Quem Terra, Pontus, Aethera. It was composed by Venantius Fortunatus (c.530-c.600/609), the Bishop of Poitiers. In 1632, in accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644), it was altered and changed to O Gloriósa Vírginum. Both versions are shown below. It is sung in the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Roman Breviary. It is said that St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) was always singing this hymn. His mother sang it to him as a baby, and even on his death bed after receiving Extreme Unction, he intoned the hymn.


O Gloriosa Domina

O GLORIOSA DOMINA

1. O Gloriosa domina
excelsa super sidera,
qui te creavit provide,
lactas sacrato ubere.

2. Quod Eva tristis abstulit,
tu reddis almo germine;
intrent ut astra flebiles,
sternis benigna semitam. 

3. Tu regis alti ianua
et porta lucis fulgida;
vitam datam per Virginem,
gentes redemptae, plaudite.

4. Patri sit Paraclito
tuoque Nato gloria,
qui veste te mirabili
circumdederunt gratiae. Amen.


O Gloriosa Virginum

O GLORIOSA VIRGINUM (1632 Revision)
Listen

1. O gloriósa vírginum,
sublímis inter sídera,
Qui te creávit párvulum
lacténte nutris úbere.

2. Quod Heva tristis ábstulit,
tu reddis almo gérmine,
Intrent ut astra flébiles,
caeli reclúdis cárdines. 

3. Tu Regis Alti jánua
et aula lucis fúlgida,
Vitam datam per Vírginem,
gentes redémptae pláudite.

4. Jesu Tibi sit glória,
Qui natus es de Vírgine,
Cum Patre et almo Spíritu,
in sempitérna saécula. Amen


William Byrd's 'O Gloriosa Domina' performed by Cantum Barbum