Rex Sempiterne Cælitum / O Thou, the Heavens' Eternal King

EASTERTIDE - Rex Sempiterne Cælitum is an anonymous Ambrosian hymn dating back to the 6th century. Originally titled: Rex coterie Domine, the text has gone through a number of significant changes over the centuries including those made for a Benedictine Breviary and by Pope Urban VIII. St. Bede (672?-735) sings it's praises in De Arte Metrica as "that admirable hymn... fashioned exquisitely after the model of iambic metre". In the Roman Breviary it is traditionally sung at Matins during the Paschal season. The translation given below: O Thou, the Heavens' Eternal King  is Hymn 61 in Fr. Britts' Hymns of the Breviary and Missal. It is "a cento" (from the Latin word for patchwork) meaning: "a poetic form made up of lines various from poems", or in this case other verses from translations of the hymn. It can be sung to the hymn tune: St. Botolph, as featured in the videos below.


REX SEMPITERNE COELITUM

1. Rex sempiterne coelitum,
Rerum Creator omnium,
Aequalis ante secular
Semper Parenti Filius.

 2. Nascente qui mundo Faber
Imaginem vultus tui
Tradens Adamo, nobilem
Limo jugasti spirit.

3. Cum livor et fraus daemonis
Foedasset humanum genus:
Tu carne amictus, perditam
Formam reformas Artifex.

 4. Qui natus olim e Virgine,
Nunc e sepulcro nasceris
Tecumque nos a mortuis
Jubes sepultos surgiere.

5. Qui pastor aeternus gregem
Aqua lavas Baptismatis:
Haec est lavacrum mentium;
Haec est sepulcrum criminum.

6. Nobis diu qui debitae
Redemptor affixus Cruci,
Nostrae dedisti prodigus
Pretium salutis sanguines.

7. Ut sis perenne mentibus
Paschale, Jesu, gaudium,
A morte dira criminum
Vitae renatos libera.

8. Deo Patri sit gloria,
Et Filio, qui a mortuis
Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
In sempiterna secular.

Click here for music/text which Fr. Vogel sings. (opens in new window)


O THOU, THE HEAVENS' ETERNAL KING (from "Hymns of the Breviary and Missal")

1. O Thou, the heavens' eternal King,
Creator, unto Thee we sing,
With God the Father ever One,
Co-equal, co-eternal Son.

2. Thy hand, when first the world began,
Made in Thine own pure image man,
And linked to Adam, sprung from earth,
A living soul of heavenly birth.

3. And when by craft the envious foe
Had marred Thy noblest work below,
Clothed in our flesh, Thou didst restore
The image Thou hadst made before-

4. Once wast Thou born of Mary's womb;
And now, new-born from out the tomb,
0 Christ, Thou bidd'st us rise with
Thee From death to immortality.

5. Eternal Shepherd, Thou dost lave
Thy flock in pure baptismal wave—
That mystic bath, that grave of sin,
Where ransomed souls new life begin.

6. Redeemer, Thou for us didst deign
To hang upon the Cross of pain,
And give for us the lavish price
Of Thine own Blood in sacrifice.

7. Grant, Lord, in Thee each faithful mind
Unceasing Paschal joy may find;
And from the death of sin set free
Souls newly born to life by Thee.

8. To Thee, once dead, who now dost live,
All glory, Lord, Thy people give,
Whom, with the Father, we adore,
And Holy Ghost forevermore.

Claro Paschali Gaudio / Paschale Mundo Gaudium

c.1315 Fresco , Chora Church,  Istanbul - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Claro Paschali Gaudio is an anonymous Ambrosian hymn dating back to the 4th or 5th century. It is one of 3 hymns which have been derived from longer hymn, Aurora Lucis Rutilat. In 1632, in accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644), Claro Paschali Gaudio was altered and changed to Paschale Mundo Gaudium. Both versions are shown below. It is sung in the Common of Apostles of the Roman Breviary during Easter Season.


Claro Paschali Gaudio

CLARO PASCHALI GAUDIO

1. Claro paschali gaudio
sol mundo nitet radio,
cum Christum iam Apostoli
visu cernunt corporeo.

2. Ostensa sibi vulnera
in Christi carne fulgida,
resurrexisse Dominum
voce fatentur publica.

3. Rex, Christe, clementissime,
tu corda nostra pisside,
ut tibi laudes debitas
reddamus omni tempore.

4. Esto perenne mentibus
paschale, Iesu, gaudium,
et nos renatos gratiæ tuis
triumphis aggrega.

5. Sit, Christe, tibi gloria,
qui regno mortis o bruto,
pandisti per Apostolos
vitæ lucisque semitas.


PASCHALE MUNDO GAUDIUM (1632 Revision)

1. Paschale mundo gaudium
Sol nuntiat formosior,
Cum luce fulgentem nova
Iesum vident Apostoli.

2. In carne Christi vulnera
Micare tamquam sidera
Mirantur, et quidquid vident
Testes fideles prædicant.

3. Rex Christe clementissime,
Tu corda nostra pisside,
Ut lingua grates debitas
Tuo rependat nomini.

4. Ut sis perenne mentibus
Paschale, Iesu, gaudium,
A morte dira criminum
Vitæ renatos libera.

5. Deo Patri sit gloria,
Et Filio, qui a mortuis
Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
In sempiterna sæcula. Amen.

Tristes Erant Apostoli

1864 French Illustration - Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Tristes Erant Apostoli is an anonymous Ambrosian hymn dating back to the 4th or 5th century. It is one of 3 hymns which have been derived from longer hymn, Aurora Lucis Rutilat. In 1632, in accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644), Tristes Erant Apostoli was altered and changed to Tristes Erant Apostoli (1632). Both versions are shown below. It is sung in the Common of Apostles of the Roman Breviary during Easter Season.

TRISTES ERANT APOSTOLI

1. Tristes erant apostoli
de neces sui Domini
quem poena mortis crudelis
servi damnavunt impii.

2. Sermone blando Angelus
praedixit mulieribus in
Galilaeam Dominus
videntes est quantocius.

3. Illae dum pergunt concitae
apostolis hoc dicere,
videntes eum vivere,
osculant pedes Domini.

4. Quo agnito discipuli
in Galilaeam propere
pergunt videre faciem
desideratam Domini.

5. Esto perenne mentibus
paschale, Iesu, gaudium
et nos renatos gratine
tuis triumphis aggrega.

6. Gloria tibi, Domine
qui surrexisti a mortuis
cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.


TRISTES ERANT APOSTOLI (1632 Revision)

1. Tristes erant Apostoli
De Christi acerbo funere,
Quem morte crudelissima
Servi necarant impii.

2. Sermone verax Angelus
Mulieribus praedixerat:
Mox ore Christus gaudium
Gregi feret fidelium. 

3. Ad anxios Apostolos
Currunt statim dum nuntiae,
Illae micantis obvia
Christi tenent vestigia.

4. Galilaeae ad alta montium
Se conferunt Apostoli,
Jesuque, voti compotes,
Almo beantur lumine. 

5. Ut sis perenne mentibus
 Paschale Jesu gaudium;
 A morte dira criminum
 Vita? renatos libera.

6 Deo Patri sit gloria,
 Et Filio, qui a mortuis
 Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
 In sempiterna saecula.

'Five Mystical Songs' by Ralph Vaughan Williams with words by George Herbert

George Herbert - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Five Mystical Songs is a song cycle by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958). Written between 1906 and 1911, it was commissioned by the Three Choirs Festival in Worcester, where it debuted in 1911 with Vaughan Williams conducting. The work is a setting of four poems ('Easter' is divided in two) by George Herbert (1593–1633). They were published posthumously in 1633 as part of the collection, The Temple. None of Herbert's poems were published during his lifetime and much of his other writings are believed to have been lost as a result of the English Civil War (1642–1651). Though born of noble parentage, a facility member at Cambridge, and a Member of Parliament; he left these things and chose the life of a humble country clergyman of the Church of England as his vocation. He died of tuberculosis at the age of 39. All four poems (Easter, Love, The Call, and Antiphon) are included in the Religious Poetry Appendix of the Divine Office (1974).


Songs 1 and 2 - Performed by Thomas Allen

1. RISE HEART ('Easter' - Part I)

Rise heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise
          Without delayes,
Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise
          With him mayst rise:
That, as his death calcined thee to dust,
His life may make thee gold, and much more, just.
Awake, my lute, and struggle for thy part
          With all thy art.
The crosse taught all wood to resound his name,
          Who bore the same.
His stretched sinews taught all strings, what key
Is best to celebrate this most high day.

Consort both heart and lute, and twist a song
          Pleasant and long:
Or, since all musick is but three parts vied
          And multiplied,
O let thy blessed Spirit bear a part,
And make up our defects with his sweet art.

2. I GOT ME FLOWERS ('Easter' - Part II)

I got me flowers to strew thy way;
I got me boughs off many a tree:
But thou wast up by break of day,
And brought’st thy sweets along with thee.

The Sunne arising in the East,
Though he give light, and th’ East perfume;
If they should offer to contest
With thy arising, they presume.

Can there be any day but this,
Though many sunnes to shine endeavour?
We count three hundred, but we miss:
There is but one, and that one ever.


Songs 3, 4, and 5 - Performed by Thomas Allen

3. LOVE BADE ME WELCOME

Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,
          Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack
          From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
          If I lack'd anything.

'A guest,' I answer'd, 'worthy to be here';
          Love said, 'You shall be he.'
'I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear,
          I cannot look on thee.'
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
          'Who made the eyes but I?'

'Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them; let my shame
          Go where it doth deserve.'
'And know you not,' says Love, "who bore the blame?'
          'My dear, then I will serve.'
'You must sit down,' says Love, "and taste my meat.'
          So I did sit and eat.

4. THE CALL

Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
Such a Way, as gives us breath:
Such a Truth, as ends all strife:
Such a Life, as killeth death.

Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength:
Such a Light, as shows a feast:
Such a Feast, as mends in length:
Such a Strength, as makes his guest.

Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
Such a Joy, as none can move:
Such a Love, as none can part:
Such a Heart, as joyes in love.

5. ANTIPHON

Chorus: Let all the world in ev’ry corner sing,
                         My God and King.

Verse: The heav’ns are not too high,
           His praise may thither flie:
           The earth is not too low,
           His praises there may grow.

Chorus: Let all the world in ev’ry corner sing,
                        My God and King.

Verse: The church with psalms must shout,
           No doore can keep them out:
           But above all, the heart
           Must bear the longest part.

Chorus: Let all the world in ev’ry corner sing,
                         My God and King.

Poem: Easter (Most Glorious Lord of Lyfe!)

Stained Glass - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Easter is a sonnet by the 16th century English poet: Edmund Spenser (c.1552-1599). Composed on Easter Sunday 1594, it is Sonnet 68 of Spenser's Amoretti: a sonnet cycle which chronicles his courtship and eventual marriage to Elizabeth Boyle within a liturgical context. It's 89 sonnets correspond to the sequential order of scriptual readings in the Book of Common Prayer from January 23 to May 17 of that year, each poem a meditation upon that day's particular theme; in this case: divine love. Spenser and his betrothed were married in June of that year. In the Divine Office (1974), Easter is included in the Religious Poems Appendix for Lent and Easter.


Reading

EASTER (Amoretti 68) by Edmund Spenser, 1594 (Public Domain)

Most glorious Lord of Lyfe! that, on this day,
     Didst make Thy triumph over death and sin;
     And, having harrowd hell, didst bring away
     Captivity thence captive, us to win:
This joyous day, deare Lord, with joy begin;
     And grant that we, for whom thou diddest dye,
     Being with Thy deare blood clene washt from sin,
     May live for ever in felicity!
And that Thy love we weighing worthily,
     May likewise love Thee for the same againe;
     And for Thy sake, that all lyke deare didst buy,
     With love may one another entertain!
So let us love, deare Love, lyke as we ought,
Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught.


Choral setting by William Henry Harris (1883-1973)

Poem: Love Bade Me Welcome

Love Bade Me Welcome, Yet My Soul Drew Back

Love is a poem by George Herbert (1593–1633). It was published posthumously in 1633 as part of the collection, The Temple. None of his poems were published during his lifetime and much of his other writings are believed to have been lost as a result of the English Civil War (1642–1651). In 1911, the British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) published Five Mystical Songs, a setting of five of Herbert's poems from The Temple. Williams' Love Bade Me Welcome (featured in the following video), along with two other of Herbert's poems from Five Mystical Songs: The Call (Come, My Way), and Easter are included in the Hymns and Religious Poems (Eastertide) Appendix of the Divine Office (1974).
 

Sung by baritone, Shreyas Patel

LOVE by George Herbert, 1633 (Public Domain)

Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,
          Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack
          From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
          If I lack'd anything.

'A guest,' I answer'd, 'worthy to be here';
          Love said, 'You shall be he.'
'I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear,
          I cannot look on thee.'
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
          'Who made the eyes but I?'

'Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them; let my shame
          Go where it doth deserve.'
'And know you not,' says Love, "who bore the blame?'
          'My dear, then I will serve.'
'You must sit down,' says Love, "and taste my meat.'
          So I did sit and eat.


Reading by Edmund Matyjaszek

Poem: Easter (Ride Heart, Thy Lord is Risen)

Awake My Lute, And Struggle For Thy Part With All Thy Art.

Easter is a poem by George Herbert (1593–1633). It was published posthumously in 1633 as part of the collection, The Temple. None of his poems were published during his lifetime and much of his other writings are believed to have been lost as a result of the English Civil War (1642–1651). In 1911, the British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) published Five Mystical Songs, a setting of five of Herbert's poems from The Temple. Williams' Easter (featured in the following video), along with two other of Herbert's poems from Five Mystical Songs: The Call (Come, My Way), and Love are included in the Hymns and Religious Poems (Eastertide) Appendix of the Divine Office (1974).


Sung by baritone, Malcolm J. Merriweather

EASTER by George Herbert, 1633 (Public Domain)

Rise heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise
          Without delayes,
Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise
          With him mayst rise:
That, as his death calcined thee to dust,
His life may make thee gold, and much more, just.
Awake, my lute, and struggle for thy part
          With all thy art.
The crosse taught all wood to resound his name,
          Who bore the same.
His stretched sinews taught all strings, what key
Is best to celebrate this most high day.

Consort both heart and lute, and twist a song
          Pleasant and long:
Or, since all musick is but three parts vied
          And multiplied,
O let thy blessed Spirit bear a part,
And make up our defects with his sweet art.

I got me flowers to straw thy way;
I got me boughs off many a tree:
But thou wast up by break of day,
And brought’st thy sweets along with thee.

The Sunne arising in the East,
Though he give light, and th’ East perfume;
If they should offer to contest
With thy arising, they presume.

Can there be any day but this,
Though many sunnes to shine endeavour?
We count three hundred, but we miss:
There is but one, and that one ever.

Reading

Hic Est Dies Verus Dei

Painting by Duccio di Buoninsegna - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Hic Est Dies Virus Dei is an anonymous Ambrosian hymn which is sung at Matins (Office of Readings) throughout the Easter season in the Roman Breviary.



HIC EST DIES VERUS DEI

1. Hic est dies verus Dei,
sancto serénus lúmine,
quo díluit sanguis sacer
probrósa mundi crímina.

2. Fidem refúndit pérditis
cæcósque visu illúminat;
quem non gravi solvit metu
latrónis absolútio?

3. Opus stupent et ángeli,
pœnam vidéntes córporis
Christóque adhæréntem reum
vitam beátam cárpere.

4. Mystérium mirábile,
ut ábluat mundi luem,
peccáta tollat ómnium
carnis vítia mundans caro,

5. Quid hoc potest sublímius,
ut culpa quærat grátiam,
metúmque solvat cáritas
reddátque mors vitam novam?

6. Esto perénne méntibus
paschále, Iesu, gáudium
et nos renátos grátiæ tuis
triúmphis ággrega.

7. Iesu, tibi sit glória,
qui morte victa prǽnites,
cum Patre et almo Spíritu,
in sempitérna sǽcula. Amen.

Aurora Lucis Rutilat

15th Century Fresco, Florence - Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Aurora Lucis Rutilat is an anonymous Ambrosian hymn dating back to the 4th or 5th century. The original 11 stanza hymn (at bottom of post) has been revised and divided into a number of smaller hymns for specific liturgical uses during the Easter season. In the Roman Breviary, the following extract remains in use as the hymn for Lauds (Morning Prayer) during Eastertide.

AURORA LUCIS RUTILAT - from the Roman Breviary

1. Auróra lucis rútilat,
cælum resúltat láudibus,
mundus exsúltans iúbilat,
gemens inférnus úlulat,

2. Cum rex ille fortíssimus,
mortis confráctis víribus,
pede concúlcans tártara
solvit caténa míseros. 

3. Ille, quem clausum lápide
miles custódit ácriter,
triúmphans pompa nóbili,
victor surgit de fúnere.

4. Inférni iam gemítibus
solútis et dolóribus,
quia surréxit Dóminus
respléndens clamat ángelus.

5. Esto perénne méntibus
paschále, Iesu, gáudium
et nos renátos grátiæ
tuis triúmphis ággrega.

6. Iesu, tibi sit glória,
qui morte victa prǽnites,
cum Patre et almo Spíritu,
in sempitérna sǽcula. Amen.

Motet by Orlande de Lassus (1532-1594)

AURORA LUCIS RUTILAT - Adapted by Orlande de Lassus (1532-1594)

1. Aurora lucis rutilat,
caelum laudibus intonat,
mundus exultans iubilat,
gemens infernus ululat!

2. Cum rex ille fortissimus,
mortis confractis viribus,
pede conculcans tartara
solvit catena miseros! 

3. Ille, qui clausus lapide
custoditur sub milite,
triumphans pompa nobile
victor surgit de funere.

4. Solutis iam gemitibus
et inferni doloribus,
quia surrexit Dominus!
resplendens clamat angelus.

5. Gloria tibi Domine,
qui surrexisti a mortuis,
cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu,
in sempiterna saecula.
Amen.

 
AURORA LUCIS RUTILAT - Ambrosian Chant (5th Century)

1. Aurora lucis rutilat,
caelum laudibus intonat,
mundus exultans iubilat,
gemens infernus ululat,

2. Cum rex ille fortissimus,
mortis confractis viribus,
pede conculcans tartara
solvit catena miseros ! 

3. Ille, qui clausus lapide
custoditur sub milite,
triumphans pompa nobile
victor surgit de funere.

4. Solutis iam gemitibus
et inferni doloribus,
"Quia surrexit Dominus!"
resplendens clamat angelus. 

5. Tristes erant apostoli
de nece sui Domini,
quem poena mortis crudeli
servi damnarant impii.

6. Sermone blando angelus
praedixit mulieribus,
"In Galilaea Dominus
videndus est quantocius"

7. Illae dum pergunt concite
apostolis hoc dicere,
videntes eum vivere
osculant pedes Domini.

8. Quo agnito discipuli
in Galilaeam propere
pergunt videre faciem
desideratam Domini.

9. Claro Paschali gaudio
sol mundo nitet radio,
cum Christum iam apostoli
visu cernunt corporeo. 

10. Ostensa sibi vulnera
in Christi carne fulgida,
resurrexisse Dominum
voce fatentur publica.

11. Rex Christe clementissime,
tu corda nostra pisside,
ut tibi laudes debitas
reddamus omni tempore!

Spirit of God On the Waste and the Darkness

Dome of Santa Maria Maddalena, Rome - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Spirit of God On the Waste and the Darkness is written by the Benedictine Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey. In the Divine Office (1974) it is one of the hymns selected for use during Eastertide after Ascension Day. It is set to Liebster Immanuel, a melody from the Himmels-Lust of 1679, adapted and harmonized by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). An alternative tune that can also be used is Morning Star, as featured in the following video.


Alternative Tune: Morning Star

Proclaim His Triumph, Heaven and Earth

1558 Painting - Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Proclaim His Triumph, Heaven and Earth is written by the Benedictine Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey. In the Divine Office (1974) it is included among the optional hymns for Eastertide sung up until Ascension Day. It is set to the 1628 tune: Eisenach by the early Baroque composer, Johann Hermann Schein (1586-1630). An accomplished and innovative composer of both secular and sacred music, the relatively small number of hymns which he composed were mostly written on the occasions of the deaths of friends or family, which included the loss of seven children and his first wife.


Tune: Eisenach

Battle is O'er / Finita Iam Sunt Proelia

Painting by Fra Angelico - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Battle is O'er is a translation by Monsignor Ronald A. Knox (1888 - 1957) of Finita Jam Sunt Praelia, an anonymous Latin hymn first published in the 1695 Jesuit collection: Symphonia Sirenum Selectarum, Cologne. In 1936, Knox was appointed to a committee that oversaw the revision of the Westminster Hymnal. Published in 1939, the revised edition featured 4 original hymns by Monsignor Knox, as well as 47 of his translations, which included Battle is O'er. In the Divine Office (1974), the recommended musical setting is to the tune: Surrexit. An alternative melody that can also be used is O Filii et Filiae, as shown in the following video. In the Divine Office, Battle is O'er is one of the optional hymns to be sung during Eastertide up until Ascension Sunday.


Alternative Tune: O Filii et Filiae

FINITA IAM SUNT PROELIA - Anonymous, 1695 (Public Domain)

1. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Finita iam sunt proelia,
Est parta iam victoria:
Gaudeamus et canamus, Alleluia.

2. Post fata mortis barbara
Devicit Jesus tartara:
Applaudamus et psallamus, Alleluia.

3. Surrexit die tertia
Caelesti clarus gratia
nsonemus et cantemus, Alleluia.

4. Sunt clausa stygis ostia
Et caeli patent atria:
Gaudeamus et petamus, Alleluia.

5. Per tua, Jesu, vulnera
Nos mala morte libera,
Ut vivamus et canamus, Alleluia.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Easter Glory Fills the Sky

Christ Now Lives, No More To Die

Easter Glory Fills the Sky was written by the Scottish Jesuit Priest, Fr. James Quinn (1919-2010). In the Divine Office (1974) the recommended tune is Francois. Two alternative tunes that can also be used are Llanfair and Gwalchmai, as featured in the following videos. In the Divine Office (1974), Easter Glory Fills the Sky is used during the Easter season up until Ascension.

Tune: Llanfair (3 Verses)
 

Tune: Gwalchmai

Poem: The Call (Come, My Way)

The Call (Come, My Way) is a poem by George Herbert (1593–1633). It was published posthumously in 1633 as part of the collection, The Temple. In 1911, the British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) published Five Mystical Songs, a setting of five of Herbert's poems from The Temple. The Call (Come, My Way), along with two other of Herbert's poems from Five Mystical Songs: Easter, and Love are included in the Hymns and Religious Poems (Eastertide) Appendix of the Divine Office (1974).


Produced by Blackfriar Films

THE CALL by George Herbert, 1633 (Public Domain)

Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
Such a Way, as gives us breath:
Such a Truth, as ends all strife:
Such a Life, as killeth death.

Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength:
Such a Light, as shows a feast:
Such a Feast, as mends in length:
Such a Strength, as makes his guest.

Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
Such a Joy, as none can move:
Such a Love, as none can part:
Such a Heart, as joyes in love.

Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain

Raise the Strain of Triumphant Gladness

Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain is a translation of an 8th century Greek canon by St. John of Da­mas­cus (675-749). It was composed around the year 750, to be used for the first Sunday after Easter. It is based upon the 'Song of Moses' from Exodus 15. Such canons, or hymns in the Eastern Church depict Salvation History using Old Testament 'types' and prefigurements that are fulfilled and made real in the New Testament. In 1859 the text was translated into English by the Anglican minister, John M. Neale, (1818-1866) and set to the 1872 tune: St. Ke­vin by Sir. Ar­thur Sul­li­van (1842-1900). In the Divine Office, Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain is used during Easter Season.

Tune: St. Kevin

COME, YE FAITHFUL, RAISE THE STRAIN
by John M. Neale, 1859, Public Domain

Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought forth Israel into joy from sadness;
Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke Jacob’s sons and daughters,
Led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters.

’Tis the spring of souls today; Christ has burst His prison,
And from three days’ sleep in death as a sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying
From His light, to Whom we give laud and praise undying.

Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendor,
With the royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render;
Comes to glad Jerusalem, who with true affection
Welcomes in unwearied strains Jesus’ resurrection.

Neither might the gates of death, nor the tomb’s dark portal,
Nor the watchers, nor the seal hold Thee as a mortal;
But today amidst the twelve Thou didst stand, bestowing
That Thy peace which evermore passeth human knowing.

“Alleluia!” now we cry to our King immortal,
Who, triumphant, burst the bars of the tomb’s dark portal;
“Alleluia!” with the Son, God the Father praising,
“Alleluia!” yet again to the Spirit raising.

Liturgical Guide: Easter

The hymns used during the Easter Season in the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) recall the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus on Easter Sunday and then through the next 50 days ending with Pentecost, we along with the Disciples encounter the risen Christ. In the following video, Fr. James Kubicki, SJ of the Apostleship of Prayer shares some of Pope Benedict XVI's refections on the Easter Season. He draws our attention to the women who went to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body, but instead found him risen and alive. Jesus told them to not be afraid, but to go tell the Good News to the Apostles. Like them, we too should not be afraid to proclaim the risen Christ. Our faith is not born from an acceptance of a Doctrine, but from an encounter with a person - Jesus, and he is risen and remains with us!



LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)
14. All Creatures of Our God and King
98. Keep in Mind
112. Alleluia, The Strife is O'er
113. In the Midst of Death (We Who Were Once Dead)
114. I Am the Bread of Life
115. Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands
116. At the Lamb's High Feast
117. The Day of Resurrection
118. Jesus Christ is Ris'n Today
119. Ye Sons and Daughters
120. Christ the Lord is Risen Today (Wesley)
121. Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
122. Hail Thee, Festival Day
123. Christ the Lord is Risen Today (Leeson)

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
25. Christ the Lord is Risen Again
26. Easter Glory Fills the Sky
27. Alleluia, Sing to Jesus
28. At the Lamb’s High Feast
29. Proclaim his Triumph, Heaven and Earth
30. Come Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain
31. Battle is O'er

ROMAN BREVIARY
Claro Paschali Gaudio
Paschale Mundo Gaudium
Rex Sempiterne Cælitum
Tristes Erant Apostoli

Christ the Lord is Risen Today (Leeson) / Victimae Paschali Laudes

Now He Lives No More to Die

Christ the Lord is Risen Today is a Jane E. Leeson (1808-1881) translation of the 11th century Latin Easter sequence, Victimae Paschali Laudes attributed to Wipo of Burgundy (c.995-c.1048). It was first published in 1851 as part of the collection: Rev. Henry Formby's Catholic Hymns, set to the anonymous hymn tune associated with it, Victimae Paschali Laudes. Both Leeson and Formby were converts to the Catholic Faith. At one time Leeson had been been involved in a little known Protestant sect that practiced "supernatural utterances", and Formby had been an Anglican Priest before being received into the Church in 1846. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Christ the Lord is Risen Today is used at Easter.



CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY by Jane Leeson, 1851 (Public Domain)

1. Christ the Lord is risen today;
Christians, haste your vows to pay;
Offer ye your praises meet
At the Paschal Victim’s feet.
For the sheep the Lamb hath bled,
Sinless in the sinner’s stead;
“Christ is risen,” today we cry;
Now He lives no more to die.

2. Christ, the Victim undefiled,
Man to God hath reconciled;
Whilst in strange and awful strife
Met together Death and Life:
Christians, on this happy day
Haste with joy your vows to pay;
“Christ is risen,” today we cry;
Now He lives no more to die.

3. Christ, who once for sinners bled,
Now the first born from the dead,
Throned in endless might and power,
Lives and reigns forevermore.
Hail, eternal Hope on high! Hail,
Thou King of victory! Hail,
Thou Prince of life adored!
Help and save us, gracious Lord.
 
Gregorian Chant

VICTIMAE PASCHALI LAUDES

Victimae paschali laudes
immolent Christiani.

Agnus redemit oves:
Christus innocens Patri
reconciliavit peccatores.

Mors et vita duello
conflixere mirando:
dux vitae mortuus,
regnat vivus.

Dic nobis Maria,
quid vidisti in via?

Sepulcrum Christi viventis,
et gloriam vidi resurgentis:

Angelicos testes,
sudarium, et vestes.

Surrexit Christus spes mea:
praecedet suos in Galilaeam.

Scimus Christum surrexisse
a mortuis vere:
tu nobis, victor Rex, miserere.
Amen. Alleluia.

Hail Thee, Festival Day / Salve, Festa Dies

Blest Day!

Hail Thee, Festival Day is a 1906 Anglican minister, Maurice F. Bell (1862-1947) translation of the Latin processional hymn for Easter, Sal­ve Fes­ta Di­es (sung by Schola Gregoriana Mediolanensis in the 2nd video) by Venan­ti­us For­tu­na­tus (c.530-c.609). After recovering from an eye ailment, in 565 he embarked on a pilgrimage from his native Italy to the Shrine of St. Martin of Tours, from whose intercession he attributed the healing. He became an important poet in the Merovingian Court and was eventually appointed Bishop of Poitiers. Although often referred to as a "Saint", he has never been formally canonized by the Church. The tune, Salve, Festa Dies was composed for Bell's text in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958). In the Liturgy of the Hours, Hail Thee, Festival Day is used at Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost.

Tune: Salve, Festa Dies

HAIL THEE, FESTIVAL DAY by Maurice Bell, 1906 (Public Domain)

EASTER REFRAIN:
Hail thee, festival day!
Blessed day to be hallowed forever;
Day when our Lord was raised,
Breaking the kingdom of death.

ASCENSION REFRAIN:
Hail thee, festival day!
Blessed day to be hallowed forever;
Day when our risen Lord
Rose in the heavens to reign.

PENTECOST REFRAIN:
Hail thee, festival day!
Blessed day to be hallowed forever;
Day when the Holy Ghost
Shone in the world full of grace.

2. Lo, the fair beauty of the earth,
From the death of the winter arising!
Every good gift of the year
Now with its Master returns.

3. He who was nailed to the cross
Is Ruler and Lord of all people.
All things created on earth
Sing to the glory of God.

4. Daily the loveliness grows,
Adorned with glory of blossom;
Heaven her gates unbars,
Flinging her increase of light.

5. Rise from the grave now,
O Lord, The author of life and creation.
Treading the pathway of death,
New life You give to us all.

6. God the Almighty Lord,
The Ruler of earth and the heavens,
Guard us from harm without;
Cleanse us from evil within.

7. Jesus the health of the world,
Enlighten our minds, great
Redeemer, Son of the Father supreme,
Only begotten of God.

8. Spirit of life and of power,
Now flow in us, fount of our being,
Light that enlightens us all,
Life that in all may abide.

9. Praise to the giver of good!
O lover and author of concord,
Pour out your balm on our days;
Order our ways in your peace.



SALVE, FESTA DIES by Venantius Fortunatus (Public Domain)

REFRAIN:
Salve, festa dies, toto venerabilis aevo. qua deus infernum vicit et astra tenet

1. Ecce renascentis testatur gratia mundi omnia cum domino dona redisse suo.

2. Namque triumphanti post tristia Tartara Christo undique fronde nemus, gramina flore favent.

3. Legibus inferni oppressis super astra meantem laudant rite deum lux polus arva fretum.

4. Qui crucifixus erat, deus ecce per omnia regnat, dantque creatori cuncta creata precem. salve, festa dies.

5. Christe salus rerum, bone conditor atque redemptor, unica progenies ex deitate patris.

6. Qui genus humanum cernens mersisse profundo, ut hominem eriperes es quoque factus homo

7. Nec voluisti etenim tantum te corpore nasci, sed caro quae nasci, pertulit atque mori

8. Fexequias pateris vitae auctor et orbis, intras mortis iter dando salutis opem.

9. Tristia cesserunt infernae vincula legis expavitque chaos luminis ore premi.

10. Depereunt tenebrae Christi fulgore fugatae et tetrae noctis pallia crassa cadunt.

11. Pollicitam sed redde fidem, precor, alma potestas: tertia lux rediit, surge, sepulte meus.

12. Non decet. ut humili tumulo tua membra tegantur, neu pretium mundi vilia saxa premant.

13. Lintea, precor, sudaria linque sepulchro: tu satis es nobis et sine te nihil est.

14. Solvecatenatas inferni carceris umbras et revoca sursum quidquid ad ima ruit.

15. Redde tuam faciem, videant ut saecula lumen, redde diem qui nos te moriente fugit.

16. Sed plane inplesti remeans, pie victor, ad orbem: Tartara pressa iacent nec sua iura tenent.

17. Inferus insaturabiliter cava gruttura pandens, qui rapuit semper, fit tua praeda, deus.

18. Evomit absorptam trepide fera belua plebem et de fauce lupi subtrahit agrnus oves.

19. Rex sacer, ecce tui radiat pars magna triumphi, cum puras animas sancta lavacra beant

20. Candidus egreditur nitidis exercitus undis atque vetus vitium purgat in amne novo.

21. Fulgentes animas vestis quoque candida signat et grege de niveo gaudia pastor habet.

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus

In the Eucharistic Feast

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus was written by British surgeon and author, William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898). It was first published in 1867 as part of his collection, Al­tar Songs, Vers­es on the Ho­ly Eu­cha­rist. It was intended as a communion hymn for Ascension Sunday and was originally titled: "Redemption by the Precious Blood". It is sung to the 1830 tune, Hyfrydol by the Welsh composer and choir director, Rowland Prichard (1811-1887). Prichard was not a professional musician, he worked as a loom-tenders' assistant at a flannel manufacturing mill in Wales. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Alleluia! Sing to Jesus is used during Easter and on the  the Feast of Corpus Christi.



ALLELUIA! SING TO JESUS! by William Chatterton Dix, 1867 (Public Domain)

1. Alleluia! sing to Jesus! His the scepter, His the throne.
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone.
Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood.
Jesus out of every nation has redeemed us by His blood.

2. Alleluia! not as orphans are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us, faith believes, nor questions how;
Though the cloud from sight received Him when the forty days were o’er
Shall our hearts forget His promise, “I am with you evermore”?

3. Alleluia! bread of angels, Thou on earth our food, our stay;
Alleluia! here the sinful flee to Thee from day to day:
Intercessor, Friend of sinners, Earth’s Redeemer, plead for me,
Where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.

4. Alleluia! King eternal, Thee the Lord of lords we own;
Alleluia! born of Mary, Earth Thy footstool, Heav’n Thy throne:
Thou within the veil hast entered, robed in flesh our great High Priest;
Thou on earth both priest and victim in the Eucharistic feast.

Christ the Lord is Risen Today (Wesley)

Lives Again Our Glorious King

Christ the Lord is Risen Today was written by Charles Wesley (1707-1788). First published in 1739, it is based upon the 14th cen­tu­ry anonymous La­tin hymn, Surrexit Christus Hodie. Wesley's work was sung during the first worship service of a London Wesleyan Chapel. It is set to the tune Lianfair by the blind Welsh singer, Robert Williams (1781-1821). He make a living weaving baskets. Tunes he composed were eventually written down and compiled in a manuscript around 1817. Wesley's hymn is similar to Hymn #118 of the Office. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Christ the Lord is Risen Today is used with the Office for the Dead and during Easter.

Tune: Lianfair

CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY by Charles Wesley, 1739 (Public Domain)

1. Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

2. Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!

3. Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

4. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

5. Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

6. Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

7. King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!

8. Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

9. But the pains that He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

10. Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!