Queen on Whose Starry Brow Doth Rest

Stained Glass: St. James Church, Glenbeigh, Ire. - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Queen on Whose Starry Brow Doth Rest is a translation by Monsignor Ronald A. Knox (1888 - 1957) of a hymn by Venantius Fortunatus (c.530-c.600). In the Divine (1974) it is among the selected hymns sung with the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The recommended musical setting in the Office is the 1628 tune: Eisenach by the early Baroque composer, Johann Hermann Schein (1586-1630).


Tune: Eisenach

Jesus, the Sun of Ransomed Earth / Iam, Christe, Sol Iustitiae / O Sol Salutis, Initimis

3rd Century Mosaic: Christ as Sol Invictus - Courtesy Wikipedia

Jesus, the Sun of Ransomed Earth is a translation by Monsignor Ronald A. Knox (1888 - 1957) of the 6th century Latin hymn: Iam, Christe, Sol Iustitiae, traditionally sung at Lauds during Lent before Holy Week. In accordance with the reforms of Pope Urban VIII, in the 17th century it was revised and re-titled: O Sol Salutis, Initimis. In the Divine Office (1974), Jesus, the Sun of Ransomed Earth is one of the suggested hymns for Lent, with the added note that it is "more suitable for Morning Payer". The Office recommends it be sung to the tune: O Invidenda Martyrum, a Dijon Church Melody. An alternative tune that can also be used is Duke Street, as featured in the following video.

Alternative Tune: Duke Street

IAM, CHRISTI, SOL IUSTITIAE

1. Iam, Christe, sol iustitiae,
mentis dehiscant tenebrae,
virtutum ut lux redeat,
terris diem cum reparas.

2. Dans tempus acceptabile
et paenitens cor tribue,
convertat ut benignitas
quos longa suffert pietas. 

3. Quiddamque paenitentiae
da ferre, quo fit demptio,
maiore tuo munere,
culparum quamvis grandium.

4. Dies venit, dies tua,
per quam reflorent omnia;
laetemur in hac ut tuae
per hanc reducti gratiae.

5. Te rerum universitas,
clemens, adoret, Trinitas,
et nos novi per veniam
novum canamus canticum.


O SOL SALUTIS, INITIMIS

1. O sol salutis, initimis,
Jesu, refulge mentibus,
Dum, nocte pulsa, gratior
Orbi dies renascitur.

2. Dans tempus acceptabile,
Da lacrimarum rivulis
Lavare cordis victimam,
Quam laeta adurat caritas.

3. Qua fonte manavit nefas,
Fluent perennes lacrimae,
Si virga poenitentiae
Cordis rigorem conterat. 

4. Dies venit, dies tua,
In qua reflorent omnia:
Laetemur et nos, in viam
Tua reducti dextera.

5. Te prona mundi machina,
Clemens, adoret, Trinitas,
Et nos novi per gratiam
Novum canamus canticum.

Sower and Seed of Man's Reprieving

Fresco by Giotto di Bondone - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Sower and Seed of Man's Reprieving is by Monsignor Ronald A. Knox (1888 - 1957). In the Divine Office (1974) it is sung at Morning Prayer on the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. The Office recommends the hymn tune: Les Commandements de Dieu by Louis Bourgeois (c.1510–1560) as it's musical setting. An alternative tune that can all be used is St. Clement, as featured in the following video.


Alternative Tune: St. Clement

Sing My Tongue of Warfare Ended / Pange Lingua, Gloriosi Proelium Certaminis / + Crux Fidelis

Painting by Gerard David - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Sing My Tongue of Warfare Ended is a translation by Monsignor Ronald A. Knox (1888 - 1957) of the opening 5 verses (+ doxology) of the 6th century Latin hymn: Pange Lingua Gloriosi Proelium Certaminis by Venantius Fortunatus (c.530-c.600/609). As poet of the Merovingian Court, he composed the hymn for the procession that brought a relic of the True Cross to Queen Radegund in 570. In the Mass, this hymn has been traditionally chanted during the Adoration of the Cross on Good Friday. In the Roman Breviary it has been divided into shorter hymns (eg. Crux Fidelis - see 2nd video) which are used during Holy Week. It is believed that Fortunatus' work inspired St. Thomas Aquinas to write his great hymn for the Feast of Corpus Christi: Pange Lingua Gloriosi Corporis Mysterium. In the Divine Office (1974), Fr. Knox's translation: Sing My Tongue of Warfare Ended is sung on Good Friday with the Office of Readings. The Divine Office recommends the tune: Mannheim by Friedrich Filitz (1804-1876). An alternative tune that can also be used is Picardy, as featured in the following video.


Alternative Tune: Picardy

PANGE, LINGUA, GLORIOSI PROELIUM CERTAMINIS

1. Pange, lingua, gloriosi
proelium certaminis,
et super Crucis trophaeo
dic triumphum nobilem,
qualiter Redemptor orbis
immolatus vicerit.

2. De parentis protoplasti
fraude Factor condolens,
quando pomi noxialis
morte morsu corruit,
ipse lignum tunc notavit,
damna ligni ut solveret.

3. Hoc opus nostrae salutis
ordo depoposcerat,
multiformis proditoris
ars ut artem falleret,
et medelam ferret inde,
hostis unde laeserat.

4. Quando venit ergo sacri
plenitudo temporis,
missus est ab arce Patris
natus, orbis, Conditor,
atque ventre virginali
carne factus prodiit.

5. Vagit infans inter arcta
conditus praesepia:
membra pannis involuta
Virgo Mater alligat:
et manus pedesque et crura
stricta cingit fascia.

6. Lustra sex qui iam peracta
tempus implens corporis,
se volente, natus ad hoc,
passioni deditus,
Agnus in crucis levatur
immolandus stipite.

7. En acetum, fel, arundo,
sputa, clavi, lancea:
mite corpus perforatur,
Sanguis, unda profluit
terra, pontus, astra, mundis,
quo lavantur flumine!

8. Crux fidelis,
inter omnes
arbor una nobilis;
nulla talem silva profert,
flore, fronde, germine.
Dulce lignum, dulci clavo,
dulce pondus sustinens!

9. Flecte ramos, arbor alta,
tensa laxa viscera,
et rigor lentescat ille,
quem dedit nativas,
ut superni membra Regis
miti tendas stipite.

10. Sola digna tu fuisti
ferre saeculi pretium,
atque portum praeparare
nauta mundo naufrago,
quem sacer cruor perunxit,
fusus Agni corpore.

11. Aequa Patri Filioque,
inclito Paraclito,
sempiterna sit beatae
Trinitati gloria,
cuius alma nos redemit
atque servat gratia. Amen.
 

Crux Fidelis (Drawn from verses: 8, 1-3, 11 above)

CRUX FIDELIS

1. Crux fidelis,
inter omnes
arbor una nobilis;
nulla talem silva profert,
flore, fronde, germine.
Dulce lignum, dulci clavo,
dulce pondus sustinens!

2. Pange, lingua, gloriosi
proelium certaminis,
et super Crucis trophaeo
dic triumphum nobilem,
qualiter Redemptor orbis
immolatus vicerit.

3. De parentis protoplasti
fraude Factor condolens,
quando pomi noxialis
morte morsu corruit,
ipse lignum tunc notavit,
damna ligni ut solveret.

4. Hoc opus nostrae salutis
ordo depoposcerat,
multiformis proditoris
ars ut artem falleret,
et medelam ferret inde,
hostis unde laeserat.

4. Quando venit ergo sacri
plenitudo temporis,
missus est ab arce Patris
natus, orbis, Conditor,
atque ventre virginali
carne factus prodiit.

5. Aequa Patri Filioque,
inclito Paraclito,
sempiterna sit beatae
Trinitati gloria,
cuius alma nos redemit
atque servat gratia. Amen.

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!

Father Most Holy, Gracious and Forgiving

Fresco by Luca Rossetti da Orta - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Father Most Holy, Gracious and Forgiving was written by Monsignor Ronald A. Knox (1888 - 1957).  In the Divine Office (1974) it is sung at Morning Prayer on Trinity Sunday. The Divine Office recommends the tune: Theophila, for it's musical setting. An alternative tune that can also be used is Christe Sanctorum, as featured in the following video.


Alternative Tune: Christe Sanctorum

Afar from Where the Sun Doth Rise / A Solis Ortus Cardine

Painting by Lorenzo Lotto - Courtesy Wikipedia

Afar from Where the Sun Doth Rise is a translation by the Catholic Priest and theologian, Msgr. Ronald A. Knox (1888-1957) of the Latin hymn: A Solis Ortus Cardine by the 5th century Christian poet, Coelius Sedulius (d.450?). This Latin hymn is composed of the first 7 verses of a much longer poem: an abecedarius, in which each verse begins with a consecutive letter of the alphabet (Latin, in this case). Also known as the Paean Alphabeticus de Christo, the poem consisting of 23 quatrains of iambic dimeters recounts the life of Christ from birth to resurrection. These 7 verses with added doxology (by an anonymous author), have been used since the early Middle Ages as a Christmas hymn. In the Roman Breviary A Solis Ortus Cardine is sung at Lauds during the Christmas season. Verses 8, 9, 11, and 13 of this same poem by Sedulius also comprise another hymn: Hostis Herodes Impie, which is sung at Epiphany. In the Divine Office (1974), Afar from Where the Sun Doth Rise is sung with Morning Prayer on Christmas Day, and is an optional hymn for use through the Christmas season up until Epiphany. It is set to the tune: St. Venantius, first published in the Paris Antiphoner of 1681. An alternative tune that can also be used is Winchester New, as featured in the following video.


Alternative Tune: Winchester New

A SOLIS ORTUS CARDINE

1. A solis ortus cardine
adusque terrae limitem
Christum canamus Principem,
natum Maria Virgine.

2. Beatus auctor saeculi
servile corpus induit,
ut carne carnem liberans
non perderet quod condidit.

3. Clausae parentis viscera
caelestis intrat gratia;
venter puellae baiulat
secreta quae non noverat.

4. Domus pudici pectoris
templum repente fit Dei;
intacta nesciens virum
verbo concepit Filium.

5. Enixa est puerpera
quem Gabriel praedixerat,
quem matris alvo destines
clausus Ioannes senserat. 

6. Feno iacere pertulit,
praesepe non abhorruit,
parvoque lacte pastus est
per quem nec ales esurit.

7. Gaudet chorus caelestium
et Angeli canunt Deum,
palamque fit pastoribus
Pastor, Creator omnium.

8. Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
qui natus es de Virgine,
cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.


Performed by Schola Gregoriana Monostorinensis

Maiden, Yet A Mother

Hope, It's Living Fountain

Maiden, Yet A Mother is a translation of a poem by Durante (Dante) degli Alighieri (c.1265–1321). It is based upon the opening verses of Canto 33 of the Paradiso from his Divine Comedy in which St. Bernard of Clairvaux, (1090–1153) praises and prays to the Virgin Mother on behalf of Dante. It was translated from the original Italian into English by the Catholic convert, Monseigneur Ronald A. Knox (1888-1957). Common settings of his text are to the tunes: Grace Soit Rendue and Une Vaine Crainte. A MP3 sample of Une Vaine Crainte can be found in the Adoremus Hymnal (#540). In the Divine Office, Maiden, Yet A Mother is used with Morning and Evening Prayer.

What Fairer Light / Aurea Luce / Decora Lux / Beate Pastor Petre

Rejoice, Oh Rome, This Day

What Fairer Light is a Msgr. Ronald A. Knox (1888–1957) translation of the 5th century Latin hymn Aurea Luce attributed to H. Elphis (d.493), first wife of the Roman philosopher-poet Boethius (c.475–525?). He would eventually be martyred for his defence of the faith against the Arian ruler: Theodoric the Great, King of the Ostrogoths (c.454-526). Msgr. Knox, a convert from Anglicanism, was a noted scholar, author, and translator. Under direction of his religious superiors, he re-translated the Latin Vulgate Bible into English from Hebrew and Greek sources. What Fairer Light is set to the tune, Decora Lux by the English Catholic composer, Samuel Webbe (1740–1816). In 1632, in accord with changes called for by the Council of Trent, Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644) revised  the original text of Aurea Luce and divided it into two new hymns for Lauds and Vespers: Decora Lux and Beate Pastor Petre. All versions are shown below. In the Liturgy of the Hours, What Fairer Light is used on June 29th, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles.


Gregorian Chant

AUREA LUCE (5th Century)

1. Aurea luce et decore roseo,
Lux lucis, omne perfudisti saeculum:
decorans caelos inclito martyrio.
Hac sacra die, quae dat reis veniam.

2. Janitor caeli, doctor orbis pariter,
Judices saecli, vera mundi lumina:
Per crucem alter, alter ense triumphans,
Vitae senatum laureati possident.

3. O felix Roma, quae tantorum principum
 es purpurata pretioso sanguine,
 non laude tua, sed ipsorum meritis
 excellis omnem mundi pulchritudinem.

4. Jam, bone Pastor Petre, clemens accipe
Vota precantum, et peccati vincula
Resolve, tibi potestate tradita,
Qua cunctis cœlum verbo claudis, aperis.

5. Doctor egregie, Paule, mores instrue,
Et mente polum nos transferre satage:
Donec perfectum largiatur plenus,
Evacuato quod ex parte gerimus.

6. Olivae binae pietatis unicae,
fide devotos, spe robustos maxime,
fonte repletos caritatis geminae
post mortem carnis impetrate vivere.

7. Sit Trinitati sempiterna gloria,
honor, potestas atque iubilatio,
in unitate, cui manet imperium
ex tunc et modo per aeterna saecula


DECORO LUX (1632 revision by Pope Urban VIII)

1. Decora lux æternitatis, auream
Diem beatis irrigavit ignibus,
Apostolorum quæ coronat Principes,
Reisque in astra liberam pandit viam.

2. Mundi Magister, atque cœli Janitor,
Romæ parentes, arbitrique Gentium,
Per ensis ille, hic per crucis victor necem
Vitæ senatum laureati possident.

3. O Roma felix, quæ duorum Principum
Es consecrata glorioso ceteras
Horum cruore purpurata ceteras
Excellis orbis una pulchritudines.

4. Sit Trinitati sempiterna gloria,
Honor, potestas, atque jubilatio,
In unitate gubernat omnia,
Per universa sæculorum sæcula.


BEATE PASTOR PETRE (1632 revision by Pope Urban VIII)

1. Beate Pastor Petre, clemens accipe
Voces precantum, criminumque vincula
Verbo resolve, cui potestas tradita,
Aperire terris cœlum, apertum claudere.

2. Egregie Doctor Paule, mores instrue,
Et nostra tecum pectora in cœlum trahe;
Velata dum meridiem cernat fides,
Et solis instar sola regnet caritas.

3. Sit Trinitati sempiterna gloria,
Honor, potestas, atque jubilatio,
In unitate, quæ gubernat omnia,
Per universa æternitatis sæcula.