This is the Feast Day of the Lord's True Witness / Iste Confessor Domini Colentes

Let All Creation Celebrate His Goodness

This is the Feast Day of the Lord's True Witness is a 1972 Peter J. Scagnelli translation of the 8th century Latin hymn Iste Confessor Domini Colentes (2 versions are shown below), traditionally sung at Vespers and Matins in the Common of Confessors and Bishops. The anonymous work may have been composed in honor of St. Martin of Tours. The translation is set to the tune, Iste Confessor (Angers).  It can also be sung to Iste Confessor (Rouen), as shown in the 1st video. In the Liturgy of the Hours, This is the Feast Day of the Lord's True Witness is used in the Common of Doctors of the Church. For an alternative translation see my post: This is the Day Whereon the Lord's True Witness / Iste Confessor.

Tune: Iste Confessor (Rouen)


ISTE CONFESSOR DOMINI COLENTES (from the Roman Breviary)

1. Iste Confessor Domini colentes
Quem pie laudant populi per orbem:
Hac die laetus meruit beatas
Laudis honores.

2. Qui pius, prudens, humilis, pudicus,
Sobriam duxit sine labe vitam.
Donec humanos animavit aurae
Spiritus artus.

3. Cujus ob praestans meritum frequenter,
Ægra quae passim jacuere membra,
Viribus morbi domitis, saluti
Restituuntur.

4. Noster hinc illi chorus obsequentem
Concinit laudem, celebresque palmas;
Ut piis ejus precibus juvemur
Omne per ævum.

5. Sit salus illi, decus, atque virtus,
Qui super cæli solio coruscans,
Totius mundi seriem gubernat,
Trinus et unus. Amen


Gregorian Chant

ISTE CONFESSOR DOMINI SACRATUS

1. Iste confessor Domini sacratus
Festa plebs cuius celebrat per orbem,
Hodie letus meruit secreta,
Scandere Cœli.

2. Qui pius, prudens, humilis, pudicus,
Sobrius, castus fuit et quietus
Vita, dum presens vegetavit ejus
Corporis artus.

3. Ad sacrum cuius tumulum frequenter,
Membra languentem modo sanitati,
Quo libet morbo fuerint gravata,
Restituuntur.

4. Unde nunc noster chorus in honorem
Ipsius hymnum canit nunc libenter,
Ut piis ejus meritis juvemur
Omne per aevum.

 5. Sit salus illi decus atque virtus,
Qui supra cœli residens cacumen,
Totius mundi machinam gubernat,
Trinus et unus.