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!