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.