Liturgical Guide: Common of Doctors of the Church

The hymns selected for use in the Common of Doctors of the Church are sung on Feast Days that celebrate the holy men and women of the Church that have defended and explained in depth the truths of Catholic doctrine, and have lived lives that were a fitting witness to that faith. While their theological writings may be considered 'inspired' by the Holy Spirit and worthy of recommendation for teaching by the Church, they are not considered infallible. There are currently 35 declared Doctors of the Church.


Explanation of the Doctors of the Church by Jesuit Communications

LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)
31. Faith of Our Fathers
176. Rise Up, O Men of God
177. This is the Feast Day of the Lord's True Witness
178. Now, From the Heav'ns Descending
179. Now Let Us Praise

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
52. The Saints Who Toiled From Place to Place
53. Who Are These Like Stars Appearing?

Now Let Us Praise / Fortem Virili Pectore

A Woman Noble, Great

Now Let Us Praise is a 1967 Sr. Jane Marie Perrot (1916-1998) paraphrase of the the Latin hymn, Fortem Virili Pectore by Cardinal Silvio Antoniano (1540-1603). In the Roman Breviary, Fortem Virili Pectore was sung at Vespers and Lauds in the Common of a Holy Woman. Cardinal Antoniano was a member of the commission called by Pope Clement VIII to revise the Breviary. Sister Perrot, a Daughter of Charity was actively involved in Catholic music education and liturgical reform. In 1975 she conducted the choir at the Vatican for the canonization of Elizabeth Ann Seton, America's first native-born saint. Sr. Perrot was the first woman ever to conduct a choir for a Eucharistic liturgy at St. Peter's Basilica. After conducting for over two hours, she said: "I'm joyfully exhausted!". Now Let Us Praise is sung to the 1906 tune, Sine Nomine by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958). In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used in the Common of Holy Women, the Common of Virgins, and the Common of Doctors of the Church.



FORTEM VIRILI PECTORE by Silvio Antoniano

Fortem virili pectore
laudemus omnes feminam,
quæ sanctitatis gloria
ubique fulget inclita.

Hæc sancto amore saucia,
huius caduca sæculi
dum calcat, ad cælestia
iter peregit arduum.

Carnem domans ieiuniis,
dulcique mentem pabulo
orationis nutriens,
cæli potitur gaudiis.

Rex Christe, virtus fortium,
qui magna solus efficis,
huius precatu, quæsumus,
audi benignus supplices.

Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
qui nos beatæ servulæ
sperare das suffragia
et sempiterna præmia.


FORTEM VIRILI PECTORE (from the Roman Breviary)

1. Fortem virili pectore
Laudemus omnes feminam,
Quae sanctitatis gloria
Ubique fulget inclyta.

2. Haec sancto amore saucia,
Dum mundi amorem noxium
Horrescit, ad coelestia
Iter peregit arduum.

3. Carnem domans jejuniis,
Dulcique mentem pabulo
Orationis nutriens,
Coeli potitur gaudiis.

4. Rex Christe virtus fortium,
Qui magna solus efficis,
Hujus precatu, quaesumus,
Audi benignus supplices.

5. Deo Patri sit gloria,
Ejusque soli Filio,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito,
Nunc, et per omne saeculum.

Now, From the Heav'ns Descending

All the Saints in Glory, From Every Time and Place  

Now, from the Heav'ns Descending was written by the Scottish theologian and hymnwriter, Fr. James Quinn S.J. (1919-2010). It was first published in 1969 as part of his collection,  New Hymns for All Seasons. He composed some 300 hymns. One of the last he wrote, Let Scotland's Hills was in honor of St. John Ogilvie, Martyr (1579-1615), Scotland's first Post-Reformation saint. Fr. Quinn was vice postulator for the cause of his canonization, which happened in 1976. Now From the Heav'ns Descending is sung to the tune Aurelia, written in 1864 by Samuel S. Wesley (1810-1876), grandson of Charles Wesley. In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used in the Common of Doctors of the Church.


Tune: Aurelia

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.

Rise Up, O Men of God

Sent Forth to Serve the Needs of Men

Rise Up, O Men of God was written by American Presbyterian clergyman, William Pierson Merrill (1867-1954). It was first published in 1911 in the Pres­by­ter­i­an news­pa­per, The Con­ti­nent. The editor of the paper had expressed to Merrill the need for a hymn of brotherhood in the Church. He turned the idea over in his mind till one day, traveling onboard a streamer on Lake Michigan headed to Chicago the words suddenly came to mind. It is sung to the tune, Festal Song written in 1894 by American composer and organist, William Henry Walter (1825-1893). In the Liturgy of the Hours, Rise Up, O Men of God is used in the Common of Doctors of the Church.


Tune: Festal Song

RISE UP, O MEN OF GOD by William Merrill, 1911 (Public Domain)

1. Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.

2. Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.

3. Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!

4. Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!

Faith of Our Fathers

By Kindly Words and Virtuous Life.

Faith of Our Fathers was written by Frederick W. Faber (1814-1863). Originally an Ordained Priest in the Church of England, in 1846, following the example of Cardinal John Henry Newman he left to join the Catholic Church. It is set to the tune, Saint Catherine written in 1864 by Henri F. Hemy (1818-1888), Fr. Faber wrote it to honor Catholic martyrs from the English Reformation during the time of Henry VIII. In the Liturgy of the Hours Faith of Our Fathers is used during Ordinary Time for Daytime Mid-Afternoon Prayer.

Tune: Saint Catherine

FAITH OF OUR FATHERS by Fredrick Faber, 1846 (Public Domain)

Faith of our fathers, living still,
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene'er we hear thy wondrous voice!

Refrain: Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
             We will be true to thee till death.

Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto Thee;
And through the truth that comes from God,
We all shall then be truly free.

Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife;
And preach Thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.