Jesu, Corona Celsior

Painting by Guido Reni (1575-1642) - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Jesu, Corona Celsior is an anonymous Ambrosian hymn of the 6th century. It is sung at Lauds for the Common of a Confessor (Not a Bishop) in the Roman Breviary.


Sung by Giovanni Vianini

JESU CORONA CELSIOR

1. Jesu, corona celsior,
Et veritas sublimior,
Qui confitenti servulo
Reddis perenne praemium.

2. Da supplicanti coetui,
Huius rogatu, noxii
Remissionem criminis,
Rumpendo nexum vinculi.

3. Anni reverso tempore,
Dies refulsit lumine,
Quo Sanctus hic de corpore
Migravit inter sidera.

4. Hic, vana terrae gaudia
Et luculenta praedia
Polluta sorte députants,
Ovans tenet caelestia.

5. Te, Christe, Rex piissime,
Hic confitendo jugiter,
Calcavit artes daemonum
Saevumque averni principem.

6. Virtute clarus et fide,
Confessione sedulus,
Jejuna membra deferens,
Dapes supernas obtinet.

7. Proinde te, piissime,
Precamur omnes supplices,
Nobis ut huius gratia
Poenas remittas debitas.

8. Patri perennis gloria,
Natoque Patris unico,
Sanctoque sit Paraclito,
Per omne semper saeculum. Amen

Iesu Redemptor Omnium, Perpes Corona Praesulum

Stained Glass in Clermont-Ferrand Cathedral - Wikipedia

Iesu Redemptor Omnium, Perpes Corona Praesulum is an anonymous hymn which is sung at Lauds in the Common of a Confessor Bishop of the Roman Breviary. The earliest known manuscripts of the hymn date back to the 9th century.

IESU REDEMPTOR OMNIUM (from the Roman Breviary)

1. Iesu, Redemptor omnium,
Perpes corona Praesulum,
In hac die clementus
Indulgeas precantibus,

2. Tui sacri qua nominis
Confessor almus claruit:
Huius celebrat annua
Devota plebs solemnia.

3. Qui rite mundi gaudia
Huius caduca respuens,
Aeternitatis praemio
Potitur inyer Angelos.

4. Huius benignus annue
Nobis sequi vestigia:
Huius precatu, servulis
Dimitte noxam criminis.

5. Sit, Christe, Rex piissime,
Tibi, Patrique gloria,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito,
Nunc et per omne saeculum. Amen

Liturgical Guide: Common of Pastors

The hymns selected for use in the Common of Pastors are sung on feast days that celebrate ordained ministers of the of the Church whose vocations as shepherds of God's people were a fitting witness to the faith they professed. "Through the ordained ministry, especially that of bishops and priests, the presence of Christ as head of the Church is made visible in the midst of the community of believers." - #1549, Catechism of the Catholic Church.


Produced by Busted Halo

LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)

139. Come to Me

140. Shepherd of Souls, in Love Come, Feed Us

174. Loving Shepard of Thy Sheep
175. The King of Love My Shepherd Is

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
Who are these Like Stars Appearing?
The Saints Who Toiled

ROMAN BREVIARY
Iesu Redemptor Omnium, Perpes Corona Praesulum
Iste Confessor (This is the Day Whereon the Lord's True Witness)
Iste Confessor (This is the Feast Day of the Lord's True Witness)
Jesu, Corona Celsior

This is the Day Whereon the Lord's True Witness / Iste Confessor

All Through the Ages

This is the Day Whereon the Lord's True Witness is a 1902 translation by Fr. John O'Connor (1870-1952) of the Latin hymn, Iste Confessor (2 versions are shown below). In the Roman Breviary it is sung at Vespers and Matins in the Common of Confessors and Bishops. In 1905, Fr. O'Connor's translation was included in Arundel Hymns (#237, p. 448). I have not been able to identify the tune for This is the Day Whereon the Lord's True Witness that it was originally published with. An alternative tune that it can be sung to is Rouen (see 1st video). In 1903 O'Connor met G. K. Chesterton and the two became life-long friends. O'Connor was instrumental in Chesterton's conversion to the Catholic Church. Chesterton's fictional detective, Father Brown was based upon O'Connor. In 1937, after Chesterton's death, Fr. O'Connor recounted their over 30 years of friendship in his book: Father Brown on Chesterton. For an alternative translation see my post: This is the Feast Day of the Lord's True Witness / Iste Confessor.


Tune: Iste Confessor (Rouen)

THIS IS THE DAY WHEREON THE LORD'S TRUE WITNESS John O'Connor, 1902 (Public Domain)

1. This is the day whereon the Lord’s true witness,
Whom all the nations lovingly do honour,
Worthy at last was found to wear forever
Glory transcendent.

2. Loving, far–seeing, lowly, modest minded,
So kept he well an even course unstained,
Ever while in his frame of manhood lingered
Life’s fitful breathings.

3. Oft hath it been thro’ his sublime deserving
Poor human bodies, howsoever stricken,
Broke and cast off the bondage of their sickness,
Healed Divinely.

4. Wherefore to him we raise the solemn chorus,
Chanting his praise and his surpassing triumph;
So may his pleading help us in the battle
All through the ages.

5. Healing and power, grace and beauteous honour
Always be His, who shining in the highest,
Ruleth and keepeth all the world’s vast order,
One God three Persons.
 

 Gregorian Chant

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


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.

The King of Love My Shepherd Is

Your  Cross Will Ever Guide Me

The King Of Love My Shepherd Is, is an Anthony G. Petti (1932-1985) adaption of the 1868 Sir Henry W. Baker (1821-1877) paraphrase of Psalm 23. Baker took Holy Orders in the Church of England in 1844. He was closely associated with hymnody in the Church. Besides writing, translating, and composing a number of hymns, his most notable role was as Ed­it­or-in-Chief of the first edition of Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern (1861) which sold over 60 million copies. The King of Love My Shepherd Is has proven to be his most enduring work. It is said that as he lay dying his final words were those of the 3rd stanza: "Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me; and on his shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me." It is sung to the tune: St. Columba, a traditional Irish melody. In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used in the Common of Pastors and with the Office for the Dead.



THE KING OF LOVE MY SHEPHERD IS by Henry Baker, 1868 (Public Domain)

1. The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

2. Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

3. Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

4. In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

5. Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

6. And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing
Thy praise Within Thy house forever.

Loving Shepard of Thy Sheep

Where Thou Leadest, I Will Go

Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep was written by Jane Elizabeth Leeson (1807-1882). It was first published in 1842 as part of her collection, Hymns and Scenes of Child­hood. Though little is known of this Catholic convert, the simple and direct expressions of faith found in her "Infant Hymnings", have earned a place in many hymnals representing a wide spectrum of Christian beliefs. Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep is sung to the 1863 tune, Buckland by the Anglican Clergyman and organ builder, Dr. Leigh­ton G. Hayne (1836-1883). In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used in the Common of Pastors.



LOVING SHEPHERD OF THY SHEEP by Jane Elizabeth Leeson, 1842 (Public Domain)

1. Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep,
Keep Thy lamb, in safety keep;
Nothing can Thy power withstand,
None can pluck me from Thy hand.

2. Loving Savior, Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live,
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nails’ impress.

3. I would praise Thee every day,
Gladly all Thy will obey,
Like Thy blessèd ones above
Happy in Thy precious love.

4. Loving Shepherd, ever near,
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear,
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way.

5. Where Thou leadest I would go,
Walking in Thy steps below,
Till before my Father’s throne
I shall know as I am known.

Shepherd of Souls, in Love Come, Feed Us

To Those Refreshing Waters, Lead Us

Shepherd of Souls, in Love Come, Feed Us was first published in 1964. It was written by Omer Westendorf (1916-1997). He was founder of World Library Publications (WLP). This hymn was sung by friends and family as they gathered at his bedside before his death. It is sung to the tune Du Meiner Seelen, a Hungarian Chorale melody from the 16th. century.  It can be heard on the Liturgical and Gospel Music Ministry YouTube Channel.  As well, another version of Shepherd of Souls, In Love Come, Feed Us can be found on the Cantor Hymn Recordings page the Cantors of St. John the Baptist R.C. Church, Pottsville, PA website. It is listed under the heading: "PMB 653".  Shepherd of Souls, in Love Come, Feed Us can also be sung to the tune: Neumark, as featured in the following video. In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used on the Feast of the Sacred Heart.


Tune: Neumark

Come to Me

The Lord is my Shepherd

Come to Me is written by composer and author, Gregory Norbet (b.1940). It was first published 1971 as part of the collection, Locusts and Wild Honey sung by the Benedictine Monks of Weston Priory, Vermont. Over his 21 years as a monk at the Priory, Gregory Norbet composed, sang, and performed on 12 albums. Some of his best known songs from that period include: Hosea (Come Back to Me), Something Which is Known, and Go Up to the Mountain. He remains active today as a composer and recording artist with OCP, as well as serving the Hosea Foundation, a not-for-profit ministry which he founded. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Come to Me is used with the Common of Pastors, the Office of the Dead, and on the Feast of the Sacred Heart.