Urbs Beata Jerusalem / Caelestis Urbs Jerusalem

Basilica of St. John Lateran, Rome - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Urbs Beata Jerusalem Dicta Pacis Visio is an anonymous hymn which dates back to the 7th or 8th century. Originally comprised of 8 stanzas (+ doxology), when sung in the Office it is divided up: the first half is sung at Vespers and Matins, while the second half (Angularis Fundamentum) is sung at Lauds. In 1632, in accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644), it was altered and changed to Caelestis Urbs Jerusalem. Both versions are shown below. In the Roman Breviary it is sung at Vespers and Matins in the Common of the Dedication of a Church.


Sung by Giovanni Vianini

URBS JERUSALEM BEATA

1. Urbs Jerusalem beata,
Dicta pacis visio,
Quae construitur in caelis
Vivis ex lapidibus,
Et Angelis coronata,
Ut sponsata comite.

 2. Nova veniens e caelo,
Nuptiali thalamo
Praeparata, ut sponsata
Copuletur Domino:
Plateae et muri ejus
Ex auro purissimo.

3. Portae nitent margaritis
Adytis patentibus:
Et virtute meritorium
Illuc introducitur
Omnis qui ob Christi nomen
Hic in mundo premitur.

4. Tunsionibus, pressuris
Expoliti lapides,
Suis coaptantur locis
Per manus artificis,
Disponuntur permansuri
Sacris aedificiis.

5. Gloria et honor Deo
Usquequaque altissimo,
Una Patri Filioque
Atque Sancto Flamini,
Quibus laudes et potestas
Per æterna sæcula. Amen

or

Gloria et honor Deo
Usquequaque altissimo,
Una Patri, Filioque,
Inclyto Paraclito,
Cui laus est et potestas
Per aeterna saecula. Amen.



CAELESTIS URBS JERUSALEM (1632 Revision)

1. Caelestis Urbs Jerusalem
Beata pacis visio,
Quae celsa de viventibus
Saxis ad astra tolleris,
Sponsaeque ritu cingeris
Mille Angelorum millibus.

2. O sorte nupta prospera,
Dotata Patris gloria,
Respersa sponsi gratia,
Regina forzosissima,
Christo jugata principi,
Caeli corusca civitas.

3. Hic margaritis emicant
Patentque cunctis ostia:
Virtute namque praevia
Mortalis illuc ducitur,
Amore Christi percitus,
Quisquis tormenta sustulit.

4. Scalpri salubris ictibus,
Et tunsione plurima,
Fabri polita malleo,
Hanc saxa molem construunt,
Aptisque juncta nexibus
Locantur in fastigio.

5. Decus Parenti debitum
Sit in aeternum Altissimo,
Natoque Patris Unico,
Et inclyto Paraclito,
Cui laus, potestas, gloria,
Sit per aeterna saecula.

When Time Began, God Walked With Man

Facade of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Rome - Courtesy of Wikipedia

When Time Began, God Walked With Man is written by the Benedictine Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey. In the Divine Office (1974) it is sung at Morning Prayer in the Common of the Dedication of a Church. For it's musical setting, the Office recommends the 1861 hymn tune: Melita by the Anglican clergyman and hymnist, John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876).


Tune: Melita

Liturgical Guide: Common of the Dedication of a Church / Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica

Basilica of St. John Lateran, Rome

The hymns selected for use with the Common of the Dedication of a Church are sung on Feast Days that celebrate the Dedications of Churches. For example, November 9 is the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica. The Decree from the Rite of Dedication of a Church and an Altar (1977) begins by stating: "A church is the place where the Christian community is gathered to hear the word of God, to offer intercession and praise to him, and above all to celebrate the holy mysteries, and it is the place where the holy sacrament of the eucharist is kept. Thus it stands as a special kind of image of the Church itself, which is God’s temple built from living stones. And the altar of a church, around which the holy people of God gather to take part in the Lord’s sacrifice and to be refreshed at the heavenly meal, stands as a sign of Christ himself, who is the priest, the victim, and the altar of his own sacrifice."


St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church - Austin, Texas

LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)
154. Christ is Made Our Sure Foundation
155. The Church's One Foundation
178. Now, From the Heav'ns Descending

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
40. When Time Began, God Walked With Man
41. The Church's One Foundation

ROMAN BREVIARY
Alto Ex Olympi Vertice
Angularis Fundamentum
Caelestis Urbs Jerusalem
Urbs Beata Jerusalem


Presented by Fr. Reed of CatholicTV Network

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

155. The Church's One Foundation

One Lord, One Faith, One Birth

The Church's One Foundation was written in 1866 by the Anglican Vicar, Samuel Stone (1839-1900). He wrote the hymn in response to a series of controversial treatises on the Pentateuch and the Book of Joshua written by John William Colenso (1814–1883), first Anglican Bishop of Diocese of Natal, South African. In them he raised the possibility of biblical fallibility, arguing that parts of scripture were not literally or historically accurate. The Church's One Foundation is set to the tune Aurelia, written in 1864 by the English organist and composer Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876). He was the grandson of Charles Wesley. In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used in the Commons of the Dedication of a Church.

Christ is Made Our Sure Foundation / Angularis Fundamentum / Alto Ex Olympi Vertice

Christ is Head and Cornerstone

Christ is Made Our Sure Foundation is an Anthony G. Petti adaption of the 1851 Rev. John Mason Neale (1818-1866) translation of the 7th century anonymous Latin hymn: Angularis Fundamentum, which was the original hymn at Lauds for the Common of the Dedication of a Church in the Roman Breviary. Under Pope Urban VIII, it was revised and changed to Alto Ex Olympi Vertice. Both versions are shown below. Christ is Made the Sure Foundation is set to the tune, Westminster Abbey (Belville), an anthem written in 1680 by the English Baroque composer Henry Purcell (1659-1895) and later adapted for use as a hymn by Ernest Hawkins (1802-1868). In the Liturgy of the Hours, Christ is Made Our Sure Foundation is used for the Commons of the Dedication of a Church.

Tune: Westminster Abbey (Belville)

CHRIST IS MADE THE SURE FOUNDATION by John Neale, 1851 (Public Domain)

1. Christ is made the sure Foundation,
Christ the Head and Cornerstone;
Chosen of the Lord, and precious,
Binding all the Church in one,
Holy Zion’s Help forever,
And her Confidence alone.

2. All that dedicated city,
Dearly loved of God on high,
In exultant jubilation,
Pours perpetual melody,
God the One in Three adoring
In glad hymns eternally.

3. To this temple, where we call Thee,
Come, O Lord of Hosts, today;
With Thy wonted lovingkindness
Hear Thy servants as they pray.
And Thy fullest benediction
Shed within its walls alway.

4. Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants
What they ask of Thee to gain;
What they gain from Thee forever
With the blessèd to retain,
And hereafter in Thy glory
Evermore with Thee to reign.

5. Laud and honor to the Father,
Laud and honor to the Son,
Laud and honor to the Spirit,
Ever Three and ever One;
Consubstantial, co-eternal,
While unending ages run.

Gregorian Chant

ANGULARIS FUNDAMENTUM

1. Angularis fundamentum
lapis Christus missus est,
qui parietum compage
in utroque nectitur,
quem Sion sancta suscepit,
in quo credens permanet.

2. Omnis illa Deo sacra
et dilecta civitas,
plena modulis in laude
et canore jubilo,
trinum Deum unicumque
cum fervore prædicat.

3. Hoc in templo, summe Deus,
exoratus adveni,
et clementi bonitate
precum vota suscipe;
largam benedictionem
hic infunde jugiter.

4. Hic promereantur omnes
petita acquirere
et adepta possidere
cum sanctis perenniter,
paradisum introire
translati in requiem.

5. Gloria et honor Deo
usquequaque altissimo,
una Patri Filioque
inclyto Paraclito,
Cui laus est et potestas
per æterna sæcula.


ALTO EX OLYMPI VERTICE (1632 Revision)

1. Alto ex Olympi vertice
Summi Parentis Filius,
Ceu monte desectus lapis
Terras in imas decidens,
Domus supernae, et infimae,
Utrumque junxit angulum.

2. Sed ilia sedes coelitum
Semper resultat laudibus,
Deumque Trinum et Unicum
Jugi canore preedicat:
Illi canentes jungimur
Almae Sionis eemuli.

3. Haec templa, Rex coelestium,
Imple benigno lumine:
Huc o rogatus adveni,
Plebisque vota suscipe,
Et nostra corda jugiter
Perfunde coeli gratia.

4. Hie impetrent fidelium
Voces precesque supplicum
Domus beatae munera,
Partisque donis gaudeant:
Donee soluti corpore
Sedes beatas impleant.

5. Decus Parenti debitum
Sit usquequaque Altissimo,
Natoque Patris unico,
Et inclyto Paraclito,
Cui laus, potestas, gloria
Sterna sit per saecula. Amen