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.

Now Let the Heav'ns Resound with Praise / Exsúltet Cælum Láudibus / Exsultet Orbis Gaudiis

He Sent Apostles in His Love

Now Let the Heav'ns Resound with Praise is a 1972 Peter J. Scagnelli S.J. (b. 1949) translation of the 10th century Latin hymn, Exultet Caelum Laudibus. In 1632, accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644), it was altered and changed to Exultet Orbis Gaudiis. Both versions are shown below. Ordained in 1976, Fr. Scagnelli is a priest and liturgist of the Diocese of Providence and acts as a consultant in Latin-to-English translations for the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL). Now Let the Heav'ns Resound with Praise is set to the tune: Rex Gloriose Martyrum (1st video), first published in the Ca­thol­ische Geist­liche Ge­säsange of 1608. In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used in the Commons of the Apostles.


Tune: Rex Gloriose Martyrum

EXSULTET CAELUM LAUDIBUS
Listen

Exsúltet cælum láudibus,
resúltet terra gáudiis:
Apostolórum glóriam
sacra canunt sollémnia.

Vos, sæcli iusti iúdices
et vera mundi lúmina,
votis precámur córdium,
audíte preces súpplicum.

Qui cælum verbo cláuditis
serásque eius sólvitis,
nos a peccátis ómnibus
sólvite iussu, quæsumus.

Quorum præcépto súbditur
salus et languor ómnium,
sanáte ægros móribus,
nos reddéntes virtútibus,

Ut, cum iudex advénerit
Christus in fine sæculi,
nos sempitérni gáudii
fáciat esse cómpotes.

Deo sint laudes glóriæ,
qui dat nos evangélicis
per vos doctrínis ínstrui
et prósequi cæléstia. Amen.


Exsúltet Cælum Láudibus performed by Giovanni Vianini


Exsultet Orbis Gaudiis performed by Giovanni Vianini

EXSULTET ORBIS GAUDIIS (1632 Revision)

1. Exsultet orbis gaudiis:
Cælum resúltet láudibus:
Apostolórum glóriam
Tellus et astra concinunt.

2. Vos sæculórum iúdices,
Et vera mundi lúmina:
Votis precámur córdium,
Audíte voces súpplicum.

3. Qui templa cæli cláuditis,
Serásque verbo sólvitis,
Nos a reátu noxios
Solvi iubete, quæsumus.

4. Præcépta quorum protinus
Languor salusque sentiunt:
Sanáte mentes languidas:
Augete nos virtútibus.

5. Ut, cum redibit arbiter
In fine Christus sæculi,
Nos sempitérni gáudii
Concedat esse cómpotes.

6. Patri, simúlque Fílio,
Tibique Sancte Spíritus,
Sicut fuit, sit iúgiter
Sæclum per omne glória. Amen.


Setting of Exsultet Orbis Gaudiis by Francesco Cavalli (1602-1676)