O Gloriosa Domina / O Gloriosa Virginum

Mosaic in the Apse of the Hagia Sophia - Courtesy of Wikipedia   

O Gloriosa Domina is the second half of the hymn: Quem Terra, Pontus, Aethera. It was composed by Venantius Fortunatus (c.530-c.600/609), the Bishop of Poitiers. 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 O Gloriósa Vírginum. Both versions are shown below. It is sung in the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Roman Breviary. It is said that St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) was always singing this hymn. His mother sang it to him as a baby, and even on his death bed after receiving Extreme Unction, he intoned the hymn.


O Gloriosa Domina

O GLORIOSA DOMINA

1. O Gloriosa domina
excelsa super sidera,
qui te creavit provide,
lactas sacrato ubere.

2. Quod Eva tristis abstulit,
tu reddis almo germine;
intrent ut astra flebiles,
sternis benigna semitam. 

3. Tu regis alti ianua
et porta lucis fulgida;
vitam datam per Virginem,
gentes redemptae, plaudite.

4. Patri sit Paraclito
tuoque Nato gloria,
qui veste te mirabili
circumdederunt gratiae. Amen.


O Gloriosa Virginum

O GLORIOSA VIRGINUM (1632 Revision)
Listen

1. O gloriósa vírginum,
sublímis inter sídera,
Qui te creávit párvulum
lacténte nutris úbere.

2. Quod Heva tristis ábstulit,
tu reddis almo gérmine,
Intrent ut astra flébiles,
caeli reclúdis cárdines. 

3. Tu Regis Alti jánua
et aula lucis fúlgida,
Vitam datam per Vírginem,
gentes redémptae pláudite.

4. Jesu Tibi sit glória,
Qui natus es de Vírgine,
Cum Patre et almo Spíritu,
in sempitérna saécula. Amen


William Byrd's 'O Gloriosa Domina' performed by Cantum Barbum

En Acetum, Fel, Arundo

14th Century French Carving - Courtesy of Wikipedia

En Acetum, Fel, Arundo is an extract from the 6th century Latin hymn: Pange Lingua Gloriosi Proelium Certaminis by Venantius Fortunatus (c.530-c.600/609). In the Roman Breviary it is sung at Lauds (Morning Prayer) on Good Friday. An audio recording can be found here.


EN ACETUM, FEL, ARUNDO

1. En acetum, fel, arundo,
sputa, clavi, lancea:
mite corpus perforatur,
Sanguis, unda profluit
terra, pontus, astra, mundis,
quo lavantur flumine!

2. Crux fidelis,
inter omnes
arbor una nobilis;
nulla talem silva profert,
flore, fronde, germine.
Dulce lignum, dulci clavo,
dulce pondus sustinens!

3. Flecte ramos, arbor alta,
tensa laxa viscera,
et rigor lentescat ille,
quem dedit nativas,
ut superni membra Regis
miti tendas stipite.

4. Sola digna tu fuisti
ferre saeculi pretium,
atque portum praeparare
nauta mundo naufrago,
quem sacer cruor perunxit,
fusus Agni corpore.

5. Aequa Patri Filioque,
inclito Paraclito,
sempiterna sit beatae
Trinitati gloria,
cuius alma nos redemit
atque servat gratia. Amen.

Queen on Whose Starry Brow Doth Rest

Stained Glass: St. James Church, Glenbeigh, Ire. - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Queen on Whose Starry Brow Doth Rest is a translation by Monsignor Ronald A. Knox (1888 - 1957) of a hymn by Venantius Fortunatus (c.530-c.600). In the Divine (1974) it is among the selected hymns sung with the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The recommended musical setting in the Office is the 1628 tune: Eisenach by the early Baroque composer, Johann Hermann Schein (1586-1630).


Tune: Eisenach

Sing My Tongue of Warfare Ended / Pange Lingua, Gloriosi Proelium Certaminis / + Crux Fidelis

Painting by Gerard David - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Sing My Tongue of Warfare Ended is a translation by Monsignor Ronald A. Knox (1888 - 1957) of the opening 5 verses (+ doxology) of the 6th century Latin hymn: Pange Lingua Gloriosi Proelium Certaminis by Venantius Fortunatus (c.530-c.600/609). As poet of the Merovingian Court, he composed the hymn for the procession that brought a relic of the True Cross to Queen Radegund in 570. In the Mass, this hymn has been traditionally chanted during the Adoration of the Cross on Good Friday. In the Roman Breviary it has been divided into shorter hymns (eg. Crux Fidelis - see 2nd video) which are used during Holy Week. It is believed that Fortunatus' work inspired St. Thomas Aquinas to write his great hymn for the Feast of Corpus Christi: Pange Lingua Gloriosi Corporis Mysterium. In the Divine Office (1974), Fr. Knox's translation: Sing My Tongue of Warfare Ended is sung on Good Friday with the Office of Readings. The Divine Office recommends the tune: Mannheim by Friedrich Filitz (1804-1876). An alternative tune that can also be used is Picardy, as featured in the following video.


Alternative Tune: Picardy

PANGE, LINGUA, GLORIOSI PROELIUM CERTAMINIS

1. Pange, lingua, gloriosi
proelium certaminis,
et super Crucis trophaeo
dic triumphum nobilem,
qualiter Redemptor orbis
immolatus vicerit.

2. De parentis protoplasti
fraude Factor condolens,
quando pomi noxialis
morte morsu corruit,
ipse lignum tunc notavit,
damna ligni ut solveret.

3. Hoc opus nostrae salutis
ordo depoposcerat,
multiformis proditoris
ars ut artem falleret,
et medelam ferret inde,
hostis unde laeserat.

4. Quando venit ergo sacri
plenitudo temporis,
missus est ab arce Patris
natus, orbis, Conditor,
atque ventre virginali
carne factus prodiit.

5. Vagit infans inter arcta
conditus praesepia:
membra pannis involuta
Virgo Mater alligat:
et manus pedesque et crura
stricta cingit fascia.

6. Lustra sex qui iam peracta
tempus implens corporis,
se volente, natus ad hoc,
passioni deditus,
Agnus in crucis levatur
immolandus stipite.

7. En acetum, fel, arundo,
sputa, clavi, lancea:
mite corpus perforatur,
Sanguis, unda profluit
terra, pontus, astra, mundis,
quo lavantur flumine!

8. Crux fidelis,
inter omnes
arbor una nobilis;
nulla talem silva profert,
flore, fronde, germine.
Dulce lignum, dulci clavo,
dulce pondus sustinens!

9. Flecte ramos, arbor alta,
tensa laxa viscera,
et rigor lentescat ille,
quem dedit nativas,
ut superni membra Regis
miti tendas stipite.

10. Sola digna tu fuisti
ferre saeculi pretium,
atque portum praeparare
nauta mundo naufrago,
quem sacer cruor perunxit,
fusus Agni corpore.

11. Aequa Patri Filioque,
inclito Paraclito,
sempiterna sit beatae
Trinitati gloria,
cuius alma nos redemit
atque servat gratia. Amen.
 

Crux Fidelis (Drawn from verses: 8, 1-3, 11 above)

CRUX FIDELIS

1. Crux fidelis,
inter omnes
arbor una nobilis;
nulla talem silva profert,
flore, fronde, germine.
Dulce lignum, dulci clavo,
dulce pondus sustinens!

2. Pange, lingua, gloriosi
proelium certaminis,
et super Crucis trophaeo
dic triumphum nobilem,
qualiter Redemptor orbis
immolatus vicerit.

3. De parentis protoplasti
fraude Factor condolens,
quando pomi noxialis
morte morsu corruit,
ipse lignum tunc notavit,
damna ligni ut solveret.

4. Hoc opus nostrae salutis
ordo depoposcerat,
multiformis proditoris
ars ut artem falleret,
et medelam ferret inde,
hostis unde laeserat.

4. Quando venit ergo sacri
plenitudo temporis,
missus est ab arce Patris
natus, orbis, Conditor,
atque ventre virginali
carne factus prodiit.

5. Aequa Patri Filioque,
inclito Paraclito,
sempiterna sit beatae
Trinitati gloria,
cuius alma nos redemit
atque servat gratia. Amen.

Abroad the Regal Banners Fly / Vexilla Regis Proeunt

Now Shines the Cross' Mystery 

Abroad the Regal Banners Fly is a translation of the Latin hymn, Vexilla Regis Proeunt by Venantius Fortunatus (c.530-c.609). As poet and hymnodist in the Merovingian Court of the Franks, he was asked by his patroness, Queen Radegunda to compose a fitting processional hymn for the arrival of a large relic from the True Cross that had been sent from the Byzantine Emperor Justin II and Empress Sophia. This was done in response to a request the Queen had made for relics for the Abbey Church of the convent at Poitier she had founded and retired to after the death of husband, Chlotar I. St. Radegund was canonized in the 9th century. In the Roman Breviary, Vexilla Regis was traditionally sung at Vespers from Passion Sunday to Holy Thursday. One early English translation is by William K. Blount (d.1717) and set to the tune, Primo Dierum. Another popular translation, The Royal Banners Forward Go by the Anglican Minister, John Mason Neale (1818-1866) is set to the 7th century Sarum Plainsong, Vexilla Regis Proeunt (see video below). Both translations can be sung to the tune, Andernach. In the Divine Office (1974), Abroad the Regal Banners Fly is used during Lent and Holy Week.



VEXILLA REGIS PRODEUNT

Vexilla regis prodeunt
Fulget crucis mysterium
Quo carne carnis conditor
Suspensus est patibulo.

Quo vulneratus insuper
Mucrone diro lanceae
Ut nos lavaret crimine
Manavit unda et sanguine.

Impleta sunt quae concinit
David fideli carmine
Dicens In nationibus
Regnavit a ligno Deus.

Arbor decora et fulgida
Ornata Regis purpura
Electa digno stipite
Tam sancta membra tangere.

Beata, cujus brachiis
Saecli pependit pretium
Statera facta corporis
Praedamque tulit tartari.

O Crux ave, spes unica
In hac triumphi gloria
Auge piis justitiam
Reisque dona veniam.

Te summa Deus Trinitas
Collaudet omnis spiritus:
Quos per crucis mysterium
Salvas, rege per saecula. Amen.