O Jesu Thou the Virgins' Crown / Je­su Co­ro­na Vir­gin­um / Ie­su Co­ro­na Vir­gin­um

Adoring All Thy Chosen Brides

O Jesu Thou the Virgins' Crown is a translation of the 4th century Latin hymn, Je­su Co­ro­na Vir­gin­um (see 2nd video) attributed to St. Ambrose of Milan (c.340-397). In the Roman Breviary it is traditionally sung at Vespers and Lauds in the Common of Virgins. In the 19th century a dozen or so English translations were written, among them: the 1854 work O Jesu Thou the Virgins' Crown by Anglican priest, scholar and prolific hymn-writer, John M. Neale (1818-1866). It is sung to the tune, St. Bernard by William Henry Monk (1823-1889). An alternative tune is Tallis' Canon, as featured in the 1st video.

Tune: Tallis' Canon

O JESU, THOU THE VIRGIN'S CROWN by John M. Neale

1. O Jesu, the virgins’ Crown, do Thou
Accept us as in prayer we bow,
Born of that virgin whom alone
The mother and the maid we own.

2. Amongst the lilies Thou dost feed,
And thither choirs of virgins lead,
Adorning all Thy chosen brides
With glorious gifts Thy love provides.

3. And whither, Lord, Thy footsteps wend,
The virgins still with praise attend;
For Thee they pour their sweetest song,
And after Thee rejoicing throng.

4. O gracious Lord, we Thee implore
Thy grace on every sense to pour;
From all pollution keep us free,
And make us pure in heart for Thee.

5. All praise to God the Father be,
All praise, Eternal Son, to Thee,
Whom with the Spirit we adore
For ever and for evermore.


Sung by the Benedictine Nuns at the Abbey of Regina Laudis from the album, Women in Chant.

JESU CORONA VIRGINUM / IESU CORONA VIRGINUM

1. J(I)esu corona Virginum,
quem Mater illa concipit
quae sola Virgo parturit,
haec vota clemens accipe.

2. Qui pascis inter lilia,
septus choreis Virginum
sponsas decorans gloria,
sponsisque reddens praemia.

3. Quocumque pergis, virgines
sequuntur, atque laudibus
post te canentes cursitant
hymnosque dulces personant.

4. Te deprecamur largius
nostris adauge sensibus
nescire prorsus omnia,
corruptionis vulnera.

5. Virtus, honor, laus, gloria,
Deo Patri cum Filio,
Sancto simul Paraclito
In saeculorum saecula.

For All Thy Saints, O Lord

Who Followed Thee, Obeyed, Adored

For All Thy Saints, O Lord was written by the Anglican Bishop and author, Richard Mant (1776 – 1848). It was one of a small group of original hymns which he included in his Ancient Hymns from the Roman Breviary.  First Published in 1837,  it was one of the earliest collections of English hymns translated from the original Latin. For All Thy Saints, O Lord is set to the tune, Narenza which was composed by William Henry Havergal (1793-1870), and based on a melody from Catholicum Hymnologium Germanicum of 1584. A more commonly associated hymn tune with it is Festal Song, as featured in the 2nd video. In the Divine Office it is sung on Feasts and Memorials of Saints or Angels.


Tune: Narenza

FOR ALL THY SAINTS by Richard Mant, 1837 (Public Domain)

 1. For all thy saints, 0 Lord,
our grateful hymn receive,
who followed thee. obeyed, adored,
and strove in thee to live.

 2. For all thy saints, 0 Lord,
accept our thankful cry,
who counted thee their great reward,
who strove in thee to die.

 3. Thine earthly members fit
 to join thy saints above,
in one communion ever knit,
one fellowship of love.

 4. Jesus, thy name we bless,
 and humbly pray that we
may follow them in holiness
and live and die in thee.

 5. All might, all praise, be thine,
Father, co-equal Son,
and Spirit, bond of love divine,
while endless ages run.


Tune: Festal Song

Wilt Thou Forgive That Sin, Where I Begun

And Do Run Still, Though Still I Do Deplore ?

Wilt Thou Forgive that Sin, Where I Begun is an adaptation of the poem, A Hymn to God the Father by English poet, lawyer, and Anglican Cleric John Donne (1572-1631). Likely written in 1623, he composed it while recovering from an unknown deadly illness (possibly typhus) that was endemic in London at the time. Later upon hearing his poem sung by the Chor­is­ters of St. Paul’s Ca­thed­ral, Donne remarked: “the words of this hymn have re­stored to me the same thoughts of joy that pos­sessed my soul in my sick­ness, when I com­posed it. And, O the pow­er of Church-mu­sic! that har­mo­ny add­ed to this hymn has raised the af­fect­ions of my heart, and quick­ened my grace of zeal and gra­ti­tude; and I ob­serve that I al­ways re­turn from pay­ing this pub­lic duty of pray­er and praise with an un­ex­press­i­ble tran­quil­i­ty of mind, and will­ing­ness to leave the world.” - Izaak Walton's Lives, 1670. Among the many musical settings of the poem, probably the most common tune for congregational singing is So Giebst Du (Dresden, 1694) with harmonization added by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1720). In some publications of the Divine Office, such as Christian Prayer: Liturgy of the Hours (St. Paul Editions, 1976), A Hymn to God the Father is included as an optional poem to be recited (see 2nd video) at Night Prayer.

Tune: So Giebst Du

WILT THOU FORGIVE THAT SIN? by John Donne, 1623 (Public Domain)

Wilt Thou forgive that sin, by man begun,
Which was my sin though it were done before?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin, through which I run,
And do run still, though still I do deplore?
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,
For I have more.

Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won
Others to sin, and made my sin their door?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two, but wallowed in a score?
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,
For I have more.

I have a sin of fear, that when I’ve spun
My last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
But swear by Thyself, that at my death Thy Son
Shall shine, as He shines now and heretofore:
And, having done that, Thou hast done:
I fear no more.
 

Poem read by Richard Burton