Tristes Erant Apostoli

1864 French Illustration - Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Tristes Erant Apostoli is an anonymous Ambrosian hymn dating back to the 4th or 5th century. It is one of 3 hymns which have been derived from longer hymn, Aurora Lucis Rutilat. In 1632, in accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644), Tristes Erant Apostoli was altered and changed to Tristes Erant Apostoli (1632). Both versions are shown below. It is sung in the Common of Apostles of the Roman Breviary during Easter Season.

TRISTES ERANT APOSTOLI

1. Tristes erant apostoli
de neces sui Domini
quem poena mortis crudelis
servi damnavunt impii.

2. Sermone blando Angelus
praedixit mulieribus in
Galilaeam Dominus
videntes est quantocius.

3. Illae dum pergunt concitae
apostolis hoc dicere,
videntes eum vivere,
osculant pedes Domini.

4. Quo agnito discipuli
in Galilaeam propere
pergunt videre faciem
desideratam Domini.

5. Esto perenne mentibus
paschale, Iesu, gaudium
et nos renatos gratine
tuis triumphis aggrega.

6. Gloria tibi, Domine
qui surrexisti a mortuis
cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.


TRISTES ERANT APOSTOLI (1632 Revision)

1. Tristes erant Apostoli
De Christi acerbo funere,
Quem morte crudelissima
Servi necarant impii.

2. Sermone verax Angelus
Mulieribus praedixerat:
Mox ore Christus gaudium
Gregi feret fidelium. 

3. Ad anxios Apostolos
Currunt statim dum nuntiae,
Illae micantis obvia
Christi tenent vestigia.

4. Galilaeae ad alta montium
Se conferunt Apostoli,
Jesuque, voti compotes,
Almo beantur lumine. 

5. Ut sis perenne mentibus
 Paschale Jesu gaudium;
 A morte dira criminum
 Vita? renatos libera.

6 Deo Patri sit gloria,
 Et Filio, qui a mortuis
 Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
 In sempiterna saecula.

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

Aurora Iam Spargit Polum

The Dawn Now Scatters the Sky

Aurora Iam Spargit Polum is an anonymous hymn which dates back to the 8th century or earlier. Once thought to be by St. Ambrose (c.340-397), modern scholars are divided on it's authorship.  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 Aurora Iam Spargit Polum (1632). Both versions are shown below. It is sung at Saturday Lauds in the Roman Breviary.

AURORA IAM SPARGIT POLUM
Listen

1. Aurora iam spargit polum,
terris dies illabitur,
lucis resultat spiculum:
discedat omne lubricum.

2. Iam vana noctis decidant,
mentis reatus subruat,
quicquid tenebris horridum
nox attulit culpae, cadat,

3. Ut mane illud ultimum,
quod praestolamur cernui,
in lucem nobis effluat,
dum hoc canore concrepat.

4. Deo Patri sit gloria
eiusque soli Filio
cum Spiritu Paraclito,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen


AURORA IAM SPARGIT POLUM (1632 Revision)

1. Aurora iam spargit polum,
terris dies illabitur,
lucis resultat spiculum:
discedat omne lubricum.

2. Phantasma noctis exsulet:
mentis reatus corruat.
quicquid tenebris horridum
nox attulit culpae, cadat,

3. Ut mane, quod nos ultimum
hic deprecamur cernui,
cum luce nobis effluat,
hoc dum canore concrepat.

4. Deo Patri sit gloria
eiusque soli Filio
cum Spiritu Paraclito,
nunc et per omne saeculum. Amen.