Thank you, Zephyrinus, for these beautiful images of ancient abbeys and churches at Christmastide.I can imagine Gregorian chant ringing through the halls and walks through the ages of these holy sanctuaries. -Note by Dante P
Thank you, Dante P, for your welcome Comment. Indeed, Zephyrinus has exactly the same image of Gregorian Chant ringing through, around, and in, all these magnificent Abbeys and Churches. Long may it continue.
A Christmas hymn from the traditional Latin breviary like this perhaps: Veni Redemptor Gentium, composed by S. Ambrose of Milan (d. 397):Come, thou Redeemer of the earth, Come testify thy virgin birth: All lands admire, all times applaud:Such is the birth that fits our God.Forth from his chamber goeth he, That royal home of purity,A giant in twofold substance one, Rejoicing now his course to run.The Virgin's womb that glory gained, its virgin honor is still unstained. The banners there of virtue glow; God in his temple dwells below.From God the Father he proceeds, To God the Father back he speeds; Runs out his course to death and hell, Returns on God’s high throne to dwell.O Equal to thy Father, thou! Gird on thy fleshly mantle now; The weakness of our mortal state With deathless might invigorate.Thy cradle here shall glitter bright, And darkness breathe a newer light, Where endless faith shall shine serene, And twilight never intervene.All laud, eternal Son, to thee Whose advent sets thy people free, Whom with the Father we adore, And Holy Ghost, for evermore. AmenNote by Dante P
Here is the beautiful Latin hymn original, a thumbnail sketch of the history of salvation:Veni redemptor gentium, ostende partum Virginis; miretur omne saeculum:talis decet partus Deum.Procedat e thalamo suo, pudoris aula regia, geminae gigas substantiaealacris ut currat viam.Alvus tumescit Virginis, claustrum pudoris permanet, vexilla virtutum micant,versatur in templo Deus.Egressus ejus a Patre, Regressus ejus ad Patrem; Excursus usque ad inferos, Recursus ad sedem Dei.Aequalis aeterno Patri, carnis tropaeo accingere, infirma nostri corporisvirtute firmans perpeti.Praesepe iam fulget tuum lumenque nox spirat novum, quod nulla nox interpoletfideque iugi luceat.Sit, Christe, rex piissime, tibi Patrique gloriacum Spiritu Paraclito,in sempiterna saecula. Amen.(Note by Dante P)
Thank you, Zephyrinus, for these beautiful images of ancient abbeys and churches at Christmastide.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine Gregorian chant ringing through the halls and walks through the ages of these holy sanctuaries. -Note by Dante P
Thank you, Dante P, for your welcome Comment. Indeed, Zephyrinus has exactly the same image of Gregorian Chant ringing through, around, and in, all these magnificent Abbeys and Churches. Long may it continue.
DeleteA Christmas hymn from the traditional Latin breviary like this perhaps: Veni Redemptor Gentium, composed by S. Ambrose of Milan (d. 397):
ReplyDeleteCome, thou Redeemer of the earth, Come testify thy virgin birth: All lands admire, all times applaud:
Such is the birth that fits our God.
Forth from his chamber goeth he, That royal home of purity,
A giant in twofold substance one, Rejoicing now his course to run.
The Virgin's womb that glory gained, its virgin honor is still unstained. The banners there of virtue glow; God in his temple dwells below.
From God the Father he proceeds, To God the Father back he speeds; Runs out his course to death and hell, Returns on God’s high throne to dwell.
O Equal to thy Father, thou! Gird on thy fleshly mantle now; The weakness of our mortal state With deathless might invigorate.
Thy cradle here shall glitter bright, And darkness breathe a newer light, Where endless faith shall shine serene, And twilight never intervene.
All laud, eternal Son, to thee Whose advent sets thy people free, Whom with the Father we adore, And Holy Ghost, for evermore. Amen
Note by Dante P
Here is the beautiful Latin hymn original, a thumbnail sketch of the history of salvation:
ReplyDeleteVeni redemptor gentium, ostende partum Virginis; miretur omne saeculum:
talis decet partus Deum.
Procedat e thalamo suo, pudoris aula regia, geminae gigas substantiae
alacris ut currat viam.
Alvus tumescit Virginis, claustrum pudoris permanet, vexilla virtutum micant,
versatur in templo Deus.
Egressus ejus a Patre, Regressus ejus ad Patrem; Excursus usque ad inferos, Recursus ad sedem Dei.
Aequalis aeterno Patri, carnis tropaeo accingere, infirma nostri corporis
virtute firmans perpeti.
Praesepe iam fulget tuum lumenque nox spirat novum, quod nulla nox interpolet
fideque iugi luceat.
Sit, Christe, rex piissime, tibi Patrique gloria
cum Spiritu Paraclito,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.
(Note by Dante P)