PASCHA - Easter

X. PASCHA

[English]

Lux illuxit Dominica,

Lux insignis, lux unica,

Lux lucis et laetitiae,

Lux immortalis gloriae.

Diem mundi conditio

Commendat ab initio,

Quam Christi resurrectio

Ditavit privilegio.

In spe perennis gaudii,

Lucis exultent filii;

Vindicent membra meritis

Conformitatem capitis!

Solemnis est celebritas

Et vota sunt solemnia;

Primae diei dignitas

Prima requirit gaudia.

Solemnitatum gloria,

Paschalis est victoria,

Sub multis aenigmatibus

Prius promissa patribus.

Jam scisso velo patuit

Quod vetus lex praecinuit;

Figuram res exterminat,

Et umbram lux illuminat.

Quid agnus sine macula,

Quid haedus typi gesserit,

Nostra purgans piacula,

Messias nobis aperit.

Per mortem nos indebitam

Solvit a morte debita;

Praedam captans illicitam

Praeda privatur licita.

Carnis delet opprobria

Caro peccati nescia;

Die reflorens tertia

Corda confirmat dubia.

O mors Christi mirifica,

Tu Christo nos vivifica!

Mors morti non obnoxia,

Da nobis vitae praemia!

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X. EASTER

[Latin]

The Lord's own day hath poured its rays,

That glorious light, the day of days;

The light of light and joy, the day

Whose glory passeth not away.

This day the world's foundations laid

Distinguish, since the world was made;

On which Christ's rising from the dead

Hath new peculiar glory shed.

Ye sons of light! with lifted voice

In hope of endless joys rejoice;

And by good deeds, ye members! see

That like unto your Head ye be!

A holy feast this day displays,

And prayers as holy it desires;

The glory of the first of days

The first-fruits of our joy requires.

The feast of Easter's victory

The glory of all feasts must be,

'Neath many a mystic type foretold

In promise to our sires of old.

Now, rent the veil, is that well known

In the old law obscurely shown;

Fulfilment types obliterates,

And shadows light illuminates.

From what the lamb without a spot,

From what the scapegoat, typified,

Purging from us guilt's sinful blot,

Messias draws the veil aside.

By death deserved not doth He pay

From death deserved to set us free;

Death, seizing the unlawful prey,

Loses what was his lawfully.

That flesh, which knows not guilt nor stain,

Destroys our guilt, the flesh's bane;

And, springing the third day again,

Doth doubting hearts' full faith maintain.

O death of Christ, most wondrous death!

Be thou in Christ our life and breath!

O death, that bows no death beneath!

Grant thou to us life's glory-wreath!

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