Easter Hymn XXII

XXII. TRINITAS
[English]

Profitentes Unitatem
Veneremur Trinitatem
Pari reverentia,
Tres Personas asserentes
Personali differentes
A se differentia.

Haec dicuntur relative,
Quum sint unum substantive,
Non tria principia.
Sive dicas tres vel tria,
Simplex tamen est usia,
Non triplex essentia.

Simplex esse, simplex posse,
Simplex velle, simplex nosse,
Cuncta simplicia.
Non unius quam duarum
Sive trium Personarum
Minor efficacia.

Pater, Proles, Sacreum Flamen,
Deus unus: sed hi tamen
Habent quaedam propria.
Una virtus, unum numen,
Unus splendor, unum lumen,
Hoc una quod alia.

Patri Proles est aequalis,
Nec hoc tollit personalis
Amborum distinctio.
Patri compar Filioque,
Spiritalis ab utroque
Procedit connexio.

Non humana ratione
Capi possunt hae Personae,
Nec harum discretio.
Non hic ordo temporalis,
Non hic situs, aut localis
Rerum circumscriptio.

Nil in Deo praeter Deum,
Nulla causa praeter eum
Qui causat causalia.
Effectiva vel formalis
Causa Deus, et finalis,
Sed nunquam materia.

Digne loque de Personis
Vim transcendit rationis,
Excedit ingenia.
Quid sit gigni, quid processus,
Me nescire sum professus:
Sed fide non dubia.

Qui sic credit, ne festinet,
Et a via non declinet
Insolerter regia.
Servet fidem, formet mores,
Non declinet ad errores
Quos damnat Ecclesia.

Nos in fide gloriemur,
Nos in una modulemur
Fidei constantia:
Trinae sit laus Unitati,
Sit et simplae Trinitati
Coaeterna gloria! Amen.

-----

XXII. TRINITY
[Latin]

We, the Unity confessing,
Must the Trinity be blessing
In our worship equally;
In three Persons thus believing;
Difference 'twixt them each perceiving
In their Personality.

Relatively of these speak we,
Substantively but one make we,
Nor three Persons in them see;
Call them three or threefold, never
But one substance are they ever,
Neither in their essence three.

One in being, One in power,
One in will and wisdom's dower,
One in all respects they be:
Of all these three Persons, either
One, or two, or all together,
Are Almighty equally.

Father, Son, and Spirit Holy,
Are one God, but each hath truly
Some peculiar property:
One their goodness, one their might, is;
One their glory, one their light, is;
One are they entirely.

Equal are the Son and Father,
But from this we may not gather
That their Persons are the same:
One with Son and Father either,
Not from one, but both together,
The connecting Spirit came.

These three Persons that we mention
Are beyond man's comprehension,
As the difference each one shows:
Time and place alike unbounded
Are for them, and unsurrounded
By the limits nature knows.

Naught but God God's self compriseth,
Nor from other cause ariseth,
Cause of all causality;
Though the cause, all things respecting,
Formal, final, and effecting,
Immaterial is He.

To describe these Persons duly
Far transcends man's reason truly,
And exceeds his wit as well:
What that birth is, that procession,
Though faith doubts not, my confession
Must be that I cannot tell.

Who believes this, nought dismayeth;
He ne'er ignorantly strayeth
From this creed's right royal road;
Keeps the faith, his life makes purer,
Not declining into error
Censured by the Church of God.

In this faith then let us glory,
And in one consistent story
Hold it in its verity:
Praise be to the Triune Godhead;
To the Three in One included
Co-eternal glory be! Amen.

-----

Easter Hymn XXI

XXI. TRINITAS
[English]

Trinitatem simplicem,
Trinum Deum, non triplicem,
Supplex colat ecclestia!
Trinitatis
In creatis
Interlucent rebus vestigia.

Mens in Deum consurgat sobria!
Genitoris et Geniti
Spiritusque Paracliti
Gratia
Nobis sacra revelet mysteria.

Tres personae sunt, et plura
Quae personas distingunt mysteria.
Tres idem sunt in natura,
Quod una nec tribus minor singula.

Trium posse, scire, velle paria,
In personis tribus et distantia.
- Sit par reverentia
Tribus, et uni gloria! Amen.

-----

XXI. TRINITY
[Latin]

To the Trine God, not Gods three,
The Trinity in Unity,
Let the Church now bow the knee!
All creation
Indication,
Clear and lucid, gives of a Trinity.

Let the sober mind up to God then rise!
Of the Father and of the Son,
With the Paraclete Spirit one,
To our eyes
May God's grace reveal all the mysteries!

There are Persons three, and many
Mysteries marking these Persons distinctively:
One by nature, all and any,
Neither is separately less than all the three.

Equal in all Three is knowledge, power and will,
Yet in their three Persons is there difference still:
- Equal reverence to the Three,
To the One all glory, be! Amen.

-----
   

Easter Hymn XX

XX. PENTECOSTE
[English]

Veni, summe consolator,
Spes salutis, vitae dator,
Adsit tua gratia!
Dulcis ardor, ros divine,
Bonitatis germine
Eadem substantia.

Ab utroque derivatus
Et a neutro separatus,
Ad utrumque colligatus
Sempiterno foedere;
Ros et vapor utriusque,
Donet Pater Filiusque
Quod effluas ad nos usque
Largifluo munere.

Rorem audis et vaporem,
Crede simul et odorem
Quo Deus discernitur.
Rorem istum quem emittit
Qui plus gustat, magis eitit,
Nec ardor reprimitur.

Plebs ut sacra renascatur,
Per hunc unda consecratur,
Cui super ferebatur
In rerum exordium,
Fons, origo pietatis,
Fons emundans a peccatis,
Fons de fonte Deitatis,
Fons sacrator fontium!

De salice sine lignis
Haedum vorat manans ignis
Azymaque pariter;
Ignis dispar elementis,
In altari nostrae mentis
Accendaris jugiter!

Umbrâ septem mulierum
Figuratis ipsum verum,
Idem ipse forma rerum,
Septiformis Spiritus!
Speciebus designaris,
Nec specie variaris:
Absit unquam ut dicaris
Speciei deditus!

Ignis vive, vivax unda,
Munda sinus et fecunda,
Subministra gratiam;
Caritatis tactos igne,
Nosmet tibi fac benigne
Sanctitatis hostiam.

Patris, Nati pium flamen,
Vitiorum medicamen,
Fessis esto sublevamen,
Moestis consolatio.
Castus amor et honestus,
Aestus ardens, sed modestus,
Quos urit ardor incestus
Tua sanet unctio.

Vox non sono designata,
Vox subtilis, vox privata,
Vox beatis inspirata,
O vox dulcis, O vox grata,
Sona nostris mentibus!
Lux depellens falsitatem,
Lux inducens veritatem,
Vitam atque sanitatem
Et aeternam claritatem
Nobis confer omnibus. Amen.

-----

XX. WHITSUNTIDE
[Latin]

Come, our comfort's chief reviver!
Hope of saving-health, Life-giver!
May Thy grace here present be!
Pleasant heat, dew from above!
Outgrowth from the God of love!
One with it substantially!

Who from both proceedest, neither
Canst be separate from either,
Linked with both of them together
By an everlasting tie;
Dew and breath of both in heaven!
By both Sire and Son be given
Of Thy Spirit to us even
In rich plenty from on high.

Of this dew and breath thou hearest;
Deem him scent too, whereby clearest
Is His Godhead to us shown.
As this dew, that from it bursteth,
Tastes man more, the more he thirsteth
With a thirst that nought tones down.

For the world's regeneration
Is to water consecration
Gave, on which at the creation,
O'er its surface borne, it sate.
Fountain, source of love's devotion!
Fountain, cleansing sinful motion!
Fountain from the Godhead's ocean,
That all founts doth consecrate!

Fire, unfed by fuel, flowing
From the rod with ardent glowing
That devours both kid and bread!
Fire, unlike all fire, O may the
Altar of our soul, we pray Thee,
Ever with Thy flame be fed!

Darkly by the women seven
Art Thou figured, Truth of Heaven!
Inner life to all things given!
Spirit, Sevenfold in grace!
Thee all various types betoken,
Though Thy oneness be unbroken;
Nor of Thee may it be spoken,
That a type can Thee embrace.

Fire of life and life's bright river!
Cleanse and fertilize hearts ever,
Giving grace in everything;
Touched with fire of true love, take us
To Thee, and in mercy make us
Holiness's offering!

Sire and Son's blest emanation!
Be from sin our restoration,
When worn out, our sustenation,
And our comfort, when we mourn!
Love both pure and noble truly!
Heat that warms, but ne'er unduly!
May Thine unction heal those throughly,
Who with unchaste ardour burn!

Voice, that doth no sound deliver!
Still small voice, that whisperest ever,
Saints inspiring to endeavour!
Voice of joy and sweetness! never
Cease to sound within our heart!
Light, away all falsehood driving!
Light, to truth incentive giving!
Grant that - life, health, thence deriving, -
Of Thy brightness ever-living
All of us may have a part! Amen.

-----

Easter Hymn XIX

XIX. PENTECOSTE
[English]

Spiritus
Paraclitus,
Procedens divinitus,
Manet ante saecula;
Populis,
Discipulis
Ad salutem sedulis
Pacis dedit oscula.

Hodie
Cum tertiae
Surgit hora, veniae
Fit ampla donatio;
Criminum
Est hominum
Per actorem luminum
Facta relaxatio.

Micuit,
Aperuit,
Viros fortes imbuit
Suavis refectio;
Irruit
Et mituit
Et eosdem docuit
Suo magisterio.

Fragiles,
Indociles
Et adhuc inutiles,
Sermonum inopia,
Utiles
Amabiles
Et amici probabiles
Facti sunt ex gratia.

Tenere,
Non temere,
Dilectis occurrere
Vult ita benignitas;
Propere
Consumere
Culpas vult et tergere
Non exstincta caritas.

Audio
Cum gaudio
Quod ejus auxilio
Sit tanta felicitas
Cum tanto tripudio...

Cesset avaritia,
Fugetur iniquitas,
Cesset insolentia,
Cesset infidelitas!

Sit in ipsa veritas;
Mentem cum modestia
Scrutetur humilitas,
Gratiam pro gratia.

Reddat universitas
Ut Christi familia
Quam commendat sanctitas
Sit semper innoxia!

Sit in ipsa veritas,
Sit peccati nescia,
Sit perennis claritas
In coelesti patria! Amen.

-----

XIX. WHITSUNTIDE
[Latin]

The Spirit dear,
That Comforter,
Who, before all ages were,
By procession came from God,
On a race,
That sought His face,
Striving for His saving grace,
Hath the kiss of peace bestowed.

On this day,
When its first ray
The third hour doth display,
Comes full pardon's gift so bright,
Which is then
For all their sin
Freely offered to all men
By the Father of all light.

Its bright sheen
Was fully seen,
And inspired bold dauntless men
With a sweet refreshment there;
Ye, did tame
With rushing flame,
And instruct and teach the same
In its learning rich and rare.

Men, before
Devoid of lore,
Weak and frail, and lacking power
Through the lack of eloquence
Useful prove,
Friends worthy love,
An beloved where'er they move,
Through the grace it doth dispense.

Feelingly,
Not fearfully,
Thus would true benignity
To its well-belovéd come:
Instantly
Sin's infamy
Never-failing charity
Would wipe off us and consume.

O mine ear
With joy doth hear,
That, whene'er His help is near,
Such untold felicity
We shall meet with bounding feet...

Let all avarice vanish hence,
Far away, wrong-doing! flee:
No more pride and insolence,
No more infidelity!

Let the truth still hold its place,
And let but humility
Search the conscience, - grace for grace, -
With all meekness modestly.

May the All in All so bless
Christ the Lord's own family,
That it, marked by holiness,
Be from ills for ever free!

Let the truth there hold its place,
Let it sin ne'er understand:
Let its brightness never cease
In the heavenly fatherland! Amen.

-----

Easter Hymn XVIII

XVIII. PENTECOSTE
[English]

Simplex in essentia,
Septiformis gratia,
Nos illustret Spiritus;
Cordis lustret tenebras
Et carnis illecebras
Lux emissa coelitus!

Lex praecessit in figura,
Lex poenalis, lex obscura,
Lumen evangelicum.
Spiritalis intellectus,
Litterali fronde tectus,
Prodeat in publicum!

Lex de monte populo,
Paucis in coenaculo
Nova datur gratia.
Situs docet nos locorum,
Praeceptorum vel donorum
Quae sit eminentia.

Ignis, clangor buccinae,
Frago cum caligine,
Lampadum discursio,
Terrorem incutiunt
Nec amorem nutriunt,
Quem effudit unctio.

Sic in Sina
Lex divina
Reis est imposita;
Lex timoris,
Non amoris,
Puniens illicita.

Ecce patres praeelecti
Dii recentes sunt effecti:
Culpae solvunt vincula.
Pluunt verbo, tonant minis;
Novis linguis et doctrinis
Consonant miracula.

Exhibentes aegris curam,
Morbum damnant, non naturam.
Persequentes scelera,
Reos premunt et castigant:
Modo solvunt, modo ligant,
Potestate libera.

Typum gerit Jubilei
Dies iste, si diei
Requiris mysteria,
In quo, tribus millibus
Ad fidem currentibus,
Pullulat Ecclesia.

Jubilaeus est vocatus
Vel dimittens vel mulatus,
Ad priores vocans status
Res distractas libere.
Nos distractos sub peccatis,
Liberet lex charitatis
Et perfectae libertatis
Dignos reddat munere. Amen.

-----

XVIII. WHITSUNTIDE
[Latin]

May the Spirit on us shine,
One in essence all-divine,
Septiform in gifts of grace!
May His beams from Heaven's height
Flood the darkened heart with light
And our lusts' ensnaring ways!

First the penal Law came, clouded
O'er with types, in mystery shrouded,
Ere the Gospel light shone forth.
'Neath the foliage of the letter
May the spirit, free from fetter,
Of that Gospel spread o'er earth!

From the Mount the Law was given
Unto all; new grace from Heaven
In a chamber to a few;
The position of which places
Brings out the respective graces
Of their laws and gifts to view.

Flames of fire, the trump's loud sound,
Din and darkness all around,
Bickering lightnings sent abroad,
Strike wild terror to the heart,
Nor the fostering love impart,
Which that unction hath outpoured.

Thus were given
Out of heaven
Laws to sinners from the Mount;
Laws of terror,
Chastening error,
Making love of small account.

By the fathers, pre-elected,
God-like works are now effected;
They unloose sin's galling bond:
Rain their words, their threatenings thunder,
With their words their works of wonder,
New and startling, correspond.

Caring for each sickly creature,
They condemn disease, not nature;
Punishing iniquity,
Sinners they strike down and chasten;
Chains they loosen, chains they fasten,
With a power from limit free.

Like a jubilee appeareth
The appearance this day weareth, -
If its mystery thou would'st know; -
When three thousand souls make haste
'Mongst believers to be classed,
And the Church doth thrive and grow.

"Jubilee" is a provision
Made for change or for remission,
Freely to their first condition
Calling those in misery.
May the law, by love enacted,
Freeing us, by sin distracted,
Make us, to its gifts attracted,
Fit for perfect liberty! Amen.

-----

Easter Hymn XVII

XVII. PENTECOSTE
[English]

Qui procedis ab utroque,
Genitore Genitoque
Pariter, Paraclite,
Redde linguas eloquentes,
Fac ferventes
In te mentes
Flamma tua divite.

Amor Patris Filiique,
Par amborum et utrique
Compar et consimilis.
Cuncta reples, cuncta foves,
Astra regis, coelum moves,
Permanens immobilis.

Lumen carum,
Lumen clarum,
Internarum
Tenebrarum
Effugas caliginem;
Per te mundi sunt mundati;
Tu peccatum et peccati
Destruis rubiginem.

Veritatem notam facis
Et ostendis viam pacis
Et iter justitiae.
Perversorum
Corda vitas,
Et bonorum
Corda ditas
Munere scientiae.

Te docente
Nil obscurum,
Te prsesente
Nil impurum;
Sub tua praesentia
Gloriatur mens jocunda;
Per te laeta, per te munda
Gaudet conscientia.

Tu commutas elementa;
Per te suam sacramenta
Habent efficaciam:
Tu nocivam vim repellis,
Tu confutas et refellis
Hostium nequitiam.

Quando venis,
Corda lenis;
Quando subis
Atrae nubis
Effugit obscuritas;
Sacer ignis,
Pectus ignis;
Non comburis,
Sed a curis
Purgas, quando visitas.

Mentes prius imperitas
Et sopitas
Et oblitas
Erudis et excitas.
Foves linguas, formas sonum;
Cor ad bonum
Facit pronum
A te data charitas.

O juvamen
Oppressorum,
O solamen
Miserorum,
Pauperum refugium,
Da contemptum terrenorum,
Ad amorem supernorum
Trahe desiderium!

Consolator
Et fundator,
Habitator
Et amator
Cordium humilium,
Pelle mala, terge sordes,
Et discordes
Fac concordes,
Et affer praesidium.

Tu qui quondam visitasti,
Docuisti, confortasti
Timentes discipulos,
Visitare nos digneris;
Nos, si placet, consoleris
Et credentes populos.

Par majestas
Personarum,
Par potestas
Est earum,
Et communis Deitas:
Tu, procedens a duobus,
Coaequalis es ambobus;
In nullo disparitas.

Quia tantus es et talis
Quantus Pater est et qualis;
Servorum humilitas
Deo Patri, Filioque
Redemptori, Tibi quoque
Laudes reddat debitas. Amen.

-----

XVII. WHITSUNTIDE
[Latin]

Comforter, from both together,
From the Son and from the Father,
Who proceedest equally!
Eloquent our utterance render;
With Thy splendour
Bright engender
In our hearts true warmth for Thee.

Love of Father, Son, together;
Equal of them both; with either
One: the same in every part!
All Thou fillest, all Thou lovest,
Stars Thou rulest, heaven Thou movest,
Though immovable Thou art.

Light the dearest!
Light the clearest!
Off Thou scarest,
As Thou nearest,
From the heart its gloomy night:
All the pure Thou purifiest,
Thou it is that sin destroyest,
And its mildew's baleful blight.

Knowledge of the truth Thou spreadest;
On the way of peace Thou leadest,
And the path of righteousness.
From Thee thrusting
Hearts unruly,
Thou all trusting
Hearts and holy
Dost with gifts of wisdom bless.

When Thou teachest,
Nought obscure is!
Where Thou reachest,
Nought impure is;
And, if present Thou wilt be,
Hearts in Thee then blithely glory,
And the conscience joys before Thee,
Gladdened, purified by Thee.

Elements their mystic dower,
Sacraments their saving power,
But through Thee alone possess:
What can harm us Thou repellest,
Thou exposest and Thou quellest,
Adversaries' wickedness.

Where Thou lightest,
Hearts are brightest;
Gloom-enshrouded
Clouds that brooded
There, before Thee disappear;
Fire all-holy!
Hearts Thou truly
Never burnest,
But thence yearnest,
When Thou comest, cares to clear.

Thou the heart, experience needing,
Languor pleading,
Little heeding,
Dost instruct and rouse to right;
Speeches framing, tongues endowing,
And bestowing
Love all-glowing,
Hearts Thou mak'st in good delight.

Sustentation
In dejection!
Consolation
In affliction!
Only refuge of the poor!
Give us scorn for things terrestrial,
And to care for things celestial
Lead our longings more and more!

Comfort wholly,
Founder solely,
Inmate truly,
Lover throughly,
Of those hearts that bow to Thee!
Concord, where is discord, raising,
Ills thence chasing,
Guilt effacing,
Bring us true security!

Thou, Who once by visitation
Didst inform, and consolation
To Thy scared disciples give!
Deign Thou now to come unto us:
If it please Thee, comfort show us,
And all nations that believe!

One excelling
Greatness sharing,
One as well in
Power appearing,
But one God three Persons are.
Coming forth from two together,
Thou co-equal art with either,
No disparity is there.

Such as is the Father Thou art;
Since so great and such Thou now art,
By Thy servants unto Thee,
With the Sire, and Son, in heaven
Our Redeemer, praise be given,
As is due, most reverently! Amen.

-----

Easter Hymn XVI

XVI. PENTECOSTE
[English]

Lux jucunda, lux insignis,
Qua de throno missus ignis
In Christi discipulos
Corda replet, linguas ditat,
Ad concordes nos invitat
Linguae cordis modulos.

Christus misit quod promisit
Pignus sponsae, quam revisit
Die quinquagesima;
Post dulcorem melleum
Petra fudit oleum,
Petra jam firmissima.

In tabellis saxeis,
Non in linguis igneis
Lex de monte populo;
Paucis cordis novitas
Et linguarum unitas
Datur in coenaculo.

O quam felix, quam festiva
Dies, in qua primitiva
Fundatur ecclesia!
Vivae sunt primitiae
Nascentis ecclesiae,
Tria primum millia.

Panes legis primitivi
Sub una sunt adoptivi
Fide duo populi:
Se duobus interjecit
Sicque duos unum fecit
Lapis, caput anguli.

Utres novi, non vetusti,
Sunt capaces novi musti;
Vasa parat vidua;
Liquorem dat Eliseus;
Nobis sacrum rorem Deus,
Si corda sunt congrua.

Non hoc musto vel liquore,
Non hoc sumus digni rore,
Si discordes moribus.
In obscuris vel divisis
No potest haec Paraclisis
Habitare cordibus.

Consolator alme, veni;
Linguas rege, corda leni;
Nihil fellis aut veneni
Sub tua praesentia.
Nil jocundum, nil amoenum,
Nil salubre, nil serenum,
Nihil dulce, nihil plenum,
Nisi tua gratia.

Tu lumen es et unguentum,
To coeleste condimentum
Aquae ditans elementum
Virtute mysterii.
Nova facti creatura,
Te laudamus mente pura,
Gratiae nunc, sed natura
Prius irae filii.

Tu qui dator es et donum,
Tu qui condis omne bonum,
Cor ad laudem redde pronum,
Nostrae linguae formans sonum
In tua praeconia.
Tu nos purga a peccatis,
Auctor ipse puritatis,
Et in Christo renovatis
Da perfectae novitatis
Plena nobis gaudia. Amen.

-----

XVI. WHITSUNTIDE
[Latin]

Day delightful! day most noted!
When o'er Christ's disciples floated
Fire sent from the throne on high,
Filling hearts and tongues endowing,
And on hearts and tongues bestowing
Words and thoughts in harmony!

Christ, as once His word had spoken,
Sent his spouse a pledge and token,
Coming back the fiftieth day.
After streams of honey sweet
Oil that rock poured forth from it,
Which is now man's firmest stay.

From the mount to Jewry came
God's law, not in tongues of flame,
But on tables wrought from stone:
In a furnished upper room,
Given but to few, there come
Hearts renewed, and tongues as one.

O the joy and jubilation
Of that day, when first foundation
Of the early Church was laid:
When the Church, then first begun,
Should three hundred to it won,
Lively first-fruits of it made.

Thus one faith binds earth's two nations,
Like the early dispensation's
Twofold offering of bread:
The Head Corner-stone two races
By his presence interlaces,
And thus one the two are made.

In new bottles, not in olden,
Must the new-made wine be holden:
Brings the widow but the cruse;
Oil is by Elijah given:
So doth God for dew from heaven
Hearts, if fitting vessels, use.

Of this wine or oil before Thee,
Of this dew, are we unworthy,
If we have not peace within:
Not in hearts 'gainst God rebelling,
Can this Comforter be dwelling,
Nor in those made dark through sin.

Come, Thou Comforter benignest!
Rule our hearts and tongues, Divinest!
Gall or poison, where Thou shinest,
May not any more be found:
There is not a joy or pleasure,
Health and rest are not a treasure,
Nought is sweet, all scant in measure,
Where Thy grace doth not abound.

Thou, for light and unction given,
A sweet savour sent from heaven,
Fillest simple water even
With a new mysterious power:
We, re-made by Thy creation,
Give Thee, with pure hearts, laudation;
Sons of grace, by generation
Sons of wrath who were before.

Thou, Who art both gift and giver,
Helping every good endeavour,
Cause our hearts to praise Thee ever,
And our lips, O let us never
But in blessing Thee employ:
Wash out every evil passion,
Who alone canst purge transgression!
And in Christ our souls refashion,
That we may, in full possession,
Our new nature's bliss enjoy! Amen.

-----

Easter Hymn XV

XV. ASCENSIO
[English]

Postquam hostem et inferna
Spoliavit, ad superna
Christus redit gaudia;
Angelorum ascendenti
Sicut olim descendenti
Parantur obsequia.

Super astra sublimatur;
Non apparet, absentatur
Corporis praesentia;
Cuncta tamen moderatur,
Cujus Patri coaequatur
Honor et potentia.

Modo victor, modo tutus,
Est in coelo constitutus
Rector super omnia.
Non est rursum moriturus,
Nec per mortem mandaturus
Hominum contagia.

Semel enim incarnatus,
Semel passus, semel datus
Pro peccatis hostia,
Nullam feret ultra poenam,
Nam quietem habet plenam
Cum summa laetitia.

Cum recessit, ita dixit,
Intimavit et infixit
Talia discipulis:
"Ite, mundum circuite,
Universos erudite
Verbis et miraculis.

"Nam as Patrem meum ibo;
Sed sciatis quod redibo:
Veniet Paraclitus
Qui desertos et loquaces,
Et securos, et audaces
Faciet vos penitus.

"Super aegros et languentes
Manus vestras imponentes,
Sanitatem dabitis;
Universas res nocentes,
Inimicos et serpentes
Et morbos fugabitis.

"Qui fidelis est futurus
Et cum fide suscepturus
Baptismi remedium,
In peccatis erit purus
Et cum justis habiturus
Sempiternum gaudium." Amen.

-----

XV. ASCENSION
[Latin]

Satan and the realms infernal
Having spoiled, to joys supernal
Christ returneth back once more:
As His upward way he wendeth,
As before, when he descendeth,
Angels set them to adore.

As above the stars He goeth,
Here no more Himself He showeth,
Bodily, to mortal sight;
But all rule to him is given,
Who is with His Sire in Heaven
One in majesty and might.

Victor now, from perils warded,
He in heaven hath been accorded
Empire over all therein:
Nevermore shall He be dying,
Nevermore through death supplying
Means to purify man's sin.

Once for all He took our nature,
Once He suffered, once, a creature,
Was for sin content to die:
Further pain shall He know never,
But, in perfect peace for ever,
Compass endless joys on high.

Thus he spake, as He ascended;
These things straitly He commanded,
And impressed upon His own:
"Go through all the world and preach ye,
Every nation therein teach ye
Both by word and wonder done.

"For I go unto my Father,
To return, as ye may gather,
Since shall come a Comforter,
Who shall make you bold and fearless,
Of all consequences careless,
Eloquent in speech and clear.

"Those laid low by sickness on them,
When ye lay your hands upon them,
Shall their former health regain:
All things hurtful and annoying,
With all deadly snakes, destroying,
Ye shall drive out plagues and pain.

"Whosoever but believeth,
And with simple faith receiveth
Baptism's sure remedy,
Shall be cleansed from all transgression,
And have with the saints possession
Of eternal joys on high!" Amen.

-----

Easter hymn XIV

XIV. PASCHA
[English]

Zyma vetus expurgetur
Ut sincere celebretur
Nova resurrectio:
Haec est dies nostrae spei,
Hujus mira vis diei
Legis testimonio.

Haec Aegyptum spoliavit
Et Hebraeos liberavit
De fornace ferrea:
His in arcto constitutis
Opus erat servitutis
Lutum, later, palea.

Jam Divina laus virtutis,
Jam triumphi, jam salutis
Vox erumpet libera!
Haec est dies quam fecit Dominus,
Dies nostri doloris terminus,
Dies salutifera!

Lex est umbra futurorum,
Christus, finis promissorum,
Qui consummat omnia:
Christi sanguis igneam
Hebetavit romphaeam,
Amota custodia.

Puer nostri forma risus,
Pro quo vervex est occisus,
Vitae signat gaudium.
Joseph exit de cisterna:
Christus redit ad superna,
Post mortis supplicium.

Hic dracones Pharaonis
Draco vorat, a draconis
Immunis malitia:
Quos ignitus vulnerat,
Hos serpentis liberat
Aenei praesentia.

Anguem forat in maxilla
Christi hamus et armilla:
In cavernam reguli
Manum mittit ablactatus,
Et sic fugit exturbatus
Vetus hospes saeculi.

Irrisores Elisaei,
Dum conscendit domum Dei,
Zelum calvi sentiunt:
David arreptitius,
Hircus emissarius
Et passer effugiunt.

In maxilla mille sternit,
Et de tribu sua spernit
Samson matrimonium:
Samson Gazae seras pandit,
Et asportans portas scandit
Montis supercilium.

Sic de Juda leo fortis,
Fractis portis dirae mortis,
Die surgit tertia;
Rugiente voce patris
Ad supernae sinum matris
Tot revexit spolia.

Cetus Jonam fugitivum,
Veri Jonae signativum,
Post tres dies reddit vivum
De ventris angustia.
Botrus Cypri reflorescit,
Dilatatur et excrescit;
Synagogae flos marescit,
Et floret ecclesia.

Mors et vita conflixere,
Resurrexit Christus vere,
Et cum Christo surrexere
Multi testes gloriae.
Mane novum, mane laetum
Vespertinum tergat fletum:
Quia vita vicit letum,
Tempus est laetitiae.

Jesu victor, Jesu vita,
Jesu vitae via trita,
Cujus morte mors sopita,
Ad Paschalem nos invita
Mensam cum fiducia.
Vive panis, vivax unda,
Vera vitis et fecunda,
Tu nos pasce, tu nos munda,
Ut a morte nos secunda
Tua salvet gratia. Amen.

-----

XIV. EASTER
[Latin]

Purge away the former leaven,
That true thanks may now be given
On the day which saw Christ rise!
Hope to us this great day yieldeth;
Mighty is the power it wieldeth,
As the Law's word testifies.

Egypt's sons this day were plundered;
Israel's tribes, their fetters sundered,
From the kilns were freed to-day;
Servile was the occupation
Of this bound and captive nation,
Making bricks of straw and clay.

Of God's goodness let laudation,
Songs of triumph and salvation,
Burst forth now in accents clear:
This is the day the Lord Himself hath made,
The day our sorrows all to rest are laid,
And which brings salvation near.

Things to come the Law's type veileth;
Christ the promises fulfilleth,
Who doth all things consummate;
Christ's own blood, for us outpoured,
Making blunt the flaming sword,
Drives the warders from the gate.

Life's joy he, that lad, implieth,
Who our laughter typifieth,
In whose stead the ram was slain:
Joseph from the pit ascendeth,
Back to heaven His way Christ wendeth,
Having died his death of pain.

'Tis the serpent that devoureth
Pharoah's serpents, and o'erpowereth,
Scatheless, the old serpent's spite.
He provideth an escape,
In a brazen serpent's shape,
From the fiery serpents's bite.

Christ the hook and thorn appeareth,
Which the serpent's jaw-bone teareth:
On the cockatrice's den
When His hand this weaned child layeth,
Driven off, no longer stayeth
That old dweller amongst men.

Mocking children, insults throwing
At the seer to Beth-el going,
Feel the bald-head's righteous wrath:
David, by feigned madness stirred,
The scapegoat, the "living bird,"
From the haunts of men flee forth.

Samson with a jaw-bone slayeth
Thousands, and contempt displayeth
For a wife from 'mongst his own:
Samson Gaza's bolts unfastens,
And, its gates uplifting, hastens
With them to the mountain's crown.

Judah's lion by this token
Boldly, death's dread portals broken,
Rises the third day once more:
Back to heaven rich fruits of daring
To our mother's bosom bearing,
When He hears the Father's roar.

Jonah, from his duty flying,
Three days in her belly lying,
Our true Jonah typifying,
Doth the whale restore alive.
Clustered camphire fresh life showeth,
Spreads abroad and larger groweth:
Blight alone the Law's bud knoweth,
And the Church doth bloom and thrive.

Death and life's long strife is ended!
Christ hath risen indeed, attended
By a witness crowd, ascended
With Him, who His glory show.
Morning new, morn gladness reaping!
Wipe away our eve of weeping;
Life o'er death is triumph keeping,
'Tis the time for joyance now!

Jesu victor, life bestowing!
Jesu, way to true life going!
Through Thy death death's self o'erthrowing!
At Thy Paschal feast o'erflowing
Grant us in full trust a place!
Bread of life and Water living!
Vine, the true Vine, much fruit giving!
Feed us, cleanse us from sin's striving,
That, at second death arriving,
We escape it through Thy grace! Amen.

-----

Easter Hymn XIII

XIII. PASCHA
[English]

Mundi renovatio
Nova parit gaudia;
Resurgenti Domino
Conresurgunt omnia.
Elementa serviunt,
Et auctoris sentiunt
Quanta sit sollemnia.

Ignis volat mobilis,
Et aer volubilis,
Fluit aqua labilis,
Terra manet stabilis:
Alta petunt levia,
Centrum tenent gravia,
Renovantur omnia.

Coelum fir serenius,
Et mare tranquilius;
Spirat aura levius,
Vallis nostra floruit.
Revirescunt arida,
Recalsecunt frigida
Postquam ver intepuit.

Gelu mortis solvitur
Princeps mundi tollitur,
Et ejus destruitur
In nobis imperium;
Dum tenere voluit
In quo nihil habuit,
Jus amisit proprium.

Vita mortem superat;
Homo jam recuperat
Quod prius amiserat
Paradisi gaudium:
Viam praebat facilem,
Cherubim versatilem
Amovendo gladium.

Christus coelos reserat
Et captivos liberat
Quos culpa ligaverat
Sub mortis interitu.
Pro tanta victoria
Patri, Proli gloria
Sit cum Sancto Spiritu! Amen.

-----

XIII. EASTER
[Latin]

Spring's renewal of earth's plain
New-born joys to man supplies;
When the Lord doth rise again,
With Him also all things rise:
Elements upon him wait,
Feeling, as their source, how great
Should be his solemnities.

Fires their swift flames upward throw,
Lightly the air-eddies blow,
running waters onward flow,
Earth remains unmoved below:
Light things soar above the plain,
Heavy things their place retain,
All things are renewed again.

Heights of heaven serener be,
And more tranquil grows the sea;
Breathes the air more buoyantly,
And our vale fresh verdure shows;
What is dry once more revives,
What is cold new heat receives,
When with warmth the springtide glows.

Icy death dissolves to-day;
This world's prince is borne away,
And o'er us his hateful sway
Is destroyed for evermore:
Since he in possession sought
Him in whom he had not aught,
He hath lost his ancient power.

Death by life is triumphed o'er;
Man recovers now once more
All the bliss, which, lost of yore,
Paradise's joys afford:
Easy hath the way there proved,
Since the cherubim removed
Thence his ever-turning sword.

Christ re-opens heaven again,
Loosing every captive's chain,
Bound to undergo death's pain
For his foul iniquity.
Glory for such victory won
To the Father and the Son
With the Holy Spirit be! Amen.

-----

Easter Hymn XII

XII. PASCHA
[English]

Sexta passus feria
Die Christus tertia
Resurrexit;
Surgens cum victoria,
Collocat in gloria
Quos dilexit.

Pro fideli populo
Crucis in patibulo
Immolatur;
Clauditur in tumulo,
Tandem in diluculo
Susciatur.

Christi crux et passio
Nobis est praesidio,
Si credamus;
Christ resurrectio
Facit ut a vitio
Resurgamus.

Hostia sufficiens
Christus fuit moriens
Pro peccato;
Sanguinis effusio
Abluit nos, impio
Triumphato.

Morte sua simplici
Nostrae morti duplici
Fert medelam;
Vitae pandit aditum,
Nostrum sanat genitum
Et querelam.

Leo fortis hodie
Dat signum potentiae
Resurgendo,
Principem nequitiae
Per arma justitiae
Devincendo.

Diem istam Dominus
Fecit, in qua facinus
Mundi lavit,
In qua mors occiditur,
In qua vita redditur,
Hostis ruit.

Geminatum igitur
Alleluya canitur
Corde puro,
Quia culpa tollitur
Et vita promittitur
In futuro.

In hoc mundi vespere
Fac tuos resurgere,
Jesu Christe;
Salutaris omnibus
Sit tuis fidelibus
Dies iste! Amen.

-----

XII. EASTER
[Latin]

Christ, upon the Friday slain,
On the Sunday once again
Rose victorious,
And those, whom He sought in love,
Gathers round Himself above,
Ever glorious.

For His faithful people He,
Offered on the Cross's tree,
Death sustaineth:
To the tomb's enclosure borne,
Life once more at early morn
He regaineth.

Christ's protection we receive
Through His Cross, if we believe,
And His Passion;
While His rising for our sakes
Possible our rising makes
From transgression.

A sufficient sacrifice
Jesus by his death supplies
For all evil:
Through His blood, shed, cleansed are we,
And thus gain the victory
O'er the devil.

He, by dying once for all,
Freedom from death's double thrall
For us gaining,
Opens wide the gate of life,
Thereby healing all our grief
And complaining.

He, the lion strong, to-day
Rising, of his powerful sway
Token showeth;
For iniquity's fell lord,
He with righteousness's sword
Overthroweth.

'Tis the Lord's own day, wherein
All the world, made clean from sin,
He recalleth,
Whereon, death's self being slain,
And our life restored again,
Satan falleth.

Therefore from pure hearts once more
Double alleluias soar
Up to heaven;
Since away man's guilt is ta'en,
And that he shall live again
Promise given.

Jesu Christ! make Thou Thine own
Rise before the sun goes down
O'er creation;
May this day to all who bear
True allegiance to Thee here
Bring salvation! Amen.

-----

Easter Hymn XI

XI. PASCHA
[English]

Salve, dies dierum gloria,
Dies felix, Christi victoria,
Dies digna jugi laetitia,
Dies prima!
Lux divina caecis irradiat,
In qua Christus infernum spoliat,
Mortem vincit et reconciliat
Summis ima.

Sempiterni Regis sententia
Sub peccato conclusit omnia,
Ut infirmis superna gratia
Subveniret.
Dei virtus est sapientia
Temperavit iram clementia
Cum jam mundus in praecipitia
Totus iret.

Insultabat nostrae miseriae,
Vetus hostis, auctor malitiae,
Quia nulla spes erat veniae
De peccatis;
Desperante mundo remedium,
Dum tenerent cuncta silentium,
Deus Pater emisit Filium
Desperatis.

Praedo vorax, monstrum tartareum,
Carnem videns, nec cavens laqueum,
In latentem ruens aculeum
Aduncatur;
Dignitatis primae conditio
Reformatur nobis in Filio.
Cujus nova nos resurrectio
Consolatur.

Resurrexit liber ab inferis
Restaurator humani generis,
Ovem suam reportans humeris
Ad superna.
Angelorum pax fit et hominum;
Plenitudo succrescit ordinum:
Triumphantem laus decet Dominum,
Laus aeterna!

Harmoniae coelestis patriae
Vox concordet matris ecclesiae;
Alleluia frequentet hodie
Plebs fidelis.
Triumphato mortis imperio,
Triumphali fruamur gaudio:
In terra pax et jubilatio
Sit in coelis! Amen.

-----

XI. EASTER
[Latin]

Hail, day, the glory of all days, to thee!
Thrice happy day, Christ's day of victory!
The first day! day most fit continually
Our joy to show!
This day divine illumines blind eyes,
Upon which Christ of hell's dark realms makes prize,
O'ercometh death and joins in one the skies
And earth below.

The judgment of the everlasting King
Hath under sin concluded everything,
That heavenly grace the weak and wavering
Might come to aid.
God's goodness and His wisdom from on high
His wrath hath tempered with His clemency,
Now when all earth was being rapidly
In ruin laid.

The father of all lies, man's ancient foe,
Was trampling on us in our bitter woe,
Because no hope of pardon here below
For sin was left;
When thus the earth despaired of cure for sin,
And silence reigned o'er it and all therein,
Forth God the Father sent His Son to men
Of hope bereft.

The insatiate robber, monster hell did bear,
Seeing the bait, but heedless of the snare,
Rushing upon the hooks' point hidden there,
On it is caught;
The dignity of man, as first begun,
Is now refashioned for us in the Son,
By Whose new resurrection to each one
Comfort is brought.

Free hath He risen from depths of hell below,
Who hath the human race re-fashioned so,
And, on His shoulder borne, His sheep He now
To heaven doth raise.
'Twixt men and angels is there perfect peace;
The ranks of heaven now swell to full increase;
Praise to the Lord Who maketh wars to cease,
Eternal praise!

O let the voice of Mother-Church agree
With heaven, our fatherland's, bright harmony,
And alleluias from the faithful be
Countless to-day!
The power of death o'ercome effectually,
Let us enjoy the joys of victory:
On earth be peace and jubilee on high
In heaven for aye! Amen.

-----

Easter Hymn X

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!

-----

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!

-----

Easter Hymns IX

IX. PASCHA


Ecce dies celebris!
Lux succedit tenebris,
Morti resurrectio.
Laetis cedant tristia,
Cum sit major gloria
Quam prima confusio;
Umbram fugat veritas,
Vetustatem novitas,
Luctum consolatio.

Pascha novum colite;
Quod praeit in capite,
Membra sperent singula.
Pascha novum Christus est,
Quid pro nobis passus est,
Agnus sine macula.

Hosti qui nos circuit
Praedam Christus eruit:
Quod Samson praecinuit,
Dum leonem lacerat.
David, fortis viribus,
A leonis unguibus
Et ab ursi faucibus
Gregem patris liberat.

Qui in morte plures stravit,
Samson, Christum figuravit,
Cujus mors victoria.
Samson dictus Sol eorum:
Christus lux est electorum,
Quos illustrat gratia.

Jam de Crucis sacro vecte
Botrus fluit in dilectae
Penetral ecclesiae.
Jam, calcato torculari,
Musto gaudent ebriari
Gentium primitiae.

Saccus scissus et pertusus
In regales transit usus:
Saccus fit soccus gratiae,
Caro victrix miseriae.

Quia regem peremerunt,
Dei regnum perdiderunt:
Sed non deletur penitus
Cain, in signum positus.

Reprobatus et abjectus
Lapis iste, nunc electus,
In tropaeum stat erectus,
Et in caput anguli.
Culpam delens, non naturam,
Novam creat creaturam,
Tenens in se ligaturam
Utriusque populi.

Capiti sit gloria,
Membrisque concordia! Amen.

-----

IX. EASTER


Hail, great day of wondrous deeds!
Light to deepest gloom succeeds,
And to death new risen life.
Joy all sorrows triumphs o'er,
For the glory now is more
Than the former mingled strife;
Truth the shadow puts to flight,
What is new the old and trite,
Consolation tears and grief.

Hail to our new Passover;
What the Head did first secure
May each member hope to gain.
Our new Passover is Christ,
Who for us is sacrificed,
As a Lamb devoid of stain.

From the foe about our way
Christ delivers now the prey,
E'en as Samson once did say,
When the lion he slew of yore.
David, strong in his good cause,
Rescues from the lion's claws
And the bear's devouring jaws,
All his father's flock once more.

Samson slew the most when dying,
Jesus Christ thus typifying,
Death to Whom was victory.
Samson's name "The Sun" declareth;
As His saints' light Christ appeareth,
Whom He shines on graciously.

From the Cross's holy transom
Flow the grapes' divinest ransom
To the well-loved Church's shrine:
Round the trodden wine-press thronging,
Gentile first-fruits drink, with longing,
Draughts of new and gladdening wine.

Sackcloth, worn to rags and riven,
Is to royal uses given:
With sackcloth shod, see! peace doth go;
The flesh hath triumphed over woe.

They are from God's kingdom driven,
Who to death its king have given:
Cain hath not wholly perished yet,
But for a warning sign is set.

Though condemned once and rejected
Was this stone, it stands erected
For a trophy now, selected
As the chiefest corner-stone.
Sin, not nature, He rebateth,
A new creature He createth,
And Himself incorporateth
Jews and Gentiles into one.

To the Head all glory be,
'Mongst the members unity! Amen.

Easter Hymns - Communion Chant

Easter hymn

Night clearer than the day!
O night more luminous than the sun! O night whiter than the snow! giving more light than our torches, sweeter than Paradise!
O night that knows no darkness;
driving away our sleep,
you make us keep watch with the angels.
O night, the terror of the demons,
paschal night, awaited for a year!
The Church’s wedding night
which gives life to the newly baptised
and renders harmless the torpidity of the demon. Night in which the Heir
brings the heirs into eternity.

Asterius of Amasea


Canticle for the Easter vigil

Today we have contemplated upon the altar
our Lord Jesus Christ. . . Today we have heard his voice, powerful yet gentle, admonishing us:

This is the Body which burns up the thorns of sin and gives light to the souls of men. . .
This is the Body in whose presence
the daughter of the Canaanite was cured.
This is the Body, which, approached
in full confidence by the sinful woman,
set her free from the mire of sin.
This is the Body Thomas touched
and recognising, cried out:
my Lord and my God.
This is the Body, great and most high,
Which is the principle of our salvation.

One day he who is the Word
and our Life determined
that his blood should be poured out for us and offered for the forgiveness of our sins.

We have drunk of the blood
by which we have been redeemed, restored, instructed, given light.

Who is entitled to celebrate the mystery of grace? we have been found worthy to share in this gift. Let us keep it to the end that we may hear
from his holy and blessed voice:
“Come, O blessed, to my Father,
Receive the inheritance of the kingdom prepared for you”.

Then those who crucified the Lord will fear; those who have not believed in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will be ashamed;
those who have denied and not borne witness to the most Holy Trinity, one God, will be lost.

As for us, beloved,
we celebrate the wonder of the baptism of Jesus, his holy and life-giving resurrection,
through which salvation has come to the world. We await the happy fulfilment of redemption
in the grace and love
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to whom is due all glory, honour and adoration.

Fragment from an ancient Eucharistic liturgy


Preface for Easter

It is necessary, and for our well-being, to give you thanks God, Holy and Almighty,
to celebrate your praise with devotion, Father of glory, creator and author of the universe,
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
He, being God, full of majesty, humbled himself
to the point of accepting the punishment of the cross
for the salvation of men.
In the depth of ages
Abraham prefigured this in his son;
the people of Moses with the paschal lamb they immolated.
He it is of whom
announcement was made by the voice of the prophets:
he would take upon himself the sins of all men,
cancel out the whole of our misdeeds.
This is the great Pasch
which the blood of Christ has covered with glory,
making the Christian people exult with joyous devotion!
O mystery of grace!
Inexpressible mystery of divine munificence!
O festival most venerated among all festivals,
in which he abandoned himself to men
even unto death, to save mere slaves!
O blessed death, which has broken the chains of death!
Now the prince of hell is vanquished,
and we, saved from the abyss of guilt,
exult in joy and take with Christ once more
the road to heaven.

Ambrosian liturgy


Easter hymn

We glorify you, O Christ, singing: glory to the Lord! He was born of the Holy Spirit in order to give us life. He deigned to dwell among us.
To him we render our veneration,
crying out together: glory to the Lord!

Behold: the Virgin has given birth to Emmanuel. He has come down from heaven,
has saved fromEgypt a people that was lost. Let us exalt him, crying: glory to the Lord!

He has willed to overcome our enemy;
has made his dwelling in the Virgin Mary: the invisible has become visible in flesh.
Let us adore him, crying out: glory to the Lord!

Born of a woman ever virgin,
the Word of truth rose again for us. Let us celebrate the Lord, intoning: glory to the Lord!

Light from light, Christ our king
is risen for us.
He has saved us from theland ofEgypt; all together let us sing: glory to the Lord!

Fragment from an ancient Eucharistic liturgy


Easter Hymn

It is the Pasch; the Pasch of the Lord. . .
O you, who are truly all in all! . . .
The joy, the honour, the food and the delight of every creature; .
through you the shadows of death have fled away,
and life is given to all,
the gates of heaven are flung open.
God becomes man
and man is raised up to the likeness of God.

O divine Pasch! . . .
O Pasch, light of new splendour . . .
The lamps of our souls will no more burn out. The flame of grace,
divine and spiritual,
burns in the body and soul,
nourished by the resurrection of Christ.

We beg you, O Christ, Lord God,
eternal king of the spiritual world, stretch out your protecting hands
over your holy Church
and over your holy people;
defend them, keep them, preserve them. . .

Raise up your standard over us
and grant that we may sing with Moses
the song of victory, .
for yours is the glory and the power for all eternity! Amen. .

Hippolytus of Rome


Paschal doxology

O Pasch, great and holy mystery that purifies the universe, I would speak to you Immortal Soul.
O Word of God, light and life, wisdom and power!
I greet you with your many names.
Illustrious shoot, breath and image of the Spirit!
O Word of God, visible being in whom all is assumed
and all governed by your power!
Deign to listen to my words: .
they are not the beginning
but certainly the fulfillment of my offering.
Grant that they may be both thanksgiving and supplication.
Grant that I may bear only the trials of the spirit
that bring the reward assigned to our life.
Lighten the weight of the body;
You know, O Lord, how heavily it weighs.
Mitigate the severity of your judgment,
when we come to be winnowed by you. ¬
But if our desires will be realised
grant that we may set out on our way and find welcome
in the heavenly mansions.
We will go on offering to you an acceptable sacrifice,
on your altar, Father, Word and Holy Spirit.
To you be the glory, the honour and the power through all ages. Amen.

Gregory Nazianzen



Communion chant

You, who once spoke to Moses
on mount Sinai,
have received from an immaculate Virgin flesh that is free from all sin.

You who once pastured Israel, now feed on the milk of a Mother who has not known man.
A marvellous happening!

You who once punished kings now save yourself from a king by flight intoEgypt.

You, seated in majesty [on a high throne] were laid in a manger
retaining all your dignity.

And now, full of faith,
we praise the Mother and sing to the Son.

He who in heaven is God and has no mother,
has descended to earth and lived as though motherless.

To you be the glory!

Fragment from an ancient Eucharistic liturgy


Communion chant

Let us invoke Christ.
The sacred Body of Christ! The lamb of God,
the sacred Body of him who died for our salvation!

The sacred Body of him
who revealed the mystery of grace of the new covenant
to his disciples.

The sacred Body which washed with water
the feet of the apostles, and with the Spirit washed their souls.

The sacred Body which pardoned the penitent woman; the sacred Body whose blood makes us clean.

The sacred body which
received the kiss of betrayal; the sacred Body which loved the world so much
as to accept even death on a cross.

We bless and glorify your name.

Fragment from an ancient Eucharistic liturgy


Communion chant

He has given them a heavenly bread
and man has eaten the bread of angels.
He has given them a heavenly bread
we have received a bread of blessing:
the Body of Christ and his precious Blood.
The Lord. . . then took the bread,
and a saving drink, the chalice of life.
We have received the holy bread.
Let us bless the Lord who has done great things on all the earth. All the people, praise the Lord,
exult with joy in the Lord, O you just:
you have received the Body and Blood of Christ.
We give you thanks, O Christ, our God,
because you have deigned to share with us
your Body and your Blood, O Saviour;
you have drawn to yourself our hearts. . .

Fragment from an ancient Eucharistic liturgy


Communion chant

Your sacrament, Lord Jesus Christ,
gives life
and the remission of sins;
you have suffered the passion for our sake.

For us you have drunk gall to take from us all bitterness;

you have drunk a bitter wine for us to lift us from our weariness;

you have been despised for us,
that the dew of immortality might be poured upon us;

you have been beaten with scourges to ensure to our frailty eternal life;

you have been crowned with thorns that your faithful might be crowned with the evergreen laurels of love;

you have been wrapped in a winding sheet that we might be clothed in your strength;

you were laid in the tomb
that in a new age loving kindness might again be granted to us.

Fragment from an ancient eucharistic liturgy

Easter hymn

Easter hymn

We glorify you, O Christ, singing: glory to the Lord! He was born of the Holy Spirit in order to give us life. He deigned to dwell among us.
To him we render our veneration,
crying out together: glory to the Lord!

Behold: the Virgin has given birth to Emmanuel. He has come down from heaven,
has saved fromEgypt a people that was lost. Let us exalt him, crying: glory to the Lord!

He has willed to overcome our enemy;
has made his dwelling in the Virgin Mary: the invisible has become visible in flesh.
Let us adore him, crying out: glory to the Lord!

Born of a woman ever virgin,
the Word of truth rose again for us. Let us celebrate the Lord, intoning: glory to the Lord!

Light from light, Christ our king
is risen for us.
He has saved us from theland ofEgypt; all together let us sing: glory to the Lord!

Fragment from an ancient Eucharistic liturgy