PASCHA

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.

Pasch - Easter - St. Patrick

St. Patrick and his order's prayer for Easter

Fiery creator of fire,

light giver of light,

life and author of life,

salvation and bestower of salvation,

in case the lamps should abandon

the joys of this night,

you who do not desire our death,

give light to our breast.

to those wandering from Egypt,

you bestow the double grace,

you show the veil of cloud,

and give the nocturnal light.

with a pillar of cloud in the day,

you protect the people as they go,

with a pillar of fire at evening,

you dispel the night with light.

You call out to your servant from the flame,

you do not spurn the bush of thorns,

and though you are consuming fire,

you do not burn what you illumine.

Now it is time that the cloudy bee-bread

should be consumed, all impurity boiled away, and the waxen flesh should shine

with the glow of the Holy Spirit.

You store now in the recesses of the comb the sweet food of the divine honey,

and purifying the inmost cells of the heart,

you have filled them with your word;

that the swarm of the new brood,

chosen by your mouth and spirit,

may leave their burdens and win heaven

on wings now free from care.

May your holy angels, O Christ Jesus, Son of the living God,

tend our sleep, our rest, our bright bed.

Let them reveal true visions to us in our sleep, O high prince of the universe, O great and mysterious king.

May no devils, no demons, no spirits of sorcery or magic, no evil spirits of any sort visible or invisible, no injury or terrifying dreams disturb our rest, our prompt and swift repose.

May our waking, our work, and our living be holy; our sleep, our rest, without hindrance or harm.

O holy Lord God of creation, we invoke you. you are our gracious counselor. do you turn your face toward our enemies, for you are our judgement without betrayal.

You are our king. You are our law. Yours are our spirits, souls, bodies, we love you, blessed Christ Jesus, for our spirits, souls, bodies are yours tonight, tomorrow and at all times unceasingly and now and unto the endless ages of ages to come.

O holy King. keep us in your royal dwelling all our days. Eating the feast from your table. Keep us in you,

O holy Jesus,

gentle friend,

morning star,

midday sun adorned,

brilliant flame of righteousness, life everlasting and eternity,

fountain ever-new, ever-living, ever-lasting,

heart’s desire of patriarchs, especially St. Enoch in the flesh,

longing of prophets, especially St. Elijah in the flesh, with St. Enoch, your holy prophets yet to come,

beloved master of St. Michael and St. Gabriel, your loyal warriors, holy archangels,

master of apostles and disciples,

giver of the law,

prince of the new testament,

Saviour of the saved,

judge of doom,

Son of the merciful Father without mother in heaven,

Son of the true virgin Mary, without father on earth,

true and loving brother,

keep us in you O holy God at all times unceasingly and now and unto the endless ages of ages to come,

blessed virgin who bore God and took care of him with tender love,

bright, with goodness full,

Mary miracle, the lion’s precious love,

virgin once, mother of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour, and virgin still, all ye elect angels and saints of God, the same, pray for and with us unceasingly, baruch Adonai Yahweh Elohim olam eth Abba our Father and the Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour and the Holy Spirit our Paraclete deliver us unceasingly with and by the prayer and company of all your elect angels and saints for and with us unceasingly and now and always and unto the endless ages of ages to come.

PASCHA - Easter Octave Sunday

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.

-----

PASCHA - Easter

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.

-----

PASCHA - Easter

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.

-----

PASCHA - Easter

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.

-----

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!

-----

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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PASCHA - Easter

IX. PASCHA

[English]

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.

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IX. EASTER

[Latin]

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.

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