Walpole: This hymn, which bears every mark of
great antiquity, is of universal diffusion. Blume, Analecta LI p. 90 remarks that (except the hymns of St Ambrose)
this and Christe qui lux es et dies are
the only two hymns which are found alike in the ancient Irish hymnaries and in
those other than Irish, It is appointed for Lauds on Easter Day and through- out
the season ; but it was soon broken up into portions, one of which was used at
Terce, and one at Sext. Walsh & Husch: in the revised Breviary, stanzas
1-4, supplemented by two stanzas of later date, form the hymn sung at Lauds on
Easter Sunday. The patterning of rhymes within each stanza should be noted; the
fact that it is incomplete perhaps suggests a date in the fifth century, when
the rhyming technique was still in its infancy. The hymn faithfully summarizes the gospel
accounts of the Resurrection.
Auróra
lucis rútilat, (1)
cælum
resúltat láudibus,
mundus
exsúltans iúbilat,
gemens
inférnus úlulat,
Cum
rex ille fortíssimus, (2)
mortis
confráctis víribus,
pede
concúlcans tártara
solvit
caténa míseros.
Ille,
quem clausum lápide (3)
miles
custódit ácriter,
triúmphans
pompa nóbili
victor
surgit de fúnere.
Inférni
iam gemítibus (4)
solútis
et dolóribus,
quia
surréxit Dóminus
respléndens
clamat ángelus.
Esto
perénne méntibus
paschále,
Iesu, gáudium,
et
nos renátos grátiæ
tuis
triúmphis ággrega.
Iesu,
tibi sit glória,
qui
morte victa prænites,
cum
Patre et almo Spíritu,
in
sempitérna sæcula. Amen.
1. Byrnes:
"The dawn of day is shining, the heaven resounds with praises, the
exulting world rejoices, groaning hell is weeping"; Aurora, Reference to daybreak is unusual in a hymn for Matins. Probably
the hymn was originally intended as a hymn for Lauds, and is so used in the Roman
rite. With different sentiments, the dawn of Easter is greeted. Heaven rejoices
in the triumph of its King. earth in the triumph of its Savior. hell admits the
triumph of its Conqueror, "Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be
glad" (Ps. 95: 11). Lucis, day; 2.
"When He, the mighty King. after
breaking the powers of death, releases the unhappy ones from their
punishment, trampling underfoot the infernal regions." Rex, "I am appointed King"
(Ps. 2:6); . Mortis, etc. Ancient Christian
art pictures Christ's descent into Limbo as that of a conqueror coming to take
over by force a fortress that long held out against him. "Death is
swallowed up in victory" (I Cor. 15:54). Miseros, i.e., the souls detained in Limbo. "Thou hast led
captivity captive" (Ps. 67: 19). 3. "He who, enclosed by the stone,
is guarded by the soldier, rises with noble pomp from the grave, a triumphant
victor." Custodit. "And they
departing, made the sepulcher sure, seal- ing the stone and setting guards"
(Matt. 27:66). Pompa nobiliis, a
Christian use of a pagan phrase. The return to Rome of a victorious general was
celebrated with a parade in which were displayed the captives of the conquered
region. Christ, returning from His victory over the grave, brings with Him the
souls of Limbo. 4. The Dominican text has solutis
iam gemitibus/et inferni doloribus; "The groans and sorrows of hell
having now been loosed, the resplendent angel announces that the Lord is
risen." Solutis, "Whom God
raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell" (Acts 2:24), i.e., Christ
had overcome the grievous pains of death and all the power of hell. Angelus. "An angel of the Lord descended
from heaven ... his countenance as the lightning ... and said to the women: He
is risen" (Matt. 28:2-6). The angel of the Resurrection was probably
Gabriel (Cornelius a Lapide); The fifth verse and doxology are probably new.
The dawn of light glows red, heaven resounds
with praise, the world exults with a loud shout, hell groans and mourns. When
the most mighty king, the powers of death broken, crushing Hell under his feet, he freed the wretched from
their chains. He, who was enclosed by a rock, the soldiers closely guarded him,
triumphant in noble procession, a victor rose from the dead. When the groans
and sorrows of death had been loosened, the resplendent angel cries, “ the Lord
is risen.” Be, O Jesus to our souls forever our paschal joy, gather those
reborn by grace to your victory. O Jesus, to you be glory, shining by your
victory over death, with the Father and loving Spirit, in eternal ages. Amen.
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