Bede’s Hymn on the Ascension

YMNUM CANAMUS DOMINO,

ymni novi nunc personent:

Christus novo cum tramite

ad patris ascendit thronum.

Transit triumpho nobili

poli potenter culmina,

qui morte mortem assumpserat

derisus a mortalibus.

             

Apostoli tunc mystico

in monte stantes crismatis

cum matre clara virgine

Iesu videbant gloriam

ac prosecuti lumine

laeto petentem sidera

laetis per auras cordibus

duxere regem seculi.

             

Quos alloquentes angeli:

'Quid astra stantes cernitis?

Salvator hic est', inquiunt,

'Jesus triumpho nobili,

a vobis ad caelestia

qui regna nunc assumptus est,

venturus inde seculi

in fine iudex omnium.'

sicque venturum asserunt,

quemadmodum hunc viderant

summa polorum culmina

scandere Iesum splendida.

Quo nos, precamur, tempore,

Iesu, redemptor unice,

inter tuos in aethera

servos benignus aggrega.

Da nobis illuc sedula

devotione tendere,

quo te sedere cum patre

in arce regni credimus.

Tu esto nostrum gaudium,

qui es futurum premium.

Sit nostra in te gloria

per cuncta semper secula.

Gloria tibi, domine,  

qui scandis super sidera,

cum patre

Let us sing a hymn to the Lord, let a new hymn resound: Christ with a new path ascends to the throne of the Father. In noble triumph he powerfully passes beyond the height of heaven, he who by death takes death captive, mocked by mortal men. The Apostles then standing on the mystic mountain of chrismation, with the glorious virgin mother saw the glory of Jesus. And with gladsome light they watched him as he sought the stars, and with the ears of their joyful hearts knew that the king of the world was taken up. The angels speaking to them said: “why do you stand looking up into skies? This is the savior” they say, “Jesus in noble triumph, who has now been taken from you to the kingdom of heaven, from which he will come as judge of all at the end of the world”. And they assert that he will come as you have seen him go: Jesus scaling the splendid heights of the sky. Wherefore, we pray you, Jesus, our only Redeemer, then kindly gather us with your servants in heaven. Grant to us to strive with enthusiastic devotion to come to where, we believe, you sit enthroned with the Father in the strength of the kingdom. Be to us our joy, you who are future reward, may our glory be in you, throughout all ages.