Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Lauds: 8^th-9^th Centuries

Anguláris fundaméntum

lapis Christus missus est,

qui paríetum compáge

in utróque néctitur,

quem Sion sancta suscépit,

in quo credens pérmanet.

Omnis illa Deo sacra

et dilécta cívitas,

plena módulis in laude

et canóre iúbilo,

trinum Deum unicúmque

cum fervóre prædicat.

Hoc in templo, summe Deus,

exorátus ádveni,

et cleménti bonitáte

precum vota súscipe;

largam benedictiónem

hic infúnde iúgiter.

Hic promereántur omnes

petíta acquírere

et adépta possidére

cum sanctis perénniter,

paradísum introíre

transláti in réquiem.

Christ, the cornerstone, was made the foundation, who joined together the walls, which holy Zion received and in which she abides in confidence. The whole city, sacred to God and beloved by him, filled with music of praise and joyful song, fervently proclaims God, the three and one. Into this temple, O most high God, come and in your good mercy receive the requests of our prayers; here ever pour out your great blessing. Here may all be worthy to have their petitions answered and to possess what they ask and with the saints forever enter paradise and be taken into rest.

The Office of Readings: 7^th Century?

Christe, cunctórum dominátor alme,

plebs tibi supplex résonet in aula,

ánnuo cuius rédeunt colénda

  témpore festa.

Hic locus nempe vocitátur aula

regis imménsi nitidíque cæli

porta, quæ vitæ pátriam peténtes

  áccipit omnes.

Hæc tuam plebem sacra cogit ædes,

hæc sacraméntis pia ditat usque,

cælicis escis alit in perénnis

  múnera vitæ.

Quæsumus ergo, Deus, ut seréno

ádnuas vultu fámulos gubérnans,

qui tui summo célebrant amóre

  gáudia templi.

Æqua laus summum célebret Paréntem

teque, Salvátor, pie rex, per ævum;

Spíritus Sancti résonet per omnem

  glória mundum. Amen.

O Christ, the life-giving ruler of all, may the people’s humble prayer resound in your churches at this time of the year when the celebration of your feast comes around again.  This is the place which is called the court of the great King and the gate of heaven bright, which receives all seeking the fatherland of life. This holy temple gathers your people, this holy place continuously enriches them with the sacraments;  it feeds them with the heavenly food of eternal life. We beseech you, therefore, O God, that you pleased to guide with your presence your servants, who celebrate with great love the joys of your temple. Equal praise to the heavenly Father, and to you, holy King, through the ages; may the Holy Spirit resound though all the world. Amen.

II Vespers: 8^th-9^th Centuries

Walpole: This grand old hymn, full of poetical feeling though rugged enough as to its prosody, was written in VI- Vlllth cent, if we may judge by its metre and the character of its rhymes. The main idea is taken from Rev. xxi. 2, some of its imagery from Is. xxviii. 16 and i Pet. ii. 5 f. …This hymn is the ultimate source of inspiration to all the many hymns concerning the New Jerusalem.

Urbs Ierúsalem beáta, (1)

dicta pacis vísio,

quæ constrúitur in cælis

vivis ex lapídibus, (2)

angelísque coronáta (3)

sicut sponsa cómite,

Nova véniens e cælo,

nuptiáli thálamo

præparáta, ut intácta

copulétur Dómino.

Platéæ et muri eius

ex auro puríssimo; (4)

Portæ nitent margarítis

ádytis paténtibus,

et virtúte meritórum

illuc introdúcitur

omnis qui ob Christi nomen

hic in mundo premitur .

Tunsiónibus, pressúris

expolíti lápides

suis coaptántur locis

per manum artíficis;

disponúntur permansúri

sacris ædifíciis.

Glória et honor Deo

usquequáque altíssimo,

una Patri Filióque

atque Sancto Flámini,

quibus laudes et potéstas

per ætérna sæcula. Amen.

1.       ' Blessed city called Jerusalem, (that is to say) the vision of peace.'

2.      vivis ex lapidibus I Pet. ii. 4: Ad quem accedentes lapidem vivum, ab hominibus quidem reprobatum, a Deo autem electum, et honorificatum:et ipsi tamquam lapides vivi superædificamini, domus spiritualis, sacerdotium sanctum, offerre spirituales hostias, acceptabiles Deo per Jesum Christum.

3.      ' adorned by angels as a bride (is adorned) by her attendants,'

4.      Rev. XXI. 21:  Et duodecim portæ, duodecim margaritæ sunt, per singulas: et singulæ portæ erant ex singulis margaritis: et platea civitatis aurum mundum, tamquam vitrum perlucidum.

Blessed city Jerusalem, called vision of peace, which was built in heaven from living stones, crowned by the angels, like a noble bride. Coming down from heaven prepared for the nuptial bed, a virgin joined to the Lord,  her streets and walls made from purest gold. Her gates bright with pearls,  her inner places of the temple opened and by virtue of merits all are lead there who in this world suffered for the name of Christ. The stones are struck, pressed and polished, arranged for their place by the hands of the craftsman; designed to remain forever in the holy buildings. Glory and honor to God most high and to the Son equally and the flaming Spirit: praise and power through endless ages.