Pentecost: Sext and None: from the old hymnals

The Liturgica Horarum provides only one of the old hymns for the little hours on Pentecost, that of Terce, Iam Christus astra ascénderat. Here are the hymns for Sext and None. In the Canterbury Hymnal one hymn was divided into three parts to provide hymns for the little hours on Pentecost. This explains why the hymn for Sext begins with ergo.

AD SEXTAM

             

 DE PATRIS ERGO LUMINE

 decorus ignis almus est,

 qui fida Christi pectora

colore verbi coplevit.

Impleta gaudent viscera

afflata sancto lumine.

Voces diverse intonant,

fantur dei magnalia.

Ex omni gente cogniti,

Grecis, Latinis, barbaris,

cunctisque ammirantibus

linguis loquntur omnium.

             

Dudum sacrata pectora

Sit laus patri cum genito

Therefore, from the light of the Father is the beautiful and strengthening fire, which fills the hearts of those faithful to Christ with the heat of the Word. Bodies, filled and inspired with holy light, rejoice. Voices of diverse languages thunder and speak of the wonders of God. Understood by every nation, Greeks, Romans, Barbarians, to the wonder of all, they speak in the languages of all.

AD NONAM

IUDEA TUNC INCREDULA

vesano turba spiritu

ructare musti crapulam

alumnos Christi concrepet,

sed signis & virtutibus

occurrit & docet Petrus;

falsos probavit perfidos

Iohelis testimonio.

 Hic, Chrisre, nunc paraclytus

per te pius nos visitet

terrae novansque faciem

culpis soluros recreet.

Dudum sacrata pectora

Sit laus patri cum genito

Then the unbelieving Jewish crowd in the insanity of its mind exclaims against the disciples of Christ saying that they are sputtering under the effect of too much new wine. But Peter confronts them and instructs them by signs and miraculous powers. He proves the infidels wrong by the testimony of Joel.  May that Comforter Spirit visit us now benignly by your agency, Christ, and fortify those who are released from sin, thus renewing the face of the earth.