Monday, October 14, 2019

St. Luke the Evangelist: At Lauds and Vespers: Dom Anselmo Lentini


This is one of the first hymns I translated and I have never much cared for it. It would be greatly improved by a Marian stanza. No doubt that idea was rejected because it rests on the 'myth' of St. Luke painting a picture of Our Lady. Not biblical! But of course it is biblical that Luke gives us the most complete account of Our Lady!

Pláusibus, Luca, cánimus, triúmphum
quo nites fuso rútilo cruóre,
atque præcélsis méritis adéptam
  rite corónam.


Luke, with applause, we sing the triumph
by which you shine forth in shedding crimson blood
and the excelling merits
which rightly earned you a crown.

Spíritus ductu, studiósus orbi
mira quæ pastor dócuit supérnus
Christus ac fecit míserans amóre,
  tradis amánter.

Lead by the Spirit, full of zeal, you lovingly handed over
to an amazed world what Christ the supreme Pastor
taught and did in merciful love.

Próvidus chartis pérhibes venústis
gesta quæ Iesu célebrant alúmnos,
eius et gentis nova quæ patéscunt
  in nova sæcla.

Looking ahead to a new age you put forth in beautiful pages
the deeds which celebrate the disciples of Jesus
and which reveal to the nations new things.

O comes Pauli, speculátor alti
cordis illíus sed et æmulátor,
cáritas Christi fac ut usque nostrum
  pectus adúrat.

O companion of Paul, observer and imitator of his
heart, may the charity of Christ also set fire
to our hearts. 

Tu malis nostris médicus fer artem,
confer et lætum fídei levámen,
ut Deo tandem potiámur, ipsi
  semper ovántes. Amen.

You, a doctor, bring  healing to our
ills and confer  the glad relief of faith
that we may obtain to God
rejoicing in him always.  Amen.

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