Mozarabic Hymns: The Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent: Vespers

Spanish book art in the early Middle Ages was of a singular order. Its unmistakable look derived principally from the Islamic conquest: in the 8th century, the highly advanced culture of the Arab world was disseminated over more than half of the Iberian peninsula, and, through contact with the native aesthetic elements of West Gothic early Christianity, a distinctive cross-over Mozarabic style evolved. The illustrated commentaries on the Revelation of St. John by Beatus Liébana clearly signifies Spain's role as a fascinating crucible of the most diverse of influences. Oriental, Mozarabic and West Gothic influences can be detected.

First and second Vespers

Verbum Patris, quod prodiit factum caro;

Agnus Dei peccata mundi auferens:

Ad te venimus cernui, ut inclytum

Bibamus almæ passionis sanguinem.

Ostende vulnerum sacrorum stigmata:

Exurgat insignis Crucis fortissimum

Signum, quod in vigore perpetim

Manens, credentibus salvationem conferat.

Arundo, clavi, sputa, potus myrrheus,

Corona spinarum, flagella, lancea,

Impressa sunt damnationis verbera:

Iam nostra pro his cuncta dele crimina.

Fons vulneris Sacri riget præcordia,

Lavet cruor, malitiæque contagia:

Sit vita præsens absque omni crimine;

Futura detur in beato munere.

Ut, cum resurgendi dies effulserit,

Orbique regni claritas inluxerit,

Sequamur ætheris viam, quæ nos trahat

In se receptos jam perennes incolas.

Honor sit Æterno Deo, sit gloria

Uni Patri, ejusque soli Filio

Cum Spiritu; quæ Trinitas perenniter

Vivit potens in sæculorum sæculis.

   Amen.

The Word of the Father, who comes forth as the Word made flesh; the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world: humbly we come to you that we might drink the glorious blood of your loving passion. Show to us the signs of your holy wounds: May the most mighty sign of the noble cross arise, which retains  its power forever and gives salvation to believers.  The reed, the nails, the spittle, the drink of myrrh, the crown of thorns, the whip, the lance, the marks of the punishing lashes: now these blot out all our sins.  May the fount of your holy wounding water our dry hearts, may your blood wash away the sickness of evil: may our present life be free from sin and in the world to come may we be given the blessed reward. That when the day of the resurrection shine forth and the brightness of the kingdom illumines the world, may we follow the path to heaven, which leads us to the place where those who have already been received dwell forever.  Honor be to the eternal God, to the one Father and to his only Son with the Spirit, the Trinity, who forever lives in power, to the ages of ages. Amen.