These
hymns were composed by Urban VIII (1568-1644).
His pontificate is famous because of the Galileo controversy. No pope
since has taken the name Urban, not because of Galileo but because he left the
Papacy in deep debt. Urban was an excellent Classical Latinist and decided that
the hymns of the Breviary were in very poor Latin. He gathered a committee to
do the revision, always a bad idea. Whatever else you may say about the
Liturgica Horarum, they (another damned committee) did restore the original
versions of the hymns of St. Ambrose and Prudentius. In any case these hymns
for St. Teresa are perfectly fine and to the point. Note that Dom Anselmo got
his revenge on Urban in the third stanza: Urban: Alverni, a very Virgilian word
for hell; Liturgica Horarum: inferni, a perfectly pedestrian word for hell.
Ad Laudes matutinas: In the Roman Breviary used for Vespers and Matins
Regis supérni núntia
domum patérnam déseris,
terris, Terésa, bárbaris
Christum datúra aut sánguinem.
Sed te manet suávior
mors, pœna poscit dúlcior:
divíni amóris cúspide
in vulnus icta cóncides.
O caritátis víctima,
tu corda nostra cóncrema,
tibíque gentes créditas
inférni ab igne líbera.
O herald of the heavenly King, you leave your father’s house,
Teresa, to give to barbarian lands Christ or your own blood. But a more tender
death remains for you, a sweeter punishment is sought, by the spear of divine
love, you are pierced and wounded. O victim of love, set our hearts on fire and
deliver the nations entrusted to you from the fire of hell. May the blessed
order of virgins worship you, O Jesus, their Bride-groom and praise you forever
with a nuptial hymn. Amen.
O herald of the heavenly King,
She left her father’s house to bring
Her message, Christ, to foreign lands,
Or shed her blood upon their sands.
But kindlier death, Teresa waits
To claim thee. Love, that compensates
The longing heart, will wound and smite
Thee down, yet all thy love requite.
O sacrifice of love divine,
Set all our hearts on fire, like thine;
And pray that we may be kept free
From flames of hell, who call on thee.
Praise to the Father, with the Son
And Paraclete, forever One:
To thee, O Holy Trinity,
Be praise for all eternity.
Amen.
Ad Vesperas: In the Roman Breviary used for Lauds.
Hæc est dies, qua cándidæ
instar colúmbæ, cælitum
ad sacra templa spíritus
se tránstulit Terésiæ,
Sponsíque voces áudiit:
«Veni, soror, de vértice
Carméli ad Agni núptias;
veni ad corónam glóriæ».
This is the day when Teresa’s soul in the likeness of a white dove
was taken to the sacred temples above; this is the day when the voice of the
Bridegroom s heard: ‘come, o sister, from Carmel’s peak to the nuptials of the Lamb;
come to your crown of glory.’ May the
blessed order of virgins worship you, O Jesus, their Bride-groom and praise you
forever with a nuptial hymn. Amen.
Haec est dies
This is the day, when, filled with love,
And shining like a heavn’ly dove,
The spirit of Teresa flies
To temples high above the skies.
And then she hears the bridegroom’s voice:
“The wedding of the Lamb, rejoice!
Come, sister, from Mount Carmel’s height.
Come to your crown of glory bright.”
May all the virgins blest adore
O Bridegroom Jesus, evermore,
And sing you wedding songs of praise
Throughout the everlasting days.
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