Dei fide, qua vivimus

 Ad Tertiam: saec. VIII

Dei fide, qua vívimus, (1)

qua spe perénni crédimus, (2)

per caritátis grátiam

Christi canámus glóriam,

Qui ductus hora tértia (3)

ad passiónis hóstiam,

crucis ferens suspéndia

ovem redúxit pérditam. 

Precémur ergo súbditi,

redemptióne líberi,

ut éruat a sæculo

quos solvit a chirógrapho.

Christum rogámus et Patrem,

Christi Patrísque Spíritum;

unum potens per ómnia,

fove precántes, Trínitas. Amen.

1.       Three theological virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love.

2.      Mk 15:25: "at the third hour they crucified him." 

3.      Reference to the penitent thief: the lost sheep. 

Faith in God, by which we live, in eternal hope by which we believe, through the grace of love we sing the glory of Christ.  Who was lead at the third hour to the sacrifice of the passion, bearing the gibbet of the cross he returned the lost sheep.  We humbly pray therefore that delivered by his redemption he would rescue from the world those he freed from the charge. We ask Christ and the Father and the Spirit of Christ and the Father, one power through all things, O Trinity, cherish those who pray to you. Amen.