Gregory the Great (545-604) and Venantius Fortunatus (530-609) mark a period of transition in the hymn singing of the Western Church. It was at this time, about 600 A. D., that the Ambrosian church song was superseded by the Gregorian. Here it was that congregational song in the Western Church was abandoned and that part of public worship given over to the priests and the monks. The only part the congregation took was in a few responses. Gregory the Great was a man of unusual ability. He was pope from 590 until his death in 604. He was a zealous missionary to Britain, great as a champion against the heretics, and great as a preacher, but his best service to the Church is undoubtedly his liturgical and musical contribution. He strove to make public worship worthy of Him to whom it was rendered. It must be borne in mind that good congregational singing was something which presented great and perplexing problems in those days. The Gregorian chants, still in use, after a lapse of more than a dozen centuries, show the Gregorian style and indicate how Gregory changed the melodious and flowing hymns of St. Ambrose into the more severe and solemn style of the new period. But we have several hymns from Gregory’s pen which indicate that he was not without the Ambrosian spirit. Take, for example, his beautiful hymn, O Christ, our King, Creator, Lord, Saviour of all who trust Thy word, To them who seek Thee ever near, Now to our praises bend Thine ear. Venantius Fortunatus, the troubadour, holds a very important place in early Latin hymnody. He wrote one of the greatest hymns of the Western Church, namely, Vexilla Regis—The royal banners forward go, the Cross shines forth in mystic glow. We quote the first stanza of another great hymn by Fortunatus, a grand Easter hymn. Welcome, happy morning! age to age shall say; Hell today is vanquished; heaven is won today. Lo! the Dead is living, God for evermore! Him their true Creator, all His works adore. Welcome, happy morning! age to age shall say. Simplicity, depth, fervor, divine sentiment, full-hearted confession, are some of the outstanding characteristics of the early Latin hymns. They are, on the whole, Scriptural, pure, and devotional. The key-note in these venerable old hymns consists of the main points of Christianity, the protection and care of the Father, the redemption of Christ, the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, strains of thanksgiving and praise, invocation of God’s support against the devil, the flesh and the world. SECTION IV MEDIAEVAL CHRISTIAN HYMNODY A. D. 600-1520