The Latin Hymn-writers and Their HymnsDuffield, Samuel Willoughby
Religion
The Latin Hymn-writers and Their Hymns
Duffield, Samuel Willoughby
Hymns, Latin -- History and criticism
Wash us this day, O Christ, cleansing us with hyssop; and make us
worthy of this mystery, drying the sea, boring the jaw of
Leviathan with a mighty hook.
Rejoice us with the cup and fill us; arouse us, drinking from the
brook in the way, thou our propitiation, thou priest and
sacrifice, thou wine-press and stone of offence and grape!
O fragrant flower of the virgin rod,
O light full of sevenfold dew,
Fairer in beauty than the juice of the grape,
The blush of the rose, the candor of the lily.
How camest thou with such pity to bend to the help of this little
world; that thou mightest share our sorrows and be our
Redeemer from the birthmark of sin, bearing the curse of
sin?
O Lord, Kinsman of thy servants,
The hope of the first and of the last resurrection,
Confirm thy covenant to the seed of Abraham, and us, O Leader
immortal, reviving with thyself, who are dead with thee to
our old father Adam, strengthen, joining us to thy
mightier members.
Give us the paschal feast of the life eternal, thou Paschal Lamb!
The question before us is not one of theology but of literature. Did the
man who wrote those verses write these also?
Veni, Sancte Spiritus,
Et emitte coelitus
Lucis tuae radium.
Veni, pater pauperum,
Veni, dator munerum,
Veni, lumen cordium;
Consolator optime,
Dulcis hospes animae,
Dulce refrigerium:
In labore requies,
In aestu temperies,
In fletu solatium.
O lux beatissima,
Reple cordis intima
Tuorum fidelium!
Sine tuo numine
Nihil est in homine,
Nihil est innoxium.
Lava quod est sordidum,
Riga quod est aridum,
Sana quod est saucium;
Flecte quod est rigidum,
Fove quod est frigidum,
Rege quod est devium!
Da tuis fidelibus
In te confidentibus
Sacrum septenarium;
Da virtutis meritum,
Da salutis exitum,
Da perenne gaudium!
Come Holy Spirit,
And send forth the heavenly
Ray of thy light.
Come, Father of the poor;
Come, giver of gifts;
Come, light of hearts.
Thou best consoler,
Sweet guest of the soul,
Sweet coolness;
In labor, rest;
In heat, refreshment;
In tears, solace.
O blessedest light,
Fill the inmost parts
Of the heart of thy faithful!
Without thy divinity
Nothing is in man,
Nothing is harmless.
Wash what is base;
Bedew what is dry;
Heal what is hurt;
Bend what is harsh;
Warm what is chilled;
Rule what is astray.
Give to thy faithful,
In thee confiding,
Thy sevenfold gift.
Give the reward of virtue;
Give the death of safety;
Give eternal joy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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