Some Hymns in the Liber Hymnarius - Need Translations Please!
  • JMJ
    Dear folks,
    I am working on an English hymnal project and I keep hitting a brick wall while searching for English translations for these hymns from the Liber Hymnarius...

    First: (Jam) Iam Surgit Hora Tertia
    (Hymn for the hour of Terce during the Easter Season)

    Second: Venite, Servi, Supplices
    (Hymn for the hour of Sext during the Easter Season

    Third: Haec Hora, Quae Resplenduit
    (Hymn for the hour of None during the Easter Season)


    THE ABOVE MENTIONED HYMNS are the ones I'm really desperate for, but I also would be very grateful to find these:

    O Rex Aeterne, Domine
    (Option for Vespers on the days following the Octave of Easter)

    Per Crucem, Christe, Quaesumus
    (Hymn for the hour of None on Good Friday)

    Celsae Salutis Gaudia
    (Hymn for Palm Sunday/Holy Week to be prayed "Ad Horam Mediam" - possibly whenever the Current Psalmody is used? [just a guess])


    Does anyone know of where I would be able to FIND translations of these hymns? Or, would anyone reading this be interested in trying their hand at translating one or some or all of these and posting the results?
    I hate to be a bother, but I am no good at translating hymns and so I suppose I must appeal to others for assistance. :(
    May God bless you!!
  • nun_34nun_34
    Posts: 67
    Translations by Ryde Abbey for
    Iam Surgit and Venite Servi.

    I will type the other hymn texts once I locate them.
    001.jpg
    1700 x 2338 - 417K
  • nun_34nun_34
    Posts: 67
    The English translations of these are also by Ryde Abbey. They don't rhyme, but since when has rhyme really been necessary?

    Haec hora, quae resplenduit
    1. The ninth hour saw the Cross gleam out,
    Dispelling darkness from the world,
    And Christ's victorious cry in death
    Brought light and beauty back again.

    2. And many tombs gave up their dead,
    In witness to the Lord of Life,
    Who liberated by his death
    The just who waited for this hour.

    3. New life, immortal and divine
    Is offered us in realms of bliss,
    The glories of the life to come
    Await us when our crown is won.

    4. All glory... (as at Terce)


    O Rex, aeterne Domine
    1. Eternal King, Christ Jesus Lord,
    The Father's perfect Word and Son,
    To your own image, in your love
    You first created sinless man.

    2. And when the enemy of good
    Deceived our race and brought it low,
    You chose our nature to assume,
    With Virgin Mother's free consent.

    3. That so uniting God and Man,
    You might for guilty man atone,
    That pardoned through redeeming Blood,
    In Christ all men should be baptized.

    4. You chose to die upon the Cross
    To save us all from lasting death;
    You shed your blood in sacrifice
    To win us endless happiness.

    5. Once risen and in glory due,
    With God the Father now you reign,
    And we believe with hope and love
    That we, through you, shall rise again.

    6. O Jesus, be our Easter joy,
    Which never fades from grateful hearts;
    May all of us your triumph share,
    Reborn and radiant with grace.

    7. All glory... (as above)


    Per Crucem, Christe
    1. Christ Jesus, through your holy Cross,
    Lead safely to the crown of life
    Those whom your love chose to redeem
    By those three hours upon its wood.

    2. Your law of love that gave up life
    To nullify the first decree,
    Destroyed our ancient servitude
    And gave us back true liberty.

    3. With Father and the Spirit One,
    All glory, Jesus, be to you,
    Who by the triumph of the Cross
    Will lead us to eternal life.


    Celsae salutis gaudia
    1. Now let the faithful world rejoice
    To sing salvation's triumph sure,
    For Jesus Christ redeemed us all
    And overcame the prince of death.

    2. Fair palms and branches green we bear,
    As joyfully we wend our way,
    Proclaiming with both heart and voice:
    "Hosanna unto David's Son."

    3. To greet our Lord and sovereign King
    Let all pay homage at his feet,
    While making sacred melody,
    With palms acclaiming holy joy.

    4. Amid the toils and snares of life
    May he assist us with his grace,
    That grateful hearts may render thanks
    For all his wondrous gifts to men.

    5. All glory to the Father be,
    All glory to his only Son,
    And to the Holy Spirit blest,
    Both now and in eternity.

    Amen!
  • JMJ
    Thank you! Bless you! A thousand thank yous!
    How wonderful is this? Just what I needed!
    I'm sure this will help other people, too. These English translations are so hard to find - and then they are not always accurate.
    I am so grateful - be blessed!

    P.S. Also, even in Latin, not all of the hymns rhyme - so the translations only need to rhyme if the Latin rhymed; that is, if you want to be technical about it! :) These are so GREAT!