Hymns for a Confessor
  • GerardH
    Posts: 461
    Can anyone suggest suitable hymns for the feast of a Confessor (in this case St Josemaria Escriva)? I'm trying to prevent the old For all the Saints as a catch-all.

    I saw @Kathy had a couple of suitable texts here, which perhaps she'd permit to be used?

  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    Iste Confessor is probably available in English translation worth using (somewhere)
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,414
    And, Titilouze has some organ versets on Iste Confessor., some of which would be very suitable for voluntaries before, during, or after mass.
  • GerardH
    Posts: 461
    Okay, so nothing much. For the reference of future readers, I selected R.M. Benson's translation of Jesu, redemptor omnium, one of the office hymns for a confessor, O Thou, whose all-redeeming might.
  • JonLaird
    Posts: 245
    For future reference, we have used the translation of Iste Confessor from The Hymner (#67), along with the tune ISTE CONFESSOR.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen GerardH
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    Gerhard,

    I'm not in an OF realm, so I can't tell you much of what's out there, anymore. The tune Deus Tuorum Militum, which I sang as a young boy to the words "O Love, how deep, how broad, how high" is designed (and named for) another of the office hymns.
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 2,798
    CPDL endeavors to put everything in one place.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,509
    GerardH, yes, let me give permission here.

    Inclitus rector
    Office Hymn for Pastors, for a Priest

    Come let us raise our songs of celebration,
    Joining the triumph train of this confessor,
    Father and leader, now above the heavens
    Reigning forever.

    Priest of the Church, a leader and a teacher,
    Sanctity plain in all his words and actions,
    He strove to please God, generous in service,
    And with a pure heart.

    Now let us ask him earnestly for favor:
    Cleansing of all the sins of his beloved;
    And by his fervent prayers may we be lifted
    To the high heavens.

    Glory and power, praises in the highest,
    to the one God, and honor everlasting,
    for His dominion, orderly and lawful,
    governs creation.


    Iesu, Redemptor omnium
    8th c. Hymn, confessors

    O Jesus, Ransom of us all
    Receive our voices when we call,
    Eternal Crown, in mercy giv’n
    To all the citizens of heaven.

    This day he shone in lasting fame,
    confessor of your holy name,
    the people praise him joyfully
    in annual solemnity

    When through this world his pathway led
    He calmly walked, serenely tread.
    His steps were sure and ever true,
    On his salvation path to you

    As he surrendered not his heart
    to this world’s joys nor things that part,
    now with the angels in the skies
    he holds in joy the heav’nly prize.

    In tender mercy, Lord, assent
    That we may follow where he went,
    and in his steps, your servants win
    forgiveness from their guilt of sin.

    We praise you, Christ, our loving King,
    And to your Father glory sing
    Whom with the Spirit we adore
    Forever and forevermore.

    Both trans. c. Kathleen Pluth 2013. Permission given for use for the feast day of St. Josemaria Escriva, 2021. All other rights reserved.
    Thanked by 2GerardH Skladach
  • Chrism
    Posts: 872
    There are also Proper Latin LOTH hymns for the Feast of St. Josemaria.
  • GerardH
    Posts: 461
    Thank you @Kathy. I like how your translations of the lists espousing the confessor's virtues don't sound like describing a ponce, a fault of too many earlier translations.

    @Chrism, yes I found those. Very interesting that new Latin texts exist; I wonder who took the time to write them. Good English translations would also be very useful for those involved in Opus Dei I imagine.
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