This is a syndicated post from The Chant Café. [Read the original article...]
Ever wonder what Roman Catholics sang on Easter mornings during the centuries before Charles Wesley appeared on the scene? Here is my translation of Aurora lucis rutilat, a 5th century Lauds hymn for Eastertide from the Liturgy of the Hours. Like many Office hymns, this text is written in Ambrosian, or Long Meter (iambic).
Office hymns are not shy about using words like “triumph” and “victory.” They often begin by setting a scene of cosmic dimensions, an exultation of praise that involves not only earth, but includes the natural world and the citizens of heaven.
Ultimately, there will be a victory, a direct result of Christ’s victory on that Easter morning.
The light of
dawn is reddening,
dawn is reddening,
The heaven’s
morning praises spring,
morning praises spring,
The earth
exults: “The morning! Hail!”
exults: “The morning! Hail!”
While hell’s
sad dwellers groan and wail.
sad dwellers groan and wail.
Our King,
the victor in the strife,
the victor in the strife,
When death
was smashed apart by life,
was smashed apart by life,
Has trampled
hell triumphantly
hell triumphantly
And captive
led captivity.
led captivity.
The Lord,
whose barricade of stone
whose barricade of stone
The soldiers
kept sharp eyes upon
kept sharp eyes upon
In vict’ry
conquers through that gate
conquers through that gate
And rises
forth in pomp and state.
forth in pomp and state.
“The Lord is risen from the dead!”
The splendid
angel loudly said.
angel loudly said.
And hell is
evermore left free
evermore left free
To grumble
in its misery.
in its misery.
Be this our
thought through all life’s days,
thought through all life’s days,
Our Easter
joy, our Paschal praise:
joy, our Paschal praise:
The grace in
which we are reborn
which we are reborn
Was won in
triumph on that morn.
triumph on that morn.
Jesus, to You
let glory rise,
let glory rise,
Who
vanquished death and won the prize;
vanquished death and won the prize;
With Father
and the Spirit blest,
and the Spirit blest,
Be endless
ages’ praise addressed.
ages’ praise addressed.
(138)
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