Come, Thou, Redeemer of the Earth
by Ambrose of Milan, sung to Puer Nobis NasciturCome, Thou Redeemer of the earth,
And manifest Thy virgin birth:
Let every age adoring fall;
Such birth befits the God of all.
Begotten of no human will,
But of the Spirit, Thou art still
The Word of God in flesh arrayed,
The promised Fruit to man displayed.
The virgin womb that burden gained
With virgin honor all unstained;
The banners there of virtue glow;
God in His temple dwells below.
Forth from His chamber goeth He,
That royal home of purity,
A giant in twofold substance one,
Rejoicing now His course to run.
From God the Father He proceeds,
To God the Father back He speeds;
His course He runs to death and hell,
Returning on God’s throne to dwell.
O equal to the Father, Thou!
Gird on Thy fleshly mantle now;
The weakness of our mortal state
With deathless might invigorate.
Thy cradle here shall glitter bright,
And darkness breathe a newer light,
Where endless faith shall shine serene,
And twilight never intervene.
All laud to God the Father be,
All praise, eternal Son, to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To God the Holy Paraclete.
posted by Ryan Martin at 12/17/2005 03:55:00 PM
3 Comments:
I bless God that in the 30th year of my life I have been shown this discovery. Here is some strong theology, no wonder it isn't commonly sung.
If you ever come into the Latin text, I'd like to see it. This is an excellent English text.
"God in His temple dwells below."
All of Christmas in one sentence. Very deft. Which is why I wonder about the original.
What an inspired rhyme: "mortal state" with "invigorate"!
Veni, redemptor gentium, also known as intende, qui regis Israel:
Intende, qui regis Israel,
super Cherubim qui sedes,
appare Ephrem coram, excita
potentiam tuam et veni.
veni, redemptor gentium,
ostende partum virginis;
miretur omne saeculum,
talis decet partus Deum.
non ex virili semine,
sed mystico spiramine
verbum Dei factum est caro
fructusque ventris floruit.
alvus tumescit virginis,
claustrum pudoris permanet,
vexilla virtutum micant,
versatur in templo Deus.
procedat e thalamo suo
pudoris aula regia
geminae gigas substantiae,
alacris ut currat viam.
egressus eius a patre,
regressus eius ad patrem,
excursus usque ad inferos,
recursus ad sedem Dei.
aequalis aeterno patri,
carnis tropaeo cingere,
infirma nostri corporis
virtute firmans perpeti.
praesepe iam fulget tuum
lumenque nox spirat suum,
quod nulla nox interpolet
fideque iugi luceat.
Oh, thanks for highlighting the line so I could find it.
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