Sei gegrüßt, Jesu, du einiger Trost

Here is my translation of “Sei gegrüßt, Jesu, du einiger Trost,” the German rendering and adaptation of O Crux Ave (the 9th stanza, perhaps a late addition, of the Latin hymn “Vexilla Regis Prodeunt”), included by Kunrad Michael von Nordhausen (1560–?) in a collection of hymns for the year, later in the Buffalo Synod hymnal, ELGB #117. Here, von Nordhausen has attempted to align the stanza more closely with Lutheran sensibilities (but cf. the version included in TLH, as st. 6, i.a.) by directing attention from the cross to the Crucified. His adaptation includes the Doxology in German as well. In making this notable adaptation, he follows earlier Lutheran Latin tradition, in which the Latin text “O Crux” was changed to “Christe,”and prayer is asked that Christians may have their righteousness increased, and sinners be given pardon—as seen in Lossius’ Psalmodia (1579, fol. 31a, e.g.):

   This may be compared with the current wording (since Pope Urban VIII’s revisions in 1629) of the Roman version: “O Crux ave, spes unica, / hoc Passionis tempore! / piis adauge gratiam, / reisque dele crimina.” Much of the sense is preserved here in the prayer to increase grace for the godly and to blot out crimes for sinners.

   While we have a few translations of the original in English, the differences in the first stanza and the doxology seem substantial or interesting enough to warrant this present post. The melody for the German was adapted from the original chant, the German form of which is seen above (from Liber Hymnorum, Emmanuel Press, 2016). A version with the music may be seen in Layriz's Kern IV, p. 101, in his suggested Good Friday service (on which Friedrich Lochner largely bases his). Note that, in keeping with von Nordhausen’s free rendering of the meter, the traditional neumes of the chant are broken as needed:

O Christ, our only comfort, hail!
In this Thine hour of great travail:
Give to the faithful steadfastness,
To sinners poor, Thy righteousness. (or: "Poor sinners with Thy mercy bless.")
   
O God, Thou Holy Trinity,
The Church, redeemed by th’ agony
Borne on the Cross, doth Thee adore!
Save us, Lord God, for evermore. Amen.

Tr. st. 1, M. Carver, 2022.

GERMAN

Sei gegrüßt Jesu, Du einiger Trost,
in dieser Zeit Deines Leidens groß,
gieb den Frommen Beständigkeit,
und den armen Sündern Gerechtigkeit. (var. Barmherzigkeit.)

O Gott, Du heilige Dreifaltigkeit,
Dich lobet alle Christenheit,
erlöst durch des Creuzes Bitterkeit,
mach uns selig Herr Gott in Ewigkeit. Amen.

TLH (tr. J. M. Neale)

O Cross, our one reliance, hail!
So may thy power with us avail
To give new virtue to the saint
And pardon to the penitent.

To Thee, eternal Three in One,
Let homage meet by all be done,
Whom by the cross Thou dost restore,
Preserve, and govern evermore.

Ermuntert euch, ihr Frommen (Supplement)

Here (stanzas 4, 5, 6, and 9) is my supplemental translation for “Rejoice, All Ye Believers,” / “Ermuntert euch, ihr Frommen” (L. Laurentii, 1700), the first hymn for the Last Sunday before Advent, and without doubt Laurentii’s most successful hymn in English usage. The appointed melody is “Wacht auf ihr Christen alle.” Following Findlater’s translation choice, the odd lines are not rhymed. (Also note my alterations to the original text, marked in bold).

 
Mel.: Wacht auf, ihr Christen alle.

REJOICE, all ye believers,

And let yours lights appear!

The evening is advancing,

And darker night is near.

The Bridegroom is arising,

And soon He draweth nigh.

Up, pray, and watch, and wrestle:

At midnight comes the cry.

 

2 See that your lamps are burning;

Replenish them with oil.

And wait for your salvation,

The end of earthly toil.

The watchers on the mountain

Proclaim the Bridegroom near.

Go meet Him as He cometh,

With alleluias clear.

 

3 O wise and holy virgins,

Now raise your voices high’r,

Until in songs of triumph

Ye meet the angel choir.

The marriage feast is waiting,

The gates wide open stand;

Rise up, ye heirs of glory,

The Bridegroom is at hand.

 

4 It will not be much longer,

So slumber ye no more;

E’en now the trees are budding,

Fair spring puts out her flow’r

Foretelling times of quick’ning;

In ruddy evening skies

From far we spy fair morning,

And dark before it flies.

 

5 Who therefore would be sleeping?

The wise man stands awake.

God comes, the world to punish,

Wrath and revenge to take

On all who still would slumber,

Who still would bow before

The beast’s image, and dragon:

Rise, hear the lion roar!

 

6 Go out on earth to meet Him,

Ye who your Zion love,

With face and heart unfearing,

No more sad glances prove;

Now come glad hours of heaven,

The bride, who hath o’ercome,

Shall soon the crown be given,

Within the Bridegroom’s home.

 

7 Ye saints, who here in patience

Your cross and suff’rings bore,

Shall live and reign forever,

When sorrow is no more.

Around the throne of glory

The Lamb ye shall behold;

In triumph cast before Him

Your diadems of gold!

 

8 There are the palms of vict’ry,

There, radiant garments are;

There stands the peaceful harvest,

Beyond the reach of war.

There, after stormy winter,

The bodies are restored

Which here by Death were stricken;

There wine of joy is poured.

 

9 There is the joyful city,

Jerusalem the pure,

Where souls redeemed find pasture;

There is the harbor sure,

There are the streets all-golden

There is the wedding feast,

There in the vale of roses

The Bride’s distress is ceased.

 

10 Our hope and expectation,

O Jesus, now appear!

Arise, Thou sun so longed for,

O’er this benighted sphere!

With hearts and hands uplifted,

We plead, O Lord, to see

The day of earth’s redemption

That brings us unto Thee.

Tr. sts. 1–3, 7–8, S. L. Findlater, 1854, alt.; sts. 4–6, 9, M. Carver.

GERMAN

Ermuntre euch, ihr Frommen,
Zeigt eurer Lampen Schein,
Der Abend ist gekommen,
Die finstre Nacht bricht ein,
Es hat sich aufgemachet,
Der Bräutigam mit Pracht,
Auf, betet, kämpft und wachet,
Bald ist es Mitternacht.

 2 Macht eure Lampen fertig,
Und füllet sie mit Öl,
Und seid des Heils gewärtig,
Bereitet Leib und Seel,
Die Wächter Zions schreien,
Der Bräutigam ist nah,
Begegnet ihm im Reihen,
Und singt Alleluja.

3 Ihr klugen Jungfern alle,
Hebt nun das Haupt empor,
Mit Jauchzen und mit Schalle,
Zum frohen Engelchor.
Die Tür ist aufgeschlossen,
Die Hochzeit ist bereit,
Auf, auf, ihr Reichsgenossen!
Der Bräutgam ist nicht weit.

4 Es wird nicht lang verzichen,
Drum schlaffet nicht mehr ein
Man sieht die Bäume blühen,
Der schöne Frühlingschein
Verheißt Erquickungszeiten,
Die Abendröte zeigt
Den schönen Tag von weiten,
Dafür das Dunkle weicht.

5 Wer wollte denn nun schlafen,
Wer klug ist, der ist wach,
Gott kommt die Welt zu strafen,
Zu üben Grimm und Rach
An allen, die nicht wachen,
Und die des Tieres Bild
Anbeten, samt dem Drachen,
Drum auf, der Löwe brüllt!

6 Begegnet ihm auf Erden,
Ihr, die ihr Zion liebt,
Mit freudigen Gebärden,
Und seid nicht mehr betrübt;
Es sind die Freudenstunden
Gekommen, und der Braut
Wird, weil sie überwunden,
Die Krone nun vertraut.

7 Die ihr Geduld getragen,
Und mit gestorben seid,
Sollt nun nach Kreuz und Klagen,
In Freuden sonder Leid
Mitleben und -regieren,
Und für des Lammes Thron,
Mit jauchzen triumphieren
In eurer Sieges Kron.

8 Hier sind die Sieges Palmen,
Hier ist das weiße Kleid,
Hier stehn die weißen Halmen
In Frieden, nach dem Streit,
Und nach den Wintertagen,
Hier grünen die Gebein,
Die dort der Tod erschlagen,
Hier schenkt man Freudenwein.

9 Hier ist die Stadt der Freuden
Jerusalem der Ort
Wo die Erlösten weiden,
Hier ist die sichre Pfort,
Hie sind die güldnen Gassen,
Hie ist das Hochzeitmahl,
Hie soll sich niederlassen
Die Braut im Rosental.

10 O Jesu, meine Wonne,
Komm bald und mach dich auf!
Geh auf verlangte Sonne,
Und eile deinen Lauf,
O Jesu, mach ein Ende,
Und führ uns aus dem Streit,
Wir heben Haupt und Hände
Nach der Erlösungszeit.

Magno salutis gaudio

Here is my translation of the ancient Palm Sunday processional hymn, “Magno salutis gaudio,” also known as “Magnum salutis gaudium” after one of the variants. The hymn comes to us from Gregory the Great, and so predates the current Palmarum processional, “Gloria laus et honor” of Theodulph, by about two centuries. Lossius (1579, fol. 65 verso) appoints this hymn for 1st Vespers of Palm Sunday in a cento of seven stanzas. A variety of centos appear in ancient uses, usually with a refrain or special antiphons. Rubrics in Lossius refer to the tune for “Deus Creator omnium” or “Christe qui lux es et dies.” I include another melody found in a Cistercian hymnal from the late 16th century.

LET age to age with great delight
Acclaim salvation’s cheering sight,
Since Jesus our Redeemer hath
Raised up the fainting world from death.

2. Six days before the Paschal feast
Nigh Bethany His journey ceased,
Where He with love, now three days o’er
Did Lazarus to life restore.

3. There Mary took of spikenard dear
The pound untainted, without peer,
Embalmed her Master’s blessèd feet
Bedewing them with teardrops sweet.

4. Then Jesus, highest Judge of all
Upon a colt, an ass’s foal,
Was pleased to sit, and thusly passed
To proud Jerusalem at last.

5. O marvelous that tender love,
O meekness rare of God above,
That He who made creation wide
On ass’s colt should deign to ride!

6. From tender palm the gath’ring throng
The new-cut branches bore along,
And crowding came into the way
To meet the King of endless day.

7. Praise, honor, and dominion be
To God the only Trinity:
To Father, Son and Spirit, One 

While everlasting ages run.

Translation © 2014 Matthew Carver; sts. 2–6, based on W.J. Copeland.

W.J. COPELAND (complete hymn):

Let age to age Hosannas sing, 

Glad shout of health and praise,
Now Jesus comes, Salvation's King,

Th' expiring world to raise.

Six days the Paschal night before
At Bethany He arriv'd,
Where, in His love, now three days o'er
He Lazarus reviv'd.

There Mary took of spikenard sweet
The precious pound and good,
Etnbalm'd her Master's Blessed Feet,
And with her tears bedew'd.

Then Jesus, Judge of Heaven Supreme,
On ass's colt He sate,
And on to proud Jerusalem
Advanc'd in solemn state.

O tender love how marvellous,
More wondrous meekness yet!
That earth's Creator deigneth thus
On ass's colt to sit.

'Twas He the Seer's clear spirit eyed,
And thrilling voice foretold,
When "Daughter, rise and shout" he cried,
"Shout, Sion, and behold!"

"Thy King doth come, yon lowly One,
"Fear not, Behold the sign,
 "On foal of ass He rideth on,
"Meek, patient, and benign."

From tender palm the gathering throng
The new-cut branches bring,
With olives green they haste along
To meet th' Immortal King;

Before, behind, in concourse run,
And in the Spirit's might,
"Hosanna" cry, "to David's Son
Hosanna in the height."

Some strip them of their garments gay
To deck the royal road,
Some with bright flowers bestrew the way
As less unmeet for God.

At His approach with thrill intense
The trembling city rang;
But Judah's golden innocence
His worthiest praises sang.

O let us thus run forth to greet
Th’ Almighty Judge and King,
And bearing palms of glory meet
With childlike spirit sing.

All honour, might, and sovranty 

To God Triune in Heaven,
To Father, Son and Spirit be 

Eternal glory given.

LATIN (Cento from Lossius):

Magno salutis gaudio
Laetetur omne seculum,
JESUS redemptor omnium
Sanavit orbem languidum.

2. Sex ante Paschae ferias,
Advenit in Bethaniam,
Ubi pie post triduum
Resuscitavit Lazarum.

3. Nardi Maria pistici
Sumpsit libram mox optimi.
Unxit beatos Domini
Pedes, rigando lacrymis.

4. Post haec jugalis asinae,
JESUS supernus arbiter,
Pullo sedebat , inclytam
Pergebat Hierosolymam.

5. O quam stupenda pietas,
Mira Dei clementia,
Sessor aselli fieri,
Dignatus autor seculi.

6. Ramos virentes sumpserat,
Palma recisos tenera,
Turba processit obviam,
Regi perenni plurima.

7. Honor, decus, imperium,
Sit Trinitati unicae,
Patri, Nato, Paracleto,
Per infinita secula, Amen.

Congaudent angelorum

Here is my translation of “Congaudent angelorum,” sung by the church as the Sequence for the Assumption (et al.), as corrected by Hermann Bonnus and found in Ludecus’ cantionale (1589). Included with Bonnus’ Latin are the variants from the original text before the evangelical corrections. These consist mainly of amending Marian adoration to reverence (in accord, e.g., with early councils), and, toward the end of the Sequence, redirecting invocatory language from Mary to Christ. Interestingly, this Sequence was general for the Assumption throughout German lands, whereas the Sarum use employed three special Sequences along with the other Marian ones throughout the Octave.

IN COMMON celebration
Angels joy in Mary glorified,

2a. Who without relation
Of mortal man, her Son supplied,
2b. Who restores creation
By His body’s healing tide.

3a. For now this Virgin’s heart rejoices
To see the Man as heaven’s Prince
3b. That once amid the manger noises
Received from her His sustenance.

4a. How angels sing the splendor
 Of Jesus’ mother, Mary honoring!
4b. Who, owning fealty, render
Their faithful service to Her Son, the King.

5a. How brightly in heaven
They the virgin maid revere,
  Whose body was given
To their Lord a lodging dear,
And as a chamber free from stain!
5b. How fair is the shining
Of the sea-star in the heights, Who, humbly inclining,
Bore the Light above all lights,—
Light of all spirits, stars, and men!

6a. The King of all heaven,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
  By all His humble church adored,
6b. Who ever is given
Songs of sweet accord,
  With all the hosts on high outpoured.

7a. Whom sacred scriptures sweetly frame,
Prophets as in chorus joyful name,
Clerics and apostles jointly
And the holy martyrs all proclaim,
7b.  Whom man and maiden own the Way,
With their crosses foll’wing day to day,
Both in faith and true affection
Emulating saints above the fray.

8a. All Thy church, in spirit soaring,
Thee with hymns adoring,
Calling Thee most highly prized,
8b. Faith before Thee thus revealing,
Humbly to Thy heart appealing,
  Beseeches Thee to hear, O Jesus Christ,

9. That Thou wouldst forever deign
From Thy Father to obtain
Help by Thy pray’rs all-availing.

Translation © 2013 Matthew Carver.

LATIN (LUDECUS 1589: CORR. BY H. BONNUS)

1. Congaudent angelorum
chori gloriosae Virgini,

2a. Quae sine virili
commixtione genuit
2b. Filium qui suo
mundum cruore medicat.

3a. Nam ipsa laetatur,
quod caeli iam conspicatur Principem.
3b. In terris cui quondam
sugendas Virgo mammillas praebuit.

4a. Quam celebris angelis
Maria Jesu mater creditur.
4b. Qui Filii illius
debitos se cognoscunt famulos. [debito…] V

5a. Quam fulgida in caelis [Qua gloria…]
ista Virgo cernitur, […colitur]
quae Domino caeli
praebuit hospitium
sui sanctissimi corporis.
5b. Quam splendida polo
stilla maris rutilat,  [stella…]* (I have used the original reading here)
quae omnium lumen
astrorum et hominum
atque spirit[u]um genuit.

6a. Jesum Christum caeli Regem, [Te caeli regina]
quem plebecula [haec plebicula]
piis concelebrant mentibus.
6b. Quem cantu melodo [Te … melodos]
super aethera
una cum angelis elevat.

7a. Quem libri sacri concinunt, [Te libri virgo…]
Prophetarum chorus jubilat,
sacerdotum Apostoli,
sanctique martyres praedicant. [Christique …]
7b. Quem plebis sexus sequitur, [Te plebes…]
utriusque vitam diligens
Christianam caelicolas [virginalem…]
in dilectione aemulans. [in castimonia…]

8a. Ecclesia ergo cuncta
Te cordibus Teque
carminibus venerans. […celebrat]
8b. Tibi suam manifestat
devotionem precatu
Te supplici implorans, Jesu Christe. [… implorans Maria]

9. Ut sibi auxilio
circa patrem Dominum  […Christum…]
esse digneris per aevum.