Mein Seel erhebt den Herren

Canticle LXXVIII. Mary the Most Blessed Virgin and Mother of God’s Song of Praise and Beautiful Psalm of Thanksgiving,
the Dear Magnificat, Luke 1.

¶ In this psalm Mary brings together all that the entirety of Scripture testifies to concerning God’s will, words, and works, His counsels and deeds. She praises and glorifies firstly God’s grace and mercy, then His power and omnipotence; thirdly, His truth and faithfulness; she demonstrates this firstly with her own example, secondly with the great wondrous works which God unceasingly performs to all men in grace with respect to the fearful, miserable and poor, and in turn in wrath on the proud, mighty, and rich; and finally shown, to the particular and lofty benefit of the people of Israel, with the gracious visitation and sending of His Son Jesus Christ.

Mel.: Nun lob mein Seel den Herren.
 

MY soul now magnifieth
The Lord; my spirit in my God
And Savior joyful crieth,
Who hath His grace on me bestowed,
Looked on His maid with favor,
Nor scorned her low estate,
Now blessing shall forever
Be mine from low and great
In every generation,
For what my God hath done
Shall be a consolation
To comfort everyone.

2 For He that is almighty
Hath done such wondrous things to me,
Therefore I sing forthrightly
His holy name, His mercy free,
Enduring in distresses
From age to age the same
On him who Him confesses,
And in true faith doth claim,
Strength with His arm He showeth,
The proud all scattering,
To stop the heart that goeth
In vain imagining.

3 He putteth down the mighty
And princes from their seats of pow’r,
But those regarded lightly
He doth exalt and bring to flow’r.
The hungry well He filleth,
The rich sends empty hence,
All mercy to us willeth,
All grace He doth dispense,
To help all them that claim Him,
As once an oath He spake
For all the seed of Abr’ham
And never shall forsake.

Text: C. Spangenberg, 1582.
Translation © 2025 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Mein Seel erhebt den Herren
und mein Geist höchlich freuet sich
Gottes meins Heilands gerne
denn er hat ganz genädiglich
mich seine Magd angesehen
in meim großen Elend,
von nun an wirds geschehen,
daß mich preisen behend
selig all Kindes Kinde,
denn was Gott hat gethan
an mir wird sich befinden
zu Trost eim jedermann.

2 Denn er hat große Dinge
an mir gethan, der mächtig Gott.
Zu Lob ich ihm solchs singe,
sein Nam ist heilig, und in Noth
sein Barmherzigkeiet währet
stets immer für und für,
bei denen die bekehret
ihn fürchten nach Gebühr,
er übt mit seinem Arme
Gewalt, zerstreuet hin
all Hoffart ohn Erbarmen
in ihres Herzens Sinn.

3 Er stößt grimmig hernieder
alle Gewaltigen vom Stuhl,
die Elenden hinwieder
erhebt er aus dem Koth und Pfuhl,
die Hungrigen er füllet
und läßt die Reichen leer,
barmherzglich er uns duldet,
der Gnaden denket er,
hilft auf sein Dienern allen,
wie er hat zugesagt
Abrahams Kindern allen,
ewig es ihm behagt.

Nun ist die Freudenzeit erfüllt

 Here is my translation of  Laurentii’s hymn, “Nun ist die Freudenzeit erfüllt” (Evangelia Melodica, 1700), designated as the second hymn based on the Gospel First Christmas Day and constituting a contemplation of the poverty and humility of Mary and especially of Jesus in His incarnation as an example for the believer’s humble reception of the infant Jesus in the heart. The appointed melody “Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her.”

 

 

 

NOW is the time of joy fulfilled,

To many fathers once concealed:

To save us, God sends forth His Son

Into the world from heaven’s throne.

 

2 The time for Mary now had come,

To bear within her spotless womb

In Bethlehem the Joy foretold

For all mankind by prophets old.

 

3 Oh, let my heart like Mary’s be!

For rose and myrrh may well agree;

The valley’s lily, Sharon’s rose,

With myrrh at all times buds and grows.

 

4 The bitter myrrh of true remorse,

Bedewed with tears in ample course,

Are blossoms held by heaven dear,

And to such Jesus draweth near.

 

5 Be as a virgin tender, pure,

And thou wilt see salvation sure;

With Mary poor in spirit be,

That Jesus may so pity thee.

 

6 Be thou in time God’s promised bride,

That thou may’st ever so abide,

And then what bridegroom shall be thine?

The Champion from King David’s line.

 

7 Though thou on earth shouldst find no ease,

Remember that it doth God please;

In Him the poor are rich and prized,

For they are like to Jesus Christ.

 

8 Saint Mary bore an Infant mild,

In swaddling cloths is found the Child

All in a crib, no crown or throne,

Yet He is God’s eternal Son.

 

9 O soul, set in thine inner shrine

A crib where thy Lord may recline;

Let faith and love His swaddling be,

In which thou wrapp’st Him fittingly.

 

10 Consider, soul, the humble grace

That thy dear Jesus here displays;

The burden Adam’s pride had made

By humble Jesus is repaid.

 

11 In stable rude He lays His head

Upon a crib, a rough-made bed

Of hay and straw; oh, think thereof

When oft the rich man thou dost love.

 

12 The inn has scarcely room to spare

For thy dear Jesus to lie there;

If all the world grant thee no space,

Recall what happened in this place.

 

13 But do thou purge away and clear

A lodging for this Treasure dear

Built safely in thy faithful breast,

And thou in Jesus shalt find rest.

 

14. Yea, dearest Savior, come to me!

Here is a heart that longs for Thee

And hopes to have in Thee a share;

Praise be to Thee both now and e’er!

 

Translation © 2021 M. Carver.

 

GERMAN

Nun ist die Freudenzeit erfüllt,

die vielen Vätern war verhüllt:

Gott sendet seinen eingen Sohn,

der Welt zum Heil vom Himmelsthron.

 

2 Es kamm Maria ihre Zeit,

Daß sie, der ganzen Welt zur Freud,

gebären sollt in Davids Stadt,

wie Gott es lang verheißen hatt.

 

3 Ach, sei mein Herz Marien Art,

weil Ros und Myrrhen sich gepaart,

die Sarons Blum, die Ros im Tal

blüht bei den Myrrhen allemal.

 

4 Die bittre Myrrhen wahrer Buß

benetzt mit einem Tränenguß,

sind Blumen, die der Himmel liebt,

Zu welchen Jesus sich begiebt.

5 Sei, wie ein Jungfrau, rein und zart,

so wird das Heil dir offenbart;

sei mit Maria geistlich arm,

daß Jesus deiner sich erbarm.

6 Sei Gott verlobt in dieser Zeit,

daß du es bleibst in Ewigkeit;

du bist die Braut, dein Bräutigam,

das ist der Held aus Davids Stamm.

7 Bist du gleich elend auf der Welt,

so denke, daß es Gott gefällt;

Gott liebt die Armen, welche reiche

in ihm, dieweil sie Jesu gleich.

8 Maria die gebar ein Kind—

ein Kind, das man in Windeln findt—

ja, Krippen sonder Krohn und Thron,

und dennoch ist es Gottes Sohn.

9 Ach, Seele, laß dein Herzensschrein,

des Herren Jesu Krippe sein;

laß Glaub und Lieb die Windeln sein,

da du dies Kindlein windest ein.

10 Bedenk die Demut doch im Geist,

die Jesus dir zum Beispiel weist;

was Adams Hochmut hat verdient,

hat Jesu Demut ausgesühnt.

11 Er liegt im Stall, sein Ruhestätt

ist eine Kripp und hartes Bett

von Heu und Stroh, ach! denk daran,

wenn man oft spielt vom reichen Mann. 

12 Es ist ja in der Herberg kaum

für deinem liebsten Jesu Raum,

gönnt dir die Welt auch keinen Ort,

so denke, was geschehen dort.

13 Du aber mache Raum und Platz

zur Herberg diesem teuren Schatz,

in deiner Seelen, so wirst du

bei deinem Jesu finden Ruh.

 

14 Ja, liebster Heiland, komm zu mir,

hier ist ein Herz, das mit Begier

dich sucht und wünscht, und nichtes mehr,

dir sei hier und dort ewig Ehr.

 

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.