Contents Iesu, decus angelicum
O Jesus, Thou the Beauty Art
Hymni


This hymn is part of the hymn Iesu, Dulcis Memoria, which has some 42 to 53 stanzas depending upon the manuscript, and is attributed to St. Bernard (1090-1153). This hymn was used at Lauds for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, which was formerly celebrated on the Sunday between the Circumcision and Epiphany, or failing such a Sunday, on January 2. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial on January 3.

IESU, decus angelicum,
in aure dulce canticum,
in ore mel mirificum,
in corde nectar caelicum.
O JESUS, Thou the beauty art
of Angel worlds above!
Thy name is music to the heart,
enchanting it with love!
Qui te gustant, esuriunt,
qui bibunt, adhuc sitiunt;
desiderare nesciunt,
nisi Iesum, quem diligunt.
Celestial sweetness unalloyed!
who eat Thee hunger still,
who drink of Thee still feel a void
which naught but Thou canst fill!
O Iesu mi dulcissime,
spes suspirantis animae!
Te quaerunt piae lacrimae,
Te clamor mentis intimae.
O my sweet Jesus! hear the sighs
which unto Thee I send!
to Thee my inmost spirit cries
my being's hope and end!
Mane nobiscum, Domine,
et nos illustra lumine;
Pulsa mentis caligine,
Mundum reple dulcedine.
Stay with us, Lord, and with Thy light
illume the soul's abyss;
scatter the darkness of our night
and fill the world with bliss.
Iesu, flos Matris Virginis,
amor nostrae dulcedinis,
Tibi laus, honor nominis,
regnum beatitudinis. Amen.
O Jesu! spotless Virgin flower!
our life and joy! to Thee
be praise, beatitude and power,
through all eternity! Amen.

Latin sources: the Raccolta #116 (S. P. Ap., Nov. 22, 1934), Roman Breviary. Translation by Fr. Edward Caswall (1814-1878)


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