Contents Iesu, salvator saeculi
Giver of Life, Eternal Lord
OmnesSancti


This hymn is attributed to Rabanus Maurus (776-856) and is used in the Liturgia Horarum as the hymn for Lauds for the Feast of All Saints (Nov. 1). In the Roman Breviary, the hymn appears under the name of Salutis aeternae dator. In the interest of conforming to classical models, Pope Urban VIII revised Maurus' hymn extensively. Only four lines of the original remain unaltered, so in reality that hymn ought to be considered as a hymn distinct from this one.

IESU, salvator saeculi,
redemptis ope subveni,
et, pia Dei genetrix,
salutem posce miseris.
GIVER of life, eternal Lord,
Thy own redeemed defend;
Mother of grace, thy children save,
and help them to the end.
Coetus omnes angelici,
patriarcharum cunei
ac prophetarum merita
nobis precentur veniam.
Ye thousand thousand Angel hosts,
assist us in our need;
Ye Patriarchs, with the Prophet choir,
for our forgiveness plead.
Baptista tui praevius
et claviger aethereus
cum ceteris apostolis
nos solvant nexu criminis.
Forerunner blest, and Thou who still
dost heaven's dread keys retain;
Ye glorious Apostles all,
unloose our guilty chain.
Chorus sacratus martyrum,
sacerdotum confessio
et virginalis castitas
nos a peccatis abluant.
Army of Martyrs, holy Priests,
in beautiful array;
Ye happy troops of Virgins chaste,
wash all our stains away.
Monachorum suffragia
omnesque cives caelici
annuant votis supplicum
et vitae poscant praemium.
All ye who high above the stars
in heavenly glory reign,
may we through your prevailing prayers
unto your joys attain.
Sit, Christe, tibi gloria
cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu,
quorum luce mirifica
sancti congaudent perpetim. Amen.
Praise, honor, to the Father be,
praise to His only Son;
praise, Holy Paraclete, to Thee,
while endless ages run.

Latin from the Liturgia Horarum. Translation by Fr. Edward Caswall (1814-1878


<- Prev

©copyrighted by Michael Martin

Next->