The most abstract idea conceivable is the sensuous in its elemental originality. But through which medium can it be presented? Only through music. Kierkegaard, Either/Or
An Easter hymn written by Venantius Fortunatus, bishop of Poitiers, formerly sung during the procession before the Mass on Easter.
Salve festa dies toto venerabilis aevo
Qua Deus infernum vicit et astra tenet
Ecce renascentis testatur gratia mundi
Omnia cum Domino dona redisse suo
Namque triumphanti post tristia tartara Christo
Undique fronde nemus gramina flore favent
Qui genus humanum cernens mersisse profundo
Ut hominem eriperes es quoque factus homo
Pollicitam sed redde fidem, precor, alma potestas
tertia lux rediit surge sepulte meus
Solvecatenatas inferni carceris umbras
et revoca sursum quidquid ad ima ruit
Rex sacer, ecce tui radiat pars magna triumphi
cum puras animas sancta lavacra beant
Candidus egreditur nitidis exercitus undis
atque vetus vitium purgat in amne novo
Fulgentes animas vestis quoque candida signat
et grege de niveo gaudia pastor habet
Salve, festa dies, toto venerabilis aevo
qua deus infernum vicit et astra tenet
Hail, festal day, venerable of all ages
By which God conquers hell and holds the stars.
Behold the grace of the earth renewing and testifying
that all gifts shall be restored with her Lord.
For now, from all over, woods with leaves and meadows
with flowers favor Christ, who triumphs over gloomy hell.
Seeing the human race was sunk in misery deep,
thou hast made Man, that thou mightest rescue man.
But redeem thy promise, I beseech thee, merciful King!
This is the third day; arise, my buried Jesus!
Set free the spirits that are shackled
in limbo’s prison. Raise up all fallen things.
O King divine! lo! here a bright ray of thy triumph-
the souls made pure by the holy font.
The whiterobed troop comes from the limpid waters;
and the old iniquity is cleansed in the new stream.
The white garments symbolize unspotted souls, a
nd the Shepherd rejoices in his snowlike flock.
Hail, festal day, venerable of all ages
By which God conquers hell and holds the stars.
Dear Mr. Finnegan,
On the evidence of your last three selections from the You-Tube Music Video Archives, I have begun to suspect that, beneath your offensively and vulgarly post-modernistic façade, there may be a soul of sorts. Have you read widely in Guéranger?
Your conversion (however partial [and, I fear, transient]) to the semblance of good taste and sound theology which you have lately come to present on this Web-log, suggests that the Good Friday prayers pro hæreticis et pro paganis have retained some residue of their ancient potency. I suppose that the One Who sees the sparrow’s fall may yet deign to grant a petition now and again — and that the Barque of Peter can be swamped, but not scuttled, by even so insidious a liturgical saboteur as the deranged Pius XII.
Admonished by such salutary precepts, I now presume to voice that which no priest, bishop, or pope would dare say in his heart, let alone on his lips, in these lukewarm latter days:
Oremus pro Christianissimo Imperatore nostro!
Maranatha!
ZORRO
Gratias Tibi, Zorro(ni?).
Oremus quidem Christianissimo Ecclesiae!
re: Pius XII, there was, after all this.