DIVINUM OFFICIUM Hymn

Hymnus: A solis ortus cardine

Christmas Season - Lauds Hymn - Auth. Sedulius

A solis ortus cardine ('From lands that see the sun arise') is the magnificent Christmas hymn at Lauds, composed by Caelius Sedulius in the 5th century. Originally part of a longer abecedarian poem (each stanza beginning with successive letters of the alphabet), only stanzas A through G are used liturgically. The hymn narrates the mystery of the Incarnation: the Virgin birth, the manger, the angels' song, and the Magi's adoration. Sedulius employs paradox masterfully - the Creator confined to a manger, the eternal Word becoming infant flesh. This hymn has been in continuous liturgical use for over 1,500 years.

LATINE
A solis ortus cardine / Ad usque terrae limitem, / Christum canamus Principem, / Natum Maria Virgine. // Beatus auctor saeculi / Servile corpus induit: / Ut carne carnem liberans, / Ne perderet quos condidit. // Castae Parentis viscera / Caelestis intrat gratia: / Venter Puellae bajulat / Secreta, quae non noverat. // Domus pudici pectoris / Templum repente fit Dei: / Intacta nesciens virum, / Concepit alvo Filium. // Enititur puerpera, / Quem Gabriel praedixerat, / Quem ventre Matris gestiens, / Baptista clausum senserat. // Foeno jacere pertulit: / Praesepe non abhorruit: / Et lacte modico pastus est, / Per quem nec ales esurit. // Gaudet chorus caelestium, / Et Angeli canunt Deo; / Palamque fit pastoribus / Pastor, Creator omnium. // Jesu tibi sit gloria, / Qui natus es de Virgine, / Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, / In sempiterna saecula. Amen.
ENGLISH
From the far-blazing gate of morn / To earth's remotest shore, / Let every tongue confess to Him / Whom holy Mary bore. // Lo! the great Maker of the world, / Lord of eternal years, / To save his creatures, veil'd beneath / A creature's form appears. // A spotless maiden's virgin breast / With heavenly grace He fills; / In her pure womb He is conceived, / And there in secret dwells. // That bosom, chastity's sweet home, / Becomes, oh, blest reward! / The shrine of Heav'n's immortal King, / The temple of the Lord. // And Mary bears the babe, foretold / By an Archangel's voice; / Whose presence made the Baptist leap, / And in the womb rejoice. // The manger scantly strewn with hay / Becomes th' Eternal's bed; / And He, who feeds each little bird, / Himself with milk is fed. // The heavenly choir bursts forth in song; / The Angels sing to God; / And openly to shepherds is / Reveal'd the Shepherd Lord. // Glory, O Jesus, be to Thee, / Born of the Virgin bright; / Praise to the Father, and the Spirit, / Through everlasting might. Amen.
NOTA
FONS
Breviarium Romanum (1962)
USUS
Christmas Season - Lauds Hymn - Auth. Sedulius
HORA
Lauds
TEMPVS
christmas
GENVS
Hymn
AVCTOR
Caelius Sedulius (5th century)
METRVM
Iambic dimeter