Religion

Festivis resonent compita vocibus

by Anonymous Latin Hymns c. 5th–15th century

Translated by Edward Caswall (1849) · From Lyra Catholica (1849)

Religion

Forth let the long procession stream,
And through the streets in order wend;
Let the bright waving line of torches gleam,
The solemn chant ascend.

While we, with tears and sighs profound,
That memorable Blood record,
Which, stretch’d on his hard Cross, from many a wound
The dying Jesus pour’d.

By the first Adam’s fatal sin
Came death upon the human race;
In this new Adam doth new life begin,
And everlasting grace.

For scarce the Father heard from Heaven
The cry of his expiring Son,
When in that cry our sins were all forgiven,
And boundless pardon won.

Henceforth, whoso in that dear Blood
Washeth, shall lose his every stain;
And in immortal roseate beauty rob’d,
An angel’s likeness gain.

Only, run thou with courage on
Straight to the goal set in the skies;
He, who assists thy course, will give thee soon
The everlasting prize.

Father supreme! vouchsafe that we,
For whom thine only Son was slain
And whom thy Holy Ghost doth sanctify,
May heavenly joys attain.

✦ ✦ ✦

Latin: Festivis resonent compita vocibus. Printed in Caswall's Lyra Catholica (1849) among the Proper of the Season (Roman Breviary).

MLA

Anonymous Latin Hymns. “Festivis resonent compita vocibus.” Translated by Edward Caswall. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-latin-hymns/117/.

Chicago

Anonymous Latin Hymns. “Festivis resonent compita vocibus.” Translated by Edward Caswall. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-latin-hymns/117/.

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