Exsultet iam angelica turba caelorum
April 11th 2009 07:42
Exsultet iam angelica turba caelorum ...
These are the opening words of a Latin Hymn created by Saint Ambrose and written for Easter Eve. By Easter Ever I mean the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Unless you're a devout and learned Catholic or some one who likes Latin Hymns you may be not have come across or explored the vast poetic tradition of Latin Christians Hymns.
This one which comes from pages 93-4 of the Penguin Book of Latin Verse 1962 edition I particularly like for the middle stanzas which start
Haec nox est : this is the night ...
O inaestimable compassion and charity that a son was sold to redeem slaves is another line I rejoice in
The hymn ends
O vere beata nox: O truly blessed night.
As I type night is falling.
May you awaken to Easter joy be it chocolate or church or both!
P.S. If you type Saint Ambrose "Exsultet iam angelica turba caelorum" into Google you can probably find the whole poem in Latin or English? Or try Google books.
Go on! Look for some Latin Verse! Christian or pagan!
| 20 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
