For my money the best Advent hymn ever written is Veni Redemptor Gentium (Come Redeemer of the Nations) written by St. Ambrose in the 4th Century.
One of the beautiful things about the ancient Latin Hymns is how richly theological they are. Not content to merely describe the event in question, they give sweeping theological vision and delve into the more hidden mysteries of each event.
So here we are in Advent and Jesus is coming, get ready! Well yes, but he is not just coming, he is redeeming, dying, rising, ascending and reigning at the Father’s Right Hand! But how can we get all that into an Advent Hymn? Well, just below you can read the text and see how.
But for now ponder the theological point that hymns like this make. And it is this: that no act of God can merely be reduced to the thing in itself. Everything God does is part of a sweeping master plan to restore all things in Christ, to take back what the devil stole from us! Too often we see the events of our redemption in a disconnected sort of way, but it is all really one thing and the best theology connects the dots. It is not wrong for us to focus on one thing or another, but we must not forget it is all one thing in the end.
Without this we can develop a kind of myopia (a limited vision) that over-emphasizes some aspect of redemption and thus harms the rest by a lack of balance. In the 1970s and 80s we had all resurrection all the time, but no passion or death. Christmas too has its hazards as we get rather sentimental about the “baby Jesus” but miss other important aspects of his incarnation. The passion and death are present in his birth in homeless poverty, the swaddling clothes, the flight into Egypt and so forth. The Eucharist is evident in his birth at Bethlehem (House of Bread) and his being laid in a manger (feed box for animals). His glory as God and his ultimate triumph are manifest in the Star overhead and the Angels declaration of glory! You see it is all tied together and the best theology connects the dots.
So with that in mind I present you to this wonderful Advent hymn so seldom sung in our Catholic Parishes. It can be sung to any Long Meter tune but is usually sung to its own melody (veni redemptor gentium – see video below). I give here only the English translation but the PDF you can get by clicking here: ( VENI REDEMPTOR GENTIUM) It contains also the Latin text. I think the poetic translation reprinted here is a minor masterpiece of English literature and hope you’ll agree. Enjoy this sweeping theological vision of the mystery of advent caught up into the grand and fuller vision of redemption.
Among the theological truths treated in this brief hymn are these: His title as Redeemer, his virgin birth, his inclusion of the Gentiles, his sinlessness, his two natures but one person, his incarnation at conception, His passion, death, descent into hell, ascension, his seat at the Father’s right hand, his divinity and equality with the Father, his healing and sanctification of our humanity so wounded by sin, his granting us freedom and eternal life, his renewing of our minds through the light of faith, his opening of heaven to us.
Not bad for seven verses! St. Ambrose, Pray for us! And now the hymn:
- Come, thou Redeemer of the earth,
- Come testify thy virgin birth:
- All lands admire, all times applaud:
- Such is the birth that fits our God.
- Forth from his chamber goeth he,
- That royal home of purity,
- A giant in twofold substance one,
- Rejoicing now his course to run.
- The Virgin’s womb that glory gained,
- Its virgin honor is still unstained.
- The banners there of virtue glow;
- God in his temple dwells below.
- From God the Father he proceeds,
- To God the Father back he speeds;
- Runs out his course to death and hell,
- Returns on God’s high throne to dwell.
- O Equal to thy Father, thou!
- Gird on thy fleshly mantle now;
- The weakness of our mortal state
- With deathless might invigorate.
- Thy cradle here shall glitter bright,
- And darkness breathe a newer light,
- Where endless faith shall shine serene,
- And twilight never intervene.
- All laud, eternal Son, to thee
- Whose advent sets thy people free,
- Whom with the Father we adore,
- And Holy Ghost, for evermore.
This video gives you an idea of what the hymn tune for Veni Redemptor Gentium sounds like. The words in this version are slightly different but the hymn tune is perfect. Try not to dance as it is sung.
I thought there was a rule about never singing more than three verses at Mass.
Not to mention, at my parish, if the recessional is a Trinitarian hymn the Holy Spirit often gets the shaft!
Part of my dissatisfaction with post-Vatican II hymns is pretty much what you said: too much warm fuzzy happy stuff. (The remainder being due to the contemporary style in general, and multiple out-of-tune guitars.)
Martin Luther asserted that hymns should be used as a form of catechis; they should teach the faith and reinforce the day’s lessons. He set text to tunes that would be familiar to his parish, knowing that music was an effective mnemonic. [You may be interested to read "Luther's Liturgical Music" by Robin Leaver.]
I think it unfortunate when hymns are seen more as time-fillers than as a means to support worship or teaching of the faith. It takes care and planning to select and prepare appropriate music. There have been many times I’ve looked at the hymns or choir anthems selected for a particular Mass and wondered what the heck they had to do with the day’s readings. Off-topic hymns do not serve parishioners well.
Indeed a sung catechesis is essential and in many cases that is lost today. Also, I remember once playing the organ at mass. It was a a Trintitarin hymn, Sing Praise to Our Creator, and it was the recessional one day at the seminary. I played only two verses. One of the seminarians in the choir loft turned to me at the end of those two verses and said, simply and with humor: “Heretic!” I have always played three ever since!
The traditional liturgical use for “Veni, Redemptor Gentium” is as the office hymn at Vigils (the Office of Readings). Unlike at Mass, the hymns are an integral part of the Liturgy of the Hours. That said, I strongly agree with your point about hymns being more than time-fillers (or “action-coverers”). Saint Ambrose started writing them to provide the orthodox believers of his diocese an alternative to the popular hymns being sung by heretical groups! He very much saw them as part of his teaching office, in line with your observation.
You gotta love how God works through His saints.
Yes, it is like light through the beauty of stained glass.
Thank you, Monsignor, for sharing this beautiful hymn! This hymn is a true ‘jewel’ written by a bishop and teacher who loved scripture. I am getting ready to celebrate Advent with my family and took the time to check a link someone else posted. I found some practical and spiritual advice to begin this blessed season.
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/beginning-Advent.html
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/reconciliation-advent.html
THank you also for sharing these links!
Cynthia,
Not to belittle that our Lord deserves only the best in His home, but, If singing is involved, I’ll confess – my voice may be part of the cacophany you hear. With levity in mind, (I do believe we should be able to laugh at ourselves), and a true belief in the strength of prayer, may I suggest the very Catholic, “Pray for the vocally challenged – that we may someday be able to carry a tune!”
If you have a good voice, sing to praise the Lord. If you do not have a good voice, sing to get even.
… which is something that I don’t see much here in the US. Most of the time, the choirs sing wonderfully, but I feel that actually makes the congregation not want to sing. I think they assume they’re in some sort of performance where they have to be listening and appreciating, which is not the case. Not to mention that there are times when the congregation will even applaud after certain hymns. Again, it’s Mass, not a show off. I’m all for beautiful singing, but trying to imitate Mariah Carey or Pavarotti doesn’t make the rest of us want to sing.
There are times when I want to sing the gloria and the Holy holy holy (sanctus) and the choir has picked a hymn that can only be sung by the angels and the saints in heaven (and those who practiced ahead). I am a post Vat. II child so I get frustrated when I can not sing the parts of the Mass, it breaks my rithm of worshiping. It is good for the practice of patience or to meditate in the choirs of angels and the saints in heaven.
Carlos and Maggie,
You are both making an interesting point about the balance between skillful choir singing and the tendency thereof to cause the congregation to draw back. Further, difficult settings can also be a problem for many. I don’t know where the exact formula is to find balance. My own presumption is that we catholics should explore and use more of the metrical hymns developed so well by the Protestant denominations. So much of our involves syncopation and rather taxing ranges of low and high notes. The value of the old hymns is that they have a simple metrical beat which is good when large numbers are expected to sing together. Further these old hymns are time tested and have tunes that are easy to remember. I regret we did not make greater use of this treasury after the Council and the move to the vernacular. We have some of these hymns but not enough
I have a lapsed-Catholic friend in his mid-50s who asserts that Vatican II ruined Church music. He may have a point.
As Msgr Pope mentions, many of the hymns and liturgical settings have intervals and rhythms that can be tough for even an experienced musician to follow. I’ve no doubt that part of the reason that many Catholics don’t sing is because they’ve long since given up trying to keep up with the syncopation and odd intervals. It doesn’t help when the cantor/choir are themselves struggling with the music.
The reforms of Vatican II were intended in part to encourage more lay participation in the Mass. Celebrating the Mass in the local language rather than in Latin was a huge step toward this goal. In terms of the music, however, the Church sure missed its mark.
Apologies for the tardy response. It was a busy week.
I went today to Mass at St. Mary Mother of God, in the Extraordinary Rite. I’m sure that language got in the way of people singing (thus nobody did), but even then, everything was so complex. Even the songs I knew (Sanctus Sanctus, Agnus Dei) I couldn’t even follow the choir because they weren’t singing for everyone else to sign, but just themselves. But I digress.
As Maggie, I’m also a child of Vatican II, but I’m also a foreigner and English isn’t my first language. Back home, I never received musical instruction (I can’t read the notes and don’t know what syncopation means) and that’s the common case for everyone else. Also, having a 90-95% Catholic population, the Church hasn’t taken on the the Protestant hymns. So we have post-Vatican II hymns, 100% Catholic, that aren’t difficult to sing, which makes people sing, without knowing about music, without having to read notes, without singing too well, but they do sing.
Like I said, it’s about praising God, so the music during Mass should be an invitation for all to praise God, not just those talented enough and educated enough. And so ends my rant.
I agree, it is without a doubt a fine and suitable hymn. I t is truly a shame however that 90% of Catholics have never heard it done properly. This same 90% also do not understand theology in any form be it verbal or in writing. It would surly be a tragedy if our local church tried to sing it. Most choirs are made up of people who sing music but in doing so become inaudible so no one else tries to sing and many just pray for the choir while they sound like a Mack Truck coming through the church.
Ouch. I will Jack that it is not quite so bad at every parish as you describe. But I do admit that we Catholics are less skilled over all in both Choir and congregational singing. Thankfully there are parishes where this is less of a problem.
For those who may be interested…
In the YouTube video, the hymn is sung to the tune “Puer Nobis”. An old Anglo-Catholic, I grew up singing the tune with an Epiphany hymn, “What star is this, with beams so bright” that appears as number 47 in the 1940 Hymnal (Episcopal), which notes that the tune was adapted by Michael Praetorius (1609) and harmonized by George R. Woodward (1904).
And the text they sing in the video can be found here: http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Hymni/VeniRedemptorG.html
Yes, thanks for this correction. The hymn tune name is “Puer Natus” not Veni redemptor as I identified it.
>>The passion and death are present in his birth in homeless poverty…<<
You know, it strikes me that the Holy Family were *not* "homeless" — they were simply traveling without "reservations" (so to speak) and making do with what lodging they could find. And their "poverty" was a working man's poverty — not destitution, but a lack of superfluity.
Agreed
This is simply lovely!! The Beauty and deep meaning of the Liturgy always remain timeless
I love this hymn and have listened to it several times. This is perfect for prayer group this week (we sing at least one traditional hymn at each meeting; even if we don’t sing like angels … I still like a beautiful hymn to lift the mind toward Heaven). Thank you for finding this hymn!