Hymns for the Birthday of Priests
(Hymns for the Most Important Bishops)
Lokrantz calls this meter asclepiadeus III
These are the only hymns that Peter Damian composed not for a saint but for the municipality. They could date back to his stay in Ravenna in the years 1044-1045 and be connected to the feasts of the bishops Severus and Eleucadius for whom Damiani wrote sermons IV-VI.
1.
Sacri pontificis annuus emicat
Natalis. Celebrans plebs pia gaudeat
Et laeto resonet pectore carmina
Christo, qui regit omnia.
The birthday of a holy bishop arises.
May the pious people rejoice celebrating
And with joyous song resound in the heart to
Christ, who rules over all.
2.
Hic spernens proprii gaudia corporis,
Longum sustinuit martyrium crucis.
Tormentum gravius vulnere pertulit,
Qui tortor suus exstitit.
This one scorning the joys of his own body,
Endures the long martyrdom of the cross.
He who was his own torturer
Suffered torments more violent than a wound.
3.
Sacrae militiae signifer inclutus
Virtutum fuerat forma sequentibus
Accendens validis pectora vocibus,
Praeclaris quoque moribus.
Celebrated leader of the holy army
He was the form of virtue to his followers
Burning hearts with strong voices,
Also with outstanding conduct.
4.
Bis senos lapides pectore detulit,1
Bis tinctae tunicae tegmine splenduit,
Tintinnabula cui dulciter obstrepunt,
Mala Punica defluunt.
He carried twelve stones on his chest,
He shone with a robe of twice dyed tunic,
From which bells sound sweetly,
And pomegranates hang.
5.
Ipsius precibus, conditor omnium,
Dimersos releva pondere criminum,
Cui laus, imperium summaque gloria
Sit per omnia saecula.
Amen.
By his prayers, maker of all things,
Raise up those who have been immersed by the weight of sins,
Praise to him, let there be supreme power
And glory forever.
Amen.
1 Figurative language that refers to the robes worn by the High Priest of the Old Testament, cf. Exodus 28:17-37.
In laudibus (131)
At lauds
Lokrantz identifies the meter as iambic dimeter.
1.
Christe, sanctorum gloria,
Certantium victoria,
Nos confessoris precibus
Culparum solve nexibus.
Christ, glory of all saints,
Victory of those who struggle,
By the prayers of the martyr
Release us from the bonds of our sins.
2.
Fac nos imitabilia
Eius sequi vestigia
Tu sis commune praemium,
Qui factus est et pretium.
Make us imitate you
Make us to follow in your footsteps
May you be our common prize,
Who is even made our reward.
3.
Nam hic (in imo) positus
Celsis praestabat moribus;
Humilis erat ordine,
Claro sublimis opere.
For this one placed down here
Was pre-eminent in his conduct;
He was humble in rank,
He was exalted in his brilliant work.
4.
Intenta mens caelestibus
Mundanos horret strepitus;
Nil iam delectat anxiam,
Quod non ducit ad patriam.
A mind attentive to the heavens
He dreads the noisy world;
He now delights in nothing troubling,
Which does not lead to the father.
5.
Accensus illuc spiritus
Totis anhelat nisibus.
Iam cernit in aenigmate
Lumen inaccessibile.
There the kindled spirit
Pants with total exertion.
Now he perceives a light
In the inaccessible riddle.
6.
Sit patri laus ingenito…
Let there be praise to the unborn father…
