Hymns for Saint Reparata
St. Reparata was a third-century virgin, who was martyred for her Christian faith in her hometown of Caesarea, Roman Province of Palestine. She is mentioned for the first time in a liturgical manuscript from the first half of the 9th century. She was arrested for her faith and tortured during the persecution of the Roman emperor Decius (249–251). Her persecutors tried to burn her alive, but she was saved by a shower of rain. She was then compelled to drink boiling pitch. When she again refused to apostatize, she was decapitated. Her legend states that immediately upon dying a dove appeared to symbolize the departure of her spirit to Heaven. Later elaborations of her legend state that her body was laid in a boat and blown by the breath of angels to the “Baie des Anges” in Nice. Peter Damian may have composed the two hymns for the monastery of S. Reparata al Salto, in the municipality of Marradi, which had contact with the hermitage of S. Barnaba del Gamugno.
Hymnus Sanctae Reparatae (67)
Hymn to St. Reparatae
1.
Clarum puellae meritum
Chori promant fidelium,
Cum saeptum carnis exiit,
Et victrix astra petiit.
The Choirs of the faithful sing out
The brilliant merit of the girl
When she departed the enclosure of the flesh,
And victoriously sought the stars.
2.
Calcat insignis femina
Nova poenarum genera.
Liquescens plumbum tepuit,
Camini vis deferbuit.
The remarkable woman scorns
New kinds of punishment
The liquifying lead grew cool,
The force of the furnace cooled down.
3.
Sed Reparata mediis
Dum psallit in incendiis,
Machaera mox adhibita
Secantur eius viscera.
But while Reparata sang psalms
In the midst of the fire,
Her guts are cut up.
With a sword having been used soon after.
4.
Hinc decalvata ducitur
Christi sponsa per publicum;
Non turpe, non ignobile,
Sed est corona gloriae.
Having been made bald, the bride of Christ
Is led through the people;
Not with unseemliness, not undistinguished,
But she proceeds with a crown of glory.
5.
Gloria sit ingenito…
May there be glory to the unborn…
Hymnus Sanctae Reparatae (68)
Hymn to St. Reparatae
1.
O vere virgo nobilis
Magnis digna praeconiis,
Quam dura frusta feriunt,
Mulcere blanda nequeunt.
O truly noble virgin
Worthy of great praises,
Hardships strike her in vain
While enticements cannot soften (her spirit).
2.
Virile pectus virginis
Nullis cedit suppliciis;
Per ignes, ferrum, vulnera
Caeli conscendit culmina.
The brave heart of the virgin
Is deterred by no punishments;
She climbs to the height of heaven
Through fire, steel, and wounds.
3.
Neci felix addicitur,
io Sacrum caput absciditur.
Ore columba devolat
Palamque caelum penetrat.
The blessed woman is delivered to death,
Her sacred head is cut off.
A dove flies out from her mouth
And she enters heaven for all to see.
4.
Te, sacra virgo, petimus
Mentis pronae visceribus,
Ut nos venturo iudici
Commendes prece supplici.
We ask you, holy virgin,
From the depths of our humble minds
To commend us praying supplicants
To the judge about to come.
5.
Gloria sit ingenito…
Glory be to the unborn…
