Hymns to St. John
Peter Damian dedicated two sermons and three hymns to John, the apostle and evangelist. These were most likely written for the hermitage of Avellana where John enjoyed particular veneration. The main source from which Damian draws inspiration is Scripture. We should recall that John was a virgin, and he was the only apostle who was not a martyr, but died a natural death.
Hymnus Sancti Johannis ad Vesperum (74)
A Hymn of Saint John at Vespers
Meter: Sapphic minor.
1.
Virginis virgo venerande custos,
Magnus aeterni logotheta verbi,
Dele servorum facinus tuorum,
Sancte Iohannes.
You, venerable celibate, guardian of the virgin,
Great scribe of the eternal word,
Saint John,
Erase the sin of your servants.
2.
Tu patrem carnis subito reliquis
Sicque caelestem sequeris parentem;
[Piscibus spretis] hominum iuberis
Claudere turbam.
You suddenly abandon the father of your flesh
And thus you follow your heavenly parent;
With a shoal of fish spurned you are
Commanded to preach to a crowd of men.
3.
Fonte prorumpens fluvius perenni
Curris, arentis satiator orbis;
Hausit ex pleno, modo quod propinat,
Pectore pectus.
You, the river bursting forth from the everflowing stream
As fulfiller of the parched world;
His heart which he now places in front of us
Has drawn from the full heart of Jesus.
4.
Tu decus mundi iubar atque caeli,
Impetra nostris veniam ruinis,
Da sacramentum penetrare summum,
Quod docuisti.
You glory of the world and light of heaven,
Bring about pardon to our downfalls,
Grant us to enter the highest sacrament,
Which you taught.
5.
Patris arcanum speculando verbum
Tollis errorem fidei per orbem.
Nos ad aeternam speciem fruendam,
Dux bone, transfer.
By looking out for the secret word of the father
You remove the error of faith throughout the world.
Bring us across, O good shepherd,
So we might enjoy the eternal sight.
6.
Laus, honor patri parilique proli…
Praise, honor to the father and also to the son…
ad Nocturnum (75)
at nocturns
Meter: iambic dimeter.
1.
Fidelis plebs cum angelis
Festivis plaudant gaudiis:
Nativitati Domini
Occurrit laus apostoli.
The common people with the angels
Applaud with joyful celebration:
The praise of the apostle runs
To meet the birth of the Lord.
2.
Dilectus hic prae ceteris
(Apud magistrum) tenuit
(Ob virginale meritum)
Amoris privilegium.
John, loved above all others
Held first place
In his master’s love
On account of the merit of his virginity.
3.
Hausit (ex Christi pectore)
Fluentia sapientiae;
Hinc arva cordis irrigat
Et verbum patris intonat.
He drank a flowing of wisdom
from the breast of Christ;
From there he irrigates the fields of the heart
And thunders the word of the father.
4.
Huic et in cruce) positus
Matrem commendat Dominus;
Fit mater virgo virgini,
Quem fovet vice fili.
And having been placed on the cross
The Lord entrusted his mother to him;
The celibate became the mother to the virgin,
Whom she cherishes just as her son.
5.
Te pronis, alme, cordibus,
Caeli senator, poscimus:
Da verbi vultum cernere,
Quos verbum doces credere.
O generous ambassador of heaven,
We ask with humble hearts:
Allow those whom you teach about the word,
To believe and see the face of the word.
6.
Sit patri laus ingenito…
Let there be praise to the unborn father…
in Laudibus (76)
at lauds
Meter: iambic dimeter.
1.
Magna Iohannis merita
Sancta promat ecclesia.
Quam tenebris evacuat,
Vitae verbis irradiat.
Let the holy church declare
John’s great merits.
They free her from darkness
And brighten her with words of life.
2.
Huius cor in sublimibus
Sanctus suspendit Spiritus,
Ut profunde latentia
Cernat alta mysteria.
The Holy Spirit lifts
His heart on high,
So that he may perceive the
Deeply hidden lofty mysteries.
3.
En illa felix aquila
Ad escam volat avida,
Quae caeli cives vegebat
Et nos in via recreat.
Behold the fortunate eagle
Which was quickening the citizens of heaven
And is refreshing us in the journey!
Eagerly, he flies to his prey,
4.
Hic in choro tot milium
Primatum tenet virginum,
Fit agno sic pedissequus
Ut matris individuus.
He holds the first place
In the chorus of so many thousands of virgins,
He becomes as close a follower of the lamb
As he is inseparable from the mother.
5.
Sit patri laus ingenito…
Let there be praise to the unborn…
