Hymn to Saint Gregory the Pope
There are three Pope Gregories whom I would call ‘great.’ One is Peter Damian’s friend Hildebrand, who became Pope Gregory VII (1015 – 1085). Another is Pope Gregory IX (1145 – 1227) who issued the Decretals which became the basis of canon law (and who instituted the Inquisition). The one Peter Damian addresses here is Pope Gregory I (590 – 604), the one usually referred to as ‘the Great.’ He sent Saint Augustine of Canterbury to Britain in 595 to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. There is a legend of an angel presenting himself in the garb of one that was shipwrecked, and asking Gregory for alms. The Saint’s response is recorded: thou first makest him a double gift, and then thou givest him a silver vase. The legend is preserved in a hymn for the feast of St. Gregory, Anglorum Jam Apostolus, published by the Society of St. Bede, Plainsong for Schools, 1940.
1.
Anglorum iam apostolus,
Nunc angelorum socius,
Ut tunc, Gregori, gentibus,
Succurre iam credentibus.
Then the apostle of the English,
Now the companion of angels,
As at that time, Gregory, you did for that race,
Now bring help to the faithful.
2.
Tu largas opum copias
Omnemque mundi gloriam
Spernis, ut inops inopem
Iesum sequaris principem.
You supply an abundance of wealth
And you despise
All worldly glory, so that poor
You may follow your poor master Jesus.
3.
Videtur egens naufragus,
Dum stipem petit angelus;
Tu minus iam post geminum
Praebes et vas argenteum.
An angel seems to be a needy shipwrecked man,
While he seeks a small offering;
You offer first a little (but twice) and then
Add a silver dish.
4.
Ex hoc te Christus tempore
Suae praefert ecclesiae;
Sic Petri gradum percipis,
Cuius et normam sequeris.
Because of this at this time Christ
Offers puts you in charge of his church;
In this way you occupy the position of Peter,
Whose example you also follow.
5.
O pontifex egregie,
Lux et decus ecclesiae,
Non sinas in periculis,
Quos tot mandatis instruis.
O excellent pope,
Light and glory of the church,
May you not permit us, whom with so many commands
You instruct, to go into danger,
6.
Mella cor obdulcantia
Tua distillant labia;
Fraglantum vim aromatum
Tuum vincit eloquium.
A heart having been made honey sweet
Your lips sprinkle that sweet honey;
Your eloquence overwhelmss
The fragrance of the strongest spices.
7.
Scripturae sacrae mystica
Mire solvis aenigmata;
Theorica mysteria
Te docet ipsa veritas.
You marvelously solve the obscure mysteries
Of the sacred scriptures;
Theoretical mysteries
That very truth teaches you
The divine mysteries of contemplation.
8.
Tu nactus apostolicam
Vicem simul et gloriam,
Nos solve culpae nexibus,
Redde polorum sedibus.
You having obtained the apostolic succession
And fame at the same time,
Release us from the snares of guilt,
Return us to the seats of heaven.
9.
Sit patri laus ingenito,
33 Sit decus unigenito,
Sit utriusque parili
Maiestas summa flamini.1
Amen.
May there be praise to the father by those who have been born,
May there be high esteem to the only begotten son,
And let the highest majesty of both the father and the son
Belong to the equally to the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
1 I realize that ‘flamen’ should refer to a priest, but it makes no sense here. The italin translators would appear to agree calling this term either the Holy Spirit or ‘supreme glory.’ I imagine the etymology of “flamen” from ‘a gale, breeze, wind, blast, blowing.’ Thus a spirit.
