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 you did then for the English, Gregory,
Now bring succor to others of the faithful.
2.
Tu largas opum copias
Omnemque mundi gloriam
Spernis, ut inops inopem
Iesum sequaris principem.
You provide 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 appears in the guise of a shipwrecked man,
Seeking succor;
You offer first a little, then 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 Christ now
Puts you in charge of his church;
Thus you hold the chair 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,
Do not allow us, whom you instruct at such length,
To go into danger.
6.
Mella cor obdulcantia
Tua distillant labia;
Fraglantum vim aromatum
Tuum vincit eloquium.
Your heart having been made honey sweet
Your lips sprinkle that sweet honey;
Your eloquence overwhelms
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 equally to the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
1 I realize that ‘flamen’ should refer to a priest, but it makes no sense here. The Italian 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.
