BEDA VENERABILIS

DE NATALI INNOCENTIUM

Hymnum canentes martyrum
Dicamus innocentium,
Quos terra flentes perdidit,
Gaudens sed aethra suscipit.
Vultum patris per saecula
Quorum tuentur angeli,

Eiusque laudant gratiam,

Hymnum canentes martyrum.

Quos rex peremit impius,

Pius sed auctor colligit,
Secum beatos collocans,
In luce regni perpetis.
Qui mansiones singulis
Largitus in domo patris,
Donat supernis sedibus
Quos rex peremit impius.

THE VENERABLE BEDE

THE BIRTHDAY OF THE INNOCENTS

A hymn of martyred innocents

Sing we with heart and voice,

Whom earth hath lost and heaven gained,

Who wept but now rejoice. Whose guardian angels evermore

Behold the Father's face,

They sing the blessed martyrs' hymn
And praise God's wondrous grace.

The king with impious hand destroyed,
But Christ with tender love

Hath placed them at His own right hand,
On His bright throne above.

And He who in the Father's house
Gives mansions for the blest,

To these the impious king destroyed
Gives everlasting rest.

Vox in Rama percrebuit,
Lamenta luctus maximi,
Rachel suos cum lacrymis
Perfusa flevit filios.
Gaudent triumpho perpeti
Tormenta quique vicerant,
Quorum gemens ob verbera
Vox in Rama percrebuit.

Ne, grex pusille, formides
Dentes leonis perfidos,
Pastor bonus nam pascua
Vobis dabit coelestia.
Agnum Dei qui candidum
Mundo sequeris tramite,
Manus latronis impias
Ne, grex pusille, formides.

Absterget omnem lacrymam, Vestris pater de vultibus, Mors vobis ultra non nocet, Vitae receptis moenibus. Qui seminent in lacrymis

Longo metent in gaudio, Genis lugentum conditor Absterget omnem lacrymam.