4. Forth from His chamber goeth He, A giant in two-fold substance one, 5. From God the Father He proceeds, Gird on Thy fleshly mantle now; 7. Thy cradle here shall glitter bright, 9 flexive middle sense. Trophao, a trophy, sign of victory. How Christ triumphed in the human flesh He assumed, is the theme of hymn 24. "That by means of His death . . . they that are 'called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance" (Heb. 9:15). Infirma is used like a noun. Cf. this line to stanza 4 of hymn 37 where the same appeal is made to the Holy Ghost. Here it is made to Christ, by the merits of whose Passion we hope for the grace to overcome natural weakness. "Who will also confirm you unto the end without crime" (1 Cor. 1:8). 7. "Now doth Thy manger gleam and the night breathe forth a new light, which light may no night impede and may it shine with undying faith." Præsepe. "And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them and the brightness of God shone round about them" (Luke 2:9). Lumen novum. Possibly a reference to the Nativity star which guided the Magi. "And behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them until it came and stood over where the Child was" (Matt. 2:9). More probably a reference to Christ Himself, the "Star of Jacob" (Num. 24:17). Interpolet, luceat. Double plea: (a) that no spiritual night of sin or unbelief may impede or overcloud the shining of Christ, "the Light of the world" (John 8:12); (b) that Christ may shine steadfastly in the faith of His followers. "He that followeth Me, walketh not in darkness" (ibid.). 8. Gloria tibi Domine, Qui natus es de Virgine, HYMN 15 1. Christe, Redemptor omnium, Natus ineffabiliter. 2. Tu lumen, tu splendor Patris, 3. Memento, salutis Auctor, Nascendo formam sumpseris. 8. "O Lord, who art born of the Virgin, glory forever be to Thee, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost." Natus es. The special doxology note of the Christmas season (cf. end of hymn 1). For the Roman form of this doxology, see hymn 67. HYMN 15 Author: Ambrosian of the sixth century. Meter: iambic dimeter. Metrical: Neale. Use: Christmas Matins. 1. "O Christ, Redeemer of all! Only-begotten of the Father! Thou alone before the beginning wast born ineffably of the Father." Redemptor. Cf. stanza 1 of hymn 13. Unice, i.e., Unigenite. "The only-begotten of the Father" (John 1:14). Ante principium. "In the beginning (i.e., before all time) was the Word" (John 1:1). Cf. Ps. 109:3. Natus (es) ineffabiliter. The eternal generation of Christ, the Word. "Who shall declare His generation?" (Isa. 53:8.) 8. All honor, laud and glory be, To Father and to Paraclete. HYMN 15 1. O Christ, the Father's only Son, 2. The Father's light and splendor Thou, 3. Salvation's author, call to mind Thou in man's flesh becam'st a child. 2. "Thou art the light, the splendor of the Father, Thou art the perennial hope of all; regard the prayers which Thy servants throughout the world pour forth." Lumen. "God is light" (1 John 1:5). "Light of Light" (Nicene Creed). Splendor. "Being the brightness of His (i.e., the Father's) glory and the figure of His substance" (Heb. 1:3). Spes. "Jesus Christ yesterday, and today, and the same forever" (Heb. 13:8). 3. "O Author of our salvation, remember that Thou didst once assume the form of our body by being born of the inviolate Virgin." This stanza is used for hymn 73. Salutis. "For it became Him to perfect the Author of their salvation by His Passion" (Heb. 2:10). Formam. “Christ emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man" (Phil. 2:7). Virgine, i.e., the virgin birth (cf. the preceding hymns). 4. Sic præsens testatur dies, 5. Hunc cælum, terra, hunc mare, Laudans exsultat cantico. 6. Nos quoque, qui sancto tuo 7. Gloria tibi Domine, Qui natus es de Virgine, 4. "Thus testifies the present day, recurring by the cycle of the year: that Thou alone didst come from the throne of the Father to be the salvation of the world." Dies, Christmas Day. Circulum, the liturgical cycle with its annually recurring feasts. Mundi. "The Father hath sent His Son to be the Savior of the world" (1 John 4:14). 5. "Praising Him, the Author of Thy advent, the heaven, the earth, the sea-everything that is in them, exults in song." The repetition of hunc (object of laudans and referring to Patris of the preceding stanza) is a form of pleonasm. Cælum, etc. "Let the heavens and the earth praise Him; the sea, and everything that creepeth therein" (Ps. 68:35). Auctorem, God the Father. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 1:3). 4. Thus testifies the present day In every year in long array, That Thou, salvation's source alone, 5. Whence sky, and stars, and sea's abyss, 6. And we who, by Thy Precious Blood 7. All honor, laud and glory be, To Father, and to Paraclete. 6. "We also, who are redeemed by Thy holy blood, sing a new hymn for the day of Thy nativity." Nos. Though all creation praises God for sending His Son, we as the chief beneficiaries must offer special thanks. Redempti. "Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Pet. 1:18 f.). Novum has no particular meaning save that each recurring Christmas should see us more keenly appreciative, more deeply grateful. “Let us sing a hymn to the Lord, let us sing a new hymn to our God" (Jdth. 16:15). 7. Cf. the final stanza of hymn 14. |