Part 2 — CHRISTMAS HYMN.
Reading edition
BY POPE ST. DAMASUS.[127]
Christe potens rerum, redeuntis conditor ævi, Vox summi sensusque Dei, quem fundit ab altâ Mente Pater, tantique dedit consortia regni, Impia tu nostræ domuisti crimina vitæ, Passus corporeâ mundum vestire figurâ, Affarique palam populos, hominemque fateri. Virginei tumuere sinus, innuptaque mater Arcano obstupuit compleri viscera partu, Auctorem paritura suum. Mortalia corda Artificem texere poli, mundique repertor Pars fuit humani generis, latuitque sub uno Pectore, qui totum latè complectitur orbem; Et qui non spatiis terræ, non æquoris undis, Nec capitur cœlo, parvos confluxit in artus. Quin et supplicii nomen nexusque subisti, Ut nos surriperes letho, mortemque fugares Morte tuâ: mox æthereas evectus in auras, Purgatâ repetis lætum tellure parentem.
Translation.
Christ, sovereign of all things that be, Wisdom and Word of God! we see A new-born world spring forth from thee.
God born of God, and who dost share His reign supreme, how didst thou bear The vesture of our dust to wear?
Unto our race thou didst belong— Didst speak and mingle with the throng, To bear—to triumph over wrong.
A Virgin's bosom did accord Repose to Him whom she adored; In wonder she brought forth her Lord.
Who spread aloft the heavens, the day, Who built the world—lo! clothed in clay Hid 'neath one human bosom lay.
Whose hands the universe uphold, Whom earth, nor seas, nor heavens enfold— Lo! compassed by a mortal mould.
What anguish didst thou undergo; What woe, to shelter us from woe; What death, from death to save us so;
Ere from a world redeemed by grace Thou didst return aloft through space To seek the Blessed Father's face.
Constantina E. Brooks.