Saturday, May 9, 2009

UPDATE: St. Joseph...still

I'm still "working" on the feast of St. Joseph. I got a couple of new books this week on the Hymns of the Breviary: One by Rev. M Britt (OSB), the other by Rev. J. Connelly. Sadly, neither contained anything on the hymn for the feast of St. Joseph the Workman. They did contain some very good information on a few other hymns I've had questions about, as well as more detailed authorship information on all the hymns.

I still haven't translated all of the antiphons and versicles, either. I may skip this feast and come back to it later. In the mean time, here's the text of the hymn in question UPDATE, with translation!:



Auróra, solis núntia
Florúmque mensi prǽvia,
Fabri sonóram málleo
Domum salútat Názaræ.

Salve, caput domésticum,
Sub quo suprémus Artifex,
Sudóre salso róridus,
Exércet artem pátriam.

Altis locátus sédibus
Celsǽque Sponsæ próximus,
Adésto nunc cliéntibus,
Quos vexat indigéntia.

Absíntque vis et júrgia,
Fraus omnis a mercédibus;
Victus cibíque cópiam
Mensúret una párcitas.

O Trinitátis Unitas,
Joseph precánte, quǽsumus,
In pace nostros ómnium
Gressus viámque dírige. Amen.

O dawn announcing the sun
Beginning the month of flowering;
The workman's resounding hammer
Salutes the home at Nazareth.

Hail, head of the household
Beneath whom is the supreme Artificer;
Who, bedewed with salty sweat,
Exercises his father's trade.

He was placed on a high seat
nearest to his Noble Spouse;
be near now to all thy clients
who are troubled by indigency.

Strength and strife be absent!
and all defrauding of wages;
May copious nourishment of food
be limited only by moderation.

O Trinity, O Unity,
by the prayers of Joseph;
Direct in peace
all our steps and our path. Amen.

1 comment:

  1. Well St John's Abbey produced 2 translations of this. E-mailed you the translations. :)

    ReplyDelete