In practice and in preparation for writing lyrics for a hymn that will receive its world premiere in October 2025, I’ve translated Latin, French, Old English, and Hebrew hymns into English. Below, the Oxyrhynchos Hymn and hymns by King David, Saint Thomas Aquanis, and a hymn mentioned by Chaucer in the Prioress Tale.
THE OXYRHYNCHUS HYMN
Discovered in 1918 near Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, the musically notated Oxyrhynchus Hymn is the oldest know fragment of a Christian hymn (3rd Century). Because fragmentary, scholars differ in opinion, some guessing the hymn refers to worldly interference in sacred matters, others that the text recalls ancient Greek cosmic stillness. The variations below consider each opinion.
VARIATION I
Sing the silence of the stars,
Let all the waters offer praise,
Hear the song of winds afar
Come surging loud across the plains.
Let stars and planets, birds and men
Sing “Amen. Amen. Amen.”
Hymn the Father and the Son
And all the Holy Spirit brings.
Praise the Lord, the Three in One,
Creator God of all good things.
Let stars and planets, birds and men
Sing “Amen. Amen. Amen.”
Sing! You holy Seraphim,
And all the Angels of the sky,
Praise, adore, and worship Him
Our Father God who reigns on high.
Let stars and planets, birds and men
Sing “Amen. Amen. Amen.”
Kings and empires meekly bow
Before the power of the Lord.
Sing His glory, let Him know
We praise our God in one accord.
Let stars and planets, birds and men
Sing “Amen. Amen. Amen.”
for choir, flute or organ, depending
VARIATION II
Let night and day be silent.
In quiet let us honor Him.
Let stars be still and pliant.
Let all creation worship Him.
Alleluia. Sing, “Amen.”
The breezes all are resting
Before the glory of the Lord.
The birds are hushed in nesting.
The voiceless seas our God adore.
Alleluia. Sing, “Amen.”
Our Father, Son, and Spirit
The blessed angels praise. Attend.
At prayer your soul will hear it
When heaven hymns, “Amen. Amen.”
Alleluia. Sing, “Amen.”
for bells and lute or kithara
Here below, the English prose translation of the poem’s five fragmentary lines.
… together all the eminent ones of God …
… [night] nor day (?) Let it/them be silent. Let the luminous stars not […],
… [Let the rushings of winds, the sources] of all surging rivers [cease]. While we hymn
Father and Son and Holy Spirit, let all the powers answer, “Amen, amen, Strength, praise,
[and glory forever to God], the sole giver of all good things. Amen, amen.”
ONLY THE SACRAMENT
Before the throne we bow our heads
In hope the Lord grants His ascent
To feed our souls with holy bread
Embodied in the Sacrament.
The old is new in sacrifice
Which by belief renews our life.
The Spirit bodies blessings too
So that we men might come to bliss;
One – Spirit – Father – Son a truth
That vests eternal happiness.
Hail! In jubilation raise
Acclamation and equal praise.
Amen. I say to you, Amen.
Joy and happiness unleavened.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
You’ve given bread from Heaven.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Tatum ergo
Tantum ergo sacramentum
Veneremur cernui,
et antiquum documentum
novo cedat ritui.
Præstet fides supplementum
sensuum defectui.
Genitori genitoque
laus et jubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
sit et benedictio!
Procedenti ab utroque
compar sit laudatio!
Amen.
Panem de cælis præstitisti eis (in Paschaltide and on
Corpus Christi, ‘Alleluia’ is added).
Omne delectamentum in se habentem (in Paschaltide and
on Corpus Christi, ‘Alleluia’ is added).
*Composed by Saint Thomas Aquinas.
LOVING MOTHER OF GOD THE REDEEMER
O Mother of God the Redeemer,
Gate of Heaven and Star of the Sea,
Give comfort and aid to we sinners
Who lowly would strive to arise to Thee.
O Virgin then, now and hereafter,
“Ave,” Gabriel knew who you’d be;
O Maiden who bore the Creator,
Please lend to us men your Son’s mercy.
Alma Redemptoris Mater
Alma Redemptóris Mater, quæ pérvia cæli
Porta manes, et stella maris, succúrre cadénti,
Súrgere qui curat pópulo: tu quæ genuísti,
Natúra miránte, tuum sanctum Genitórem
Virgo prius ac postérius, Gabriélis ab ore
Sumens illud Ave, peccatórum miserére.
* Mentioned in Chaucer’s “Prioress Tale”, the hymn is attributed to
Hermannus Contractus (called Herman the Cripple, 1013–1054) and
is likely drawn from earlier sources.
ASPERGES ME
Sprinkle with water
Sweetened with mint,
A gift of the Father
A cleansing by Him.
Please Father wash me,
Refresh my soul,
Make me by Your love
Whiter than snow.
Amen. God. Amen.
Grant mercy, O Christ,
Lend mercy to me.
For your love I thirst:
Bathe me in Glory.
Spirit most Holy,
And Father and Son,
Now, then, as shall be
Your world without end.
Amen. God. Amen.
Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo et mundabor,
Lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.
Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.
(typically followed by the Doxology)
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
* Psalm 51, known as the Miserere, is attributed to King David (X to IX centuries BC).
O VICTIM SAVIOR
O victim Savior
Who opens Heaven:
Foes press at the door.
Grant strength and aid. Amen.
One and Triune Lord,
Glory! without end.
Smite the evil hoard
And lead us home. Amen.
O salutaris Hostia,
O salutaris Hostia,
Quae caeli pandis ostium:
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur, fer auxilium.
Uni trinoque Domino
Sit sempiterna gloria,
Qui vitam sine termino
Nobis donet in patria.
Amen.
*Composed by Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Each of the translations (above) were first published at Expansive Poetry (edited by Arthur Mortensen), the official site of an influential group of poets who in the 1980s shattered modernist barriers by composing traditional stories in Classive forms. I’ve published with the Expansives for three decades. My essay “Lyric: Songs” might serve as preface.
A brief overview of new Classive poetry can be found at the Society of Classical Poets site (edited by Evan Mantyk), Expansive Poets, Classical Poets, and the Future of Poetry. I begin the essay, “Modern poetry is not—it is neither poetry nor modern. Poetry is words lined in measure, of some three seconds length, the length of breath, and this is true across cultures throughout history…”
As you know, we are just now experiencing a revival of faith, art, tradition, a revival that we architects, sculptors, painters, composers, et alia, have been working toward these past 50 years, and this in fealty to all that is good, beautiful, true.
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The Oxyrhynchus Hymn
For similar and related stories, you might also like to visit
and other essays at The Studio Books, Annals.
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