A tribute from a Dominican-in-Training to an elder brother, Blessed Henry Suso, OP, and his hymn In Dulci Jubilo.
As originally written, the hymn is macaronic. (Not like Yankee Doodle's feather.) Macaronic verse mixes two or more languages. The effects include the delight of surprise, the joy of rediscovering an understanding that surpasses the bounds of a single language, and exuberance in general. In Christian terms, it means the breaking down of the dividing wall that kept us apart: Jew and Gentile, Cretans and Scythians, Medes and Greeks. The curse of Babel gives way to the gift of tongues, in Him in Whom we find our salvation, and in His Holy Spirit. This particular victory is missing in the nonetheless joyful Anglicized version, Good Christian Men, Rejoice, which has merits of its own--but not those of the English (translated by Robert Pearsall from the German original)/ Latin version:
As originally written, the hymn is macaronic. (Not like Yankee Doodle's feather.) Macaronic verse mixes two or more languages. The effects include the delight of surprise, the joy of rediscovering an understanding that surpasses the bounds of a single language, and exuberance in general. In Christian terms, it means the breaking down of the dividing wall that kept us apart: Jew and Gentile, Cretans and Scythians, Medes and Greeks. The curse of Babel gives way to the gift of tongues, in Him in Whom we find our salvation, and in His Holy Spirit. This particular victory is missing in the nonetheless joyful Anglicized version, Good Christian Men, Rejoice, which has merits of its own--but not those of the English (translated by Robert Pearsall from the German original)/ Latin version:
1. In dulci jubilo
Let us our homage show:
Our heart's joy reclineth
In praesepio;
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio,
Alpha es et O! Alpha es et O!
2. O Jesu parvule,
My heart is sore for Thee!
Here me, I beseech Thee,
O puer optime;
My praying let it reach Thee!
O princeps gloriae.
Trahe me post te. Trahe me post te.
My heart is sore for Thee!
Here me, I beseech Thee,
O puer optime;
My praying let it reach Thee!
O princeps gloriae.
Trahe me post te. Trahe me post te.
3. O patris caritas!
O Nati lenitas!
Deeply were we stained
Per nostra crimina:
But Thou for us hast gained
Coelorum gaudia,
Qualis gloria! Qualis gloria!
O Nati lenitas!
Deeply were we stained
Per nostra crimina:
But Thou for us hast gained
Coelorum gaudia,
Qualis gloria! Qualis gloria!
4. Ubi sunt gaudia?
If that they be not there?
There are Angels singing
Nova cantica;
And there the bells are ringing
In Regis curia.
O that we were there! O that we were there!
If that they be not there?
There are Angels singing
Nova cantica;
And there the bells are ringing
In Regis curia.
O that we were there! O that we were there!
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