Jesu Redemptor omnium
Hymn at Vespers - Christmas Season
About This Prayer
Jesu Redemptor omnium ('Jesus, Redeemer of all') is the Christmas Vespers hymn in the 1962 Breviary. This ancient hymn (7th century or earlier) addresses Christ directly, praising Him who existed before all ages with the Father yet deigned to take flesh from a Virgin Mother. The hymn moves through the cosmic to the personal: from Christ's eternal generation to the joy of the present feast, calling all creation - heaven, earth, and sea - to join in praise. It petitions that as Christ once came in humility, He would return in mercy at the Last Day.
Prayer Text
LATINE
Jesu, Redemptor omnium,
Quem lucis ante originem
Parem paternae gloriae
Pater supremus edidit.
Quem lucis ante originem
Parem paternae gloriae
Pater supremus edidit.
Tu lumen, et splendor Patris,
Tu spes perennis omnium,
Intende quas fundunt preces
Tui per orbem servuli.
Tu spes perennis omnium,
Intende quas fundunt preces
Tui per orbem servuli.
Memento, rerum Conditor,
Nostri quod olim corporis,
Sacrata ab alvo Virginis
Nascendo, formam sumpseris.
Nostri quod olim corporis,
Sacrata ab alvo Virginis
Nascendo, formam sumpseris.
Testatur hoc praesens dies,
Currens per anni circulum,
Quod solus e sinu Patris
Mundi salus adveneris.
Currens per anni circulum,
Quod solus e sinu Patris
Mundi salus adveneris.
Hunc astra, tellus, aequora,
Hunc omne, quod caelo subest,
Salutis auctorem novae
Novo salutat cantico.
Hunc omne, quod caelo subest,
Salutis auctorem novae
Novo salutat cantico.
Et nos, beata quos sacri
Rigavit unda sanguinis,
Natalis ob diem tui
Hymni tributum solvimus.
Rigavit unda sanguinis,
Natalis ob diem tui
Hymni tributum solvimus.
Jesu, tibi sit gloria,
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
In sempiterna saecula. Amen.
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
In sempiterna saecula. Amen.
ENGLISH
Jesu, the Ransomer of man,
Who, ere created light began,
Didst from the sovereign Father spring,
His power and glory equaling.
Who, ere created light began,
Didst from the sovereign Father spring,
His power and glory equaling.
The Father's Light and Splendour thou,
Their endless Hope to thee that bow:
Accept the prayers and praise today
That through the world thy servants pay.
Their endless Hope to thee that bow:
Accept the prayers and praise today
That through the world thy servants pay.
Salvation's Author, call to mind
How, taking form of humankind,
Born of a Virgin undefiled
Thou in man's flesh becam'st a Child.
How, taking form of humankind,
Born of a Virgin undefiled
Thou in man's flesh becam'st a Child.
Thus testifies the present day
Through every year in long array,
That thou, salvation's source alone,
Proceedest from the Father's Throne.
Through every year in long array,
That thou, salvation's source alone,
Proceedest from the Father's Throne.
The Heavens above, the rolling main
And all that earth's wide realms contain,
With joyous voice now loudly sing
The glory of their newborn King.
And all that earth's wide realms contain,
With joyous voice now loudly sing
The glory of their newborn King.
And we who, by thy precious Blood
From sin redeemed, are marked for God,
On this, the day that saw thy Birth,
Sing the new song of ransomed earth.
From sin redeemed, are marked for God,
On this, the day that saw thy Birth,
Sing the new song of ransomed earth.
All honor, laud and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete. Amen.
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete. Amen.
Liturgical Notes
NOTA
FONS
Breviarium Romanum (1962)
USUS
Hymn at Vespers - Christmas Season
HORA
Vespers
TEMPVS
christmas
GENVS
Hymn
AVCTOR
Unknown (7th century or earlier)
METRVM
Iambic dimeter