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Jesus said to them: “I have come into this world so that a sentence may fall upon it, that those who are blind should see, and those who see should become blind. If you were blind, you would not be guilty. It is because you protest, ‘We can see clearly,’ that you cannot be rid of your guilt.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Eleven (11) Rare Lenten Hymns You’ve Not Sung!

Jeff Ostrowski · February 25, 2023

ATHER ADRIAN FORTESCUE was (rightly) considered the preëminent scholar of the Catholic world until Knox. Speaking of an ancient hymn, he once wrote: “Where could anyone find a better evening hymn than this, coming right down from the catacombs? Our hymnbooks know nothing of such a treasure as this, and give us pages of poor sentiment in doggerel lines by some tenth-rate modern versifier.” What is Father Fortescue talking about? What are some ancient hymns with powerful texts? Can they be sung by Catholics in English? Let me see if I can explain, with concrete examples.

Example: “Ex More Docti Mystico”

If you like to sing in Latin, you can sing the Matins hymn for Lent: EX MORE DOCTI MYSTICO. As you can see, the words (“lyrics”)—which come from the sixth century—are quite beautiful:

* *  PDF Download • “Ex More Docti Mystico” (LENT)
—6th-century Matins hymn during the holy season of Lent.

To sing it in English, you can use a splendid melody called “BRESSANI,” as shown here:

M To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

If you don’t like that melody, you can try “SAXONY,” as shown here:

M To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

If you don’t like either of those, you can try the “EISENACH” melody, as shown here:

M To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

Example: “O Sol Salutis Intimis”

Another ancient hymn is called “O Sol Salutis Intimis”—but until the revisions of Pope Urban VIII it was called “Jam Christe Sol Justitiae.” Here it is in Latin, with a literal English translation:

* *  PDF Download • “O Sol Salutis” (LENT)
—The ancient name for this hymn is “Jam Christe Sol Justitiae.”

If you choir knows the “EISENACH” melody, you can sing it in English:

M To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

Another wonderful melody for that hymn was composed by Orlando Gibbons (d. 1625)

M To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

Example: “Vexilla Regis Prodeunt”

One of the greatest of all hymns is the VEXILLA REGIS by Bishop Venantius Fortunatus, who lived in the sixth century:

*  PDF Download • VEXILLA REGIS PRODEUNT
—Pope Urban VIII modified some of the verses in this hymn.

It can be sung in English using the “BRESSANI” melody:

Another beautiful Englished setting is the “AGINCOURT” tune:

M To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

If you already taught your choir how to sing the “EISENACH” tune, you can use that one:

M To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

Conclusion • The Brébeuf Hymnal has more Lenten hymns than any other Catholic hymn book. You owe it to yourself—and your congregation—to investigate this resource!

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles, Featured Tagged With: Angel's Song by Orlando Gibbons, Bressani Hymn Tune, Eisenach Hymn, Ex More Docti Mystico, Jam Christe Sol Justitiae, O Sol Salutis Intimis, Orlando Gibbons, Rev Fr Adrian Fortescue Liturgy, Saxony Hymn Tune, Vexilla Regis Prodeunt Last Updated: February 25, 2023

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    How Well Does ICEL Know Latin?
    This year, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June 2025) falls on a Sunday. It’s not necessary to be an eminent Latin scholar to be horrified by examples like this, which have been in place since 1970. For the last 55 years, anyone who’s attempted to correct such errors has been threatened with legal action. It is simply unbelievable that the (mandatory) texts of the Holy Mass began being sold for a profit in the 1970s. How much longer will this gruesome situation last?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Is the USCCB trolling us?
    I realize I’m going to come across as a “Negative Nancy” … but I can’t help myself. This kind of stuff is beyond ridiculous. There are already way too many options in the MISSALE RECENS. Adding more will simply confuse the faithful even more. We seriously need to band together and start creating a “REFORM OF THE REFORM” Missale Romanum so it will be ready when the time comes.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Common” Responsorial Psalm?
    I try to avoid arguing about liturgical legislation (even with Catholic priests) because it seems like many folks hold certain views—and nothing will persuade them to believe differently. You can show them 100 church documents, but it matters not. They won’t budge. Sometimes I’m confronted by people who insist that “there’s no such thing” as a COMMON RESPONSORIAL PSALM. When that happens, I show them a copy of the official legislation in Latin. I have occasionally prevailed by means of this method.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    When to Sit, Stand and Kneel like it’s 1962
    There are lots of different guides to postures for Mass, but I couldn’t find one which matched our local Latin Mass, so I made this one: sit-stand-kneel-crop
    —Veronica Brandt
    The Funeral Rites of the Graduale Romanum
    Lately I have been paging through the 1974 Graduale Romanum (see p. 678 ff.) and have been fascinated by the funeral rites found therein, especially the simply-beautiful Psalmody that is appointed for all the different occasions before and after the funeral Mass: at the vigil/wake, at the house of the deceased, processing to the church, at the church, processing to the cemetery, and at the cemetery. Would that this “stational Psalmody” of the Novus Ordo funeral rites saw wider usage! If you or anyone you know have ever used it, please do let me know.
    —Daniel Tucker

Random Quote

“I, (Name), do declare that I do believe that there is not any Transubstantiation in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, or in the elements of the bread and wine, at or after the consecration thereof by any person whatsoever.”

— ‘From England’s Anti-Catholic Oath (1673)’

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  • Is the USCCB trolling us?
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  • “Common” Responsorial Psalm?

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