• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Feasts Website
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

Re: Ancient Sequence (Thursday after Pentecost)

Jeff Ostrowski · May 29, 2023

ERONICA MORENO recently published a fascinating article called: Terrific Pentecost Hymn You’ve Not Heard Before! Basically, Veronica spoke about the ancient Sequence for Pentecost Thursday called: Qui Procédis Ab Utróque. Veronica provided quite a bit of information. For example, she posted a PDF organ accompaniment—99 pages!—by HENRI POTIRON (professor at the Gregorian Institute in Paris) which contains an accompaniment for that Sequence. Veronica also provided a peerless metrical translation by MONSIGNOR RONALD KNOX, which is #710 in the Brébeuf Portal. She also posted rehearsal videos, a mediæval manuscript, background for the ALLES IST AN GOTTES SEGEN tune, and other interesting items.

FSSP Priest Enters! • A member of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter saw the article and was inspired to create—for the first time in history—a literal translation into English:

Qui procédis ab utróque,
Genitóre Genitóque,
Páriter Paráclite.
Redde linguas eloquéntes,
Fac fervéntes in te mentes
Flamma tua dívite.

Thou who procedest equally from each,
Father and Son,
O Paraclete:
render tongues rich in speech,
make minds glow for thee
through thy lavish flame.

Amor Patris Filiíque,
Par ambórum et utríque
Compar et consímilis.
Cuncta reples, cuncta foves,
Astra regis, caelum moves,
Pérmanens immóbilis.

Love of the Father and Son,
equal of both, and to each
matched and alike:
all thou fillest, all thou tendest,
stars thou rulest, heaven thou movest,
all unmoving thou remaining.

Lumen carum, lumen clarum,
Internárum tenebrárum
Éffugans calíginem.
Per te mundi sunt mundáti:
Tu peccátum, tu peccáti
Déstruis rubíginem.

Light beloved, light radiant,
putting to flight the obscurity
of inward shadows:
the clean by thee are cleansed:
thou sin, and thou sin’s
rust destroyest.

Veritátem notam facis,
Et osténdis viam pacis,
Et iter justítiae.
Perversórum corda vitas,
Et bonórum corda ditas
Múnere sciéntiae.

Truth thou makest known,
thou showest both the way of peace
and the course of justice.
The hearts of the depraved thou shunnest,
and the hearts of the good thou enrichest
with the gift of knowledge.

Te docénte nil obscúrum,
Te regénte nil impúrum
Sub tua praeséntia.
Gloriátur mens jucúnda
Per te laeta; per te munda
Gaudet consciéntia.

With thy teaching naught is darksome,
with thy ruling naught is sullied
beneath thy gaze
[lit. presence].
The cheerful mind glories,
gladdened by thee; made clean
by thee, conscience rejoices.

Tu commútas eleménta:
Per te suam sacraménta
Habent efficáciam.
Tu nocívam vim repéllis,
Tu confútas et reféllis
Hóstium nequítiam.

Elements thou convertest:
by thee do the sacraments
possess their power.
Harmful force thou drivest away,
thou restrainest and exposest
the wickedness of foes.

Quando venis, corda lenis:
Quando subis, átrae nubis
Éffugit obscúritas.
Sacer ignis, cor fidélis
Intus uris, et a curis
Purgas, quando vísitas.

When thou comest, thou softenest hearts:
when thou enterest, there flees
the dismal cloud’s darkness.
O hallowed fire, the faithful heart
thou burnest within, and from cares
thou clearest, when thou visitest.

Mentes prius imperítas
Et sopítas et oblítas
Érudis et éxcitas.
Foves linguas, formas sonum;
Cor ad bonum facit pronum
A te data cáritas.

Minds hitherto unaware,
both deadened and besmeared
[or in another sense, deceived]
thou refinest and rousest.
Tongues thou tendest, speech thou shapest;
charity, given by thee,
makes the heart inclined to good.

O juvámen oppressórum,
O solámen miserórum,
Páuperum refúgium.
Da contémptum terrenórum,
Ad amórem supernórum
Trahe desidérium.
Amen.

O aid of the downtrodden,
O solace of the wretched,
haven of the poor:
grant
[us] disregard of earthly things,
to the love of things above
draw
[our] longing.
Amen.

Provenance • I believe this Sequence was mainly used in France. You can tell it’s relatively late as it’s written according to rhyme and stress-accent (QuaLitative), rather than long and short syllables (QuanTitative). For more on this, cf. my 2016 article: The “Long & Short” of Latin Hymns.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Alles Ist An Gottes Segen, Henri Potiron, Monsignor Ronald Knox Traditional Mass, Qui procédis ab utróque, Sequence for Pentecost Thursday Last Updated: May 29, 2023

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

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).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Ways to receive Our Lord as King of the Universe…read and reflect on the Sunday Scriptures, plan your whole weekend around receiving your King, wear your best garments, spend time in quiet, kneel to receive Him, receive Him on the tongue, offer silent time of thanks after mass.”

— Most Rev. Bishop Strickland (15 December)

Recent Posts

  • Why A “Fugue” Here?
  • “Three Reasons To Shun Bad Hymns” • Daniel B. Marshall
  • “Puzzling Comment” • By A Respected FSSP Priest
  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
  • “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.