Continuing
our series on the unique features of the Dominican Breviary at Compline, we now
come to the period between Low Sunday and the Ascension.
Compline
begins as usual. After the responsory, which is said with the Alleluia's
as noted in the rubrics, the following hymn is said.
Jesu,
nostra redémptio,
Amor
et desidérium,
Deus
Creátor ómnium,
Homo
in fine témporum:
Quæ
te vicit cleméntia,
Ut
ferres nostra crímina,
Crudélem
mortem pátiens,
Ut
nos a morte tólleres?
Inférni
claustra pénetrans,
Tuos
captívos rédimens,
Victor
triúmpho nóbili
Ad
dextram Patris résidens:
Ipsa
te cogat píetas
Ut
mala nostra súperes
Parcéndo,
et voti cómpotes
Nos
tuo vultu sáties.
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Redemption,
Jesus, all divine,
Whom
here we love, for whom we pine,
God,
working our creation’s plan,
And,
in the latter time, made man:
What
love of yours was that which led
To
take our woes upon your head,
And
pangs and cruel death to bear,
To
ransom us from death’s despair!
You
pierced the halls of Limbo bare,
Gave
freedom to your captives there;
And
now you sit in victor’s pride
Triumphant
at the Father’s side.
Let
very mercy force you still
To
spare us, conquering each ill;
We
pray you grant us our request,
That
seeing you we may be blest
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From Low Sunday to the Ascension the last two versus are: |
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Quǽsiumus,
Auctor óminum,
In
hoc pascháli gáudio,
Ab
omni mortis ímpetu
Tuum
defénde pópulum.
Glória
tibi, Dómine,
Qui
surrexísti a mórtuis,
Cum
Patre et Sancto Spíritu
In
sempitérna sǽcula. Amen
Ant.
At Nunc Dimittis : Allelúia. Resurréxit Dóminus, allelúia, sicut dixit vobis, allelúia, allelúia.
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Creator
great, be you our guide
In
this the joy of Easter-tide;
Whenever
assaults of death impend,
Your
people strengthen and defend.
All
glory, Lord, to you we pay,
Arisen
from the dead, today;
With
Father and the Spirit be
All
glory yours eternally. Amen.
Ant.
at Nunc Dimittis: Alleluia. The
Lord
has risen, alleluia, as he told you,
alleluia,
alleluia.
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The last two versus of the hymn change, during Ascension-tide and
the octave of Pentecost.