O magnum mysterium

Nativity Scene by Geertgen tot Sint Jans, c. 1485

General Information

Fourth of the nine responsories for Matins of Christmas Day.

The versicle of the responsory (Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum) is missing from most of the polyphonic settings.

Settings by composers

Paolo Aretino Bivi Douglas Brooks-Davies William Byrd, includes the Responsory Marcos Castán Jacobus Clemens non Papa Pedro de Cristo, includes the Responsory Pedro da Esperança, includes the Responsory Giovanni Gabrieli José Maurício Nunes Garcia, includes the Responsory Charles H. Giffen, includes the Responsory Nicolas Gombert Jacob Handl Iñigo Igualador Huub de Lange Morten Lauridsen (copyright restricted)

Gonçalo Lourenço Estêvão Lopes Morago, includes the Responsory Cristóbal de Morales Jorge Moreira Giovan Nasco Pomponio Nenna Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Giacomo Antonio Perti Francis Poulenc (copyright restricted) Claudio Raffi Andrea Rota a 5 Oscar Santos Johann Stadlmayr, includes the Responsory Tomás Luis de Victoria Pedro Vilarroig Adrian Willaert, includes the Responsory

Text and translations

Full text of the responsory

Latin text O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio. O beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Ave Maria, gratia plena: Dominus tecum. O beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Alleluia!

English translation O great mystery and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord lying in a manger! O blessed is the Virgin, whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Hail Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with you. Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Alleluia!

Abbreviated text without the versicle & response

Latin text O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio. O beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Alleluia!

English translation O great mystery and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord lying in a manger! O blessed is the Virgin, whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Alleluia!

Different text in the Prima pars of the Palestrina setting

(includes part of the responsory to the third lesson) Latin text

O magnum mysterium
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum
jacentem in praesepio.
Natum vidimus et choros Angelorum
collaudantes Dominum.
Alleluia!

Text of the Morales setting

Latin text O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio. Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Domine, audivi auditum tuum et timui: consideravi opera tua, et expavi: in medio duorum animalium.

English translation O great mystery and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord lying in a manger. Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Jesus Christ the Lord. Lord, I heard your voice and was afraid; I considered your works and I trembled: between two animals.

Other translations

English translation by Allen H. Simon O most awesome mystery and sacrament divine and most wondrous: that animals should look and see the Lord a babe newborn beside them in a manger laid. O how truly blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear and bring forth the Lord Christ Jesus. Alleluia! English translation by Mick Swithinbank O great mystery and wonderful sacrament that animals could see the birth of the Lord lying in a manger. Whom did you see, shepherds, say, tell us who has appeared? We saw the child new-born and choirs of angels praising the Lord, alleluia. Another English translation: O great mystery, and strange sacrament As an animal might see the arisen Lord Cast into a manger O sacred Virgin, whose womb was worth to carry the Lord Jesus Christ Alleluia. French translation Ô grand mystère et merveilleux sacrement Que les animaux voient le Seigneur nouveau-né reposant dans la crèche. Ô heureuse Vierge dont les entrailles méritèrent de porter le Seigneur, Jésus Christ. Alléluia.

Italian translation by Daniele Ventre O grande mistero, E mirabile sacramento, Che gli animali vedessero il Signore appena nato giacere nel presepio, O beata Vergine, il cui grembo meritò di portare Gesù cristo nostro Signore, Alleluia! Spanish translation by Manuel Espejo (Colombia) O gran misterio, y maravilloso sacramento, Que los animales hayan visto Al Señor recién nacido yacer en un pesebre. Alabada seas, o Virgen, pues tu vientre mereció llevar a Jesús Cristo, nuestro Señor, ¡Aleluya! Korean translation 아아 크나큰 신비와 경이로운 성사여 구유에 누워계신 신생의 주를 뭇 짐승이 바라볼지니 아아 복된 처녀여 그 품은 주 예수 그리스도를 수태하기에 합당하였도다 할렐루야! German translation by luisen-vocalensemble.de O großes Geheimnis und wunderbares Heiligtum, daß Tiere den geborenen Herrn sehen, in der Krippe liegend. Selig die Jungfrau, deren Leib würdig war, Christus den Herrn zu tragen.

External links

• Wikipedia article