Jesu decus angelicum

General information

Author: Bernard of Clairvaux.

This hymn is part of the greater hymn Jesu dulcis memoria, which has some 42 to 53 stanzas depending upon the manuscript, and is attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153). In the 1962 calendar, this hymn is used at Lauds for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, celebrated on the Sunday between the Circumcision and Epiphany, or failing such a Sunday, on January 2. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial on January 3.

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• Samuel Friedrich Capricornus — Jesu decus Angelicum  Latin SSATB

Text and translations

Latin text Jesu, decus angelicum, in aure dulce canticum, in ore mel mirificum, in corde nectar caelicum. Qui te gustant, esuriunt, qui bibunt, adhuc sitiunt; desiderare nesciunt, nisi Jesum, quem diligunt. O Jesu mi dulcissime, spes suspirantis animae! Te quaerunt piae lacrimae, Te clamor mentis intimae. Mane nobiscum, Domine, et nos illustra lumine; Pulsa mentis caligine, Mundum reple dulcedine. Jesu, flos Matris Virginis, amor nostrae dulcedinis, Tibi laus, honor nominis, regnum beatitudinis. Amen.

English translation O JESUS, Thou the beauty art of Angel worlds above! Thy name is music to the heart, enchanting it with love! Celestial sweetness unalloyed! who eat Thee hunger still, who drink of Thee still feel a void which naught but Thou canst fill! O my sweet Jesus! hear the sighs which unto Thee I send! to Thee my inmost spirit cries my being's hope and end! Stay with us, Lord, and with Thy light illume the soul's abyss; scatter the darkness of our night and fill the world with bliss. O Jesu! spotless Virgin flower! our life and joy! to Thee be praise, beatitude and power, through all eternity! Amen. Translation by Edward Caswall (1814-1878)

External links

• preces-latinae.org