Sunday, March 23, 2008

Victimae Paschali Laudes - The Easter Sequence

One of the single most beautiful chants (and sequences) of the Roman church must be the Easter Sequence Victimae Paschali Laudes. For those of you who won't have the pleasure of hearing this treasure of the Church today, here is a clip of it from some of the folks from Gloria.tv.



To the Paschal victim let Christians
Offer up their songs of praise.
The Lamb has redeemed the sheep:
Christ who is without sin
Has reconciled sinners to the Father.
Death and life have fought a huge battle,
The Prince of Life was dead, but lives and reigns.
Tell us, Mary, what did you see on your way?
'The tomb of Christ, who is alive,
And I saw the glory of his rising;
Angels standing as witnesses, the shroud and linen cloth.
Christ my hope has risen:
He has gone to Galilee before you.'
Truly, we know Christ has risen from the dead:
O King and victor, have mercy on us. Amen. Alleluia.

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