A New Latin Hymn for the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

In July of 2023, we shared a new hymn composed by a very talented young Latinist, Mr Sean Pilcher, commissioned by the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, in honor of its patron Saint. The first letters of the five stanzas spell out the last name of Cardinal Burke, who founded the shrine when he was bishop of LaCrosse (1995-2004). Earlier this year, Mr Pilcher wrote a second hymn, which by the same device spells out His Eminence’s middle name, Leo, while the first letters of the lines of the last stanza spell AMEN.

The series has now been completed with a third piece, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Cardinal Burke’s priestly ordination, and thirtieth of episcopal consecration. This hymn spells out his first name in Latin, Raymundus; it will debut today at a solemn celebration at the Shrine in LaCrosse for the feast of the dedication of St Mary Major in Rome, also known as Our Lady of the Snows. The hymn recounts the origins of that basilica, and how its builder, Pope Liberius, was directed by the Virgin Herself to fulfill Her wishes, and those of a pious couple named John and Maria, who wanted to donate their patrimony to Her, by a miraculous snowfall on the Esquiline hill, which took place on August 5, 362. The parallel is drawn throughout between Pope Liberius’ foundation of Mary Major in Rome, and Cardinal Burke’s foundation of ‘this sanctuary,’ the Guadalupe Shrine in La Crosse. Mr Pilcher has been kind enough to share this third piece with NLM; notes are provided below to explain some of the allusions and provide historical information.

Romae gaudet Ecclesia hoc et in sanctuario, in festo tantae gloriae, In templo voces resonent.	The Church at Rome rejoices, And she also rejoices in this sanctuary, On this feast of such great glory, Let voices ring out in the temple.
Altari ordinatus vir, Virginis in servitio, Ut Vrbe ius protegeret, hic Christi oves pasceret.	The man was ordained for the altar, In Rome, in the service of the Virgin, In order that he might keep the law safe, Here that he might feed Christ’s sheep.
Ymnum canamus actuum, imaginis mirificae, domique Dei Altissimi, in summa collis culmine.	Let us sing a hymn of his deeds, Of the wondrous image, Of the house of God Most High, On the high-point of the hill.
Munus tributum a Petro, in populi regimine, eiusdem Pauli ordinis, triplo sacratus chrismate.	His charge was given before Peter, To rule over the people, He now held the same order as Paul, Thrice hallowed with chrism.
Virgo Maria Domina Pontifici hoc pignore Et Ioannis et coniugis Donum orationibus:	The Lady Virgin Mary, Gave a gift to the pontiff, With this bright white pledge, By the prayers of John and his wife.
Nives iecit mirifice Et fundamenta ecclesiae, Sacris cunis e Bethlehem, Et laudibus Deiparae.	God spread snow in a wondrous fashion, And laid the foundations of a church, For the sacred crib from Bethlehem, And praises for the God-bearer.
Dedicamus solemniter Signum ostendens omnibus, Voluntatem Dei Patris et Virginis imperium.	Let us solemnly dedicate, As a sign showing all men, Of God the Father’s will And the Virgin’s rule.
Vocibus exultantibus ut Liberi te oramus: Absconde nos semper tutos Caeruleo velamine.	With exultant voices, As children we pray you: Hide us always safe, Under your blue mantle.
Summo sit laus Deo Patri Honorque, virtus Filio, Paraclito qui inspirat, et sempiterna gloria. Amen.	Praise be to God the Highest Father, And honour, power to the Son, And to the Paraclete who inspires, Glory for ever and ever. Amen.

In the third stanza, the omission of an initial H, which was hardly pronounced by the Romans, in the word “hymnus”, and starting with Y to fit the acrostic, is attested in various early Christian poets. Mary Major holds the miraculous icon known as the Salus Populi Romani, and the shrine in LaCrosse has a mosaic copy of the Tilma from Guadalupe. Both churches are built on hills. The second stanza refers to the Cardinal’s study of canon law in Rome. Liberius held Peter’s office; Cardinal Burke was called to the episcopacy by Peter’s successor. The feast of Ss Peter & Paul, both named in this verse, is the Cardinal’s anniversary of priestly ordination. Mary Major was founded, according to the traditional story, with a large donation made by a man named John (Ioannes) and his wife Maria; this is also an oblique reference to the hymn’s author, of the same name in its Irish form, Sean. As referred to in the sixth stanza, the relic of the crib of Our Lord is also kept at Mary Major.

A statue of St Juan Diego holding the tilma. 

The famous icon of the Virgin Mary titled “Salus Populi Romani,” painted in the 6th or 7th century, and now housed in the Borghese Chapel at Saint Mary Major. The jewels and crowns seen here have been removed in subsequent restorations.