Crudelis Herodes

1 min

Why, impious Herod, vainly fear

That Christ the Saviour cometh here?

He takes no earthly realms away

Who gives the crown that lasts for aye.

To greet His birth the Wise Men went,

Led by the star before them sent;

Called on by light, towards light they pressed,

And by their gifts their God confessed.

In holy Jordan's purest wave

The heavenly Lamb vouchsafed to lave;

That He, to whom was sin unknown,

Might cleanse His people from their own.

New miracle of power divine!

The water reddens into wine:

He spake the word: and poured the wave

In other streams than nature gave.

All glory, Lord, to thee we pay

For thine Epiphany to-day:

All glory, as is ever meet,

To Father and to Paraclete.

Amen.

Crudélis Heródes, Deum

Regem veníre quid times?

Non éripit mortália,

Qui regna dat caeléstia.

Ibant magi, quam víderant,

Stellam sequéntes praéviam:

Lumen requírunt lúmine:

Deum faténtur múnere.

Lavácra puri gúrgitis

Caeléstis Agnus áttigit:

Peccáta, quae non détulit,

Nos abluéndo sústulit.

Novum genus poténtiae:

Aquae rubéscunt hýdriae,

Vinúmque iussa fúndere,

Mutávit unda oríginem.

Iesu, tibi sit glória,

Qui apparuísti géntibus,

Cum Patre, et almo Spíritu,

In sempitérna saécula.

Amen.