Iste confessor

Iste confessor is the Vesper hymn for Confessor Bishops, tracable to the 10th century and possibly originally composed in honor of St. Martin<ref>Hymns of the Breviary and Missal by Matthew Britt, Benziger Brothers, 1922</ref>. There are two variants, Iste confessor Domini sacratus and, in the Liber Usualis, Iste confessor Domini colentes. Alternatim settings usually begin with the second verse, "Qui pius, prudens"

Settings by composers

colentes Giovanni Matteo Asola even verses ATTB or TTBB odd verses ATBB Francesco Cavalli SS, 2 vln. & bc. Caspar Ett SATB Heinrich Finck SATB (first verse) Pasqual Fuentes SSAT.SATB with BC (first verse) Václav Emanuel Horák SATB with organ Josquin Lassus José Maurício Nunes Garcia SATB b.seguente (one verse) Josef Ohnewald SATB (XXI - vv. 1-2,4-5; XXII & XXIII - vv. 1,5) Giovanni Felice Sances Thomas Tallis

sacratus Anonymous 2 settings in Trent 88 STT (2 settings; v. 1 only) II Trent 87 STT (v. 1 only) III Trent 87 ATT (v. 1 only) Guillaume Dufay ATB (even) Heinrich Finck SATB (v. 1 only) Jan Le Febure SATB (even verses) Claudio Monteverdi I (Selva morale 1641) T solo, 2 vln. bc. (odd verses) SV 279 SS, 2 vln. bc (odd verses) Josef Ohnewald SATB & orchestra Alessandro Scarlatti SATB & bc. (S solo) Delfino Thermignon SSA (odd verses) Ph. Verdelot ATTB (even) Tomás Luis de Victoria SATB (Alternatim, even verses)

Organ verses have been written by Frescobaldi (Tocate), Titelouse & others.

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Sixt Dietrich — Iste confessor
• Gregorian chant — Vespers for St David of Wales
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina — Iste confessor
• Jacobus Vaet — Iste confessor

Text and translations

Latin text 1  Iste Confessor Domini colentes Quem pie laudant populi per orbem : Hac die laetus meruit beatas Scandere sedes. 2  Qui pius, prudens, humilis, pudicus, Sobriam duxit sine labe vitam. Donec humanos animavit aurae Spiritus artus. 3  Cujus obpraestans meritum frequenter, Ægra quae passim jacuere membra, Viribus morbi domitis, saluti Restituuntur. 4  Noster hinc illi chorus obsequentem Concinit laudem, celebresque palmas; Ut piis ejus precibus juvemur Omne per ævum. 5  Sit salus illi, decus, atque virtus, Qui super cæli solio coruscans, Totius mundi seriem gubernat, Trinus et unus. Amen (1632 revision by Pope Urban VIII)

Latin text 1  Iste confessor Domini sacratus Festa plebs cuius celebrat per orbem, Hodie letus meruit secreta, Scandere Cœli. 2  Qui pius, prudens, humilis, pudicus, Sobrius, castus fuit et quietus Vita, dum presens vegetavit ejus Corporis artus. 3  Ad sacrum cuius tumulum frequenter, Membra languentem modo sanitati, Quo libet morbo fuerint gravata, Restituuntur. 4  Unde nunc noster chorus in honorem Ipsius hymnum canit nunc libenter, Ut piis ejus meritis juvemur Omne per aevum. 5  Sit salus illi decus atque virtus, Qui supra cœli residens cacumen, Totius mundi machinam gubernat, Trinus et unus.

English translation Laurence Housman 1906 1  He, whose confession God of old accepted, Whom through the ages all now hold in honour, Gaining his guerdon this day came to enter Heaven's high portal. 2  God-fearing, watchful, pure of mind and body, Holy and humble, thus did all men find him; While, through his members, to the life immortal Mortal life called him. 3  Thus to the weary, from the life enshrined, Potent in virtue, flowed humane compassion; Sick and sore laden, howsoever burdened, There they found healing. 4  So now in chorus, giving God the glory, Raise we our anthem gladly to his honour, That in fair kinship we may all be sharers Here and hereafter. 5  Honour and glory, power and salvation, Be in the highest unto him who reigneth Changeless in heaven over earthly changes, Triune, eternal. Amen.

English translation Charles Winfred Douglas 1922 1  THIS the Confessor of the Lord, whose triumph Now all the faithful celebrate, with gladness Erst on this feast-day merited to enter Into his glory. 2  Saintly and prudent, modest in behavior. Peaceful and sober, chaste was he, and lowly. While that life's vigor, coursing through his members, Quickened his being. 3  Sick ones of old time, to his tomb resorting. Sorely by ailments manifold afflicted, Oft-times have welcomed health and strength returning. At his petition. 4  Whence we in chorus gladly do him honor, Chanting his praises with devout affection, That in his merits we may have a portion. Now and forever. 5  His be the glory, power and salvation, Who over all things reigneth in the highest, Earth's mighty fabric ruling and directing, Onely and Trinal.

External links

• List of English paraphrases at Hymnary.org
• Common of Bishop Confessor at www.breviary.net