Sanctorum meritis

General information

Office Hymn for Common of Martyrs.

Settings by composers

Trent manuscript 89 AATT (single verse) Claudio Monteverdi I solo S(vv. 1-4) II solo T (vv. 1-4)

Josef Ohnewald SATB (XVIII - vv. 1-2,4-5, alternative Latin) Delfino Thermignon SSA (vv. 1,3,5 & 6, alternative Latin) Tomás Luis de Victoria SATB (odd)

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Heinrich Finck — Sanctorum meritis
• Jacobus Vaet — Sanctorum meritis

Text and translations

Latin text 1. Sanctorum meritis inclita gaudia Pangamus socii gestaque fortia Nam gliscit animus promere cantibus Victorum genus optimum. 2. Hi sunt quo retines mundis inhorruit Ipsum nam sterile flore per aridum Sprevere penitus teque secuti sunt, Rex, Christe, bone caelitum. 3.Hi pro te furias saevaque sustinent; non murmur resonat, non querimonia, sed corde tacito mens bene conscia conservat patientiam. 3. Hi pro te furias atque ferocia calcarunt hominum saevaque verbera, cessit his lacerans fortiter ungula nec carpsit penetralia. 4. Quae vox, quae poterit lingua retexere Quae tu martyribus munera praeparas? Rubri nam fluido sanguine laureis Ditantur bene fulgidis. 5. Te, summa Deitas unaque, poscimus, ut culpas abluas, noxia subtrahes, Des pacem famulis nos quoque gloriam per cuncta tibi sæcula. Amen

Latin text 1. Sanctorum meritis inclyta gaudia Pangamus socii, gestaque fortia: Gliscens fert animus promere cantibus Victorum genus optimum. 2. Hi sunt, quos fatue mundus abhorruit; Hunc fructu vacuum, floribus aridum Contempsere tui nominis asseclae Jesu Rex bone coelitum. 3. Hi pro te furias, atque minas truces Calcarunt hominum, saevaque verbera: His cessit lacerans fortiter ungula, Nee carpsit penetralia. 4. Caeduntur gladiis more bidentium: Non murmur resonat, non querimonia; Sed corde impavido mens bene conscia Conservat patientiam. 5. Quae vox, quae poterit lingua retexere, Quae tu Martyribus munera praeparas? Rubri nam fluido sanguine fulgidis Cingunt tempora laureis. 6. Te summa o Deitas, unaque poscimus; Ut culpas abigas, noxia subtrahas, Des pacem famulis, ut tibi gloriam Annorum in seriem canant.

English translation 1. Sing, O Sons of the Church, sounding the Martyrs praise! God's true soldiers applaud, who, in their weary days, Won bright trophies of good, glad be the voice ye raise, While these heroes of Christ ye sing! 2. They, while yet in the world were by the world abhorred; Felt how fading the joys, fleeting the wealth it stored; Spurned all pleasure for Thee, and at Thy call, O Lord, Came forth strong in Thy Name, as King. 3. Lord, how bravely they bore fury and pain for Thee! Scourge, rod, sword, and the rack strongly endured; but free Sang out, bold in Thy love, longing on high to be; Earth's might never their souls could bend. 4. While they, shedding their blood, victims for Jesus fell, No sound out of their lips came of their throes to tell; Bowed low, patient and meek, loving the Lord so well, Turned they still to the Christ, their Friend. 5. What joys, bright with the blood shed for thy love they share, Those brave Martyrs of Thine crowned with Thy laurels rare; Man's tongue never can tell, never can half declare, How pure now is their bliss above! 6. Yet we, Father on high, God of eternal might, Lift weak voices in prayer asking for peace and light; Cleanse Thou out of our hearts every stain and blight, So our songs may be songs of love.

External links

• [ Preces latinae]