Jesu dulcis memoria

Jesu dulcis memoria is attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153). There are around 42–53 verses depending on the manuscript.The Church uses the poem for the Feast of the Holy Name of Je-sus. She divides it into three parts, Jesu dulcis memoria, Jesu Rexadmirabilis and Jesu decus angelicum, for Vespers, Matins and Laudsrespectively.

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Many are hesitant to try reading the traditional notation above.Not many schools teach how to read it so it remains a stumblingblock. A straight translation into modern notation is a little trickyas the whole concept of timing is quite different between the two,but here’s my uneducated take on the task. This is how it sounds tome.

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Translations

Fr. Edward Caswall (1814–1887) has translated many hymns. He isassociated with the Oxford Movement along with Cardinal Newmanand Mgr. Ronald Knox.

Hymn for Vespers

Vespers is sung as the day closes and everyone comes together toprepare the evening meal and make a welcoming place for people tofind rest after a long day’s work.IESU, dulcis memoria,dans vera cordis gaudia,

JESU, the very thought of Thee,with sweetness fills my breast,

sed super mel et omnia, but sweeter far Thy face to see,eius dulcis praesentia. and in Thy presence rest.

Nil canitur suavius,nil auditur iucundius,

Nor voice can sing, nor heart canframe,

nil cogitatur dulcius, nor can the memory findquam Iesus Dei Filius. a sweeter sound than Thy blest Name,

o Savior of mankind!.

Iesu, spes paenitentibus,quam pius es petentibus!

O hope of every contrite hearto joy of all the meek,

quam bonus te quaerentibus! to those who fall, how kind Thou art!sed quid invenientibus? how good to those who seek!

Nec lingua valet dicere,nec littera exprimere:

But what to those who find? Ah thisnor tongue nor pen can show:

expertus potest credere, the love of Jesus, what it isquid sit Iesum diligere. none but His loved ones know.

Sis, Iesu, nostrum gaudium,qui es futurus praemium:

Jesu, our only joy be Thou,As Thou our prize wilt be:

sit nostra in te gloria, Jesu, be Thou our glory now,per cuncta semper saecula. And through eternity. Amen.Amen.

Hymn for Matins

Matins is sometimes called Vigils. It is said in the middle of the nightor thereabouts. The name comes from the word for morning.IESU, Rex admirabiliset triumphator nobilis,

O JESUS, King most wonderful!Thou Conqueror renowned!

dulcedo ineffabilis, Thou Sweetness most ineffable!totus desiderabilis. in whom all joys are found!

Quando cor nostrum visitas,tunc lucet ei veritas,

When once Thou visitest the heart,then truth begins to shine;

mundi vilescit vanitas, then earthly vanities depart;et intus fervet caritas. then kindles love divine.

Iesu, dulcedo cordium,fons vivus, lumen mentium,

O Jesu! Light of all below!Thou font of life and fire!

excedens omne gaudium surpassing all the joys we know,et omne desiderium. and all we can desire.

Iesum omnes agnoscite,amorem eius poscite;

May every heart confess Thy name,and ever Thee adore;

Iesum ardenter quaerite, and seeking Thee, itself inflamequaerendo inardescite. to seek Thee more and more.

Te nostra, Iesu, vox sonet,nostri te mores exprimant;

Thee may our tongues for ever bless;Thee may we love alone;

te corda nostra diligant and ever in out lives expresset nunc, et in perpetuum. the image of Thine own. Amen.Amen.

Hymn for Lauds

Lauds is sung at daybreak, rising in the dark, greeting the first lightof dawn with prayer and praises.IESU, decus angelicum,in aure dulce canticum,

O JESUS, Thou the beauty artof Angel worlds above!

in ore mel mirificum, Thy name is music to the heart,in corde nectar caelicum. enchanting it with love!

Qui te gustant, esuriunt,qui bibunt, adhuc sitiunt;

Celestial sweetness unalloyed!who eat Thee hunger still,

desiderare nesciunt, who drink of Thee still feel a voidnisi Iesum, quem diligunt. which naught but Thou canst fill!

O Iesu mi dulcissime,spes suspirantis animae!

O my sweet Jesus! hear the sighswhich unto Thee I send!

Te quaerunt piae lacrimae, to Thee my inmost spirit criesTe clamor mentis intimae. my being’s hope and end!

Mane nobiscum, Domine,et nos illustra lumine;

Stay with us, Lord, and with Thylight

Pulsa mentis caligine, illume the soul’s abyss;

Mundum reple dulcedine. scatter the darkness of our nightand fill the world with bliss.

Iesu, flos Matris Virginis,amor nostrae dulcedinis,

O Jesu! spotless Virgin flower!our life and joy! to Thee

Tibi laus, honor nominis, be praise, beatitude and power,regnum beatitudinis. Amen. through all eternity! Amen.

Thanks for those words go to Michael Martin and his ThesaurusPrecum Latinarum http://www.preces-latinae.org

Vernacular versions

Looking through hymnbooks its hard to find an authoritative tunefor the English version. Since there is no clear winner and thereare three sets of words, I’ll take this opportunity to present threedifferent arrangements.

The plainchant comes tantalisingly close to matching Fr. Caswall’senglish. With a few slurred notes here’s what we get.

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Each hymnbook I looked at gave different tunes for the samewords. Not one sounded familiar to me. Here is my favourite of theold tunes out of copyright. It is an English tune called Mendip.

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There was another favourite tune called St. Botolph. It was in 3/4time. I thought maybe I could make up my own tune, but after many

attempts came to realise I was attempting to reinvent the wheel. Thetune that I was fishing for turned out to be a Christmas carol froma Maddy Prior album. The name is “This Endris Night” and it fitsthe meter of Fr. Caswall’s translation beautifully. The lilting melodygoes well with the yearning of the text.

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Jesu Rex admirabilis is famous in its polyphonic setting by Gio-vanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525?–1594)

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Stay with us, Lord, and with Thy lightillume the soul's abyss;scatter the darkness of our nightand fill the world with bliss.

O Jesus, King most wonderful!Thou Conqueror renowned!Thou Sweetness most ineffable!in whom all joys are found!

Translation into English by Fr. Edward Caswall (1814-1887)

brandt.id.auVB - 28th August 2009