Fortem virili pectore

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General information

Office hymn for the Common of Holy Women, written by Cardinal Silvio Antoniano.
Variant 1 is the first verse of the office hymn for the feast of Mary Magdalene.

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Text and translations

Latin.png Latin text

1. Fortem virili pectore
Laudemus omnes feminam,
Quae sanctitatis gloria
Ubique fulget inclyta.

2. Haec sancto amore saucia,
Dum mundi amorem noxium
Horrescit, ad coelestia
Iter peregit arduum.

3. Carnem domans jejuniis,
Dulcique mentem pabulo
Orationis nutriens,
Coeli potitur gaudiis.

4. Rex Christe virtus fortium,
Qui magna solus efficis,
Hujus precatu, quaesumus,
Audi benignus supplices.

5. Deo Patri sit gloria,
Ejusque soli Filio,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito,
Nunc, et per omne saeculum.

Variant 1
Pater superni luminis,
Cum Magdalenam respicis,
Flammas amoris excitas,
Geluque solvis pectoris.

English.png English translation

1. High let us all our voices raise
In that heroic woman's praise
Whose name, with saintly glory bright,
Shines in the starry realms of light.

2. Filled with a pure celestial glow,
She spurned all love of things below;
And heedless here on earth to stay,
Climbed to the skies her toilsome way.

3. With fasts her body she subdued,
But filled her soul with prayer's sweet food:
In other worlds she tastes the bliss
For which she left the joys of this.

4. O Christ, the strength of all the strong;
To whom our holiest deeds belong!
Through her prevailing prayers on high,
In mercy hear Thy people's cry!

5. To God the Father, with the Son,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One,
Be glory while the ages flow,
From all above, and all below.
tr. Edward Caswall

Variant 1
Father of lights! one glance of Thine,
Whose eyes the universe control,
Fills Magdalene with holy love,
And melts the ice within her soul.
tr. Edward Caswall

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