St. Jerome Hymn Commentary

A Brief Reflection on Festiva canimus laude Hieronymum Rev. Mr. Dylan Schrader

Festiva canimus laude Hieronymum, composed by Anselmo Lentini, OSB (+1989), is the hymn for Lauds and Vespers on the Memorial of St Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church.

Festiva canimus laude Hieronymum, qui nobis radiat sidus ut eminens doctrinae meritis ac simul actibus vitae fortis et asperae.

The hymn begins by comparing Jerome to a star that sends out rays of light for us, prominent both in the merits of his teaching and in the deeds of his bold and ascetic life. The twofold emphasis on Jerome's learning and his asceticism continues throughout the hymn. His embrace of the sacred truths of Revelation (Christ the Word) extended also to his embrace of the Lord's cross (Christ the Victim).

Hic verbum fidei sanctaque dogmata scrutando studuit pandere lucide, aut hostes, vehemens ut leo, concitus acri voce refellere.

Jerome peered into the “word of faith and the holy dogmas” (verbum fidei sanctaque dogmata), and he strove to bring their secrets to light. This same zeal and grasp of the teachings allowed him “fierce as a lion” (vehemens ut leo) to defeat his enemies through his overwhelming arguments. Jerome recognized the “teachings” contained in Revelation (dogmata) not only as true but as holy. Since their origin is the Word himself, Jerome's defense of the truths of the faith was a defense of Christ, a positive application of his own principle: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”

Insudans alacer prata virentia Scripturae coluit caelitus editae; ex his et locuples dulcia protulit cunctis pabula gratiae.

Jerome was sweating eagerly in his toil to cultivate the green fields of Scripture, whose source is Heaven. The fruit of his work, especially the sacred Vulgate, has been the “sweet nourishment of grace” (dulcia ... pabula gratiae) for all. Indeed the Vulgate is so called because it was available in the “vulgar” (i.e. common) Latin tongue.

Deserti cupiens grata silentia, ad cunas Domini pervigil astitit, ut carnem crucians se daret intime Patri munus et hostiam.

Here Jerome's asceticism, as the perfection of his embrace of the Word of God is extolled. He desired the desert and in welcome silence stood in vigil at the cradle of the Lord in order to give himself deeply as an offering (munus) and a victim (hostiam) to the Father. Jerome identified himself so much with Christ, whom he knew as the Truth in person and the ultimate object of Revelation, that he was impelled to offer himself alongside Christ as a sacrifice.

Tanti nos, petimus te, Deus optime, doctoris precibus dirige, confove, ut laetas liceat nos tibi in omnia laudes pangere saecula.

We ask God to grant that we might sing joyful praises to him forever by prayers of so great a Doctor. Literally, we ask God to set us on a straight path (dirige) and to stir up fire within us (confove) such that we might be able to sing his praises forever.

© 2009 Rev. Mr. Dylan Schrader.