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Chapter 13SavLaud.1.13

In Nativitate Domini

The Heavenly Call to Worship

The celestial hosts are invited to descend and celebrate the birth of the Messiah.

Here is the Messiah, here is the Messiah, and Mother Mary.✦ Come, heavenly souls, down from the eternal choirs; come, and make feast for the Lord of lords.1 Let the highest hierarchy come, and don't delay.2 Behold the Messiah, etc.3 Come, holy angels, and come sounding music: come, every one of you, praising Jesus Christ and singing glory with a sweet melody.✦ Here is the Messiah, and so on.4

The Joy of the Patriarchs and Prophets

The figures of the Old Testament are summoned to rejoice in the end of their exile and the arrival of the promised child.

Come, patriarchs—come and celebrate: the strife has been lifted away; he has drawn us out of exile. And come praising the Virgin Mary.5 Behold the Messiah, and so on.6 Come, Prophets, you who have prophesied; come, all of you, joyful; see that he has been born, and the little Messiah has been given to us. Here is the Messiah, and so on.7

The Adoration of the Shepherds

Shepherds are encouraged to leave their watch and adore the infant Jesus in his humble, poverty-stricken surroundings.

Fortunate shepherds, what are you doing keeping watch?✦8 Don't be afraid; do you hear the singing?✦✦ Run and adore Jesus with a devout heart.✦9 Here is the Messiah, and so on.10 You'll find him born between the ox and the little donkey, wrapped in poor cloths; he doesn't even have a cloak. Kneel before him and before holy Mary. Here is the Messiah, and so on.11

The Homage of the Magi

The Magi arrive, guided by the star, to offer their gifts and worship the Messiah.

And the Magi have come, guided by the star, with their rich gifts, kneeling on the ground and deeply comforted as they adore the Messiah. Here is the Messiah, and so on.12

Read the original Latin

Ecco il Messia, Ecco il Messia, E la madre Maria.

Venite, alme celeste, Su da gli eterni cori; Venite, e fate feste Al Signor de’ signori. Venga, e non dimori La somma ierarchia. Ecco il Messia, ec.

Venite, Angeli santi, E venite sonando: Venite tutti quanti Iesù Cristo laudando, E gloria cantando Con dolce melodia. Ecco il Messia, ec.

Patriarci, venite, Venite festeggiando: Levata è via la lite, Cavato ci ha di bando; E venite lodando La Vergine Maria. Ecco il Messia, ec.

Venitene, Profeti, Ch’avete profetato; Venite tutti lieti; Vedete ch’el gli è nato, Et a nui è donato El piccolin Messia. Ecco il Messia, ec.

Pastor pien di ventura, Che state vui a veghiare? Non abiate paura; Sentite vui cantare? Correte ad adorare Iesù con mente pia. Ecco il Messia, ec.

Vui el trovarete nato Fra el bue e l’asinello In vil panni fasciato; E’ già non ha mantello. Ingienochiativi a quello, Et a santa Maria. Ecco il Messia, ec.

E Magi son venuti Da la stella guidati, Con lor ricchi tributi, In terra ingienochiati E molto consolati Adorando il Messia. Ecco il Messia, ec.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩John.1.41 — He first finds his own brother Simon and says to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, Christ).
  2. ↩Luke.2.13-Luke.2.14 — And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Luke.2.14 — Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.
  3. ↩Luke.2.8 — And there were shepherds in the same region, living out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
  4. ↩Luke.2.10 — And the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.'
  5. ↩Luke.2.13-Luke.2.14 — And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Luke.2.14 — Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.
  6. ↩Luke.2.15-Luke.2.16 — And when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go now as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.' Luke.2.16 — And they went quickly and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩Italian alme is taken as 'souls' (alma), the usual Renaissance lauda sense; if read as Latinizing almus, a looser 'kindly/heavenly ones' is possible.
  2. 2 ↩Somma ierarchia names the supreme angelic order (Dionysian hierarchy language), not a secular rank.
  3. 3 ↩ec. abbreviates the chapter refrain already given in full at SavLaud.1.13.1: 'Ecco il Messia, Ecco il Messia, E la madre Maria.'
  4. 4 ↩Source abbreviation «ec.» is the refrain marker for eccetera (etc.), as in neighboring sections of this lauda.
  5. 5 ↩«Cavato ci ha di bando» is rendered as liberation from exile/banishment (redemptive sense at the Nativity). «Lite» is the enmity/quarrel removed by Christ's coming, not a merely human dispute.
  6. 6 ↩«ec.» is the printed refrain abbreviation (etc.), matching the neighboring stanzas’ refrain stub.
  7. 7 ↩Source abbreviates the refrain with 'ec.' (etc.); rendering preserves the abbreviated liturgical refrain rather than expanding it.
  8. 8 ↩pien di ventura: lit. 'full of fortune/good fortune'; rendered as 'fortunate' (blessed with a happy lot), not modern 'adventure'.
  9. 9 ↩mente pia: 'pious/devout mind'; rendered 'devout heart' for natural contemporary English while keeping the interior piety of mente.
  10. 10 ↩ec. is the refrain abbreviation (etc./&c.); kept as 'etc.' to match the printed lauda form, as in neighboring sections.
  11. 11 ↩ec. expands the repeated refrain (etc.); kept abbreviated to match the source's refrain cue.
  12. 12 ↩Source ends with abbreviated refrain mark 'ec.' (etc.); kept as 'etc.' rather than expanded.

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