SR
Chapter 25SymH.1.25

XXV. O cohors milicie (De apostolis)

Apostolic Conquest and Idolatry

The apostolic cohort, empowered by grace, conquers the wayward and exposes the futility of idolatry.

Antiphon: O cohort of the flower's military host, O thornless branch, you are the sound of the earth's orb, circling the regions of the insane senses of those feasting with pigs—them you conquered through the infused helper, who places roots into the tabernacles full of the work of the Father's word. You too are the noble race of the Savior, entering the way of the water's regeneration through the Lamb, who sent you with a sword among the fiercest dogs. They destroyed their own glory in the works of their fingers, setting up what is not made by hand into the subjection of their own hands, in which they did not find him.

Read the original Latin

Antiphona: O cohors milicie floris virge non spinate, tu sonus orbis terre circuiens regiones insanorum sensuum epulantium cum porcis, quos expugnasti per infusum adiutorem ponentem radices in tabernacula pleni operis verbi patris. Tu etiam nobilis es gens salvatoris intrans viam regenerationis aque per agnum, qui te misit in gladio inter sevissimos canes. Qui suam gloriam destruxerunt in operibus digitorum suorum statuentes non manufactum in subiectionem manuum suarum, in qua non invenerunt eum.

Scripture echoes

  1. Luke.15.15-Luke.15.16And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him to his fields to feed pigs. Luke.15.16 — He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything.
  2. Matt.10.34Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
  3. Phil.3.2;Ps.22.16Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil workers, watch out for the mutilation. Ps.22.16 — My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; and you lay me down in the dust of death.
  4. Titus.3.5not by works of righteousness that we ourselves had done, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of renewal and rebirth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit,
  5. Ps.115.4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
  6. Mark.14.58;2Cor.5.1We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.' 2Cor.5.1 — For we know that if our earthly tent-house is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Symphonia Armonie Celestium Revelationum (Symphony of the Harmony of Celestial Revelations) companion

Make your listening a daily prayer

Get the 10-antiphon pack free, then keep a daily rhythm of historic prayer with the Chosen Portion app.

Hildegard's antiphons were assigned to specific daily offices; Chosen Portion continues that pattern of an appointed devotional text for each day.

  • 10 full antiphon texts in fresh English alongside the Latin
  • A 3-step, 10-minute practice: one song per session, two weeks of material
  • A recording guide matching each antiphon to easily streamed albums
Chosen Portion — Daily Prayer (free iOS app)