LIX. O presul vere civitatis
The Pilgrim Bishop's Hidden Life
Disibod is praised as a true leader who became an exile for Christ, ascending to heaven while prostrate on earth, and who sold the world for a life of contemplative clarity.
O true leader of the city, who ascended into heaven in the temple of the cornerstone and lay prostrate on the earth for God's sake: you, a pilgrim from the seed of the world, longed to become an exile for the love of Christ. O mountain of the enclosed mind, you constantly revealed your beautiful face in the mirror of the dove. You lay hidden in secret, drunk with the fragrance of flowers, shining forth to God through the lattice-work of the saints. O summit holding the keys of heaven, who sold the world because of the clear life!
The Fountain and the Tower
The confessor's inner struggle is sustained by grace, as a living fountain of light flows through his mind and he stands as a great tower overshadowed by the smoke of spices, building up praise through pure sound.
This struggle, generous confessor, you always have in the Lord. For in your mind a living fountain with the brightest light led forth the purest streams along the way of salvation. You, a great tower before the altar of the most high God, overshadowed the summit of this tower with the smoke of spices. O Disibode, in your light you wonderfully built up members of praise through examples of pure sound, in two parts, through the Son of Man.
Praise and Perseverance in the Heavenly City
Disibod stands unashamed before God, shielding those who praise with fresh dew, and his blessed perseverance builds a glorious light in the heavenly Jerusalem, calling all to praise and imitation.
You stand on high, unashamed before the living God, and with this voice you shield those who praise God with fresh dew. O sweet life and O blessed perseverance, which in this blessed Disibod you always built up into a glorious light in the heavenly Jerusalem. Now let there be praise to God in the beautiful form of the tonsure, working vigorously. And may the citizens of heaven rejoice over those who imitate them in this way.
Read the original Latin
O presul vere civitatis, qui in templo angularis lapidis ascendens in celum in terra prostratus fuisti propter deum: Tu peregrinus a semine mundi desiderasti exul fieri propter amorem Christi. O mons clause mentis, tu assidue pulcram faciem aperuisti in speculo columbe. Tu in absconso latuisti inebriatus odore florum per cancellos sanctorum emicans deo. O culmen in clavibus celi, quod propter perspicuam vitam mundum vendidisti! Hoc certamen, alme confessor, semper habes in domino. In tua enim mente fons vivus clarissima luce purissimos rivulos eduxit per viam salutis. Tu magna turris ante altare summi dei, et huius turris culmen obumbrasti per fumum aromatum. O Disibode, in tuo lumine per exempla puri soni membra mirifice laudis edificasti in duabus partibus per filium hominis.
In alto stas non erubescens ante deum vivum et protegis viridi rore laudantes deum ista voce. O dulcis vita et o beata perseverantia, que in hoc beato Disibodo gloriosum lumen semper edificasti in celesti Ierusalem. Nunc sit laus deo in forma pulcre tonsure viriliter operante. Et superni cives gaudeant de his, qui eos hoc modo imitantur.
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