Catholic CornucopiadCheney

Fortem virili pectore

High let us all our voices raise

The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal

  1. Fortem virili pectore
    Laudemus omnes feminam,
    Quæ sanctitatis gloria
    Ubique fulget inclyta.
  2. Hæc sancto amore saucia,
    Dum mundi amorem noxium
    Horrescit, ad cœlestia
    Iter peregit arduum.
  3. Carnem domans jejuniis,
    Dulcique mentem pabulo
    Orationis nutriens,
    Cœli potitur gaudiis.
  4. Rex Christe virtus fortium,
    Qui magna solus efficis,
    Hujus precatu, quæsumus,
    Audi benignus supplices.
  5. Deo Patri sit gloria,
    Ej usque soli Filio,
    Cum Spiritu Paraclito,
    Nunc, et per omne sæculum.
  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.
Author: Cardinal Silvio Antoniano (1540-1603). Meter: Iambic dimeter. Translation by Father Caswall. There are nine translations. Liturgical Use: Hymn for Vespers and Lauds.
  1. “Let us all praise that valiant woman with a manly heart, who, by the glory of her sanctity, everywhere shines gloriously.” Mulierem fortem quis inveniet (Prov. 31, 10). Virili, manly, strong, brave.
  2. “Smitten with holy love, she traverses the arduous way to heaven, while she shudders at the baneful love of the world.”
  3. “She subdued her body with fasting, and she nourished her soul with the sweet food of prayer, and thus obtained the joys of heaven.”
  4. “King Christ, the strength of the strong, who alone dost accomplish great things, we pray Thee, through her intercession, graciously hear Thy suppliants.”