Jesu, Redemptor omnium

Jesus, the Ransomer of man

The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal

Jesu, Redemptor omnium,
Quem lucis ante originem
Parem paternæ gloriæ
Pater supremus edidit.
Tu lumen, et splendor Patris,
Tu spes perennis omnium,
Intende quas fundunt preces
Tui per orbem servuli.
Memento, rerum Conditor,
Nostri quod olim corporis,
Sacrata ab alvo Virginis
Nascendo, formam sumpseris.
Testatur hoc præsens dies,
Currens per anni circulum,
Quod solus e sinu Patris
Mundi salus adveneris.
Hunc astra, tellus, æquora,
Hunc omne quod cœlo subest,
Salutis Auctorem novæ
Novo salutat cantico.
Et nos, beata quos sacri
Rigavit unda sanguinis;
Natalis ob diem tui
Hymni tributum solvimus.
Jesus, tibi sit gloria,
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre, et almo Spiritu
In sempiterna sæcula.

Jesus, the Ransomer of man,
Who, ere created light began,
Didst from the sovereign Father spring,
His power and glory equalling.
The Father’s Light and Splendor Thou,
Their endless Hope to Thee that bow;
Accept the prayers and praise to-day
That through the world Thy servants pay.
Salvation’s Author, call to mind
How, taking form of humankind,
Born of a Virgin undefiled,
Thou in man’s flesh becam’st a Child.
Thus testifies the present day,
Through every year in long array,
That Thou, salvation’s source alone,
Proceededst from the Father’s throne.
The heavens above, the rolling main
And all that earth’s wide realms contain,
With joyous voice now loudly sing
The glory of their new-born King.
And we who, by Thy precious Blood
From sin redeemed, are marked for God,
On this the day that saw Thy birth,
Sing the new song of ransomed earth.
O Lord, the Virgin-born, to Thee
Eternal praise and glory be,
Whom with the Father we adore
And Holy Ghost forevermore.

Author: Ambrosian, 6th cent. Meter: Iambic dimeter. Translation by J. M. Neale, Father Potter, and the Evening Office, 1710. First line of Original Text: Christe, Redemptor omnium. There are twenty-five translations, six of which are in the Annus Sanctus. Liturgical Use: Hymn for Vespers and Matins on Christmas Day.

“Jesus, the Redeemer of all, who, being the equal of the Father’s glory, was begotten of the Sovereign Father before the beginning of light.” The three Persons of the Holy Trinity are co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial.
“Thou light and splendor of the Father, Thou never-failing hope of all, give ear to the prayers which Thy servants throughout the world pour forth.” In the hymns, Christ is repeatedly styled, lux, jubar, lumen, and splendor Patris. Cum sit splendor gloriæ et figura substantiæ ejus (1 Heb. 1, 3).
“Remember, O Creator of the world, that in being born Thou didst once assume the form of our body from the sacred womb of a Virgin.”
“The present day (the Feast of Christmas) recurring in the course of each year, bears witness to this, that Thou alone didst come forth from the bosom of the Father, the salvation of the world.” Solus = Filius unigenitus.
“The stars, the earth, and the seas, and every creature under heaven doth greet Him with a new canticle, as the author of the new salvation.” Salutis novæ: the New Law with its Sacraments and other means of grace.
“We also, whom the sacred stream of Thy blood hath cleansed, pay Thee the tribute of a hymn on Thy birthday.”