Salutis humanæ Sator

Hail, Thou who man’s Redeemer art

The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal

Salutis humanæ Sator,
Jesu, voluptas cordium,
Orbis redempti Conditor,
Et casta lux amantium:
Que victus es clementia,
Ut nostra ferres crimina?
Mortem subires innocens,
A morte nos ut tolleres?
Perrumpis infernum chaos;
Vinctis catenas detrahis;
Victor triumpho nobili
Ad dexteram Patris sedes.
Te cogat indulgentia,
Ut damna nostra sarcias
Tuique vultus compotes
Dites beato lumine.
Tu dux ad astra, et semita,
Sis meta nostris cordibus,
Sis lacrymarum gaudium,
Sis dulce vitæ præmium.

Hail, Thou who man’s Redeemer art,
Jesu, the joy of every heart;
Great Maker of the world’s wide frame,
And purest love’s delight and flame:
What nameless mercy Thee o’ercame,
To bear out load of sin and shame?
For guiltless, Thou Thy life didst give,
That sinful erring man might live.
The realms of woe are forced by Thee,
Its captives from their chains set free;
And Thou, amid Thy ransomed train,
At God’s right hand dost victor reign.
Let mercy sweet with Thee prevail,
To cure the wounds we now bewail;
Oh, bless us with Thy holy sight,
And fill us with eternal light.
Our guide, our way to heavenly rest,
Be Thou the aim of every breast;
Be Thou the soother of our tears,
Our sweet reward above the spheres.

Author: Ambrosian, 7^th or 8^th cent. Meter: Iambic dimeter. Translation by Father Potter. First line of Original Text: Jesu nostra redemptio. The Annus Sanctus contains eight translations of this hymn, both texts being represented. In all there are about thirty translations. Liturgical Use: Vespers hymn from the Ascension to Pentecost.

“O Jesus, Author of man’s salvation, the delight of our hearts, the Creator of the world redeemed, and chaste light of those that love Thee.” Sator, lit., a sower, planter: “Sower of Life’s immortal seed.”—Caswall.
‘By what mercy wert Thou overcome that Thou wouldst bear our sins, and innocent, wouldst suffer death to free us from death?” Ipse autem vulneratus est propter iniquitates nostras, attritus est propter scelera nostra (Is. 53, 5).
“Thou didst break open the lower regions, and remove the chains of them that were bound; as a conqueror in a noble triumph, Thou dost now sit at the right hand of the Father.” Infernum chaos, Limbo; “He descended into hell” (Creed). Ad desteram Patris sedes: Dixit Dominus Domino meo: sede a dextris meis (Ps. 109, 1; Matt. 22, 44); Dominus = Pater; Domino = Filio; sede, abide, be. The expression “sit Thou at my right hand” signifies the place of highest honor, but it implies no particular posture of body.
“May Thy mercy constrain Thee to repair our loss, and in the contemplation of Thy countenance, mayest Thou gladden us with blessed light.” Vultus compotes, participating in the beatific vision. See the article on Beatific Vision, and Part III of the article on Heaven, in the Cath. Encycl.
“Thou guide and way to heaven, be Thou the goal of our hearts, our joy in tears, the sweet reward of life.” Semita = Via; Ego sum via, et veritas et vita (John 14, 6).