Jesus, the Ransomer of Man
Words: Jesu Redemptor Onmium quem lucis an adaptation of Christe, Redemptor Omnium, from the Sarum Rite, circa 6th century
Translation: Author unknown
Compare:
Jesu, The Ransomer of
Man (Primer, 1685)
Jesu, the Ransomer of Man
(Evening Office, 1710)
Found in Evening Office, 1710.
Source: Rev. Matthew Britt, O.S.B., Hymns from the Breviary and Missal (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., 1922), pp. .
1. Jesus, the Ransomer of man,
Who, ere created light began,
Didst from the sovereign Father spring,
His power and glory equalling.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Thus testifies the present day,
Through every year in long array,
That Thou, salvation's source alone,
Proceededst from the Father's throne.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. O Lord, the Virgin-born, to Thee
Eternal praise and glory be,
Whom with the Father we adore
And Holy Ghost forevermore.
Note from Rev. Matthew Britt:
Author: Ambrosian, 6th cent. Meter: Iambic dimeter. Translation by J. M. Neale, Father [Thomas J.] 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.
1. "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.
2. "Thou light and splendor of the Father, Thou neverfailing 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 glorić et figura substantić ejus (1 Heb. 1, 3).
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."
4. "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.
5. "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 novć: the New Law with its Sacraments and other means of grace.
6. "We also, whom the sacred stream of Thy blood hath cleansed, pay Thee the tribute of a hymn on Thy birthday."
Orby Shipley, in Annus Sanctus, described Jesu, Redemptor omnium as an Ambrosian Vespers Breviary Hymn, which was adapted from Christe, Redemptor Omnium. The six translations in Annus Sanctus are:
#23.Jesu, Our Soul's Redeeming Lord. From the Catholic Psalmist, 1859. Rev. Professor Thomas J. Potter, All Hallows College, Dublin, 1857-1858. P. 24.
#29. Lamb, Whose Blood For All Men Streamed. Robert Campbell. p. 29.
#34. Jesus, Redeemer, Ere the Light. From the Vespers Book. Very Rev. Provost F. C. Husenbeth, 1840-1841. P. 33.
#39. Jesu, the Ransomer of Man. Partly a cento from the Primers of 1685 and 1706, revised and altered; and partly original. Evening Office, 1710. Author unknown. p. 37.
O Christ, The World's Redemption (Primer, 1706)
Jesu, The Ransomer of Man (Primer, 1685)Source: Orby Shipley, ed., Annus Sanctus - Hymns of the Church for the Ecclesiastical Year. Vol. 1. (London and New York: Burns and Oates, 1884). There is no Volume 2.
John Julian, in his Dictionary of Hymnology (1892, p. 228) observed that there were two adaptations of the hymn Christe, Redemptor Omnium, both with the same first three words: “Jesu, Redemptor Omnium.”
Christe Redemptor omnium [gentium] Ex [De] Patre. [Christmas.] This Ambrosian hymn is sometimes ascribed to St. Ambrose, but is rejected as such by the Benedictine editors of his works. (Paris Ed. 1686-90, torn, iii; Migne, torn. 17.) It is known in three forms. These are, 1. The Original; ii. The Roman Breviary text; iii. and the Paris Breviary text.
i. Original Text.
Christe Redemptor omnium Ex Patre Patris unice. This is found in three mss. of the 11th cent, in the Brit. Mus. (Jul. A. vi f. 32 b; Vesp. D. xii. f. 31; Harl. 2961, f. 227 b), and in the Latin Hys. of the Anglo-Saxon Church, 1851, p. 119, printed from an 11th cent. ms. at Durham. The text in Daniel, i., No. 75, "Christe redemptor gentium, De Patre," is from later authorities. In his vol. iv. p. 145, Daniel gives the earlier renderings from a Rheinau ms. of the 11th cent. The Hymn. Sarisb. 1851, p. 12, gives the text, with readings from various English Uses. [W. A. S.]
Translations in C. U. :—
1. Jesu, The Father's Only Son, John Mason Neale (Alternate Title: Christ, Redeemer Of All), given in the Hymnal N., 1st ed., 1852, No. 13, and continued in later editions. In 1884 it was transferred to the Hymner.
2. O Christ, Redeemer Of Our Race, by Sir H. W. Baker, appeared in the trial copy of the H. A. & M., 1859 ; 1st ed., 1861, and the revised ed., 1875.
3. O Christ, Redeemer of Mankind, by R. F. Littledale, made for and 1st appeared in the People's H, 1867, and signed " F. R."
Translations not in C. U. :—
1. O Christ, Redeemer Of Us All. Primer. 1604.
2. Christ, whose redemption all doth free. Primer. 1619.
3. Redeemer of the race of man. W. J. Blew. 1852.
4. O Christ, Redeemer of the World. J. D. Chambers. 1857. [J. J.]
Other Translations:
1. Christ, The Father's Only Son (Adaptation of Neale by Keyte and Parrott, The New Oxford Book of Carols, copyright 1992)
2. O Saviour Of Our Fallen Race, Gilbert E. Doan, Jr., Lutheran Book of Worship, copyright
3. Christe, Redemptor Omnium (Carols for Choirs 3, #12, copyright 1978)
ii. Roman Breviary Text.
Jesu Redemptor Onmium Quern lueis ante originem. This form of the hymn was given in the revised Roman Breviary, 1632, for Vespers and Matins on Christmas Day. The text is in Daniel, i., No. 75: and in Card. Newman's Hymni Ecclesiae, 1838 and 1865. [W. A. S.]
Translations in C. U.:—
1. Jesu, Redeemer of the world, by E. Caswall, 1st pub. in his Lyra Catholica, 1849, p. 48, and again in his Hymns, &c, 1873, p. 26. From this text, with alterations, No. 21 in Chope's Hymnal, 1864; and No. 127 in the Hymnary, are taken. It is also the tr. used in several Roman Catholic H. Bks. for schools and missions.
2. Jesus, Redeemer, from on high, by W. J. Copeland, in his Hys. for the Week, 1848, p. 58, and as " Jesu, whom nations all adore," in Rorison's Hys. & Anthems, 1851.
3. Lamb, Whose Blood For All Men Streamed, by R. Campbell, in his Hys. & Anthems, 1850; and in Annus Sanctus, 1884.
Translations not in C.U.:—
1. Jesu, The Ransomer of Man. Primer, 1685.
2. O Christ, The World's Redemption. Primer. 1706.
3. Jesu, the Ransomer of Man. Evening Office, 1710. A cento from Nos. 1 and 2, but partly original, reprinted in 0. Shipley's Annus Sanctus, 1884.
4. Redeemer, Jesus, Life of man. Bp. Mant. 1837.
5. Jesus, Redeemer, Ere the Light. Very Rev. Provost F. C. Husenbeth. 1840.
6. Jesu, Redeemer of us all. J. R. Beste. 1849.
7. Jesu, Our Soul's Redeeming Lord. Rev. Professor Thomas J. Potter, in the Catholic Psalmist, 1859; and Annus Sanctus, 1884.
8. Jesu, Redeemer of the earth. Bp. Williams. 1845.
9. O Jesu, ere all ages known. F. Trappes. 1865.
10. Jesus, Saviour of mankind. J. Wallace. 1874.
From this text is also taken the hymn in the “Little Office of the Blessed V. Mary," in the Rom. Brev., Memento rerum Conditor. This has been tr. by E. Caswall, in his Lyra Catholica, 1849, and Hymns, &c, 1873, as “Remember, O Creator, Lord."
Other Translations
Lamb, Whose Blood For All Men Streamed. Robert Campbell, of Sherrington.
O Thou Whose All Redeeming Might. Fr. Richard Meux Benson (1824-1915), SSJE, 1906
O Jesu, Saviour of Mankind. New English Hymnal, #223, adapted from Fr. Benson (above), copyright 1986
iii. Paris Breviary Text.
Jesu, redemptor omnium Summi Parentis unice. This recast is by C. Coffin. It was given in his Hymni Sacri, Paris, 1736, and again in the same year in the revised Paris Brev. The text is in Chandler's Hys. of the P. Church, 1837, No. 43, and in Card. Newman's Hymni Eeclesiae, 1838 and 1865.
Translations in C. U. :-
1. Christ, Redeemer of our race, by W. Mercer, in his Church Psalter, &c, 1864.
2. O Jesus, Life of ruined man, by R. 0. Singleton. Written in 1867, and pub. in his Anglican H. Bk., 1868. In the 2nd ed., 1871, it was revised as, "O Jesu, Saviour of us all."
Translations not in C. U.:—
1. Jesus, Thou Holy Son of God. J. Chandler. 1837.
2. Jesu, Born The World To Free. I. Williams. 1839.
[J.J.]
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