O magnum mysterium
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General Information
Fourth of the nine responsories for Matins of Christmas Day.
The versicle of the responsory (Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum) is missing from most of the polyphonic settings.
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Text and translations
Latin text
- O magnum mysterium
- et admirabile sacramentum,
- ut animalia viderent Dominum natum
- jacentem in praesepio.
- O beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt
- portare Dominum Jesum Christum.
- Alleluia!
Different text in the Palestrina setting:
- O magnum mysterium
- et admirabile sacramentum,
- ut animalia viderent Dominum natum
- jacentem in praesepio.
- Natum vidimus et choros Angelorum
- collaudantes Dominum.
- Alleluia!
English translation by Allen H Simon
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another English translation:
- O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament,
- that the animals should see the new-born Lord lying in a manger.
- Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Alleluia.
- Lord, I heard your voice and was afraid.
- I considered your works and I trembled:
- between two animals, lying in a manger.
- Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Alleluia.
Another English Translation:
- O great mystery, and strange sacrament
- As an animal might see the arisen Lord
- Cast into a manger
- O sacred Virgin, whose womb was worth to carry
- the Lord Jesus Christ
- Alleluia.
English translation
Translation of Cristòbal de Morales's text
- O great mystery and wondrous sacrament, that the animals should witness the birth of the Lord in the manger. Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, whose womb was deemed worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Lord, I have heard your voice and have been afraid: I have seen your works, and feared: I am between two beasts.
French translation
- Ô grand mystère et merveilleux sacrement
- Que les animaux voient le Seigneur nouveau-né reposant dans la crèche.
- Ô heureuse Vierge dont les entrailles méritèrent de porter le Seigneur, Jésus Christ.
- Alléluia.
Italian translation by Daniele Ventre
- O grande mistero,
- E mirabile sacramento,
- Che gli animali vedessero il Signore appena nato giacere nel presepio,
- O beata Vergine, il cui grembo meritò di portare Gesù cristo nostro Signore,
- Alleluia!
Spanish translation
by Manuel Espejo (Colombia)
- O Gran Misterio,
- y Maravilloso Sacramento,
- Que los animales hayan visto
- Al Señor recién nacido
- yacer en un pesebre.
- Alabada seas, o Virgen,
- pues tu Vientre mereció llevar
- a Jesús Cristo, nuestro Señor,
- ¡Aleluya!