Virgo Dei Genitrix
- excerpt from A New Book of Old Hymns (pdf)
- video (external link)
- Crossword Puzzle (pdf) plus a shorter web Online Crossword Puzzle (html)
- Quizlet set (external link)
- Spotify playlist (external link)
1. Virgo Dei Genitrix, quem totus non capit orbis: In tua se clausit viscera factus homo.
Virgo Genitrix Dei quem totus orbis {non capit} In tua se clausit viscera factus homo.
Virgin Mother {of God} {whom} whole world {cannot capture} in thy itself closed womb made man
1. O Virgin Mother of God, He Whom the whole world does not contain, enclosed Himself in thy womb, being made man.
2. Vera fides Geniti purgavit crimina mundi, Et tibi virginitas inviolata manet.
Vera fides Geniti purgavit crimina mundi, Et tibi virginitas inviolata manet.
True faith {in the Son} purges sins {of the world} and thy virginity inviolate remains
2. True faith in thy begotten Son has cast out the sins of the world, and for thee virginity remains inviolate.
3. Te matrem pietatis, opem te clamitat orbis: Subvenias famulis, O benedicta, tuis.
Te matrem pietatis, opem te orbis clamitat Subvenias famulis, O benedicta, tuis.
Thee Mother {of divine love} {power to help} thee {the world} cries {thou shalt assist} servants O blessed {to thee}
3. Thou art the Mother of divine love, Thou the aiding power the world cries out to: come in aid, O blessed one, of thy servants.
4. Gloria magna Patri, compar sit gloria Nato, Spiritui Sancto gloria magna Deo.
Gloria magna Patri, compar sit gloria Nato, {Spiritui Sancto} gloria magna Deo.
Glory great {to the Father} equal be glory {to the one born} {to the Holy Spirit} glory great {to God}
4. Great glory be to the Father, equal glory to the Son, great glory to God the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
I have been a bit lazy this week - hopefully I can come back and fix the gloss up. I hope it makes sense enough as it is. The subject and object of a sentence in English depends on word order, whereas in Latin this is indicated by word endings (or inflections as I believe they are known).
This is a short piece. Sometimes we repeat the first 3 verses at Mass, saving the last verse for last.
Many hymns end with a Doxology or some variation on the prayer we know as the Glory Be. Sometimes when we’re running short of time and can’t sing the whole hymn we skip to the last verse to finish with the Trinity.