Vox clara ecce intonat

Vox clara ecce intonat is a Latin hymn used traditionally in the Liturgy of the Hours at Lauds during Advent.[1] An alternative version of the same hymn begins "En clara vox redarguit."[2]

History

The original version of the hymn dates from the 6th century.[3] Whilst it has been attributed to a number of different authors, including St Ambrose, it is generally recorded in modern books as "anonymous."[4] As a result of Pope Urban VIII's revision of the Breviary, the hymn was re-written in a more classical Latin style and published in 1632, with the opening line "En clara vox redarguit."[5]

Style

The hymn is written in iambic dimeter[6] and it is a retelling of the preaching of John the Baptist, announcing the coming of Christ in Luke's Gospel.

Latin versions of the Hymn

Vox clara ecce intonat 1 VOX clara ecce intonat,   obscura quaeque increpat:   procul fugentur somnia;   ab aethere Christus promicat. 2 Mens iam resurgat torpida   quae sorde exstat saucia;   sidus refulget iam novum,   ut tollat omne noxium. 3 E sursum Agnus mittitur   laxare gratis debitum;   omnes pro indulgentia   vocem demus cum lacrimis, 4 Secundo ut cum fulserit   mundumque horror cinxerit,   non pro reatu puniat,   sed nos pius tunc protegat. 5 Summo Parenti gloria   Natoque sit victoria,   et Flamini laus debita   per saeculorum saecula. Amen.[7]

En clara vox redarguit 1 En clara vox redarguit   Obscura quaeque personans:   Procul fugentur somnia:   Ab alto Jesus promicat. 2 Mens jam resurgat torpida,   Non amplius jacens humi:   Sidus refulget jam novum,   Ut tollat omne noxium. 3 En Agnus ad nos mittitur   Laxare gratis debitum:   Omnes simul cum lacrimis   Precemur indulgentiam: 4 Ut, cum secundo fulserit,   Metuque mundum cinxerit,   Non pro reatu puniat,   Sed nos pius tunc protegat. 5 Virtus, honor, laus, gloria   Deo Patri cum Filio,   Sancto simul Paraclito,   In sæculorum saecula.[8]

English Versions

It is estimated that there are at least 27 English translations of the hymn.[9] The following examples were widely used in the nineteenth and twentieth century.

John Henry Newman 1 Hark, a joyful voice is thrilling,   And each dim and winding way   Of the ancient temple filling ;   Dreams depart, for it is day. 2 Christ is coming — from thy bed,   Earth-bound soul, awake and spring —   With the sun new-risen to shed   Health on human suffering. 3 Lo, to grant a pardon free,   Comes a willing Lamb from heaven ;   Sad and tearful, hasten we,   One and all, to be forgiven. 4 Once again he comes in light   Girding earth with fear and woe ;   Lord, be thou our loving might,   From our guilt and ghostly foe. 5 To the Father and the Son   And the Spirit, who in heaven   Ever witness, Three and One,   Praise on earth be ever given.

John Mason Neale 1 A THRILLING voice by Jordan rings,   rebuking guilt and darksome things:   vain dreams of sin and visions fly;   Christ in His might shines forth on high. 2 Now let each torpid soul arise,   that sunk in guilt and wounded lies;   see! the new Star's refulgent ray   shall chase disease and sin away. 3 The Lamb descends from heaven above   to pardon sin with freest love:   for such indulgent mercy shewn   with tearful joy our thanks we own. 4 That when again He shines revealed,   and trembling worlds to terror yield.   He give not sin its just reward,   but in His love protect and guard. 5 To the most high Parent glory be   and to the Son be victory,   and to the Spirit praise is owed   from age to age eternally. Amen[10]

Edward Caswall 1 Hark! a herald voice is calling:   'Christ is nigh,' it seems to say;   'Cast away the dreams of darkness,   O ye children of the day!' 2 Startled at the solemn warning,   Let the earth-bound soul arise;   Christ, her Sun, all sloth dispelling,   Shines upon the morning skies. 3 Lo! the Lamb, so long expected,   Comes with pardon down from heaven;   Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,   One and all to be forgiven; 4 So when next he comes with glory,   Wrapping all the earth in fear,   May he then as our defender   Of the clouds of heaven appear. 5 Honour, glory, virtue, merit,   To the Father and the Son,   With the co-eternal Spirit,   While unending ages run.[11]

The Caswell translation is often sung to the tune Merton (87.87) by William Henry Monk.[12]

See Also

• List of Roman Catholic hymns
• Canonical Hours
• Lauds

References

1. "En clara vox redarguit". Rome of the West. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
2. "Vox clara ecce intonat". Preces Latinae. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
3. "Vox Clara Ecce Intonat: Newman's 'Hark! a gladsome voice is thrilling'". A clerk of Oxford. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
4. "Vox clara ecce intonat". The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
5. Adey, Lionel. "Chapter 6". Hymns and the Christian Myth. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
6. "En vox clara redarguit". Encyclopedia.Com. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
7. "The Advent Office". Chant Blog. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
8. "En clara vox redarguit". Hymns and Carols of Christmas. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
9. "En clara vox redarguit". Hymns and Carols of Christmas. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
10. "The Advent Office". Chant Blog. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
11. "Hark! A herald voice is calling". Hymnary.Org. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
12. See "Together in Song: Australina Hymn Book II" (Harper Collinss Religious: 1999) or "Lutheran Hymnal" (Lutheran Publishing House: 1973)

External links

• Matthew Britt, The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal, Benziger Brothers, New York, 1922
• Alan Mc Dovgall, Pange Lingua: Breviary Hymns of old uses with an English rendering, Burns & Oates 1916
• Joseph Connelly, Hymns of the Roman Liturgy, 1957.
• You Tube Vox clara ecce intonat (Ensemble Officium)
• VOX CLARA ECCE INTONAT, (by Giovanni Vianini)
• Hark a Thrilling Voice is Sounding (mp3 with organ only)