Festivis resonent compita vocibus

With glad and joyous strains now let each street resound

The Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ
1 July

The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal

Festivis resonent compita vocibus,
Cives lætitiam frontibus explicent,
Tædis flammiferis ordine prodeant
Instructi pueri et senes.
Quem dura moriens Christus in arbore
Fudit multiplici vulnere Sanguinem,
Nos facti memores dum colimus, decet
Saltem fundere lacrymas.
Humano generi pernicies gravis
Adami veteris crimine contigit:
Adami integritas et pietas novi
Vitam reddidit ombibus.
Clamorem validum summus ab æthere
Languentis Geniti si Pater audiit,
Placari potius sanguine debuit,
Et nobis veniam dare.
Hoc quicumque stolam sanguine proluit,
Abstergit maculas, et roseum decus,
Quo fiat similis protinus Angelis:
Et Regi placeat, capit.
A recto instabilis tramite postmodum
Se nullus retrahat, meta sed ultima
Tangatur: tribuet nobile præmium,
Qui cursum Deus adjuvat.
Nobis propitius sis, Genitor potens,
Ut quos unigenæ Sanguine Filii
Emisti, et placido Flamine recreas,
Cli ad culmina transferas.

With glad and joyous strains now let each street resound,
And let the laurel wreath each Christian brow entwine;
With torches waving bright, let old and young go forth,
And swell the train in solemn line.
Whilst we with bitter tears, with sighs and grief profound,
Wail oer the saving Blood, poured forth upon the Tree,
Oh, deeply let us muse, and count the heavy price,
Which Christ hath paid to make us free.
The primal man of old, who fell by serpents guile,
Brought death and many woes upon his fallen race;
But our New Adam, Christ, new life unto us gave,
And brought to all neer-ending grace.
To heavens highest height, the wailing cry went up
Of Him, who hung in pain, Gods own eternal Son;
His saving, priceless Blood, His Fathers wrath appeased,
And for His sons full pardon won.
Whoeer in that pure Blood his guilty soul shall wash,
Shall from his stains be freedhe made as roses bright
Shall vie with Angels pure, shall please his King and Lord,
And precious shine in His glad sight.
Oh, from the path of right neer let thy steps depart,
But haste thee to the goal in virtues peaceful ways;
Thy God who reigns on high will eer direct thy steps,
And crown thy deeds with blissful days.
Father of all things made, to us propitious be,
For whom Thy own dear Son, His saving Blood did spill;
O Holy Spirit, grant the souls by Thee refreshed
Eternal bliss may ever fill.

Author: Unknown, 17^th cent. Meter: Asclepiadic and Glyconic. Translation by Father Potter. There are five translations. Liturgical Use: Hymn for Vespers. Read the article on Precious Blood, in the Cath. Encycl.

“Let the streets re-echo with festive song, let the people manifest joy in their countenances, let young and old arrayed in due order proceed with flaming torches.” Compitum (mostly pl.) crossroads; here, streets, ways.
“While mindful of the fact we worship the Blood which, from many a wound, the dying Christ shed upon the cruel Tree, it behooves us to shed at least tears.” Facti, fact, deed, viz., the suffering and death of Christ.
“Grave loss befell the human race by the sin of the old Adam. The sinlessness and love of the new Adam have restored life to all.” St. Paul draws a parallel between Christ and Adam (cf. Rom. 5, 12-21).
“If the Father heard from heaven the loud cry of His expiring Son; far more ought He be appeased by His Blood, and grant us pardon.”
“Whoever washeth his robe in this Blood, washeth away its stains and gaineth a roseate beauty whereby he forthwith becometh like unto the Angels, and pleasing to the King.” He who cleanses his soul by Baptism and Penance, which derive their efficacy from Christ’s atonement, shall obtain the gift of sanctifying grace (roseum decus) which makes him pleasing to God.
“Henceforth let no unstable one withdraw himself from the straight path, but let the final goal be touched. God who aideth us on the way bestoweth a noble prize.”
“Almighty Father, be Thou propitious to us, so that those whom Thou didst purchase by the Blood of Thine only-begotten Son, and whom Thou dost re-create in the Holy Spirit, those same mayest Thou one day transfer to the heights of heaven.” Unigena, œ, adj. = unigentius, only, only-begotten; it here modifies Filii. Placido, calm, gentle, peaceful.