In monte olivis

The Mount of Olives

The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal

In monte olivis consito
Redemptor orans, procidit,
Mœret, pavescit, deficit,
Sudor manans sanguinis.
A proditore traditus
Raptatur in pœnas Deus,
Durisque vinctus nexibus
Flagris eruentis cæditur.
Intexta acutis sentibus,
Corona contumelyæ,
Squallenti amictum purpura,
Regem coronat gloriæ.
Molis crucem ter arduæ,
Sudans, anhelans concidens,
Ad montis usque verticem
Gestare vi compellitur.
Confixus atro stipite
Inter scelestos innocens,
Orando pro tortoribus,
Exsanguis efflat spiritum.
Gloria tibi Domine
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
In sempiterna sæcula.

The Mount of Olives witnesseth
The awful agony of God:
His soul is sorrowful to death,
His sweat of blood bedews the sod.
And now the traitor’s work is done:
The clamorous crowds around Him surge;
Bound to pillar, God the Son
Quivers beneath the blood-red scourge.
Lo! clad in purple soiled and worn,
Meekly the Saviour waiteth now
While wretches plait the cruel thorn
To crown with shame His royal brow.
Sweating and sighing, faint with loss
Of what hath flowed from life’s red fount,
He bears the exceeding heavy Cross
Up to the verge of Calvary’s mount.
Nailed to the wood of ancient curse,
Between two thieves the Sinless One
Still praying for His murderers,
Breathes forth His soul, and all is done!
Glory to Thee, and honor meet,
Jesu, of Maiden-Mother born,
And Father and the Paraclete,
Through endless ages of the morn!

Author: Father Augustine Ricchini, O.P., 18^th cent. Meter: Iambic dimeter. Translation by Monsignor Henry. There are four translations. Liturgical Use: Hymn for Matins on the Feast of the Holy Rosary. Theme: The Five Sorrowful Mysteries.

The Agony in the Garden: “On the mountain planted with olives, the Redeemer praying falls prostrate; He grows sad, He fears, He grows faint, dripping with a sweat of blood.” The Passion of Our Lord is described in Matt. 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23; John 18-19.
The Scourging at the Pillar: “God, delivered up by a traitor, is dragged away to punishment; He is bound with rough cords and beaten with bloody scourges.”
The Crowning with Thorns: “A crown of ignominy, woven of sharp thorns, crowns the King of glory clothed with a filthy purple garment.”
The Carrying of the Cross: “Perspiring, gasping, and falling, He is compelled by force to carry the Cross of thrice heavy weight to the summit of the mountain.” The Cross was “thrice heavy” on account of Our Lord’s weakness following the agony and the scourging.
The Crucifixion: “Fastened to the infamous gibbet, guiltless He hangs between the guilty, till, bloodless, He breathes forth His Spirit while praying for His torturers.”