Laetare Jerusalem...  

Posted by Agnes Regina in ,

Since today is Laetare Sunday, here is the sonnet I wrote last year, based on the Introit and its Psalm (121), plus one verse of Psalm 124. I wish I remembered exactly how I connected the other Psalm to this Introit; but they seem to fit together very nicely. The original Latin is below; the parenthesized phrase is the one I couldn't quite fit into the rhythm/rhyme scheme.

Laetare Ierusalem


Jerusalem, Jerusalem, rejoice!

Let all who love her be united here;

Ye who in sorrow once did lift your voice,

Rejoice, rejoice with gladness and great cheer,


That you be filled from comfort's breast! Be glad,

Jerusalem; her lovers, gathered be;

Ye who before were wretched, weeping, sad,

Exult with merriment and gaiety!


I was made glad by what was said to me,

Into the dwelling of the Lord we go!

And let abundance in your towers be;

Let holy peace be in your strength, also.


O, they who trust in God shall ever be
As Sion's Mount - unmoved eternally.

Laetare Ierusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum laetitia, qui in tristitia fuistis: ut exsultetis, et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestrae.

(Psalm 121) Laetatus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus.
Fiat pax in virtute tua, et abundantia in turribus tuis.

(Psalm 124) Qui confidunt in Domino, sicut mons Sion; non commovebitur in aeternum, (qui habitat in Ierusalem.)

Edited to add: the "Fiat pax" and "Qui confidunt" are added to the "Laetatus sum" in the Gradual. (Three cheers for my faithful Liber...)

This entry was posted on March 14, 2010 at Sunday, March 14, 2010 and is filed under , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the comments feed .

6 comments

Which I missed, as far as liturgy was concerned - I did rejoice anyway in a way - due to diarrhea when being in a cold cellar that night. Well, the hospital was nice in a way, now I am out and the diarrhea went faster than expected. People were kind and when I finally got food (which was not until monday lunch) it was nice cookery, of course fish - appropriately enough for Lent.

I am trying to make some St. Patrick's day message for the blog.

March 17, 2010 at 4:48 AM

Happy St. Patrick's day, Hans, and I'm glad you're feeling better.

March 17, 2010 at 11:02 AM

buiochas lé Día, agus buiochas!

March 17, 2010 at 2:54 PM

Oh, above was gaelic, if you doubted, and means "Thank God, and Thanks".

Happy St Joseph's day!

March 19, 2010 at 6:48 AM

same to you, friend!

March 19, 2010 at 3:04 PM

oh, thank you for regarding me as a friend, I do appreciate, I have none too many, except as "facebook friends" and similar where friend = acquaintance = family = enemy = collegue = anything including also friend.

March 20, 2010 at 6:59 AM

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