Our Morning Offering – 6 August – The Transfiguration of Our Lord
Quicumque Christum Quaeritis
All Ye Who would the Christ Descry
By Prudentius (c 348 – c 413)
(Aurelius Prudentius Clemens)
The Renowned Poet
All you who would the Christ descry,
Lift up your eyes to Him on high:
There mortal gaze hath strength to see
The token of His Majesty.
A wondrous sign we there behold,
That knows not death nor groweth old,
Sublime, most high, that cannot fade,
That was ere earth and Heaven were made.
Here is the King the Gentiles fear,
The Jews’ most mighty King is here,
Promised to Abraham of yore,
And to his seed forevermore.
‘Tis He the Prophets words foretold,
And by their signs shown forth of old.
The Father’s Witness hath ordained
That we should hear with faith unfeigned.
Jesu, to Thee our praise we pay,
To little ones revealed today,
With Father and Blest Spirit One
Until the ages’ course is done.
The Hymn Quicumque Christum quaeritis is the twelfth and last poem in the Cathemerino of Prudentius, originally written in honour of the Epiphany. Its 208 lines has furnished four hymns to the Roman Breviary, Latin below the image.
On the Feast of the Transfiguration the verses are above are used.
There is a short biography of Prudentius here: https://anastpaul.com/2020/01/08/quote-s-of-the-day-8-january-take-courage-it-is-i-and-bl-titus-zeman/
Quicumque Christum quaeritis,
Uculos in altum tollite:
Illic licebit visere
Signum perennis glorias.
Illustre quiddam cernimus,
Quod nesciat finem pati,
Sublime, celsum, interminum,
Antiquius ccelo et chao.
Hic ille Rex est Gentium,
Populique Rex Judaici,
Promissus Abraha patri,
Ejusque in aevum semini.
Hunc et Prophetis testibus,
Iisdemque signatoribus
Testator et Pater jubet
Audire nos, et credere.
Jesu, tibi sit gloria,
Qui te revelas parvulis,
Cum Patre et almo Spiritu
In sempiterna saecula.
AnaStpaul 