River of Red - music by Hildegard of Bingen

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Texts and translations for River of Red

1 - Karitas habundat in omnia, de imis excellentissima super sidera atque amantississima in omnia, quia summo regi osculum pacis dedit. 1 - Love lives in everything, from the deepest depths to the highest stars, and most lovely over all, because she gave the highest King the kiss of peace.
2 - O frondens virga, in tua nobilitate stans sicut aurora procedit. Nunc gaude et laetare et nos debiles dignare a mala consuetudine liberare atque manum tuam porrige ad erigendum nos. 2 - O greening branch, as the dawn breaks, so you stand in your nobility: Now rejoice and deign to free us from evil, and give us your hand, lift us up.
3 - O viridissima virga, ave, que in ventoso flabro sciscitationis sanctorum prodisti. Cum venit tempus quod tu floruisti in ramis tuis, ave, ave fuit tibi, quia calor solis in te sudavit sicut odor balsami. Nam in te floruit pulcher flos Qui odorem dedit omnibus aromatibus que arida erant. Et illa apparuerunt omnia in viriditate plena. Unde celi dederunt rorem super gramen Et omnis terra leta facta est, Quoniam viscera ipsius frumentum protulerunt et quoniam volucres celi nidos in ipsa habuerunt. Deinde facta est esca hominibus et gaudium magnum epulantium. Unde, o suavis Virgo, in te non deficit ullum gaudium. Hec omnia Eva contempsit. Nunc autem laus sit Altissimo. 3 - Hail, o greenest branch, who came forth in the blustering wind of the saints' search. Hail to you, when the time came and your branches blossomed, because the warmth of the sun produced in you a fragrance like balsam. For a beautiful flower bloomed in you, which scented all the herbs that were dry. And they all appeared, full and green. Hence the heavens sent dew to fall on the grass and the whole earth rejoiced because its womb brought forth grain and because the birds of heaven made their nests in it. Thus food was made for mankind, and great was the joy of those who ate. Therefore, Virgin, no joy is lacking in you. Eve had contempt for all these things. But now praise be to the Highest.
4 - O frondens virga 4 - O greening branch
5 - Hodie aperuit nobis clausa porta quod serpens in muliere suffocavit, unde lucet in aurora flos de Virgine Maria. 5 - Today a closed door opened to us to reveal that which the serpent had choked in woman; now the flower of the virgin Mary shines in the dawn.
6 - Ave, generosa, gloriosa et intacta puella. Tu pupilla castitatis, tu material sanctitatis, que Deo placuit. Nam hec superna infusio in te fuit, quod supernum Verbum in te carnem induit. Tu candidum lilium quod Deus ante omnem creaturam inspexit. Venter enim tuus gaudium habuit cum omnis celestis symphonia de te sonuit, quia virgo Filium Dei portasti, ubi castitas tua in Deo claruit. Viscera tua gaudium habuerunt sicut gramen super quod ros cadit cum ei viriditatem infundit, ut et in te factum est, o mater omnis gaudii. 6 - Hail, generous, glorious and innocent maiden. You are a model of chastity, the essence of sanctity, and this pleased God. For this heavenly infusion was in you, the highest Word became flesh in you. You are the white lily God chose above all other creatures. For your womb held joy, when the harmony of all heaven sounded from you, because as a virgin you carried the Son of God, your chastity was bright in God. Joy was in your womb, like the grass on which dew falls, infusing it with greenness. So it was in you, o mother of all joy.
7 - O virga ae diadema (instrumental) 7 - O virga ae diadema (instrumental)
8 - Alleluia! O virga mediatrix, sancta viscera tua mortem superaverunt et venter tuus omnes creaturas illuminavit in pulcro flore de suavissima integritate clausi pudoris tui orto. 8 - Alleluia! O branch, mediatrix, your holy limbs overcame death, and your womb shone on all creatures in a beautiful flower, emerging from the sweetest integrity of your untouched virginity.
9 - Sophia (instrumental) 9 - Sophia (instrumental)
10 - Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.		 10 - Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
11 -Columba (instrumental) 11 - Columba (instrumental)
12 - Spiritui sancto honor sit, qui in mente Ursule virginis virginalem turbam velut columbas collegit. Unde ipsa patriam suam sicut Abraham reliquit. Et etiam propter amplexionem Agni desponsationem viri sibi abstraxit. Nam iste castissimus et aureus exercitus in virgineo crine mare transivit. O quis umquam talia audivit? Et etiam propter amplexionem Agni desponsationem viri sibi abstraxit. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. Et etiam propter amplexionem Agni desponsationem viri sibi abstraxit. 12 - Honor be to the Holy Spirit, who in the mind of the virgin Ursula brought together a flock of virgins like doves. From there she left her country like Abraham. For the embrace of the Lamb she even tore herself away from her betrothal to a man. This very chaste and golden army traversed the sea. Oh, who has ever heard such things? For the embrace of the Lamb she even tore herself away from her betrothal to a man. Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit. For the embrace of the Lamb she even tore herself away from her betrothal to a man.
13 -In matutinis laudibus 13 -For the lauds of matins
Studium divinitatis in laudibus excelsis osculum pacis Ursule virgini cum turba sua in omnibus populis dedit. The fervor of divinity, in highest praises, gave the kiss of peace to the virgin Ursula and her companions before all the peoples.
Unde quocumque venientes perrexerunt, velut cum gaudio celestis paradisi suscepte sunt, quia in religione morum honorifice apparuerunt. Thus wherever they arrived they were received as with the joy of heavenly paradise, because they appeared full of honor in their religious ways.
De patria etiam earum et de aliis regionibus viri religiosi et sapientes ipsis adiuncti sunt, qui in eas in virginea custodia servabant et qui eis in omnibus ministrabant. From their country and from other regions religious and wise men joined them, to protect them in their virginity and to serve them in all things.
Deus enim in prima muliere presignavit ut mulier a viri custodia nutriretur. For God had foreseen in the first woman how woman should be nurtured by the protection of man.
Aer enim volat et cum omnibus creatures officia sua exercet, et firmamentum eum sustinet ac aer in viribus istius pascitur. For the air flies and fulfills its office with all creatures, and is sustained itself by the firmament; and air feeds on its powers.
Et ideo puelle iste per summum virum sustentabantur, vexillate in regali prole virginee nature. So those young girls were sustained by the highest man, bearing the standard of the royal child born from a virgin.
Deus enim rorem in illas misit, de quod omnes populi ex hac honorabili fama velut cibum gustabant. For God sent dew upon them, from which honor and fame sprang forth, which all the people tasted like food.
Sed diabolus in invidia sua istud irrisit, qua nullum opus Dei intactum dimisit. But the devil in his envy ridiculed it, since he left no work of God untouched.
14 - Cum vox sanguinis Ursule et innocentis turbe eius ante thronum Dei sonuit, antiqua prophetia venit per radicem mambre in vera ostensione Trinitatis et dixit: Iste sanguis nos tangit, nunc omnes gaudeamus. Et postea venit congregatio Agni, per arietem in spinis pendentem, et dixit: Laus sit in Ierusalem per ruborem huius sanguinis. Deinde venit sacrificium vituli quod vetus lex ostendebat, sacrificium laudis circumamicta varietate, et que faciem Dei Moysi obnubilabat, dorsum illi ostendens. Hoc sunt sacerdotes qui per linguas suas Deum ostendunt et perfecte eum videre non possunt, et dixerunt: O nobilissima turba, virgo ista que in terris Ursula vocatur in summis Columba nominatur, quia innocentem turbam ad se collegit. O Ecclesia, tu es laudabilis in ista turba. Turba magna, quam incombustus rubus (quem Moyses viderat) significant, et quam Deus in prima radice plantaverat in homine quem de limo formaverat, ut sine commixtione viri viveret, cum clarissima voce clamavit in purissimo auro, thopazio, et saphiro circumamicta in auro. Nunc gaudeant omnes celi, et omnes populi cum illis ornentur. Amen. 14 - When the voice of Ursula's blood and that of her innocent flock sounded before God's throne, there came an ancient prophecy from the root of Mamre in a true revelation of the Trinity, and said: "This blood touches us, now let us rejoice." And afterwards came the congregation of the Lamb, through the ram hanging amidst thorns, and said: "Praise be in Jerusalem for the redness of this blood." Then came the sacrifice of the calf, which the old law predicted, a sacrifice of praise, clothed in a variety of colors, which obscured God's face from Moses, only showing him the back. These are the priests who show God through their words, but they cannot completely see him, and they said: "O most noble flock, this virgin, whose earthly name is Ursula, is called Dove in heaven, because she gathered around her a flock of innocent virgins." O Church, you are worthy of praise in this flock. The great flock which is signified by the uncombusted bush seen by Moses, which God planted in the first root, in the human being he formed out of clay, so that it might live without man's seed, this flock cried out in the clearest voice, in the purest gold, topaz, and sapphire set in gold. Now let all the heavens rejoice, and let all the peoples be adorned with these jewels. Amen.
15 - Quia ergo femina (instrumental) 15 - Quia ergo femina (instrumental)
16 - Rex noster promptus est suscipere sanguinem innocentum. Unde angeli concinunt et in laudibus sonant. Sed nubes super eundem sanguinem plangent. Tyrannus autem in gravi somno mortis propter maliciam suam suffocatus est. Sed nubes super eundem sanguinem plangent. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. Sed nubes super eundem sanguinem plangent. 16 - Our king is swift to receive the blood of innocents. Hence the angels sing and resound in praises. But the clouds are weeping over that same blood. However, the tyrant is strangled in the heavy sleep of death because of his malice. But the clouds are weeping over that same blood. Glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. But the clouds are weeping over that same blood.
17 - Tu flos es (instrumental) 17 - Tu flos es (instrumental)
18 - O rubor sanguinis, qui de excelso illo fluxisti quod divinitas tetigit: tu flos es quem hyems de flatu serpentis numquam lesit. 18 - O river of red, which flowed down from that height touched by God: you are a flower. The coldness of the serpent's breath has never harmed you.
19 - Aer enim volat et cum omnibus creatures officia sua exercet, et firmamentum eum sustinet ac aer in viribus istius pascitur. 19 - For the air flies and fulfills its office with all creatures, and is sustained itself by the firmament; and air feeds on its powers.

˜ Margriet Tindemans

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