Te Saeculorum Principem
1. Te saeculorum Principem, Te, Christe, Regem Gentium,
Te mentium, Te cordium Unum fatemur arbitrum.
2. Scelesta turba clamitat: Regnare Christum nolumus:
Te nos ovantes omnium Regem supremum dicimus.
3. O Christe, Princeps Pacifer, Mentes rebelles subiice:
Tuoqu(e) amore devios, Ovil(e) in unum congrega.
4. Ad hoc cruent(a) ab arbore, Pendes apertis brachiis:
Diraque fossum cuspide Cor igne flagrans exhibes.
5. Ad hoc in aris abderis Vini dapisqu(e) imagine,
Fundens salutem filiis Transverberato pectore.
6. Te nationum Praesides Honore tollant publico,
Colant magistri, iudices, Leges et artes exprimant.
7. Submissa regum fulgeant Tibi dicat(a) insignia:
Mitique sceptro patriam Domosque subde civium.
8. Iesu, tibi sit gloria, Qui sceptra mundi temperas,
Cum Patr(e) et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. Amen.
V. Multiplicabitur eius imperium.
R. Et pacis non erit finis.
Click here for an English translation.
This is a very moving hymn, expressing love and desire for Jesus Christ and His reign over the hearts and minds of men, but also over society at large. This is a doctrine that has always been taught by the Catholic Church: namely, that Jesus Christ should reign even in the public sphere. His laws should be helped and fostered by the civil laws, which in turn should never contradict the Divine Law.
Many people today, without putting it into words, think along these lines: "Jesus is nice, He is sweet and He makes me feel good, but He has no place in public life. Real problems need REAL, practical solutions, not silly grandma stuff like prayer and total submission to God's will. That stuff is fine for nuns, but we're grown men, enlightened citizens of the 21st century! We don't want to regress and devolve into Theocracy like all those backward states. Man has evolved far since the dark, ignorant days of the middle ages, when the Church had great influence over society and public life -- but now, Man has evolved so highly, he scarce has any need of God. In fact, he is now very close to God Himself!"
Of course few would utter such blasphemy, but its spirit finds a home inside many of us. How many believe that Democracy is the only legitimate form of government, that all others are unjust and below man's dignity? How many believe that man is ONE IOTA more advanced (as a being, not considering external technology) than he was in 2,000 B.C.? If you think so, that is evolution and modernism speaking. Do you think the Church has a right to tell us what is wrong (such as what books and movies we should read/watch)? If you think we should be able to do whatever we want, that is Liberalism talking. So between Liberalism, Rationalism, Evolution, and Modernism -- Christ has been overthrown, and Man has been put in His place.
Let us all pray for a return to a society where Christ reigns supreme over the individual, the family, and society.
This is found on the following CD(s):
Chant Compendium 1.
Return to Gregorian Chant Lyrics page
