Salvete flores martyrum

Salvete flores martyrum is the office hymn for Lauds on the Feast of the Holy Innocents (Dec. 28). Its stanzas are drawn from Prudentius' Epiphany hymn Cathemerinon and were first assembled in the 1568 Breviary of Pope Pius V. The Catholic Encyclopedia (1917) claims there are some 25 English versions extant.

Settings by composers

• Gregorian chant — Salvete flores Martyrum  Unison
• Orlando di Lasso — Salvete flores martyrum  SATB
• Jan Le Febure — Salvete flores martyrum  SATB
• Josef Ohnewald — Hymni vespertini  SATB
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina — Salvete flores martyrum  SATB
• Josef Rheinberger — Hymnen Op. 107  SATB
• Tomás Luis de Victoria — Salvete flores martyrum  SATB 

Text and translations

Latin text Salvete flores Martyrum Quo lucis ipso in limine Christi in secutur sustulit Ceu turbo nascentes rosas. Vos prima Christi victima Grex immolatorum tener Aram ante ipsam simplices Palma et coronatis luditis. Jesu tibi sit Gloria Qui natus es de Virgine Cum Patre et almo Spiritu In sempiterna saecula

English translation All hail, ye little Martyr flowers, Sweet rosebuds cut in dawning hours! When Herod sought the Christ to find Ye fell as bloom before the wind. First victims of the Martyr bands, With crowns and palms in tender hands, Around the very altar, gay And innocent, ye seem to play. All honour, laud, and glory be, O Jesu, Virgin-born to Thee; All glory, as is ever meet To Father and to Paraclete. tr. Athelstan Riley

External links

• preces-latinae.org
• Catholic Encyclopedia (1917) (claims 25 English versions extant)
• Baker's "Sweet flowerets of the martyr band"
• Athelstan Riley's "All Hail, Ye Little Martyr Flowers"