Jesu corona Virginum

General information

Office hymn for the Common of Virgins.
Ascribed to St Ambrose.

Settings by composers

• Francesco Cavalli ATB
• Josef Ohnewald SATB (XXIV & XXV – vv.1,4-6)
• Tomás Luis de Victoria SATB (vv.1-5)

Texts and Translations

Latin text 1. Jesu corona Virginum, quem Mater illa concipit quae sola Virgo parturit, haec vota clemens accipe. 2. Qui pascis inter lilia, septus choreis Virginum sponsas decorans gloria, sponsisque reddens praemia. 3. Quocumque pergis, virgines sequuntur, atque laudibus post te canentes cursitant hymnosque dulces personant. 4. Te deprecamur largius nostris adauge sensibus nescire prorsus omnia, corruptionis vulnera. 5. Virtus, honor, laus, gloria, Deo Patri cum Filio, Sancto simul Paraclito In saeculorum saecula. Amen. Jesu, tibi sit gloria, qui natus es de Virgine, cum Patre et almo Spiritu, in sempiterna saecula.

English translation 1. Jesu, the Virgins' crown, do Thou Accept us as in prayer we bow; Born of that Virgin, whom alone The Mother and the Maid we own. 2. Amongst the lilies Thou dost feed, By Virgin choirs accompanied With glory decked, the spotless brides Whose bridal gifts Thy love provides.   3. They, wheresoe'er Thy footsteps bend, With hymns and praises still attend: In blessed troops they follow Thee, With dance, and song, and melody. 4. We pray Thee therefore to bestow Upon our senses here below Thy grace, that so we may endure From taint of all corruption pure. 5. All laud to God the Father be, All praise, Eternal Son, to Thee All glory as is ever meet, To God, the holy Paraclete. tr. John Mason Neale Polish translation 1. Korono dziewic wspaniała O Synu Matki, co w sławie Dziewictwa, rodząc, została, Słysz modlitwy nasze łaskawie 2. Gdzie zwrócisz kroki, tam panny Za tobą spieszą i pienia Zawodząc, hymn nieustanny Śpiewają dawcy zbawienia! 5. Moc, triumf, pienie, cześć trwała Niech Ojcu z Synem wraz będzie Duchowi pociech niech chwała Po wszystkie wieki brzmi wszędzie! Amen by ks. Tadeusz Karyłowski