Jesu corona Virginum

General information

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

Settings by composers

• Francesco Cavalli ATB, 2 violins & bc
• Juan Bautista Comes SSAT or SATB & bc
• Orlando di Lasso SAATBB
• Jan Le Febure SATB
• Josef Ohnewald SATB (XXIV & XXV) with orchestra
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (both odd verse settings)
  • Jesu corona virginum I SAT(T)B
  • Jesu corona virginum II with Paschaltide doxology SAT(T)B (verse 3 in low clefs TTBB)
• Delfino Thermignon SSA (vv. 1,3 & 5)
• Tomás Luis de Victoria SATB

Text and translations

Latin text 1. Jesu corona virginum, quem mater illa concipit quæ sola virgo parturit, hæc vota clemens accipe. 2.  Qui pascis inter lilia, septus choreis virginum, sponsus decorus gloria, [alt. sponsas decorans] sponsisque reddens præmia. 3.  Quocumque pergis [tendis], 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 [et] Filio, Sancto simul Paraclito In sæculorum sæcula. Amen.

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. Translation by John Mason Neale

English translation 1 Jesus, crown of virgins, whom that mother bore who alone gave birth as a virgin, merciful, receive these prayers. 2 You feed among the lilies, surrounded by choir of virgins, a bridegroom beautiful with glory and giving rewards to his brides. 3 Wherever you go, virgins follow, and with praises they hurry after you singing, and they make sweet hymns resound. 4 We pray you to you most abundantly: strengthen our senses not to know in the least all the wounds of corruption. 5 Praise, honour, virtue, glory to God the Father, and to [and with] the Son, together with the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen. Translation by Campelli

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!

Translation by Tadeusz Karyłowski