Hodie beata Virgo Maria

General information

With the ending "et benedixit Deum in aeternum", the Magnificat antiphon at II Vespers of Candlemas

Settings by composers

Jacques Arcadelt SATB (variant: dicens for et dixit and longer version of Nunc dimittis) William Byrd ATTB ("…in aeternum") Fabio Costantini SATB ("…in aeternum") Ruggiero Giovannelli SATTB or ATTTB ("…in aeternum") Nicolas Gombert SATTB ("…in aeternum" with 2nda pars Responsum accepit Simeon) Luca Marenzio SATB ("…in aeternum")

Claudio Merulo SATTB or SAATB ("…in aeternum") Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Hodie beata virgo Maria SATB ( … benedixit eum in aeternum) Senex puerum portabat SSATB Secunda pars of Senex puerum portabat ("…in aeternum", with eum for Deum) Peter Philips SSATB ("dixit : Nunc…") Richard Sheppard SATB ("dixit : Nunc…") Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck SSATB ("dixit : Nunc…")

Text and translations

As given in the Solesmes publications, the Magnificat antiphon at II Vespers of Candlemas ends "et benedixit Deum in aeternum."

Latin text Hodie beata Virgo Maria puerum Jesum presentavit in templo, Et Simeon, repletus Spiritu Sancto, accepit eum in ulnas suas, et benedixit Deum in aeternum.

English translation Today the Blessed Virgin Mary presented the child Jesus in the temple and Simeon, full of the Holy Spirit, took Him in his arms, and blessed God for evermore.

Dutch translation Vandaag heeft de gezegende maagd Maria het kind Jezus in de tempel opgedragen; en Simeon, vervuld van de Heilige Geest, nam het in zijn armen, en verheerlijkte God eeuwiglijk.

The settings by Arcadelt, Phillips, Sheppard & Sweelinck replace the last line with:

et benedixit Deum, et dixit: Nunc dimittis servum tuum[, Domine, secundum verbum tuum] in pace.

and blessed God,and said: Now let your servant depart in peace[, Lord, according to your word].

en verheerlijkte God, en sprak: Nu laat Uw dienaar in vrede gaan.