Tristes erant apostoli

General information

Office hymn for Easter.

Settings by composers

• Josef Ohnewald SATB (XVII - VV.1,6, Alternative text)
• Tomás Luis de Victoria SATB

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Jan Le Febure — Tristes erant apostoli
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina — Tristes erant Apostoli

Text and translations

Latin text 1. Tristes erant apostoli de neces sui Domini quem poena mortis crudelis servi damnavunt impii. 2. Sermone blando Angelus praedixit mulieribus in Galilaeam Dominus videntes est quantocius. 3. Illae dum pergunt concitae apostolis hoc dicere, videntes eum vivere, osculant pedes Domini. 4. Quo agnito discipuli in Galilaeam propere pergunt videre faciem desideratam Domini. 5. Esto perenne mentibus paschale, Iesu, gaudium et nos renatos gratiae tuis triumphis aggrega. 6. Gloria tibi, Domine qui surrexisti a mortuis cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

Latin text Alternative Text 1. Tristes erant Apostoli De Christi acerbo funere, Quem morte crudelissima Servi necarant impii. 2. Sermone verax Angelus Mulieribus praedixerat: Mox ore Christus gaudium Gregi feret fidelium. 3. Ad anxios Apostolos Currunt statim dum nuntiae, Illae micantis obvia Christi tenent vestigia. 4. Galilaeae ad alta montium Se conferunt Apostoli, Jesuque, voti compotes, Almo beantur lumine. 5. Ut sis perenne mentibus Paschale Jesu gaudium; A morte dira criminum Vita? renatos libera. 6 Deo Patri sit gloria, Et Filio, qui a mortuis Surrexit, ac Paraclito, In sempiterna saecula.

English translation 1. While Christ's disciples, grieving, sad, Their Master's painful death deplore, Whom faithless servants' cruel hands, Had bathed in His own crimson gore; 2. Quick from the happy realms above, An Angel comes on joyful wing, And to the women tells the joy That to His flock their Lord will bring. 3. As they with eager steps make haste, Their joyous message to repeat, Their Master's glorious form they see, And falling clasp His sacred feet. 4. Cheered by this tale, His faithful flock The Galilean mount ascend, And there with loving awe behold Their heart's sole wish, their truest friend. 5. That Thou mayst be our Paschal joy Through happy, never-ending years, Thine own poor children, Jesu, free From sin's sad death with all its fears. 6. To God the Father, and the Son, Who rose from death, glad praise, repeat; Let equal praise be ever sung To God the Holy Paraclete.